Rack-and-Pinion Workpiece Transfer for Compact Die Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing workpiece transport device has difficulty reducing its size in the conveying direction due to the oblique movement of the rack and catch plate as the upper die assembly moves downward.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece transport device with a pinion and conversion mechanism that converts vertical motion into rotational motion, allowing the rack to move horizontally and the plate to receive the workpiece at a top dead center position, then move away from the die apparatus as the rack transitions to a bottom dead center position, with a toothless portion on the pinion preventing interference between the bottom dead center and middle positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the rack and catch plate move obliquely downward from the top dead center position to the bottom dead center position as the upper die assembly moves downward, then the workpiece can be transported from the die apparatus to the conveying device, but the size of the apparatus in the conveying direction cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movement of the rack is divided into two independent components: horizontal movement (driven by pinion rotation) and vertical movement (guided by guides). This segmentation allows the rack to move horizontally to reduce apparatus size while still achieving the required vertical transport of the workpiece through the plate's downward motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the movement direction from oblique (combined vertical and horizontal) to primarily horizontal. The rack moves horizontally along guides while the plate handles the vertical transport function, separating the two movement dimensions and enabling compact apparatus design in the conveying direction.
2Productivity
If the pinion rotates continuously to move the rack from top dead center to bottom dead center position, then the workpiece can be conveyed, but interference may occur between the bottom dead center position and middle position
Solution Approach 1:
The pinion is designed with a toothless portion at the bottom dead center position, creating a local modification that prevents interference. This localized feature allows the rack to pass through the bottom dead center position without collision, enabling continuous rotation of the pinion for improved productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothless portion is pre-positioned on the pinion at the bottom dead center location. This preliminary design feature prevents interference before it can occur, allowing the rack to smoothly pass through the critical position during continuous pinion rotation without requiring position reversal or stopping.
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 configuration allows for a reduction in the size of the transport device in the workpiece conveying direction, preventing the plate from interfering with other devices and ensuring smooth operation by controlling the movement of the plate and rack.
Implementation Method 1
The ball screw includes a screw shaft, which extends upward from the lower die assembly, and a nut fixed to the gear block. The screw shaft is screwed into the nut. The ball screw converts vertical motion of the gear block into rotational motion of the nut.
Implementation Method 2
The rack meshes with the pinion and converts rotational motion of the pinion into sliding motion of the rack.
Implementation Method 3
The pinion is provided in the upper die assembly and is supported to be rotatable about an axis extending in a vertical direction. The rack is provided in the upper die assembly, is supported so as to be slidable in a conveying direction of the workpiece, and is moved in the conveying direction as the pinion rotates.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport device includes a moving mechanism and a plate. The moving mechanism includes a pinion, a conversion mechanism, which converts vertical motion of an upper die assembly into rotational motion of the pinion, and a rack, which is moved as the pinion rotates. The moving mechanism is configured to move, when the rack moves from the top dead center position to a bottom dead center position, the plate to a position that is away from a die apparatus in a conveying direction and is below a conveying surface. The pinion includes a toothless portion that does not mesh with the rack when the rack moves between the bottom dead center position and a middle position that is between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position.