Transfer Unit with Tapered Guide Surfaces for Impact Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transfer systems for small-sized electronic parts face challenges in buffering impact during handling and maintaining positional accuracy due to varying work postures and sizes, which can lead to damage and decreased accuracy in transfer operations.

Innovation Solution

A transfer unit with a holding unit that includes a movable portion supported by a biasing mechanism, featuring tapered guide and abutting surfaces, allowing vertical displacement and adaptive positioning to absorb impact and maintain accurate alignment during transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the holding unit position is shifted to adapt to varying work postures and sizes, then the adaptability to different work states is improved, but the positional accuracy of the placement position in the transfer destination decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to work stateVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding unit is designed with a movable portion that can dynamically adjust its position vertically relative to the support portion. This dynamic adjustment allows the holding unit to adapt to varying work postures and sizes while maintaining positional accuracy at the transfer destination through controlled movement and resetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the holding unit is changed as a parameter to adapt to different work states. By varying the vertical position of the movable portion relative to the support portion, the system accommodates different work postures and sizes while preserving transfer precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the holding unit is given a vertical buffering function to absorb impact at the time of contact, then the protection of the work from impact damage is improved, but the positional accuracy of the held work may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact damageVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The biasing portion is pre-configured to provide buffering force before impact occurs. When the holding unit contacts the work, the biasing portion absorbs the impact through controlled deformation, protecting the work from damage while the tapered surfaces ensure positional accuracy is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable portion acts as an intermediary between the holding portion and the support portion, providing a buffer zone that absorbs impact while maintaining the positional relationship necessary for accurate transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the holding unit cannot adapt to the state of each work, then the device complexity is reduced, but the work may be damaged when holding it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidwork damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding unit incorporates a movable portion that can dynamically adjust its position to adapt to different work states. This dynamic capability allows the simple structure to protect works by adjusting to their varying postures and sizes without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution effectively buffers impact and maintains positional accuracy by allowing the holding unit to adapt to varying work postures and sizes, preventing damage and ensuring precise transfer of electronic parts.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing portion configured to bias the movable portion downward with respect to the support portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

each of the first guide surface and the first abutting surface is a surface which tapers off upward or downward, such that the first guide surface and the first abutting surface abut against each other and are positioned when the movable portion is displaced downward with respect to the support portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS10694647B2Transfer unit, transfer apparatus, and holding unit

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 HIRATA CORPORATION

AI summary

A transfer unit includes a holding unit, and a driving unit configured to vertically move the holding unit. The holding unit includes a holding portion configured to hold a work, a movable portion configured to support the holding portion, a support portion configured to support the movable portion such that the movable portion is vertically displaceable, and a biasing portion configured to bias the movable portion downward with respect to the support portion. The support portion has a guide surface which guides displacement of the movable portion, and the movable portion has an abutting surface which abuts against the guide surface. Each of the guide surface and the abutting surface is a surface which tapers off upward or downward.