Staple Dispensing Tray With Individual Slots for Stable Picking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing staple dispensing devices face issues with complexity, jamming, and inability to handle three-dimensional components due to unstable positioning on vibrating tables, limiting their effectiveness in assembly line operations.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a main magazine, a temporary storage tray with individual housings for stable component positioning, an optical detection system, and a transfer system controlled by an electronic unit to identify and pick up components in stable positions, ensuring efficient transfer to a processing zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a vibratory bowl feeder and guide rails are used to convey staples, then staple feeding is automated, but the system becomes complex and blockages occur due to incorrect staple positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the staple storage and positioning function into individual housings within the temporary storage tray, rather than using a continuous vibratory bowl feeder system. Each housing acts as an independent positioning unit, simplifying the overall system while maintaining automation capability through the translation mechanism of the tray.
2Extent of automation
If a vibratory bowl feeder and guide rails are used to convey staples, then staple feeding is automated, but blockages occur due to incorrect staple positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary positioning of staples in individual housings before transfer to the robot gripper. The temporary storage tray with individual housings pre-positions each staple in a known, stable orientation, eliminating the positioning uncertainties that cause blockages in continuous feeding systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a vibrating table is used to position components, then components settle into stable positions, but three-dimensional components cannot achieve stable positioning due to their shape
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single vibrating table surface, the device segments the positioning surface into individual housings. Each housing is specifically configured to receive and stabilize a single component in a predetermined position, accommodating various component shapes including three-dimensional staples with bullet-shaped feet and disc-shaped heads.
Solution Approach 2:
Each housing in the temporary storage tray has specific geometric characteristics tailored to hold components in stable positions. The individual housings provide localized support surfaces and constraints that adapt to different component geometries, enabling stable positioning of three-dimensional components that cannot be stabilized on a flat vibrating table.
4Stability of the object's composition
If individual housings are used in the temporary storage tray, then component positioning stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary storage tray with individual housings serves multiple functions: it stores components, positions them in stable orientations, and facilitates their transfer to the robot gripper. The housings are designed to be universally compatible with the specific staple geometry (bullet-shaped foot, disc-shaped head), eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms.
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 promotes stable positioning of components, reduces the risk of tilting, and enables efficient picking and transfer of staples, even for complex shapes, thereby enhancing production efficiency and reducing production stoppages.
Implementation Method 1
said tray being mounted in alternating translation along at least one longitudinal direction so as to be able to agitate said temporarily stored components and promote their positioning within said tray in at least one predetermined stable position
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (100) for distributing staple-type components (A) intended particularly for assembling parts, comprising: - a main magazine (110) for bulk storage of said components, - a tray (130) for temporary storage of components (A) extracted from the main magazine (110) configured to temporarily store the components (A) awaiting transfer out of the device (100), said tray (130) being mounted in reciprocating translation along at least one longitudinal direction (D) so as to be able to agitate said temporarily stored components (A) and promote their positioning inside said tray (130) according to at least one predetermined stable position (P1, P2) related to their shape, - an optical detection system (140) configured to detect, among the components (A) temporarily stored inside the temporary storage tray (130), those having said predetermined stable position (P1, P2),- a transfer system (160) configured to transfer, individually or in groups, the components (A) exhibiting said predetermined stable position (P1, P2) to a downstream processing zone (170) located outside the device (100), - an electronic control unit (150) electronically linked to the optical detection system (140) and the transfer system (160), said unit (150) being configured to control the transfer system (160) in particular as a function of detection signals received from the optical detection system (140), characterized in that the temporary storage tray (130) is provided with a series of individual slots (131), each of said slots (131) being configured to receive a single component (A) according to said predetermined stable position (P1, P2).