Bead Separator with Dynamic Grippers for Variable Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bead separators are inflexible and can damage or fail to grip beads of different diameters, requiring frequent replacement of grippers when diameter changes occur.
Innovation Solution
A bead separator with movable grippers that adjust to different bead diameters, allowing passive repositioning based on bead contact, and a method for separating beads with adaptable grippers that can change orientation and position to accommodate varying bead sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed-mounted bead separator grippers are used to grip beads, then the gripping force and stability are improved, but the adaptability to different bead diameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is designed with movable components including a jaw member that can move relative to the gripper body, and a gripper plane that can rotate relative to the gripper base. This dynamic structure allows the gripper to adapt its geometry to different bead diameters while maintaining stable gripping force through controlled movement and positioning.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed-diameter grippers are used, then the manufacturing precision and gripping accuracy are improved, but the flexibility to handle varying bead diameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper incorporates movable jaw members and rotatable gripper planes that can dynamically adjust their positions and orientations. This allows the system to maintain high gripping accuracy for each specific bead diameter while being flexible enough to handle a range of different diameters by reconfiguring the gripper geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper system changes its geometric parameters including jaw position, gripper plane orientation, and gripping force distribution to match different bead diameters. This parameter adaptation enables the gripper to maintain optimal gripping accuracy across varying bead sizes without requiring multiple fixed gripper designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If grippers are replaced with alternative grippers for each diameter change, then the gripping precision is maintained, but the productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is designed as a universal device that can handle multiple bead diameters through its movable and rotatable components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to replace grippers when bead diameters change, thereby maintaining high gripping precision while significantly improving operational efficiency and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic structure of the gripper with movable jaw members and rotatable gripper planes allows it to quickly adapt to different bead diameters during operation. This eliminates downtime associated with gripper replacement while maintaining gripping precision, thus improving overall productivity and operational efficiency.
4Device complexity
If fixed-mounted grippers are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different bead diameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper incorporates movable jaw members and rotatable gripper planes that can adjust to different bead diameters. While this adds some complexity compared to fixed grippers, the mechanism remains relatively simple and maintains good structural integrity while achieving the desired adaptability to various bead sizes.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a bead separator, a bead supply station and a method for separating a single bead from a bead supply unit holding a plurality of beads, wherein the bead separator has a first gripper for separating the single bead and a first gripper base for supporting the first gripper, wherein the first gripper has jaw members which are movable towards each other from opposite sides of a first gripper plane defined by the first gripper into a closed state for gripping the single bead in the first gripper plane, wherein the first gripper is movable relative to the first gripper base between an inner first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a first bead diameter position and an outer first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a second bead diameter position different from the first bead diameter position.