Retainer Apparatus With Movable Support Pins For Sheet Metal
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Solution Overview
Problem
General-purpose industrial retainer apparatuses fail to hold sheet metal articles rigidly to sub-millimeter resolution, allowing shifting during manufacturing and assembly processes, while custom apparatuses are costly and limiting in low-volume or high-mix production settings.
Innovation Solution
A retainer apparatus featuring a base plate and face plate with vacuum cups and movable support pins, along with a locking mechanism, allowing for precise retention and movement of articles with varying geometries and materials, achieving sub-millimeter positional tolerance and resistance to manufacturing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If general-purpose industrial retainer apparatus are used to handle a wide range of sheet metal articles, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to hold articles rigidly to sub-millimeter resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer apparatus is divided into multiple independent support elements (support pins and vacuum cups) that can be individually positioned and activated. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different article geometries while maintaining precise positional control through the coordinated action of discrete retention points rather than a monolithic gripping structure
Solution Approach 2:
The support pins are designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions, and the vacuum cups can be selectively activated. This dynamic configuration allows the apparatus to adapt its retention strategy based on article characteristics while maintaining sub-millimeter positional tolerance through active control of support element positions
2Manufacturing precision
If custom retainer apparatus are used to handle specific sheet metal articles, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and capital investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer apparatus integrates multiple retention mechanisms (support pins and vacuum cups) into a single platform that can handle various sheet metal articles through programmable control. This multi-functional design achieves custom-apparatus-level precision without requiring separate dedicated equipment for each article type, reducing capital investment while maintaining sub-millimeter positional tolerance
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses programmable control to change operational parameters (support pin positions, vacuum activation patterns) based on the specific article being handled. This allows a single device to adapt its configuration for different articles, achieving the precision of custom apparatus without the complexity and cost of multiple dedicated systems
3Manufacturing precision
If support pins are made fixed to improve structural rigidity, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to accommodate varying article geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The support pins are designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions, allowing the apparatus to adapt to different article geometries by adjusting which pins are extended and their positions. Once positioned, the pins provide fixed rigid support to achieve sub-millimeter positional stability during manufacturing operations
4Manufacturing precision
If the retainer apparatus footprint is increased to improve retention capability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to work with smallest article size
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer apparatus uses discrete support pins and vacuum cups that can be selectively activated based on article size. This allows the system to concentrate retention capability only where needed for each specific article, maintaining precision without requiring a large overall footprint that would prevent handling of small articles
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
The apparatus provides precise retention and movement of articles with sub-millimeter tolerance and resistance to manufacturing forces, accommodating various geometries and materials without the need for frequent maintenance or reconfiguration, suitable for small batch industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
wherein the vacuum cups are configured to retain the article to the retainer apparatus in a presence of vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer apparatus configured to releasably retain an article, comprising a face plate member each having a front face, a plurality of vacuum cups and a plurality of support pins each extending distally relative to the front face, respectively, wherein the vacuum cups and the support pins are laterally spaced from one another, wherein the plurality of vacuum cups retain the article to the retainer apparatus in a presence of vacuum, wherein the plurality of support pins are extendable/retractable relative to the face plate member, wherein each of the support pins have a longitudinal axis, respectively, and are configured to contact the article to support the article against movement along the longitudinal axis and support the article against movement transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a locking mechanism configured to inhibit the support pins from being retractable and extendable when the locking mechanism is engaged.