Rotatable Lock Member for Gardening Binding Machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing binding machines for gardening require high operation loads due to the need to overcome spring urging forces for both the traction needle and lock member, and the structure with overlapping sheet metal members is prone to increased sliding resistance from foreign materials like soil, leading to increased handle load during operations.
Innovation Solution
A binding machine design where the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm, reducing resistance and allowing for a smaller urging force, with minimal contact between the gripping member and lock member to prevent foreign material entry and maintain the gripping position, and a lock release mechanism integrated with the clincher arm's rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm, then resistance from foreign materials is reduced and operation load is decreased, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member is changed from a sliding mechanism to a rotatable mechanism, allowing it to pivot about a rotation axis. This dynamic change enables the lock member to maintain engagement with the traction needle while reducing contact surface area, thereby minimizing the accumulation of foreign materials and reducing operational resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member is divided into distinct functional portions: a body portion with the rotation axis, an engagement portion for the traction needle, and a release portion actuated by the clincher arm. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing overall complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the urging force of the spring is reduced, then the operation load of the handle is reduced, but the reliability of the tape gripping device decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable lock member dynamically adjusts its position during operation. During the gripping phase, it maintains firm engagement with the traction needle. During the release phase, the clincher arm actuates the lock member to disengage. This dynamic operation ensures reliable tape gripping while requiring minimal urging force from the spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member is preliminarily positioned to engage the traction needle before the gripping operation begins. This preliminary engagement ensures that the tape gripping device is ready for operation with minimal force required to initiate the gripping action.
3Volume of moving object
If three sheet metal members slide in an overlapped structure, then the tape gripping device can be compact, but sliding resistance increases due to foreign material accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member transitions from a sliding motion to a rotational motion. This dynamic change reduces the contact surface area between moving parts, making it more difficult for foreign materials to accumulate and increase resistance, while maintaining the compact design through efficient spatial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful sliding contact between multiple sheet metal members is extracted and replaced with a rotational pivot mechanism. This extraction eliminates the primary source of friction and foreign material accumulation while preserving the compact form factor of the device.
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
This design reduces the operation load of the handle by minimizing the urging force required and preventing resistance increases from foreign materials, ensuring reliable operation with reduced mechanical stress.
Implementation Method 1
the lock member is adapted to operate in conjunction with a squeezing operation of an operation handle... the lock member is urged in a lock direction by the spring
Implementation Method 2
the tape gripping device holds the tape with the traction needle urged by an urging force of a spring
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A binding machine for gardening includes a main handle to draw out a tape, a clincher arm rotatably attached to the main handle, and a tape gripping device attached to the clincher arm to grip the tape. The tape gripping device includes a support portion, a gripping member, a gripping member urging unit, a lock member and a lock member urging unit. The support portion is provided along a drawing direction of the tape. The gripping member is provided to face the support portion. The gripping member urging unit urges the gripping member toward the support portion. The lock member is engaged with the gripping member to hold the gripping member against an urging force of the gripping member urging unit. The lock member urging unit urges the lock member in an engaging direction with the gripping member. The lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm.