Swivel Workpiece Loader With Fixed Rails for Faster Cycle Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece supply-and-discharge devices are heavy and large, making it difficult to achieve a reduction in size and weight while increasing swiveling speed, which results in longer cycle times for machining processes.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece supply-and-discharge device design that includes a swivel portion and fixed rails with a reciprocating actuator, allowing only the swivel portion and gripping portion to swivel, reducing the total weight and enabling the use of a smaller, lighter swivel actuator for increased swiveling speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the swivel loader includes multiple gripping portions and operates sequentially, then it can supply and discharge workpieces, but the total weight becomes significantly heavy requiring a large swivel actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a fixed portion and a swivel portion. The fixed portion includes the heavy swivel actuator and stationary rails, while the swivel portion includes only the gripping portion and movable rail that needs to be moved. This segmentation allows the heavy components to remain stationary while only the necessary moving components are swiveled, reducing the weight of the moving object.
Solution Approach 2:
A movable rail is introduced as an intermediary component between the fixed rails and the gripping portion. The movable rail can reciprocate along the fixed rails and integrally support the gripping portion during swiveling. This intermediary structure distributes the weight and allows the swivel actuator to only move the lightweight swivel portion rather than the entire assembly.
2Force
If a large and heavy swivel actuator is used to handle the heavy load, then the workpiece supply-and-discharge device can operate, but the swiveling speed becomes insufficient increasing cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the device into fixed and swivel portions separates the force-generating component (swivel actuator) from the moving load. The heavy swivel actuator remains stationary and provides sufficient force, while only the lightweight swivel portion with gripping mechanism is accelerated during swiveling. This dramatically increases swiveling speed without compromising load capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable rail is designed to reciprocate dynamically along the fixed rails, extending and retracting to position the gripping portion for workpiece engagement and discharge. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the swiveling mass in real-time, further improving swiveling speed while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If the gripping portions ascend or descend after swiveling and then open or close claws sequentially, then the workpiece can be gripped and released, but the cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable rail is positioned and the gripping portion is oriented in advance along the arc-shaped path before swiveling occurs. The slider is pre-positioned on the movable rail, and the gripping members are ready to engage the workpiece immediately upon arrival at the machining apparatus. This preliminary preparation eliminates sequential delays and enables simultaneous completion of positioning and gripping actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The swiveling motion and the gripping action are merged into a single integrated operation. As the swivel portion rotates, the movable rail simultaneously guides the gripping members into the workpiece engagement position. This combining of motions allows the gripping portion to both swivel and grip the workpiece in one coordinated movement, dramatically reducing cycle time.
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece supply-and-discharge device includes a fixed portion, and a swivel portion that swivels on a bed. The fixed portion is provided with a plurality of fixed rails having an arc shape and separated from each other. Movable rails enter or exit from gaps left between the fixed rails as reciprocating actuators operate. Workpiece gripping portions configured to grip a workpiece are provided with sliders. When the workpiece gripping portions carry the workpieces while swiveling integrally with the swivel portion, the sliders transfer from the movable rails to the fixed rails or from the fixed rails to the movable rails.