Machine Tool Support Acceleration for Workpiece Free Fall
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tools face inefficiencies in moving processed workpieces, such as metal sheets, from a support position to a discharge position, often resulting in lateral shifting and potential re-attachment, which can hinder the processing of subsequent parts and increase machine downtime.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design that accelerates a support with an acceleration greater than the workpiece in the gravitational direction, allowing the workpiece to fall freely into a discharge position, utilizing a combination of linear and rotational movements to ensure quick and reliable removal, while also incorporating a motion unit and connecting pieces for synchronized pivoting and sliding mechanisms to prevent re-attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional mechanisms are used to move processed parts, then the parts can be removed from the workpiece, but lateral shifting and re-attachment occur which hinders processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The support is divided into multiple independently controllable support regions that can be lowered separately. This allows selective support removal from specific areas while maintaining support elsewhere, enabling precise control over part detachment and preventing unwanted lateral shifting or re-attachment during the removal process
Solution Approach 2:
The support system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where individual support regions can be independently lowered and repositioned. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the support structure to adapt during the part removal process, ensuring stable part positioning while enabling efficient ejection
2Speed
If the support is moved quickly to enable free fall, then the workpiece part can reach the discharge position faster, but the support must be accelerated more quickly than the workpiece part itself
Solution Approach 1:
The support is segmented into multiple independently controllable regions that can be lowered at different rates and times. This allows the support structure to accelerate quickly overall while individual regions maintain control over the workpiece part, enabling fast ejection without requiring excessive acceleration forces that would compromise part stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the acceleration parameters dynamically during the ejection process. The support regions are lowered with controlled acceleration profiles that are sufficient to enable free fall but not so high as to cause loss of control or damage to the workpiece part
3Productivity
If the support is moved out of the path of movement, then the workpiece part can attain the discharge position unimpeded, but the support must be repositioned laterally
Solution Approach 1:
The support system uses multiple segmented regions that can be independently lowered vertically. This eliminates the need for complex lateral movement mechanisms, as each support region simply needs to lower and raise along a vertical path, significantly simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining efficient part discharge capability
Solution Approach 2:
The support movement is confined to the vertical dimension only, with support regions lowering and raising along vertical paths. This one-dimensional movement approach simplifies the mechanism compared to two-dimensional lateral movement, while still achieving unimpeded part discharge through coordinated vertical positioning
4Productivity
If multiple supports are pivoted synchronously, then larger workpieces can be handled, but the falling distance and time would increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support system uses multiple independently controllable support regions positioned at different locations. Each region can lower and raise separately, allowing large workpieces to be supported and ejected simultaneously without requiring the workpiece to fall from a greater height. This segmented approach maintains short falling distances while handling larger workpiece sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The support regions operate dynamically with independent control over timing and position. Multiple supports can lower and raise in coordinated sequences, enabling simultaneous handling of large workpieces while maintaining optimized falling distances through dynamic positioning adjustments
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
This solution enables rapid, reliable, and unimpeded movement of workpieces into the discharge position, reducing machine downtime and increasing processing efficiency by preventing lateral shifting and re-attachment, and allowing for the handling of larger workpieces without increasing falling distance or time.
Implementation Method 1
the workpiece part attains the discharge position in free fall
Implementation Method 2
accelerate the support, at least in the region of the workpiece part lying thereon, out of a support position in the gravitational direction
Data Source
AI summary
A machine tool is provided for processing a workpiece, e.g., a metal sheet. The machine tool comprises at least one support configured to, in a support position, support a part of the workpiece on an upper surface, the part being completely separated from the workpiece, and a motion unit for moving the support downwards out of the support position into a discharge position located underneath the support. The motion unit is configured to accelerate the support, at least in a region of the part lying thereon, out of the support position along a gravitational direction with an acceleration which is greater than an acceleration of the part in the gravitational direction, and to move the accelerated support into an open position located outside a path of movement of the part at a speed such that the workpiece part attains the discharge position in free fall.