Blind Rivet Nut Setting with Mouthpiece Feedback Interlock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind rivet nut setting devices pose health risks to workers due to finger entrapment during the pre-installation of the rivet nut on the pulling mandrel, and they lack efficient and controlled installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A setting device with a displaceable mouthpiece that ensures contact with the rivet nut before initiating rotation, using sensors to monitor the position and control the operation, preventing finger entrapment and ensuring precise installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic screwing of the blind rivet nut on the pulling mandrel is implemented, then the preinstallation speed is improved, but the risk of finger entrapment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is displaceable in the axial direction and must be displaced by the blind rivet nut before the screwing operation can start. This preliminary displacement action ensures that the blind rivet nut is properly positioned and that worker fingers are clear from the danger zone before automatic screwing begins, thus maintaining high productivity while preventing finger entrapment
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor detects the displacement of the mouthpiece in the axial direction and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit only initiates the screwing operation when the sensor confirms that the mouthpiece has been displaced by the blind rivet nut, ensuring safe automatic preinstallation while preventing finger entrapment through automated monitoring
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual screwing of the blind rivet nut on the pulling mandrel is used, then the risk of finger entrapment is reduced, but the preinstallation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable mouthpiece serves as a preliminary safety check mechanism that must be activated before automatic screwing begins. This ensures that manual positioning is verified and fingers are clear of the danger zone, combining safety verification with automated high-speed screwing to reduce overall preinstallation time
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor-based feedback system automatically verifies proper positioning of the blind rivet nut against the displaceable mouthpiece before initiating automatic screwing. This eliminates the need for cautious manual screwing while maintaining safety, thereby reducing preinstallation time without increasing finger entrapment risk
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a displaceable mouthpiece with sensor control is added, then worker safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable mouthpiece serves multiple functions: it acts as a physical barrier to prevent finger entrapment, a positioning reference for the blind rivet nut, and a trigger mechanism that initiates the automatic screwing operation through sensor detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate safety devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the blind rivet nut itself to displace the mouthpiece during the preinstallation process. The workpiece performs the safety verification action, eliminating the need for separate safety actuators or complex control mechanisms, thus improving worker safety while minimizing added device complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention discloses a setting device for a blind rivet element, comprising an axially displaceable pulling mandrel having a work end and a drive end, wherein the work end includes an outer thread to screw-on a blind rivet nut and the drive end has a coupling structure with which a releasable torque-proof connection with a mandrel drive can be established, comprising the mandrel drive with which the pulling mandrel is rotatable by means of the drive end, comprising a linear pulling drive in an operative connection with the pulling mandrel with which a linear deformation displacement of the pulling mandrel in the direction of the drive end is implementable deforming a blind rivet nut, and comprising a hollow-cylindrical mouthpiece, which passes the pulling mandrel and which is linearly displaceable parallel to and independent of the pulling mandrel, so that an installation state of a blind rivet nut on the work end of the pulling mandrel is detectable by means of a linear displacement of the mouthpiece.