Pneumatic Board Stop Assembly for Pallet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet construction methods and machines face challenges in maintaining proper alignment of boards and stringers at high production rates, leading to issues with quality and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pneumatic board stop assemblies and slide rails in a pallet machine ensures accurate location and alignment of components during the nailing process, allowing for high production rates while maintaining repeatability and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high production rates are achieved using automated pallet machines, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inertial factors affecting alignment
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic board stop assembly acts as an intermediary device between the conveyor system and the nailing mechanism. This mediator absorbs and manages inertial forces by providing a controlled stopping point for boards, ensuring they are precisely positioned before nailing occurs. The pneumatic system allows for smooth, controlled deceleration rather than abrupt mechanical stopping, maintaining alignment precision even at high production rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by adjusting pneumatic pressure and timing to control board positioning. By varying the pneumatic pressure in the board stop assembly and timing the stopping action relative to the conveyor speed, the system maintains precise alignment across different production rates. This parameter adjustment allows the same system to operate effectively from low to high speed while preserving manufacturing precision.
2Productivity
If automated machines are used to increase production volume, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic board stop assembly serves multiple functions within a single integrated unit: it acts as a stopping mechanism, a positioning device, and a timing reference for the nailing operation. By combining these functions into one multi-functional component rather than using separate devices for each task, the system increases productivity without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of pneumatic systems provides a compact, efficient way to control board positioning and stopping. Pneumatic actuators offer precise control with simple control mechanisms, replacing what would otherwise require complex mechanical linkages, multiple sensors, and separate control systems. This pneumatic approach achieves high productivity while keeping the device relatively simple and maintainable.
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 the production of pallets with improved accuracy and structural integrity at increased production rates, addressing the alignment issues in previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
the pawl is moveably mounted by a parallelogram linkage to a base, with the first component moveable relative to the base on the conveyor. The pawl is moved such as by an actuator between the first height and a second height.
Implementation Method 2
the second component slides between slide rails extending parallel to the conveyor
Data Source
AI summary
In construction of pallets, stringers are conveyed on a conveyor in a conveying direction to a pneumatic stop assembly including a pawl. The pawl is moveably mounted relative to the conveyor by a parallelogram linkage and moveable by a pneumatic actuator between first and second heights relative to the conveyor. While the pawl is at its first height, a lower board in a hopper is pushed from a shelf by a pusher onto the stringers on the conveyor. While pushed, the ends of the board slide along and between first and second slide rails on opposite sides of the conveyor. The board on the stringers is sandwiched between the pusher and the pawl at the first height while fastened together by a nail gun. After being fastened together, the pawl is moved to its second height which does not interfere with the fastened board and stringers conveyed by the conveyor.