Automated Bolt Fastening in Injection Molding via Position Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current injection molding systems face challenges in automating the attachment and detachment of bolts, which are often manually handled due to varying bolt positions and requirements, making efficient and flexible mold replacement and maintenance operations inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An injection molding system equipped with a bolt attaching and detaching unit, a conveying apparatus, a bolt position recognizing unit, and a storage unit that allows for automatic recognition and storage of bolt positions, enabling automated bolt management and integration with an articulated robot for enhanced flexibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bolts are used to fix components of a mold and the injection molding machine, then the mold can be easily fixed and the system is flexible and low cost, but the position and length of bolts vary for each mold requiring manual replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing bolt position information and phase information in a storage unit before the actual bolt attachment operation. The bolt position recognizing unit预先 identifies and records the positions of multiple bolts, and this information is stored for later automated retrieval and execution, enabling the robot to automatically attach bolts without manual intervention for each varying position
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the manual mechanical operation of bolt attachment with an automated robotic system. A robot equipped with a bolt attachment tool automatically attaches bolts based on stored position information, substituting human manual labor with automated mechanical systems that can precisely follow pre-programmed positions and phases for each bolt
2Extent of automation
If mold replacement is automated by combining oil hydraulic clamp, magnetic clamp, and mold conveying unit, then the automation level increases, but expensive apparatus such as magnetic clamp has to be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system serves multiple functions: it performs both mold conveying and bolt attachment operations. The same robotic platform that handles mold replacement also attaches and detaches bolts, eliminating the need for separate dedicated apparatus for each function and reducing overall system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the bolt attachment function with the existing mold replacement automation system. Instead of introducing separate dedicated apparatus for bolt attachment, the system combines these functions into a unified robotic operation that performs both mold handling and bolt manipulation in an integrated manner
3Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance operation is performed temporarily, then the operation flexibility is maintained, but installing a machine dedicated to maintenance operation is not effective in view of space and inefficient in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is designed to perform multiple functions including both production operations and maintenance operations. The same robotic platform that performs mold replacement and bolt attachment during production can also execute maintenance tasks when needed, eliminating the need for separate dedicated maintenance equipment while preserving operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service maintenance capabilities where the robot can perform maintenance tasks on itself or on the injection molding machine components without requiring external dedicated maintenance equipment. This allows temporary maintenance operations to be executed using existing system resources
Data Source
AI summary
In an injection molding system, bolt position related information recognizing unit which recognizes an attachment position of a bolt for each attachment is provided. Based on the attachment position of the bolt, or the attachment position of the bolt and a phase of the bolt stored in the bolt position storage unit, bolt attaching and detaching unit attaches and detaches the bolt to and from the attachment. Thus, even if the position of the bolt varies in accordance with the attachment, it is possible to attach and detach the bolt by recognizing the attachment position of the bolt.