Robot Hand Conveyor Pivoting Mechanism for Extended Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot systems face limitations in transferring objects efficiently, particularly when the distance between piled items and a conveyor exceeds the movable range of the robotic arm, and in holding and placing objects on a conveyor without hindering further transfer.
Innovation Solution
A robot hand with a conveyor fixed to a robotic arm, featuring a pivoting part that is reciprocatable and pivotable, allowing the workpiece to be held and placed on a transferring surface while enabling the conveyor to move within the robotic arm's range, and a holding mechanism with suction parts to securely grip and position objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the robotic arm is used to transfer objects directly, then the transfer distance is limited by the arm's movable range, but extending the arm increases device complexity and reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer system is divided into two independent segments: a robotic arm for positioning and a conveyor for transfer. The robotic arm maintains a fixed base position while the conveyor moves independently along the transferring surface, allowing the system to handle objects at various distances without extending the arm itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A conveyor mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the robotic arm and the final destination. The conveyor belt moves objects from the holding part to the transferring surface, enabling transfer distances exceeding the robotic arm's reach while maintaining simple arm positioning.
2Productivity
If a holding mechanism is added to grasp and place objects, then object transfer capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding mechanism is merged with the conveyor assembly, where the holding part is positioned at the upstream end of the conveyor. This integration allows the holding and transferring functions to be performed by a unified structure, improving object transfer efficiency while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding mechanism utilizes the conveyor's movement to automatically place objects onto the transferring surface. Once the holding part releases the object, the conveyor belt itself completes the transfer operation without requiring separate placement mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall system.
3Productivity
If the pivoting part is added to enable workpiece-avoiding posture, then uninterrupted transfer is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting part is designed with rotational freedom around a pivot shaft, allowing it to dynamically change its position between a workpiece-holding posture (extending upstream) and a workpiece-avoiding posture (extending downstream). This dynamic adjustment enables uninterrupted conveyor operation while maintaining simple structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot includes a base attached to an end of a robotic arm, a conveyor fixed to the base, and a holder to hold a workpiece and place the workpiece on a transferring surface of the conveyor. The holder includes a pivot shaft extending along the conveyor in a transferring direction of the conveyor, and reciprocatable or telescopic in the transferring direction, a pivoting structure attached to the pivot shaft so as to be reciprocatable in the transferring direction, and pivotable centering on the pivot shaft in a plane in which a width direction perpendicular to the transferring direction intersects with a height direction perpendicular to the transferring direction and the width direction, and a holding structure upstream of the pivoting part in the transferring direction to hold the workpiece.