Vertical Workpiece Loading Through Access Hole for Cleaner Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machining devices face difficulties in loading workpieces into holders with minimal motion of the storage stand and holder, leading to cumbersome operations and potential dust contamination during machining.
Innovation Solution
A loading device with a storage stand and an elevator that moves the transfer device vertically to load workpieces into the holder through an access hole, minimizing the motion of the holder and storage stand, and incorporating a door to prevent dust entry from the machining process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the transporting wheel is rotated to mount workpieces on the rear portion, then workpiece mounting is enabled, but the operation becomes bothersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vertical movement (elevator along Z-axis) to complement the horizontal movement (workpiece slide along X-axis). The elevator moves the workpiece holder vertically to access different levels of the storage stand, while the workpiece slide moves horizontally. This two-dimensional coordination eliminates the need for rotating the transporting wheel, making workpiece mounting straightforward and time-efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a workpiece holder as an intermediary component between the storage stand and the machining device. The holder can be vertically positioned by the elevator and horizontally moved by the workpiece slide, serving as a mediator that simplifies the workpiece transfer process. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the complex rotation operation of the transporting wheel while enabling efficient workpiece access and mounting.
2Productivity
If the workpiece slide moves the clamping device between main unit and workpiece magazine unit, then workpiece loading is enabled, but the motion range increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the workpiece transfer function into two independent segments: the workpiece slide for horizontal movement along the X-axis, and the elevator for vertical movement along the Z-axis. Each component has a dedicated, simple motion function rather than requiring a complex multi-axis mechanism. This segmentation reduces device complexity while maintaining high productivity through coordinated operation of the two simplified mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the storage stand and holder are minimized in motion, then machining precision is improved, but the loading mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece holder serves as an intermediary that decouples the loading mechanism from the machining precision requirements. The holder can be positioned by the elevator and workpiece slide without requiring the main machining unit to move extensively. This intermediary approach allows the storage stand and holder to have minimal motion during machining while still enabling efficient loading through the separate positioning mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
To make it possible to load workpieces from a storage stand into a workpiece holder even when the motion of the storage stand that stores a plurality of workpieces and the motion of the workpiece holder disposed in a machining device unit are minimized. It includes a loading device 3, a storage stand 55 for storing a plurality of workpieces 8 aligned vertically, a transfer device 70, and an elevator 60 for moving the transfer device 70 up and down. The elevator 60 moves the transfer device 70 to a level of one workpiece 8 among a plurality of workpieces 8, the transfer device 70 pulls out the workpiece 8 from the storage stand 55, the elevator 60 moves the transfer device 70 to a level of an access hole for transfer 12a, and the transfer device 70 loads the workpiece 8 into a holder 48 through the access hole for transfer 12a.