Autonomous Processing Station with Movable Conveyor Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing stations face difficulties in efficiently feeding and removing workpieces to and from clamping tables during machining operations, limiting accessibility and processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous processing station is designed with a conveyor system and a suction table clamping mechanism, allowing for easy loading and unloading of workpieces using a multi-axis robot or lifting device, enabling mechanical or pneumatic gripping and processing from multiple angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conveyor system is used to feed workpieces to a clamping table, then productivity is improved, but accessibility to the workpiece for processing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed with movable sections that can be dynamically opened or shifted to create access openings. This allows the conveyor to transition between a closed state during feeding/removal and an open state during processing, enabling both high productivity and full workpiece accessibility from all sides except the bottom.
2Productivity
If the conveyor remains closed during processing, then productivity is maintained, but workpiece accessibility for multi-angle processing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is divided into separate movable sections that can be independently opened or shifted. This segmentation allows specific portions of the conveyor to be opened to provide access openings for processing tools, while other sections remain closed to maintain continuous material flow and productivity.
3Ease of operation
If manual workpiece handling is used, then accessibility is improved, but productivity and automation level are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines automated conveyor feeding with automated lifting devices that can independently handle workpiece placement and removal. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining full workpiece accessibility through the openable conveyor sections, achieving both high productivity and operational flexibility.
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
Facilitates simple and efficient feeding, processing, and removal of workpieces from clamping tables, enhancing accessibility and processing efficiency by allowing workpieces to be clamped and unclamped from all sides except the bottom, improving operational workflow.
Implementation Method 1
the processing station comprises a suction table, serving as the clamping table, which secures the workpiece resting thereon by way of suction using negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous processing station, in particular for machining a plate-shaped workpiece, for example, including a roller conveyor and a suction table disposed beneath the roller conveyor for clamping the workpiece. The roller conveyor includes movable rollers, in a longitudinal center region of the roller conveyor, so as to be movable to the side beneath stationary rollers at ends of the roller conveyor, so that the workpiece can be lowered through the resulting opening onto the suction table.