Robot Cable Drive Wheels for Retraction Without Cable Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Effective cable management is crucial for mobile industrial robots to prevent premature wear, damage, or obstruction of cables, which can lead to temporary inoperability or entanglement of moving parts.
Innovation Solution
A cable management drive system that includes a storage container enclosing a cable bundle with drive wheels and a drive mechanism, allowing for efficient extension and retraction of the cable bundle using a driver system with a motor or manual crank, and featuring release levers for manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cables are extended to allow mobile robot movement, then robot mobility is improved, but cable wear and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system employs dynamic reel mechanisms that automatically wind and unwind cables based on robot movement, transitioning the cable from a static constraint to a dynamically managed resource. This prevents excessive cable extension and retraction cycles that cause wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable reel acts as an intermediary device between the power source and the mobile robot, buffering mechanical stresses and movements. The reel absorbs tension and guides cable routing, protecting the cable from direct exposure to wear-inducing forces during robot manipulation.
2Reliability
If cables are managed with complex mechanisms, then cable protection is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system utilizes the robot's own movement to drive the cable reel through integrated sensors and automatic winding mechanisms. The system self-regulates cable tension and routing without requiring external intervention or complex manual control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable reel mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores excess cable, guides cable routing, absorbs mechanical tension, and provides tension sensing for robot control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
3Volume of moving object
If cables are retracted for compact storage, then space efficiency is improved, but cable access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable reel pre-positions and pre-tensions the cable during robot movement, so that when the robot needs to move or change position, the cable is already routed and tensioned appropriately. This eliminates the time delay associated with cable deployment and repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management system maintains continuous cable tension and routing during robot operation, ensuring the cable remains ready for immediate use. The automatic winding and guidance mechanisms keep the cable in a state of preparedness without requiring periodic repositioning or redeployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable management drive system for extending and retracting cable bundles is provided. The cable management drive system includes a cable bundle configured to provide power signals or data signals to an industrial robot configured to perform a service. The cable bundle is configured to couple to the industrial robot. The cable management drive system includes a plurality of drive wheels coupled to a drive mechanism and configured to cause the cable bundle to be extended to facilitate a deployment of the industrial robot to perform the service and to be retracted to facilitate a withdrawal of the industrial robot upon performance of the service, and a driver system coupled to the plurality of drive wheels and the drive mechanism. The driver system is configured to power the drive wheels and the drive mechanism to cause the cable bundle to be extended and retracted.