Robotic Garden Tool Manual Blade Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic garden tools lack efficient manual blade height adjustment mechanisms that provide precise control and easy operation for varying grass heights, often requiring complex and cumbersome systems.
Innovation Solution
A robotic garden tool with a blade height adjustment mechanism featuring a manual actuator coupled to a cam interface within a cylindrical volume, allowing the blade to move axially in response to operator input, and including a detent mechanism for tactile feedback and biasing members for returning the blade to a raised position, enabling easy height adjustment with minimal manual rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual actuator with cam interface is used for blade height adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam interface converts rotational movement of the manual actuator into axial movement of the blade through geometric parameter changes. As the actuator rotates, the cam profile transforms the rotation angle into precise axial displacement, enabling easy height adjustment while maintaining controlled complexity through well-defined geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam interface acts as an intermediary mechanism between the manual actuator and the blade. It mediates the transformation from rotational input to axial output movement, providing a compact and efficient connection that simplifies the overall adjustment operation while containing the mechanical complexity within a localized interface.
2Productivity
If the blade can move appreciably with small actuator rotation, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam interface utilizes curved surfaces and rotational geometry to amplify small actuator rotations into larger blade displacements. The cam profile's geometric curvature enables a non-linear relationship between rotation angle and axial movement, allowing appreciable height changes with minimal rotation while the precision is maintained through standardized manufacturing of the cam surfaces.
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 allows for precise and easy manual adjustment of blade height, providing appreciable height changes with small actuator rotation, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The manual actuator is operably coupled to a cam interface. The cam interface is disposed within a cylindrical volume defined circumferentially by the cam interface and bounded axially by upper and lower distal ends of the cam interface. The blade is configured to move at least partially in the axial direction in response to movement of the manual actuator.
Data Source
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AI summary
A robotic garden tool having a deck, a blade, a motor, and a blade height adjustment mechanism. The blade is movably coupled to the deck. The motor is configured to move the blade about an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation defines an axial direction. The blade height adjustment mechanism includes a manual actuator configured to move in response to manual actuation by an operator. The manual actuator is operably coupled to a cam interface. The cam interface is disposed within a cylindrical volume defined circumferentially by the cam interface and bounded axially by upper and lower distal ends of the cam interface. The axis of rotation of the blade intersects the cylindrical volume. The blade is configured to move at least partially in the axial direction in response to movement of the manual actuator.