Slider-Based Positioning Mechanism for Irregular Tie Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic tie tools are unable to efficiently position and automate the installation of one-piece fixing ties with irregularly-shaped heads, which are commonly used in vehicles and household appliances, due to their unique head features that are not suitable for loading by vibratory feeders or tubes, leading to manual operation with low efficiency and high labor intensity.
Innovation Solution
An automatic tie tool equipped with a slider-based positioning mechanism, featuring a slider and guide rail that restricts five spatial degrees of freedom, allowing the tie to be pre-positioned and pushed to a tying operation position, using convex ribs or a profiled recess to secure the tie's head and driven by various power mechanisms such as pneumatic or electric systems, enabling the tool to handle both irregularly-shaped and regularly-shaped ties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional automatic tie tools use vibratory feeders or tubes to load ties, then loading efficiency is improved, but one-piece fixing ties with irregular heads cannot be positioned and fed
Solution Approach 1:
A slider is introduced as an intermediary component between the feeding system and the tying operation. The slider has a specific structure with a positioning surface that matches the irregular head shape of one-piece fixing ties, enabling it to act as a mediator that can both receive ties from various loading systems and properly position them for automated tying operations
Solution Approach 2:
The loading and positioning function is segmented into a separate slider component rather than being integrated into the traditional vibratory feeder or tube system. This segmentation allows the slider to be specifically designed with the appropriate geometry to handle irregular-shaped ties while maintaining compatibility with different loading methods
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual operations are used to tie one-piece fixing ties, then adaptability to various tie types is maintained, but operating efficiency is low and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed with self-positioning features where the geometry of the slider's positioning surface automatically aligns with the head shape of the one-piece fixing tie. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex positioning adjustments or manual intervention, allowing the system to adapt to various tie types while maintaining high automated operating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The slider serves multiple functions: it acts as a positioning device, a feeding mechanism, and a interface between different loading systems and the tying operation. This multi-functionality allows a single component to handle various tie types while maintaining automated operation efficiency
3Measurement precision
If a slider-based positioning mechanism is implemented, then positioning accuracy and automation capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed with localized geometric features specifically at the positioning surface that match the head shape of the ties. Rather than making the entire mechanism complex, only the critical local area where positioning occurs is specially designed, keeping the rest of the mechanism simple and easy to manufacture
Data Source
AI summary
A slide block-based positioning mechanism and an automatic tie tool having the same. The slide block-based positioning mechanism includes a slide block and a guide rail. The slide block fits the guide rail. The guide rail limits five degrees of freedom of the slide block. The slide block slides in a length direction of the guide rail. A head portion of a tie is arranged at a predetermined position at the slide block. The slide block pushes the tie from the predetermined position to a tie installation position.