Industrial Robot Trailing Stop With Plastically Deformable Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial robots with limited carousel rotation to less than 360° require mechanical enhancements to allow for full 360° or more rotation without risking damage from collisions, and existing solutions do not adequately address the energy absorption and protection of the base and carousel during such rotations.
Innovation Solution
An industrial robot with a mechanical stop device featuring a slider, a trailing stop with a plastically deformable damping element, and a drive dog that limits carousel rotation by pushing the trailing stop against a stop, allowing for 360° or more rotation while absorbing kinetic energy through plastic deformation to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical stop device with a trailing stop is used to limit carousel rotation, then the carousel can rotate 360° or more, but the risk of damage from collisions between the drive dog and the trailing stop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing stop is equipped with a damping element made of plastically deformable material that is positioned to collide with the drive dog before the drive dog can collide with the slider stop. This beforehand cushioning absorbs the impact energy through plastic deformation, preventing damage to the carousel and base while enabling 360° or more rotation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping coating is applied to the trailing stop to reduce collision damage, then the risk of damage is reduced, but the trailing stop may tip over during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is positioned specifically at the collision zone of the trailing stop where impact occurs, while the rest of the trailing stop maintains its structural integrity and stability. This localized damping approach reduces collision damage without compromising the overall stability of the trailing stop during operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple damping elements are used to protect the carousel and base, then the protection is enhanced, but the device complexity and construction space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is merged into the trailing stop itself by integrating the plastically deformable damping element directly into the trailing stop structure. This eliminates the need for separate damping elements and reduces device complexity while maintaining effective protection against collision damage.
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
The solution enables the carousel to rotate 360° or more while minimizing the risk of damage by absorbing energy, thus protecting the robot's components and reducing the need for multiple damping elements, thereby optimizing the design and reducing potential construction space.
Implementation Method 1
the trailing stop including a plastically deformable damping element that is provided to brake the carousel due to a plastic deformation, caused by the trailing stop being pushed against the relevant stop by the drive dog
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an industrial robot, having a multiple-axis robot arm, with a base, a carousel that is rotatably supported relative to the base in reference to an axis and a mechanical stop device provided to limit a rotary motion of the carousel relative to the base. The stop device has a slider situated on the base, with stops situated at its ends, a trailing stop situated in the slider and a drive dog situated on the carousel. The drive dog and the slider are designed so that the drive dog is introduced into the slider by a corresponding rotary motion of the carousel relative to the axis and pushes the trailing stop against the relative stop. The trailing stop includes a plastically deformable damping element, which is provided to brake the carousel due to a plastic deformation caused by the trailing stop being pushed against the relevant stop by the drive dog.