Workpiece Support Changeover with Slotted-Guide Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing changeover apparatuses for machining machines, such as laser cutting machines, are costly due to the number of structural components and complex mechanisms, which complicates the process and reduces reliability.
Innovation Solution
A changeover apparatus with a lifting apparatus featuring slotted guides that are horizontally movable, allowing simultaneous actuation of carrier apparatuses between lifting positions, utilizing carrier and running rollers with U-shaped guide contours, and drive elements for synchronized movement, eliminating the need for hydraulic systems and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic cylinders, ball screw drives, or roller chain drives are used for lifting the carrier apparatus, then the lifting function is reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex lifting mechanisms (hydraulic cylinders, ball screw drives, roller chain drives) from the system, replacing them with a simple gravity-based carrier apparatus that moves vertically on guides. This removal of complex components directly reduces device complexity while maintaining reliable lifting function through the inherent stability of guided vertical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical lifting systems with a simplified mechanical approach using a carrier apparatus that moves vertically on guides under its own weight or minimal actuation. The slotted guide mechanism substitutes for complex drive systems, achieving reliable positioning through geometric constraint rather than complex mechanical transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate lifting mechanisms are used for each workpiece support, then individual positioning is precise, but the device complexity and longitudinal extent increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lifting functions into a single carrier apparatus that vertically moves to lift or lower multiple workpiece supports simultaneously. The slotted guide mechanism combines the lifting and positioning functions for all workpiece supports into one integrated system, reducing the number of separate mechanisms while maintaining precise positioning through the vertical movement of the entire carrier assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier apparatus serves multiple functions: it lifts, lowers, and positions multiple workpiece supports simultaneously through a single vertical movement. The slotted guide mechanism provides both lifting and alignment functions in one component, demonstrating multi-functionality that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining precision.
3Reliability
If complex lifting mechanisms with many components are used, then the lifting function is robust, but the cost of the changeover apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive components for the lifting mechanism, such as the carrier apparatus with vertical guides and slotted guides, replacing expensive hydraulic or precision mechanical systems. These simpler components are easier and cheaper to manufacture while providing sufficient robustness for the application through their straightforward design and fewer failure points.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the carrier apparatus is actuated with horizontal movement mechanisms, then the lifting position adjustment is flexible, but the device complexity and longitudinal extent increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the carrier apparatus horizontally to adjust lifting positions, the patent inverts the approach by moving the carrier apparatus vertically on fixed guides. The slotted guides are positioned at different horizontal locations, and vertical movement of the carrier apparatus provides flexible access to different lifting positions without requiring horizontal traversal, thus reducing the longitudinal extent of the mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A changeover apparatus for changing between workpiece supports for a machining machine. The changeover apparatus has a base frame with a carrier apparatus for the workpiece supports, which are vertically movable by the carrier apparatus, with the result that one of the workpiece supports can be transferred into a working plane in which the workpiece support is moved from the carrier apparatus into the machining machine and guided out therefrom. A lifting apparatus acts between the base frame and the carrier apparatus and by way of which the carrier apparatus can be vertically moved relative to the base frame for one workpiece support to take up a first lifting position or a further lifting position in the working plane. The lifting apparatus contains a slotted guide, which movably actuates the carrier apparatus with the workpiece supports together between the first lifting position and the further lifting position.