Robotic Arm Material Track With Micro Trolley Part Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic automation systems in manufacturing require robots to manually pick parts from storage trays each time they are needed, which is inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a track on the arm of a robotic system to move materials directly from storage trays to the robot, using a micro trolley and clamping system to facilitate efficient material transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robots manually pick parts from storage trays each time they are needed, then the system maintains simplicity in material delivery, but the productivity and efficiency of the robotic automation system deteriorates due to time-consuming operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares materials in advance by placing them in micro trolleys on tracks before they are needed. The micro trolleys are positioned and ready to deliver parts to the robotic arm, eliminating the need for robots to search or manually retrieve parts from storage trays during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces micro trolleys as intermediary carriers that transport materials between storage locations and the robotic arm. These micro trolleys move along tracks and can be positioned at specific locations, serving as a mediator that delivers parts directly to the robot without requiring manual intervention or robot movement to storage trays.
2Productivity
If robots focus on assembly tasks without interruptions, then productivity improves, but the system requires additional complexity in material delivery infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The material delivery system is segmented into multiple independent micro trolleys that operate on separate tracks. Each micro trolley can be controlled independently, allowing the system to manage material delivery for multiple parts simultaneously without requiring a single complex centralized delivery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension to material delivery by using tracks that run alongside the robotic arm's workspace. Micro trolleys can move along these tracks and position parts at different heights and locations, delivering materials from above or from the side rather than requiring the robot to move to separate storage areas.
3Loss of time
If materials are moved directly to the robot using a track system, then time for part retrieval is reduced, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The micro trolleys are designed as multi-functional units that can carry different types of parts and materials. They can be positioned at various locations along the track and can deliver different materials to the robotic arm, replacing multiple separate delivery mechanisms with a single universal system.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro trolleys are equipped with clamping systems that automatically grip and release parts without requiring additional robotic manipulation. The trolleys can position themselves along the track and use their own clamping mechanisms to transfer parts to the robotic arm, making the delivery system self-sufficient rather than requiring the main robot to handle all material manipulation.
Data Source
AI summary
In an approach for improving robotic automation systems, a processor receives a request for a set of materials for an activity to be performed. A processor identifies one or more materials of the set of materials. A processor determines a sequence of operations to move the one or more materials. A processor prompts a first robot to pick a first material at the place of origination using a clamping system and to deposit the first material in a first micro trolley. Responsive to determining an arm of the first robot is in a first orientation, a processor moves the first material along a first track on an arm of a multi-robotic system from the place of origination to the place of destination. A processor prompts a second robot to pick the first material from the first micro trolley at the place of destination using the clamping system.