Industrial Robot Hand with Interchangeable Suction and Grip Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots used for handling semiconductor wafers require either grip or suction holding methods, leading to higher manufacturing costs due to the need for both units, even if only one is necessary for specific applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular hand for industrial robots featuring interchangeable grip and suction holding units, where the support portion includes an air flow path connected to a suction hole and a unit for pressing the wafer, allowing for both methods without the need for both units to be manufactured into the hand initially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both grip holding unit and suction holding unit are incorporated into the hand, then the hand can be used for different applications (versatility is improved), but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hand is divided into separate functional modules: a support portion and interchangeable mounting portions. The grip holding unit and suction holding unit are separated into different mounting portions that can be attached independently to the support portion, allowing users to purchase only the needed unit rather than requiring both units to be integrated into a single hand structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion is designed with universal interfaces and structures that can accommodate both grip-type and suction-type mounting portions. The air flow path and attachment mechanisms are configured to work with either type of holding unit, enabling a single hand base to perform multiple functions through interchangeable modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hand incorporates both grip and suction units, then it can handle different wafer types (adaptability is improved), but the sales price increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand system is segmented into a reusable support portion and interchangeable mounting portions. Users purchase the support portion once and then only need to buy the specific mounting portion type (grip or suction) required for their application, rather than purchasing an expensive integrated hand with both units built-in, thereby reducing the overall cost while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows users to discard or replace mounting portions based on specific application needs while recovering and reusing the expensive support portion structure. This approach reduces the total cost of ownership by enabling selective replacement of only the consumable or application-specific components rather than the entire hand assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hand is designed with interchangeable mounting portions, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into modules does increase the number of components, it simplifies the manufacturing of each individual component and allows for standardized production of mounting portions. The support portion contains integrated air flow paths and attachment structures that, while complex in design, are manufactured once and reused, offsetting the complexity through economies of scale.
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
This design reduces manufacturing costs by allowing the hand to be used in different ways for various applications while enabling users to purchase and attach only the necessary units, thus providing flexibility and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
a suction hole through which the object to be conveyed is sucked to be held
Data Source
AI summary
A hand for an industrial robot allowing use thereof in different ways for different applications while reducing manufacturing costs and an industrial robot including the hand are provided. A hand includes a support portion configured to support either a suction wafer mounting portion or a grip wafer mounting portion, and the support portion includes an air flow path connected to a suction hole in a state where the support portion supports the suction wafer mounting portion and one of a suction unit including a connecting member that connects a tip end of an air pipe to the air flow path and a grip unit that can press an end surface of a wafer in a state where the support portion supports the grip wafer mounting portion, and further includes an attachment portion used for attaching the other one of the suction unit and the grip unit.