Rubber Plug Orientation Supply With Two-Position Rotary Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rubber plug supply devices require complex and expensive actuators or multiple actuators to achieve three-position control for aligning the orientation of rubber plugs, leading to a complicated configuration.

Innovation Solution

A rubber plug supply device with a rotating body having two accommodating portions and a simple actuator mechanism that rotates between two positions, using a single-acting actuator with opposite stroke ends to align plug orientations based on detected orientation, allowing for efficient orientation alignment with a cost-effective setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If three-position control of rotating body is used to align rubber plug orientations, then orientation alignment is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring actuators capable of measuring rotation angles or combining multiple actuators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation alignment precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating body is divided into multiple accommodating holes positioned at different angular locations, each capable of receiving rubber plugs in different orientations. This segmentation allows the system to handle orientation alignment through positional distribution rather than complex rotational control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of precisely controlling the rotating body to three specific positions for exact orientation alignment, the system uses a simpler actuator that provides partial rotation capability. The orientation alignment is achieved through the combination of partial rotation and the geometric arrangement of accommodating holes, rather than precise three-position control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Manufacturing precision

If actuators capable of measuring rotation angles or multiple actuators are used for three-position control, then orientation alignment is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation alignment precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces expensive actuators with rotation angle measurement capabilities or multiple actuators with a single, simpler, and cheaper actuator. The accommodating holes are designed to work effectively with this basic actuator, eliminating the need for costly rotary actuators or servo motors while maintaining orientation alignment functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The accommodating holes are designed with universal functionality to handle rubber plugs in various orientations. The geometric arrangement of holes allows them to serve multiple purposes: receiving plugs in different orientations, enabling partial rotation, and achieving alignment without requiring sophisticated actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuators are combined to achieve three-position control, then orientation alignment is achieved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation alignment precisionVSAvoidcontrol operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the functions of multiple actuators into a single actuator. The combining of partial rotation capability with the geometric arrangement of accommodating holes achieves orientation alignment through a unified, simpler control mechanism, reducing operational complexity while maintaining alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12600577B2Rubber plug supply device

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 SHINMAYWA INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A rubber plug supply device 10 places a rotating body 40 in a first rotation position R1 when it is detected by a sensor 25 that the orientation of a rubber plug 5 supplied is a first orientation, and places the rotating body 40 in a second rotation position R2 when it is detected that the orientation of the rubber plug 5 is a second orientation, and then supplies the rubber plug 5 to a first accommodating portion 41 or a second accommodating portion 42. The rubber plug supply device 10 moves the rotating body 40 to the second rotation position R2 or the first rotation position R1 after the rubber plug 5 is supplied to the first accommodating portion 41 or the second accommodating portion 42. The rubber plug supply device 10 dispenses the rubber plug 5 accommodated in the first accommodating portion 41 through a rubber plug dispense port 41b that communicates with a rubber plug supply port 41a or dispenses the rubber plug 5 accommodated in the second accommodating portion 42 through a rubber plug supply/eject port 42a.