Flexible Material Tensioning With Force Feedback for Precise Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to maintain a consistent tension on flexible materials during mounting, which is crucial in applications like biomedical engineering and robotic surgery, where deviations can have detrimental effects.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a boom arm, main plate, plunger assembly, support members, and force measurement device that allows for the application, maintenance, and measurement of tension on flexible materials, using grippers and a lead screw mechanism to adjust tension and a force measurement device to ensure accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual tensioning methods are used, then the mounting process is simple, but the tension consistency and precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A force measurement device is introduced as an intermediary component between the plunger assembly and the support members. This device provides real-time feedback on the tension applied to the flexible material, enabling precise control and consistent tension maintenance throughout the mounting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The force measurement device creates a feedback loop that monitors the tension force and allows for adjustments to be made. The system can detect deviations from the desired tension level and correct them, ensuring high tension consistency and precision in the mounting process.
2Reliability
If tension is applied during mounting, then the material is properly positioned, but maintaining constant tension becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The force measurement device enables the system to self-monitor and self-adjust the tension force. By providing real-time feedback on the applied force, the system can automatically maintain the desired tension level without requiring constant manual intervention, thereby improving reliability while keeping operation relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If high tension precision is required, then mounting accuracy improves, but the time to achieve and verify tension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual trial-and-error process of achieving tension is replaced with a mechanical measurement system. The force measurement device provides immediate, objective feedback on the tension level, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual verification and adjustment cycles, thus maintaining high tension accuracy while improving mounting throughput.
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 precise tension application and maintenance on flexible materials, ensuring high throughput with minimal deviation, suitable for applications requiring high accuracy and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
the plunger assembly comprises a lead screw extending through the fixed portion and rotatably coupled to the fixed portion and the travel element is threadedly coupled to the lead screw. In some examples, rotation of the lead screw results in motion of the travel element axially in the first direction.
Implementation Method 2
In some examples the force measurement device is a spring scale.
Implementation Method 3
a roller holder is coupled to a distal end portion of the travel element, wherein the roller holder comprises one or more rollers rotatably coupled to the roller holder
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for applying tension to flexible lengths of material which can enable the user to pick up a flexible length of material, apply a specified tension, hold the material at that tension, and then mount the material on a surface without a change in the applied tension. The apparatus can include a boom arm and a main plate, where the main plate comprises a plunger assembly, a first support member, a second support member, and a force measurement device.