Connector Lever Assembly Identification for Flexible Mold Configurations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration of molds for connector manufacturing is complex, and the process of confirming and assembling suitable inserts for different connector types increases time and labor in the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a base member, an assembly member with multiple assembly modes, base identifiers on the base member, and assembly identifiers on the assembly member, allowing for simplified manufacturing by eliminating the need for multiple molds and facilitating easy confirmation of assembly mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inserts corresponding to different product numbers are used to manufacture different connector types, then different connector configurations can be produced, but the mold configuration becomes complicated and time and labor increase in the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
A single mold body is designed to manufacture multiple types of connectors by accommodating different assembly members (such as levers) that can be assembled in different orientations. The mold includes a mold body with a mold cavity and multiple inserts that can be positioned to create different assembly modes, allowing one mold to produce connectors with various lever orientations without requiring separate molds for each configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into a base member and an assembly member (such as a lever) that can be assembled in different modes. The mold is segmented into a mold body and multiple inserts, where each insert corresponds to a different assembly mode. This segmentation allows flexible combination to produce different connector types from a single mold
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inserts corresponding to different product numbers are used to manufacture different connector types, then different connector configurations can be produced, but time and labor increase due to the need to confirm and assemble suitable inserts
Solution Approach 1:
Assembly identifiers are pre-disposed on the assembly members and base identifiers are pre-disposed on the base member such that they align to form complete product numbers when the assembly member is correctly assembled with the base member. This preliminary arrangement of identifiers allows workers to quickly verify the correct assembly mode without time-consuming confirmation processes, as the identifiers automatically indicate when the correct configuration is achieved
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inserts corresponding to different product numbers are used to manufacture different connector types, then different connector configurations can be produced, but labor increases due to the need to confirm and assemble suitable inserts
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly members and base members are designed with self-identifying markers (assembly identifiers and base identifiers) that automatically indicate when they are correctly assembled together. The identifiers on the assembly member and base member align to form a complete product number, allowing the assembly process to self-verify correctness without requiring additional manual confirmation or complex mold configurations for each product type
Data Source
AI summary
A connector 1 includes a housing 10, a lever 40 assemblable with the housing 10 in a plurality of assembly modes, a base identifier 37A, 37B disposed on the housing 10 and a plurality of assembly identifiers 52A, 52B, 62A and 62B disposed on the lever 40 and respectively corresponding to the plurality of assembly modes of the lever 40. With the lever 40 assembled with the housing 10, the base identifier 37A, 37B and the assembly identifier 52A, 52B, 62A, 62B corresponding to the assembly mode of the lever are adjacent to each other to configure one of a plurality of identifiers M1, M2 corresponding to the assembly mode.