Injection-Molded Sliding Guide for Telescopic Table Frame Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of telescopic table frames is economically inefficient due to the need for pre-manufactured sliding elements of various thicknesses and the complexity of assembling them.
Innovation Solution
The use of injection-molded or 3D-printed sliding elements made from slide-promoting plastic, where the plastic is injected directly onto the inner or outer surface of the tubes, allowing for customizable thickness and tolerance compensation, and secured using indentations and UV curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pre-manufactured sliding elements of various thicknesses are used, then the sliding guide can be assembled, but the production cost increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sliding element and the tube into a single integrated component. The sliding element is injection-molded directly onto the tube surface, eliminating the need for separate pre-manufactured sliding elements and reducing assembly steps. This merging of components directly addresses the contradiction by simplifying assembly while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element is pre-formed through injection molding directly on the tube during the manufacturing process itself. This preliminary action integrates the sliding function into the base component during production, avoiding the need for separate assembly of pre-manufactured elements and reducing both cost and complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple pre-manufactured sliding elements are stored and installed individually, then the sliding guide can be assembled, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the sliding element and tube into a single integrated component through injection molding, the patent eliminates the need to store and individually install multiple separate sliding elements. This integration directly improves productivity by reducing the number of assembly operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection molding process can create multiple sliding elements in a single operation on different tubes simultaneously, effectively segmenting the production process to improve efficiency. This allows parallel production of multiple components without increasing assembly time.
3Manufacturing precision
If sliding elements of different thicknesses are kept in stock, then various tolerance requirements can be met, but the manufacturing precision control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The injection molding process allows for precise control of the sliding element thickness as a manufacturing parameter. By controlling the molding parameters and using appropriate tools, the system can achieve the required tolerances without needing to maintain inventory of multiple thickness variations, thus simplifying inventory management while maintaining precision.
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 method reduces production costs by eliminating the need for multiple pre-manufactured sliding elements and simplifies the assembly process, enabling cost-effective and efficient production of telescopic table frames with adjustable height.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding guide comprises at least one injection-molded sliding element made from a slide-promoting plastic... wherein said plastic is fed into the inside of the inner tube through an injection molding tool access opening in same
Implementation Method 2
In order for the (injected) plastic to remain sticking or adhering only to one of the surfaces (outer surface of the inner tube or inner surface of the outer tube)
Implementation Method 3
The fastening can be done, for example, by curing the plastic on the inner surface of the outer tube
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic table frame part, in particular a height-adjustable table leg (26), comprising an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (10) which can be moved relative to the former and which is guided by means of a sliding guide, characterized in that the sliding guide comprises at least one injection-molded sliding element (24) made from a slide-promoting plastic, a method for producing a sliding guide for guiding an inner tube (10) in an outer tube (12) movable relative thereto of a telescopic table frame part, comprising attaching of at least one sliding element (24) made from a slide-promoting plastic onto the inner surface (23) of the outer tube (12) or onto the outer surface (25) of the inner tube (10) by injection molding, wherein said plastic is introduced into the inside of the inner tube through an injection molding tool access opening (16) in same, and an apparatus for carrying out the method.