Workholding Force Adjustment for Uniform Clamp Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing holding systems for workpieces lack the ability to dynamically adjust the holding force to maintain a uniform and reliable grip, leading to potential processing errors and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A stop system with a holder arrangement that includes existing brackets and a compensation mechanism to quantify changes in the holder force. This system adapts the holding force of new or replacement holders to match the existing brackets, ensuring a homogeneous and uniform holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holding force of existing holding devices is not monitored and adjusted, then the system structure remains simple, but the holding force becomes non-uniform leading to processing errors and increased maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of each holding device's holding force during installation or maintenance. This pre-measured data is stored and used as a reference for future adjustments, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring while maintaining uniformity. The preliminary action captures the initial state of each device, allowing the control unit to compensate for variations without adding complex real-time sensing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses stored characterization data of existing holding devices to automatically adjust the holding force of new or replacement devices. This feedback mechanism compares the new device's performance against the established reference values and applies corrective adjustments, ensuring uniform holding force across all devices without requiring continuous physical monitoring of each device's actual force output.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of holding force is performed, then the system remains simple, but processing quality decreases due to non-uniform holding force
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service adjustment where the control unit automatically configures the holding force of new or replacement holding devices based on stored characterization data from existing devices. The automated process eliminates manual intervention entirely - the system identifies the new device, retrieves reference values, calculates appropriate adjustment parameters, and applies the adjustments without human involvement, ensuring both high precision and operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If holding force changes due to aging and wear are not compensated, then maintenance frequency can be reduced, but processing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of each holding device's holding force during installation or maintenance. This pre-measured data is stored and used as a reference for future adjustments, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring while maintaining uniformity. The preliminary action captures the initial state of each device, allowing the control unit to compensate for variations without adding complex real-time sensing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the holding force parameters of individual devices based on their characterization data and operational status. By changing the control parameters (such as actuator force, gripper pressure, or engagement position) for each device according to its specific characteristics and wear level, the system maintains uniform holding force across all devices even as they age, thereby preserving processing reliability without increasing maintenance frequency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a holding system (1) for temporarily holding a workpiece, comprising a holding arrangement (10) having at least one or more existing holding devices (11 ... 14) to hold a workpiece with a holding force of the respective holding device (11 ... 14), a detection means (20) configured to quantify a change in the holding force of the existing holding devices (11 ... 14), and an adjustment means (30) configured to adjust the holding force of a further holding device (15) on the basis of the quantified change.