Workpiece Holding Element Alignment for Faster Press Automation Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece holding devices for press automation lack a simple, quick, and cost-effective method for exact adaptation of workpiece-specific holding elements to varying workpieces, particularly for large sheet-metal parts, due to difficulties in manual configuration and the high effort required for industrial robot programming.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves configuring workpiece-specific holding elements on a support with adjustable orientation and position using a display device to show real-time images and configuration information, allowing manual adaptation by technicians, which includes the use of clamping mechanisms and CAD data for precise positioning and orientation, assisted by acquisition devices for accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual configuration of workpiece-specific holding elements is performed without visual aids, then the configuration process is simple in terms of equipment, but the time required for configuration increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display device as an intermediary between the workpiece holding device and the operator. The display device shows real-time images of the holding elements and support, allowing the operator to visually identify and configure the correct holding elements and their positions, thereby reducing configuration time without significantly increasing equipment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical trial-and-error configuration with a visual information system. Instead of manually adjusting holding elements without guidance, the system uses images displayed on a screen to guide the operator, substituting mechanical exploration with visual information processing
2Manufacturing precision
If industrial robot programming is used for automated configuration, then configuration precision improves, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses images (visual copies) of the workpiece holding device to convey configuration information to the operator. Instead of using a complex robotic system to physically configure the holding elements, the system creates and displays visual representations that guide manual configuration, achieving precision through information copying rather than automated physical manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The display device serves as an intermediary that translates the physical configuration state into visual information. This allows the operator to achieve precise configuration through visual guidance rather than requiring complex robotic automation, reducing system complexity while maintaining precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If workpiece holding devices are customized for each specific workpiece, then adaptability improves, but the time and cost of configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the display device a universal tool that can accommodate different workpieces and holding element configurations. The same display device and imaging system are used across different configuration scenarios, providing adaptability to various workpieces without requiring specialized equipment for each case, thus reducing configuration time while maintaining versatility
Data Source
AI summary
A method configures a workpiece-related workpiece holding device for press automation. At least one workpiece-specific holding element of the workpiece holding device is configurably secured to a support of the workpiece holding device in at least one degree of configuration freedom. The method has the steps of (a) imaging a real image of the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on a display device and (b) outputting configuration information relating to the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on the display device, the configuration information including at least one piece of reference information relating to a relative reference orientation and/or a relative reference position of at least one region of a workpiece-specific holding element relative to the support.