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#191 Design Image Training - 7: Pick and Place Mechanism

Category : Hints on designing
October24, 2014

As the pick and place (P&P) mechanism directly touches the workpiece within the automation device, it must be designed according to features of respective workpieces (structure, materials, movement system, size, etc.).
This is described below in connection with an example of the Bingo Machine.

- The P&P mechanism is designed to conduct processing of "pick" (= take-off) and "place" (= holding).

- Some possible applications of the P&P mechanism are listed below.

Application of the pick and place mechanismExplanations of application
Parts positioning(1)Transfer from the parts feeder to machine's workpiece holder ([Photo 1])
(2)Holding from the conveyer ([Photo 2])
(3)Take-out from the work holder
Pre-processing after posture changeHolding for inversion and direction change ([Photo 3])
Selection(4)Holding for inversion and direction change ([Photo 3])

- For the P&P hand part, repetitive operations are assumed, so processing speed and driving reliability are important.
For easy-to-process workpieces, air-drivenlinear actuator and hand units are often used.
However, fine parts and fragile workpieces must be handled gently and securely by a vacuum chuck ([Photo 2]), and with use of various sensors (vacuum sensor and photoelectric sensor), etc.

[Photo 1] P&P unit of automated bingo machine

[Photo 2]P&P robot for take-off from the conveyer

[Photo 3]P&P part for direction change of a silicon wafer

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