Robot Weather Strip Fitting With Pressing and Guide Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of vehicle door weather strips is challenging due to their complex shape and flexible material, requiring multiple workers and leading to high defect rates and inefficiency, with potential noise and water ingress if not accurately fitted.
Innovation Solution
A weather strip installation apparatus using a robot arm with a pressing part and guide part, equipped with a camera sensor and controller, to automate the fitting process, ensuring precise alignment and reducing defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual fitting work is performed by multiple workers, then the weather strip can be installed, but the work requires a lot of time and the defect rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical fitting operation with an automated robotic system. The robot arm equipped with a pressing part automatically performs the fitting operation, eliminating the need for multiple workers and manual manipulation, thereby improving both productivity and fitting accuracy through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing part is designed to automatically press and fit the weather strip into the door frame without requiring manual intervention. The system performs self-service by autonomously completing the entire fitting process from positioning to final installation, reducing both time and human error.
2Manufacturing precision
If the weather strip is manually fitted, then installation can be completed, but accurate work is not easy to be realized due to complicated shape and flexible material
Solution Approach 1:
The complex manual manipulation required for accurate fitting of complicated-shaped, flexible weather strips is replaced by a robotic system. The robot arm with controlled pressing part provides consistent, precise force application that is difficult to achieve manually, ensuring high fitting precision regardless of the weather strip's complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing part applies controlled pressure parameters to the weather strip during installation. By adjusting and maintaining optimal pressing force and duration, the system achieves consistent fitting precision for flexible materials with complicated shapes, overcoming the limitations of manual force control.
3Productivity
If automated installation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but the complexity of the installation apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated installation system is divided into distinct functional modules: a robot arm for positioning, a pressing part for application, and a guide part for alignment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall system manageable and maintainable despite the automation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm serves multiple functions including positioning, moving, and pressing the weather strip. The pressing part not only applies force but also guides the weather strip into place. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, managing apparatus complexity while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented is a weather strip installation apparatus comprising: a base provided at a robot arm; a pressing part provided at an end portion of the base so as to press a weather strip toward an installation part, thereby insert-coupling the weather strip to the installation part; and a guide part, which is provided on the base at a position spaced apart from the pressing part, is elongated or contracted toward the weather strip with respect to the base, and grips or releases the weather strip. According to the weather strip installation apparatus of the present invention, a weather strip can be automatically installed such that working efficiency can be improved and defect rate can be remarkably reduced. In addition, a robot is used, and the weight thereof is reduced through simplification of an installation device, and thus precise robot control and fitting operation control are possible.