Buffer device for picking ply in regular position, loading device for storing ply, and work cell equipment for manufacturing preform
The preform manufacturing workcell equipment addresses the challenges of ply picking precision and operation efficiency by integrating sensing and control units with vacuum adsorption for accurate ply handling, resulting in improved quality and efficiency of preform manufacturing.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/KR2023/008339
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-06-15
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-16
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-19
AI Technical Summary
Conventional preform manufacturing processes face issues with precise control of ply picking, leading to quality deterioration due to attitude changes during loading and transfer, and inefficient operation distribution among transfer robots, resulting in uneven distribution and reduced efficiency.
A preform manufacturing workcell equipment with a cutting unit, loading unit, buffer unit, and layup mold unit, featuring sensing and control units for precise ply picking and transfer, and vacuum adsorption units for accurate ply handling, optimizes the operation by ensuring in-position picking and minimizing attitude changes, thereby improving ply accuracy and process efficiency.
The solution enhances the accuracy of ply picking and transport, ensuring high-quality preform manufacturing by maintaining consistent ply arrangement and optimizing the distribution of operations between fly picking units, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the preform manufacturing process.
Smart Images

Figure KR2023008339_19122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Buffer device for fly position picking, loading device for fly storage, and preform manufacturing work cell facility
[0001] The present invention relates to a buffer device for fly position picking, a loading device for fly storage, and a preform manufacturing work cell facility.
[0002]
[0003] Lightweighting of materials is an essential direction of technological development pursued in many industries, and its importance is particularly great in the transportation equipment industry, such as automobiles and aircraft.
[0004] Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have mechanical performance equivalent to or higher than that of metal materials, yet exhibit a significant weight-saving effect due to their low density, making them the most effective lightweight material.
[0005] In particular, carbon fiber composite materials are lightweight materials with excellent mechanical strength and rigidity and are used in the production of parts for transportation equipment such as automobiles and aircraft.
[0006] There is a method of manufacturing carbon fiber composite materials, which involves using a prepreg, which is a thermosetting resin impregnated into carbon fabric in advance, as an intermediate material to create a preform, and then using an autoclave molding process.
[0007] However, due to problems such as the high price of prepreg, the long time of the autoclave molding process, and the increased manual labor required when manufacturing large-area molded products, the manufacturing method using a composite material liquid molding process is receiving attention and is being developed.
[0008] The composite material liquid molding process is a method of manufacturing by directly injecting dry carbon fibers, and may include a preforming process in which a small amount of binder material is applied to a two-dimensional carbon fiber fabric and then compressed to form a three-dimensional fabric-shaped preform with shape stability, and a resin impregnation process in which a preform is laminated inside a mold and then liquid resin is injected.
[0009] The preforming process for forming a preform includes a step of cutting plies based on nesting from carbon fiber fabric, a step of storing the cut plies in a storage location, a step of transporting the stored plies and stacking and forming them in a layup mold, and a trimming step of removing unnecessary parts.
[0010] Here, the conventional preforming process for forming a preform often causes quality degradation after layup on a layup mold with a large area and various curvatures because the picking of the fly by the transfer robot cannot be precisely controlled.
[0011] This is due to the phenomenon of change in the posture of the fly that occurs during the process of loading the fly into storage or the phenomenon of change in the posture of the fly that occurs during the process of the transport robot picking the fly loaded into storage, and is a task that must be solved to satisfy high quality.
[0012] In addition, the inefficiency of the preform manufacturing process caused by the uneven distribution of roles of transport robots for transporting flies is also an issue that must be resolved.
[0013]
[0014] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a buffer device for fly-on-site picking, a loading device for fly storage, and a preform manufacturing work cell facility for maximizing the efficiency of the preform manufacturing process by optimizing the operation of the fly-picking unit for transporting flies while ensuring high-quality preform manufacturing by enabling on-site picking when the fly-picking unit picks flies and transports them to a layup mold unit for a layup process.
