Multi-core Cable Core Alignment Device for Medical Coaxial Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automating the process of separating and aligning highly flexible multi-core coaxial cables for medical use is challenging due to their thin diameter and high flexibility, making manual alignment inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A multi-core cable core aligning device comprising a temporary holding mechanism, transferring mechanism, and aligning mechanism, which includes a detecting portion, inserting tool, aligning tool with grooves, and pushing tool, allows for automated separation and alignment of cores by temporarily holding, detecting, and precisely positioning each core along a predetermined direction and spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual separation and alignment of coaxial cables is performed, then alignment precision can be maintained, but productivity is low and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated system comprising a temporary holding mechanism, transferring mechanism, and aligning mechanism. The temporary holding mechanism uses suction cups to hold cable cores, the transferring mechanism uses inserting tools to separate and transfer cores one by one, and the aligning mechanism uses aligning tools with grooves to position cores at predetermined intervals, thereby achieving both automation and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the device automatically performs detection, separation, transfer, and alignment operations without human intervention. The detecting portion identifies core positions, and the subsequent mechanisms automatically execute the alignment process based on detected information
2Productivity
If automated alignment method using receiving jig and holding jig is employed, then productivity is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates for highly flexible thin coaxial cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the holding parameter from rigid mechanical clamping to suction-based holding. The temporary holding mechanism uses suction cups that can adaptively hold thin, flexible coaxial cables without causing deformation, enabling automated handling while maintaining alignment precision for highly flexible cables
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary aligning tool with grooves that acts as a mediator between the transferring mechanism and the final position. The grooves guide and position the cable cores at predetermined intervals, ensuring precise alignment while the system remains automated
3Device complexity
If thin coaxial cables are handled with only receiving jig and holding jig, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of separation and alignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the alignment process into four distinct functional modules: temporary holding mechanism for initial positioning, detecting portion for identification, transferring mechanism for separation and movement, and aligning mechanism for final positioning. This segmentation improves reliability by ensuring each function is performed by a specialized mechanism designed for its specific task
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by using the temporary holding mechanism to arrange cable cores in a row before the actual alignment process. This preliminary arrangement ensures that cores are properly positioned and ready for subsequent detection and transfer operations, improving overall process reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-core cable core aligning device is composed of a temporary holding mechanism, which is configured to arrange tips of a plurality of cores exposed at one end of a multi-core cable in a row along a predetermined arranging direction, and temporarily hold each one of the plurality of cores in such a manner as to be movable along the predetermined arranging direction, a transferring mechanism, which is configured to transfer the plurality of cores one by one while separating the plurality of cores held by the temporary holding mechanism one by one from other ones of the plurality of cores, and an aligning mechanism, which is configured to align and hold the plurality of cores with a predetermined space between adjacent ones of the plurality of cores while holding the plurality of cores transferred by the transferring mechanism one by one at spaced intervals.