Interchangeable Workpiece Holder Heads for Parallel Bone Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing NC machining apparatuses for bone members face reduced throughput due to the need for careful and time-consuming attachment and detachment of fragile bone members, necessitating frequent stops during processing.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece holder with a holder head and holder body design that allows for simultaneous holding and processing of multiple workpieces through a chuck unit, support pedestal, arm, and hook mechanism, enabling parallel operations of attaching and detaching workpieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple bone members are machined sequentially with one holder head, then the structure remains simple, but the throughput is reduced due to frequent attachment and detachment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into a holder body and multiple interchangeable holder heads. Each holder head can independently hold a workpiece, and multiple holder heads can be mounted on a single holder body simultaneously. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple workpieces while keeping the overall system structure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder body is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple holder heads with different configurations. The holder body serves multiple functions: supporting multiple holder heads, enabling rotation of retained portions, and facilitating parallel machining operations on different workpieces.
2Ease of operation
If the holder allows easy attachment and detachment of holder heads, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of workpiece holding may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The holder incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism where retained portions can rotate between a locked position (engaging with the holder body) and an unlocked position (disengaged from the holder body). This dynamic design allows easy replacement of holder heads while ensuring secure holding during machining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism uses spring-loaded retained portions that automatically engage with the holder body when a holder head is installed. The springs provide automatic locking without requiring additional manual operations, ensuring both ease of operation and reliable holding.
3Productivity
If multiple holder heads are mounted on one holder body, then the productivity is improved through parallel processing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple holder heads are mounted on the holder body in a nested arrangement where each holder head occupies a specific position around the holder body's rotation axis. The retained portions of different holder heads are arranged at different angular positions, allowing independent rotation and locking of each holder head while sharing the common holder body structure.
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
Improves throughput by allowing simultaneous handling of multiple workpieces, reducing downtime, and maintaining a clean processing environment, particularly suitable for machining biological tissues.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member for biasing the retained portion in a direction away from the chuck unit
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece holder 1 includes a holder head 11 and a holder body 12. The holder head 11 includes a chuck unit 13 for holding a workpiece W, a support pedestal 111 for supporting the chuck unit 13, and a hook 113 provided on a distal end portion of an arm 112 extending from the support pedestal 111. The holder body 12 includes a cylindrical body portion 121, a retained portion 123 that is arranged inside the body portion 121 and rotated around the cylinder axis J1 to be in either a retained state in which the retained portion 123 is retained by the hook 113 on the −Z direction side or in the released state in which retaining by the hook 113 is released, and a disk spring 126 for biasing the retained portion 123 in the −Z direction.