Robot Tray Assembly with Vibration-Absorbing Pad for Spill Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tray assemblies in serving robots are prone to instability during movement, leading to potential food and beverage spills due to inadequate mounting and vibration transmission, and pose challenges for maintenance due to complex detachment processes.
Innovation Solution
A tray assembly comprising a first tray fixedly mounted to a robot, a second tray rotatably coupled to the first tray, and pad assemblies with rolling and elastic members that absorb impact and vibration, allowing for stable food and beverage serving and easy maintenance through a secure, yet detachable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tray is stably mounted to the robot, then the tray does not separate from the robot, but the impact or vibration is directly transmitted to the foods or beverages causing spills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vibration-absorbing pad as an intermediary element positioned between the tray and the robot's main body. This pad serves as a mediator that decouples the direct mechanical connection, allowing the tray to remain stably mounted while absorbing vibrations and impacts before they can be transmitted to the foods or beverages on the tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration-absorbing pad is pre-installed between the tray and the robot body to provide cushioning before impact occurs. This beforehand cushioning prepares the system to absorb upcoming vibrations and shocks, preventing them from reaching the tray contents and causing spills, while still maintaining secure mounting.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tray is securely mounted to absorb vibrations, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the detachment process becomes complex for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly is segmented into separable components: the tray itself, the vibration-absorbing pad, and the mounting structure. This segmentation allows the tray and pad to be easily detached from the robot body for maintenance or cleaning by simply removing mounting screws, while still providing effective vibration absorption when assembled. Each component can be independently serviced without complex disassembly procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple mounting structure is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mounting stability during robot movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration-absorbing pad acts as an intermediary that enhances the effectiveness of a relatively simple mounting structure. While the mounting screws and base plate remain structurally simple and easy to manufacture, the pad provides the necessary vibration isolation to ensure stability during robot movement, effectively decoupling the simplicity of the mounting structure from the stability of the overall assembly.
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 tray assembly effectively stabilizes food and beverage serving by absorbing vibrations and impacts, preventing spills and facilitating maintenance by allowing easy separation and reassembly.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member having at least one end fixedly connected to an interior of the at least one pad assembly. When the second tray is rotated relative to the first tray, the second tray is configured to be returned to its original position by virtue of a restoring force of an elastic member of the pad assembly
Implementation Method 2
at least one rolling member provided in a direction toward the first tray
Data Source
AI summary
A tray includes a first tray configured to be fixedly mounted to a robot; a second tray provided above the first tray and configured to be rotatably coupled to the first tray; and at least one pad assembly positioned between the first tray and the second tray. Each of the at least one pad assembly includes at least one rolling member provided in a direction toward the first tray and an elastic member having at least one end fixedly connected to an interior of the at least one pad assembly. The at least one pad assembly is coupled to the second tray and is mounted to be rotatable relative to the first tray. When the second tray is rotated relative to the first tray, the second tray is configured to be returned to its original position by virtue of a restoring force of an elastic member of the pad assembly.