Springs Forming Selecting Device Using Pneumatic Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
High manufacturing speeds in springs forming machines lead to synchronization issues between spring falling and selection, causing out-of-tolerance springs to be misclassified and potential damage due to jamming, resulting in compromised production.
Innovation Solution
A selecting device with a configuration that includes a converging-diverging conduit and compressed air flow to stabilize the falling time of springs, ensuring consistent selection by creating a depression that accelerates and suctions springs into specific outlets, reducing variations in trajectory and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manufacturing speed is increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but synchronization between spring falling and selection deteriorates causing errors and misclassification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a jet of compressed air (pneumatic system) to propel springs through a conduit at controlled speeds. By adjusting the air pressure and flow characteristics, the system can maintain consistent spring delivery timing even at high manufacturing speeds, thereby preserving synchronization accuracy while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies physical parameters of the spring delivery system, specifically using compressed air pressure and jet velocity as controllable parameters. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves consistent spring fall times and maintains synchronization between spring arrival and selection operations, enabling high-speed operation without sacrificing reliability.
2Productivity
If manufacturing speed is increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to synchronization errors in spring selection
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed air jet system provides precise control over spring propulsion timing and velocity. This pneumatic control mechanism ensures that springs are delivered to the selection point at the correct moment with consistent speed, maintaining manufacturing precision even when operating at high production rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect spring position and timing, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback loop allows real-time adjustment of the compressed air jet parameters to maintain precise synchronization between spring delivery and selection operations, preventing misclassification errors at high speeds.
3Productivity
If conventional selecting device is used at high speeds, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors increase due to spring jamming and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed air jet system replaces mechanical pushing or gravity-based delivery with a non-contact pneumatic propulsion method. This eliminates mechanical friction and physical contact that cause jamming and damage, allowing springs to be accelerated smoothly through the conduit without mechanical interference, thus preventing damage even at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical spring delivery mechanisms (such as mechanical pushers or gravity feeds) with a pneumatic system using compressed air jets. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact points that cause jamming and physical damage to springs, enabling high-speed operation without increasing harmful factors.
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 solution ensures a constant fall time for springs, reducing synchronization errors and preventing damage, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the selection process, even at high manufacturing rates.
Implementation Method 1
compressed air flow to stabilize the falling time of springs
Implementation Method 2
creating a depression that accelerates and suctions springs into specific outlets
Implementation Method 3
creating a depression that accelerates and suctions springs into specific outlets
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a selecting device to be disposed downstream of a springs forming device of a springs forming machine. The selecting device may include an inlet adapted to receive springs formed in the springs forming device, outlets adapted to eject each of the springs from the selecting device, means for selectively conveying each of the springs entering the selecting device through the inlet towards the outlets, and means to form conduits to connect the inlet to the outlets. The selecting device may include means for generating a depression in at least one of the conduits and means for generating a compressed air flow directly inside the selecting device at one of the conduits.