Protective Sleeve for Industrial Robot Supply Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots experience wear and tear on their supply lines due to friction and chafing against the robot arm, leading to damage and reduced freedom of movement.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve is mounted on the robot arm, encasing the supply line and providing a bearing surface to minimize sliding friction, allowing the supply line to move freely without significant rubbing, thus reducing wear and tear while maintaining the robot's operational flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the supply line is routed outside the robot arm, then the robot arm structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but the supply line experiences wear and tear due to friction and chafing
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the supply line and the robot arm. The sleeve encases the supply line at critical points where it contacts the robot arm, providing a protective barrier that reduces friction and prevents chafing, thereby extending the supply line's service life while maintaining the external routing configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve is implemented as a flexible protective covering that can accommodate the movement and deformation of both the supply line and robot arm during operation. This flexible shell structure provides continuous protection against wear while allowing the necessary mechanical flexibility for robot movement
2Adaptability or versatility
If the supply line moves freely along the robot arm, then the robot's range of motion is improved, but the supply line suffers from increased wear due to rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve acts as a mediator that enables free movement of the supply line along the robot arm while simultaneously protecting it from wear. The sleeve is positioned to follow the supply line's path during robot motion, providing continuous protection without restricting the robot's range of motion
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve system is designed to be dynamic, allowing it to move and deform together with the supply line during robot operation. This dynamic configuration ensures that the protective coverage is maintained throughout the full range of motion, preventing wear while preserving adaptability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The protective sleeve effectively reduces wear and tear on the supply line and the robot arm, ensuring smooth movement and extending the lifespan of both components without restricting the robot's range of motion.
Implementation Method 1
the protective sleeve has an outer shell wall configured to provide a bearing surface for a section of the supply line, wherein the section of the supply line creates low or even no sliding friction on the bearing surface of the protective sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) which has a robot arm (13) with multiple elements (L1-L7) that are connected by means of multiple joints (A1-A6) and are mounted in a movable manner relative to one another by means of the multiple joints (A1-A6). The industrial robot also has a supply line (17), which is led along at least two of the multiple elements (L1-L7) of the robot arm (13) via at least one of the multiple joints (A1-A6) and is arranged outside of the robot arm (13), and a protective sleeve (20), which is arranged on one of the elements (L1-L7) and completely or at least partly surrounds at least one of the elements (L1-L7) over the circumference of the element. The protective sleeve (20) has an outer lateral wall which is designed to form a bearing surface (21) for a section (17a) of the supply line (17).