Robotic Marking End Effector With Guide Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing end effectors for robotic systems struggle to consistently and reliably mark distinctive patterns on uneven or angled surfaces, as they lack effective mechanisms for guiding and securing markers during the marking process.
Innovation Solution
The proposed marking end effector features a housing with a cylindrical cavity and guide slots, a marker holder assembly with guide bearings and a biasing member, and a locking mechanism to securely position and rotate markers relative to the surface, ensuring consistent pattern marking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing end effectors are used for marking surfaces, then marking can be performed, but the marking is not consistent or reliable on uneven or angled surfaces due to lack of effective guiding and securing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide slots as intermediary elements that mediate between the marker holder assembly and the housing. These guide slots provide a controlled path for the marker holder to follow during marking operations, ensuring consistent positioning and motion on uneven or angled surfaces without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker holder assembly is designed to self-align and self-position within the housing through the guide slots and bearing axles. The system automatically maintains proper positioning during marking operations without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms, achieving reliable marking through self-contained mechanical guidance.
2Manufacturing precision
If markers are not securely positioned, then the marking process is simple, but the marking precision and pattern consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to pre-position and secure markers in their correct orientations before marking begins. The bearing axles and guide slots establish the proper alignment in advance, ensuring that markers are correctly positioned and constrained before the marking process starts, which maintains precision without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If the marker holder does not rotate and translate precisely, then the mechanism is simpler, but the pattern marking accuracy and reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: guide slots in the housing, bearing axles supporting the marker holder, and locking mechanism elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the guide slots define the path, the bearing axles enable smooth rotation and translation, and the locking mechanism secures positioning - achieving precise pattern marking through coordinated simple elements rather than a single complex mechanism.
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
This solution enables the robotic system to accurately mark patterns, including circles, on various surface types by ensuring precise marker alignment and motion control, resulting in reliable and consistent marking results.
Implementation Method 1
a marker holder biasing member provided between the cavity base and the marker holder assembly and configured to apply a longitudinal biasing force on the marker holder assembly
Implementation Method 2
the first guide bearing is configured to operatively engage with the first guide slot of the housing to support and guide a motion of the marker holder relative to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A marking end effector for a robotic system is disclosed for marking a target surface. The end effector includes a housing including a cylindrical cavity and guide slots. The end effector also includes a marker holder assembly including a cylindrical marker holder and guide bearings. A biasing member is provided between the marker holder assembly and a base of the cavity. The marker holder rotates and translates when the end effector is advanced toward the target surface, and a pattern is correspondingly marked on the surface.