Insulating Glass Unloading Manipulator with Adjustable Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies face challenges in efficiently unloading and storing insulating glass panels from production lines, particularly due to the viscous creep of thermoplastic spacer frames and the geometric variability of insulating glass panels.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for unloading insulating glass panels from a production line, featuring a support frame and a manipulator frame with adjustable brackets and suction cups, allowing for controlled support and handling of panels with varying geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If insulating glass panels are stacked on conventional trestles, then storage capacity is improved, but the thermoplastic spacer frame undergoes viscous creep due to compressive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a special support element that acts as an intermediary between the insulating glass panels and the trestle structure. This support element distributes the compressive forces across a larger area and redirects them to avoid concentrated loads on the thermoplastic spacer frame, thereby preventing viscous creep while enabling stable stacking of multiple panels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the support conditions by changing the distribution and direction of forces applied to the insulating glass panels. By adjusting the support geometry and force distribution parameters, the system achieves stable stacking without inducing harmful compressive stresses on the thermoplastic spacer frame
2Productivity
If insulating glass panels are supported on conventional trestles, then handling efficiency is improved, but geometric variability of panels causes instability and mutual support accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable and movable support elements that can adapt their position and orientation to accommodate the geometric variability of different insulating glass panels. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to maintain stable stacking configurations regardless of panel dimensional variations, ensuring both efficiency and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into multiple independent support elements rather than a single rigid structure. This segmentation allows each element to independently adapt to the specific geometry of the panels it supports, providing stable handling and stacking while accommodating geometric variability
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid spacer frames are used, then structural stability is improved, but storage of raw materials requires numerous types and widths of profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal support element design that can handle insulating glass panels with different dimensions and configurations using the same basic structure. This multi-functional support system eliminates the need for multiple specialized spacer frame types and widths, simplifying raw material storage while maintaining structural stability through the thermoplastic extruded profile
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 solution enables safe and efficient unloading and storage of insulating glass panels, preventing creep and accommodating geometric variability, while ensuring cost-effectiveness and rational management of downstream production steps.
Implementation Method 1
a matrix of suction cups 203 adapted for achieving the adhesion of the insulating glass 1 to the manipulator plane 201
Data Source
AI summary
A device for unloading insulating glass from a production line has a support frame and a manipulator frame arranged on the support frame and having a manipulator plane provided with a matrix of suction cups adapted to achieve adhesion of the insulating glass to the manipulator plane, and brackets for supporting the insulating glass. Each bracket is movable between a retracted position, where the bracket does not protrude or has minimal protrusion from the manipulator plane, and an extracted position, where the bracket has maximum protrusion from the manipulator plane. A movable abutment moves in a direction substantially parallel to the brackets and interacts with the brackets by a first contact portion of an operating surface to push the brackets towards the retracted position so that the brackets assume a given protrusion with respect to the manipulator plane between the retracted and extracted positions.