Spherical Positioning Stage With Gravity Return Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning apparatuses for industrial robots are bulky, complex, and costly due to a large number of components, which complicates their structure and reduces durability, making it difficult to finely adjust the position of objects and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A positioning apparatus with a simplified structure comprising an upper unit with a spherical body and retainer part, a lower unit with a guide part, and a tilting mechanism that automatically returns the upper unit to a reference position using gravitational force, reducing the number of components and enhancing durability while allowing precise adjustment of the carried object's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a volute spring is used to return the table part to the centering position, then the positioning function is achieved, but the number of components increases and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the volute spring component from the system and replaces it with a tilting structure that uses gravitational force to return the upper unit to the centering position. This extraction of the spring mechanism simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the positioning function through the tilt-based automatic return mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting structure enables the upper unit to automatically return to the centering position using its own weight and gravitational force, without requiring external spring mechanisms. The system serves itself by utilizing the inherent gravitational field to achieve the positioning function, eliminating the need for additional active components.
2Device complexity
If the number of components is reduced to simplify the structure, then the device size and cost decrease, but durability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the volute spring and other complex positioning mechanisms, the patent reduces the number of components that could potentially fail. The simplified structure with fewer moving parts inherently improves reliability while maintaining the essential positioning function through the tilting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based positioning system with a gravitational field-based tilting mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for elastic components and complex mechanical linkages, resulting in a more durable system with fewer failure points while achieving the same positioning objective.
3Volume of moving object
If the size of components is reduced to decrease the apparatus size, then the overall dimensions decrease, but component durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical positioning components with a compact tilting structure that utilizes gravitational force. This substitution allows for a significant reduction in apparatus size while improving durability, as the tilting mechanism involves fewer and simpler components that are less prone to wear and failure.
4Ease of manufacture
If a simplified structure is used to reduce manufacturing cost, then production cost decreases, but positioning precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a gravitational tilting mechanism, which is simpler and cheaper to manufacture. The tilting structure inherently provides precise positioning through its geometric design and gravitational force, achieving high positioning accuracy without requiring expensive complex mechanisms.
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 solution reduces the size and manufacturing cost of the positioning apparatus, increases durability, and ensures stable positioning of the carried object by utilizing a tilting structure and magnetic attraction members to maintain the upper unit at a reference position, thereby improving the precision and reliability of the positioning system.
Implementation Method 1
a tilting structure that tilts the region of movement relative to a horizontal plane and guides the upper unit, on which the carried object is not mounted, toward a reference position located on a lower side of a tilt
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a tilting structure and magnetic attraction members to maintain the upper unit at a reference position
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning apparatus includes: an upper unit that includes a spherical body, a retainer part that retains the spherical body, and an upper plate part provided on the retainer part and adapted to carry a carried object; a lower unit that includes a lower plate part on which the upper unit is mounted and a guide part that marks a region of movement of the upper unit on the lower plate part; and a tilting structure that tilts the region of movement relative to a horizontal plane and guides the upper unit, on which the carried object is not mounted, toward a reference position located on a lower side of a tilt.