Flexible Grid Workpiece Holder for Fast Robot Cell Changeovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cells face challenges in efficiently handling diverse workpieces due to limited flexibility in change-over, requiring complex reconfigurations and inefficient use of space, especially when dealing with workpieces of varying sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
A flexible grid workpiece tray with adjustable compartment dividers and integrated sensors, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration and precise positioning of workpieces, enabling efficient storage and handling of multiple workpiece types within a single tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a coarse grid is used in the workpiece holder, then compatibility for larger workpieces is improved, but space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece holder is divided into multiple compartments separated by adjustable dividers, allowing each compartment to be independently configured. This segmentation enables the holder to accommodate different workpiece sizes efficiently, optimizing space utilization while maintaining compatibility for larger workpieces when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The workpiece holder incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable compartments that can be dynamically modified to suit different workpiece dimensions. This dynamic adaptability allows the holder to transition between configurations optimized for small workpieces (maximizing space utilization) and large workpieces (maintaining compatibility).
2Productivity
If the workpiece holder is optimized for a single type of workpiece, then handling efficiency is improved, but adaptability to different workpieces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece holder is designed as a universal system with standardized compartments and adjustable dividers that can accommodate multiple types of workpieces. This multi-functionality allows the holder to maintain high handling efficiency across different workpiece types without requiring separate optimized holders for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder's compartment parameters (size, shape, position) can be changed to match the specific requirements of different workpieces. This parameter adjustability enables the system to optimize handling efficiency for each workpiece type while maintaining adaptability through reconfiguration.
3Productivity
If a less coarse grid is used to optimize efficiency, then space utilization is improved, but compatibility for all workpieces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holder employs segmented compartments with adjustable dividers that create a fine-grid structure when needed for efficiency with small workpieces, while allowing merging of compartments for larger workpieces. This segmentation approach optimizes space utilization while maintaining universal compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid structure is made dynamic through adjustable dividers that can be repositioned or removed based on workpiece size. This transforms the static fine-grid into a flexible configuration that maintains both efficiency for small workpieces and compatibility for larger ones.
4Area of stationary object
If different grids or detachable grid plates are used to optimize for different workpieces, then space utilization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using entirely different grids for different workpieces, the system segments a single grid into adjustable compartments. This approach achieves optimized space utilization for various workpiece sizes while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple separate grid systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid system is made dynamically reconfigurable through adjustable dividers rather than requiring physical replacement of entire grid plates. This reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple detachable grid components while maintaining the ability to optimize space utilization.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A robot cell, arranged for handling a plurality of workpieces, the robot cell comprising: an industrial robot, located within said robot cell and configured for picking up and relocating individual workpieces from said plurality of products, for example into a CNC machine comprised into said robot cell, wherein the industrial robot has a gripper, configured as end-effector of the industrial robot; a workpiece storage, located within said robot cell and configured for storage of said plurality of products; a control unit, preferably located within said robot cell and configured to control displacement of an end-effector of the industrial robot; wherein the workpiece storage comprises at least one tray serving as a workpiece carrier, wherein the tray is configured as a flexible grid with a fixed raised wall surrounding the tray, wherein at least two opposite wall sections of the raised wall contain notches for accommodating compartment dividers to allow the internal space of the tray to be divided into separate configurable sections to support one or more workpieces of the plurality of workpieces having equal dimensions, wherein the compartment dividers define mechanical stops in a first direction (X).