Plate Conveyance Apparatus With Temporary Placement Table

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current plate material conveyance systems face challenges in reducing cycle time and minimizing space requirements for loading and unloading operations, particularly due to the high weight and bulk of conventional carriages used for horizontal conveyance of processed materials, which leads to extended cycle times and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A plate material conveyance apparatus with a temporary placement table that switches positions between unprocessed and processed material placement units, allowing for efficient loading and unloading operations with a loader and unloader moving on different vertical paths, reducing interference and space requirements, and utilizing a compact drive source for the lightweight temporary table.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a conventional carriage is used for horizontal conveyance of processed plate materials, then the carriage can transport multiple stacked materials, but the high weight causes extended cycle time and increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of stacked processed plate materialsVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the conveyance function into two separate systems: a lightweight temporary placement table for rapid horizontal movement and a carriage for stacking and storage. This segmentation allows the temporary placement table to be lightweight and fast, while the carriage handles the stacking function, resolving the contradiction between transporting multiple materials and maintaining fast cycle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary placement table acts as an intermediary between the unloader and the carriage. It receives processed materials from the unloader and transfers them to the carriage for stacking. This intermediary approach allows the system to separate the rapid conveyance function from the stacking function, enabling fast cycle times while still achieving multiple material handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a conventional carriage is used for horizontal conveyance, then materials can be stacked and transported, but the bulky structure increases space requirements and power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of stacked processed plate materialsVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the conveyance system into a lightweight temporary placement table and a carriage, the patent reduces the volume of the constantly moving components. The temporary placement table has minimal structure since it only needs to hold one material at a time, significantly reducing installation space requirements compared to a bulky carriage designed to hold multiple stacked materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of stationary object

If the loader and unloader travel along the same path, then space is saved, but interference between operations increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidloading and unloading efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the loader and unloader in different vertical dimensions (one above the other) while they travel along horizontally offset paths. This three-dimensional arrangement allows both devices to operate simultaneously without interference, maintaining high productivity while keeping the overall footprint compact through vertical space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If the loader and unloader travel along different vertical paths, then interference is minimized and efficiency increases, but space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading and unloading efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes vertical dimension to separate the loader and unloader paths, with the loader operating above the unloader. This vertical separation minimizes operational interference and allows both devices to work simultaneously at high efficiency, while the overall system footprint remains compact by utilizing the vertical space rather than requiring larger horizontal clearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9682414B2Plate material conveyance apparatus with temporary placement table

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 MURATA MASCH LTD

AI summary

A plate material conveyance apparatus, disposed next to a plate processing machine, includes an unprocessed plate material placement unit, a processed plate material placement unit, a loader, an unloader and a temporary placement table. The loader reciprocally moves between the unprocessed plate material placement unit and the plate processing machine to deliver an unprocessed plate material onto the plate processing machine. The unloader reciprocally moves in parallel to and below the loader between the unprocessed plate material placement unit and the plate processing machine, and delivers a processed plate material from the plate processing machine to the temporary placement table positioned above the unprocessed plate material placement unit. The temporary placement table slides between the unprocessed plate material placement unit and the plate processing machine, and transfers the processed plate material, received from the unloader, to the processed plate material placement unit.