Workpiece Loading Mechanism With Elevator Transfer and Dust Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machining devices face difficulties in loading workpieces into holders with minimal motion of the storage stand and holder, leading to cumbersome operations and potential dust contamination during machining.
Innovation Solution
A loading device with a storage stand and elevator system that minimizes the motion of the holder and storage stand by using a transfer device to elevate and load workpieces through an access hole, allowing for efficient and dust-sealed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the transporting wheel is rotated to mount workpieces on the rear portion, then workpiece mounting is enabled, but the operation becomes bothersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the transporting wheel to bring workpieces to the loading position, the loading device moves horizontally to approach the storage stand and holder. This inverts the traditional rotational indexing approach into a linear translation approach, simplifying the operator's access to workpieces at any position in the storage stand.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading device is designed to autonomously move between the storage stand and holder positions, automatically loading workpieces without requiring manual rotation of the transporting wheel by the operator. This reduces operational complexity and time loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the workpiece slide moves the clamping device between the main unit and workpiece magazine unit, then workpiece loading is enabled, but the system cannot be used in machining devices where the workpiece slide cannot be used in the main unit
Solution Approach 1:
The loading function is segmented into a separate loading device that operates independently from the main machining unit. The loading device includes its own moving mechanism that functions similarly to the workpiece slide but is dedicated to the loading operation, allowing it to be used even when the main unit's workpiece slide cannot be utilized.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the storage stand and the holder. It provides a dedicated translation mechanism that bridges the gap between these two components, enabling workpiece loading without relying on the main unit's workpiece slide functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rotatable transporting wheel is used for the workpiece magazine unit, then workpiece storage is enabled, but it may be impossible to use in certain machining device designs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a rotatable transporting wheel that indexes workpieces to a loading position, the invention inverts the approach by having the loading device translate horizontally to access workpieces at any position in the storage stand. This eliminates the need for rotational indexing and makes the system compatible with machining devices where rotatable wheels cannot be used.
Data Source
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AI summary
To make it possible to load workpieces from a storage stand into a workpiece holder even when the motion of the storage stand that stores a plurality of workpieces and the motion of the workpiece holder disposed in a machining device unit are minimized. It includes a loading device 3, a storage stand 55 for storing a plurality of workpieces 8 aligned vertically, a transfer device 70, and an elevator 60 for moving the transfer device 70 up and down. The elevator 60 moves the transfer device 70 to a level of one workpiece 8 among a plurality of workpieces 8, the transfer device 70 pulls out the workpiece 8 from the storage stand 55, the elevator 60 moves the transfer device 70 to a level of an access hole for transfer 12a, and the transfer device 70 loads the workpiece 8 into a holder 48 through the access hole for transfer 12a.