Robotic Lubricant Injection System with Flow Rate Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricant injection systems are labor-intensive and prone to errors when dealing with machines that have multiple filler ports, requiring manual attachment and detachment of discharge parts and varying lubricant quantities, leading to complexity and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robotic lubricant injection system with a pedestal, robotic arm, lubricant injecting hand, robot control device, lubricant pumping device, and flow rate sensor that automatically controls the lubricant pumping and attachment to each filler port, ensuring accurate and efficient lubricant delivery without manual labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a centralized greasing system with distributing valve is used to supply lubricant to multiple filler ports, then the quantity of lubricant can be controlled for each filler port, but the system complexity increases due to additional piping and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lubricant injection system into multiple independent injection units, each capable of independently injecting lubricant into a specific filler port. This segmentation allows precise control of injection quantity for each port without requiring a complex centralized distributing valve system, as each unit operates autonomously with its own pump and control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection units are designed with universal functionality to handle multiple filler ports. Each injection unit can be positioned and connected to different filler ports sequentially or simultaneously, allowing the same hardware design to serve multiple locations without requiring dedicated piping for each port, thus reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If manual attachment and detachment of discharge part to each filler port is performed, then the system structure can be simplified, but the labor time and operation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The injection units are equipped with automatic attachment and detachment mechanisms that enable self-service operation. The units can automatically connect to filler ports, perform injection, and disconnect without requiring manual intervention for each operation, thereby maintaining simple system structure while eliminating labor-intensive manual attachment and detachment processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical attachment operations with automated mechanical or robotic systems. The injection units incorporate automated positioning and connection mechanisms that substitute human labor with machine automation, allowing simple system structure to operate without manual intervention for attaching and detaching discharge parts to multiple filler ports.
3Device complexity
If the discharge part is moved and attached to each filler port sequentially, then a single pump can serve all ports, but the injection time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the lubricant delivery function into multiple independent injection units, each with its own pumping capability. This allows simultaneous injection into multiple filler ports rather than sequential injection from a single pump, significantly improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection units are pre-positioned and pre-connected to their respective filler ports before the injection process begins. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for sequential movement and attachment operations during injection, allowing all ports to receive lubricant simultaneously or in parallel, thereby maximizing injection efficiency and productivity.
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 system reduces labor and ensures exact lubricant quantities are injected into each filler port, simplifying the process even when filler ports are scattered, by automating the attachment and quantity control through a centralized lubricant pumping system.
Implementation Method 1
a flow rate sensor provided to the lubricant pumping channel and configured to send the detected flow rate information to the robot control device
Implementation Method 2
a lubricant pumping device, of which pumping of lubricant is controlled by the robot control device
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant injection system is provided, which includes a pedestal, a robotic arm including a plurality of arm bodies sequentially coupled from pedestal, lubricant injecting hand having a discharge part configured to be sequentially coupled to each of a plurality of filler ports of a target machine, robot control device configured to control operation of robotic arm, a lubricant pumping device in which pumping of lubricant is controlled, a lubricant pumping channel configured to lead lubricant from the lubricant pumping device to the discharge part, and a flow rate sensor provided to the lubricant pumping channel and configured to send the detected flow rate information to the robot control device. Robot control device calculates an injection quantity based on the flow rate information sent from flow rate sensor, and when calculated injection quantity reaches target injection quantity, robot control device controls to stop pumping of lubricant.