Parallel-Mechanism Workpiece Transfer for Faster Press Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transport speed of workpieces in existing transport robots is limited due to the increased weight of the swing member when the motor is enlarged to increase speed, hindering productivity improvements.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece transport device with a base portion, a holding portion, and a parallel mechanism supported by an actuator, where the actuator is mounted on the base portion to generate driving forces for moving the holding portion in a plane defined by the transport and up-down directions, with motors supported by the base to avoid increasing the weight of the swing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the motor is increased in size to increase workpiece transport speed, then the transport speed can be improved, but the weight of the swing member increases which prevents sufficient speed increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the swing member and relocated to the base portion. This separation removes the weight burden from the swing member while maintaining the motor's driving function, allowing for improved transport speed without the penalty of increased swing member weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel mechanism serves as an intermediary transmission system between the motor (mounted on the base) and the swing member. It transmits the driving force from the motor to the swing member, enabling the motor to be positioned on the base rather than directly on the swing member.
2Speed
If the motor is enlarged to increase transport speed, then speed can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the motor from the swing member and placing it on the base, the design simplifies the swing member structure while maintaining speed capability through the parallel mechanism transmission system.
3Speed
If the motor is enlarged to increase transport speed, then speed can be improved, but the transport device interferes more with press machines
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is relocated from the swing member to the base portion, which reduces the size and interference area of the transport device in the workspace near the press machines while maintaining transport speed capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece transport device capable of improving a workpiece transport speed to increase productivity is provided. The workpiece transport device transports a workpiece pressed by a press machine. The workpiece transport device includes a base portion, a crossbar that holds the workpiece, a parallel mechanism, and a motor. The parallel mechanism is supported on the base portion. The parallel mechanism is configured to change a position of the crossbar relative to the base portion by operating in a plane defined by a transport direction in which the workpiece is transported and an up-down direction. The motor generates a driving force for driving the parallel mechanism. The motor is mounted on the base portion.