Elastically Deformable Bearing Block for Wire Feed Roller Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal wire shaping machines face issues with misalignment and dispersion due to the complexity and inaccuracies in the wire feed station's roller mounting systems, which lead to poor reproducibility and increased part count, causing shear effects and clearance-related misalignments.
Innovation Solution
A wire feed station with grooved rollers supported by a single elastically deformable bearing block unit, where both rollers are driven by an endless transmission screw and wheels, allowing for rotation-deformation to absorb relative movement and reduce the number of parts and clearances, thereby minimizing shear effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple guiding means (columns, guiding blocks) are used to support roller shafts, then the rollers can be mounted with single bearings, but clearances in guiding means generate misalignment and shear effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple guiding functions into a single bearing block that supports both roller shafts. This eliminates the need for separate guiding columns and blocks, reducing the number of parts and clearances while maintaining precise roller alignment through the integrated bearing block structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing block acts as an intermediary element that provides precise positioning for both roller shafts simultaneously. By serving as a common reference structure for both rollers, it eliminates misalignment issues that arise from separate guiding means with cumulative clearances.
2Ease of operation
If swivelling bearings are used for roller shafts, then rollers can move closer together, but misalignment of peripheral grooves causes wire rotation and dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
Both roller shafts are mounted in the same bearing block, creating a rigid connected structure that moves together as one unit. This eliminates the relative misalignment between rollers that occurs with independent swivelling bearings, preventing wire rotation while maintaining the ability to move rollers closer together for clamping.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple guiding means are used for roller shafts, then roller mounting is possible, but the long chain of dimensions reduces guiding accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing block integrates the positioning functions for both roller shafts into a single manufactured component. This eliminates the long chain of dimensional tolerances that would accumulate through multiple separate guiding parts, achieving higher guiding accuracy while maintaining manufacturing flexibility.
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
This configuration enhances the accuracy and compactness of the machine, reduces the chain of dimensions, and increases the dynamics of the wire feeding system, leading to improved reproducibility and reduced part dispersion downstream in the shaping process.
Implementation Method 1
said bearing block being elastically deformable to absorb a relative movement of the rollers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a wire feed station of a wire shaping machine, said station including grooved rollers functioning in pairs and rotating in reverse directions with respect to each other. The wire is clamped between said rollers by these moving closer to one another. Both rollers of the same pair of driving rollers are supported at the front of the same bearing block unit, said bearing block being elastically deformable to absorb a relative movement of the rollers. Preferably, said bearing block also supports an endless transmission screw on which are engaged a couple of transmission wheels coaxial with the driving rollers which they drive into rotation. More particularly, a bearing block is deformed so that a relative movement of the rollers results in a rotation-deformation of the bearing block about the transmission screw axis.