Magnetic Lift Platform With Slider for Coil Spring Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pocketed spring assembly machines face challenges in efficiently and precisely transferring coil springs to conveyor belts, leading to complexity and unsatisfactory assembly speed or precision.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism using a magnetic lift platform and crank drive to transfer coil springs vertically onto a conveyor belt without rotation, with a slider configured to push the coil springs in the conveying direction, allowing for vertical acceleration greater than gravity and supporting various geometries, thus enhancing transfer reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical gripping and rotation mechanisms are used to transfer coil springs, then the coil springs can be transferred from horizontal to vertical orientation, but the device complexity increases and assembly speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical gripping systems with a magnetic field-based lift platform. The magnetic field directly engages the coil spring to lift and transfer it vertically, eliminating the need for mechanical grippers, clamps, or rotation mechanisms. This substitution of magnetic field for mechanical contact simplifies the device structure while maintaining reliable transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the rotation function from the transfer mechanism. By directly transferring the coil spring in vertical orientation from the winding device to the conveyor belt, the patent eliminates the separate rotation step that would otherwise be required to reorient the spring from horizontal to vertical position, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If complex handling mechanisms are used to transfer and rotate coil springs, then orientation changes can be achieved, but assembly precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic lift platform provides precise vertical transfer of the coil spring without the mechanical tolerances and alignment issues inherent in gripping and rotation mechanisms. The magnetic field maintains consistent engagement and positioning, resulting in improved placement precision on the conveyor belt.
3Productivity
If vertical acceleration exceeding gravity is applied to the lift platform, then transfer speed and efficiency improve, but the magnetic engagement force requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the magnetic field strength parameter to match the acceleration requirements. During high-speed vertical transfer, the magnetic field is intensified to provide both the lifting force and the necessary engagement force to prevent spring detachment under high acceleration, thereby enabling high productivity while maintaining secure engagement.
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 reliable and efficient transfer of coil springs to conveyor belts, reducing complexity and improving assembly speed and precision by eliminating the need for rotation and mechanical gripping, while accommodating different coil spring geometries.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic lift platform (310) configured to engage the coil spring (10) and to transfer the coil spring (10) from a coil winding device (110) to a conveyor belt (210)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A mechanism (300) for transferring coil springs from a coil winding device (110) to a conveyor belt (210) of a pocketed coil assembly machine comprises a magnetic lift platform (310) for engaging a coil spring (10') before being released at an output of the coil winding device (110). Further, the mechanism comprises a drive mechanism (315) for moving the lift platform (310) between the output of the coil winding device (110) and the conveyor belt (210).