Glass Plate Stacking with Cushioning and Upright Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies are inadequate for automatically stacking glass plates of different formats with high speed and minimal breakage, as they lack the necessary flexibility and protection to ensure precise and reproducible placement.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an alignment device, a stacking device, and an upright positioner, where the glass ribbon is divided into formats, aligned, and then grasped by a robot arm for further processing, with features like vacuum suction, independent drive control, and paper insertion between glass plates to prevent clumping, enabling efficient and safe stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass plates are stacked at high speed automatically, then productivity increases, but the risk of breakage and loss of precision increases
Solution Approach 1:
A cushioning element is introduced between the glass plate and the stacking device to absorb shocks and prevent direct impact. This cushioning measure is implemented beforehand in the stacking process, allowing high-speed automatic stacking while maintaining breakage safety through the protective intermediary layer.
2Manufacturing precision
If glass plates of different formats are stacked precisely, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking device incorporates adjustable and adaptable components that can dynamically adjust to different glass plate formats. The positioning system uses movable elements and programmable control that allow precise placement for various sizes without requiring completely different device configurations, thus achieving high precision while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter adjustments in positioning and stacking parameters to accommodate different glass plate formats. By changing operational parameters rather than physical structure for each format, the system achieves precise placement across various sizes with controlled complexity.
3Reliability
If manual handling is used for glass plates, then breakage safety is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A specially designed handling device with cushioning elements and appropriate gripping mechanisms serves as an intermediary between the automatic stacking system and the glass plates. This intermediary component provides gentle, controlled handling that maintains breakage safety while enabling automated high-speed processing, eliminating the need for manual handling.
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
The system achieves a processing speed of approximately 100 meters per minute with high breakage safety, allowing for precise and flexible stacking of glass plates of varying formats, addressing the limitations of prior art by ensuring accurate alignment and handling.
Implementation Method 1
the respective plate is lifted slightly from the plate conveyor by generating a suction pressure on the upper side of the plate
Implementation Method 2
it is also gripped on the upper side of the plate by friction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for sorting and stacking glass plates of different thicknesses and/or different formats over a divided transport line, characterised by the following: 1) an aligning device (1) which aligns the glass plates against a left and/or a right abutment strip (7) by means of controllable rolls (8); 2) a stacking device (2) which lowers the plates supplied by the aligning device (1) and stacks them one above the other; 3) a connectable paper insertion device (15) which lays paper from a store onto a plate; 4) an upright positioner (3) which rotates the stacked plates by a right angle and aligns them on a vertical aligning device (29); 5) and a robot gripping arm which grips the glass plates aligned on the upright positioner (3) and transports them away for further use.