Clamp Apparatus Sequential Arm Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamp apparatuses in automated assembly lines struggle to clamp workpieces with high precision due to variations in workpiece dimensions and shifts from the predetermined position, leading to inconsistent abutment timing and position between clamp arms.
Innovation Solution
A clamp apparatus with a pair of rotatable clamp arms and a driving force transmission mechanism, where a positioning means restricts the rotation of the second clamp arm in advance, allowing the first clamp arm to sequentially rotate and clamp the workpiece, ensuring precise positioning and retention through the second clamp arm's initial abutment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simultaneous rotation of both clamp arms is used, then the structure is simple and operation is easy, but positioning precision deteriorates when workpiece position varies
Solution Approach 1:
The second clamp arm (positioning clamp arm) performs preliminary positioning action by rotating first to abut against the workpiece and restrict its rotation, establishing a reference position before the first clamp arm (clamping clamp arm) completes the clamping operation. This sequential preliminary action ensures precise positioning even when workpiece initial position varies.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping operation is segmented into two distinct phases: positioning phase where the second clamp arm rotates and abuts the workpiece to establish position, and clamping phase where the first clamp arm completes the grip. This segmentation allows each clamp arm to have specialized function for optimal precision and simplicity.
2Productivity
If simultaneous clamping by both clamp arms is used, then clamping speed is high, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to inconsistent abutment timing
Solution Approach 1:
The second clamp arm performs preliminary positioning by rotating and abutting the workpiece before the first clamp arm completes clamping. This preliminary action ensures the workpiece is properly positioned and oriented, eliminating timing-related positioning errors while maintaining overall clamping speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotation sequence of the two clamp arms based on the positioning requirements. The second clamp arm is designed to rotate first and restrict workpiece rotation, creating a dynamic positioning reference that adapts to workpiece position variations while maintaining high clamping speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp apparatus includes a pair of first and second clamp arms. A driving force transmission mechanism transmits a driving force of a drive unit, whereby the first clamp arm is operated to rotate via a link arm, while simultaneously, the second clamp arm is rotated, and after being rotated through a predetermined angle, under moving action of a roller, which is inserted into a cam groove of a link plate, rotation of the second clamp arm is stopped and maintained in advance with respect to the first clamp arm. Consequently, after positioning of a workpiece has been carried out by the second clamp arm, rotation of which is stopped, the first clamp arm continues to be rotated, whereby the workpiece is clamped.