Feed Unit Head Piece Rotation for High Clock Rate Nut Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feed units for connecting elements, such as nuts, in automated processing machines face challenges in achieving high clock rates and reliable positional arrangement at delivery positions, especially in high-speed applications like the automotive industry.
Innovation Solution
A compact feed unit design featuring a receiving part with a displaceable head piece that twists the connecting element during forward feed, utilizing a mechanical positive guide and a slider element to rotate the connecting element into a desired orientation, enabling perpendicular feeding and high clock rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional feed unit with separate stowing section and pushing unit is used, then the connecting element can be fed to the delivery position, but the device occupies large space and cannot achieve high clock rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stowing section and pushing unit into a single integrated head piece. The receiving region for the connecting element and the pushing mechanism are merged into one component that moves as a single unit, eliminating the need for separate stowing and pushing sections. This integration reduces the overall device size and enables higher clock rates by simplifying the feeding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotational dimension by twisting the head piece about the direction of feed during its forward movement. This rotational motion (twisting) is superimposed on the linear feed movement, allowing the connecting element to be oriented correctly at the delivery position without requiring additional separate orienting mechanisms. This use of an additional rotational dimension solves the orientation problem while maintaining compactness.
2Device complexity
If the connecting element is fed perpendicular to the direction of feed, then a compact construction is enabled, but the connecting element requires rotation into the desired orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the head piece dynamically adjustable by introducing rotational freedom about the direction of feed. The head piece can twist dynamically during its forward movement to rotate the connecting element into the correct orientation. This dynamic rotational capability is built into the head piece itself, allowing perpendicular feeding while automatically handling the orientation requirement through the twisting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the rotation of the connecting element in advance during the forward feed movement of the head piece. The twisting motion occurs while the head piece is moving toward the delivery position, so that by the time the connecting element is delivered, it is already in the correct orientation. This preliminary orienting action eliminates the need for separate post-delivery orientation mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a mechanical positive guide with control sleeve and cam track is used, then reliable rotational guidance is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control sleeve as an intermediary component that mediates between the head piece and the cam track. The control sleeve translates the cam track's guidance into controlled rotational movement of the head piece. This intermediary mechanism provides reliable rotational guidance by smoothly transmitting the cam profile's geometric constraints into the twisting motion of the head piece, ensuring consistent and repeatable orientation at the delivery position.
Data Source
AI summary
A feed unit is used to feed connection elements from a receiving position to a transfer position along a feed direction. The feed unit has a receiving part to which each connection element can be fed individually. A head piece is movably mounted in the receiving part and has a receiving region for the nuts, and a thrust unit to move the head piece. The head piece is rotated from a first rotational position into a second rotational position, being reached in an intermediate position, by a rotary device. A slider element moves relative to the head piece out of the intermediate position into a transfer position within the head piece such that the nuts are brought out of the head piece into the transfer position. The rotary device has a mechanical forced guidance unit which includes a control sleeve with a curved path into which a control element engages.