[0015]
[0016] A preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention comprises: a cutting unit for cutting a plurality of plies for each specific area of a fabric provided by being unwound by a predetermined nesting; a loading unit for storing the plurality of plies cut by the cutting unit; a first ply picking unit for picking the plurality of plies cut by the cutting unit and transporting them to the loading unit; a buffer unit for temporarily waiting for each of the plurality of plies stored in the loading unit before being transported to a next process for manufacturing a preform; a layup mold unit corresponding to the next process for stacking the plies waiting in the buffer unit to manufacture a preform; and a second ply picking unit for picking a ply from the buffer unit and transporting it to the layup mold unit so that layup can be performed; wherein the first ply picking unit may be characterized in that it is capable of an operation of picking a ply from the loading unit and transporting it to the buffer unit.
[0017] The cutting unit, the loading unit, and the buffer unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that they are arranged radially with respect to the first fly picking unit so that the transport operation of the fly from the cutting unit to the loading unit and the transport operation of the fly from the loading unit to the buffer unit are possible within a minimum operating range.
[0018] The loading unit and the buffer unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be positioned in one direction and the other direction, respectively, with respect to the first fly picking unit, and the cutting unit may be positioned between the loading unit and the buffer unit.
[0019] A preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises: a detection unit for detecting the state of a fly waiting in the buffer unit; and a control unit for controlling the operation of at least one of the buffer unit and the second fly picking unit based on the result detected by the detection unit so that the fly waiting on the buffer unit is picked at the correct position by the second fly picking unit.
[0020] The control unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that it controls the operation of the buffer unit based on the result detected by the detection unit so as to minimize the change in operation of the second fly picking unit for picking the fly.
[0021] The buffer unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that the picking operation of the second fly picking unit is maintained constant regardless of the type of fly in standby, by a change in operation.
[0022] The control unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that it controls the operation of at least one of the buffer unit and the second fly picking unit based on the detection result of the detection unit for at least one of the arrangement shape, the outer line, and the fiber arrangement of the fly in waiting.
[0023] The first fly picking unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may include a plurality of first vacuum suction units, and at least some of the plurality of first vacuum suction units may be characterized in that they provide a vacuum suction function to the fly to transport the fly to the buffer space based on the characteristics of the fly.
[0024] The first fly picking unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that it transports the fly to the central portion of the buffer space regardless of the position of the first vacuum suction unit that provides a vacuum suction function to the fly.
[0025] The second ply picking unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may include a plurality of second vacuum suction units, and the plurality of second vacuum suction units may include a central vacuum suction unit for providing a vacuum suction function to the ply regardless of the characteristics of the ply, and a peripheral vacuum suction unit for determining whether or not to provide a vacuum suction function to the ply based on the characteristics of the ply.
[0026] The peripheral vacuum suction unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that it is set for each peripheral area of the central vacuum suction unit based on the characteristics of the fly.
[0027] The loading unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be provided in multiple numbers and mounted on the frame unit so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the frame unit, and the multiple loading units may be characterized in that they each store flies for each of the multiple flies included in the specific area.
[0028] The first fly picking unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized by simultaneously picking a plurality of flies included in the specific area and transporting them to one of the plurality of loading units.
[0029] The first ply picking unit of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be characterized in that it transports the plies by plies included in the specific area to the entire plurality of loading units, and when loading is completed, picks the plies by ply unit and transports the picked plies to the buffer unit to temporarily wait before transporting them to the layup mold unit.
[0030] Each of the plurality of loading units of the preform manufacturing work cell equipment according to the present invention may be characterized in that a plurality of plies cut for each specific area are loaded spaced apart from each other.
[0031] Each of the plurality of loading units of the preform manufacturing work cell equipment according to the present invention may be characterized in that the arrangement state of the plurality of plies cut for each specific area of the fabric is maintained and loaded.
[0032] One of the plurality of loading units of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be positioned in an open space provided to the frame unit through elevation to enable loading of flies by the fly picking unit, and when the loading is completed, it may be moved to a closed space provided to the frame unit through elevation so that another one of the plurality of loading units may be positioned in the open space through elevation.
