Multi-Station Machine Tool Jaw Actuation With Pre-Positioned Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer machines have reduced production capacity due to passive machining steps, where actuator members move from and toward the table, increasing the duration of these steps before and after machining.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool with multiple machining stations and a workpiece-supporting unit that allows jaws to be rotated and actuated as soon as the gripping regions are at the machining stations, using a guide and second engaging members to couple the jaws and actuator members efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If actuator members move from and toward the table to engage with gripping members, then the machining operation can be performed, but the duration of passive steps increases, reducing production capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator members are pre-positioned within the machining stations rather than being moved from and toward the table. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for movement during the machining cycle, reducing passive step duration and increasing production capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
By having actuator members permanently positioned in the machining stations, the system maintains continuous readiness for machining operations without interruption for actuator movement. The useful action of machining can proceed continuously as workpieces are transferred through the stations.
2Ease of operation
If actuator members are moved from and toward the table, then engagement with gripping members is achieved, but the cycle time increases beyond the actual machining time
Solution Approach 1:
Actuator members are pre-positioned in the machining stations during machine setup, eliminating the need for repeated movement during each machining cycle. This preliminary action reduces cycle time while maintaining the engagement capability with gripping members.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping members act as intermediaries that remain on the rotating table and engage with the stationary actuator members. This intermediary arrangement allows transfer of the workholding function without requiring movement of the actuator members themselves.
3Speed
If actuator members approach the table to accelerate jaws to angular speed, then rotating machining can be performed, but passive processing steps reduce production capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator members are pre-positioned in the machining stations, eliminating the approach time needed to accelerate jaws. The gripping members on the rotating table can be directly engaged by the stationary actuators, removing the passive acceleration step and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the actuator members toward the table to engage the jaws, the solution inverts the approach by keeping actuators stationary in the machining stations and having the gripping members with jaws approach or be engaged in place. This reverses the movement paradigm and eliminates passive acceleration time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine tool (1) for machining comprising: - a plurality of machining stations (2); - a workpiece-supporting unit (3) having a plurality of gripping regions (30) which are sequentially positionable at the machining stations; - a plurality of gripping members (4) arranged in the gripping regions (30) of the workpiece-supporting unit (3) and comprising: - jaws (40) for gripping workpieces operable in rotation; - first engaging members (41) kinematically connected to the jaws (40); - a plurality of actuator members (5) adapted to actuate the rotation of the jaws (40) by acting on the first engaging members (41), each actuator member (5) comprising second engaging members (51) rotatable and movable from\toward the respective first engaging members (41) of the gripping members (4) to act on the first engaging members (41); - a guide (6) for the first engaging members (41) extending between the machining stations (2) and having a plurality of gaps (60); each second engaging member (51) is arranged at least partially in a respective gap (60) of the guide (6) and is configured to engage with a respective first engaging member (41) when the gripping regions (30) are positioned at the machining stations (2).