Magazine Bar Segmented Loading Location

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magazine bars for clipping machines are difficult to load, especially for operators of short stature, as they require loading at the top end when inclined, posing safety and accessibility issues.

Innovation Solution

A magazine bar design with a first loading location accessible between the two frontal ends, allowing for ergonomic loading without auxiliary means, and optionally a second loading location at the first frontal end, enabling flexible orientation and use, including horizontal arrangements, with retaining and release mechanisms to manage clip strips effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the magazine bar is arranged substantially vertically to enable gravity-fed clip strips, then the storage capacity and time buffer are improved, but the loading location becomes inaccessible to operators of short stature and safety issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacity of closure clipsVSAvoidaccessibility of loading location
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The magazine bar is divided into two functional segments: a storage region for holding multiple clip strips and a loading region for operator access. This segmentation allows the storage region to be positioned vertically for gravity-fed operation while the loading region can be accessed from different heights or orientations, resolving the contradiction between vertical storage and operator accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the possibility of horizontal or inclined orientations in addition to vertical arrangement. By allowing the magazine bar to be positioned in different spatial dimensions and orientations, the system maintains gravity-fed operation (by adjusting inclination) while improving loading accessibility (by choosing appropriate orientation and height), thus resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If the magazine bar length is increased to provide more closure clips in storage, then the time buffer between loading operations is improved, but the loading location becomes even more difficult to access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime interval between loading operationsVSAvoidaccessibility of loading location
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The magazine bar is segmented into a storage region and a loading region. The storage region can be extended in length to hold more clip strips, while the loading region remains separate and accessible. This segmentation allows the storage capacity to be increased without proportionally increasing the difficulty of accessing the loading location, as the loading area can be positioned independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the magazine bar is arranged horizontally to improve loading accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to feed clip strips by gravity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of loading locationVSAvoidgravity-based feed mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows the magazine bar to be positioned at different angles and orientations dynamically suited to the specific application. By adjusting the inclination angle, the system can maintain gravity-fed operation (requiring minimum inclination) while optimizing loading accessibility. This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction between horizontal arrangement for accessibility and inclination for gravity feed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Facilitates easy and safe loading of clip strips, reducing the frequency of re-loading operations and improving operator safety by allowing ergonomic access and adaptable loading configurations, regardless of machine orientation.

Implementation Method 1

the feed of a clip strip to the removal location of the magazine bar is to be effected by the force of gravity acting on the clip strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2294921B1Magazine bar with loading location
Publication Date: 2013.03.27 POLY CLIP SYST
  • EP2294921B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2294921B1 patent drawingFigure 1b

AI summary

The invention concerns a magazine bar (10) for a clipping machine for temporarily storing and delivering closure clips which are assembled together to provide at least one clip strip. The magazine bar (10) includes a first and a second frontal magazine bar end (10a, 10b), and a storage region (16) which extends between the two magazine bar ends (10a, 10b) and into which a clip strip can be fed by way of a first loading location (15) and from which a clip strip can be discharged in the discharge direction by way of a removal location (35) provided at the second frontal magazine bar end (10b). It is further provided that the loading location (15) is provided between the first and second frontal magazine bar ends (10a, 10b) in such a way that a first and a second magazine bar portion (12, 14) is formed on both sides of the loading location (15).