Flat Component Stacking Assembly With Transverse Alignment Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assembly devices for stacking battery, fuel cell, or electrolyzer components face challenges in maintaining high stacking accuracy due to the large number of storage locations, which can compromise the functionality of the stack.
Innovation Solution
The assembly device incorporates an alignment device with a pressing unit that includes a fixing means and guide means, allowing for precise alignment and positioning of components transversely to the stacking direction, and utilizes a receiving unit with a support plate that adjusts to accommodate varying component thickness, along with a height sensor for precise positioning, to enhance stacking accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple storage locations are used for stacking components, then productivity is improved, but stacking accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing unit is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to different storage locations along the stacking direction. This enables the alignment function to be applied at multiple heights without compromising accuracy, resolving the contradiction between using multiple storage locations for productivity and maintaining stacking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing unit acts as an intermediary alignment device between the robot placement action and the final component position. It provides active alignment correction at each storage location, ensuring that even with multiple locations used for high productivity, each component is precisely aligned before being added to the stack.
2Manufacturing precision
If robot placement accuracy is increased, then stacking accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing unit enables the component itself to be actively aligned and adjusted into the correct position through pressing and guiding mechanisms. This self-alignment capability reduces the burden on the robot's placement precision, allowing standard robots to achieve high stacking accuracy without requiring extremely precise (and complex) positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the need for highly precise mechanical robot positioning with a mechanical alignment pressing system. Instead of relying on the robot to place components with micron-level precision, the pressing unit mechanically adjusts components to the correct position, achieving high accuracy through a simpler mechanical alignment process rather than complex high-precision robotic positioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment precision is increased, then stacking accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented into modular pressing units that can be independently controlled and positioned. Each pressing unit handles alignment at a specific storage location, allowing the alignment precision to be achieved through simple, localized mechanical actions rather than a complex centralized alignment system. This modular segmentation enables high alignment precision with reduced overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly device (2) for arranging and stacking planar components along a stacking direction (4), comprising at least one workpiece carrier device (6) which includes at least one workpiece carrier (8) formed from at least one base plate (10), two opposing support walls (12) each fixed to the base plate (10), and two opposing side plates (14) fixed to the support walls (12), in which planar components can be stacked along a stacking direction (4) in a free space (16) framed by the support walls (12) and the side plates (14), and which includes at least one receiving unit (18) defining at least one storage location (20) for placing a new component, and with at least one alignment device (26) comprising at least one pressing unit (28).by which at least one component placed at the storage location (20) can be moved in an alignment direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (4) and pressed against a lifting device (30).