[0033] Each of the plurality of loading units of the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention may be positioned in the open space, and when the loading of flies by the first fly picking unit is completed, the loading units may be sequentially elevated based on a predetermined layup order and positioned in the open space.
[0034]
[0035] According to the present invention, a buffer device for fly position picking, a loading device for fly storage, and a preform manufacturing work cell facility can improve the accuracy of fly picking for fly transport, thereby enabling high-quality preform manufacturing.
[0036] Additionally, the process efficiency for preform manufacturing can be improved by optimizing the distribution of motion between fly picking units for transporting flies.
[0037]
[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention.
[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing a plurality of units included in a preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention as blocks.
[0040] FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views illustrating various embodiments of a second vacuum suction unit of a second fly picking unit included in a preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention.
[0041]
[0042] A preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention comprises: a cutting unit for cutting a plurality of plies for each specific area of a fabric provided by being unwound by a predetermined nesting; a loading unit for storing the plurality of plies cut by the cutting unit; a first ply picking unit for picking the plurality of plies cut by the cutting unit and transporting them to the loading unit; a buffer unit for temporarily waiting for each of the plurality of plies stored in the loading unit before being transported to a next process for manufacturing a preform; a layup mold unit corresponding to the next process for stacking the plies waiting in the buffer unit to manufacture a preform; and a second ply picking unit for picking a ply from the buffer unit and transporting it to the layup mold unit so that layup can be performed; wherein the first ply picking unit may be characterized in that it is capable of an operation of picking a ply from the loading unit and transporting it to the buffer unit.
[0043]
[0044] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention will be able to easily propose other inventions that are retrograde or other embodiments included within the scope of the spirit of the present invention by adding, modifying, or deleting other components within the scope of the same spirit. However, this will also be considered to be included within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.
[0045]
[0046] In addition, components having the same function within the same scope of the same idea shown in the drawings of each embodiment are described using the same reference numerals.
[0047]
[0048] 1. Preform manufacturing workcell facility
[0049]
[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view expressing a plurality of units included in the preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention as blocks.
[0051] In addition, FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views illustrating various embodiments of a second vacuum suction unit of a second fly picking unit included in a preform manufacturing work cell facility according to the present invention.
[0052]
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the preform manufacturing work cell facility (10) according to the present invention may include a cutting unit (100), a loading unit (200), a fly picking unit (300, 400) including a first fly picking unit (300) and a second fly picking unit (400), a buffer unit (500), a layup mold unit (600), etc.
[0054] The above cutting unit (100) may be a unit for cutting a plurality of plies (P) for each specific area (R) of the fabric provided in a roll form by a predetermined nesting when the fabric is unwound.
[0055] Here, the nesting may mean an optimized design for fabric cutting, which means that the fabric provided in roll form is arranged by optimally distributing the plies (P) on a specific area (R) of the fabric that can be placed at once on the cutting unit (100) in consideration of the cutting function such as the cutting range of the cutting unit (100).
[0056] When the fly (P) is cut by the above nesting, the skeleton (SK), which is the part that remains after cutting the fly and is discarded, is minimized, thereby maximizing the efficiency of fabric use.
[0057] Meanwhile, the above nesting can be optimized so that the size and shape of the ply (P) are minimized by considering the curvature shape of the preform, thereby preventing quality degradation due to lifting or deformation that may occur when laying up the ply (P) on the layup mold unit (600).
[0058] The loading unit (200) is a unit for storing a plurality of flies (P) cut by the cutting unit (100), and can be provided in a plurality of layers and mounted on the frame unit (210) so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the frame unit (210).
[0059] The above loading unit (200) can be moved to a position for loading a plurality of plies (P) cut to a specific area (R) of the fabric on the frame unit (210), and when loading is completed, another loading unit (200) is moved up and down to a position for loading a plurality of plies cut to another specific area of the fabric.
