Component Feeding Device with Staged Replenishment Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing component feeding devices are limited in their ability to supply components on multiple stages efficiently, lacking a systematic approach to manage component distribution and replenishment across multiple stages with varying component shapes and sizes.

Innovation Solution

A component feeding device with multiple replenishing devices and stages, controlled by a central system to arbitrarily schedule component delivery and adjust quantities on each stage, ensuring efficient scattering and retrieval of components of different shapes and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple replenishing devices supply components to multiple stages simultaneously, then component supply efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent supply efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into multiple independent replenishing devices (first, second, third replenishing devices) that can operate autonomously. Each replenishing device is associated with specific stages (e.g., first replenishing device with first and second stages), allowing parallel component supply to different stages without requiring complex coordination between all devices for all stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Components are stored in advance in storage containers (first storage container, second storage container, third storage container) before being needed. The replenishing devices can pre-load components into these storage containers, and then quickly replenish stages from the stored components, reducing the complexity of real-time coordination while maintaining high supply efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If component replenishment timing is fixed for all stages, then system control is simplified, but adaptability to different component requirements is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different component requirementsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically determines replenishment timing for each stage based on individual needs. The controller can independently control when the first replenishing device supplies to the first stage, when it supplies to the second stage, and when the second and third replenishing devices operate, allowing adaptive response to different component consumption rates and stage requirements without requiring a rigid fixed schedule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Each replenishing device and stage combination can have customized replenishment characteristics. For example, the first replenishing device can supply different types of components (first components and second components) to different stages at different timings, allowing each stage to receive components optimized for its specific requirements rather than a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If component quantities on each stage are standardized, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility in adjusting to different production needs is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in adjusting component quantitiesVSAvoidcomponent quantity control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system can change the parameters of component supply by controlling the number of components supplied to each stage independently. The controller can adjust whether the first replenishing device supplies one or two components to the first stage, and similarly adjust supplies to other stages, allowing precise control of component quantities while maintaining flexibility to adapt to different production requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3726948B1Component feeding device and component feeding method
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 FUJI CORP
  • EP3726948B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3726948B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3726948B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a component feeding device including multiple component replenishing devices configured to replenish with components having different shapes; multiple stages on which the components replenished from the multiple replenishing devices are scattered, and a control section configured to cause the multiple replenishing devices to replenish the components to the respective stages at an arbitrary timing. There is provided a component feeding method for supplying components, having different shapes and being respectively replenished onto multiple stages from multiple replenishing devices, to a component mounting device with the components being respectively scattered on the multiple stages, wherein amounts of the components is capable of being respectively changed for each of the multiple stages.