Sheet Product Sorting Table With Selective Carrier Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet material machining systems face inefficiencies in conveying and sorting products due to the need for manual sorting of products cut from a single workpiece, which increases production costs and time, especially when products from different orders are adjacent and difficult to separate.

Innovation Solution

A sheet material machining system incorporating a sorting table, temporary placement table, and discharge table with a carrier equipped with attracting means, allowing for selective attraction and conveyance of products, enabling automated sorting and conveying of products by order, reducing the risk of residual material interference and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If products are unloaded one by one to the product carriage, then the system can handle individual products, but the conveying efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying efficiencyVSAvoidtime for unloading products
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple product conveyance operations into a single collective conveyance action. The product carriage simultaneously transports multiple products from the machining machine to the temporary placement table in one operation, rather than unloading them one by one. This combining of operations directly resolves the contradiction by improving conveying efficiency while reducing the total time required for unloading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If manual sorting is performed for products from different orders, then products can be separated by order, but production costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual sorting
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service sorting through automated carrier assignment. Each product carries identification information that enables the system to automatically determine the correct discharge table destination. The products essentially sort themselves by being directed to appropriate discharge tables based on their order information, eliminating the need for manual sorting operations and reducing both time and labor costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical sorting with an automated information-based system. Instead of physically sorting products through manual intervention, the system uses product identification information and automated control to direct products to the correct discharge tables. This substitution of mechanical manual sorting with an automated control system resolves the contradiction by improving sorting efficiency while reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If products from different orders are adjacent on the workpiece, then the workpiece can be fully utilized, but separation becomes difficult and increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece utilizationVSAvoidcomplexity of product separation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from product identification information to automatically determine separation requirements. Each product's order information is read and fed back to the control system, which then automatically assigns the appropriate discharge table. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual separation procedures, allowing products from different orders to be adjacent on the workpiece without increasing separation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 system enhances product conveying efficiency by automating the sorting process, reducing manual intervention and production costs, while ensuring accurate separation of products by order without shifting residual materials, thus optimizing the machining process.

Implementation Method 1

a carrier (50) including attracting means (52) and mobile means (54)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

attracting means (52) comprising a plurality of attracting portions (520)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP3409397B1Sheet material processing system and method for operating sheet material processing system
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 YAMAZAKI MAZAK KK
  • EP3409397B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409397B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3409397B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sheet material machining system includes a sheet material machining machine, a sorting table, a temporary placement table, a discharge table, and a carrier. The sheet material machining machine is configured to produce a machined workpiece that includes a plurality of products and a residual material. The machined workpiece is placed on the sorting table. The plurality of products are placed on the temporary placement table. At least one product among the plurality of products is placed on the discharge table. The carrier includes attracting means and mobile means. The attracting means includes a plurality of attracting portions. The mobile means moves the attracting means between the temporary placement table and the discharge table.