Hose Dispensing Carousel for Fast Spool Changeovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency and labor intensity in manufacturing hose assemblies due to the handling of hoses and other flexible materials packaged on spools or reels, which require frequent switching between different hose types, leading to time-consuming changeovers.
Innovation Solution
A hose dispensing carousel system with a rotatable spool support plate and locking mechanism that allows for discrete positioning, combined with a hose guide featuring rotatable bearing surfaces to align and guide hoses for manufacturing operations, facilitating efficient dispensing and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hoses are packaged in bulk on spools or reels, then storage efficiency is improved, but handling difficulty and changeover time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk hose storage is segmented into multiple discrete spools, each mounted on a separate spool axle. This allows individual spools to be independently accessed, removed, and replaced without handling the entire bulk storage system, thereby improving handling ease while maintaining storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool support plate is made rotatable, allowing dynamic repositioning of spools to bring different hose types to the dispensing position. The lock mechanism provides dynamic fixing at discrete positions, enabling quick changeover between different hose types without manual repositioning, thus improving handling ease.
2Device complexity
If multiple hose types are stored on a single spool support plate, then device complexity is reduced, but changeover time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spools with different hose types are pre-mounted on the spool support plate at discrete positions. The lock mechanism is pre-configured to fix the support plate at specific angular positions corresponding to each spool. This preliminary arrangement allows operators to quickly select and engage the desired spool position without time-consuming setup or reconfiguration during changeover.
3Ease of operation
If a rotatable spool support plate is used, then accessibility of different hose types is improved, but positioning precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous rotational range is segmented into discrete fixed positions using the lock mechanism. This segmentation converts the positioning requirement from continuous precision to discrete position selection, reducing positioning precision requirements while maintaining easy accessibility to different hose types through simple angular rotation and locking.
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 system significantly reduces the time and effort required for switching between different hose types, enhancing manufacturing efficiency by allowing easy access and alignment of hoses for processing, while preventing accidental dispensing or damage.
Implementation Method 1
The guide defines at least one rotatable bearing surface positioned at the opening, and is configured to align the hose with, and guide the hose toward, a tool for performing a manufacturing operation thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dispensing a flexible hose includes a hose dispensing carousel having a frame, a spool support plate rotatably mounted to the frame and having a plurality of spool axles for rotatably supporting a plurality of spools of hose, and a lock adapted to fix a position of the spool support plate relative to the frame in a plurality of discrete positions. The system further includes a guide defining an opening adapted to receive a free end of a hose held on one of the plurality of spools. The guide defines at least one rotatable bearing surface positioned at the opening, and is adapted to guide the hose toward a tool for performing a manufacturing operation on the hose.