Workpiece Feeding Unit With Air Cushion Support and Robotic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small and medium-sized machining machines face challenges in automating the supply and positioning of workpieces due to the limitations in transferring the automation degree of complex machines, requiring individually adapted and modular solutions for flexible operation.
Innovation Solution
A supply unit comprising a workpiece support, such as an air cushion device or ball roller device, and a manipulator with multiple degrees of freedom, allowing for precise and ergonomic movement and alignment of workpieces, including a human-robot collaboration device to assist machine operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a processing machine is designed as a smaller system, then it is more adaptable to small and medium-sized enterprises, but the degree of automation cannot be transferred from complex processing machines
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding system is divided into modular components: a workpiece support unit with air cushion devices and a separate manipulator unit. This segmentation allows the system to be adapted to different working environments while maintaining automated feeding functionality, resolving the contradiction between system adaptability and automation degree.
Solution Approach 2:
A manipulator is introduced as an intermediary device between the workpiece support and the processing machine's feed device. This intermediary enables automated workpiece feeding without requiring the entire processing machine to be a complex automated system, thus maintaining adaptability while improving automation extent.
2Device complexity
If manual feeding and positioning is used in smaller systems, then the system remains simple and adaptable, but operator workload increases and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece support with air cushion devices enables self-service feeding where the workpiece can be easily moved and positioned with minimal friction. This reduces the physical effort required by the operator while keeping the system simple and adaptable, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If automated feeding devices are added to processing machines, then productivity increases, but the system becomes more complex and less flexible
Solution Approach 1:
Air cushion devices are used in the workpiece support to enable frictionless movement of workpieces. This pneumatic approach simplifies the feeding mechanism while improving feeding efficiency, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity by using physics-based solutions rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe, precise, and efficient supply of workpieces to machining machines with improved ergonomics and handling, reducing operator workload and enhancing flexibility in small and medium-sized machining environments.
Implementation Method 1
a workpiece support, in particular an air cushion device, ball roller device, roller conveyor or roller bar, which is designed to allow a movement of a workpiece resting thereon
Implementation Method 2
a workpiece support, in particular an air cushion device, ball roller device, roller conveyor or roller bar
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a feeding unit (17) for feeding a workpiece (11), which preferably consists at least partially of wood, wood-based material, plastic or the like, to a processing machine (10), comprising a workpiece support (18), in particular an air cushion device, ball roller device, roller conveyor or roller strip, which is configured to allow movement of a workpiece (11) resting on it, and at least one manipulator (19) which is configured to feed the workpiece (11) resting on the workpiece support (18) to a feeding device (20) of the processing machine (10) by means of an positioning movement, as well as a processing machine (10) and a method for feeding a workpiece (11) to a processing machine (10).