Robotic Dialyzer Housing Retrieval Tool for Minimal Mold Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dialyzer manufacturing processes face challenges in efficiently removing housings from molds while minimizing wear and damage to the injection molding device, particularly due to the need for extensive mold opening during the de-molding process.
Innovation Solution
A robotic arm tool with a rotatable design and multiple suction cups is used to retrieve dialyzer housings, allowing minimal mold opening and maintaining alignment pins engagement, thereby reducing wear and damage to the molding device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional de-molding process is used, then dialyzer housing can be removed from mold, but extensive mold opening is required causing wear and damage to injection molding device
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic arm tool acts as an intermediary between the mold and the dialyzer housing during de-molding. The tool includes a frame with multiple suction cups that can engage the housing without requiring extensive mold opening, thereby protecting the molding device from wear and damage while still enabling effective removal of the housing.
2Ease of operation
If extensive mold opening is performed, then dialyzer housing can be accessed for removal, but alignment pins may become disengaged causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm tool serves as a mediator that enables housing access without requiring the mold to open extensively. By using suction cups on the robotic tool to grasp and remove the housing, the alignment pins remain engaged in the mold, preventing misalignment while still allowing successful housing retrieval.
3Reliability
If minimal mold opening is used, then wear and misalignment risk are reduced, but housing removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm tool incorporates suction cups that use pneumatic principles to grasp and hold the dialyzer housing. By applying vacuum through the suction cups, the tool can securely attach to the housing and facilitate its removal from the mold even when the mold opening is minimal, thus protecting the molding device while maintaining ease of operation.
4Device complexity
If traditional manual de-molding is used, then process is simple, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm tool enables the molding device to effectively serve itself by automating the de-molding process. The suction cups automatically engage the housing, and the robotic arm retrieves it without requiring extensive manual intervention or complex mold opening mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing cycle time while keeping the de-molding mechanism relatively simple.
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 solution reduces wear on the injection molding device, minimizes the risk of mold misalignment, and decreases the overall manufacturing time by optimizing the de-molding process.
Implementation Method 1
The tool includes a frame, a first suction cup connected to a first portion of the frame, and a second suction cup connected to a second portion of the frame
Data Source
AI summary
A dialyzer housing manufacturing system includes a molding device configured to mold a dialyzer housing, and a tool coupled to a robotic arm and configured to retrieve the dialyzer housing from the molding device after the dialyzer housing is molded. The tool includes a frame, a first suction cup connected to a first portion of the frame, and a second suction cup connected to a second portion of the frame, the second suction cup being oriented about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees relative to the first suction cup.