Arc Trajectory Loader for Plate Material Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate material processing systems require multiple drive sources, increasing production and operation costs, and are difficult to install in limited spaces due to the complexity of their loading mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A plate material processing system with a loader that uses a pivoting mechanism to move the plate material attaching unit on an arc-shaped trajectory, reducing the number of drive sources needed and allowing for installation in narrow spaces by maintaining a constant orientation and positioning the pivot to avoid interference with the processing machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an orthogonal coordinate type loader is used to move the plate material attaching unit in three-axis directions, then the loading and unloading function is achieved, but the number of drive sources increases, leading to increased production cost and operation cost
Solution Approach 1:
The loader is divided into two independent functional parts: a pivoting mechanism that handles forward-backward movement along an arc-shaped trajectory, and a carriage mechanism that handles leftward-rightward movement. This segmentation allows each mechanism to have its own dedicated drive source, reducing the total number of drive sources from three to two while maintaining full loading and unloading functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The loader transitions from linear orthogonal coordinate movement to arc-shaped trajectory movement. The pivoting mechanism moves the plate material attaching unit along an arc-shaped trajectory in the forward-backward direction, while the carriage provides leftward-rightward adjustment. This dimensional change enables reduced drive source complexity while achieving the same functional outcomes.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional pivoting loader is used to pivot the plate material attaching unit, then the loading and unloading function is achieved, but the orientation of the plate material attaching unit changes depending on the pivoting phase, limiting the determination of waiting and unloading positions and making it difficult to install in narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is designed with asymmetric characteristics where the plate material attaching unit maintains a constant orientation relative to the vertical direction throughout the pivoting motion. This is achieved by configuring the pivoting arm and link mechanism such that the attaching unit's orientation remains stable regardless of the pivoting phase, enabling flexible determination of waiting and unloading positions and facilitating installation in narrow spaces.
3Productivity
If the plate material attaching unit is moved in three-axis directions, then complete material handling is achieved, but production cost and operation cost increase due to at least three drive sources being necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism and carriage mechanism are merged into a coordinated system where the pivoting mechanism handles the primary forward-backward motion along the arc-shaped trajectory, and the carriage handles the secondary leftward-rightward positioning. This merging of functions into two integrated mechanisms reduces the total number of drive sources from three to two, thereby reducing both production cost and operation cost while maintaining complete material handling capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate material processing system includes a plate material processing machine and a loader. The plate material processing machine holds a front end portion of an unprocessed plate material by a work holder and moves the unprocessed plate material on a table forward, backward, leftward and rightward. The loader includes: a plate material attaching unit; and a pivoting mechanism for pivoting the plate material attaching unit on a predefined arc-shaped trajectory while maintaining the plate material attaching unit in a constant orientation as viewed in a planar manner. When the plate material attaching unit is at a foremost position, the work holder is positioned to the other side of the left and right sides relative to a processing head, away from the unprocessed plate material loading position side, thereby preventing the work holder and the plate material attaching unit from interfering with each other.