Rotary Table Transfer Machine With Base-Mounted Rotary Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transfer machines face limitations due to the placement of rotary units on the working radius, which interferes with machining operations, restricts access, and reduces productivity and flexibility, especially when different machining cycles require rotation and angular positioning of workpieces.
Innovation Solution
The rotary units are relocated inside the machine's base, away from the working radius, allowing the machining zones to be freely accessible, with a motor assembly positioned within the machine frame and a transmission assembly integrated into the rotary table, enabling selective coupling for efficient workpiece rotation without interfering with machining units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rotary units are positioned on the working radius to enable workpiece rotation, then workpiece positioning capability is improved, but access to machining zones is restricted and machining operations become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly of the rotary unit is extracted from its conventional position on the working radius and relocated to the machine base. This separation removes the interfering element (motor) from the machining zone while preserving the essential function (workpiece rotation) through the transmission assembly that remains coupled to the workpiece holder member.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary unit's motor assembly is repositioned from a radial arrangement (on the working radius) to an axial arrangement (in the machine base along the machine axis). This dimensional change allows the transmission assembly to extend radially to reach the workpiece holder member without the motor occupying the machining zone, effectively using the machine's depth dimension to resolve the spatial conflict.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotary units are placed on the working circumference to rotate workpiece grippers, then rotational machining operations are enabled, but the motor assembly interferes with positioning of machining units
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly is extracted from the working circumference location and repositioned in the machine base. This removes the source of complexity (the motor's physical presence) while maintaining the rotational capability through the transmission assembly that connects the relocated motor to the workpiece holder member.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rotary units are positioned close to the tool working zone for workpiece rotation, then workpiece positioning is achieved, but productivity decreases due to interference with machining operations
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly is extracted from the vicinity of the tool working zone and relocated to the machine base. This eliminates the interference that reduced productivity while preserving the workpiece angular positioning capability through the transmission assembly that maintains the mechanical connection.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rotary units are installed to accommodate different machining cycles, then flexibility for different cycles is improved, but machine reconfiguration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relocated motor assembly in the machine base serves multiple workpiece holder members through the transmission assemblies. This universal positioning capability allows the same motor to support different machining cycles by engaging with different transmission assemblies, eliminating the need to physically relocate or reconfigure multiple dedicated rotary units.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer machine for machining operations includes a frame, a rotary table with a rotary feeding movement relative to a machine axis, a plurality of workpiece-holder members associated with the rotary table and spaced by a working radius (r) from the machine axis, and a plurality of workstations accessible by the workpiece-holder members as a result of the feeding movement of the table. The transfer machine further includes at least one rotary unit able to rotate a workpiece-holder member about a respective axis and relative to the table, wherein the rotary unit includes a motor assembly located in the machine base at a distance (d) from the machine axis which is less than the working radius (r).