[0060] The above fly picking unit (300, 400) may include a first fly picking unit (300) and a second fly picking unit (400), and may be a robot capable of 6-axis control for transporting a type of fly (P).
[0061] The above buffer unit (500) is a unit for temporarily waiting for each of the plurality of flies (P) stored in the loading unit (200) before being transferred to the next process for manufacturing a preform, and can be configured as a kind of fly inspection device for detecting the state of the flies (P) together with the detection unit (510).
[0062] Here, the transfer of the fly (P) between the foundation unit (100), the loading unit (200), the buffer unit (500) and the layup mold unit (600) can be implemented by the first fly picking unit (300) or the second fly picking unit (400) described above.
[0063] The first fly picking unit (300) may include a first robot arm (310) and a first vacuum suction plate (320) having a plurality of first vacuum suction portions, and may be responsible for picking the plurality of flies (P) cut by the cutting unit (100) through vacuum suction by the plurality of first vacuum suction portions and transporting them to the loading unit (200), and picking the flies (P) from the loading unit (200) through vacuum suction and transporting them to the buffer unit (500).
[0064] In addition, the second fly picking unit (400) may include a second vacuum suction plate (420) having a plurality of second vacuum suction portions, and may be responsible for an operation of picking up a fly (P) from the buffer unit (500) through vacuum suction by the plurality of second vacuum suction portions and then transporting the fly (P) to the layup mold unit (600) to allow layup to proceed.
[0065] Meanwhile, the second vacuum suction plate (420) may be provided in multiples (421, 422) based on the curvature of the layup mold unit (600) provided to correspond to the shape of the final product as illustrated in FIG. 3, and each may enable picking and layup of the fly (P) to proceed through a detachment process with the second robot arm (410).
[0066] In addition, the second robot arm (410) may be connected to a suction hanger (800) for picking up a laminated body manufactured by stacking and compressively bonding plies (P) on a layup mold unit (600) as shown in FIG. 4 after the second vacuum suction plate (420) is separated, and transferring it to a net trim mold unit (700) where post-processing is performed.
[0067] The above layup mold unit (600) is a unit in which a process corresponding to the above next process is performed, and may be a unit for manufacturing a preform by stacking a ply (P) waiting in the buffer unit (500).
[0068] The above layup mold unit (600) may be a mold having a curvature corresponding to the shape of the final product, and may enable the plies to be sequentially stacked and compressed by the second ply picking unit (400).
[0069] Here, a predetermined amount of binder may be applied to the fly (P), and when the fly is laminated in a predetermined number on the layup mold unit (600), heat may be applied to enable compression bonding by the binder.
[0070] The preform manufacturing work cell facility (10) according to the present invention may further include a net trim mold unit (700) as described above.
[0071] The above net trim mold unit (700) may be a unit that performs post-processing for burr removal and dimensional refinement, etc., after the laminated body, in which the lamination and compression bonding of the plies (P) are completed on the layup mold unit (600), is transferred by the second ply picking unit (400) including the suction hanger (800), so that a preform is manufactured.
[0072] The above net trim mold unit (700) can eliminate errors that may occur during layup of the fly, thereby enabling the manufacture of a preform having a predetermined dimension.
[0073] Meanwhile, the preform manufacturing work cell facility (10) according to the present invention can efficiently use the space where the preform manufacturing work cell facility (10) is located so as to improve the process efficiency for preform manufacturing by optimizing the operation distribution between the first fly picking unit (300) and the second fly picking unit (400).
[0074] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cutting unit (100), the loading unit (200), and the buffer unit (500) may be arranged radially with respect to the first fly picking unit (300) so that the transport operation of the fly (P) from the cutting unit (100) to the loading unit (200) and the transport operation of the fly (P) from the loading unit (200) to the buffer unit (500) are possible within a minimum operating range.
[0075] In other words, based on the floor plan, the loading unit (200) and the buffer unit (500) can be positioned in one direction (upper direction based on FIG. 1) and the other direction (lower direction based on FIG. 1), respectively, with respect to the first fly picking unit (300).
