Agricultural Connector Operating Lever Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural connectors experience loosening and damage during transport, leading to inefficient and unreliable connections between plant stems and supports, with issues such as band loosening and tearing, and difficulty in connecting retaining cords and locking rings.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a securing part to stabilize the operating lever, guide grooves for retaining cords, and an elastic pulling needle design to prevent band loosening and tearing, allowing for secure and precise connections between plant stems and supports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating lever is not secured during transport, then the connector can be easily operated, but the operating lever fluctuates causing band loosening and connector damage
Solution Approach 1:
The operating lever is designed with a movable locking mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states. During transport, the locking mechanism secures the lever in a fixed position. During operation, the lever can be unlocked and manipulated freely. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between operational ease and transport stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism prevents unwanted lever movement before transport issues can occur. By securing the lever in advance during transport, the system preemptively counteracts the harmful fluctuation that would otherwise cause band loosening and connector damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the band is pulled in precisely by the pull needle, then connection accuracy improves, but the feed part of the band is torn during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The pull needle is designed with a tapered leading edge and flexible construction that cushions the insertion process. The tapered edge distributes insertion force over a larger area, preventing concentrated stress that would tear the band feed part. The flexibility allows the needle to bend slightly during insertion, absorbing impact forces while maintaining precise pulling capability.
3Volume of moving object
If the connector is made compact for easy handling, then portability improves, but the guide grooves for retaining cords are difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The guide grooves for retaining cords are positioned in a three-dimensional arrangement that utilizes vertical space rather than only horizontal space. This allows the grooves to be accessible from multiple angles, maintaining ease of insertion while keeping the overall connector footprint compact.
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 solution enhances the reliability and efficiency of connector operations by preventing unnecessary loosening, reducing tape consumption, and ensuring secure connections between plant stems and supports, facilitating easier handling and reuse.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure spring for the needle plate in the tape tensioning device and the pressure spring is in close contact with the inner wall of the housing with a support part and further comprises an operation part and a locking part which is snapped onto the pull needle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The agricultural connector comprises a guide part (3), which is formed with a switching iron pin in the inside of a connector body (1). A press plate is provided, which is installed on the lower side in the vertical direction for another switching iron pin. The switching iron pin is inserted in the section area and the holding area of a strip (8) is installed on the outside of a press slot (12).