Self-Aligning Billet Gripper Using Gravity and Magnetism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transporting metal billets from a randomly oriented condition to a conveying system require manual manipulation, sensors, or vision-type features, increasing costs and reducing reliability due to the need for multi-axis articulation and orientation.
Innovation Solution
An automatically orienting gripping mechanism with a movement device that includes a storage hopper, a workpiece support with a flexible extension and attractive force means, and a self-alignment apparatus to align the workpiece axis with the conveyor axis, allowing for secure and efficient transport of randomly oriented metal billets without manual intervention or sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual manipulation or sensors/vision features are used to orient billets, then the billet orientation can be properly identified, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows billets to self-orient through gravity and geometry. The V-shaped trough and inclined plane enable billets to automatically align themselves without external sensing or manipulation, making the system self-servicing for orientation tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing and vision systems with a simple passive mechanical orientation system using gravity, inclined planes, and V-shaped troughs to achieve billet alignment automatically
2Ease of operation
If multi-axis articulation is used to align jaws with billets, then proper grasping can be achieved, but the reliability and longevity of the device are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Billets automatically present themselves in the correct orientation through the gravity-based V-shaped trough system, eliminating the need for complex multi-axis articulation and making the grasping operation simple and reliable
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the gripper to match the billet orientation, the system inverts the approach by having the billet self-align to a fixed gripper position through passive mechanical means
3Ease of operation
If vision and multi-axis articulation are used for billet manipulation, then proper orientation can be achieved, but the cost of the device is greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation function is performed by the billet itself through interaction with simple geometric features (V-shaped trough, inclined plane) rather than requiring expensive active sensing and manipulation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive, complex, and potentially fragile vision and multi-axis articulation components with simple, inexpensive, and robust passive mechanical elements
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 solution reduces costs and enhances reliability by enabling automatic orientation and transport of metal billets, simplifying the control system and increasing the longevity of the device, especially in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
a means for selectively producing an attractive force between the engaging surface and a workpiece to direct the engaging surface to a desired number of the workpieces
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to feed elongated metallic workpieces to a manufacturing process including a storage hopper configured to hold a plurality of workpieces that are randomly oriented and a movement device having a workpiece support that is automatically engageable with a workpiece.