Machine Tool Pneumatic Pumping Without External Compressed Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller companies or those with limited industrial infrastructure often face challenges in providing the necessary compressed air infrastructure for pneumatically or hydraulically driven components, especially when processing workpieces outside a classic industrial environment, leading to the need for either avoiding these components or extensive retrofitting.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool that generates its own pneumatic infrastructure, utilizing a pneumatic pump unit to create and manage pneumatic pressure, which can be used directly or through a lever mechanism, and includes a pressure line circuit with valves to maintain constant pressure, allowing for the use of pneumatic consumers like grippers and ejectors without relying on external compressed air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate motor-driven pump is used to generate pneumatic pressure, then pneumatic infrastructure is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump function with the existing press device by utilizing the press's reciprocating motion to drive the pump mechanism. This integration eliminates the need for a separate motor-driven pump while providing the necessary pneumatic pressure for workpiece handling devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The press device serves dual purposes: it performs both the pressing operation and generates pneumatic pressure through its own reciprocating motion. The system is self-sufficient, using its operational cycles to create the pneumatic infrastructure needed for grippers, suction cups, and ejectors without external support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If compressed air infrastructure is installed, then pneumatic components can be used, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own pneumatic pressure using the press's existing reciprocating motion, eliminating the need for external compressed air infrastructure. This self-sufficient approach allows pneumatic components to be used without incurring high construction costs for air supply systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pump mechanism driven by the press's reciprocating motion to generate pneumatic pressure. This hydraulic/pneumatic conversion allows the mechanical pressing motion to be transformed into useful pneumatic power for workpiece handling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pneumatic pump unit is integrated, then self-sufficiency is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump unit is integrated with the press device, sharing the reciprocating motion mechanism. This merging approach achieves self-sufficiency while minimizing additional complexity by reusing existing mechanical components rather than adding entirely separate systems.
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
Enables self-sufficiency in pneumatic pressure generation, allowing for efficient workpiece handling, transfer, and cleaning, even in environments without existing compressed air infrastructure, by using ambient air and a closed system with pressure control valves to maintain consistent pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a pump unit (5) which is designed as a piston/cylinder unit and generates an overpressure
Implementation Method 2
an pneumatic energy storage device (7) which is connected to the pump unit (5) via a pressure line (8)
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine tool for machining or processing a workpiece with at least one tool and at least one relative movement between the workpiece and the tool. Known machine tools have the disadvantage that a separate compressed air supply is required as an auxiliary unit for pressure-driven components.This improves the invention in that the machine tool has at least one pressure line circuit with at least one pump unit (5) and with at least one energy storage device (7) which is in flow communication with the pump unit (5) via a pressure line (8), wherein the pump unit (5) has at least one mechanically driven pump element (6) for drawing in or out a medium and is in flow communication with the pressure line (8), and the pump element (6) is mechanically coupled to a component of the machine tool which is moved during intended operation of the machine tool in such a way that the component moved by the machine tool drives the pump element (6).