Electric Wire Clamp Sorting Layout for Long-Wire Misplacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric wire processing apparatuses struggle to accurately sort long electric wires into conforming or nonconforming items due to the clamp's turning motion, which makes the second end of the wire less movable, leading to potential misplacement of the nonconforming item into the product tray.
Innovation Solution
The electric wire processing apparatus includes a processor for performing predetermined processes, a conforming/nonconforming determiner, a clamp for gripping and conveying the wire, and dedicated collectors for conforming and nonconforming items, along with a shared collector for the remaining wire portions, ensuring accurate sorting by releasing the clamp over the appropriate collector based on the determiner's assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clamp turns while gripping the first end of the electric wire to convey it, then the first end can be moved to the collector, but the second end becomes less movable and may be misplaced into the wrong tray
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electric wire into two separate collection paths: one for the first end (processed by the turning clamp) and one for the second end (handled by the wire guide member). This segmentation ensures that each end is directed to the appropriate tray independently, resolving the contradiction between ease of conveyance and sorting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire guide member acts as an intermediary device that receives the second end of the electric wire and guides it to the correct tray. This intermediary component compensates for the limited mobility of the second end during clamp turning, ensuring accurate sorting without requiring the second end to be actively conveyed by the clamp.
2Productivity
If the clamp grips and turns to convey the first end, then processing can be performed on the first end, but the long length of the wire causes the second end to run onto the boundary region between trays
Solution Approach 1:
The collection system is segmented into distinct zones: one dedicated to receiving the first end and another for the second end. The wire guide member creates a separate reception zone for the second end, preventing it from running onto the boundary region between trays and ensuring reliable sorting despite the wire's length.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire guide member extends in a direction different from the clamp's turning path, creating a spatial dimension for receiving the second end. This dimensional separation allows the long wire to be properly received without interference from the clamp's motion, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric wire processing apparatus (1) includes: a clamp (3R) to grip and convey an electric wire (5); an upper tray (21) disposed under a movement path (51t) for a first end (51) of the electric wire (5); a nonconforming item tray (23) disposed under the movement path (51t) and laterally of the upper tray (21); a shared tray (24) disposed toward a second end (52) of the electric wire (5) relative to the upper tray (21) and the nonconforming item tray (23); a conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) to determine whether the electric wire (5) has been processed successfully; and a controller (9) to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a conforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the upper tray (21), and to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a nonconforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the nonconforming item tray (23).