Intermediate Part Store for Faster Laser Cutting Sorting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools, such as laser cutting machines, face inefficiencies in sorting cut parts due to increased performance leading to shorter machining times, causing the sorting system to wait or requiring excessive travel distances, resulting in prolonged sorting times.
Innovation Solution
A sorting system comprising a movable gripper and intermediate store that reduces travel distances by stacking cut parts on the intermediate store, which can then be moved en masse to storage, utilizing mechanical, magnetic, or negative pressure mechanisms, and adjustable telescopic arms for flexible operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cut parts are transported individually to the storage location, then each part can be sorted precisely, but the travel distance and sorting time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system divides the transport process into two segments: a short-distance transfer from the workpiece region to the intermediate store, and a long-distance transport of the entire intermediate store to the storage location. This segmentation allows the gripper to minimize its travel distance while the intermediate store handles the bulk transport, resolving the contradiction between precise individual sorting and reduced travel time.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate store acts as an intermediary component between the gripper and the final storage location. It receives cut parts from the gripper in short-distance transfers, then transports the accumulated parts en masse to the storage location. This intermediary solution eliminates the need for the gripper to perform long-distance individual transports, significantly reducing sorting time while maintaining sorting precision.
2Productivity
If machine tool machining time is reduced to increase productivity, then more parts can be produced, but the sorting system cannot keep up with the increased output speed
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate store is positioned and ready in advance within the workpiece region, allowing the gripper to immediately deposit cut parts without waiting for long-distance transport arrangements. This preliminary positioning enables continuous high-speed sorting that keeps pace with increased machining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by having the intermediate store continuously receive parts from the gripper during machining operations. The store accumulates parts without interruption, then transports them en masse to storage, ensuring the sorting system operates continuously at the same high speed as the machining process without creating bottlenecks.
3Reliability
If the gripper transports each part individually to the storage location, then complete sorting is achieved, but the number of travel cycles increases, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple individual part transports into a single consolidated transport operation. The intermediate store accumulates multiple cut parts from the gripper, then transports all accumulated parts together in one trip to the storage location. This merging maintains complete sorting accuracy while dramatically reducing the total number of travel cycles, thereby improving sorting efficiency and productivity.
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
This solution significantly reduces sorting time by minimizing individual part transport, achieving a 50% time savings, especially with small parts, and enhances flexibility and efficiency in machine tool operations.
Implementation Method 1
The gripper can be configured to work mechanically, magnetically and/or with negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
an intermediate store that can be moved over the workpiece region and is configured to receive cut parts from the gripper
Implementation Method 3
The intermediate store with the stacked parts can then be moved to the store or storage location and deposit the stacked parts there together
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sorting system (100) for a machine tool for separating parts, in particular a laser cutting machine (200), having a gripper (110) that can be moved over a workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the workpiece region (30), and an intermediate store (120) that can be moved over the workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the gripper (110) and to unload the cut parts (10) into a store (40).