Parallelogram Suction Cup Laying Unit for Wide Sheet Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processing machines for flat material parts face inefficiencies in the feeding and unloading processes, particularly in turning and positioning wide sheets, which slows down the overall processing speed and requires significant opening of clamping cheeks.

Innovation Solution

The processing machine integrates a support unit mounted on the movement axis outside the cheek, utilizing a parallelogram mechanism to pivot the suction cups, allowing for turning without extensive cheek opening, and connects the suction cups directly to the processing tool's movement control for efficient feeding and unloading, enabling the use of existing movement axes and reducing the need for additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a turning unit with suction cups is integrated into the processing machine to accelerate feeding and unloading, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding and unloading speedVSAvoidmachine structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction cup holding unit is merged with the existing movement axis of the processing tool, allowing the same axis to serve dual purposes: positioning the processing tool and manipulating the workpiece during feeding/unloading operations. This integration eliminates the need for separate manipulation mechanisms while maintaining improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The movement axis is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the processing tool position during machining and simultaneously acts as a manipulation axis for the suction cup unit during feeding and unloading. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while achieving faster material handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the clamping cheeks are opened widely to turn wide sheets, then ease of operation is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet turning capabilityVSAvoidprocessing cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The workpiece manipulation function is extracted from the clamping cheek mechanism and assigned to a separate suction cup unit controlled by the movement axis. This allows the clamping cheeks to remain closed during turning operations, maintaining processing time while enabling easy manipulation of wide sheets through the suction cup unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction cup unit acts as an intermediary between the movement axis and the workpiece, enabling turning and positioning operations without requiring the clamping cheeks to open widely. This mediator allows simultaneous maintenance of tight clamping and easy workpiece manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional turning and positioning mechanisms are added to the processing machine, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkpiece manipulation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically reuses the existing movement axis for different purposes depending on the operational phase: during machining, it positions the processing tool; during feeding and unloading, it controls the suction cup unit. This dynamic utilization provides versatile workpiece manipulation without adding permanent additional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables faster manipulation of wide sheets by minimizing the required opening of clamping cheeks, speeding up the feeding and unloading processes, and allows for direct output of turned, processed parts without increasing machine complexity or cost.

Implementation Method 1

the placement unit has a plurality of suction cup units with which the flat material part can be picked up from the feed table and positioned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3778049B1Processing machine for flat material parts with a laying unit and method therefor

Publication Date: 2022.07.20 THALMANN MASCHENBAU

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AI summary

A processing machine (1) for flat material parts (5) comprises a machine frame (2, 3), a lower jaw (21), an upper jaw (23), at least one processing tool (22 or 24) assigned to the lower jaw (21) or upper jaw (23) and held on the machine frame (2, 3), a control unit for controlling a processing sequence with the processing tools (22, 24), a feed table (10) on which the flat material part (5) to be processed can be placed for positioning in the processing machine (1).A placement unit (51) is provided for the predetermined positioning of the flat material part (5) on the feed table (10), wherein the feed table (10) can be moved from a park position in an extension direction (17) to a loading and unloading position and back again, and wherein the placement unit (50, 60, 70) has a plurality of suction cup units (51) with which the flat material part (5) can be picked up from and positioned on the feed table (10). The placement unit (50, 60, 70) is mounted on the axis of movement associated with the processing tool(s) (22, 24) outside the associated cheek (21, 23) for a similar pivoting movement.