Bolt Caulking Device Using Pneumatic Ejection and Inclined Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods cannot efficiently supply and caulk bolts into a progressive mold as a single operation due to the vertical orientation of bolts, which differs from the horizontal posture required for existing caulking techniques.
Innovation Solution
A bolt caulking method and device that uses a nose piece with a vertical hole, a connected pipe for bolt supply, an inclined hole for directional change, and a punch with a central air-ejecting mechanism to drive the bolt into a metal plate while maintaining the bolt's posture using air flow and expandable guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bolts are supplied horizontally like nuts, then supply mechanism can be simplified, but bolt cannot be driven vertically into metal plate
Solution Approach 1:
The bolt supply path transitions from horizontal to vertical through a guide hole with an inclined upper portion. The bolt is supplied horizontally through the pipe, then redirected vertically through the guide hole to reach the driving position, enabling both simplified horizontal supply and vertical driving operations
2Ease of manufacture
If bolt is held by gravity during supply, then supply is simple, but bolt posture cannot be maintained vertically during driving
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic ejection mechanism uses air pressure to eject the bolt from the horizontal supply path into the vertical guide hole, and later uses air flow to hold the bolt vertically during the driving operation, ensuring both simple supply and precise posture control
3Reliability
If two-stage operation (supply then caulk) is used, then each stage can be optimized, but overall productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supply mechanism and caulking operation are merged into a single integrated device. The bolt is supplied through the pipe, redirected through the guide hole, held in position by pneumatic ejection, and immediately driven into the metal plate by the same device, eliminating the need for separate supply and caulking operations
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 the bolt to be caulked into a metal plate in a single operation while maintaining its correct posture, facilitating efficient operation even with increased numbers of bolts.
Implementation Method 1
the bolt is moved within the pipe by negative pressure generated by the air flow ejecting from the central hole of the punch
Implementation Method 2
lowering a punch which ejects air from a central hole within the vertical hole to drive the bolt into a metal plate while holding the bolt at a lower part of the vertical hole by the ejecting air flow
Implementation Method 3
the bolt can be held by openable/closable bolt guides provided at a lower part of the nose piece, and also can be driven into the metal plate by pushing and expanding the bolt guides with lowering of the punch
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a bolt caulking method and a bolt caulking device which ensure supply and caulking of a bolt as a single operation. The method is a bolt caulking method including supplying a bolt into a nose piece having a vertical hole, and lowering a punch from above to drive the bolt into a metal plate. The bolt is supplied through a pipe connected to a side of the nose piece, and dropped into a vertical hole formed in the nose piece along an inclined hole formed at a tip end of the pipe with a head part of the bolt being located on the topside. Thereafter, the punch which ejects air from a central hole is lowered within the vertical hole to drive the bolt into a metal plate while holding the bolt at a lower part of the vertical hole by the ejecting air flow.