Self-Gripping Fastening for Unit Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling units, such as in belts, face challenges with unintentional shifting of prepositioned units during assembly, leading to defective products and safety risks, and current solutions like clamps or adhesives are difficult to remove, cause stress, or lose adhesive properties over time.
Innovation Solution
A method using a first unit with grip elements and a second unit with retention means to create a self-gripping fastening, allowing units to be securely held together without external tools, with the option to easily reposition and permanently secure them through deformation of grip elements or retention means using treatments like pressure, vibration, or heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamps or staples are used for pre-assembly, then positioning reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in removal and repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The connection is divided into two distinct phases: a reversible pre-assembly phase using grip elements and retention means, and a permanent assembly phase after treatment. This segmentation allows the system to provide both reliable positioning during pre-assembly and ease of repositioning when needed, before final permanent fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection characteristics are made dynamic through the treatment step. Before treatment, the grip elements and retention means provide a reversible mechanical connection allowing easy separation and repositioning. After treatment (heat, pressure, vibration), the connection becomes permanent and rigid, transforming from flexible to fixed state.
2Reliability
If clamps or staples are used for pre-assembly, then positioning reliability is improved, but the product generates harmful factors due to localized stress zones and foreign bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful pre-assembly means (clamps, staples) are extracted from the final product. The grip elements and retention means serve only as temporary positioning aids during pre-assembly and are removed or integrated without creating stress zones or foreign bodies in the final assembled structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip elements and retention means function as temporary, disposable pre-assembly aids that are removed after serving their positioning purpose, or are designed to be integrated without creating harmful effects. They are not permanent components of the final structure.
3Ease of operation
If adhesive means are used for pre-assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to loss of adhesive properties over time
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical adhesive system is replaced with a mechanical fastening system using grip elements and retention means. This mechanical system provides reliable positioning without the degradation issues of adhesives, while still maintaining ease of operation during pre-assembly through simple mechanical engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism transitions from chemical bonding (adhesive) to mechanical interlocking (grip elements and retention means). This parameter change eliminates the time-dependent degradation of adhesive properties while maintaining ease of operation during the pre-assembly phase.
4Productivity
If traditional heat assembly is used, then manufacturing speed is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to unintentional shifting of units
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning is performed in advance during the pre-assembly phase using grip elements and retention means, which secure units in the correct positions before the final heat assembly process. This preliminary positioning action prevents unintentional shifting during subsequent manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip elements and retention means provide preliminary anti-action against unwanted movement or shifting of units during pre-assembly and positioning, counteracting forces that would otherwise cause misalignment before the final heat assembly process.
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 method ensures reliable initial positioning and easy repositioning of units, prevents damage during assembly, and provides a strong, durable connection that maintains mechanical strength and resistance to stress, while avoiding the drawbacks of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
treating a treatment zone of the self-gripping fastening so as to deform the grip elements of the first unit and/or the retention means of the second unit
Implementation Method 2
treating a treatment zone of the self-gripping fastening so as to deform the grip elements of the first unit and/or the retention means of the second unit
Implementation Method 3
treating a treatment zone of the self-gripping fastening so as to deform the grip elements of the first unit and/or the retention means of the second unit
Data Source
AI summary
A method wherein a first unit (10) is provided having a field of grip elements (12), and a second unit (20) provided with retention elements (22) suitable for co-operating with the grip elements (12) of the first unit (10) in order to provide a self-gripping fastening. The first and second units are put into contact in such a manner that the grip elements (12) of the first unit and the retention elements (22) of the second unit provide a self-gripping fastening (F). A treatment zone of the self-gripping fastening is treated in order to deform the grip elements (12) of the first unit (10) and/or the retention elements (22) of the second unit (20), whereby the first and second units (10, 20) are permanently secured to each other, thereby forming an assembled structure.