Electric Pressing Tool Re-Pressing After Fault Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic or electric pressing tools for PEX tubing face inefficiencies due to delays introduced when releasing and re-initiating pressing operations, especially when improper crimp or clamp operations occur, leading to suboptimal performance and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An electric pressing tool equipped with a motor, sensor, and microcontroller that detects fault conditions during operations, allowing for automatic re-pressing by changing motor direction, pausing, and resuming operation to ensure proper completion of pressing tasks without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic or electric pressing tools release the pressing jaws after detecting an improper operation, then the fault condition can be addressed, but delays are introduced in completing the pressing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing jaws remain in the closed position during the transition from first direction to second direction, maintaining pressure on the workpiece. This preliminary action ensures that when the jaws return to the first direction after detecting a fault, the pressing operation can resume immediately without requiring full repositioning, thereby reducing the time delay while still allowing fault detection and correction
2Ease of operation
If the pressing jaws are fully opened before the operation can begin again, then the tool can reset for a new operation, but productivity is reduced due to the additional time required
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing jaws maintain dynamic adaptability by allowing partial opening during fault conditions while preserving the ability to quickly return to the closed position. The system dynamically adjusts the jaw position based on operational needs, enabling faster reset cycles compared to full opening and closing, thereby improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A pressing tool includes a motor, a sensor, and a microcontroller coupled to the motor and the sensor. The microcontroller is configured to cause the motor to operate in a first direction, and obtain a motor parameter from the sensor. The microcontroller is further configured to determine an occurrence of a fault condition of the motor when the motor parameter satisfies a threshold. In response to determining the fault condition, the microcontroller is further configured to cause the motor to change from operation in the first direction to operate in a second direction, pause operation of the motor in the second direction, and resume operation of the motor in the first direction.