Gear-Cutting Workpiece Handling With Decoupled Rotary-Linear Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moving systems for gear cutting machines are complex and increase auxiliary process times due to the need for multiple movement units and additional stations, which complicates the movement of workpieces between different positions.
Innovation Solution
A simplified moving system where a single holding unit integrates workpiece movements along multiple paths, decoupling the movement units to reduce inertia and eliminate additional stations, with a preferred embodiment featuring a rotary movement unit and linear movement unit for efficient vertical compensation without requiring separate lifting stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple movement units and additional stations are used to move workpieces between different positions, then the workpiece can be moved between different positions, but the system complexity increases and auxiliary process times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple movement units into a single integrated movement unit that performs both the first movement (along first movement path) and the second movement (along second movement path). This single movement unit replaces what would traditionally require separate movement units and additional stations, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining full workpiece movement capability between different positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single movement unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can move the workpiece along the first movement path to the first position, move it along the second movement path to the second position, and hold the workpiece at intermediate positions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized movement units for each path, reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple movement units are used to move workpieces along different paths, then complete workpiece movement is achieved, but the auxiliary process times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single integrated movement unit enables continuous workpiece movement along both the first and second movement paths without interruption or transfer to additional stations. The movement unit can seamlessly transition between moving the workpiece along different paths, eliminating idle transfer times and reducing auxiliary process times while maintaining complete workpiece movement capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional stations are added to the moving system, then workpiece positioning flexibility is improved, but the system complexity and inertia increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single movement unit is designed with dynamic capability to adjust its movement characteristics along different paths. It can vary its movement parameters (speed, position, orientation) to achieve precise workpiece positioning at multiple locations without requiring additional fixed stations. This dynamic adaptability provides positioning flexibility equivalent to multiple stations while maintaining lower system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a moving system (100) for moving workpieces that are provided for gear cutting on a workpiece spindle (200) and have a workpiece axis of rotation, from a first position (A), taken up while they are being fed, into a third position (C) that differs from the first position by at least a smaller distance between the workpiece axis of rotation and the workpiece spindle axis, having a first movement unit (36, 32, 34) which moves a workpiece from the first position into a second position (B), different from the first and the third position, along a first movement path (AB), and a second movement unit (35) which moves the workpiece from the second position into the third position along a second movement path (BC), wherein the moving system is also designed to move machined workpieces back out of the third position and to hold and move more than one workpiece at the same time, wherein, while it is being moved on the first and on the second movement path, the workpiece is held by one and the same holding unit (10, 10′) that directly holds the workpiece, without a movement caused by the second movement unit entailing a movement of the first movement unit.