Feed Bar Holding Tool Repositioning Without Added Drive Weight
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece conveying apparatuses in transfer press machines face inefficiencies due to the need for frequent replacement of fingers to accommodate different workpiece sizes and shapes, leading to reduced production efficiency, increased costs, and potential mistakes during manual replacement operations, while incorporating drive mechanisms in conveying tools reduces apparatus durability and increases weight.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece holding tool changing system that utilizes a combination of linear-motion mechanisms and posture changing mechanisms, supported by articulated arm-type robots, to rapidly and accurately adjust the position and posture of workpiece holding tools relative to feed bars without requiring drive sources on the tools themselves, allowing for precise adaptation to various workpiece specifications without increasing the weight of the feed bars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fingers are manually replaced to accommodate different workpiece sizes and shapes, then adaptability to various workpieces is improved, but production efficiency deteriorates due to stopping the press line for replacement operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic finger replacement through a robot that autonomously selects and installs appropriate fingers based on workpiece specifications, eliminating the need for manual intervention and press line stopping. The controller automatically manages the replacement process based on input workpiece data.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple types of fingers are pre-stored in storage units before production begins. When a workpiece requires different fingers, the system retrieves pre-prepared fingers from storage and installs them without stopping the press line, as the replacement occurs in parallel with press line operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dedicated fingers are stored for different workpiece specifications, then adaptability to various workpieces is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The finger storage system is divided into multiple separate storage units (first storage unit, second storage unit, etc.), each storing different types of fingers. This segmentation allows efficient organization and retrieval of fingers while optimizing space utilization compared to a single large storage area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drive mechanisms are incorporated in conveying tools for posture change, then adaptability to various workpieces is improved, but the weight of the feed bar increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism for finger posture change is extracted from the feed bar and relocated to a separate robot system. The robot, positioned externally to the feed bar, performs posture adjustment and replacement operations, thereby eliminating the weight penalty that would result from incorporating drive mechanisms directly in the feed bar.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual finger replacement is performed, then adaptability to various workpieces is improved, but the risk of errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives workpiece specification data and automatically determines the appropriate finger configuration. The system uses this feedback information to select and install the correct fingers, eliminating human judgment errors and ensuring accurate matching between workpiece requirements and finger configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a workpiece holding tool changing system configured to change at least one of a relative position and a posture of a holding tool of a workpiece conveying apparatus with respect to a feed bar. The feed bar includes at least one set among: an X-axis direction linear mechanism with an X-axis linear brake; a Y-axis direction linear mechanism with a Y-axis linear brake; a Z-axis direction linear mechanism with a Z-axis linear brake; and a ball joint portion and a ball brake. Under a state in which inhibition of movement or change in posture by a corresponding brake is canceled, a robot changes the relative position or the posture of the holding tool to a desired relative position or a desired posture. After the change, the workpiece holding tool changing system is brought into a holding state in which the movement or the change in posture is inhibited.