Spring Insertion via Reusable Supply Belt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for inserting springs into grooves in element panels result in significant plastic waste and require complex separation processes, making rapid and efficient supply challenging, especially for small-volume components.

Innovation Solution

A method using a supply belt to transport springs with a predetermined spacing, allowing for precise positioning and large-scale supply without direct material connection, utilizing adhesive or clamped attachment for secure detachment and reuse, and employing a belt conveyor and transport rail for high-speed insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If springs are separated from contiguous arrangement using separation unit, then individual springs can be inserted into grooves, but significant plastic waste is generated from connecting pieces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring separation capabilityVSAvoidplastic waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful connecting pieces from the spring arrangement by using a supply belt that holds separate springs without material connections. This eliminates the need for separation units that cut connecting pieces, thereby preventing plastic waste generation while maintaining the ability to supply individual springs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The supply belt acts as an intermediary carrier that replaces the harmful connecting pieces. Instead of springs being connected by plastic material that must be cut and discarded, the supply belt provides a reusable, non-material-connecting mechanism to transport and position individual springs, eliminating waste while enabling spring separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If springs are mass-produced and stored in large quantities, then rapid supply is enabled, but storage space and inventory complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring supply speedVSAvoidstorage and inventory management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring supply is segmented into individual units mounted on a continuous supply belt, allowing springs to be supplied one by one at high speed without requiring large bulk storage. This segmentation enables rapid delivery of springs to the insertion point while reducing the need for complex inventory management of large spring quantities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Springs are pre-positioned on the supply belt in the correct orientation and spacing before insertion. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex storage and handling of large spring quantities, as springs are ready for immediate insertion in the exact sequence and orientation needed, thereby simplifying inventory management while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If complex separation processes are used to remove connecting pieces, then springs can be individually supplied, but process time and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual spring supplyVSAvoidseparation process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of connecting springs with material and then removing the connections (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by holding springs separately on the supply belt from the beginning. This eliminates the separation process entirely, reducing manufacturing complexity and process time while still enabling individual spring supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Stability of the object's composition

If adhesive is used to attach springs to supply belt, then secure transport is achieved, but adhesive waste and environmental concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring-to-belt attachment securityVSAvoidadhesive waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supply belt is designed to be reusable and is recovered after releasing the springs. Instead of using adhesive that creates waste, the belt mechanically holds springs during transport and releases them at the insertion point, allowing the belt to be reused multiple times without generating adhesive waste or environmental contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS8650738B2Method for inserting springs into a groove

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 SCHULTE GUIDO

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for inserting a spring (3) into a longitudinal-side or head-side groove (4) of element panels (5) which can be laid in combination, wherein the element panels (5) can be locked together by means of a movement of the spring (3) relative to the element panels (5), having the following steps: a) providing springs (3) on a supply belt (6), wherein the springs (3) are releasably connected to the supply belt (6); b) detaching the springs (3) from the supply belt (6); c) moving the springs (3) into the groove (4) of a provided element panel (5).