Optical Positioning of Plate Parts to Reduce Cycle Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning sheet metal blanks in press lines are inefficient due to handling units performing both part transfer and positional orientation, leading to long cycle times and inaccurate positioning, which limits throughput.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising continuous conveying equipment, an optical measuring device, and a control unit that determines the actual position of sheet metal blanks and adjusts their position using a positioning unit, such as a multiaxial articulated robot, to accurately orient and transfer them to a downstream station, separating the functions of part transfer and positional orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a handling unit performs both part transfer and positional orientation, then the device can complete both tasks, but the cycle time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the handling unit into two separate functional units: a positioning unit (with robot arm and gripper) that performs positional orientation, and a transfer unit that performs part transfer. This segmentation allows both operations to occur in parallel rather than sequentially, reducing cycle time and increasing throughput while maintaining complete functionality.
2Productivity
If mechanical centring devices are used to centre all plate-shaped parts, then the positioning operation can be performed, but the positional accuracy is insufficient and the number of parts that can be processed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an optical measurement device that measures the actual position of each plate-shaped part and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then calculates the deviation from the desired position and adjusts the positioning unit accordingly, enabling high positional accuracy for every part while maintaining high processing speed through automated feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical centring device with an automated positioning system that uses optical measurement and controlled robot arm movement. This substitution eliminates the limitations of mechanical centring, achieving both high positional accuracy and the ability to process large numbers of parts per cycle through automated control.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical lock centring is used, then the parts can be centred mechanically, but the positional orientation accuracy is not very accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lock centring system with an automated positioning unit that uses optical measurement and controlled robot arm movement. This substitution maintains ease of operation through automated control while dramatically improving positional orientation accuracy by using precise measurement and control algorithms rather than mechanical approximation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical measurement device and control unit as intermediaries between the mechanical positioning system and the plate-shaped parts. These intermediaries enable precise measurement and calculation of positional deviations, allowing the positioning unit to achieve high accuracy without direct mechanical contact during the measurement phase.
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 simplifies control sequences and increases the number of sheet metal blanks that can be processed per cycle, enhancing flexibility and precision in positional orientation, thereby improving throughput and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an optical measuring device assigned to the continuous conveying equipment for determining the actual position of at least one specific plate-shaped part
Data Source
AI summary
A device is proposed for the positional orientation of plate-shaped parts (12), comprising continuous conveying equipment (13) for conveying plate-shaped parts (12), an optical measuring device (15) assigned to the continuous conveying equipment (13) for determining the actual position of at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) and for comparing this actual position to a stored set position and for determining the deviation of the actual position from the set position, and a control unit (20) coupled to the optical measuring device (15) for controlling a positioning unit (19) such that at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) the deviation of which from the set position was determined can be picked up by the positioning unit (19) in a pick-up region and deposited in a defined delivery region in the correct position corresponding to the set position for transfer on the continuous conveying equipment (13).