Industrial Robot Layout for Flexible Cable and Pipe Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional horizontally articulated robots for transferring semiconductor wafers have a bulky design that restricts flexibility in routing pipes and cables within the EFEM housing, as the arm's base end is positioned adjacent to the housing's front surface, limiting space for cable and pipe routing.
Innovation Solution
The industrial robot features a thinner main body portion with an elevating unit and a guide mechanism, allowing the arm to be positioned adjacent to the EFEM housing's side surface, enabling increased flexibility in routing by using a protruding portion for cable and pipe placement below the elevating unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the arm's base end is positioned adjacent to the housing's front surface, then the robot structure is stable and the arm can operate, but the routing flexibility for pipes and cables is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the arm's base end from the front surface to the side surface of the housing, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This dimensional change allows pipes and cables to be routed along the front surface without interfering with the arm's base, thereby improving routing flexibility while maintaining structural stability.
2Volume of moving object
If the main body portion is made thinner, then the robot occupies less space and routing flexibility improves, but the structural strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure for the main body portion, combining multiple materials or structural elements to achieve both thinness and sufficient strength. This allows the main body to be made thinner while maintaining the necessary structural integrity and stability for robot operation.
3Productivity
If the arm length is ensured for proper operation, then the robot can perform its function, but the housing size increases and routing space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning the arm's base to the side surface of the housing, the patent optimizes the spatial arrangement, allowing the arm to extend forward without increasing the housing's front-rear depth. This enables proper arm length for operational efficiency while minimizing the housing volume and maximizing routing space.
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 configuration allows for a thinner main body and enhanced flexibility in routing cables and pipes within the EFEM housing, improving operational efficiency and reducing interference with the housing's internal surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an elevating mechanism (22) for raising/lowering the elevating unit (20)
Implementation Method 2
a guide mechanism (23) having a guide rail (38) and a guide block (39) that engages with the guide rail (38) to guide the elevating unit (20) in the top-bottom direction
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This application is to provide an industrial robot in which a main body portion, to which the base end side of an arm is rotatably joined, can be made thin. For instance, this industrial robot is equipped with hands, on which objects-to-be-transferred are to be mounted, an arm, with which the hand is rotatably joined to the front end side thereof, and a main body portion 7, with which the base end side of the arm is rotatably joined; the main body portion 7 is provided with an elevating unit 20, to which the base end side of the arm is rotatably joined on the top surface side thereof, a housing 21, which holds the elevating unit 20 to be raised/lowered and in which at least part of the bottom end of the elevating unit 20 is housed, and an elevating mechanism 22 for raising/lowering the elevating unit 20. The elevating mechanism 22 is housed in the housing 21 such that it aligns with the elevating unit when viewed in the top-bottom direction.