[0076] And, the foundation unit (100) can be positioned between the loading unit (200) and the buffer unit (500), and more specifically, can be positioned in the left direction with respect to the first fly picking unit (300).
[0077] As described above, by optimally arranging the cutting unit (100), the loading unit (200), and the buffer unit (500) within a space having a predetermined size, the transport operation of the first fly picking unit (300), i.e., the transport operation of the fly (P) from the cutting unit (100) to the loading unit (200) and the transport operation of the fly (P) from the loading unit (200) to the buffer unit (500) can be performed without interference with each other, thereby maximizing the process efficiency for manufacturing a preform.
[0078] Meanwhile, the preform manufacturing work cell facility (10) according to the present invention can be described as a concept of a collection of unit-based components as described above, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and can also be described as a concept of a collection of a device defined by including some units and the remaining units.
[0079] Here, the device may include a loading device for fly storage and a buffer device for fly position picking, which are described in detail below.
[0080]
[0081] 2. Loading device for fly storage
[0082]
[0083] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a loading device for storing flies according to the present invention is a device for storing a plurality of flies (P) cut by a cutting unit (100) by picking them by a fly picking unit (300, 400), and may include a frame unit (210) and a loading unit (200).
[0084] The above frame unit (210) may be a frame structure that is connected to each other so as to have a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the loading unit (200) may be provided in multiple layers and may be mounted on the frame unit (210) so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the frame unit (210).
[0085] Here, the plurality of loading units (200) can store the plies (P) by the plurality of plies (P) included in a specific area (R) of the fabric placed on the cutting unit (100) when the fabric provided in the form of a roll is unwound.
[0086] In other words, a plurality of plies (P) included in a specific area (R) of the fabric can be stored in a loading unit (200) of a specific layer, and a plurality of plies included in a next specific area of the fabric to be provided can be stored in a loading unit (200) of another layer.
[0087] In the past, a method was applied in which multiple flies of the same shape were loaded and stored in a loading unit of a specific layer, but in this case, when a single flie was picked from the loading unit and transferred to the next process, a problem occurred in which another flie was picked by being absorbed, or the position of the loaded flies remaining in the loading unit after being picked changed.
[0088] The above problem reduces the picking precision of the fly by the fly picking unit, which reduces the accuracy of the next process, the layup process, and ultimately results in a deterioration in the quality of the preform.
[0089] Accordingly, the present invention can prevent problems such as adhesion between plies and change in position of plies, which are present in the prior art, by loading only a plurality of plies included in a specific area (R) of the fabric by nesting on a loading unit (200) of a specific layer.
[0090] Meanwhile, a plurality of flies (P) cut and provided on the foundation unit (100) can be transported to the loading unit (200) by the first fly picking unit (300) among the fly picking units (300, 400).
[0091] Each of the plurality of loading units (200) can load a plurality of plies cut and provided for each specific area while being spaced apart from each other, and can load the plurality of plies cut and provided for each specific area of the fabric while maintaining the arrangement state as is.
[0092] To this end, the first fly picking unit (300) can simultaneously pick a plurality of flies (P) included in the specific area (R) and transport them to one of the plurality of loading units (200).
[0093] However, the first fly picking unit (300) does not necessarily have to be operated in a manner of picking multiple flies simultaneously, and may be operated by repeating the operation of picking and transporting a single fly.
[0094] The above first fly picking unit (300) can transport flies by the plurality of flies included in the specific area to the entire plurality of loading units (200), and when loading is completed, pick them by fly unit and transport the picked flies to the buffer unit (500) to temporarily wait before being transported to the layup mold unit (600) for the layup process.
[0095] Meanwhile, one of the plurality of loading units (200) can be positioned in an open space (S1) provided to the frame unit (210) through elevation to enable loading of flies by the first fly picking unit (300), and when the loading is completed, it can be moved to a closed space (S2, S3) provided to the frame unit (210) through elevation so that another one of the plurality of loading units (200) can be positioned in the open space (S1) through elevation.
