Bead Separator With Movable Grippers for Variable Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bead separators are inflexible and prone to damage or failure when handling beads of different diameters, requiring frequent replacement of grippers to accommodate changes in diameter.
Innovation Solution
A bead separator with movable grippers that adjust to different bead diameters passively, allowing for flexible gripping and separation without active control, and a method for separating a single bead from a supply unit holding multiple beads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed bead separator grippers are used to grip beads, then the gripping force is sufficient for a specific bead diameter, but the grippers cannot accommodate beads of different diameters without deformation or failure to grip
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper base is made movable relative to the separator base, allowing the gripper to dynamically adjust its position along the separator axis. This dynamic adjustment enables the gripper to accommodate different bead diameters by positioning itself at the appropriate location where the bead contacts the gripper jaws, thereby maintaining reliable gripping across varying bead sizes without deformation or failure to grip
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is divided into multiple sections along the separator axis, with the gripper base able to move between these sections. Each section can be optimized for different bead diameter ranges, and the gripper can be positioned in the appropriate section based on the bead size being processed, enabling adaptable handling while maintaining reliable gripping in each segment
2Productivity
If fixed grippers are used, then the device structure is simple, but frequent gripper replacement is required when bead diameter changes
Solution Approach 1:
The movable gripper base serves multiple functions: it can grip beads of different diameters, automatically adjust to the correct gripping position, and eliminate the need for frequent gripper replacements. This single multi-functional mechanism replaces what would otherwise require multiple fixed grippers or frequent manual interventions, thereby improving productivity while adding only moderate complexity to the device structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 3C~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a bead separator, a bead supply station and a method for separating a single bead from a bead supply unit holding a plurality of beads, wherein the bead separator comprises a first gripper (3) for separating the single bead and a first gripper base for supporting said first gripper, wherein the first gripper comprises a jaw members which are movable towards each other from opposite sides of a first gripper plane defined by the first gripper into a closed state for gripping the single bead in said first gripper plane, wherein the first gripper is movable relative to the first gripper base between an inner first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a first bead diameter position (Pl) and an outer first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a second bead diameter position (P2) different from the first bead diameter position.