Robot Enable Switch Dial With Finger Rest to Reduce Operator Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operation terminals for industrial robots require continuous application of force to maintain the enable switch in an intermediate position, leading to user fatigue and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The operation terminal incorporates a rotary-type safety control unit with a detection unit that allows operation when the safety operation member is at a predetermined rotary position, and includes a finger rest to reduce the dependence on finger force for maintaining this position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the enable switch requires continuous force application to maintain intermediate position, then the robot operation can be safely enabled, but the operator experiences finger fatigue and reduced work efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A finger rest is introduced as an intermediary component between the operator's finger and the safety operation member. The finger rest supports the finger in the intermediate position, allowing the operator to maintain the enabled state without continuous muscular effort. The finger rest acts as a mechanical mediator that transfers the holding function from active muscle force to passive structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety control mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the safety operation member for position control and the finger rest for support. This segmentation allows the holding function to be separated from the positioning function, reducing the operational burden on the operator while maintaining safety control reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the operator must maintain constant finger force to hold the safety operation member, then the intermediate position is maintained reliably, but work efficiency decreases due to operator fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The finger rest serves as a stable intermediary structure that maintains the safety operation member in the intermediate position without requiring continuous operator effort. This mediator provides positional stability through its fixed structure rather than through active force application, thereby improving work efficiency while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static force-balanced state (requiring continuous operator effort) to a dynamic support state where the finger rest actively maintains position. The finger rest can adapt to finger position variations while maintaining the enabled state, providing stability without requiring operator intervention.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An operation terminal (15B) for an industrial robot is provided. The operation terminal incudes an enable switch (49B) provided with a control dial (81) rotatable about an axial line (CL1) extending in the thickness direction of the operation terminal and a sensor unit (82). The sensor unit detects that the dial position is at a second position in a rotary range of the control dial. The rotary range has also first and third positions in the rotary range. When the rotary position of the control dial is at the second position, the robot main body is allowed to operate, and when the rotary position is at the first or third position, the robot main body is disallowed to operate. Around the control dial 81, a finger rest (92) is formed on which the operator can place the fingers (F1, F2) which are operating the control dial (81) when the operator rotates and holds the control dial (81) at the second position.