Collaborative Robot Line Clamping to Cut Cable Weight and Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for managing flexible lines in collaborative robots result in increased stiffness and weight, limiting the payload capacity when heavy tooling is used, as lines are bundled in conduits, which can exceed the robot's payload capacity.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative robot line management system comprising brackets with apertures and line clamps that securely manage and route flexible lines independently, reducing overall stiffness and weight, allowing for tooling that exceeds the robot's payload without the need for conduits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible lines are bundled in conduits to manage positioning and routing, then line management is improved, but the collective stiffness and weight increase, limiting payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bundled flexible lines into individual separate lines, each managed independently through brackets with apertures and line clamps. This segmentation eliminates the need for a heavy conduit while maintaining organized line management, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the flexible lines from the enclosing conduit structure, allowing them to be managed individually without the heavy protective bundling. This extraction removes the unnecessary weight while preserving the essential function of line management through alternative means (brackets and clamps).
2Ease of operation
If flexible lines are bundled in conduits to manage positioning and routing, then line management is improved, but the collective stiffness increases, limiting payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the flexible lines into individual managed entities rather than bundling them together in a conduit, the patent reduces the collective stiffness. Each line maintains its individual flexibility while being independently positioned and routed, eliminating the stiffening effect of bundling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin, flexible brackets and clamps to manage the lines instead of a rigid conduit. These flexible mounting components allow the lines to move and flex independently without the restrictive stiffness of a solid conduit structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If conduits and mounting hardware are used to manage flexible lines, then line positioning is improved, but the available payload of the collaborative robot is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the heavy conduit-and-hardware system with segmented, lightweight brackets and clamps that provide precise line positioning. This segmentation allows for accurate line management while minimizing the weight added to the robot system, thereby preserving payload capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, lightweight, and inexpensive bracket and clamp components instead of heavy-duty conduit systems. These simpler components achieve the necessary positioning function with minimal weight, effectively trading complex heavy structures for simple lightweight alternatives.
4Adaptability or versatility
If tooling is attached to the end effector to enable collaborative robot operation, then task capability is improved, but the payload capacity is exceeded when heavy tooling is used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the weight burden of the conduit and mounting hardware system, thereby increasing the available payload capacity. This weight reduction allows heavy tooling to be attached to the end effector without exceeding the robot's payload limits, enabling greater task capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the weight parameter of the line management system by replacing heavy conduits with lightweight brackets and clamps. This parameter change in the line management system's weight directly increases the available payload, allowing heavy tooling to be used while maintaining task capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A collaborative robot line management system comprises a first bracket and a second bracket. The collaborative robot line management system is operable to manage the positioning and routing of a plurality of flexible lines relative to a collaborative robot. The first bracket comprises a support portion having a plurality of apertures formed therein, and a collaborative robot mounting portion configured to interface with a first mount of a collaborative robot. The second bracket comprises a support portion having a plurality of apertures formed therein, and a collaborative robot mounting portion configured to interface with a second mount of a collaborative robot. The collaborative robot mounting portions of the first and second brackets facilitate mounting of the first and second brackets to the collaborative robot at first and second mounting locations, respectively.