Screw Feeding Apparatus for Disk Drive Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current screw feeding mechanisms face challenges with low aspect ratio screws, experiencing issues such as screws falling away, jamming, and flipping during the assembly process of disk drives, which necessitates a more reliable and efficient feeding system.
Innovation Solution
A screw feeding apparatus utilizing a combination of actuators and sensors, including a first actuator with a pocket for detection and a second actuator for pickup and drop, coordinates with a vibrating rail to accurately transfer screws into a screw guide tube, minimizing errors and interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vibrating rail directly drops screws into a screw guide tube, then the feeding process is simple and fast, but screws fall away, jam, and flip during the feeding process
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is introduced as an intermediary component between the vibrating rail and the screw guide tube. The sensor detects the presence and position of screws, providing feedback control to prevent falling, jamming, and flipping. This intermediary element enables precise control of the feeding process while maintaining simplicity and speed.
2Volume of moving object
If smaller screws with low aspect ratio are used, then the disk drive components become more compact, but the screws become difficult to feed and control during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor-based feedback system is implemented to detect the position and status of small low-aspect-ratio screws during feeding. The sensor provides real-time information about screw presence and orientation, enabling the system to adjust and control the feeding process precisely, making operation as easy as possible despite the challenging screw geometry.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex components are assembled with high precision, then the disk drive performance is improved, but the assembly time increases and error rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screw feeding system performs self-service through automated sensor detection and control. The sensor automatically detects screw position and status, and the system self-adjusts to prevent errors, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing assembly time while maintaining high precision.
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
The apparatus significantly reduces screw dropping, jamming, and flipping problems, particularly for low aspect ratio screws, enhancing assembly reliability and reducing downtime in disk drive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a screw feeder having a vibrating rail to move screws down the line
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a screw feeding apparatus to deliver a screw from a screw feeder having a vibrating rail to a screw guide tube. The screw feeding apparatus comprises a first actuator having a pocket and a second actuator having a screw pickup. The first actuator is moveable between a detection position and a retracted position, wherein the first actuator is configured to detect a screw in the pocket received from the vibrating rail of the screw feeder in the detection position and to then move to the retracted position. The second actuator is moveable between a pickup position and a drop position, wherein the screw pickup of the second actuator is configured to pick up the screw from the pocket of the first actuator in the pickup position and to move to the drop position to drop the screw into the screw guide tube.