Workpiece Pallet Exchange with Decoupled Position Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling systems for workpiece pallets in semi- or fully automated production processes often require multiple traversing movements to exchange pallets, leading to increased load and inefficiency, especially when handling multiple pallets simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A handling system with a handling device that includes a carrier device and a changer device with two receiving positions, allowing for simultaneous handling of multiple pallets by decoupling one pallet during movement, reducing the number of traversing movements and minimizing mechanical load through a decoupling device that maintains the pallet's relative position during movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple workpiece pallets are handled simultaneously by the handling device, then the number of traversing movements is reduced and productivity is improved, but the mechanical load on the handling device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device is divided into a carrier device and a changer device with independent functional areas. The carrier device supports multiple receiving positions while the changer device performs decoupling operations, segmenting the load management and enabling simultaneous handling of multiple pallets without overwhelming the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling device extracts individual workpiece pallets from the changer device while the changer device moves. This extraction mechanism allows the system to maintain multiple pallets in receiving positions without requiring the entire handling device to move each pallet sequentially, reducing the mechanical load during simultaneous handling operations
2Productivity
If the changer device moves along the first direction of movement to handle multiple pallets, then handling efficiency is improved, but the mechanical load and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The changer device with multiple receiving positions is integrated within the carrier device structure. The decoupling device is nested within the changer device, allowing compact arrangement of functional components. This nesting enables efficient multi-pallet handling while maintaining a compact overall system size
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a handling system (1000) comprising a handling device (100) that has a carrier device (20) and a handling means (30) which is carried by the carrier device (20), intended for handling workpiece pallets (101, 101a, 101b), and comprises an exchange device (40) having at least two receiving spaces (41a, 41b) designed for receiving workpiece pallets (101, 101a, 101b), and the handling means (30) being designed to move the exchange device (40) relative to the carrier device (20) in a first movement direction X in such a way that both receiving spaces (41a, 41b) are moved together, characterised in that the handling means (30) is also designed to decouple a workpiece pallet (101a, 101b) which is handled by the handling means (30) and received in one of the at least two receiving spaces (41a, 41b) from the exchange device (40) via at least one decoupling device (42a, 42b) in such a way that the decoupled workpiece pallet (101a; 101b) substantially retains its position relative to the carrier device (20) during a movement of the exchange device (40) in the first movement direction X.