Tool Changer Position Compensation for Rotational Deviation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tool changer systems face issues with rotational deviations due to imbalanced tool weights on a turret, leading to potential tool changing failures and spindle impacts, which existing solutions attempt to address with additional braking mechanisms that complicate the machine structure and increase costs.

Innovation Solution

A position compensation system for a tool changer that includes a storage unit for storing rotary position coordinates, a detector to assess rotational deviations, and a determiner to decide on necessary compensation operations, allowing for automatic or manual rotational adjustments without the need for an extra braking mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a braking mechanism is added to prevent rotational deviation of the turret, then the reliability of the tool changer is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool changer reliabilityVSAvoidmachine structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical braking mechanism with a computational approach. The control unit detects rotational deviation through position sensing and compensates for it by calculating corrected positioning commands, substituting physical braking components with electronic control and software algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the turret positioning system and the braking mechanism. It detects positional deviations and generates compensation commands, mediating the correction process without requiring direct mechanical braking intervention during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a braking mechanism is added to prevent rotational deviation of the turret, then the reliability of the tool changer is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool changer reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive position sensors and computational resources already present in modern CNC systems rather than expensive mechanical braking components. The solution leverages existing control infrastructure to achieve reliability without additional costly hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the turret rotates due to imbalanced tool weights, then the center of gravity lowers, but the rotational deviation causes tool changing failures and spindle impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturret stabilityVSAvoidtool changing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the actual position of the turret after rotation commands. When positional deviation is detected, the system calculates and applies compensation commands to correct the position, ensuring accurate tool changing despite imbalanced weights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary detection of rotational deviation immediately after turret rotation. The control unit checks the position and, if necessary, applies compensation before the tool changing operation proceeds, preventing failures and spindle impacts in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10384320B2Position compensation system and position compensation method for tool changer

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A position compensation system of a tool changer includes a storage unit for storing a coordinate indicating a reference position of a turret, a rotary position coordinate detector for detecting the rotary position coordinate of the turret, a compensation necessity determiner for determining whether or not it is necessary to perform a rotational compensation to return the turret to the reference position, in accordance with a rotational deviation of the detected rotary position coordinate from the stored rotary position coordinate, and a compensation request part for requesting an operation or work related to the rotational compensation when it is determined that the rotational compensation needs to be performed.