[0096] The above plurality of loading units (200) can be positioned above or below the frame unit (210) through elevation, and the remaining loading units (200) can be elevated and lowered based on a predetermined order so that the loading unit (200) requiring loading can be positioned in the open space (S1).
[0097] Each of the plurality of loading units (200) is positioned in the open space (S1), and when the loading of flies by the first fly picking unit (300) is completed, the units are sequentially elevated based on a predetermined layup order and positioned in the open space (S1), and thereafter, the flies on the loading units (200) positioned in the open space (S1) are transferred to the buffer unit (500) by the first fly picking unit (300).
[0098]
[0099] 3. Buffer device for fly position picking
[0100]
[0101] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a buffer device for position picking according to the present invention may include a buffer unit (500), a detection unit (510), and a control unit.
[0102] The above buffer unit (500) can provide a buffer space for the fly picked by the first fly picking unit (300) of the fly picking unit (300, 400) to temporarily wait, and when a predetermined condition is met, it can be a unit that allows the fly (P) waiting in the buffer space to be transferred to the next process for manufacturing a preform by the second fly picking unit (400) of the fly picking unit (300, 400).
[0103] The above buffer unit (500) may be a component of a type of fly inspection device for detecting the state of a fly (P) to be picked before the layup process performed by the second fly picking unit (400).
[0104] The first fly picking unit (300) can pick a specific fly (P) loaded on the loading unit (200) through vacuum suction based on a predetermined order related to layup and then transfer it to the buffer unit (500).
[0105] The above detection unit (510) is a unit for detecting the state of the fly (P) waiting in the buffer space (S4), and may be a vision means such as a camera that can capture an image by taking a picture of the fly (P) waiting in the buffer space (S4).
[0106] However, the above detection unit (510) is not necessarily limited to the vision means, and any means that can provide data that allows information on at least one of the characteristics of the fly described below to be extracted by the control unit may be applied.
[0107] When the state of the fly (P) is detected by the above detection unit (510), the predetermined condition is satisfied, and then the operation for transporting the fly (P) is performed.
[0108] The control unit can extract information on at least one of the arrangement shape, outer line, and fiber arrangement of the fly (P) waiting on the buffer space (S4) when an image of the fly is acquired by the detection unit (510), and can control the operation of at least one of the buffer unit (500) and the second fly picking unit (400) based on the extracted information.
[0109] The reason why the control unit controls the operation of at least one of the buffer unit (500) and the second fly picking unit (400) based on the result detected by the detection unit (510) is to ensure that the fly (P) waiting in the buffer space is picked at the correct position by the second fly picking unit (400), thereby improving the accuracy of the layup process on the layup mold unit (600), which is the next process.
[0110] In the past, a method was applied in which the flies loaded on the loading unit were picked by the fly picking unit and then directly transferred to the layup mold unit for compression bonding. However, in this case, the arrangement of the flies loaded on the loading unit was not consistent, and thus a problem arose in that the fly picking unit could not pick them in the correct position.
[0111] If the picking position of the fly by the fly picking unit changes, the accuracy of the layup process on the layup mold unit deteriorates, which ultimately results in a deterioration in the preform quality.
[0112] For the above reasons, the present invention enables the second fly picking unit (400) that performs the layup process on the layup mold unit (600) through the buffer unit (500), the detection unit (510), and the control unit to pick the fly in the correct position, thereby improving the accuracy of the layup process.
[0113] Specifically, the control unit can control the operation of the buffer unit (500) based on the result detected by the detection unit (510) so as to minimize the change in operation of the second fly picking unit (400) for picking the fly (P) waiting in the buffer space (S4) of the buffer unit (500).
[0114] Here, the control unit can control the operation of the second fly picking unit (300, 400) without changing the position of the buffer unit (500) based on the result detected by the detection unit (510), thereby enabling accurate picking of the fly (P) by the second fly picking unit (400). However, in this case, the operation of the second fly picking unit (400) provided as a robot type is subject to many changes, and thus, in terms of precision control, it may be relatively undesirable compared to the case of controlling the operation of the buffer unit (500).
