Workpiece Discharge Device Batch Handling Cycle Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The cycle time for discharging and unloading workpieces from a processing region is longer than the time required to cut out subsequent workpieces, leading to waiting times and reduced automation efficiency, particularly in skeleton-free processing of planar materials.
Innovation Solution
A discharge device with holding elements is positioned in a receiving position for the first workpiece, then moved to a waiting position adjacent the processing region, allowing it to receive subsequent workpieces before moving to an unloading station, thereby reducing the number of movements and cycle times by carrying multiple workpieces at once.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workpieces are discharged individually to the unloading station after each cut, then each workpiece is removed from the processing region, but the cycle time for discharge and unloading becomes longer than the cutting time, causing waiting times and reduced automation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge device is pre-positioned in a receiving position adjacent to the processing region before workpieces are cut. Multiple workpieces are accumulated in this receiving position during the cutting process, so that when discharge occurs, multiple pieces can be moved to the unloading station simultaneously or in batches, rather than one at a time. This preliminary positioning and accumulation eliminates waiting times between individual discharge operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual discharge operations are merged into a single batch discharge operation. Instead of moving each workpiece separately from the processing region to the unloading station, the discharge device accumulates multiple workpieces in a receiving position and then transfers them together, combining several discrete movements into one efficient operation.
2Extent of automation
If the discharge device moves to the unloading station after each workpiece, then individual workpieces are removed, but the number of movements increases and automation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge device remains in a waiting position adjacent to the processing region during the cutting of multiple workpieces, rather than moving to the unloading station after each piece. This preliminary waiting position allows the device to accumulate multiple workpieces before making a single movement to the unloading station, reducing the total number of movements and improving automation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge device maintains a continuous presence in the receiving position during the cutting process, ready to capture each workpiece as it is produced. This continuous positioning ensures that no workpieces are left behind and allows for efficient batch discharge, maintaining continuous useful action rather than interrupting the process with repeated movements to the unloading station.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of discharging workpieces cut from a planar material on a processing machine. A workpiece discharge device has several holding elements to receive and carry respective workpieces. After receiving a cut workpiece, the discharge device is moved to a waiting position outside and adjacent a processing region of the machine, and may then be moved back into the processing region to receive a subsequently cut workpiece before being moved to an unloading station.