Component Centering Station for Precise Conveyor Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems for component feeding result in approximate positioning and orientation of components, leading to process errors and increased costs due to the use of optical control systems.
Innovation Solution
A centring apparatus and method that utilizes a conveyor with angled positions and centring stations to precisely position and orient components using gripping members and centring means, ensuring accurate transfer to assembly or processing stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conveyor trays or belts with housing seats are used for component feeding, then the system structure is simple and economical, but the component positioning precision deteriorates resulting in approximate positioning inside the housing seats
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a feeding conveyor with housing seats for economical transport, and a centring station with centring means for precision positioning. This segmentation allows the system to combine the simplicity of housing-seat conveyors with the precision of dedicated centring mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The centring station performs preliminary centring action on components before they are picked up by pick-up units. By pre-positioning components with accurate orientation and location in the centring station, the system ensures precise component transfer to assembly stations, eliminating the need for complex optical control systems while maintaining high positioning precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical control systems are used to indicate real positioning and orientation of components, then component picking up precision is improved, but the system complexity and costs increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical control systems with a mechanical centring system. The centring means mechanically adjust component positioning and orientation through physical centring actions at the centring station, eliminating the need for complex optical sensors, cameras, and feedback control systems while achieving the same precision in component picking up.
Solution Approach 2:
The centring means enable components to self-centre automatically at the centring station through mechanical guidance features. Components are passively guided into correct positioning by the centring mechanism's geometric features, eliminating the need for active control systems, sensors, or complex feedback loops, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If housing seats are oversized with respect to components, then component feeding is simplified, but positioning accuracy deteriorates resulting in process errors and rejected products
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding system is divided into two functional segments: oversized housing seats for simple and robust component feeding, and a dedicated centring station for precision positioning. This segmentation allows each segment to optimize its function - housing seats provide simple feeding while the centring station ensures accurate positioning, thereby maintaining both feeding simplicity and process reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The centring station performs preliminary positioning action on components fed from the housing seats. By pre-centring components before they are picked up by pick-up units, the system ensures that even though housing seats are oversized, the components receive accurate positioning treatment beforehand, eliminating process errors and improving reliability without sacrificing feeding simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a centring apparatus, including a conveyor for feeding articles configured for feeding a succession of components, a centring station, positioned downstream of the feeding conveyor and including centring means configured for receiving the components from the feeding conveyor and for centring the components in accordance with a predetermined positioning and/or orientation and a release area, positioned downstream of the centring station for receiving the centred components, coming from the centring station. The apparatus also includes movement means designed to transport the at least one component along a centring path extending from the feeding conveyor to the release area through the centring station.