Bending Tool Contactless Sensor for Measuring Element Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bending tools face challenges in reliably identifying measuring elements due to interference from contamination in electrical contact systems, particularly under harsh operating conditions, leading to inaccurate measurement evaluations.

Innovation Solution

A bending tool with a measuring element and an element holder featuring a contactless sensor arrangement for detecting information from an information carrier, such as a permanent magnet or optically readable data, allowing for reliable identification of the measuring element without mechanical contact, using Hall sensors, optoelectronic sensors, or RFID technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical contact systems are used for identifying measuring elements, then identification can be achieved through resistance measurement, but contamination under harsh operating conditions causes unreliable identification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification reliabilityVSAvoidcontact contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical contact-based resistance measurement system with a contactless identification system. Measuring elements are equipped with optical identifiers (colored surfaces, reflective surfaces, or transparent surfaces with patterns) that can be detected without physical contact, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of contact contamination while maintaining reliable identification capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color changes and optical properties as the basis for identification. Different measuring elements are assigned different colors, reflective properties, or transparency levels, which are detected by optical sensors without requiring electrical contact. This approach completely avoids the contamination issue associated with electrical contacts while providing reliable differentiation between various measuring elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If SMD resistors are attached to small measuring elements for identification, then identification is possible, but the resistance measurement is still subject to contact contamination interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasuring element identificationVSAvoidmeasurement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical resistance-based identification method with an optical identification method. Instead of using SMD resistors that require electrical contact for measurement, the patent uses optical identifiers (colors, reflective surfaces, transparent patterns) that can be detected without contact, thereby maintaining adaptability for identifying various measuring elements while eliminating the reliability issue caused by contact contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies color coding and optical property variations to measuring elements for identification purposes. Different colors, reflective characteristics, or transparent patterns are assigned to different measuring elements, allowing for versatile identification without requiring electrical contacts. This approach maintains the ability to identify various measuring element types while ensuring measurement reliability by avoiding contact-based detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures accurate and reliable identification of measuring elements, reducing measurement errors and allowing for non-contact data transmission, even on small measuring elements, under various conditions.

Implementation Method 1

One possible embodiment of the bending tool consists in the information carrier comprising at least one permanent magnet and the sensor arrangement comprising at least one Hall sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

the sensor arrangement comprising at least one optoelectronic sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2271446B1Bending tool having measuring element

Publication Date: 2012.08.29 TRUMPF MASCHEN AUSTRIA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a bending tool (14), comprising a measuring element (21) and an element holder (18) for the detachable connection of the measuring element (21) to the bending tool (14), characterized in that the measuring element (21) has an information carrier (30) and that on the bending tool (14), particularly on the element holder (18), a non-contact sensor arrangement (32) is disposed for detecting at least one piece of information contained in the information carrier (30), particularly a permanent identification characteristic (31) of the measuring element (21).