Light-Guided Hold-Down Joining Unit for Enclosure-Free Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joining tool units face challenges in safety and practical application, particularly when using light-based energy, due to the need for additional enclosures and complex designs that hinder automation and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A joining tool unit with a hold-down device featuring a light guide system that shields light beams internally, allowing for safe and efficient light-based energy input without additional enclosures, integrated into the hold-down device to guide light to the workpiece, ensuring light-tight protection and simplified design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If light-based energy is used for joining processes, then productivity and capability to process difficult material combinations are improved, but safety hazards and device complexity increase due to need for additional enclosures
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide system is integrated directly into the hold-down device, merging the light delivery function with the mechanical holding function. This eliminates the need for separate enclosure structures while maintaining safety, as the hold-down device itself becomes the light-tight barrier when contacting the workpiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The hold-down device acts as an intermediary between the light source and the external environment. When the hold-down device contacts the workpiece, it mediates the containment of light energy, using the workpiece itself as part of the light-tight sealing mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light-based energy is used for joining processes, then capability to process difficult material combinations is improved, but safety hazards increase due to light energy escape
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potential harm of light radiation escape into a beneficial self-sealing mechanism. The hold-down device is designed so that its contact with the workpiece automatically creates light-tight sealing, turning the mechanical pressing action into a safety feature that contains light energy where needed while preventing escape elsewhere.
3Reliability
If additional enclosures are added for light safety, then safety is improved, but ease of operation and automation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hold-down device performs dual functions: mechanical holding and light containment. When it contacts the workpiece, it automatically creates the light-tight seal without requiring separate safety enclosures or additional safety mechanisms, enabling easier automation while maintaining safety.
4Device complexity
If light guide system is integrated into hold-down device, then device complexity is reduced, but light-tight shielding effectiveness may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The light-tight shielding is applied locally at the critical interface between the light guide system and the external environment. The hold-down device's contact surface with the workpiece becomes the localized light-tight barrier, providing effective shielding exactly where light escape would be most problematic.
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 safe and cost-effective use of light-based energy for joining processes, facilitating automated applications and enabling processing of difficult material combinations with reduced cycle times and enhanced safety.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide system is designed to guide a light beam of a light in the direction of a joining point of the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
The workpiece material heats up and softens due to the energy input from the light beam by absorbing the light energy
Implementation Method 3
the light guide system of the hold-down device shields the light along its light beam in a light-tight manner to the outside
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a joining tool unit (2) comprising a hold-down device (6), a linearly movable tool (7), and a tool counter element (4). The hold-down device and the tool counter element are provided opposite each other, and a workpiece (25) lies on the tool counter element when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. When the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit, hold-down device can be arranged so as to be supported on a surface of the workpiece, wherein the hold-down device has a light-guiding system (9), and the light-guiding system is designed to guide a light beam of a light in the direction of a joint location of the workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. The light-guiding system is provided on the hold-down device such that the light beam is irradiated onto the joint location solely at an angle which is greater than 0° relative to a movement axis of the linearly movable tool, and the light-guiding system of the hold-down device shields the light from the outside in a light-proof manner along the beam thereof.