Two-Arm Standing Assist Mechanism for Precise Compact Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assistive apparatuses face challenges in downsizing and reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring accurate movement of support members for standing operations, often leading to increased size and complexity due to linear motion devices or multiple rotating devices.
Innovation Solution
An assistive apparatus with a base, a first arm revolving around a horizontal first center axis and a second arm revolving around a horizontal second center axis, supporting the upper half body, and a control device coordinating their operations to assist standing, utilizing two-joint mechanism for simplified movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a linear motion device is used to move the support member, then the support member can be moved with high precision, but the manufacturing cost increases due to high accuracy requirements for constituent members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear motion device with a two-arm revolving mechanism where the first arm and second arm rotate around horizontal center axes to move the support member. This substitution eliminates the need for high-precision linear motion components while achieving accurate positioning through coordinated rotational movements of the arms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If three or more rotating devices are used in the driving device, then the support member can be moved to arbitrary positions, but the device size increases and the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple rotating devices into a coordinated two-arm revolving system. The first arm and second arm work together with their respective rotation mechanisms to achieve arbitrary positioning of the support member, reducing the total number of independent rotating devices while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Each arm in the two-arm mechanism serves multiple functions: the first arm provides both positioning and support functions, while the second arm coordinates to achieve arbitrary positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components for each degree of freedom.
3Adaptability or versatility
If three or more rotating devices are used in the driving device, then the support member can be moved to arbitrary positions, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple rotation functions into a compact two-arm mechanism where the arms and their drive mechanisms are integrated. This consolidation reduces the overall device volume while maintaining the capability to position the support member at arbitrary locations through coordinated arm movements.
Data Source
AI summary
An assistive apparatus includes a base, a first arm provided on the base and configured to revolve around a horizontal first center axis, a second arm provided on the first arm and configured to revolve around a horizontal second center axis, a support member provided on the second arm and configured to support an upper half body of an assisted person, and a driving device configured to perform a cooperative operation of the first arm and the second arm. The first arm is configured to be located ahead of a knee bending position at which an upper thigh portion and a lower thigh portion of the assisted person bend in an initial state before execution of assistance of a standing operation.