阅读说明：本技术 制造sma致动器的方法 (Method of manufacturing SMA actuator ) 是由 杰弗里·法默 斯蒂芬·马修·邦廷 詹姆斯·豪沃思 于 2020-05-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了制造SMA致动器的方法和用于制造SMA致动器的装置。每个致动器具有两根SMA致动器丝,并且每个致动器丝连接于在致动器的第一端部处的相应第一连接器与在致动器的第二端部处的相应第二连接器之间,使得致动器丝在致动器中交叉。该方法包括以下步骤：供应条带,该条带具有以连续图案形成在条带中的多个致动器坯件,每个致动器坯件包括所述致动器中的一个致动器的连接器；重复地,对于条带中的每个致动器坯件,相对于连接器定位致动器丝并将致动器丝连结到连接器。对于条带中的邻近的致动器坯件对,致动器丝可以经由一个致动器坯件供应到下一个致动器坯件。(Methods of manufacturing SMA actuators and apparatus for manufacturing SMA actuators are provided. Each actuator has two SMA actuator wires and each actuator wire is connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator. The method comprises the following steps: supplying a strip having a plurality of actuator blanks formed in the strip in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising a connector of one of the actuators; repeatedly, for each actuator blank in the strip, the actuator wire is positioned relative to and joined to the connector. For pairs of adjacent actuator blanks in the strip, the actuator wires may be supplied via one actuator blank to the next.)

1. A method of manufacturing SMA actuators, each actuator having two SMA actuator wires, each actuator wire being connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator, such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a strip having a plurality of actuator blanks formed in the strip in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising the connector of one of the actuators;

repeatedly, for each actuator blank in the strip, positioning and joining the actuator wire relative to the connector, wherein for adjacent pairs of actuator blanks in the strip, the actuator wire is supplied to the next actuator blank via one actuator blank.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a crimp and the step of joining the actuator wire to the connector comprises closing the crimp so that the actuator wire is clamped between opposed parts of the crimp.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein positioning the actuator wire relative to the connector can include routing the actuator wire between the first connector and the second connector in a direction at least substantially along a length of the strip.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the step of positioning the actuator wire comprises routing the actuator wire generally in a direction between the first and second connectors and moving the actuator wire laterally so that the actuator wire engages with the connectors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of moving the actuator wire comprises lifting the actuator wire onto at least one tab of the strip.

6. The method of claim 4 or claim 5, further comprising the steps of: holding the actuator wire in place after the actuator wire has been moved laterally.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: one or more tabs are formed from the strip to hold the actuator wire in place.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of: forming one or more tabs linking the first connector or the second connector from the strip after joining the actuator wire to the connector of an actuator.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is manufactured such that each actuator wire is slack between the connectors when each actuator wire in the actuator is at a temperature of 25 ℃.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein positioning the actuator wire comprises: passing the actuator wire around one or more projections results in a deviation of the actuator wire between the first and second connectors from a direct path between the first and second connectors.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is formed on the strip, and further comprising the steps of: removing the tab after the actuator wire has been joined to the respective connector of the actuator wire.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is disposed on a mold, and further comprising the steps of: introducing the mold into the strip prior to positioning the actuator wire such that the protrusion is positioned between the first connector and the second connector, and removing the mold from the strip after joining the actuator wire.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises the further step of: increasing an amount of actuator wire between each connector after the step of positioning the actuator wire and before the step of joining the actuator wire to the connectors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of increasing the amount of the actuator wire comprises exerting a force on the actuator wire perpendicular to the direction of deployment of the wire.

15. A method of manufacturing an SMA actuator assembly, the method comprising a method according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly comprises one or more of the SMA actuators.

16. An apparatus for manufacturing SMA actuators, each actuator having two SMA actuator wires, each actuator wire being connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator, the apparatus comprising:

a strip feed mechanism arranged to guide an elongate strip through the device, the strip having a plurality of actuator blanks formed in the strip in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising the connector of one of the actuators;

a wire feed mechanism arranged to supply an SMA actuator wire and position the SMA actuator wire relative to the connector; and

a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the actuator wire to the connector,

wherein, for adjacent pairs of actuator blanks in the strip, the device is configured to supply the actuator wire via one actuator blank to the next actuator blank.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the connector is a crimp and the joining mechanism is a press tool engaged with the crimp to close opposite sides of the crimp onto the actuator wire.

18. The device of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein when the actuator wire is positioned relative to the connector, the wire feed mechanism is configured to route the actuator wire between the first connector and the second connector in a direction at least substantially along the length of the strip.

19. A device according to claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the wire feed mechanism is arranged to route an actuator wire generally in a direction between the first and second connectors, and wherein the device further comprises an engagement portion arranged to engage with and move the actuator wire such that it engages with the connectors.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the engagement portion is arranged to lift the actuator wire onto at least one projection of the strip.

21. A device according to claim 19 or claim 20, further comprising a pressing tool arranged to form one or more projections from the strip after the actuator wire has been moved by the engagement portion, wherein the projections are arranged to hold the actuator wire in position after the actuator wire has been moved laterally.

22. The device of any one of claims 16 to 21, further comprising means arranged to form one or more protrusions linking the first or second connectors from the strip.

23. A device according to any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the device is arranged to manufacture the actuators such that each actuator wire is slack between the connectors when each actuator wire in an actuator is at a temperature of 25 ℃.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the wire feed mechanism is arranged to position the actuator wire around one or more projections such that the actuator wire between the first and second connectors is offset from a direct path between the first and second connectors.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a tool arranged to form the protrusion on the strip before the strip reaches the wire feed mechanism, and a tool arranged to remove the protrusion after the strip has passed the attachment mechanism.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a die on which the protrusion is formed, wherein the apparatus is arranged to introduce the die into the strip such that the protrusion is positioned between the first connector and the second connector before the strip reaches the wire feed mechanism, and to remove the die from the strip after the strip has passed the joining mechanism.

27. The device of claim 23, further comprising a wire extension mechanism disposed between the wire feed mechanism and the link mechanism, the wire extension mechanism being arranged to increase an amount of actuator wire between each connector in an actuator.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the wire extension mechanism is arranged to exert a force on the actuator wire that is perpendicular to a deployment direction of the wire.