[0115] For the above reasons, the second fly picking unit (400) is controlled to repeatedly perform a certain operation regardless of information related to the shape and size of the fly (P) to be picked, or information on the position of the fly (P) placed on the buffer space, so that it can be more effective for the on-site picking to improve the accuracy of the layup process.
[0116] When the above buffer unit (500) is changed in operation (e.g., linear movement or rotational movement, etc.) by the control unit, the picking operation of the second fly picking unit (400) can be maintained constant regardless of the type of fly (P) waiting in the buffer space.
[0117] Meanwhile, the first fly picking unit (300) may include a plurality of first vacuum suction units, and at least some of the plurality of first vacuum suction units may provide a vacuum suction function to the fly (P) to transport the fly (P) from the loading unit (200) to the buffer space based on the characteristics of the fly (P).
[0118] Here, the first fly picking unit (300) can transport the fly (P) to the central portion of the buffer space regardless of the position of the first vacuum suction unit that provides a vacuum suction function to the fly (P).
[0119] Specifically, when the fly (P) to be picked by the first fly picking unit (300) is positioned to be biased toward one side of the loading unit (200), the first vacuum suction unit used to pick the fly (P) may also be positioned to be biased toward one side among the plurality of first vacuum suction units.
[0120] In this case, the first fly picking unit (300) can transport the fly (P) to the central part of the buffer space even if it is picked in a state that is biased toward one side of the first fly picking unit (300), thereby making it easier for the second fly picking unit (400) to pick it in the correct position.
[0121] The second fly picking unit (400) may include a plurality of second vacuum suction units, and the plurality of second vacuum suction units may include a central vacuum suction unit for providing a vacuum suction function to the fly (P) regardless of the characteristics of the fly (P) placed in the buffer space, and a peripheral vacuum suction unit for determining whether or not to provide a vacuum suction function to the fly based on the characteristics of the fly placed in the buffer space.
[0122] Here, the peripheral vacuum suction unit can be set for each peripheral area of the central vacuum suction unit based on the characteristics of the fly (P) arranged in the buffer space.
[0123] Specifically, when the plurality of second vacuum suction portions are formed in a plurality of rows and columns in a rectangular area, at least one second vacuum suction portion located in the center is defined as the central vacuum suction portion, and considering the shape and size of the fly (P), etc., at least one second vacuum suction portion located around the central vacuum suction portion can be defined as a peripheral vacuum suction portion.
[0124] The above peripheral vacuum suction unit can be preset to a plurality of types based on the shape and size of the fly (P), and one of the preset types can be determined according to the fly (P) to be picked, and the vacuum suction function can be performed together with the central vacuum suction unit.
[0125]
[0126] Although the configuration and features of the present invention have been described above based on embodiments according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and therefore, it is made clear that such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the appended patent claims.
Claims
1. A cutting unit for cutting multiple plies by specific area of fabric provided by pre-determined nesting; A loading unit for storing the plurality of flies cut by the above-mentioned cutting unit; A first fly picking unit for picking the plurality of flies cut by the above foundation unit and transporting them to the loading unit; A buffer unit for temporarily waiting for each of the plurality of flies stored in the loading unit before being transferred to the next process for manufacturing a preform; A layup mold unit corresponding to the above-mentioned next process, for manufacturing a preform by stacking the plies waiting in the buffer unit; and A second fly picking unit that picks the fly from the buffer unit and then transfers it to the layup mold unit to allow layup to proceed; The above first fly picking unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that it is capable of picking flies from the loading unit and transporting them to the buffer unit.
2. In paragraph 1, The above foundation unit, the above loading unit and the above buffer unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the first fly picking unit is arranged radially with respect to the first fly picking unit so that the transport operation of the fly from the cutting unit to the loading unit and the transport operation of the fly from the loading unit to the buffer unit are possible within a minimum operating range.
