Robot Hand Width Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot hands rely on power sources like air cylinders or electric actuators to adjust hand width, which increases weight and complexity, limiting their ability to adapt to various workpiece sizes without operator intervention.
Innovation Solution
A robot hand design featuring a pair of movable members with a width adjusting mechanism that allows relative movement in the width direction, controlled by the robot body or operator, eliminating the need for a power source and incorporating a lock mechanism to stabilize the hand width, using a rack and pinion or gear system for precise adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a power source (air cylinder or electric actuator) is installed in the robot hand to adjust hand width, then the hand width can be changed, but the weight of the robot hand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power source is extracted from the robot hand and relocated to an independent position. The robot hand now uses a passive width adjusting mechanism that relies on the robot body's movement or operator input rather than an onboard motor, thereby eliminating the weight penalty while retaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary mechanism (width adjusting mechanism with rack and pinion or gear system) is introduced between the control input (robot body operation or manual knob) and the movable members. This intermediary translates rotational or linear motion into width adjustment without requiring a power source within the hand itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a power source is installed in the robot hand to adjust hand width, then the hand width can be changed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The power source and its associated control systems are extracted from the robot hand structure. The remaining mechanism consists of passive mechanical components (movable members, width adjusting mechanism, lock mechanism) that are simpler in design and easier to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The width adjusting mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the robot body's movement or simple manual operation of a knob. The lock mechanism automatically secures the width adjustment position without requiring additional actuators or control systems, reducing overall structural complexity.
3Weight of moving object
If the robot hand is designed to be lightweight by using an independent power source, then the weight is reduced, but operator intervention is required for width adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The width adjusting mechanism is designed to accept multiple types of input: it can be operated manually by rotating a knob, or it can be driven automatically by the robot body's movement. This multi-functionality allows the same lightweight mechanism to serve both manual and automated operation modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The width adjusting mechanism acts as an intermediary that can translate either manual knob rotation or robot body movement into width adjustment. This intermediary design enables automatic operation when the robot body moves, while still allowing manual override when needed.
4Weight of moving object
If the robot hand is designed to be lightweight by using an independent power source, then the weight is reduced, but the structure becomes simpler
Solution Approach 1:
The width adjusting mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the robot body's movement or simple manual operation of a knob. The lock mechanism automatically secures the width adjustment position without requiring additional actuators or control systems, reducing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot hand includes a pair of movable members that is detachable from a wrist flange of a robot body and that are arranged at a distance from each other; holding parts that are provided on the movable members and that hold a workpiece; and a width adjusting mechanism that supports the pair of movable members so as to allow relative movement thereof in a width direction and that adjusts a distance B between the pair of movable members by means of the relative movement of the pair of movable members in the width direction (A). The pair of movable members are relatively moved in the width direction as a result of the width adjusting mechanism.