Removal Tray Sidewall Recesses for Automated Cable Gripping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable processing machine systems face frequent interruptions due to the complexity and impossibility of automated or mechanical removal of cables from removal trays, requiring manual intervention to avoid mixing different lots.

Innovation Solution

A removal tray with side walls featuring recesses and indentations for mechanical gripping by a gripper arm, allowing for automatic or mechanical removal of cables, enabling continuous operation of the cable processing machine without interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual removal of cables from the removal tray is used, then the cables can be removed without mixing different lots, but the operation of the cable processing machine is frequently interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of mixing different cable lotsVSAvoidcontinuous operation of cable processing machine
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The removal tray is designed with self-gripping features where recesses and indentations in the side walls automatically engage with gripper arms, enabling the system to remove cables without manual intervention while maintaining lot separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Gripper arms act as intermediaries between the removal tray and the cable processing machine, mechanically engaging with the tray's side wall features to automatically transfer cables without requiring direct manual handling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated or mechanical removal of cables from previously known removal trays is implemented, then the continuous operation can be maintained, but the technical complexity becomes very complex or almost impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation of cable processing machineVSAvoidcomplexity of automated removal mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side walls of the removal tray are segmented with multiple recesses and indentations that create discrete engagement points for gripper arms, breaking down the complex removal task into simple, repeatable mechanical interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the gripper mechanism complex to adapt to various tray designs, the tray design is inverted to actively present gripping features (recesses and indentations) that naturally accommodate simple gripper arms, reversing the problem-solution approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3827485B1Removal tray for a cable processing machine system, cable processing machine system and method for removing one or more cables from a removal tray
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 KOMAX HOLDING
  • EP3827485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3827485B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3827485B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a removal trough (22) for a cable processing machine system (1), said removal trough (22) being designed to accept cables (15) processed by a cable processing machine (5) of the cable processing machine system (1); sidewalls (34, 35) of the removal trough (22) each have one or more recesses (90) and/or bays in order for the cables (15) to be able to be gripped by a machine, in particular by a gripping arm (55), in the removal trough (22).