Robot Arm Cable Guide With Spring Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable guide devices for industrial robots often result in sagging cables that interfere with the robot's working area, limiting mobility due to rigid designs that do not effectively manage cable retraction and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A cable guide device featuring a spring system that automatically retracts the supply cable using spring force, combined with a fastening and adjustment mechanism that allows movement with respect to the robot arm, enabling active or passive control of cable extraction and retraction, and a flexible design that extends the tracking distance without additional guide means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid cable guide device is used, then the cable is held in a fixed position, but the robot arm's mobility is limited and cables may sag and interfere with the working area
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide device incorporates a spring system that allows the cable to dynamically adjust its position. The spring enables the cable to be pulled out when needed and automatically returns it to its retracted position, transforming the rigid fixed-position system into a dynamic adaptive system that maintains cable stability while allowing robot mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant and pre-tension force are carefully selected to achieve optimal cable retraction. By adjusting these parameters, the system maintains sufficient tension to prevent cable sagging while allowing smooth cable extraction and retraction, resolving the contradiction between cable position stability and robot mobility
2Reliability
If additional guide means are added to improve cable tracking, then cable management is enhanced, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cable guidance function from complex external guide structures and integrates it into a simple spring-based retraction mechanism. The spring system inherently guides the cable back to its storage position without requiring additional guide rails, pulleys, or complex mechanical structures, thus maintaining reliable cable tracking while minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The spring system provides self-service cable retraction without requiring external control mechanisms or additional guide components. The elastic potential energy stored in the spring automatically pulls the cable back to its retracted position, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or complex control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable cable management
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 solution ensures cables are kept retracted, preventing interference with the robot's workspace and enhancing mobility by allowing flexible movement with the robot arm, while maintaining effective tracking and potentially reducing device size and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a spring system, which is designed to return the supply cable by means of a spring force automatically from an extracted state of the supply cable into a retracted state of the supply cable
Data Source
AI summary
A cable guide device for guiding at least one supply cable along a robot arm includes a supply cable and a spring system configured to automatically return the supply cable from an extracted state into a retracted state. The device, has a front end section in the direction of extraction of the supply cable, and a rear end section in the direction of extraction of the supply cable. The device further includes a spring system seat permanently connected to the supply cable and on which the rear end section of the spring system is mounted, an abutment seat on which the front end section of the spring system is mounted, a fastening device configured to fasten the cable guide device to a link of the robot arm, and an adjustment device carrying the abutment seat and configured to mount the abutment seat for movement with respect to the fastening device.