Sealing Gun Path Correction for Accurate Bead Placement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing robots face challenges in accurately applying sealing material to workpieces due to positional deviations between the robot and the workpiece, leading to increased material usage and costs.

Innovation Solution

The sealing robot measures the shape of the application part ahead of the sealing gun and corrects its course based on the measurement results, ensuring precise alignment even with positional deviations, thereby reducing material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the robot is moved along a given route without correction, then the robot can maintain high-speed operation, but the sealing material may be offset from the application part due to positional deviation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of sealing materialVSAvoidoperation speed of sealing robot
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor measures the shape of the application part ahead of the sealing gun before the sealing material is applied. This preliminary measurement allows the control device to correct the course in advance, ensuring positioning accuracy without compromising the high-speed operation of the robot.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor provides real-time feedback on the shape and position of the application part ahead of the sealing gun. The control device uses this feedback to continuously correct the course, maintaining positioning accuracy while the robot operates at high speed along the given route.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the applying amount of sealing material per unit length is increased to prevent offset, then positioning accuracy is improved, but product cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of sealing materialVSAvoidsealing material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor provides feedback on the actual position and shape of the application part, allowing the control device to adjust the sealing gun's course precisely. This eliminates the need to increase material application as a compensatory measure, thereby reducing sealing material consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of increasing material application to ensure coverage with a sensor-based measurement and control system. This substitution allows precise positioning through feedback control rather than relying on excess material application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If course correction is performed continuously, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but operation load increases reducing high-speed movement capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of sealing gunVSAvoidoperation load of control device
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor measures the shape of the application part at a position ahead of the sealing gun, allowing course correction to be performed in advance rather than continuously. This preliminary measurement reduces the real-time computation load while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The course correction is segmented into discrete measurement and correction cycles based on the position of the sealing gun. The control device corrects the course at specific intervals when the sealing gun is at predetermined positions, rather than performing continuous correction, thereby reducing operation load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4019150B1Sealing robot
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK
  • EP4019150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4019150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4019150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Among arbitrary positions on the course of a sealing gun, a position ahead of and separated from the arbitrary position in the moving direction of the sealing gun by a given distance, where an application part falls within a given allowable size in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction on the basis of the sealing gun, is a first position, and a position where the application part is deviated from the allowable size is a second position. A control device corrects the course of the sealing gun that is defined by an operation plan, based on the shape of the application part measured in a measurement point located at the first position.