Workpiece Separation Using Push-Up Clamps for Welded Pallets
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Solution Overview
Problem
As laser beam power increases, the welding strength of workpieces to their supports also increases, making it difficult for existing workpiece separation devices to reliably separate the workpieces from the supports using solely a raising/lowering unit.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece separation device with a raising/lowering unit that includes string-like members, a separation unit with clamps to hold the workpiece edges, and push-up units to receive reaction forces from the pallet, allowing for the reliable separation of workpieces by lifting one edge portion and then the opposite edge portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a raising/lowering unit is used to separate workpieces from pallets, then the workpiece can be lifted from the pallet, but the welding strength between the workpiece and workpiece support increases making separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The separation unit is divided into multiple functional components: first clamp unit, second clamp unit, and push-up unit with pusher. These segmented components work together to address the welding strength issue - the clamp units grip opposite edges of the workpiece while the pusher applies force to break the weld, enabling reliable separation despite increased welding strength
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of simply lifting the workpiece vertically as in conventional devices, this invention applies a pushing force from below through the pusher to break the weld from the workpiece support side. This inverted approach - pushing up from below rather than pulling from above - enables separation even when welding strength is high
2Productivity
If laser beam power is increased to improve processing capability, then processing efficiency increases, but the welding strength between workpiece and workpiece support increases making separation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The separation device is segmented into clamp units and a push-up unit that independently perform gripping and weld-breaking functions. This segmentation allows the device to handle workpieces with varying weld strengths produced by different laser powers, maintaining separation reliability across different productivity levels
Solution Approach 2:
The separation unit can adapt its operation parameters - the clamp units adjust their gripping force and the pusher adjusts its pushing force - to accommodate workpieces produced with different laser beam powers, ensuring reliable separation whether the welding strength is low or high
3Device complexity
If a raising/lowering unit operates solely with raising movement, then the device structure is simple, but it becomes difficult to pull apart welded portions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three functions into one integrated separation unit: the first clamp unit, second clamp unit, and push-up unit with pusher work together as a combined system. This merging allows the device to both grip the workpiece and apply separating force, achieving reliable welded portion separation without requiring multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The push-up unit with pusher applies force from below to break the weld, inverting the conventional approach of pulling from above. This inverted pushing action, combined with the clamping action, creates an effective separation mechanism that doesn't significantly increase device complexity while improving separation reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece separation device includes: a raising/lowering unit from which a plurality of string-like members are hung down in such a way as to be raised and lowered synchronously; a separation unit which is suspended by the plurality of string-like members; a pallet which has a workpiece support on which a rectangular workpiece is placed and is arranged below the separation unit; a first clamp unit which is provided in the separation unit, and holds a first edge portion of the workpiece placed on the workpiece support; a second clamp unit which holds a second edge portion of the workpiece opposite to the first edge portion; and a push-up unit which receives a reaction force from the pallet by pushing a pusher onto the pallet, thereby pushing up the second clamp unit.