Storage Cabinet for Board Work Machine Component Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the production of board products using a board work machine, there is a need for both supply components and devices that can be matched to the type of board products being produced, and existing storage solutions limit the flexibility of these combinations.

Innovation Solution

A storage cabinet with separate first and second storage sections for supply components and devices, respectively, and a delivery section that can associate and deliver these components and devices for specific unit productions as specified in a production plan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If supply components and devices are stored together in the same storage section, then storage space is utilized efficiently, but the flexibility of combining different supply components with different devices is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of combining supply components and devicesVSAvoidstorage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage cabinet is divided into a first storage section for supply components and a second storage section for devices, allowing independent management and flexible combination of different item types while maintaining organized storage structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery section is designed to handle both supply components and devices universally, enabling any supply component to be paired with any device through the same delivery mechanism, thus increasing combination flexibility without requiring dedicated delivery paths for each item type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If supply components and devices are stored separately in different sections, then the correct combinations can be ensured, but the delivery process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of supply component and device matchingVSAvoiddelivery system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a reader to read identification information from tags on both supply components and devices, and the control unit processes this information to determine correct pairings, ensuring reliable matching through automated feedback-based identification and assignment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives identification information from the reader, determines the correct pairings between supply components and devices, and coordinates the moving sections to deliver the correct combinations to the delivery section, simplifying the overall delivery process through centralized control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If manual pairing of supply components and devices is performed, then operational flexibility is maintained, but time consumption and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery speedVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service pairing where supply components and devices automatically present their identification information to the reader, and the control unit automatically determines and executes the correct pairings without requiring manual intervention, thus increasing delivery speed while maintaining reasonable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical pairing process is replaced with an automated system using readers, tags, and control units that electronically identify and pair supply components with devices, significantly increasing delivery speed and reducing labor requirements

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

Data Source

PatentEP4044784B1Storage cabinet
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 FUJI CORP
  • EP4044784B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4044784B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4044784B1 patent drawingFigure 3C~4

AI summary

A storage cabinet includes a first storage section, a second storage section, a delivery section, and a moving section. The first storage section stores a supply component which is at least one of an article which is provided on a board by a board work machine configured to perform predetermined board work on the board and the board before the article is provided thereon. The second storage section stores a device which is detachably provided on the board work machine for use in the board work. The delivery section delivers the supply component and the device in an associated fashion which are used for a predetermined unit production included in a production plan which prescribes an order of unit productions which each specify a production of an identical type of board products using the board work machine. The moving section moves the supply component stored in the first storage section to the delivery section and moves the device stored in the second storage section to the delivery section.