Adjustable Connecting Screw for Precise Modular Furniture Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular furniture systems face challenges in achieving precise alignment and adjustment of components due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to uncertainties in the final composition size, which can only be verified during assembly.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable connecting screw mechanism that allows for precise adjustment of the distance between furniture components, enabling calibration to within a tenth of a millimeter, even after assembly, using a grub screw and Allen key operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard connecting screws are used to join furniture bases, then assembly is simple and quick, but manufacturing tolerances accumulate causing misalignment and size uncertainties
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting screw incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the distance between connection points to be modified after assembly. The screw can be rotated to change the position of the connection element, enabling dynamic adjustment of the joint distance to compensate for tolerance accumulation and achieve precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fixed parameter of standard connecting screws into a variable parameter. By allowing the connection distance to be adjusted through screw rotation, the system can adapt to different alignment requirements and compensate for manufacturing variations, transforming a static connection into a tunable one.
2Ease of manufacture
If bases are assembled with standard connecting screws, then assembly process is straightforward, but adjustment after assembly is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting screw is designed with an adjustable connection element that can be repositioned by rotating the screw. This dynamic feature allows the joint distance to be modified even after the bases are assembled, providing post-assembly adjustability while maintaining the simplicity of the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-adjusting through simple screw rotation. The operator can directly manipulate the screw to achieve the desired alignment without requiring additional tools or complex procedures, making the adjustment process as simple as the initial assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bases are combined to achieve desired size, then furniture modularity is maintained, but cumulative tolerances create size uncertainties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the fixed connection distance into an adjustable parameter. By allowing the connecting screw to modify the distance between bases, the system can compensate for cumulative tolerances and achieve precise control over the final composition size, maintaining modular flexibility while ensuring measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable mechanism provides a feedback loop where the operator can observe the alignment and size of the assembled furniture, then adjust the connecting screw to achieve the desired precision. This iterative adjustment process ensures that cumulative tolerances are compensated for in the final assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
The adjustable connecting screw is an innovative device that allows you to connect the adjacent sides of modular furniture and furnishing accessories, and adjust their distance precisely. It solves the problem of production tolerances, guaranteeing a precise final size of the composition. The adjustable connecting screw is made up of a dowel, an abutment, and a grub screw, which can be operated with an Allen key. The main advantages include the possibility of adjusting the bases even after assembly, the compensation of spaces with precision to the tenth of a millimeter and the correction of any out-of-squareness or misalignments. The invention applies to the industry of kit, modular furniture and furnishing accessories, improving the efficiency and quality of assembly.