Magnetic Workpiece Carrier Transport for Precise Machining Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices for workpieces in processing systems lack flexibility, complexity, and dynamics, leading to inefficiencies in transporting workpieces between processing stations.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a workpiece carrier featuring a receiving part, a support part coupled via a coupling part, and a conveyor belt system that uses magnetic attraction to guide the workpiece carrier along a transport direction, allowing for continuous operation and flexible movement between processing stations without the need for complex control systems or electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conveyor belts are used to transport workpieces between processing stations, then continuous transportation is enabled, but the transport device lacks flexibility and requires complex control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with a magnetic field-based transport mechanism. Magnets embedded in the conveyor belt automatically attract and move workpiece carriers through the processing line without requiring complex control circuits or electrical power, thereby maintaining continuous transportation while eliminating system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The workpiece carriers are equipped with magnetic attraction mechanisms that enable them to be automatically pulled along the conveyor belt by embedded magnets. This self-actuating system eliminates the need for external control systems, motors, or power supplies, allowing continuous operation through passive magnetic attraction
2Device complexity
If friction-based transport is used between workpiece carrier and conveyor belt, then simple design is achieved, but wear and maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based mechanical contact with magnetic field interaction. The magnetic attraction force between embedded magnets and workpiece carriers eliminates sliding friction, thereby reducing wear on both the conveyor belt and carriers while maintaining simple design without complex control systems
3Ease of repair
If magnetic attraction is used to couple workpiece carrier to conveyor belt, then wear is reduced, but electrical power and control circuits are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs permanent magnets embedded in the conveyor belt that generate magnetic fields without requiring electrical power. The workpiece carriers are passively attracted along the belt path by this magnetic field, achieving wear reduction through non-contact magnetic coupling while eliminating the need for control circuits or power supplies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple permanent magnets that require no power supply or control electronics. These passive magnetic components provide durable, maintenance-free operation by eliminating the need for energy-consuming active control systems while maintaining effective magnetic coupling
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 efficient, continuous transportation of workpieces between processing stations with reduced wear and maintenance, maintaining precise positioning and supporting high-speed operations while minimizing the need for complex control circuits and electrical power.
Implementation Method 1
A force of attraction between the support part and the conveyor belt is generated magnetically
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport device (100, 200, 300) is proposed for use in a machining system (1000) for machining a workpiece. The transport device (100, 200, 300) comprises: a workpiece carrier (200) with a receiving part (230) for receiving the workpiece to be machined and a support part (210) coupled to the receiving part (230) via a coupling part (220); a conveyor belt (110) defining a transport direction (R), wherein the conveyor belt (110) is designed to transport the workpiece carrier (200) along the transport direction (R); and a guide (300) for guiding the receiving part (230) along the transport direction (R) to individual machining stations (500-A, 500-B) of the machining system (1000). An attractive force between the support part (210) and each conveyor belt (110) is generated magnetically.