Transfer Apparatus Fluid Pressure Holding Distance Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer systems require multiple holding jigs for various shapes of workpieces, increasing costs and necessitating high-precision driving devices for precise positioning, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A transfer apparatus with a hand and holding portions that adjust distance using fluid pressure, allowing a single hand to hold and transfer various workpieces without the need for shape-specific jigs and expensive high-precision driving devices, utilizing a control unit to accurately set the inter-holding portion distance and move the hand to maintain contact with a contact portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple holding jigs are prepared for various shapes of workpieces, then the workpieces of various shapes can be held, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hand is designed with a universal structure that can hold various shapes of workpieces through a single device. The first and second holding portions can be adjusted to different intervals and positions, allowing one hand to perform the function of multiple specialized holding jigs, thereby reducing costs while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding portions are made adjustable rather than fixed. The interval between the first and second holding portions can be dynamically changed according to the shape and size of the workpiece, enabling a single hand to adapt to different workpiece geometries without requiring multiple static holding jigs.
2Measurement precision
If high-precision driving devices such as servomotors are used to control held positions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but apparatus costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A contact portion is introduced as an intermediary element to achieve precise positioning. The first holding portion contacts the contact portion at a predetermined position, using this mechanical contact as a reference point to accurately determine the interval between holding portions without requiring expensive high-precision driving devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive high-precision electronic driving devices (servomotors) with a simpler mechanical positioning system. By using the contact portion as a physical reference and controlling the hand movement to a predetermined position, the system achieves accurate positioning through mechanical means rather than expensive electronic control.
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
Enables the transfer of various workpieces while reducing costs by eliminating the need for shape-specific jigs and high-precision driving devices, achieving accurate positioning with an inexpensive fluid pressure driving unit.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure driving unit configured to move the first holding portion by pressure of a fluid to change a distance between the first holding portion and the second holding portion
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer apparatus includes first and second holding portions, a hand, a hand moving portion, and fluid pressure driving and control units. The control unit acquires an inter-holding portion distance between the first and second holding portions for holding a workpiece. The control unit makes the hand moving portion move the hand to a predetermined position such that the distance between the first and second holding portions becomes the inter-holding portion distance when the first holding portion moved by the fluid pressure driving unit is brought into contact with a contact portion provided at a work field, the predetermined position being located away from the contact portion. With the hand located at the predetermined position, the control unit makes the fluid pressure driving unit move the first holding portion to contact with the contact portion, and the control unit stops driving of the fluid pressure driving unit.