Centralized Fastener Feeding for Continuous Multi-Cell Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manufacturing systems require frequent interruptions in the assembly line to replenish fasteners in robotic manipulators, leading to inefficiencies and downtime, as individual cells must stop for magazine replenishment.
Innovation Solution
A fastener feeding system with a robotic manipulator and sensor assembly that selects and delivers fasteners from a single load point to multiple manufacturing cells via a track-based transport assembly, allowing for continuous operation by detecting demand and automatically supplying fasteners based on need.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual robotic manipulators are supplied with fasteners from magazines at each manufacturing cell, then each cell can operate independently, but the manufacturing line must stop when fasteners are depleted requiring magazine replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple individual fastener magazines at separate manufacturing cells into a single centralized fastener distribution assembly that serves multiple manufacturing cells. This merging eliminates the need for separate magazines at each cell and allows continuous fastener supply through a shared system with automated replenishment, resolving the contradiction between independent cell operation and manufacturing line continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fastener carrier as an intermediary component that transports fasteners from the centralized distribution assembly to individual manufacturing cells. This carrier acts as a mediator, enabling continuous fastener delivery without requiring direct connection between the distribution assembly and each cell, thus maintaining operational independence while ensuring productivity.
2Reliability
If magazines are replenished or replaced when fasteners are depleted, then fastener supply is maintained, but work on the manufacturing line must be stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a centralized fastener distribution assembly that pre-stores large quantities of fasteners and proactively manages their distribution to manufacturing cells. This preliminary action ensures fasteners are continuously available without depletion, eliminating the need for stoppage-based replenishment and resolving the contradiction between supply reliability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a continuous fastener supply system where the centralized distribution assembly continuously delivers fasteners to manufacturing cells via fastener carriers. This continuous action eliminates interruptions in the manufacturing line, ensuring both reliability of fastener supply and uninterrupted production, thereby resolving the contradiction between supply assurance and downtime.
3Productivity
If a centralized fastener distribution assembly is used to supply multiple manufacturing cells, then manufacturing line continuity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized fastener distribution system into modular components: a distribution assembly, multiple fastener carriers, and individual delivery points at each manufacturing cell. This segmentation allows the complex system to be managed as independent modules, simplifying operation and maintenance while maintaining manufacturing line continuity, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and system complexity.
4Reliability
If fasteners are manually replenished at each manufacturing cell, then fastener availability is maintained, but labor requirements and operational interruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated fastener distribution system where the centralized distribution assembly automatically selects, loads, and delivers fasteners to manufacturing cells based on their needs. This self-service capability eliminates manual intervention at each cell, maintaining fastener availability while reducing labor requirements and operational interruptions, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener feeding system and method for automatically delivering fasteners to a plurality of different manufacturing cells in a manufacturing line from a single load point. The fastener feeding system includes a fastener distribution assembly and a transport assembly for selecting and delivering fasteners to the manufacturing cells. Individual fasteners are selected from a fastener reservoir by a robotic manipulator of the fastener distribution assembly, and are placed on a fastener carrier supported on conveying structure extending between the fastener distribution assembly and the manufacturing cells for movement therealong. The fastener carrier is controlled to move along the track to deliver one or more fasteners to a manufacturing cell.