Floating Punch Assembly for Compact Plastic Deformation Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools for plastic deformation require large and heavy feedback elements to manage reaction forces, making them incompatible with automatic piece transfer machines that need compact spaces for multiple processing stations.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a floating element that supports punches to absorb reaction forces, eliminating the need for ground-discharged feedback elements, allowing for a smaller machine tool that can integrate with automatic transfer systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If large feedback elements are used to discharge reaction forces to the ground, then the punches can exert sufficient compression forces for plastic deformation, but the machine tool size and weight significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first and second punches into a single floating element that moves together as one unit. This combination allows the reaction forces from both punches to be received and canceled by the floating element itself, eliminating the need for separate heavy feedback elements to discharge these forces to the ground, thereby reducing machine tool weight while maintaining sufficient compression force capability
2Force
If large feedback elements are used to discharge reaction forces, then the punches can exert sufficient compression forces, but the machine tool occupies more space making integration with automatic transfer machines incompatible
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the punches into a floating element that self-balances reaction forces, the patent eliminates the need for large external feedback structures, thereby reducing the machine tool's footprint and enabling integration into compact automatic transfer machines with multiple processing stations
3Stability of the object's composition
If heavy feedback and support elements are added to manage reaction forces, then the punches can maintain position under load, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the system by merging the punches into a floating element that inherently balances reaction forces through its design. This eliminates complex feedback mechanisms and support structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining punch position stability under compression loads through the floating element's ability to self-cancel reaction forces
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 apparatus reduces machine size and weight, enabling integration into automatic transfer machines by canceling reaction forces on the floating element, thus allowing for more compact and efficient plastic deformation machining and assembly operations.
Implementation Method 1
the forces exerted by the punches generate opposite reaction forces that are discharged to the ground by means of special elements of feedback and support of the punches
Implementation Method 2
the floating element is configured to receive the reaction forces arising from the operating of the compression forces which, being equal in modulus and orientation but opposite in direction, cancel on the floating element itself
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (1) for mechanical machining by plastic deformation, comprising: - a support unit (2) configured to support a workpiece (P); - a first and a second punch (3, 4) which are opposite and movable to and from the support unit (2) along a direction of action (X-X) to switch between an operating position in which they exert a pair of compression forces (F 1, F2) adapted to plastically deform the workpiece (P) and a resting position in which they are spaced apart from the support unit (2), said pair of compression forces (F 1, F2) generating a pair of reaction forces (R1, R2) opposite to themselves; - actuation means (5) adapted to control the movement of the first and the second punch (3, 4) to and from the support unit (2) along a direction of action (X-X); - a floating element (6) adapted to support the first and the second punch (3, 4) from opposite sides of the support unit (2) along the direction of action (X-X) and configured to receive said reaction forces (R1, R2).