Automated Rotor Loading Apparatus for Balancing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual loading of rotors into balancing machines is time-consuming and costly, particularly in large-scale applications like the automotive industry, due to the need for manual alignment of apertures in articulated connections, which hinders efficient unbalance correction and balancing processes.
Innovation Solution
An automated apparatus and method for transporting and loading elongate rotors into balancing machines, utilizing a robotic arm with holding, positioning, and movement devices to align and secure the rotor portions within the machine, including position determination and repositioning mechanisms to ensure accurate engagement with the machine's mounting apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual loading is used to load rotors into balancing machines, then alignment of apertures can be achieved, but time consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses vision sensors to automatically detect aperture positions and the robotic arm to autonomously perform alignment and loading operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical alignment operations are replaced with an automated system combining vision sensing, computational processing, and robotic manipulation, substituting human labor with automated mechanical and optical systems
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of apertures is performed, then accurate engagement with mounting apparatus is achieved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vision system captures images and calculates aperture positions before the robotic arm executes the loading operation, performing all alignment computations and preparations in advance to enable rapid execution
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vision sensors to detect actual aperture positions, compares them with target positions, and automatically adjusts the robotic arm's movement to achieve precise alignment, creating a closed-loop control system
3Productivity
If automated robotic loading is implemented, then loading speed increases, but alignment precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Manual alignment operations are replaced with vision-based detection and robotic execution, using optical sensing and automated control to achieve both high speed and high precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system creates a digital representation of the rotor's aperture positions, allowing the control system to plan and execute precise robotic movements based on this virtual model before physical contact occurs
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for transporting a rotor from a first location to a second location, including: a holding device for engaging with a portion of the rotor at the first location so as to hold the rotor relative to the apparatus; a position determination device for determining the position of at least one component part of the rotor relative to another component part of the rotor or another body; a positioning device for positioning or repositioning said at least one component part of the rotor relative to another component part of the rotor or another body; and a movement device for moving the rotor from the first location to the second location. Also described is a method of loading a rotor into a balancing machine.