Preformed Electrical Bar Conductor Insertion Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preforming electrical bar conductors require multiple steps and different work surfaces, making the process inefficient and prone to errors, as they need to be rotated and aligned for insertion into twisting devices, which complicates operations like cutting and peeling.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus that includes a supply device, transfer device, and insertion device to rotate and align preformed electrical bar conductors from a horizontal to a vertical position for efficient insertion into twisting devices, using a combination of rotary and translational motion to guide the conductors into pockets without releasing them until fully inserted, ensuring precision and speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If preforming operations are performed on multiple different work surfaces, then various operations like cutting and peeling can be performed, but the process becomes inefficient and complicated requiring rotation and realignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to perform multiple preforming operationsVSAvoidcomplexity of multiple work surfaces and rotation operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines cutting, peeling, and preforming operations into a single integrated work surface. The apparatus performs all these operations sequentially on the same horizontal plane, eliminating the need to transfer conductors between multiple work surfaces and reducing alignment complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single work surface is designed to perform multiple functions: cutting the conductor, peeling the insulation, and preforming the conductor shape. This universal work surface replaces multiple specialized work surfaces, simplifying the overall process while maintaining operational versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If conductors are rotated from horizontal to vertical position for insertion, then they can be inserted into twisting device pockets, but the insertion process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of conductor insertionVSAvoidtime for rotation and alignment operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the conductor from horizontal to vertical position before insertion, the apparatus inverts the approach by maintaining the conductor horizontally throughout preforming operations and inserting it directly into the twisting device pockets without rotation, thereby eliminating time-consuming alignment steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor is preformed, cut, and peeled while in horizontal position, with all necessary preparations completed before insertion. This preliminary action on the same work surface eliminates the need for subsequent rotation and realignment operations during insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If conductors are released during transfer between work surfaces, then flexibility in handling is improved, but the risk of misalignment and errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in conductor handlingVSAvoidprecision of conductor alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By merging all preforming operations onto a single work surface, the conductor remains continuously supported and guided throughout the entire process. This eliminates the release and repositioning steps that occur when transferring between multiple work surfaces, thereby maintaining both handling flexibility and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9015929B2Apparatus and method for inserting preformed electrical bar conductors in a twisting device

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 TECNOMATIC

AI summary

An apparatus for inserting a preformed electrical bar conductor into a twisting device of the conductor, the apparatus comprising: a supply device that arranges the preformed bar conductor into a supply direction (X-X), the preformed bar conductor having two rectilinear arms that are parallel to each other and connected to each other by a curved portion; a transfer device that draws the conductor from the supply device into a grip position in which the conductor is arranged along the supply direction (X-X) and rotates it 90 degrees into an insertion position in which the conductor is arranged along an insertion direction (Y-Y), perpendicular to the supply direction (X-X) and parallel to a pocket on the twisting device; and an insertion device that inserts the conductor into the twisting device, the insertion device equipped with thrust means that move the conductor along the insertion direction (Y-Y) until the conductor is at least partially inserted in the pocket.