Inverted V-Shaped Pad Workpiece Separator for PCB Edge Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system that can reliably fetch workpieces, such as stacked printed circuit boards, one at a time from a stack without damaging the components or marking the surfaces, especially when the workpieces have through-holes or mounted circuit components.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece separation apparatus featuring a holding unit with inverted V-shaped pads that clamp both ends of a workpiece, allowing for precise separation by moving the stocker relative to the holding unit, and a conveying unit that moves in and out to convey the separated workpiece without needing to move the holding unit forward or backward, thus preventing surface damage and allowing for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front surface and rear surface of workpieces are clamped to separate stacked workpieces, then workpieces can be separated, but marking and damage to the surface of the workpiece and mounted components occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the clamping action from the surface-contacting method and relocates it to the edge-contacting method. Instead of clamping the front and rear surfaces of the workpiece, the system clamps only the edges using pads positioned at the periphery, thereby separating the workpiece from the stack without damaging the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces edge clamping pads as an intermediary mechanism between the clamping action and the workpiece. These pads contact only the edges of the workpiece rather than the surface, mediating the separation force in a way that protects the workpiece surface from marking and damage while still enabling reliable separation.
2Ease of operation
If the holding unit moves forward and backward to convey the workpiece, then the workpiece can be transported, but the system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by having the conveying unit move relative to the holding unit rather than having the holding unit move forward and backward. The conveying unit, positioned below the holding unit, moves in and out to receive and transport the workpiece, while the holding unit remains stationary during the conveyance operation.
3Reliability
If conventional clamping methods are used on workpieces with through-holes or mounted components, then workpieces can be held, but damage to components and marking of surfaces occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the clamping force only at the edges of the workpiece rather than distributing it across the surface. The pads are positioned to contact only the peripheral edges, applying holding force locally at the edges while leaving the central surface and mounted components undisturbed and undamaged.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for separating a workpiece from workpieces is provided. The system includes a stocker on which a plurality of workpieces are stored in a stacked state, a holding unit including at least one pair of inverted V-shaped pads that sandwich and clamp both ends of one of the workpieces, and a moving unit that moves at least one of the holding unit and the stocker so as to relatively move the stocker downward with respect to the holding unit, which is in a state where the one of the workpieces is clamped by the at least one pair of pads, and to separate the one of the workpieces from other workpieces.