Sheet Handling Fixture With Passive Joints for Fast Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet material handling devices are heavy, complex, and unreliable due to numerous electrical components, leading to high failure risk and operational downtime, especially when handling different shapes and sizes of sheet materials.
Innovation Solution
A handling device with a handling fixture and adjusting fixture, utilizing passive elements and reduced control wiring, featuring adjustable arms with passive joints and simplified control units, reducing the need for electric drives and minimizing electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If handling devices are equipped with numerous electrical components and active drives to handle different sheet material shapes and sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase, and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device is divided into multiple arms that can be independently positioned and configured. Each arm can be adjusted to different positions and orientations, allowing the device to adapt to various sheet material shapes and sizes without requiring a completely different configuration for each material type.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device uses a universal arm structure with passive joints that can perform multiple functions through different positioning configurations. The same arms and joints can handle different sheet materials by adjusting their positions, eliminating the need for specialized components for each material type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If handling devices use numerous electric drives and control units to adjust arm positions, then adaptability is improved, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are equipped with passive joints that can be positioned and locked into place without requiring active electric drives at each joint. The joints use passive mechanisms such as springs, gravity, or mechanical locking systems to maintain their positions, eliminating the need for heavy motors and control systems at each articulation point.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces electric drives with passive mechanical joint systems. Instead of using motors and control units to adjust and hold arm positions, the device uses passive mechanical elements such as spring-loaded joints, gravity-assisted positioning, or simple mechanical locks that require minimal actuation force.
3Measurement precision
If handling devices are equipped with many electrical components and control wiring, then control precision is improved, but failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the electrical drive components from the arm joints, leaving only passive mechanical elements. By taking out the electric motors, control units, and associated wiring from each joint, the system eliminates the primary sources of electrical failure while maintaining positioning capability through passive mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive joint system uses simple, inexpensive mechanical elements that are inherently more reliable than complex electrical systems. These passive components can be easily replaced if needed and do not suffer from the reliability issues associated with electrical motors, control electronics, and wiring.
4Reliability
If handling devices use passive elements with reduced control wiring, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation for adjusting to different materials may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The passive joints are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing operators to easily reposition arms for different sheet materials. The joints incorporate features such as spring-loaded mechanisms, gravity-assisted movement, or simple mechanical locks that can be quickly engaged and disengaged, enabling rapid reconfiguration without complex control procedures.
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A sheet material handling device comprising a handling fixture (8) comprising a support frame (1) with at least one adapter (5), or a fixture for attaching the support frame (1) to a robot, or a manipulator with at least two arms (2) fixedly or pivotally anchored to the support frame (1). Each arm (2) is formed by at least two semi-arms (29) pivotally connected to each other, where at least one semi-arm (29) is provided with at least one gripping member (3) at its free end. The pivotal connection between the semi-arms (29) and/or the arm (2) and the support frame (1) is formed by a joint (4) with a joint coupling (6) provided with an articulated brake. The handling fixture (8) is further provided with a first control line for distributing electrical power and/or air and/or hydraulic fluid for controlling the joint (4) and/or the gripping member (3). The first control line is adapted to be connected, via an adapter (5), to the electrical power and/or hydraulic fluid and/or air distribution of the robot or manipulator and to the control unit of the work line. The work line control unit is provided with a first software module carrying instructions for controlling the flow of air and/or electrical energy and/or hydraulic fluid to the joint (4) and/or the gripping member (3). The joint (4) is rotatable, the joint coupling (6) with a joint brake is passive, with a pressure or electrical lock. The sheet material handling device further comprises at least one adjusting fixture (7), for actively adjusting the position of the arm (2) and/or for unlocking the articulated brake.