Spring Carrier With Deflectable Retention for Precise Coil Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes face inefficiencies and costs due to the difficulty in accurately and repeatedly retrieving, transporting, and placing springs, which often become entangled and are challenging to separate for assembly into devices.
Innovation Solution
A spring carrier device with an elongate hollow body and deflectable members that move between unbiased and biased positions to retain or release a coil spring, facilitating its insertion and extraction through a controlled mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If springs are stored or conveyed together in a bulk manner, then storage efficiency is improved, but springs become entangled and are difficult to separate
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk storage of springs is segmented into individual carrier units, each holding a single spring. This segmentation prevents entanglement while maintaining storage efficiency, as each spring is isolated in its own carrier rather than being part of a bulk pile.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier acts as an intermediary between the spring and the bulk storage system. By placing each spring in its own carrier, the system enables both efficient bulk handling of carriers and easy separation of individual springs when needed, as carriers can be quickly removed from the bulk stack.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex mechanism is used to retrieve and place springs accurately, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier uses dynamic deflectable members that can move between positions to control spring retention and release. This dynamic mechanism provides accurate spring placement through simple mechanical motion rather than complex fixed structures, improving precision while keeping the device relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable members utilize their own elasticity to automatically return to their original position after deflecting to release or retain the spring. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control systems, maintaining simplicity while achieving accurate spring placement.
3Device complexity
If springs are handled manually or with simple tools, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is designed as a universal handling unit that can be used throughout the entire manufacturing process - from storage to transport to assembly. This multi-functional carrier eliminates the need for different tools at different stages, improving productivity while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded into the carrier in a controlled manner, with the deflectable members already in position to secure it. This preliminary action ensures that when the carrier reaches the assembly station, the spring is ready for immediate, accurate placement, increasing manufacturing output without requiring complex handling equipment.
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
The spring carrier enables efficient and reliable handling of springs by ensuring accurate placement and retrieval, reducing manufacturing errors and costs associated with production delays and spring entanglement.
Implementation Method 1
The deflectable member may be in a relaxed state in the first unbiased position and may be elastically deformed in the second biased position
Data Source
AI summary
A spring carrier for receiving, retaining, and discharging of a coil spring in a manufacturing assembly process includes an elongate hollow body defining an inner cavity to receive the coil spring and an opening at a proximal first end of the hollow body for the insertion of the coil spring into the inner cavity and extraction of the coil spring from the inner cavity. A deflectable member is located proximate to the first proximal end and includes a retaining portion that retains the coil spring when the coil spring is located within the inner cavity. The deflectable member is movable between a first unbiased position, where the retaining portion extends into the inner cavity to retain the coil spring within the inner cavity, and a second biased position, where the retaining portion is disposed outwardly to allow the coil spring to be extracted from the inner cavity through the opening.