Cable Tie Straightening for Reliable Hose Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bundling systems for cable ties face reliability issues due to loose cable ties becoming deformed during transport, leading to malfunctions and inefficiencies, especially when using loose cable ties in vibratory sorting units, which result in elevated production and operating costs.
Innovation Solution
A cable-tie straightening device (CTS) with a receiving unit, feed unit, and straightening unit that ensures cable ties are aligned and discharged in a uniform, straight form, utilizing mechanical and pneumatic technologies to move and straighten the cable ties, allowing for efficient integration with existing bundling systems and high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If loose cable ties are used in vibratory sorting units, then operating costs are reduced compared to chains or drum magazines, but reliability deteriorates due to cable ties becoming deformed during transport and incorrect arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a straightening unit that pre-straightens cable ties before they are conveyed to the bundling tool. This preliminary straightening prevents deformation-related malfunctions during subsequent handling and bundling operations, thereby maintaining reliability while continuing to use cost-effective loose cable ties instead of expensive chains or drum magazines
2Device complexity
If loose cable ties are conveyed through vibratory sorting units, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incorrect alignment and deformation of cable ties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a straightening unit as an intermediary component between the vibratory sorting unit and the conveying system. This intermediary device corrects the alignment and straightens deformed cable ties without requiring complex modifications to the existing vibratory sorting mechanism, thus maintaining low device complexity while improving alignment precision
3Device complexity
If cable ties are moved through conveying hoses without straightening, then device complexity remains low, but reliability deteriorates due to stoppages from faults in introducing cable ties into conveying hoses
Solution Approach 1:
The straightening unit performs preliminary straightening of cable ties before they enter the conveying hose, ensuring proper orientation and form. This preliminary action prevents malfunctions during hose introduction, eliminating stoppages while keeping the overall device complexity low by adding only a simple straightening mechanism
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
The CTS improves the reliability of bundling systems by ensuring all cable ties are discharged in a uniform, straight form, reducing stoppages and enhancing the connection to conveying hoses, enabling high-speed operation and efficient supply to multiple cable-tie tools, thus reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a feed unit (3b) for moving the cable tie (7) received from the receiving unit (3a) into the straightening unit (3c), with the cable tie being moved by the feed unit at least with its head, headfirst, into the straightening unit (3c)
Implementation Method 2
The straightening unit (3c) is designed to receive the cable tie (7), in particular to receive it completely, and to guide the strap of the cable tie upon and/or with and/or after the receiving by lateral guide elements and thus to straighten it
Implementation Method 3
the straightening unit is designed to move the cable tie into a discharge unit (3d), the strap tip of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement into the discharge unit (3d)
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a cable-tie straightening device including a receiving unit for receiving a cable tie, a feed unit for moving the cable tie from the receiving unit into a straightening unit, the straightening unit for straightening a strap of the cable tie, and a discharge unit for discharging the cable tie. The cable tie moved by the feed unit with a head of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement. The straightening unit configured to receive the cable tie, guide the strap of the cable tie through guide elements and straighten it, and also to move the cable tie into the discharge unit, with a strap tip of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement.