Circular Conveyor Assembling Machine for Small Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assembling machines for small parts, such as furniture hinges and switches, face challenges with bulkiness and reduced flexibility due to their linear or rotary configurations, leading to inefficiencies in station utilization and placement, especially when stations have varying working schedules and sizes.
Innovation Solution
A circular conveyor-based assembling machine with a rotating transport ring and adjustable stop units allows for flexible station placement and operation, enabling non-simultaneous movement of loading units and varying distances between them, along with customizable station and loading unit configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a straight transport line is used with working and mounting stations disposed in succession, then the machine can process multiple stations, but the machine has high extension in length and great bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the straight linear transport line into a circular configuration. The circular conveyor allows working and mounting stations to be arranged around the perimeter, reducing the machine's length while maintaining multiple stations. This curved layout compactly packs the stations in a radial pattern rather than extending them linearly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement to a two-dimensional circular arrangement. By distributing stations around the circular conveyor in different angular positions, the machine utilizes radial space efficiently, reducing the overall footprint and length while accommodating multiple stations simultaneously.
2Volume of stationary object
If a rotary table is used with supports distributed along its periphery, then the machine has reduced bulkiness, but the machine has reduced flexibility since all supports move simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the circular conveyor into multiple independent loading units that can be controlled separately. Each loading unit can be stopped, accelerated, or decelerated independently, allowing different stations to operate at different speeds or be skipped entirely. This segmentation breaks the simultaneous movement constraint of traditional rotary tables.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic control where the circular conveyor can adjust the speed and stopping positions of individual loading units based on operational requirements. The system transitions from rigid synchronous rotation to flexible asynchronous movement, enabling adaptive processing cycles for different stations.
3Volume of stationary object
If stations are equally distributed around the rotary table, then the machine has compact layout, but stations with shorter working schedules must wait for completion of operations in stations with longer working schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed control for different loading units on the circular conveyor. Stations with shorter processing times can have their loading units accelerated or allowed to wait at stopping positions, while stations with longer processing times maintain their pace. This eliminates idle waiting time while preserving the compact circular layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention ensures continuous productive operation by allowing loading units to be stopped at intermediate positions between stations or to wait for slower stations without halting the entire system. This maintains continuous material flow and processing at each station without synchronization delays.
4Adaptability or versatility
If stop units are disposed along the circular conveyor to selectively stop loading units, then the machine gains flexibility, but the machine requires precise positioning and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors and automatic control systems that detect the position and status of loading units, enabling them to stop and start automatically at the appropriate stations. The system self-regulates the movement and stopping of loading units without requiring complex external control mechanisms for each unit.
Data Source
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AI summary
An assembling machine comprises a succession of working and mounting stations (15, 16, 17) disposed along a circular path, and a powered horizontal ring (12) for transport of loading units (18) along the circular path. The loading units rest on the ring (12) so as to be driven in rotation, and stop units (25) are disposed along the ring and are drivable to stop the loading units (18) upon command, in a manner independent of the rotation of the ring.