Workpiece Support Rod Adjustment for Curved Surface Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece support systems require complex and costly configurations with multiple drive parts and transmission mechanisms to adjust the extended/retracted length and orientation of rods, leading to increased operational time and decreased positional accuracy when supporting workpieces with varying curvatures.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece support system with extendable and retractable rods, a holder, and a position adjustment device that uses shape data to control the rod's position and orientation, eliminating the need for drive devices and transmission mechanisms by employing a lock mechanism to maintain the extended/retracted position and a rotary table for adjusting orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of each rod is performed, then the support device can accommodate different workpiece curvatures, but the operation time and labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The position adjustment device pre-calculates and determines the optimal extended/retracted length for each rod based on the workpiece curvature data before adjustment begins. This preliminary determination eliminates the need for time-consuming trial-and-error manual adjustments, as the system knows in advance the exact position each rod should achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated position adjustment device that uses computational algorithms to calculate rod positions and controls their movement. This substitution of manual operation with an automated control system dramatically reduces adjustment time while maintaining adaptability to various workpiece curvatures.
2Extent of automation
If drive parts and transmission mechanisms are added to each rod for automatic control, then adjustment automation is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the control functions for all rods into a single centralized position adjustment device rather than providing separate drive mechanisms for each rod. This consolidation approach achieves automation while significantly reducing overall system complexity, as one control unit manages multiple rods through coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The position adjustment device serves as a universal control system that can manage and adjust all rods simultaneously based on workpiece geometry requirements. This multi-functional device replaces multiple specialized drive mechanisms, achieving automation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more rods are added to support different curvatures, then the adaptability improves, but the number of cables and control panels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The position adjustment device is designed as a universal control system capable of managing any number of rods through a single integrated interface. This multi-functional capability allows the system to accommodate various workpiece curvatures by adjusting different combinations of rods without requiring separate control systems for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves adaptability to different curvatures by dynamically changing the extended/retracted length parameters of individual rods rather than adding more rods or control systems. The position adjustment device manages these parameter changes efficiently, maintaining system simplicity while providing versatile support capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece support system includes: a plurality of rods that are extendable and retractable in an axial direction; a holder rotatably placed in an upper end portion of each of the rods, to hold a workpiece; a first lock part that keeps an extended/retracted position of the rod in the axial direction; and a position adjustment device including a hand portion configured to hold the rod or the holder, to perform position control of the hand portion. The position adjustment device moves the hand portion, to extend and retract the rod, based on shape data of the workpiece that is recorded in advance, in a state where the rod or the holder is held by the hand portion, and the first lock part keeps the extended/retracted position of the rod extended and retracted by the position adjustment device.