Independent Crossbar Rotation for High-Speed Workpiece Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece transfer systems face challenges in maintaining high transfer speed and efficiency due to the inability to independently control the posture of right and left workpieces, leading to reduced production efficiency and increased complexity in handling works with reversed orientations.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece transfer apparatus featuring a crossbar unit with rotatable external members supported by internal members, allowing independent rotation of right and left work holding devices around the crossbar, which reduces the transmission of driving torque to the internal member and enables separate control of each workpiece, enhancing transfer speed and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the crossbar is rotated by a tilt drive device to control workpiece posture, then the workpiece can be tilted in the same direction, but the weight of the crossbar increases and transfer speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the crossbar into a long internal member and a pair of right and left cylindrical external members. The external members are rotatable on the periphery of the internal member, allowing independent rotation of right and left work holding devices. This segmentation enables separate control of each workpiece without rotating the entire heavy crossbar, thus maintaining transfer speed while achieving posture control.
2Manufacturing precision
If the same shaped two works are processed by reversing directions left and right, then machining accuracy can be maintained, but it becomes difficult to remove and place works into next dies with suitable posture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the external members rotatable on the periphery of the internal member, enabling dynamic adjustment of workpiece posture. The right and left external members can be rotated independently by tilt drive devices to match the specific orientation requirements of the next press machine dies, allowing flexible adaptation to reversed work directions while maintaining machining accuracy.
3Strength
If the external members are rotatably provided on the internal member, then driving torque transmission to internal member is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the cylindrical external members on the periphery of the long internal member, with the external members rotatable on the internal member. This nested configuration allows the external members to rotate independently without transmitting driving torque to the internal member, protecting the internal member from high stress while maintaining a compact integrated structure.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention provides a workpiece transfer apparatus which can transfer workpieces W at high speed by controlling respectively the posture of the right and left of workpieces. The workpiece transfer apparatus includes an arm 31 configured to move back and forth in a transferring direction, first and second crossbars 39 coupled to the arm 31 which extend in opposite directions from the arm 31, first and second workpiece holding devices 4 provided on respective first and second crossbars 39, and first and second tilt drive devices 40 provided on the arm 31, respectively controlling the first and second workpiece holding devices 4 to rotate the workpiece holding devices 4 around an axis of a longitudinal direction of the respective first and second crossbars 39.