Industrial Robot Contact Panel External Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and connecting internal cables of industrial robots is problematic, requiring disassembly and specialized tools, which complicates assembly, maintenance, and adaptation to specific customer needs.
Innovation Solution
A contact panel mounted to a holder within the robot, accessible from the outside without disassembly, allowing easy connection and disconnection of cables without special tools, facilitating assembly, maintenance, and adaptation to customer-specific requirements, with a removable design for easy exchange and a fluid-tight cover for cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If internal cables are accessed through disassembly of robot components, then cable accessibility is improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contact panel is extracted from the internal structure and made accessible through openings in the cover, allowing cable connections to be made without disassembling robot components. The contacts protrude through the cover openings, enabling external access to internal cables while maintaining the integrity of the robot structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover with openings serves as an intermediary structure that allows access to internal cables without requiring disassembly of the robot. The contact panel with protruding contacts acts as a mediator between internal cables and external connections, enabling cable access while maintaining device integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If special tools are used for cable connection, then connection precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact panel is designed to be self-servicing, allowing cable connections to be made directly by inserting cables into the protruding contacts without requiring special tools. The design enables operators to perform cable connections themselves, improving ease of operation while maintaining adequate connection precision for the application.
3Device complexity
If contact panel is integrated into the cover, then device complexity is reduced, but assembly flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact panel is segmented as a separate component that can be independently positioned and connected to the holder before cover assembly. This segmentation allows the contact panel to be assembled in its final position within the robot structure, providing assembly flexibility while maintaining a simple integrated appearance when the cover is installed.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial robot including a contact panel having one or several contacts to allow connection to the industrial robot of one or several cables through which energy, signals or a substance may pass to and/or from the industrial robot. A cover forms part of an outer surface of the industrial robot. Each one of the one or several contacts of the contact panel protrudes through an opening in the cover so as to be accessible from the outside of the industrial robot. The contact panel is mounted to and supported by a holder that is secured in an internal cavity of the industrial robot so as to allow the contact panel to be held in place in the industrial robot when the cover is removed.