Automatic Picking Fixture Device for Insole Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insole manufacturing equipment is labor-intensive, requires multiple skilled workers, and poses a high risk of infection due to worker contact, limiting production to less than 24-hour daily operation and increasing costs and training time.
Innovation Solution
An automatic picking fixture device equipped with a mechanical arm, motor, pneumatic cylinders or servo motors, and a control apparatus that automates the picking, forming, and collection processes, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing worker interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional manufacturing equipment is used, then insoles can be manufactured by skilled workers, but production cannot continue successively in 24 hours daily and labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated mechanical system comprising a mechanical arm, fixture, motor, gear, and pneumatic cylinders. The mechanical arm automatically positions the fixture, the motor drives the gear to move movable holders, and pneumatic cylinders actuate jaws to clamp materials, eliminating the need for continuous manual intervention and enabling 24-hour continuous production
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system performs self-service operations where the mechanical arm autonomously moves the fixture to different positions, the motor automatically drives the gear mechanism to adjust movable holders, and pneumatic cylinders self-actuate the clamping jaws without requiring skilled workers to continuously monitor and adjust the manufacturing process
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple skilled workers are used to manufacture, cut, and trim insoles, then manufacturing can be completed, but labor time and force are consumed greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple manufacturing operations (picking, forming, cutting, trimming) into a single integrated automated system. The mechanical arm with the fixture performs all these operations sequentially without requiring separate workstations or multiple workers, significantly reducing the total time and labor force needed while maintaining complete manufacturing capability
3Manufacturing precision
If skilled workers operate the equipment, then manufacturing quality can be maintained, but training time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces skilled human operators with an automated control system that precisely controls the mechanical arm, motor, gear mechanism, and pneumatic cylinders. This substitution maintains manufacturing precision through consistent automated execution while reducing operational complexity to simple control input, eliminating the need for extensive worker training
4Ease of operation
If workers contact each other during manufacturing, then coordination can be achieved, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs self-service coordination where the control system automatically manages the sequence of operations, positioning, and timing without requiring workers to communicate or coordinate with each other. This eliminates close contact between workers while maintaining efficient operational coordination through automated control
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 continuous 24-hour insole production with reduced labor and training costs, improved safety by minimizing worker contact, and maintaining stable quality.
Implementation Method 1
a motor mounted on a top of the fixture and corresponding to the coupling orifice, and a rotor of the motor rotatably connected in the coupling orifice. A bottom of the rotor is screwed with a gear.
Implementation Method 2
The four passing orifices of the fixture are configured to lock with the four pneumatic cylinders or four servo motors, and the four pneumatic cylinders or the four servo motors are configured to push four jaws outward or inward.
Implementation Method 3
The two movable holders of the fixture include four racks corresponding to the four elongated orifice. The four racks are fixed on the top of the fixture, and a respective rack has two rollers disposed on two sides thereof and rolling along a respective elongated orifice.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic picking fixture device: a fixture locked with a mechanical arm and includes a coupling orifice, a motor, a rotor, and a gear. The fixture includes four elongated orifices and two movable holders. The two movable holders have four through orifices corresponding to the gear, four passing orifices, and two toothed sections received in the four through orifices and meshing with and driving the gear. The four passing orifices of the fixture is configured to lock with the four pneumatic cylinders or four servo motors, and the four pneumatic cylinders or the four servo motors are configured to push four jaws outward or inward, the four jaws include four symmetrical clamping grooves configured to clamp at least one material. The four racks are fixed on the top of the fixture, and a respective rack has two rollers rolling along a respective elongated orifice.