Welding Tip Polishing Holder With Self-Rotating Groove Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polishing devices for welding tips often require additional actuators for rotation, increasing costs and requiring significant manual effort, which can be costly and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A polishing device with a cylindrical holder and a rotatable polishing unit that includes a blade and a file, where the blade and file contact the welding tip to polish it through rotation within the holder's grooves, eliminating the need for separate actuators and manual rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If actuators are added to rotate the welding tip or blade, then polishing automation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing automationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polishing unit is designed to rotate itself automatically through the interaction between its projected portions and the grooves in the holder. When the holder rotates, the projected portions engage with the grooves to drive the polishing unit's rotation without requiring separate actuators, achieving self-service automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation function of the polishing unit is merged with the holder's rotation motion. The grooves in the holder serve dual purposes: guiding the holder's rotation and simultaneously driving the polishing unit's rotation through the projected portions, combining multiple functions into a single mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If manual rotation of welding tip or blade is used, then device complexity is reduced, but labor time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidlabor time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs the rotation function that would otherwise require manual operation. The polishing unit self-rotates through its interaction with the holder's grooves, eliminating the need for worker intervention while keeping the device structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves are pre-configured in the holder to automatically drive the polishing unit's rotation when the holder rotates. This preliminary arrangement of the groove geometry ensures that rotation occurs automatically without manual intervention during the polishing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuators are used for welding tip translation and rotation, then polishing precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing precisionVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder integrates multiple functions: it provides the rotational motion for both its own operation and the polishing unit's rotation, and the grooves simultaneously guide rotation and drive the polishing unit. This merging reduces component count while maintaining precision through careful groove geometry design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The holder serves multiple purposes: it rotates to position the polishing unit, its grooves drive the polishing unit's rotation, and it provides structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate actuators while maintaining polishing precision through the coordinated motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration simplifies the polishing process, reduces costs, and allows for continuous polishing without manual intervention, while ensuring accurate and stable finishing of the welding tip.

Implementation Method 1

the projected portions of the polishing unit move along the groove, and the polishing unit rotates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the blade rotates while the blade is in contact with the welding tip. Thus, the blade polishes the welding tip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP3628432B1Polishing device for welding tip
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3628432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A polishing device for a welding tip includes a cylindrical holder (10); and a polishing unit (20). The polishing unit (20) includes a blade configured to polish a welding tip. The blade polishes the welding tip due to rotation of the polishing unit (20). The holder (10) includes a groove (14) extending along an entire inner circumference of the holder (10). The groove (14) includes axial groove portions (14b, 14d, 14f) each of which extends along an axis of the holder (10), and inclined groove portions (14a, 14c, 14e) each of which extends for a specified first distance and is inclined in one direction with respect to the axial groove portions (14b, 14d, 14f). The axial groove portions (14b, 14d, 14f) and the inclined groove portions (14a, 14c, 14e) are alternately arranged. The polishing unit (20) includes projected portions each of which extends to an inside of the groove (14), and the number of the projected portions is two or more and is equal to or less than the number of the axial groove portions (14b, 14d, 14f).