3. In paragraph 2, The above loading unit and the above buffer unit, Each is positioned in one direction and the other direction based on the first fly picking unit, The above foundation unit is, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that it is located between the loading unit and the buffer unit.
4. In paragraph 1, A detection unit for detecting the status of a fly waiting in the above buffer unit; and A preform manufacturing work cell facility further comprising a control unit for controlling the operation of at least one of the buffer unit and the second fly picking unit based on the result detected by the detection unit so that the fly waiting on the buffer unit is picked at the correct position by the second fly picking unit.
5. In paragraph 4, The above control unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the operation of the buffer unit is controlled based on the result detected by the detection unit so as to minimize the change in operation of the second fly picking unit for picking the fly.
6. In paragraph 5, The above buffer unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the picking operation of the second fly picking unit is maintained constant regardless of the type of fly in the waiting state by a change in operation.
7. In paragraph 4, The above control unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the operation of at least one of the buffer unit and the second fly picking unit is controlled based on the detection result of the detection unit for at least one of the arrangement shape, the outer line, and the fiber arrangement of the fly in waiting.
8. In paragraph 1, The above first fly picking unit, comprising a plurality of first vacuum suction units, At least some of the plurality of first vacuum suction portions, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that, based on the characteristics of the fly, a vacuum suction function is provided to the fly to transport the fly to the buffer space.
9. In paragraph 8, The above first fly picking unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the fly is transported to the central portion of the buffer space regardless of the position of the first vacuum suction unit providing a vacuum suction function to the fly.
10. In paragraph 1 The above second fly picking unit, comprising a plurality of second vacuum suction units, The above plurality of second vacuum suction units are: A preform manufacturing work cell facility comprising a central vacuum suction unit for providing a vacuum suction function to the fly regardless of the characteristics of the fly, and a peripheral vacuum suction unit for determining whether the fly has a vacuum suction function based on the characteristics of the fly.
11. In paragraph 10, The above peripheral vacuum suction part is, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that each peripheral area of the central vacuum suction unit is set based on the characteristics of the fly.
12. In paragraph 1, The above loading unit is, It is provided in multiples and is mounted on the frame unit so that it can be raised and lowered on the frame unit. The above multiple loading units are, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that it stores plies by a plurality of plies each included in the above specific area.
13. In paragraph 12, The above first fly picking unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that it simultaneously picks a plurality of flies included in the above specific area and transports them to one of the plurality of loading units.
14. In paragraph 12, The above first fly picking unit, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that, when loading is completed by transporting the plies by plies included in the specific area throughout the plurality of loading units, the plies are picked by ply unit and the picked plies are transported to the buffer unit to temporarily wait before being transported to the layup mold unit.
15. In paragraph 12, Each of the above plurality of loading units, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that a plurality of plies cut for each specific area are stacked spaced apart from each other.
16. In paragraph 12, Each of the above plurality of loading units, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that the arrangement of a plurality of plies cut for each specific area of the above fabric is maintained and loaded.
17. In paragraph 12, One of the above multiple loading units, A preform manufacturing work cell facility characterized in that it is positioned in an open space provided to the frame unit through a lifting and lowering operation so that the fly can be loaded by the fly picking unit, and when loading is completed, it is moved to a closed space provided to the frame unit through a lifting and lowering operation so that another one of the plurality of loading units is positioned in the open space through a lifting and lowering operation.
18. In paragraph 17, Each of the above plurality of loading units, A preform manufacturing work cell facility, characterized in that when the loading of flies by the first fly picking unit is completed in the open space, the preform manufacturing work cell facility is sequentially elevated and positioned in the open space based on a predetermined layup order.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
The system for automatic manufacturing of press forming article using double robot line for tandem press line
KR101212195B1
Transfer apparatus for taking out products
KR1020130134436A
Flexible material transfer apparatus and flexible material transfer method using the same
KR1020170122371A
Method for Producing a Fiber Preform for a Fiber Composite Component
US20160354951A1
Preforming system and method
US20220258437A1
