Robot Work Cell Transport Assembly for Fast Reinstallation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The disassembly, transport, and reassembly of modular work cells for production robots are complex and time-consuming, leading to high personnel and material costs due to the need for extensive electrical disconnection and reconnection of components.

Innovation Solution

A transport assembly configuration where the production robot, control cabinet, feed unit, and access form a coherent, electrically interconnected unit, allowing wall elements to be transported separately, reducing the need for complete disassembly and reassembly of electrical connections, and using a supporting frame to maintain component alignment and protection during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the work cell is designed as a fully modular system with separate wall elements, then flexibility and transportability are improved, but the disassembly and assembly work increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoiddisassembly and assembly work
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The work cell is divided into modular components (base module, wall elements, control cabinet) that can be independently transported and assembled. The base module contains the robot and feed unit, while wall elements surround the working area, allowing selective disassembly and reassembly without complete dismantling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control cabinet is integrated with the base module to form a unified transport assembly. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be handled during transport, thereby reducing disassembly and assembly work while maintaining modular flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all electrical connections are completely disconnected during transport, then component independence is improved, but the time and cost for rewiring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent independenceVSAvoidrewiring time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control cabinet is combined with the base module to form an integrated transport assembly. This integration allows electrical connections to remain intact during transport, eliminating the need for complete disconnection and reconnection of electrical lines, thereby reducing rewiring time and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control cabinet is pre-integrated with the base module before transport scenarios arise. This preliminary integration ensures that electrical connections are already established and protected, eliminating the need for time-consuming rewiring operations during subsequent transport and reassembly phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the control cabinet is separated from the base module, then modular flexibility is improved, but the electrical deinstallation and installation effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular flexibilityVSAvoidelectrical deinstallation and installation effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control cabinet is merged with the base module to create a unified transport assembly. This combination maintains modular flexibility by allowing the integrated unit to be transported as one piece, while simultaneously reducing electrical deinstallation and installation effort by eliminating the need to disconnect and reconnect electrical lines between these two components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If more components are dismantled for transport, then transportability is improved, but the personnel expenditure for assembly and disassembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidpersonnel expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control cabinet and base module are combined into a single transport assembly, reducing the total number of components that need to be handled during transport. This merging maintains transportability by creating a compact, integrated unit while simultaneously reducing personnel expenditure by minimizing the number of disassembly and assembly operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3351352B1Work cell for a manufacturing robot
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 BENTELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3351352B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3351352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3351352B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

Work cell for a manufacturing robot 2, which is arranged on a base module 17 within the modularly constructed work cell, wherein the work cell 1 comprises wall elements, a control cabinet 3 and an access point 11, as well as a feed unit 16 for workpieces arranged between the access point 11 and the manufacturing robot 2, wherein during transport the base module 17 of the at least one manufacturing robot 2, the control cabinet 3, the feed unit 16 and the access point 11 form a mechanically connected and electrically interconnected transport assembly 21, from which the wall elements can be transported separately.