Blade Nut Grip Locking Mechanism for Automatic Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blade attachment and detachment mechanisms for cutting apparatuses, such as those described in Japanese Patents Laid-open No. 2004-281700 and No. 2007-098536, require complex mechanisms and increased costs due to the need for cylinders to open and close nut grip claws, leading to higher complexity and expense.
Innovation Solution
A blade attachment-detachment assisting apparatus with a nut rotating part that engages with the nut's surface, a grip part to secure the nut, a housing that supports the rotating part, and a lock mechanism to maintain engagement, allowing for automatic attachment and detachment without the need for complex cylinder-based mechanisms, utilizing a biasing part to push the nut rotating part to a protrusion position and a lock mechanism to restrict movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a cylinder-based mechanism is used to open and close the nut grip claw, then the attachment and detachment operation can be automated, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the cylinder component from the mechanism. Instead of using a cylinder to drive the opening and closing of the nut grip claw, the invention uses a spring-loaded structure where the spring (14) directly provides the closing force, and the opening is achieved through rotational movement of the housing (30) that releases the grip. This elimination of the cylinder simplifies the mechanism while maintaining automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring (14) serves as a self-service element that automatically provides the closing force for the nut grip claw without requiring external power sources or control systems. The elastic member continuously stores and releases energy to maintain the grip in a closed state, and the system self-regulates through the interaction between the spring, housing rotation, and grip geometry.
2Extent of automation
If a cylinder-based mechanism is used to open and close the nut grip claw, then the attachment and detachment operation can be automated, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive cylinder component from the design. By replacing it with simpler elements like springs (14), engagement pins (12), and a rotatable housing (30), the manufacturing cost is significantly reduced. These alternative components are easier and cheaper to manufacture while achieving the same automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive, simple components such as elastic members (springs), pins, and basic mechanical linkages instead of expensive pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. These simpler components are not only cheaper to manufacture but also easier to replace if needed, aligning with the principle of using cost-effective solutions.
3Reliability
If the nut rotating part is always engaged with the nut, then secure fixation is maintained, but the attachment and detachment operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic engagement system where the nut rotating part (10) can transition between engaged and disengaged states. The housing (30) rotates to control this engagement: in the first rotational position, the engagement pin (12) engages with the nut to maintain secure fixation; in the second rotational position, the pin disengages to allow easy attachment and detachment. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring (14) is pre-loaded to maintain the engagement pin (12) in a ready-to-engage state. Before the housing rotates to the engagement position, the spring is already compressed and prepared to immediately secure the nut upon engagement. This preliminary preparation ensures smooth and easy attachment operation while maintaining reliable engagement once positioned.
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
Enables automatic and cost-effective attachment and detachment of the nut, reducing the complexity and cost of the mechanism while maintaining secure engagement and detachment operations.
Implementation Method 1
The nut rotating part is fixed to the housing with the intermediary of a biasing part that pushes out the nut rotating part to the protrusion position
Implementation Method 2
The lock mechanism includes a protrusion restricting part by which advancing and retreating of the nut rotating part are restricted through engagement of the nut rotating part with the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A blade attachment-detachment assisting apparatus includes a nut rotating part having an engagement pin that engages with an engagement hole of a nut, a nut grip part that grips an annular groove of the nut, a housing that supports the nut rotating part rotatably by a predetermined angle, and a lock mechanism. The nut rotating part is capable of advancing and retreating, relative to the housing, to a protrusion position and a fixing position at which engagement between the nut grip part and the nut is kept, and is fixed to the housing with the intermediary of a spring. The lock mechanism includes an inside surface by which advancing and retreating of the nut rotating part are restricted through engagement of the nut rotating part with the housing when the housing is rotated in one direction at the fixing position to which the nut rotating part has been pushed.