Bending Unit Manipulator Handover Without Intermediate Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bending systems require intermediate storage and additional clipping processes, leading to inefficiencies and potential collisions during the transfer of metal sheets between manipulators.
Innovation Solution
A manipulation system with a common guide arrangement and mirror-symmetrical manipulator arms allows for direct transfer between manipulators, preventing collisions and eliminating the need for intermediate storage by aligning pivot axes parallel to the guide arrangement, enabling safe and efficient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intermediate storage and additional clipping processes are used for transferring metal sheets between manipulators, then the transfer process is safer and more controlled, but the productive bending time decreases and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the intermediate storage step from the transfer process. By enabling direct transfer between manipulators through coordinated movement along a common guide arrangement, the system removes the intermediate storage and additional clipping operations, thereby increasing productive bending time while maintaining transfer safety through the structured transfer method
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements continuous transfer of metal sheets between manipulators without interruption for intermediate storage. The first manipulator transfers the sheet directly to the second manipulator along the common guide arrangement, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action throughout the bending process
2Productivity
If manipulators are positioned closer together for direct transfer, then the transfer process becomes faster and more efficient, but the risk of collisions between manipulator arms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamic coordination between the first and second manipulators. Both manipulators move along the common guide arrangement in a coordinated manner during the transfer process, with their positions dynamically adjusted to maintain safe distances and avoid collisions while achieving fast direct transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor the positions of both manipulators during the transfer process. The coordinated movement along the common guide arrangement is controlled based on real-time position information, ensuring that the manipulator arms maintain appropriate spacing to prevent collisions while achieving efficient direct transfer
3Area of stationary object
If manipulator arms are arranged in a compact configuration to save space, then the system footprint is reduced, but the risk of collisions during transfer operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the longitudinal dimension along the common guide arrangement for manipulator movement, rather than only relying on vertical or lateral spacing. By moving both manipulators along the guide arrangement in a coordinated fashion, the system achieves compact lateral footprint while maintaining sufficient separation distance to prevent collisions during transfer operations
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for transferring a workpiece (3) in a bending unit (1) comprising at least one bending machine (4) from a first manipulator (17) to a second manipulator (18) by means of a manipulation system (2). Each manipulator (17, 18) comprises first, second and third manipulator arms (22, 22'; 24, 24'; 26, 26'), which each can be pivoted about second axes (23, 23'), third axes (25, 25') and fourth axes (27, 27') respectively, and exclusively in parallel alignment with respect to a first axis (20) of a guide arrangement (19). The workpiece (3) is gripped by a holding arrangement (28) of the first manipulator (17). The third manipulator arms (26, 26') are aligned so that they are opposite one another and extend up to one another, and the same workpiece (3) is gripped by a holding arrangement (28') of the second manipulator (18) and subsequently released by the holding arrangement (28) of the first manipulator (17) for the direct transfer process. The invention also relates to a manipulation system (2) and to a bending unit (1) equipped with said system.