Unitary Forward Mounting Assembly to Eliminate Alignment Steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing forward mounting assemblies for bodymakers are time-consuming to align and prone to damage due to misalignment, requiring precise machined coupling surfaces and multiple alignment processes.
Innovation Solution
A unitary forward mounting assembly with a cradle portion, first support arm portion, and second support arm portion, eliminating the need for machined coupling surfaces and alignment processes, ensuring precise alignment and reducing installation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional separate mounting components with machined coupling surfaces are used, then alignment precision can be achieved, but installation time increases and risk of damage due to misalignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate mounting components (cradle and support arms) into a single unitary forward mounting body. This integration eliminates the need for machined coupling surfaces between separate parts, removes alignment processes, and prevents misalignment damage while reducing installation time. The unitary structure ensures precise alignment is inherent rather than requiring post-assembly adjustment.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional separate mounting components are used, then modular assembly is possible, but alignment complexity and risk of damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cradle and support arms into a single unitary forward mounting body, eliminating the complexity of aligning multiple separate components. The unitary structure removes coupling surfaces and alignment procedures while maintaining ease of manufacture through monolithic construction, thereby reducing alignment complexity without sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise machined coupling surfaces are used, then alignment accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for precise machined coupling surfaces by integrating all mounting components into a single unitary forward mounting body. This integration removes the requirement for high-precision machining of multiple coupling surfaces, thereby maintaining alignment accuracy through the inherent unity of the structure while reducing manufacturing complexity and associated costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A unitary forward mounting assembly for a bodymaker includes a unitary forward mounting body with a cradle portion, a first support arm portion and a second support arm portion. The cradle portion has a forward side, a rear side, a right side, and a left side. The first support arm portion is disposed at the cradle portion right side. The second support arm portion is disposed at the cradle portion left side. Because the cradle portion, the first support arm portion and the second support arm portion are part of a unitary body, the unitary forward mounting assembly solves the problems stated above. That is, because the support arms are not mated to the cradle, there is no need for machined coupling surfaces; nor is there a need for aligning the support arms on the cradle.