Bending Tool Safety Device Linear Coupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bending tools with short bending edge lengths face challenges in designing a safety device that allows for quick and convenient tool changes while ensuring reliable unlocking, as existing designs with rotating bodies and pivoting lever elements require significant space and are not feasible for these tools.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a coupling means that minimizes the number of components required for movement coupling between the actuating element and the locking element, using a coupling element that transmits movement linearly and is adjustable to allow unlocking from both sides, reducing the installation space and enabling easy actuation regardless of the tool's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotating body and pivoting lever element are used to couple the actuating element to the locking element, then the unlocking function is reliable and accessible from opposite side surfaces, but the space requirement becomes too large for bending tools with short bending edge length
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means is divided into multiple functional components: a first component with a first control surface that contacts the actuating element, a second component with a second control surface that contacts the locking element, and optionally a third component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing the overall space requirement compared to a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling means transmits movement primarily through linear displacement in one dimension rather than requiring rotational movement in multiple dimensions. The first and second control surfaces are oriented at angles to the movement direction, converting linear actuating element movement into linear locking element movement through geometric relationships, thereby reducing the space needed for the coupling mechanism.
2Reliability
If multiple components are used for movement coupling between the actuating element and the locking element, then the unlocking function is reliable, but the number of components and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means is divided into multiple functional components: a first component with a first control surface that contacts the actuating element, a second component with a second control surface that contacts the locking element, and optionally a third component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing the overall space requirement compared to a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling components are designed to be nested or closely integrated within the tool body, with the first and second components positioned adjacent to each other and the third component (when present) integrating with the existing structure. This nesting minimizes the overall space occupied by the coupling mechanism while maintaining all necessary functional interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bending tool (1) for inserting into a tool receptacle (13), comprising a tool body (3), a bolt element (6), which is adjustable therein, for securing the bending tool (1) in the tool receptacle (13), two actuating surfaces (8, 11) which are accessible from opposite lateral surfaces (9, 10) on the tool body (3) and are arranged on at least one actuating element (7) which is adjustable between a basic position (25) corresponding to the locking position (15) of the bolt element (6) and an actuating position (27) corresponding to the unlocking position (20) of the bolt element (6), and wherein an adjustment of the actuating element (7) is converted into a movement of the bolt element (6) by means of a coupling means (21). In this case, the coupling means (21) extends from the actuating element (7) to the bolt element (6) and comes into contact with a transmission surface (30) on the actuating element (7) and a contact surface (32) on the bolt element (6), and furthermore the coupling means (21) is guided in a displaceable manner in the tool body (3) between the actuating element (7) and the bolt element (6) in the spacing direction between the actuating element (7) and the bolt element (6).