Transfer Bar Connecting Device Resisting Bending Moments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting mechanisms for transfer bars in press machines have low rigidity against horizontal loads, leading to bending moments and weight increases when attempting to drive the transfer bar faster, which hinders productivity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A connecting device with a remaining-side clamp and a movable-side clamp, featuring male and female fitted portions with a movable member that engages and disengages orthogonally, providing increased rigidity and a simplified structure to resist bending moments while minimizing weight, allowing for high-speed driving of the transfer bar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dampers and plate-shaped engagement members are used for connecting the movable bar and remaining bars, then the connecting mechanism can achieve vertical and pivotal engagement, but the rigidity against horizontal loads becomes low, causing bending moments under high-speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical engagement (dampers and plate-shaped members engaging in the vertical direction) to horizontal engagement (engagement protrusions and engagement grooves engaging in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bars). This dimensional change allows the connecting mechanism to resist bending moments caused by high-speed horizontal loads while maintaining the engagement functionality.
2Strength
If the size of the device is increased to strengthen resistance against horizontally-charged loads, then the rigidity improves, but the weight increases, preventing fast driving of the transfer bar
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the engagement direction from vertical to horizontal, fundamentally altering the load-bearing parameters of the connecting mechanism. This parameter change allows the same-size components to resist horizontal loads effectively without increasing device size or weight, enabling high-speed operation of the transfer bar.
3Productivity
If the transfer bar is driven faster to increase productivity, then the operating rate improves, but horizontally-imposed loads create significant bending moments that the existing connectors cannot resist
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the engagement direction to horizontal (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bars), the connecting mechanism directly counters the bending moments generated during high-speed horizontal operation, enabling increased productivity without compromising reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A connecting device connecting a remaining bar and a movable bar of a transfer bar includes a remaining-side clamp and a movable-side clamp. The clamps respectively have a male fitted portion and a female fitted portion that are fitted to one another around a connecting direction, defining a first connector. A male engagement portion and a female engagement portion are provided inside the clamps, defining a second connector. The female engagement portion of the second connector includes a sphere in a form of a movable member moving in a direction orthogonal to the connecting direction. A movement of the sphere effects an engagement and disengagement of the female engagement portion from the male engagement portion.