Rotatable Cable Routing in Scanning Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning units for position-measuring devices face challenges in achieving a space-saving design while maintaining accurate measurements, as the large permissible bend radius of cables affects measuring accuracy and the addition of sockets for cable management increases complexity and reduces sealing reliability.
Innovation Solution
A scanning unit with a rotatable member that has a first section extending in the measurement direction and a second section angled at 90°, allowing for flexible routing of electrical leads without bending forces and enabling easy adaptation to mounting situations, while maintaining accurate position measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cable is bent to adapt to mounting situations, then the direction of the cable can be adapted, but the measuring accuracy is adversely affected due to forces transmitted onto the scanning unit
Solution Approach 1:
The cable path is segmented into multiple sections: a first section extending in the measurement direction and a second section extending in a second direction at an angle relative to the measurement direction. This segmentation allows the cable to change direction without bending forces being transmitted to the scanning unit, resolving the contradiction between cable adaptability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical lead acts as an intermediary element that transitions from the measurement direction to the second direction through the rotatable member. This intermediary structure enables cable direction adaptation while isolating the scanning unit from bending forces, maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sockets are provided on the housing for cable attachment, then cable direction adaptability is improved, but the sealing reliability deteriorates and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing multiple fixed sockets, the invention uses a single rotatable member that can dynamically change the cable direction. This dynamic solution maintains sealing reliability by having only one sealing location while providing adaptability through rotation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and sealing reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If a small bend radius is used for the cable, then space is saved, but the cable or stranded conductors may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing transitions from a single-dimensional bend to a two-dimensional path using the rotatable member. This allows the cable to change direction in a different dimension (rotation) rather than bending, saving space while maintaining cable integrity by avoiding small bend radii.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning unit adapted for scanning a measuring graduation of a scale for purposes of position measurement in a measurement direction includes a housing having a detector configured to generate position-dependent scanning signals. An electrical lead passes out through the housing in the measurement direction. A rotatable member, in which the electrical lead is routed, has a first section extending in the measurement direction and a second section extending in a second direction at an angle relative to the measurement direction. The rotatable member is rotatably mounted on the housing about an axis of rotation extending in the measurement direction.