Sheet Metal Workpiece Stacking with Temporary Support Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Workpieces with uneven surfaces and additional functional elements cannot be stacked efficiently, requiring significant space for storage due to tilting and slipping issues during stacking.
Innovation Solution
Attaching a temporary additional support element, such as a tapelement, to the workpieces to create a stable three- or multi-point contact, preventing tilting and slipping, and allowing for safe stacking without altering the workpiece's geometry or functional elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workpieces with uneven surfaces and functional elements are stored side by side, then stability is maintained, but space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A temporary support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the workpiece and the stacking surface. This support element compensates for uneven surfaces and protruding functional elements, enabling stable stacking without requiring additional storage space. The support element acts as a mediator that adapts to the workpiece geometry while providing a stable base for stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be temporarily attached to the workpiece, added, and then removed. This segmentation allows the workpiece to maintain its original geometry and functional elements while gaining stacking capability only when needed, without permanently altering the workpiece or requiring dedicated storage infrastructure.
2Area of stationary object
If workpieces are stacked directly without additional elements, then space efficiency is improved, but tilting and slipping occur
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is temporarily attached to the workpiece before stacking operations. This preliminary action prepares the workpiece for stable stacking by compensating for geometric irregularities and protruding functional elements. After stacking is complete, the support element is removed, allowing space-efficient storage without compromising stability during the stacking process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If permanent modifications are made to workpieces for stackability, then stacking capability is improved, but workpiece geometry and functional elements are altered
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanently modifying the workpiece geometry, the support element temporarily changes the effective stacking parameters by providing compensation for uneven surfaces and protruding elements. This allows the workpiece to gain stacking capability without altering its original shape, dimensions, or functional elements, maintaining full adaptability while preserving geometric integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for preparing workpieces (12) made of a sheet-shaped material, in particular sheet metal, for automated stacking, comprising a processing machine (11) which has a workpiece support (16) and at least one processing tool (20, 21) for processing the workpiece (12) resting on the workpiece support (16) and a handling device (26) by which the workpiece (12) is removed from the workpiece support (16) and stacked in a magazine/depot (30) or transferred to a subsequent workstation, wherein at least one additional stacking element (38) is attached to the workpiece (12) by which the workpieces (12) can be stacked on top of each other and which is removed from the respective workpiece (12) before or after the at least one subsequent process or after the stacking of the workpieces (12).