Ceramic Handle Composite Element for Automated Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for attaching handles to leather-hard ceramic objects like cups and mugs are labor-intensive and lack productivity, as they require manual handling and separation of handles from the central part, limiting automation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A handle composite element with handles arranged at uniform radial distances from the central part, allowing for precise mechanical strength and dimensional stability, enabling automatic handling and attachment using a robot gripper, and featuring a centering contour for precise positioning and separation of handles for automated processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If handles are manufactured separately and attached manually to ceramic objects, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but productivity is low and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The handle composite element is segmented into multiple identical handles arranged radially around a central part, allowing one automated operation to process multiple handles simultaneously, thereby increasing productivity while reducing manual labor
Solution Approach 2:
The handle composite element is designed with a standardized centering contour that enables automated robot grippers to grasp and position it automatically without manual intervention, making the system self-sufficient in handling operations
2Strength
If handles are arranged at different radial distances from the central part, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but mechanical strength and dimensional stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
While the handles are symmetrically arranged for strength, the central part features an asymmetric centering contour with a specific profile that enables automated grasping, combining symmetric structural requirements with asymmetric functional requirements for automation
Solution Approach 2:
The radial distance of handles from the central part is standardized to a specific value, transforming the variable parameter of handle positioning into a fixed parameter, which ensures mechanical strength and dimensional stability while facilitating automated processing
3Productivity
If connecting channels are separated from the central part, then handle separation is simplified, but additional processing steps and personnel deployment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting channels are merged with the central part to form an integrated handle composite element, eliminating the need for separate separation operations and reducing processing steps, while the standardized design allows automated separation processes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The connecting element (10) has leather-hard handles (12) of ceramic material connected with each other for fastening to leather-hard ceramic articles. The handles stay away at a distance from an outer circumferential edge (14) of a central part (16) in a radial direction. The central part is formed with a centering contour (28). The central part is formed with radius arms (24). The radius arms extend from a center (26) of the central part in a circumferential direction of the connecting element to a frame (18) in a uniformly distributed manner.