Vibratory Bowl Feed Platform for Jam-Free Component Gripping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch component distribution systems in automatic assembly installations are unreliable due to component accumulation and jamming, leading to manual intervention and increased production costs from components not being correctly gripped by the gripping arm, resulting in losses.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a vibrating bowl with an ascending helical ramp and a supply platform connected to the bowl, equipped with a presence detector and sorting/selection device, and an articulated gripping arm, which ensures controlled distribution and orientation of components, minimizing losses and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional vibrating bowl with ramp and feed passage is used, then components can be distributed to the gripping arm, but components accumulate on the ramp or jam in the feed passage causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The supply platform is positioned above or within the vibratory bowl enclosure, allowing components to be oriented and prepared on the platform before being transferred to the gripping arm. This preliminary arrangement prevents accumulation and jamming by ensuring components are properly positioned in advance, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining continuous operation.
2Productivity
If components are not correctly gripped by the gripping arm, then distribution continues, but components fall outside the vibrating bowl causing losses and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
A presence detector is integrated into the supply platform to detect whether a component is correctly positioned for gripping. This feedback mechanism allows the system to verify component presence and orientation before the gripping arm attempts to pick up the component, preventing incorrect gripping and subsequent component loss, thereby maintaining both productivity and reducing waste.
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 system enhances the reliability of component distribution by optimizing sorting and reducing losses and damage through systematic recovery of components on the supply platform, ensuring correct gripping and distribution to the automatic assembly installation.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrating bowl provided with an enclosure having a wall extending all around an axis of revolution of the bowl into which said components are introduced in bulk
Implementation Method 2
an ascending helical ramp extending along an internal face of said wall between a bottom and an upper edge of said vibrating bowl
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a controlled distribution system (1) for components (2), the system (1) comprising: - a vibrating bowl (3) provided with an enclosure (4) having a wall (6) extending all around an axis of revolution of the bowl (3) and into which said components (2) are introduced in bulk, and - an articulated gripping arm (10) provided for ensuring the distribution of said components (2) to said automatic assembly installation (100), the vibrating bowl (3) comprising an ascending helical ramp (5) extending along an inner face of said wall (6) between a bottom and an upper edge (7) of said vibrating bowl (3) constituting an outlet (S) of said ramp (5), said components (2) being capable of traveling along this ramp (5) towards a feeding platform (8), in particular a slide, on which at least one component (2) is disposed in anticipation of its being grasped by the articulated gripping arm (10),said feeding platform (8) being connected to said outlet (S) and extending above or within the enclosure (4) of the vibrating bowl (3).