Robot Rivet Supply From Bulk Feeders Without Magazine Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for supplying riveting elements to riveting machines are complex, requiring extensive advance planning and storage of various rivet elements, and involve sequential filling of rivet cartridges, which limits flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a robot-based system with a rivet element supply unit and receptacle arrangement, allowing direct supply of riveting elements in bulk form without a magazine, enabling flexible and simple feeding of different types of riveting elements to the riveting machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If rivet elements are supplied using traditional sequential filling methods with magazines, then rivet elements can be stored and supplied, but the device complexity and storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magazine component from the supply system entirely. Instead of using a magazine to store and supply rivet elements, the system directly supplies rivet elements from a container through a vibratory feeder and robot gripper to the riveting machine, eliminating the complex magazine mechanism while maintaining supply functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The robot gripper serves multiple functions: it picks up rivet elements from the vibratory feeder, holds them during transport, and delivers them to the riveting machine. This multi-functional approach replaces the specialized magazine mechanism, reducing device complexity while maintaining rivet element supply capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If rivet cassettes are filled sequentially with different rivet types, then various rivet elements can be supplied, but the production time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory feeder continuously supplies rivet elements to the robot gripper without interruption. The robot can continuously pick and deliver different rivet types without stopping the supply process, eliminating the sequential filling time and maintaining continuous production flow while handling rivet type changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a programmable robot with a configurable gripper that can dynamically adapt to different rivet types through software control rather than mechanical reconfiguration. This allows rapid switching between rivet types without the time-consuming sequential filling and mechanical adjustment required by traditional magazine systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive storage of rivet cassettes is maintained for different rivet types, then flexibility in rivet selection is improved, but the space requirements and inventory management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the magazine storage component entirely from the system. Rivet elements are stored in a simple container and supplied on-demand through the vibratory feeder and robot system, eliminating the need for extensive magazine storage space while maintaining the ability to handle various rivet types
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a container that can be refilled with different rivet types as needed, rather than maintaining pre-configured magazines for each rivet type. The robot dynamically selects and handles individual rivet elements from the container, providing flexibility without requiring extensive pre-stored inventory in specialized magazines
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
This approach simplifies and flexibly supplies riveting elements to the riveting machine, eliminating the need for extensive storage and advance planning, allowing for efficient handling and use of various rivet types without mechanical configuration changes.
Implementation Method 1
a rivet element supply unit (5) for supplying and singulating rivet elements (3)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for supplying a riveting machine (2) with rivet elements (3), particularly during operation of the riveting machine (2), wherein at least one rivet element provision assembly (4) is provided having at least one rivet element provision unit (5) for providing and singling out the rivet elements (3), wherein the riveting machine (2) comprises a rivet element receiving arrangement (4) having at least one rivet element receiving unit (7) for receiving the rivet elements (3), wherein at least a portion of the transport from one of the rivet element provision units (5) to one of the rivet element receiving units (7) is robot-based.