Pallet Assembly Machine with Rotary Feeder and Robotic Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pallet manufacturing machines have low productivity and high costs due to manual assembly and inefficient automatic methods, particularly when using concentric tubular separators, which are difficult to assemble.
Innovation Solution
A machine comprising a rotary feeder, robotic arm, gripper, and actuators to automate the assembly of pallets with tubular separators, using adhesive beads to reinforce joints between tubular bodies and bases, facilitating efficient and rapid assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual assembly methods are used for pallets with concentric tubular separators, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but productivity is low and manufacturing costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly machine is divided into distinct functional modules: a rotary feeder for supplying tubular bodies, a robotic arm for positioning, a gripper for handling, and actuators for precise movement. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the system to handle complex concentric tubular separator assembly through coordinated simple actions, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity.
2Productivity
If automatic assembly methods are used for concentric tubular separators, then productivity increases, but assembly difficulty remains due to the nested structure
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary feeder pre-positions and orients the inner and outer tubular bodies before the robotic arm grasps them. The gripper is designed to simultaneously grasp both tubular bodies in their correct relative positions, and actuators pre-adjust the spacing and alignment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the difficulty of manual alignment during assembly, allowing automatic assembly to proceed smoothly despite the complex nested structure.
3Productivity
If conventional assembly approaches are used for tubular separators, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing costs are high due to low efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into integrated components: the gripper combines grasping, positioning, and spacing functions; the rotary feeder integrates material supply and orientation; the robotic arm combines movement and placement. This merging reduces the number of separate operations needed and simplifies the overall assembly process, making it both efficient and operationally simple despite the automated nature of the system.
Data Source
AI summary
The machine comprises a rotary feeder configured to receive the first tubular body and the second tubular body; wherein the first tubular body and the second tubular body are secured to one another separately in a single coaxial direction in the rotary feeder; and wherein the two tubular bodies make up separators of the pallets. The machine also comprises a robotic arm configured to transfer the two tubular bodies in pairs from the rotary feeder to an area above a transport table on which a first base of the pallet rests; so that one of the end portions of the second tubular body fits into an opening of the first base; wherein the robotic arm places the first tubular body around the second tubular body.