Two-Arm SCARA Bolt Fastening for Parallel Pick-and-Fasten
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic bolt fastening systems using vacuum suction pipes are inefficient as they require sequential processes, resulting in prolonged time for fastening bolts due to the need for the vacuum suction pipe to move between the bolt feeder and workpiece.
Innovation Solution
An automatic bolt fastening device employing a two-arm SCARA robot that independently and simultaneously picks up bolts from a feeder and fastens them to a workpiece, utilizing a rotatable lower arm with a vacuum gripper and an upper arm with a bolt fastener that vacuum-suctions and secures the bolts, reducing the need for sequential movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum suction pipe is used to fasten bolts sequentially, then the bolt is stably fastened without inclination, but the time required for fastening bolts increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the bolt fastening function into two separate arms: a lower arm with vacuum gripper for picking up bolts, and an upper arm with bolt fastener for fastening bolts. This segmentation allows simultaneous independent operation of picking and fastening processes, eliminating sequential waiting time while maintaining stable fastening through dedicated functional components
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the picking function and fastening function into a single integrated system with two arms that operate simultaneously. The lower arm picks up bolts while the upper arm fastens bolts to different workpieces at the same time, combining multiple operations into parallel processes that reduce total cycle time while maintaining the stability benefits of vacuum suction
2Device complexity
If the vacuum suction pipe moves sequentially between bolt feeder and workpiece, then the fastening process is simple, but productivity decreases due to repeated movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fastening process into two independent arms that can operate simultaneously without interfering with each other's movements. The lower arm handles picking operations while the upper arm handles fastening operations, allowing both to move and work in parallel, thereby increasing productivity without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The lower arm picks up bolts in advance and holds them ready while the upper arm performs fastening operations. This preliminary action of picking and holding bolts ready eliminates waiting time during the fastening process, allowing continuous operation and improved 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
Significantly reduces the time required for fastening bolts while ensuring stable fastening by allowing simultaneous picking up and fastening processes, eliminating the need for sequential movements between the bolt feeder and workpiece.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum gripper installed in a tip portion of an auxiliary arm installed on an upper surface of the tip portion of the lower arm to be rotatable in the rightward-leftward direction, and capable of vacuum-suctioning the bolt of the bolt feeder
Implementation Method 2
a bolt fastener installed in a tip portion of the upper arm to be movable upward and downward, and fastening the bolt to the workpiece located on the assembly line after being moved to the assembly line by the upper arm in a state where the bolt fastener vacuum-suctions the bolt picked up by the gripper
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an automatic bolt fastening device which includes a main body frame, a lower arm installed in the main body frame to be rotatable in a rightward-leftward direction, a gripper installed in a tip portion of the lower arm to pick up the bolt from a bolt feeder, an upper arm installed in the main body frame on an upper side of the lower arm to be rotatable in the rightward-leftward direction, and a bolt fastener installed in a tip portion of the upper arm to be movable upward and downward, and fastening the bolt to the workpiece located on the assembly line after being moved to the assembly line by the upper arm in a state where the bolt fastener vacuum-suctions the bolt picked up by the gripper.