Crimping Press Contact Feed Gripper for Rapid Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crimping press devices require frequent readjustment and are prone to setting errors when switching between different crimp contacts or contact distances, especially due to varying hole patterns and belt widths, leading to increased production costs and inefficiencies in handling small batches.
Innovation Solution
A crimping press with a contact feed system that uses a gripper independent of hole distance and belt width, featuring a belt holder with controllable positioning elements and frictional clamping to advance the contact belt, allowing for easy adaptation to different crimp contacts and belt widths through interchangeable anvil parts, ensuring precise positioning and reduced changeover time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the feed unit is readjusted for different crimp contacts and contact distances, then the device can accommodate various contact types, but the changeover time increases and setting errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The feed unit is divided into modular components: a feed block with multiple feed holes for different contact distances, and interchangeable anvil parts for different contact types. This segmentation allows rapid changeover by simply swapping modules rather than readjusting the entire feed unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed block is designed with universal feed holes that can accommodate multiple contact distances and patterns. The gripper system is positioned independently of hole distance and belt width, making it universally applicable to different contact belt configurations without requiring readjustment.
2Ease of operation
If the feed device uses friction-based advancement, then the contact belt can be easily advanced, but precise positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper pre-clamps the contact belt at a predetermined position before advancement. The friction-based advancement is initiated only after proper clamping is established, ensuring that the belt is securely held and will not slip during the advancement process, thus maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper acts as an intermediary between the drive mechanism and the contact belt. It transfers the driving force through controlled friction while maintaining precise positioning through its clamping action, mediating between the need for easy advancement and precise positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the anvil part is made interchangeable for different contact types, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is segmented into interchangeable parts that can be quickly swapped depending on the contact type being processed. Each anvil part is designed to fit a specific contact configuration, simplifying the overall system by using standardized, replaceable modules rather than a complex adjustable mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Each interchangeable anvil part has specific local characteristics optimized for a particular contact type. The localization of functionality in each anvil part allows for simple, dedicated designs rather than a complex universal mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
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 efficient processing of contact belts with varying distances and widths, minimizing changeover time and setting errors, thereby reducing production costs and improving efficiency, especially in handling small production batches.
Implementation Method 1
a gripper holding the contact belt (12) in place by means of pressure plates (64) forming a frictional connection with the contact belt (12) and advancing it
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Crimping press has a contact feeder (13) which slides a contact belt (12) carrying crimp contact (19) towards anvil exchange workpiece (15). The contact feeder has a grip arm (30) independent of the feed hole distance and width of the contact belt, which slides the contact belt towards anvil exchange workpiece. A belt holder is provided for fixing the contact belt at the anvil exchange workpiece. An independent claim is also included for method for the operation of a crimping press.