Bucket Coupling Mechanism for Standard Robot Motor Control Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots are often incompatible with industrial machines due to the need for specialized designs, leading to inflexibility and high costs in performing operations, and there is a shortage of human workers who face safety hazards when interacting with these machines.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a motor control cabinet with compatible components that allow standard industrial robots to perform operations using a bucket system with a latching mechanism, reducing the number of degrees of freedom required and enabling interaction through translation motion, and utilizing slider bearings to support the bucket, thus simplifying the robot's structure and operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If standard industrial robots are used to interact with industrial machines, then the robot structure and operations become simpler, but compatibility with industrial machines becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coupling mechanism that bridges the standard industrial robot and the industrial machine. This coupling mechanism includes standardized interfaces and adapters that enable the robot to interact with the machine without requiring customization of the robot itself, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal coupling interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of industrial machines. The standardized interface design allows a single robot system to perform operations on different machines, enhancing versatility without increasing robot complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized robots are designed for specific industrial machines, then compatibility and operational effectiveness improve, but costs increase and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal coupling mechanisms and standardized interfaces that enable a single robot design to work with multiple different industrial machines. This eliminates the need for specialized robots for each machine type, reducing costs while maintaining compatibility through standardized connection and operation protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If human workers directly interact with industrial machines, then operational flexibility is maintained, but safety hazards increase due to worker exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements autonomous robotic systems that perform maintenance and operational tasks on industrial machines without human intervention. The robot autonomously navigates, couples to the machine, performs required operations, and disconnects, eliminating worker exposure to safety hazards while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable task execution.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If autonomous robotic systems are implemented, then worker safety is improved by minimizing exposure, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the robotic system to autonomously perform all operations including navigation, coupling, task execution, and disconnection without requiring complex external control systems. The robot's onboard sensors and processors handle decision-making, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining autonomous operation for worker safety.
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A bucket manipulating device comprising a main body and a latching system translatable between a protruded state and a retracted state relative to the main body. The latching includes a coupling portion that engages a handle of a bucket positioned within a cabinet. When the latching system is in the protruded state, the bucket manipulating system is configured to move to a position in which the main body becomes secured against the bucket. The latching system is configured to move to the retracted state to couple the coupling portion and the handle while the main body is secured against the bucket whereby the bucket and the bucket manipulating device are coupled together for movement. When the bucket manipulating device is moved, the bucket is moved with the bucket manipulating device for displacement relative to the cabinet.