Rotatable Long-Bar Handling Apparatus with Gripper Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for handling and processing long-bars are labor-intensive, space-intensive, and inefficient, often requiring manual labor and large, complex systems that are prone to wear and maintenance issues due to sliding friction, and fail to selectively deliver desired long-bars while maintaining them in a categorized fashion.
Innovation Solution
A rotary machine that allows for quick and easy handling of different long-bar diameters and shapes by rotating along their longitudinal axis, reducing manual handling and storage needs, and features a small footprint, enabling efficient delivery of specific long-bars to operators without untangling machinery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual labor is used to handle and move long-bars, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a rotatable platform that can dynamically adjust its orientation to present different long-bars to the operator. The platform rotates to position the desired long-bar at the discharge location, enabling quick selection and delivery without manual repositioning of entire storage structures.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical lifting and positioning mechanism acts as an intermediary between the stored long-bars and the operator. This mechanism automatically grasps, lifts, and delivers the selected long-bar, replacing manual lifting and carrying operations while maintaining selective access.
2Productivity
If large, complicated hydraulic or pneumatic linear feed systems are used, then long-bars can be delivered automatically, but the system footprint and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a linear feed system that extends horizontally across a large area, the invention uses a rotatable platform that stores long-bars in a circular arrangement. This transforms the storage and retrieval geometry from linear to rotational, allowing multiple long-bars to be accessed from a compact circular footprint rather than requiring a long linear conveyor path.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable platform serves multiple functions: it stores multiple long-bars simultaneously, selectively positions the desired long-bar, and automatically delivers it to the operator. This multi-functional design replaces what would otherwise require separate storage racks, selection mechanisms, and delivery systems.
3Productivity
If complicated hydraulic or pneumatic systems with sliding surfaces are used, then automated long-bar delivery is achieved, but sliding friction causes extreme wear and high maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces hydraulic or pneumatic sliding feed systems with a mechanical gripper-based lifting and positioning mechanism. The gripper grasps the long-bar and moves it through the air or along guided paths without sliding contact, eliminating the sliding friction that causes wear in conventional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful sliding friction interface is extracted from the system by using a gripper mechanism that holds and transports the long-bar without contact. The long-bar is suspended or guided during transfer rather than sliding along a surface, removing the source of wear and maintenance problems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional storage and handling methods are used, then long-bars can be stored in categories, but selective delivery and retrieval time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Long-bars are pre-categorized and pre-positioned on the rotatable platform in specific angular positions corresponding to their type or size. This preliminary organization allows the operator to quickly select the desired category, and the platform can then rotate directly to that position without searching or repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable platform acts as an intermediary that maintains the categorized arrangement of long-bars while enabling rapid access. By rotating the entire platform, all categorized long-bars are simultaneously repositioned, allowing any category to be delivered quickly without disrupting the overall organizational structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A long-bar handling apparatus that delivers a desired size and shape of long-bar quickly and efficiently for shearing, bending, or further processing. The long-bar is loaded in slots in multiple rotating disk plates. A slot opening and closing mechanism, such as a pivot arm, is utilized to prevent loaded long-bar from falling out of slots during portions of rotation. The slot opening and closing mechanism opens on the top portion of rotation for loading and removing the long-bar for processing.