Clinch Joining Head With Coupled Base Motion for Faster Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for clinch joining, such as joining tongs, face challenges with free-moving issues and critical cycle times, particularly due to long introduction or approach times and free-moving times away from the component.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a base member that is movable relative to a retention portion via a bearing location, with a control device that couples the movement of a linearly movable actuation element to the base member, allowing for optimized movement and compensation movements during the clinching process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the joining tongs are designed with a fixed base member, then the structural stability is improved, but the cycle time increases due to long approach and free-moving times
Solution Approach 1:
The base member is designed to be movable relative to the retention portion via a bearing location, allowing it to dynamically adjust position during the joining cycle. This dynamic capability enables the base member to move together with the stamp and bottom die during approach and joining operations, reducing the overall cycle time while maintaining structural stability when needed.
2Productivity
If the base member is made movable relative to the retention portion, then the cycle time is reduced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control device acts as an intermediary mechanical coupling between the actuation element and the retention portion. This control device automatically coordinates the movement of the movable base member with the actuation element's position along the joining axis, eliminating the need for complex independent control systems while ensuring synchronized motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is constructed to automatically predetermine the position of the base member based on the actuation element's position, making the system self-regulating. The mechanical coupling inherently ensures coordinated movement without requiring external control intervention, reducing control complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the actuation element moves independently, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the time loss increases due to lack of coordinated movement
Solution Approach 1:
The control device merges the movement of the actuation element with the position of the base member through mechanical coupling. This ensures that both components move in a coordinated manner, maintaining manufacturing precision for the joining operation while eliminating time loss that would occur with independent, uncoordinated movements.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for clinch joining a component, including a retaining portion for positioning the device at a holder and a main body with a die unit and a punch unit, the main body being mounted on the retaining portion by a bearing point. A drive unit reversibly drives a linearly movable actuating element coupled to a punch or to a die element, along a joining axis of the device to act on the component present between the punch unit and the die unit. The main body moves relative to the retaining portion at the bearing point. A control apparatus between the actuating element and the retaining portion positions the main body relative to the retaining portion in accordance with the position of the actuating element along the joining axis as a result of the driven movement of the actuating element.