Workpiece Positioner With Non-Circular Transfer Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece positioners with a horizontal interchange axis face challenges such as high positioning of the workpiece axis above the floor, making programming, maintenance, and manual operations unsafe and costly, while also requiring additional platforms or ladders, which compromise ergonomics and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A positioning apparatus with a drive arrangement that enables a compound movement of workpiece supports along non-circular paths, allowing simultaneous processing and loading/unloading of workpieces at ergonomic heights, using a single motor to drive the support member through a combination of rotational and translational axes, thus maintaining a compact design and improving safety and ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional platforms or ladders are used to reach the workpiece for programming, then robot reach is maintained, but costs increase and health and safety are endangered
Solution Approach 1:
The compound movement mechanism with non-circular paths allows the workpiece support to traverse through three-dimensional space, achieving both high robot reach and low programming height without requiring external platforms or ladders. The elliptical or figure-eight trajectory enables the same physical structure to serve dual height requirements.
2Device complexity
If a single horizontal interchange axis is used, then the design is simple and compact, but the workpiece axis height cannot be optimized for both loading and processing sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static horizontal interchange axis to a dynamic compound movement system where the workpiece support follows non-circular paths. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the workpiece axis height and position continuously during the movement cycle, optimizing both loading and processing ergonomics without requiring multiple separate mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning apparatus including a base structure; a first workpiece support; a second workpiece support; a support member supporting the first workpiece support and the second workpiece support; and a drive arrangement arranged to drive the support member relative to the base structure from a first position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on a processing side of the base structure and the second workpiece support is positioned on an opposite loading side of the base structure, to a second position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on the loading side and the second workpiece support is positioned on the processing side; wherein the drive arrangement is arranged to drive the first workpiece support along a first path and the second workpiece support along a second path when driving the support member from the first position to the second position, the first and second paths being non-circular.