Variable Feed Acceleration for High-Throughput Workpiece Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for processing workpieces, such as those made of wood or plastic, face issues with large space requirements and low throughput due to the need for acceleration of workpieces to processing speed, which can lead to damage and increased production times.
Innovation Solution
A device with a feed unit that allows adjustable feed speed and acceleration, enabling workpieces to be transferred to a conveyor unit at an initial speed, minimizing acceleration distance and optimizing throughput, and featuring multiple feed elements and a circulating conveyor track for adaptable processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If workpieces are fed to the machining center without initial velocity, then the feed unit structure is simple, but the machine dimensions increase and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed unit preliminarily accelerates workpieces to a defined initial velocity before they enter the machining center. This preliminary action reduces the acceleration path required within the machining center, thereby decreasing machine dimensions and increasing throughput without significantly complicating the feed unit structure.
2Productivity
If workpieces are accelerated instantaneously by conveyor chain cams, then throughput increases, but workpiece damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The feed unit employs a dynamic acceleration profile that is continuously adjustable, replacing the rigid instantaneous acceleration by fixed cams. This allows the acceleration to be optimized to minimize workpiece damage while maintaining high throughput, adapting to different workpiece types and processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration profile parameters (magnitude, duration, timing) are made continuously adjustable rather than fixed. This enables optimization of the acceleration process to prevent workpiece damage while maintaining high throughput, allowing adaptation to different workpiece materials and machining conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyor chain runs at constant speed, then the feed unit is simple to control, but the cycle rate cannot be adjusted to workpiece requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The feed unit uses dynamically adjustable parameters including variable chain speed and adjustable cam timing, allowing the cycle rate to be adapted to different workpiece requirements while maintaining straightforward control through a centralized system that manages these dynamic parameters.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for machining workpieces, which preferably consist at least partially of wood, wood-based materials, plastic, or the like, comprising a machining unit for machining the workpieces, a conveying unit for moving the workpieces relative to the machining unit at a conveying speed, and a feed unit for feeding the workpieces to the conveying unit, wherein the feed unit has at least one feed element configured to feed the workpieces to the conveying unit at a feed speed. The device of the present invention is characterized in that the feed speed and/or the acceleration of the feed element to the feed speed is variably adjustable.Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method using such a device, wherein the method comprises conveying the workpieces by means of the feed unit initially at a speed that is lower than the conveying speed of the conveying unit, accelerating the workpieces to a feed speed by means of the feed unit that is essentially equal to the conveying speed of the conveying unit, transferring the workpieces from the feed unit to the conveying unit, and machining the workpieces by means of the machining unit.