Rotary Workpiece Alignment on Conveyor via Suction Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing machines for plate-shaped workpieces, such as those made of wood or wood substitutes, face challenges in aligning these workpieces during transport due to the complexity and cost of multi-axis robots required for orientation changes, which are necessary for certain processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a manipulation device that grips the workpiece to induce a rotary movement about a vertical axis, combined with a force component in the conveying direction and a counter force, allows for alignment changes by leveraging a conveyor device with a suitable surface finish and a rotatable manipulation element, such as a suction cup, to achieve equilibrium and rotational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-axis robots are used to grip and reorient workpieces on the conveyor, then the workpiece orientation can be changed, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential function of workpiece reorientation from complex multi-axis robots. By using a simple manipulation device that applies force at a single point offset from the conveyor centerline, the patent achieves orientation change without the complex gripping, lifting, and placing mechanisms of traditional robots.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical gripping and repositioning system of multi-axis robots with a force-based approach. The manipulation device applies a controlled force component to the workpiece while it remains on the conveyor, using the conveyor's motion to facilitate rotation rather than opposing it with complex mechanical actuators.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the manipulation device applies force to rotate the workpiece, then orientation changes are achieved, but the workpiece may slip or fail to rotate sufficiently without proper surface conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface friction parameter of the conveyor to enable reliable workpiece rotation. By specifying that the conveyor surface has a friction coefficient within a particular range (0.1 to 0.5), the system ensures sufficient grip to transmit rotational force while allowing the workpiece to rotate freely when manipulated.
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
This method enables simple and cost-effective alignment of plate-shaped workpieces by allowing orientation changes during transport, facilitating various processing steps without the need for complex and expensive multi-axis robots.
Implementation Method 1
a force component, preferably directed in the conveying direction, is transmitted to the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
A further force component, which is directed counter to the conveying direction, is now introduced into the workpiece by the manipulation device
Implementation Method 3
The manipulation element is designed in particular to be rotatable and/or rotatably accommodated on the manipulation device. Such a rotatable manipulation element is advantageous since the rotation of the workpiece in such a manipulation element takes place
Data Source
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AI summary
This is a method for aligning plate-shaped workpieces (3), in particular made of wood or wood substitute materials, on a conveying device (2) of a processing machine (1), wherein a workpiece (3) is conveyed by the conveying device (2) along a conveying direction (X). A manipulation device (4) engages the workpiece (3) such that the workpiece (3) performs a rotational movement about a, preferably vertical, axis of rotation (Z0) due to a relative movement between the conveying device (2) and the workpiece (3).