Tool-Free Vise Drive Coupling With Axially Movable Socket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive devices for vises are cumbersome to attach and require tools, limiting their quick attachment and efficient operation, especially in automated settings.
Innovation Solution
A drive device with an interchangeable adapter plate and mating pieces that allows for manual or automated operation, enabling quick attachment and secure locking to a vise without tools, and can be operated manually or by a robot for ergonomic and fast processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drive device is attached to a vise using conventional methods, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the attachment process is cumbersome and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device is divided into separate modular components: a drive unit and an interchangeable adapter plate. The adapter plate can be independently attached to the vise using simple mating pieces that engage with threaded holes or press-fit features on the vise body, eliminating the need for tools. This segmentation allows the adapter plate to be quickly swapped between different vises without complex attachment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The interchangeable adapter plate is designed with universal compatibility to fit multiple vise types. By incorporating standardized mating pieces that can engage with common vise configurations (threaded holes or press-fit features), a single adapter plate design can be used across different vise models, eliminating the need for vise-specific attachment tools and procedures.
2Ease of operation
If the drive socket is fixed in position, then the structure is simple and robust, but the docking and locking mechanism cannot function
Solution Approach 1:
The drive socket is designed with axial movability, allowing it to move along the axis between a retracted position (for docking with the vise spindle) and an extended position (for engagement). This dynamic positioning enables the socket to approach the spindle for docking, then lock into place once aligned, facilitating automatic centering and secure connection without complex alignment procedures.
3Extent of automation
If manual operation is used for vise adjustment, then setup and calibration are flexible, but automation for series production cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The interchangeable adapter plate serves multiple functions: it provides a mechanical interface for manual vises during setup and calibration phases, and simultaneously serves as a mounting platform for automated drive units during series production. This dual functionality allows the same vise with adapter plate to operate in both manual and automated modes, accommodating both setup flexibility and production automation requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drive device comprising a drive for a vice, a coupling device, and a socket wrench rotatable about an axis, in which the socket wrench is movable in the direction of the axis. It also relates to a vice with a side on which a drive spindle is arranged, which has a coupling device counterpart arranged on the side of the drive spindle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device comprising a drive device that is positively connected to the vice, and to a method for operating such a device.