Swivel Adapter for Industrial Robot Media Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional swivels for transferring media in industrial robots face issues such as wear on contact surfaces, limited rotation capability, and potential damage to cables and hoses due to their design, which affects the longevity and functionality of the swivel and the robot's operation.

Innovation Solution

A swivel adapter with a body featuring a first and second coupling unit spaced apart along a central axis, a distance element with a lower portion attached to the first coupling unit and an upper portion attached to the second, and a penetration hole that extends at least 240° around the central axis, allowing for flexible media transfer without sliding surfaces and enabling the tool to rotate more than 360° without twisting the media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional swivels with sliding contacts are used to transfer media, then media transfer capability is achieved, but extensive wear on contact surfaces occurs leading to reduced lifespan and maintenance needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia transfer capabilityVSAvoidswivel lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sliding contact system with a flexible cable system that passes through a cable guide. The cable guide has a curved path that allows the cable to bend smoothly during rotation, eliminating sliding contacts and their associated wear problems. This substitution of mechanical sliding with flexible cable routing resolves the contradiction between achieving media transfer and maintaining long lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If conventional swivels are designed to allow unlimited rotation, then tool rotation freedom is achieved, but large height is required causing large torques on robot axes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool rotation freedomVSAvoidswivel height

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a curved cable guide path within the swivel body that allows the cable to follow a smooth arc during rotation. This curved routing enables compact design with reduced height while maintaining full rotation capability. The cable bends along the curved path rather than requiring linear extension, thus reducing the overall height and torque on robot axes while preserving rotation freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If cables and hoses are positioned in the working area of the robot, then media transfer is achieved, but cables can be damaged by the robot during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia transferVSAvoidcable damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the cables and hoses within a protective cable guide structure that is integrated into the swivel body. The cable guide provides a protected pathway through which cables pass from the robot to the tool, shielding them from damage by robot components during operation. This nested arrangement maintains media transfer capability while protecting cables from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Volume of moving object

If a distance element is positioned close to the periphery of the first coupling unit, then compact design is achieved, but stability of the turning device decreases making it prone to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswivel compactnessVSAvoidturning device stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the distance element at an optimized location that balances compactness and stability. Specifically, the distance element is placed at a moderate distance from the periphery of the first coupling unit, not too close to maintain compactness and not too far to ensure stability. This local optimization of the distance element position resolves the contradiction between compact design and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3592512B1An industrial robot and a device for transferring media from the robot to a tool

Publication Date: 2022.09.21 ROBOTAUTOMATION SVENSKA AB

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a device for transferring media from an industrial robot to a tool, and an industrial robot including the device. The device comprises a swivel adapter (1) having a body (5) including a first coupling unit (7) arranged in one end of the body for coupling the swivel adapter to the robot,and second coupling unit (9) arranged in an opposite end of the body for coupling the swivel adapter to the tool, and a distance element (13) having a lower portion (15) attached to the first coupling unit and an upper portion (17) attached to the second coupling unit, wherein the first and second coupling units are spaced apart from each other along a common central axis (C1 )so that a gap (11)is formed between them. The lower portion of the distance element is disposed at a distance from the periphery of the first coupling unit, and the second coupling unit is provided with a penetration hole (19) in communication with the gap (11). The upper portion (17) of the distance element is arranged so that a space is formed between the upper portion of the distance element (13)and the first coupling unit (7).The penetration hole is formed between the distance element and the second coupling unit (9).The penetration hole is partly surrounding the distance element. The penetration hole extends an angle around the common central axis and in a curved direction around the distance element.