Universal Workpiece Carrier Layout for Low-Handling Sheet Metal Flow

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine arrangements for manufacturing sheet metal often require multiple handling operations and complex material flows, leading to increased cycle times and apparatus outlay due to the lack of efficient interconnection between manufacturing and secondary functional units.

Innovation Solution

A machine arrangement with a universal workpiece carrier and a transporting unit that interconnects spatially separate functional units, allowing for the transfer of sheet metal workpieces and products between manufacturing units and secondary functional units, such as sorting stations, cleaning installations, and storage, thereby reducing handling operations and enhancing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple handling operations are used to transfer sheet metal between functional units, then the sheet metal can be processed through various manufacturing and secondary functional units, but the cycle time increases and apparatus outlay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to process sheet metal through multiple functional unitsVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional units (manufacturing units and secondary functional units) into a single integrated machine arrangement with a common transporting unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling operations between distinct machines, allowing the workpiece carrier to move directly between functional units within the same system, thereby reducing cycle time while maintaining processing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transporting unit is designed as a universal component that serves multiple functional units simultaneously. Instead of having dedicated transfer mechanisms for each pair of functional units, a single transporting unit handles material flow between all manufacturing and secondary functional units, reducing apparatus outlay while enabling versatile processing sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple handling operations are used to transfer sheet metal between functional units, then the sheet metal can be processed through various manufacturing and secondary functional units, but the apparatus outlay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to process sheet metal through multiple functional unitsVSAvoidapparatus outlay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional units (manufacturing units and secondary functional units) into a single integrated machine arrangement with a common transporting unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling operations between distinct machines, allowing the workpiece carrier to move directly between functional units within the same system, thereby reducing cycle time while maintaining processing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transporting unit is designed as a universal component that serves multiple functional units simultaneously. Instead of having dedicated transfer mechanisms for each pair of functional units, a single transporting unit handles material flow between all manufacturing and secondary functional units, reducing apparatus outlay while enabling versatile processing sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate transporting units are used for each functional unit, then each unit can operate independently, but the device complexity and handling operations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent operation of functional unitsVSAvoidnumber of transporting units

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transporting unit is designed as a universal component that serves multiple functional units simultaneously. Instead of having dedicated transfer mechanisms for each pair of functional units, a single transporting unit handles material flow between all manufacturing and secondary functional units, reducing apparatus outlay while enabling versatile processing sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic assignment of the transporting unit to different functional units based on processing requirements. The workpiece carrier can be transferred to any manufacturing or secondary functional unit as needed, providing operational flexibility and reliability without requiring dedicated transporting units for each functional unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20220371132A1Machine arrangement and mechanical method for manufacturing sheet metal

Publication Date: 2022.11.24 TRUMPF WERKZEUGMASCHINEN GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A machine arrangement for manufacturing sheet metal includes a workpiece carrier configured to store a sheet metal workpiece and/or a sheet metal manufacturing product, and three spatially separate functional units. The functional units include two manufacturing units and a secondary functional unit. Each manufacturing unit includes a manufacturing apparatus that has a work area. The workpiece carrier is arrangeable in the work area in a manufacturing position. The secondary functional unit has a functional area. The workpiece carrier is arrangeable in the functional area in a functional position. The machine arrangement further includes a transporting unit movable in a driven manner together with the workpiece carrier between the functional units, thereby enabling the workpiece carrier to be transferred between the functional units. The workpiece carrier is a universal workpiece carrier arrangeable at the two manufacturing units in the manufacturing position and at the secondary functional unit in the functional position.