Passive Part Stacker Using Cam-Driven Pivot Arms to Prevent Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing assembly processes face challenges in stacking parts like sheet metal stampings that tend to nest tightly, requiring features to maintain spacing between stacked components while allowing easy insertion and removal.
Innovation Solution
A passive part stacker with pivot arms and cams that rotate between retracted and extended positions, maintaining a selected spacing between parts by engaging cam followers on adjacent pivot arms, facilitating easy loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If parts are stacked directly on top of one another, then storage space is minimized, but parts nest tightly together making them difficult to access and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces stacking features (such as spacers or positioning elements) as intermediary components between adjacent parts. These intermediaries maintain a controlled space between parts, preventing them from nesting tightly while still achieving compact storage. The intermediaries act as mediators that resolve the conflict between space efficiency and accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If stacking features are added to maintain space between parts, then ease of access is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking features are designed as separate, modular components that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for simpler individual parts rather than a complex integrated system, making the overall device easier to manufacture and maintain while still achieving the spacing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking features are designed to automatically perform their spacing function without requiring active control or complex mechanisms. The parts and stacking features work together through passive geometric constraints, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or control systems, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If parts are stacked with spacing features, then ease of access is improved, but storage density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing between parts is optimized to be just sufficient to prevent nesting and enable access, rather than providing excessive space. This partial action approach maintains the minimum necessary clearance, maximizing storage density while still achieving the goal of easy access.
Data Source
AI summary
A passive part stacker includes a first pivot arm pivotably attached to a frame and rotatable about a first pivot arm axis of rotation between a retracted position and an extended position. The first pivot arm includes a first component support finger that extends radially from a first pivot arm body and a first cam. The part stacker also includes a second pivot arm pivotally attached to the frame and rotatable about a second pivot arm axis of rotation between a retracted position and an extended position. The second pivot arm includes a second component support finger extending radially from a second pivot arm body and a second cam follower engageable with the first cam of the first pivot arm. The second pivot arm is pivotable from a retracted position to a receiving position in response to moving the first pivot arm from its receiving position to its extended position.