Cylindrical Vacuum Pick Head for Flexible Material Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual picking of cut pieces from flexible sheets is inefficient and prone to damage in high-volume operations, and existing automated methods using needle-and-hook grippers or flat arrays of vacuum orifices face challenges with engagement and release, requiring numerous individually controllable elements.
Innovation Solution
An automated pick head with a cylinder featuring a lateral region of individually selectable vacuum orifices that selectively engages and rolls cut pieces onto the cylinder, reducing the need for multiple controlled coupling elements and minimizing force required for separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If needle-and-hook type grippers are used to engage workpieces, then selective picking capability is provided, but engagement and release reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vacuum (pneumatic) principles through individually controllable vacuum orifices to engage workpieces. The vacuum field is selectively activated at specific orifices to create reliable engagement without mechanical contact, solving both the selective picking capability and engagement reliability issues simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical needle-and-hook gripper system with a vacuum-based engagement system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical engagement/release problems while maintaining selective picking capability through electronic control of individual vacuum orifices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flat arrays of vacuum orifices are used to engage workpieces, then selective picking capability is provided, but device complexity increases due to large number of individually controllable elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vacuum orifices into individually controllable units arranged in a pattern, where each orifice can be independently activated. This segmentation enables selective engagement of specific workpieces while reducing the total number of orifices needed compared to a full flat array approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat array of vacuum orifices to a three-dimensional arrangement where orifices are positioned on a cylindrical or curved surface. This dimensional change allows for more efficient spatial utilization and reduces the number of orifices required while maintaining selective picking capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual picking is used to handle cut pieces, then flexibility in dealing with contingencies is provided, but productivity decreases and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service picking where the vacuum orifices automatically engage and lift workpieces based on programmed coordinates. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining the flexibility to handle various workpiece configurations through programmable control.
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
This solution enhances efficiency by reducing the number of costly controlled elements and minimizing the risk of damaging surrounding materials, allowing for precise and efficient removal of cut pieces from flexible sheets.
Implementation Method 1
A vacuum is enabled at those orifices that are in contact with a portion of the flexible sheet to hold a leading edge portion of the cut piece against the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus that separates and efficiently captures from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material in an orderly manner which prevents damage to the selected piece while preventing the undesired lifting or movement of the surrounding material. The apparatus comprises a pick head assembly including a cylinder with a plurality of orifices that communicates with the selected piece to maintain contact between the selected piece and the cylindrical surface while the selected piece is being removed.