Industrial Robot Suspended Unit Compactness via Cable Bend Nesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial robots with suspended units on straight axes face challenges in compactness due to the large height of the suspended unit, resulting in inefficient use of space under the straight-moving axes.
Innovation Solution
The industrial robot design incorporates a suspended unit with a cable supporting means featuring a bent portion with a curved surface, allowing the drive source to be positioned inside the bent portion, effectively utilizing the dead space and maintaining compactness by offsetting the suspended unit from the axis center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the suspended unit is constituted by arranging a drive source and a movable member in the height direction, then the suspended unit can be suspended on a straight axis, but the height size of the suspended unit becomes large and the whole robot system becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by repositioning the drive source from a vertical arrangement (height direction) to a horizontal arrangement within the bent portion of the cable supporting means. This spatial reconfiguration transforms the layout from one-dimensional vertical stacking to two-dimensional planar distribution, reducing the height dimension while utilizing previously unused horizontal space within the cable path.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive source is nested within the bent portion of the cable supporting means, effectively placing one component (drive source) inside the spatial envelope created by another component's path (cable bent portion). This nesting approach allows the drive source to occupy dead space that would otherwise be unused, thereby reducing the overall height of the suspended unit without interfering with cable operations.
2Productivity
If the suspended unit is suspended on a straight axis with conventional configuration, then the suspended unit can move in a straight line, but the space just under the straight axis becomes dead space that cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful dead space under the straight axis into a beneficial location for housing the drive source. By positioning the drive source within the bent portion of the cable supporting means that extends into this previously useless area, the invention transforms wasted space into functional space, thereby increasing overall system compactness without compromising the straight-line movement capability of the suspended unit.
3Ease of manufacture
If parts of the same size as conventional technology are used, then component compatibility is maintained, but the whole robot system becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drive source movable rather than fixed in position. The drive source is designed to move integrately with the suspended unit, allowing it to dynamically occupy the bent portion of the cable supporting means during operation. This dynamic positioning enables the use of standard-sized components while achieving compact system integration, as the drive source adapts its position rather than requiring custom-sized components.
Data Source
AI summary
Since the rotating unit is disposed so that the drive part, which constitutes the rotating unit, is located in the inner side of the bent portion with the curved surface of the CABLEVEYOR in the side of the straight axis, there is no problem occurs by locating the drive part connected with the rotating unit in the inner side of the bent portion of the CABLEVEYOR. Therefore, the dead space formed in the inner side of the bent portion of the CABLEVEYOR can be used effectively.