Capstan-Based Cable Lacing Tape Tensioning With Torque-Triggered Cutting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable lacing tapes require a labor-intensive and time-consuming manual process for tensioning, terminating, and cutting, and existing automated devices are complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a housing, shaft, sliding worm gear, motor, biasing element, and capstan is used to tension, terminate, and cut cable lacing tape, featuring a cutting mechanism that activates upon exceeding a predetermined torque, utilizing a lever and cutting head to efficiently automate the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated knot-tying devices are used to wrap and tie cable lacing tape, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to complicated mechanisms with shuttles, carriage rings, and multiple hooks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complicated shuttle, carriage rings, and multiple hooks from the automated knot-tying mechanism. Instead, it uses a simple rotating capstan with a single lever that pulls the tape through rotation, dramatically simplifying the device while maintaining automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex mechanism to wrap and tie the tape in sequence, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple rotating capstan that pulls the tape through rotation, with the cutting action triggered by the tension itself rather than a separate complex mechanism.
2Device complexity
If manual tensioning and cutting of cable lacing tape is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to labor-intensive and time-consuming processes
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting mechanism is designed to be self-activating through the tensioning process itself. When the capstan rotates and tensions the tape, the lever is automatically pushed by the tensioned tape, which in turn activates the cutting action. The system serves itself without requiring separate complex control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If a simple capstan rotation mechanism is used for tensioning, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision over cutting activation may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism provides inherent feedback control. As the capstan rotates and tensions the tape, the lever is pushed by the tensioned tape itself. When the predetermined tension is reached, the lever automatically moves to activate the cutting mechanism. This feedback loop ensures precise cutting activation based on actual tension conditions without requiring complex sensors or controls.
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 apparatus efficiently automates the tensioning, terminating, and cutting of cable lacing tape, reducing manual labor and complexity, while ensuring secure and precise knot formation.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to exert a biasing force on the sliding worm gear
Implementation Method 2
a motor coupled proximate the second end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft
Implementation Method 3
The capstan may comprise a gear coupled to the sliding worm gear, where the sliding worm gear may be configured to translate relative to the gear when the biasing force of the biasing element is exceeded
Implementation Method 4
The cutting mechanism may comprise a lever and a cutting head, where the lever is configured to rotate the cutting head to cut the lacing tape when the lever is engaged by the translation of the sliding worm gear
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for tensioning, terminating and cutting a cable lacing tape includes a housing, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a sliding worm gear coupled proximate the first end of the shaft, and a motor coupled proximate the second end of the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft. The apparatus also includes a biasing element coupled to the shaft between the sliding worm gear and the motor to exert a biasing force on the sliding worm gear and a capstan rotatably engaged to the sliding worm gear. In addition, the apparatus includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut the lacing tape when a predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded. The biasing force is configured to prevent translation of the sliding worm gear until the predetermined torque on the capstan is exceeded and the translation of the sliding worm gear activates the cutting mechanism.