Vacuum Chuck Fastener Reorientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing processes face challenges in efficiently orienting fasteners from a random bulk supply to specific longitudinal dispositions required at tool stations, necessitating automated systems that can both linearly and rotationally reorient fasteners with high precision and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An automated work piece presentment assembly featuring a chuck with a transport feature that linearly and rotationally displaces fasteners from a bulk supply queue to a tool station, utilizing a combination of linear slide and rotational mechanisms, along with a vacuum gripper to reorient fasteners from a 'head up' to a 'head down' position, enabling precise orientation for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operations are used to orient fasteners, then flexibility is maintained, but productivity and precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The automated presentment apparatus is divided into distinct functional modules: a bulk supply container for storing fasteners, a vibratory feeder for extracting and orienting fasteners, a queue for sequential positioning, and an escapement mechanism for controlled dispensing. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability and flexibility.
2Productivity
If automated systems are implemented to increase productivity, then processing speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory feeder operates autonomously to extract fasteners from the bulk supply and orient them in the queue without manual intervention. The escapement mechanism automatically dispenses fasteners one at a time to the tool station based on queue position, eliminating the need for complex control systems while maintaining high productivity and consistent orientation.
3Manufacturing precision
If fasteners are fed from bulk supply to tool station, then productivity increases, but precise orientation control becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory feeder utilizes controlled mechanical vibrations to agitate the bulk supply of fasteners, causing them to naturally orient in a consistent direction as they move along the vibratory path. This passive orientation mechanism achieves precise fastener alignment without requiring complex active control systems, sensors, or adjustment mechanisms.
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 efficient and precise reorientation of fasteners, enhancing manufacturing efficiency by ensuring accurate fastener alignment at tool stations, thereby improving overall manufacturing quality and reducing processing time.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum gripper to reorient fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and associated method are provided for an automated presentment assembly that sequentially feeds fasteners to an outlet and an escapement apparatus comprising a chuck that has a transport feature for selectively removing a fastener from the outlet and transporting the fastener to a tool station, the chuck being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the first position the transport feature is operably aligned with the outlet and at the second position the transport feature is displaced both linearly and rotationally from the first position.