Rotary Indexing Table With Shiftable Carriers for Uneven Cycle Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing production systems with rotary indexing tables are inefficient due to the need for separate workstations for objects with varying process times, leading to high investment and operating costs, and increased complexity and probability of failure.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a flexible, programmable controller that allows object carrier elements to be moved freely along a linear or circular path, using driver and holding elements that can be actuated independently to optimize the movement of objects between workstations, reducing the need for multiple workstations and enhancing maintenance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate workstations are provided for each object carrier element to handle varying process times, then all objects can be processed simultaneously, but the number of workstations increases leading to high investment and operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The object carrier elements are made displaceable relative to the object carrier, allowing them to move dynamically between workstations based on individual process requirements. This enables objects with different process times to be handled efficiently without requiring a separate stationary workstation for each carrier element, thus reducing the total number of workstations while maintaining high throughput
2Manufacturing precision
If the object carrier is rotated step-by-step to align object carrier elements with workstations, then precise positioning is achieved, but objects with short process times require additional idle workstations
Solution Approach 1:
Object carrier elements can be displaced along the movement path to positioning zones between workstations, allowing the system to maintain precise positioning accuracy through step-by-step rotation while eliminating the need for additional idle workstations. Objects with short process times can be held in positioning zones rather than requiring dedicated workstations
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a radial displacement dimension to the traditional rotary indexing table. Object carrier elements can move not only tangentially with the rotation but also radially inward/outward to access positioning zones, creating a two-degree-of-freedom system that resolves the contradiction between precise positioning and workstation efficiency
3Ease of manufacture
If object carrier elements remain stationary at workstations during long process times, then processing is simplified, but additional workstations are needed for short process time objects
Solution Approach 1:
Object carrier elements are made displaceable along the movement path, allowing them to remain at workstations during long processing operations while being able to move to positioning zones or skip ahead when processing is complete. This dynamic capability enables short process time objects to be handled efficiently without requiring dedicated idle workstations, improving overall workstation utilization while maintaining processing simplicity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transport device for transporting objects from work station to work station (A, B, C, D) of a production plant, a production plant for producing products comprising a transport device of this type, in particular a production plant for producing containers filled with a medical product, and a method for transporting objects from work station to work station of a production plant. The transport device is provided with an object carrier (3) on which multiple object-carrier elements (6) are arranged for depositing one or more objects, and a drive unit (5) for driving the object carrier. The object carrier (3) can be moved in consecutive working cycles in such a way that the object-carrier elements (6) can be transported from work station to work station (A, B, C, D) on a movement track (8). The transport device is characterised in that at least one object-carrier element (6) is arranged on the object carrier (3) such that it can shift relative to the object carrier in the direction of the movement track (8) on which the carrier elements can be transported from work station to work station. In addition, the transport device is characterised in that a follower element (10) and a retaining element (14) are associated with the object-carrier element (6). In accordance with the actuation of the follower element and the retaining element, each carrier element follows the object carrier and moves from work station to work station, or the carrier element remains at a work station. In this way, a movement of the object carrier can take place to transport objects to a work station with a short processing time, while an object-carrier element remains at a work station with a long processing time.