Robotic Welding Camera Enclosure Shutter Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enclosure devices fail to effectively protect camera and light source lenses from damage during welding and other operations, as they lack a reliable mechanism to safeguard against molten weld spatter, sparks, debris, and fumes, which can cause damage and discoloration.
Innovation Solution
The enclosure device incorporates a shutter mechanism with a flap that can be actuated between open and closed positions, using a translator and actuator system to protect the lenses from hazards, while allowing the camera to capture images when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shutter mechanism is added to protect lenses from weld spatter and debris, then lens protection and image quality consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure device is divided into separate functional modules: a camera module with camera lens, a light source module with light source, and a shutter mechanism with movable flap. This segmentation allows the shutter to independently protect the lenses without requiring redesign of the entire device, thus improving lens protection while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the welding operation environment and the sensitive camera/light source lenses. The movable flap physically blocks weld spatter, sparks, debris, and fumes from reaching the lenses, providing reliable protection while maintaining a relatively simple device architecture through this dedicated protective component.
2Reliability
If the shutter is positioned to protect lenses, then lens protection is improved, but mobility and line-of-sight may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter employs a movable flap that can dynamically transition between open and closed positions rather than being a fixed structure. This dynamic design allows the flap to move out of the way when not needed, maintaining full mobility and line-of-sight for the robotic arm, while providing protection when closed during welding operations, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment of an enclosure device, a camera casing and light source casing are secured to a plate frame, and the enclosure device is configured to be mounted to an arm, such as a robotic welding arm. A shutter mounting arm may also be secured to the plate frame. A flap may be pivotally mounted to the distal end of the shutter mounting arm, such that the flap may be actuated between a first and second position by an actuator cooperatively engaged with the flap. The first position may be defined as to protect a camera lens positioned in the camera casing and a light source lens positioned in the light source casing. The second position may be defined as to not obscure a line-of-sight from either the light source and/or the camera to the work piece on the arm.