Workpiece Positioning with Deceleration Clamping for Fast CNC Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CNC-controlled machine tools face challenges in optimizing machining time and cost efficiency due to limitations in workpiece conveyance and positioning, leading to inefficiencies in processing speed and feed rates.
Innovation Solution
A device for positioning workpieces in a machine tool, incorporating a deceleration and acceleration mechanism to rapidly convey, position, and remove workpieces using a deceleration device at the leading edge and acceleration device at the trailing edge, synchronized with the conveyor movement, ensuring precise clamping and preventing slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workpieces are conveyed at high speed through the working area, then productivity increases, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying system is segmented into distinct functional zones: high-speed conveying section, deceleration section with clamping device, machining section, and acceleration section. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize for its specific function - high-speed transport in the conveying section and precise positioning in the deceleration section, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device performs preliminary positioning action by clamping the workpiece before it enters the machining area. This preliminary clamping ensures the workpiece is securely positioned in advance, allowing high-speed conveying to occur without compromising positioning precision during the critical machining phase.
2Productivity
If deceleration distance is shortened to increase throughput, then productivity improves, but workpiece slippage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device is activated in advance during the deceleration process, before the workpiece comes to a complete stop. This preliminary clamping action prevents slippage that would occur during strong deceleration, allowing the deceleration distance to be shortened without compromising workpiece stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device applies a counteracting force to prevent the harmful effect of slippage during deceleration. By clamping the workpiece before and during deceleration, the system counteracts the tendency of the workpiece to slip on the conveying surface, maintaining reliability even with shortened deceleration distances.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional positioning stops are added to improve positioning accuracy, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device serves multiple functions: it acts as both a positioning element and a clamping element, and also serves as a support during machining. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning stops and additional clamping devices, achieving high positioning accuracy without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning and clamping functions are merged into a single integrated clamping device. Instead of having separate positioning stops and clamping mechanisms, the invention combines these functions into one device that performs both positioning and securing of the workpiece, reducing the total number of components while maintaining precision.
Data Source
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Figure 10~11
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for positioning workpieces (11) in a working area of a processing machine (20), in particular a woodworking machine, comprising: a conveying device (12) for bringing about a conveying movement of a workpiece (11) to be processed, a deceleration device (13) which is configured to decelerate the workpiece (11) from a conveying speed of the conveying movement to standstill or to a low conveying speed at which a processing operation can be carried out, and/or an acceleration device (17) which is configured to remove the workpiece (11) from the working area by accelerating it from standstill or from the low conveying speed back to the conveying speed of the conveying movement, in particular the original conveying speed.