Vibratory Support Surface for Sensorless Parts Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vibratory devices for industrial applications, such as parts feeding and orientation, require a large number of individually controllable actuators and are limited in generating force fields that can include sources and sinks, restricting their ability to manipulate parts without sensors or achieve certain trajectories.
Innovation Solution
The use of periodic vibratory motion with rotational components out of the horizontal plane on a support surface, allowing for the creation of a broad class of force fields, including sinks, sources, and spiral patterns, by altering effective gravity in a position- and time-dependent manner, enabling sensorless manipulation and alignment of parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of individually controllable actuators are used to create flexible force fields, then the ability to manipulate parts without sensors and achieve certain trajectories is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple actuator functions into a single support surface that can vibrate in multiple degrees of freedom. Instead of using many individually controllable actuators, the invention uses one multi-DOF vibratory support surface that integrates the functionality of multiple actuators, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to create diverse force fields for sensorless manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously by vibrating in different degrees of freedom. A single support surface can generate various force field patterns (including sinks, sources, and spiral patterns) by adjusting its vibrational modes, making it a universal manipulator that replaces the need for multiple specialized actuators
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotational vibratory motion out of the horizontal plane is applied to the support surface, then the ability to create force fields with sources and sinks is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic vibrational motion of the support surface in multiple degrees of freedom, including rotational components out of the horizontal plane. By dynamically adjusting the vibrational parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase) of the support surface, the system can create time-varying force fields with sources and sinks, enabling sensorless manipulation without requiring complex static mechanical structures
3Adaptability or versatility
If periodic vibratory motion with rotational components is used to alter effective gravity, then the ability to generate diverse force fields is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic vibratory motion of the support surface to create time-varying force fields. By applying periodic excitation in multiple degrees of freedom, the system generates diverse force field patterns (including sinks, sources, and spiral patterns) that enable sensorless manipulation. The periodic nature of the motion allows for efficient energy utilization through resonance and cyclic loading, reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous static forces
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
This approach allows for efficient parts sorting, singulation, feeding, and transport without sensors, reducing configuration uncertainty and enabling vision-based control of part trajectories, which is not possible with existing technologies or requires fewer actuators.
Implementation Method 1
vibratory motions of a flat horizontal part support plate, using only rotations and translations in a horizontal plane, can generate frictional force fields on the surface of the plate
Implementation Method 2
part support surface is subjected to periodic (vibratory) motion, including rotational motion out of the horizontal plane
Implementation Method 3
imparting vibratory rotation motion to the support member, wherein the vibratory motion includes at least a rotational vibratory component about one or more axes not aligned (out-of-alignment) with the gravity vector
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for imparting movement to one or more articles includes placing the one or more articles on a surface of a support member and imparting vibratory motion to the support member by vibrating actutators connected to the support member wherein the vibratory motion includes at least a rotational vibratory component about one or more axes out-of-alignment with the gravity vector to produce effective force fields on the surface.