Title

A ROBOTIC WORKSTATION FOR SAFE LADLE SLIDING GATE MAINTENANCE

A ROBOTIC WORKSTATION FOR SAFE LADLE SLIDING GATE MAINTENANCE

Authorship

ZOPPIROLLI, ANNA; RUSU, ION; JACOB, RAFAEL

ZOPPIROLLI, ANNA

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RUSU, ION

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JACOB, RAFAEL

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5335-41586

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Abstract

THE PAPER PRESENTS A ROBOTIC WORKSTATION, WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND INSTALLED IN THE STEEL SHOP OF AN ITALIAN STEEL COMPANY, REPRESENTING ONE OF THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE A ROBOT SUPPORTS THE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN A COMPLEX AND DELICATE MAINTENANCE OPERATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE ROBOTIC CELL IS TO SUPPORT THE INSPECTION, CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT OPERATIONS OF THE REFRACTORY COMPONENTS OF THE SO-CALLED “SLIDING GATE”, NAMELY THE DE- VICE ALLOWING THE LIQUID STEEL TO FLOW FROM THE LADLE TO THE TUNDISH OF THE CONTINUOUS CASTING. THE ROBOTIC CELL INCLUDES A VISION SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS, AND A HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE, WHICH FACILITATES THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ROBOT AND THE OPERATORS AND HELPS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITATIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS. WITHIN SUCH A COURSE, THE SEQUENCE AND NEW DIVISION OF HUMAN-ROBOT ACTIVITIES WERE THOROUGHLY DEVELOPED WITHIN AN INNOVATION PROCESS INTEGRATING THE FUTURE USERS AND OPERATORS (EMBEDDING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION WITHIN A SOCIAL INNOVATION PROCESS). IN THE STEEL SECTOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN-ROBOT COOPERATION IS HAMPERED AND SLOWED DOWN BY HARSH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN SOME APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS BY INTRINSIC DIFFICULTIES OF SOME OPERATIONS, WHICH REQUIRE A COMBINATION OF FORCE AND PRECISION AND NEED TO BE SUPERVISED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL DUE TO STRICT SAFETY REGULATIONS

THE PAPER PRESENTS A ROBOTIC WORKSTATION, WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND INSTALLED IN THE STEEL SHOP OF AN ITALIAN STEEL COMPANY, REPRESENTING ONE OF THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE A ROBOT SUPPORTS THE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN A COMPLEX AND DELICATE MAINTENANCE OPERATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE ROBOTIC CELL IS TO SUPPORT THE INSPECTION, CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT OPERATIONS OF THE REFRACTORY COMPONENTS OF THE SO-CALLED “SLIDING GATE”, NAMELY THE DE- VICE ALLOWING THE LIQUID STEEL TO FLOW FROM THE LADLE TO THE TUNDISH OF THE CONTINUOUS CASTING. THE ROBOTIC CELL INCLUDES A VISION SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS, AND A HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE, WHICH FACILITATES THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ROBOT AND THE OPERATORS AND HELPS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITATIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE PROCESS. WITHIN SUCH A COURSE, THE SEQUENCE AND NEW DIVISION OF HUMAN-ROBOT ACTIVITIES WERE THOROUGHLY DEVELOPED WITHIN AN INNOVATION PROCESS INTEGRATING THE FUTURE USERS AND OPERATORS (EMBEDDING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION WITHIN A SOCIAL INNOVATION PROCESS). IN THE STEEL SECTOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN-ROBOT COOPERATION IS HAMPERED AND SLOWED DOWN BY HARSH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN SOME APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS BY INTRINSIC DIFFICULTIES OF SOME OPERATIONS, WHICH REQUIRE A COMBINATION OF FORCE AND PRECISION AND NEED TO BE SUPERVISED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL DUE TO STRICT SAFETY REGULATIONS

Keywords

Robotics; Melt-shop; Ladle; Maintenance

Robotics; Melt-shop; Ladle; Maintenance.