Stud Holding Collet With Dual Airflow for Centered Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing holding devices for studs with radially projecting flanges often fail to reliably maintain studs in a centered position during automated feeding, leading to uncontrolled ejection and potential noise disturbances in industrial settings.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with a collet component and a securing sleeve featuring a first air flow channel oriented in one direction and a second air flow channel oriented differently, which actively maintains the stud in a non-oblique position through targeted air flow, allowing tolerance compensation and easy disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inside diameter of the insertion section is made slightly larger than the outside diameter of the flange section to enable easy stud transport, then the stud can be fed with an easy motion, but the stud comes into an oblique position and requires centering which may fail, leading to uncontrolled ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs compressed air flowing through the feed tube and into the clearance space to actively hold the stud in the correct position. The air pressure counteracts the tendency of the stud to become oblique and prevents uncontrolled ejection, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of feeding and positioning reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a clearance space with specific dimensional parameters between the flange section and the bottom end of the securing sleeve. This clearance space, combined with air pressure, creates a controllable environment that maintains stud positioning reliability while allowing easy feeding.
2Reliability
If a securing device with collet element and arms is used to clamp the stud, then the stud can be held in position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex mechanical clamping mechanism (collet element with multiple arms) and replaces it with a simpler air pressure-based holding system. The secured holding is achieved through the interaction between the flange section, securing sleeve, and compressed air, eliminating the need for complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical clamping system with a pneumatic system. Instead of using mechanical arms to clamp the stud, compressed air is used to apply force through the feed tube into the clearance space, achieving reliable stud holding with reduced mechanical complexity.
3Productivity
If studs are fed from the rear into the holding device for high cycle times, then productivity increases, but the studs may become uncontrolled and fall downward onto the floor or into the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses compressed air flowing through the feed tube and into the clearance space to actively control and hold the stud in position during high-speed feeding. This pneumatic holding prevents uncontrolled ejection and downward falling, enabling high productivity without the harmful effects of scattered studs.
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 dual air flow channels ensure the stud is securely positioned without the need for a shank-clamping device, preventing uncontrolled falls and enabling reliable handling of both short studs with enlarged flanges, while allowing axial play and easy disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a second air flow channel oriented in a second direction different from the first direction, the second air flow channel being adapted to maintain the stud in a non-oblique position
Data Source
AI summary
A device for holding a stud with a radially flange and an axial shank. The holding device comprising a collet including a clamping section and a hollow insertion section defining an insertion axis such that the stud can be inserted via the insertion section to the clamping section. The holding device further comprising a tubular securing sleeve located radially inward of and concentric with the insertion section. A clearance is defined between a bottom end of the securing sleeve and a top end of the clamping section and is adapted to releasably receive the stud flange. A first air flow channel in a first direction is adapted to blow feed the stud into the collet; and a second airflow channel oriented in a second different direction is adapted to maintain the stud shank substantially in line with the insertion axis.