Conveyance Chain Link Plates for Tool Pot Phase Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conveyance chains experience tool misalignment during tool changes due to relative rotation between outer link plates and tool pots, leading to potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

The conveyance chain incorporates link plates with rotation stop holes and permit holes to prevent relative rotation between tool pots and link plates, ensuring the tool pot's phase remains unchanged relative to detection or operation units, thereby preventing misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the outer link plate and tool pot are engaged to prevent relative rotation, then the tool pot is positioned around the axis, but the tool pot rotates together with the outer link plate causing misalignment at tool change position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidtool alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The throughhole is segmented into two distinct types: rotation stop holes that prevent rotation and rotation permit holes that allow rotation. By selectively positioning tool pots in different holes, the system achieves both stable positioning and prevention of misalignment during tool changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the link plate have different functional properties: some throughholes are designed as rotation stop holes while others are rotation permit holes. This local differentiation allows the tool pot to be constrained in specific locations while remaining free to rotate in others, resolving the contradiction between positioning stability and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the conveyance chain is laid across a sprocket for tool change, then tool change operation is enabled, but the outer link plate rotates and bends causing tool misalignment around the axis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool change operationVSAvoidtool alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The throughhole is segmented into two distinct types: rotation stop holes that prevent rotation and rotation permit holes that allow rotation. By selectively positioning tool pots in different holes, the system achieves both stable positioning and prevention of misalignment during tool changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the link plate have different functional properties: some throughholes are designed as rotation stop holes while others are rotation permit holes. This local differentiation allows the tool pot to be constrained in specific locations while remaining free to rotate in others, resolving the contradiction between positioning stability and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If flat portions are engaged between outer link plate and tool pot, then relative rotation is prevented, but the tool pot cannot independently maintain its phase during conveyance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement stabilityVSAvoidphase consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The throughhole is segmented into two distinct types: rotation stop holes that prevent rotation and rotation permit holes that allow rotation. By selectively positioning tool pots in different holes, the system achieves both stable positioning and prevention of misalignment during tool changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the link plate have different functional properties: some throughholes are designed as rotation stop holes while others are rotation permit holes. This local differentiation allows the tool pot to be constrained in specific locations while remaining free to rotate in others, resolving the contradiction between positioning stability and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11772217B2Conveyance chain, tool change system and multiple link plates

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO

AI summary

A conveyance chain comprises a plurality of link plates alternately coupled and conveying plural tool pots each holding a tool. The plurality of link plates include an inner link plate and an outer link plate each including a rotation stop hole that stops a rotation of the tool pot and a rotation permit hole located upstream from the rotation stop hole with respect to a conveyance direction that permits a rotation of the tool pot. The plurality of tool pots includes a first tool pot and a second tool pot, the first tool pot is inserted through a rotation stop hole of the inner link plate and a rotation permit hole of the outer link plate, and adjacent to the first tool pot, the second tool pot is inserted through a rotation permit hole of the inner link plate and a rotation stop hole of the outer link plate.