Clip Feed Tray Positioning for Complex 3D Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clip dispensing devices face complexities and production shutdowns due to blockages in vibrating bowls and guide rails, and are unsuitable for three-dimensional components with non-specific shapes, as they struggle to maintain stable equilibrium during vibration.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a temporary storage tray with individual housings for stable positioning of components, combined with an optical detection system and transfer system controlled by an electronic unit, ensures components are properly aligned and picked up for transfer to a downstream processing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vibrating bowl and guide rails are used to convey clips, then clips can be dispensed continuously, but the device becomes complex and blocking problems occur due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bulk storage into individual housing units within the temporary storage tray. Each housing accommodates a single clip in a predetermined stable position, segmenting the continuous flow into discrete, pre-positioned units. This eliminates the need for complex vibrating bowls and guide rails while maintaining continuous supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are pre-positioned in their final stable orientation within the individual housings before transfer. The temporary storage tray with reciprocating motion performs the positioning action in advance, so that when clips are transferred to the picking area, they are already correctly oriented and ready for immediate pickup, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms during transfer.
2Manufacturing precision
If a vibrating table is used to position components, then components can be positioned in a stable position, but three-dimensional components with non-specific shapes cannot maintain stable equilibrium
Solution Approach 1:
Each housing in the temporary storage tray is specifically designed with local geometric features that match the shape of the clip components. The housings have cavities, recesses, or contours that are complementary to the specific three-dimensional shape of the clips, providing stable positioning for each component type without requiring the component to find its own stable position through vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The individual housings act as intermediaries between the bulk storage and the transfer mechanism. Instead of relying on the component's own geometry to find stable equilibrium during vibration, the housing provides a pre-defined stable position that accommodates any three-dimensional shape. The housing mediates the positioning function, making the system adaptable to various component geometries.
3Ease of operation
If clips are agitated in a bulk storage container, then clips can be moved and positioned, but blocking problems occur due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bulk storage into individual housing units, each containing a single clip. This segmentation prevents blocking by ensuring that each clip is isolated in its own housing and cannot interfere with adjacent clips. The reciprocating motion of the temporary storage tray agitates the housings as a unit rather than individual clips, eliminating inter-clip interference and blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning of each clip within its housing before transfer occurs. The reciprocating motion of the temporary storage tray ensures that clips are properly seated in their housings in advance of the transfer operation, preventing improper positioning and blocking during the transfer process and ensuring production continuity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively promotes stable positioning and reduces the risk of tilting during agitation, allowing for efficient transfer of components, even those with complex shapes, thereby minimizing production shutdowns and improving supply rates.
Implementation Method 1
a temporary storage tray for components extracted from the main store configured to temporarily store the components waiting to be transferred out of the device, said tray being mounted in reciprocating translation in at least one longitudinal direction so as to be able to agitate said temporarily stored components and promote positioning thereof inside said tray according to at least one predetermined stable position related to their shape
Data Source
AI summary
A device for distributing clip-type components for assembling parts includes a main magazine for bulk storage of the components, a tray for temporary storage of components extracted from the main magazine, configured to temporarily store the components to be transferred out of the device and mounted for reciprocating translation in a longitudinal direction to shake the temporarily stored components and facilitate their positioning inside the tray in a predetermined stable position corresponding to their shape. The device includes an optical detection system to detect, from among the components temporarily stored inside the temporary storage tray, the components having the predetermined stable position, and a transfer system to transfer the components having the predetermined stable position to a downstream processing area outside the device. The device further includes an electronic control unit connected to the optical detection system and the transfer system, the unit configured to control the transfer system.