Piston Ring Loading Device for Pick-and-Place Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual insertion of piston rings into automatic placement machines for internal combustion engines is inefficient, prone to errors, and poses a risk of injury due to the need for manual handling and alignment, especially with sharp edges and rotating components.
Innovation Solution
A device with a cylindrical base body and radially movable webs that allows for the secure stacking and loading of piston rings, enabling their bulk insertion into the machine without manual intervention, reducing the risk of injury and improving alignment through a mandrel-guided system and adjustable retaining surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piston rings are inserted manually in portions into the feed device, then the alignment can be controlled by hand, but the filling process takes a long time and poses a risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The device loads a complete stack of piston rings in advance onto the cylindrical base body in the originally packaged circumference, so that all rings are ready for simultaneous insertion into the feed device, eliminating the need for repeated manual insertion operations
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical base body with radially movable webs serves as an intermediary loading device that holds the piston rings in a safe position outside the feed device, then transfers the entire stack in one operation, mediating between the packaged rings and the feed device
2Ease of operation
If the hand reaches deep into the feed device for manual insertion, then the piston rings can be positioned, but there is a risk of injury from sharp edges and guide prongs
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical base body acts as a protective intermediary that extends into the feed device instead of the human hand, allowing positioning operations to be performed while keeping the operator's hand safely outside the hazardous area
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs the positioning function automatically through its radially movable webs that can be actuated without manual intervention, making the system self-sufficient for the dangerous positioning task
3Manufacturing precision
If piston rings are inserted in portions manually, then the alignment can be adjusted, but the piston rings can rotate and cant on the mandrel
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rings are pre-aligned in the originally packaged circumference while stacked on the cylindrical base body, ensuring correct orientation before insertion, so that alignment is established in advance rather than during insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The stack of piston rings is divided into individual rings that are held in fixed positions by the radially movable webs, with each ring's position and orientation controlled independently to prevent rotation and canting
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
Facilitates faster, ergonomic, and safer filling of automatic placement machines by allowing multiple piston rings to be loaded in one step, reducing the risk of errors and injuries, and ensuring proper alignment and rotation-proof reception.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one web in the loading position protrudes radially over the lateral surface with a retaining surface on which the coaxially stacked piston rings rest
Implementation Method 2
Since the retaining surface is arranged radially inside the jacket surface in the discharge position, a movement of the coaxially stacked piston rings in the axial direction from the upper end face to the lower end face is released. Under the influence of gravity, the piston rings can leave the device in the unloading position via the lower end face.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A technique for filling a pick-and-place machine for fitting piston rings (102) to a piston of an internal combustion engine is described. A corresponding device (100) comprises a cylindrical base body (104) with a cylindrical surface (105), an upper end face (106) and a lower end face (108) opposite the upper end face (106), wherein a diameter (110) of the cylindrical surface (105) is smaller than an inner diameter of the piston rings (102) for receiving coaxially stacked piston rings (102) supplied from the upper end face (106) along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical base body (104).The device further comprises a groove (112) extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical base body in the outer surface (105) for the rotationally secure reception of a mandrel (116) arranged in a feeding device (114) of the pick-and-place machine; and at least one web (118) which is movable in the radial direction to the cylindrical base body (104) between a loading position and an unloading position, wherein the at least one web (118) projects radially beyond the outer surface (105) in the loading position with a retaining surface (120) against which the coaxially stacked piston rings (102) bear or can be brought into contact, and wherein in the unloading position the retaining surface (120) is arranged radially inside the outer surface (105).