UV Adhesive Fixturing With Prevalidated External Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV adhesive fixturing systems require time-consuming setup processes within the workcell for each combination of fixture, work piece, and orientation, leading to inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for manual alignment and validation of UV delivery endpoints, limiting the workcell's ability to handle multiple configurations without extensive reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a UV delivery assembly with embedded UV light sources, a support structure controller, and a bus connector allows for the setup and validation of fixtures outside the workcell, enabling attachment of multiple fixtures and work pieces in parallel, with the UV delivery assembly connecting to the workcell bus for automated control and validation, thus removing setup steps from the workcell and allowing remote preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment and validation of UV delivery endpoints is performed within the workcell for each fixture configuration, then UV adhesive fixturing can be achieved, but setup time increases and workcell efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing alignment and validation of UV delivery endpoints to gripper pins outside the workcell before actual fixturing operations. The support structure is pre-configured with UV delivery endpoints that are validated to align with specific fixture gripper pins, so when a fixture is installed in the workcell, the alignment is already established. This eliminates the need for time-consuming manual alignment within the workcell for each configuration change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary support structure that serves as a mediator between the workcell and fixtures. The support structure contains UV delivery endpoints that can be selectively aligned with gripper pins on different fixtures. This intermediary layer allows pre-validation of UV light paths outside the workcell while maintaining the ability to quickly swap fixtures inside the workcell without re-aligning UV delivery systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If the workcell is reconfigured for each combination of fixture, work piece, and orientation, then accurate fixturing can be achieved, but productivity decreases due to extensive reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fixturing system into independent modular components: fixtures with gripper pins, a support structure with UV delivery endpoints, and a workcell. Each fixture can be independently configured and pre-validated with specific UV delivery endpoints outside the workcell. This segmentation allows multiple fixtures to be prepared in parallel outside the workcell, and then quickly swapped inside the workcell without reconfiguring the entire system, thereby maintaining fixturing accuracy while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring and pre-validating the alignment between UV delivery endpoints and gripper pins outside the workcell before production operations. This advance preparation ensures that when fixtures are installed in the workcell, the UV light paths are already validated, eliminating the need for time-consuming reconfiguration for each fixture-workpiece combination and enabling rapid changeover.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual placement of UV delivery endpoints is performed within the workcell, then proper alignment with gripper pins can be achieved, but device complexity and setup cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex alignment and validation operations from the workcell environment and relocates them to an external preparation area. The support structure with UV delivery endpoints is assembled and validated outside the workcell, then brought in as a complete pre-configured unit. This extraction removes the complexity of manual placement and alignment operations from the workcell, simplifying the in-workcell operations to merely installing pre-validated components while maintaining alignment accuracy.
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
This approach simplifies setup, increases workcell efficiency, reduces costs per fixtured work piece, and enhances production flexibility by allowing setup and validation outside the workcell, enabling the workcell to handle multiple configurations without tying up expensive machinery for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
The UV delivery endpoints selectably emit UV radiation
Implementation Method 2
The adhesive may be 'UV adhesive' cured by ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method for adhesive fixturing include UV light sources in alignment with gripper pins communicating through a fixture. A bus connector operably connects the UV light sources to a control box of the workcell. The control box controls the illumination of the UV light sources through the bus connector.