Robot Piston Lubrication and O-Ring Mounting to Cut Assembly Defects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual application of lubricant to pistons in dampers results in high defect probability and significant manpower loss during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using a robot to automate the process of applying lubricant to pistons and mounting O-rings, comprising a piston supply unit, lubricant application unit, O-ring supply unit, and a robot for transferring and mounting components, which includes specific mechanisms for aligning, rotating, and gripping pistons and O-rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual application of lubricant is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but defect probability increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a robot to automatically perform lubricant application and O-ring mounting without human intervention. The robot picks up pistons from the piston supply unit, applies lubricant through the lubricant application unit, mounts O-rings from the O-ring supply unit, and places assembled components on the assembled component storage unit, creating a self-service automated assembly system that eliminates manual operations and reduces defects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system. The robot arm performs picking, lubricant application, and assembly operations that were previously done manually. The system substitutes human labor with automated mechanical systems including the robot, piston supply unit, lubricant application unit, and O-ring supply unit, thereby improving reliability while accepting increased system complexity
2Productivity
If manual assembly is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity is reduced due to manpower loss
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assembly system is divided into distinct functional modules: piston supply unit, lubricant application unit, O-ring supply unit, robot, and assembled component storage unit. Each unit performs a specific function in the assembly process, allowing for modular design and improved productivity through specialized automation while managing complexity through functional segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares components in advance for assembly. The piston supply unit prepositions pistons, the lubricant application unit pre-applies lubricant to pistons, and the O-ring supply unit prepositions O-rings before the robot performs the final assembly. This preliminary preparation of components enables continuous high-speed assembly operations, significantly improving productivity
3Reliability
If automated assembly is implemented, then productivity increases and defects are minimized, but the apparatus becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The robot serves multiple functions in the assembly process: it picks up pistons from the piston supply unit, transfers them to the lubricant application unit, retrieves lubricated pistons, picks up O-rings from the O-ring supply unit, mounts O-rings on pistons, and places completed assemblies on the storage unit. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple operations into a single device, improving assembly quality through consistent automated execution while managing complexity by reducing the number of separate devices needed
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure proposes an apparatus for parts supply and lubricant application using a robot, which may automate a process for applying a lubricant to a piston to promote a piston movement of a damper and mounting an O-ring on the piston. The apparatus for parts supply and lubricant application using a robot may include a piston supply unit that supplies at least one piston, a lubricant application unit that applies the lubricant to the at least one piston supplied from the piston supply unit, an O-ring supply unit that supplies an O-ring to be mounted on the at least one piston to which the lubricant is applied by the lubricant application unit, and a first robot that transfers the at least one piston supplied by the piston supply unit to the lubricant application unit, and mounts the O-ring supplied from the O-ring supply unit on the at least one piston to which the lubricant is applied by the lubricant application unit.