Support assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Serving robots experience issues with food and/or drinks spilling or dishes falling due to impact or vibration during movement, leading to unstable support on the tray.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly comprising a lower frame, guide frames with curved sections, and connection frames with rollers that allow the upper frame to move in response to external forces, stabilizing the tray contents by compensating for vibrations and impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed rigid support structure is used on the moving robot, then the structure is simple and stable, but the food and drinks spill or dishes fall due to vibration and impact during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a fixed rigid design to a dynamic system where the upper frame can move independently relative to the lower frame. The curved guide frame allows the connection frame and upper frame to shift position in response to vibrations and impacts, dynamically adapting to maintain stability of objects on the tray while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
2Reliability
If a movable upper frame with rollers and curved guide frames is used to compensate for vibration, then the stability of food and drinks is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into distinct segments: a lower frame that remains relatively stationary, a connection frame with rollers, and an upper frame that holds the tray. The curved guide frame acts as a separate element that guides the movement between segments. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while working together to reduce the overall complexity compared to a fully rigid or fully flexible design.
3Device complexity
If the upper frame is completely fixed to the lower frame, then the structure is simple, but impact and vibration during robot movement cause food and drinks to spill
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide frame serves as an intermediary element between the lower frame and the upper frame. It allows controlled movement and absorbs shocks from vibrations and impacts, mediating the transmission of forces between the stationary lower frame and the tray-bearing upper frame. This intermediary structure protects the contents from harmful vibrations while maintaining structural integrity.
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 support assembly effectively stabilizes food and/or drinks on the tray by compensating for external forces, ensuring stable support during the robot's movement.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of rollers slide along the curved part of the guide frame
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly is provided. The support assembly includes: a lower frame configured to be mountable on one surface of a moving object; a guide frame configured such that one end is coupled to an upper surface of the lower frame, and at least a part of another end is curved toward where the lower frame is located; a connection frame configured such that one side includes a plurality of rollers spaced apart at a predetermined interval, and the plurality of rollers slide along the curved part of the guide frame; and an upper frame coupled to another side of the connection frame and configured to move in response to the plurality of rollers sliding along the curved part of the guide frame.