Rotary Workpiece Changer for Fast Ring Bearing Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In processing devices for mass-produced workpieces, the loading time for replacing workpieces is lengthy, limiting productivity, and existing workpiece changers lack versatility due to complex setup changes and limited movement directions.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece changer with a loading member rotatably supported about a rotation shaft, equipped with workpiece holding portions at radially outer edge portions, and a mechanism to move the loading member between processing and replacement positions without interfering with supporting shoes, utilizing a combination of rotation and displacement drive units for high-speed workpiece replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional workpiece changers perform multiple operations continuously (unloading, arrangement, loading), then workpiece replacement is achieved, but loading time becomes lengthy and productivity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The loading member is designed with multiple workpiece holding portions positioned in advance at different locations (processing position, intermediate position, discharge position). This allows workpieces to be prepared and positioned beforehand, enabling simultaneous loading and unloading operations, thereby reducing overall loading time and improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous workpiece replacement by having multiple holding portions that can simultaneously perform different operations (loading, unloading, transferring). The loading member rotates to continuously cycle workpieces through the processing positions without idle time, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the system
2Productivity
If workpiece changers are designed for specific processing contents, then operational efficiency is improved, but versatility deteriorates due to complex setup changes
Solution Approach 1:
The loading member is designed as a universal component with multiple workpiece holding portions that can accommodate different workpiece types and processing configurations. By rotating the loading member to different positions and adjusting the arrangement of holding portions, the same device can adapt to various processing contents without complex setup changes, maintaining both efficiency and versatility
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are replaced according to workpiece shape, then processing accuracy is maintained, but setup-change time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple workpiece holding portions with different configurations are pre-positioned on the loading member. When processing accuracy is needed for different workpiece shapes, the system simply rotates the loading member to bring the appropriate pre-configured holding portion into position, rather than replacing entire components. This maintains processing accuracy while dramatically reducing setup-change time
Data Source
AI summary
While the loading member supporting mechanism moves the loading member from the workpiece set state to the workpiece retracted state and returns to the workpiece set state again, the displacement drive unit and the rotation drive unit perform an operation of disposing the workpiece holding portion arranged at the processing position to the replacement position and an operation of disposing the workpiece holding portion disposed at the replacement position to the processing position in a trajectory in which the loading member does not interfere with the shoe.