Variable Distance Cam Device for Pick-Up Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cam devices for pick-up heads with side-by-side pick-up members fail to increase the travel distance of the members along the horizontal guide effectively during rotation, limiting their versatility and efficiency in transferring products between pick-up and storing stations.
Innovation Solution
A rotating cam device with a disc and tubular sectors, featuring cams with both circumferential and spiral profiles, allows for a variable distance between pick-up members, enabling greater axial translation and increased travel range through a cam-and-tappet assembly, which can be easily installed and replaced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a rotating cylinder with continuous circumferential cams is used, then the pick-up members can be moved along the horizontal guide, but the travel distance covered by the pick-up members is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cam device is divided into multiple separate cam elements (first cam element, second cam element, third cam element) instead of using a single continuous circumferential cam on a rotating cylinder. Each cam element is positioned at different angular locations and engages with corresponding tappet elements to sequentially move the pick-up members along the horizontal guide, thereby increasing the total travel distance while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional continuous circumferential cam profile to a three-dimensional arrangement of multiple discrete cam elements positioned at different angular locations around the rotation axis. This spatial distribution in the angular dimension allows the pick-up members to be moved through a longer path along the horizontal guide while the cam device itself maintains a compact radial footprint
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pick-up members are arranged at a variable distance, then the product transfer between pick-up station and storing station can be optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple cam elements work together in a coordinated manner to perform multiple functions: the first cam element moves pick-up members to an intermediate position, the second cam element adjusts their spacing, and the third cam element positions them at the final destination. This multi-functional cam system enables variable distance arrangement of pick-up members while using a modular structure that can be adapted to different product transfer requirements without proportionally increasing complexity
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 cam device enhances the travel range and compactness of pick-up members between configurations, improving the efficiency of product transfer and packaging by allowing greater axial movement and facilitating easy installation and replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a cam device (34) for a pick-up head (1) provided with pick-up members (20a-20e) arranged side by side and at a variable distance from one another along a horizontal direction (19)
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating cam device for a pick-up head with pick-up members arranged side by side and at a variable distance. The device extends along a horizontal axis an has a first cam and at least a second cam, which extend around the horizontal axis, are suitable to be engaged by tappet elements carried by a first and a second pick-up member, respectively, and at least partly have a sloped or spiral shape for causing a translation of the tappet elements parallel to the horizontal axis in response to a rotation of the first and second cams about the horizontal axis; the second cam is movable in respect to the first cam along the horizontal axis, at least when the device is installed in the pick-up head and rotates around the horizontal axis.