Workpiece Pallet Positioning via Coordinated Linear Axes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece positioning devices for machining centers, particularly in horizontal machining centers, are complex, bulky, and expensive due to the need for large and robust rotating or swiveling devices to handle heavy and large workpieces, requiring high torques and additional motor-driven linear axes for loading, unloading, and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece positioning device using a shelf with a rotary bearing and motor-driven horizontal and vertical linear axes to pivot the workpiece pallet on a circular path, leveraging existing linear axes for transport, allowing conversion between horizontal and vertical positions without the need for additional complex pivoting mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robust pallet rotating or swiveling device is used to handle heavy workpieces, then the workpiece can be positioned and oriented correctly, but the device becomes extremely large, complex, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pivoting function from a complex dedicated rotating device and transfers it to the existing linear axes. The pallet is pivoted by coordinating the movement of horizontal and vertical linear axes rather than using a separate robust rotating mechanism, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The existing linear axes, originally designed for transport and positioning, are made multi-functional by using them to perform both transport and pivoting operations. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated pivoting mechanisms and reduces device complexity
2Measurement precision
If additional motor-driven linear axes are added for loading, unloading, and positioning, then the workpiece can be handled precisely, but the system becomes more complex and requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The existing linear axes are programmed to perform multiple functions including transport, positioning, and pivoting operations. By coordinating the movement of horizontal and vertical axes, the system achieves precise positioning without adding more physical components, thereby maintaining precision while reducing complexity
3Force
If a large and robust pallet rotating device is designed to deliver very high torques, then heavy workpieces can be handled, but the device requires a large footprint and is difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for a large dedicated rotating device by extracting the pivoting function and distributing it across existing linear axes. The pallet is pivoted by coordinated linear movement rather than rotational torque from a large mechanism, significantly reducing the device footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces a mechanical rotating system (which would require large size and high torque) with a coordinated linear motion system. By using the existing linear axes to achieve pivoting through coordinated movement, the system eliminates the need for large rotational mechanisms while maintaining the ability to handle heavy workpieces
Data Source
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AI summary
A workpiece positioning device (28) for a machining center (1), a machining center (1), and a method for positioning a workpiece (12) clamped on a workpiece pallet (19) in a machining center (1) are disclosed. The workpiece positioning device (28) has a storage area (17) which includes a horizontal storage surface (18) for a workpiece pallet (19) with a workpiece (12) clamped thereon and a rotary bearing (44) which rotatably receives the workpiece pallet (19) at a first edge (41) thereof. The workpiece positioning device (28) further includes a pivoting device (53) for converting the workpiece pallet (19) from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa.The swiveling device (53) has a horizontal and a vertical linear axis (23, 24) and a gripping device (31) and is configured to grip a workpiece pallet (19) at a different, second edge (42) and, by simultaneously moving the horizontal and the vertical linear axes (23, 24), to swivel the workpiece pallet (19) around the rotary bearing (44) on a circular path (52). The swiveling is effected solely by motor-driven linear axes (23, 24), which are also intended for transporting the workpiece pallets (19).