Transfer Apparatus Linear Motion via Pivoting Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer apparatuses, such as those with sliding or articulated arms, face issues in environments with scattered chips, where the arms may stop or break due to chip adherence, and have complex structures or increased size due to motor placement, necessitating a more compact and joint-efficient design.
Innovation Solution
A transfer apparatus with a main body that moves horizontally, featuring a pivotally connected arm portion and hand portion, equipped with a lifting mechanism, allowing for horizontal swinging and linear movement to load/unload works efficiently, using a reduced number of joints and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sliding arm is used in an environment with scattered chips, then the arm can linearly move the work, but the arm stops or breaks down if a chip sticks to the guide groove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sliding arm with a magnetic field-based transfer mechanism. The transfer arm uses magnetic attraction to hold and transfer the workpiece, eliminating the need for physical contact with guide grooves that can accumulate chips. This substitution of mechanical contact with magnetic field interaction resolves the reliability issue while maintaining transfer functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an articulated arm with link mechanism is used, then the arm can move the work, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex link mechanism from the arm structure. Instead of using multiple connected links to achieve movement, the design employs a simplified single-arm structure that pivots at a fixed point. This extraction of the unnecessary link mechanism maintains the arm's ability to move and position the workpiece while significantly reducing structural complexity.
3Extent of automation
If motors are installed in each joint to directly drive arms, then each arm can be driven independently, but the apparatus size increases to avoid interference between motors and arms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the motor from the joint location to a remote location, effectively moving it to another dimension in space. The motor is placed outside the arm's movement path, and its rotational force is transmitted to the arm through a long shaft or gear mechanism. This spatial repositioning allows independent joint control while avoiding interference between the motor and the arm, thereby reducing the apparatus size.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides a transfer apparatus for loading/unloading a work into/from a processing apparatus, comprising: a main body being able to move in a horizontal direction; an arm portion pivotally provided with respect to the main body; a hand portion pivotally provided with respect to the arm portion, and configured to grip the work; and a control unit configured to horizontally swing the arm portion and move the main body in order for the hand portion to linearly move the work, when the hand portion facing the processing apparatus loads/unloads the work into/from the processing apparatus.