Modular Light Strip Pre-Centering for Fast Precise Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting elongated luminaire assemblies is challenging due to their length and weight, requiring multiple people and external aids, leading to errors and time-consuming alignment.
Innovation Solution
A system with a longitudinally extended connector and centering sections that align and secure mounting rails, allowing for a single-person connection process by reducing play between components through a staged centering and alignment mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment methods are used to connect luminaire assemblies, then connection accuracy can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and requires multiple people
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates centering sections with guide surfaces that perform preliminary alignment of the mounting rails before the final connection is made. This pre-alignment action eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustment during the assembly process, allowing single-person operation while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering sections act as an intermediary mechanism between the two luminaire assemblies during connection. The guide surfaces on these centering sections facilitate smooth, precise alignment of the mounting rails, enabling accurate connection without requiring multiple people or external alignment tools.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment methods are used to connect luminaire assemblies, then connection accuracy can be achieved, but the process becomes complex requiring external aids
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is merged into the connector itself through the integration of centering sections with guide surfaces. This eliminates the need for separate external alignment tools and aids, simplifying the overall device while maintaining high alignment accuracy for the mounting rails.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering sections serve as an intermediary mechanism that provides built-in alignment guidance. The guide surfaces on these centering sections facilitate precise alignment of the mounting rails during connection, eliminating the need for complex external alignment procedures.
3Ease of operation
If luminaire assemblies are connected without pre-centering, then the connection process is simpler, but play between components increases leading to connection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The centering sections perform preliminary centering of the mounting rails through their guide surfaces before the final connection is established. This pre-centering action reduces play between components and prevents connection errors, while the overall process remains simple enough for single-person operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for implementing a lighting device, said system comprising a connector 3 which is elongated in a longitudinal direction X and which has a coupling section (30), a connection device 4, and a first and a second elongated lighting assembly 1, 2, each of which comprises a support rail 11, 21 elongated in the longitudinal direction X and a busbar 12, 22 that is secured to the support rail 11, 21, is elongated in the longitudinal direction X, and comprises line wires 121, 221 elongated in the longitudinal direction X. The connector 3 or the connection device 4 has a first centering section 37, and the second lighting assembly 2 has a second centering section 27. The connection device 4 has a first aligning section 41, and the busbar 22 of the second lighting assembly 2 has a second aligning section 224, said aligning sections being designed to engage into each other perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction X during the joining movement so as to have a clearance which decreases over the course of the joining movement after the centering sections 27, 37 have engaged into each other, and/or the line wires 221 of the second lighting assembly 2 can be guided into a connection position by the joining movement, at least one line wire of the line wires 221 of the second lighting assembly 2 resting against the connection device 4 in said connection position.