Nested Vibratory Feed Pot for Multi-Contact Element Feeding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding devices for contact elements, such as wire ferrules, require significant space due to the arrangement of multiple vibrating feed pots, making a compact design difficult when processing different contact elements.
Innovation Solution
A feeding device with a 'pot-in-pot' system where an inner pot is partially enclosed by a vibrating feeder pot, featuring a spiral inner conveying track and alignment units, allowing for compact installation and precise positioning of contact elements for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vibrating feed pots are arranged to process different contact elements, then the ability to process various contact element types is improved, but the installation space required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested pot configuration where an inner pot is placed inside an outer vibrating feed pot. The inner pot contains its own conveying track and alignment unit for processing one type of contact element, while the outer pot processes another type. This nesting arrangement allows two different contact element types to be processed simultaneously within the space of a single conventional feed pot, directly resolving the contradiction between versatility and installation space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vibrating feed pots are used for different contact elements, then processing versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of two separate vibrating feed pots into a single integrated device. The outer pot and inner pot both receive vibrations from a common vibration generation unit, and both pots are part of a single feeding device structure. This combining approach allows processing of different contact element types without requiring two independent feed pots, thus improving versatility while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate devices.
3Area of stationary object
If a compact design is pursued with fewer feed pots, then installation space is reduced, but the ability to process different contact element types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing function within a single feed pot by creating distinct processing zones: the outer pot processing area for one contact element type and the inner pot processing area for another type. Each pot has its own conveying track and alignment unit, allowing independent processing of different contact element types. This segmentation enables a compact design with reduced installation space while maintaining the ability to process multiple contact element types.
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
The 'pot-in-pot' design reduces installation space requirements while enabling efficient, position-defined feeding of multiple contact element types, minimizing setup times and maintaining precision in alignment and transfer to processing units.
Implementation Method 1
the individual contact elements, for example wire ferrules, are received in the vibrating feeder, which is set into vibration by a vibration unit such that the loose wire ferrules are conveyed along a spiral conveyor path along the inner circumferential wall of the vibrating feeder
Implementation Method 2
a cam is assigned, along which the contact elements can be transported in a position-oriented manner in the direction of an interface to the processing unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A feeding device for position-defined feeding of contact elements to a processing unit is disclosed, wherein the feeding device has a vibrating feed pot (2) and an inner pot (4) enclosed by it for receiving different contact elements.