Spring Transfer Wheel Eliminates Return Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spring transfer devices in machines for producing spring cores or pocket spring cores are limited by the need for a return movement to the initial position after each transfer, reducing cycle frequency and requiring powerful, expensive drives for clocked conveyor operation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a transfer device that moves between multiple positions to receive and transport springs, allowing output at different positions without a separate return step, enabling continuous conveyor movement and increased transfer rate by overlapping the output of one spring with the receipt of another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional transfer devices are used with return movement to initial position, then spring transfer function is achieved, but cycle frequency is reduced and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is positioned in advance at multiple potential output positions along the conveyor path. By pre-positioning the transfer device at different locations where springs can be deposited, the system eliminates the need to return to an initial position after each transfer. The transfer device simply moves to the next pre-positioned location for the subsequent spring, converting a return movement problem into a progressive positioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device transitions from a static initial position to a dynamic multi-position system. Instead of being fixed at one location and returning after each transfer, the transfer device dynamically positions itself at multiple different locations along the conveyor path, adapting its position to optimize the transfer cycle and eliminate idle return movements.
2Manufacturing precision
If clocked conveyor operation is used for spring transfer, then precise spring positioning is achieved, but powerful and expensive drives are required
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor operates in periodic intervals rather than continuous clocked operation. Springs are transferred at regular intervals along the conveyor path, allowing the conveyor to run at lower speeds between transfers. This periodic action maintains precise spring positioning while reducing the peak power requirements and enabling the use of less expensive drive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-precision positioning function is extracted from the conveyor drive system and transferred to the transfer device itself. Instead of requiring the conveyor to precisely position and stop at each spring location, the conveyor provides continuous motion at lower speed, and the transfer device handles the precise spring pickup and deposition, reducing the power burden on the conveyor drive.
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 configuration enhances the transfer rate of springs to a conveyor, reduces the required acceleration and force for the conveyor, and allows for more efficient and cost-effective operation by eliminating the need for a separate return movement and using less expensive components.
Implementation Method 1
a transport wheel (4) which has a circumference facing the spring conveyor (4) in a receiving direction and which receives the spring (21) from the transfer device (11) in a receiving position, corresponding to the output position of the spring (21), and transports the spring (21) along a continuous path
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for transferring springs to a spring conveyor comprises a transfer device and an output device. The transfer device is mounted such that it can be moved between a plurality of positions in which the transfer device is respectively configured to receive a spring, and is configured to transport a received spring during movement of the transfer device between the plurality of positions. The output device is configured to selectively output the spring received by the transfer device from the transfer device at one of plural output positions, wherein the plural output positions are pairwise different.