Sealant Connector Feed and Drill-Spindle Assembly for Precise Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated assembly processes for connecting components lack efficiency and precision, particularly in applying sealant to connectors, leading to suboptimal quality and reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
A sealant application station comprising a feeder, discharger, support unit, gripper, and sealant application unit, along with an assembly tool featuring a drill spindle and dispose finger, which together enable precise application and insertion of connectors with reduced mechanical complexity and improved alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If automated assembly processes are implemented for connecting components, then quality and reproducibility are improved, but the complexity of the assembly system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly system is divided into distinct functional modules: a sealant application station with feeder and discharger for connector preparation, and a separate assembly tool for insertion. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system precision and reproducibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealant application station performs preliminary actions by applying sealant to connectors before they are inserted into components. The feeder automatically supplies pre-prepared connectors with sealant already applied, eliminating the need for complex real-time sealant application mechanisms in the main assembly tool, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If sealant application is integrated into the assembly process, then joint quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sealant is applied to connectors in advance by the dedicated sealant application station before the connectors enter the main assembly process. This preliminary action ensures high joint quality while allowing the main assembly tool to focus solely on insertion operations, preventing time loss in the critical assembly path.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder maintains a continuous supply of pre-sealanted connectors to the assembly tool, ensuring that the assembly process can proceed without interruption. The sealant application occurs continuously in the background, maintaining production flow while ensuring quality.
3Measurement precision
If a dedicated sealant application station is added, then sealant application precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant application function is segregated into a dedicated station with its own feeder and discharger, separate from the main assembly tool. This segmentation concentrates precision requirements in one module while keeping the main assembly system simpler.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealant application station with its feeder and discharger can serve multiple assembly positions or connector types, providing a universal solution that reduces the need for multiple specialized applications throughout the system, thereby managing complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly system with a sealant application station and an assembly tool is described. The assembly system is used to connect two or more components to each other. The sealant application station applies a sealant to a connector. The sealant application station is arranged in a feed system for the connectors. The sealant-applied connectors are transferred to the assembly tool. The assembly tool contains a drill spindle in which a connector and a drill can be axially aligned with each other so that the drill spindle can both drill a hole in the components to be connected and position the connector in the drilled hole with a linear movement along a processing axis. For these operations, the drill spindle moves only along the processing axis, so that a linear drive can be used for these operations.