Pick and Place Station With Servo-Driven Articulated Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pick and place stations lack versatility, requiring significant modifications to mechanical transmission components when changing component formats or trajectories, limiting their adaptability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pick and place station with a rotating carousel and independently motorized articulated arms providing two to three degrees of freedom, allowing for reconfigurable trajectories through precise control of servomotors, enabling continuous, random, and intermittent motion, and high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical transmission means (toothed elements, cams) are used in pick and place stations, then the station can perform picking and placing operations, but the station lacks versatility and requires substitution of mechanical transmission means when changing component formats or trajectories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by replacing specialized mechanical transmission means with a universal robotic arm system that can perform multiple picking and placing operations with different component formats and trajectories through software programming, eliminating the need to substitute mechanical components for each application change
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical transmission system (toothed elements, cams) with an electronically controlled robotic arm system that uses sensors, processors, and programmable logic to control movement, substituting mechanical rigidity with electronic flexibility and adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pick and place station uses fixed mechanical transmission means, then the structure is simple, but the trajectory cannot be easily reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a programmable robotic arm system where trajectories can be dynamically adjusted through software code rather than fixed mechanical paths, allowing the system to adapt to different component formats and picking/placing patterns without physical reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed mechanical geometry to programmable electronic parameters, where trajectory points, speeds, and acceleration profiles can be modified through code, enabling easy reconfiguration while maintaining a consistent physical structure
3Productivity
If the station operates at high speeds, then productivity increases, but the station becomes more susceptible to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor the robotic arm's position, speed, and operational status, allowing the control system to detect and correct anomalies in real-time, thereby maintaining reliability during high-speed operation through active monitoring and adaptive control
Data Source
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AI summary
A pick and place station (1) comprising a fixed frame (2) and at least one carousel (3) which can rotate, with respect to the frame (2), by the action of a respective motor drive unit (4) and at least one moveable element (5), which is arranged on the at least one carousel (3) and is provided with at least one working head (5) having at least two degrees of freedom. The at least one moveable element (5) comprises at least two distinct articulated arms (7, 8, 9) each of which comprises a crank (7a, 8a, 9a) which can rotate with respect to the at least one carousel (3) by the action of at least one respective servomotor (10) and a linkage (7b, 8b, 9b) which is pivoted to the at least one working head (6) about a respective rotation axis (11, 12, 13).