Acceleration Roller for High-Speed Saw Waste Conveyance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for sorting out waste parts from workpieces on a saw, such as those described in DE 43 17 443 A1, lack high performance and accuracy in conveying and sorting sawed workpiece parts, leading to inefficiencies in the sawing process.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an acceleration roller system that presses sawed workpiece parts against a conveyor belt, allowing for rapid and reliable transportation of successive parts, combined with an adjustable waste chute mechanism that can be opened early to prevent accidental falls, utilizing blast air for efficient waste disposal, and adjustable rollers for accommodating different workpiece lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional feed rollers are used to transport workpiece parts, then the workpiece parts can be conveyed, but the conveying speed and reliability are insufficient for high-performance sorting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying speedVSAvoidconveying reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyor belt continuously moving at a controlled speed, and the acceleration roller dynamically adjusts its pressing force and position to accelerate workpiece parts onto the conveyor belt. This dynamic system ensures that parts are reliably captured and conveyed at high speed without slipping or misalignment, resolving the contradiction between conveying speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The acceleration roller is positioned upstream of the conveyor belt and performs preliminary acceleration of workpiece parts before they reach the main conveying system. This preliminary action ensures that parts are already moving at the correct speed and position when they engage with the conveyor belt, preventing delays and ensuring reliable high-speed conveying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the waste chute is opened early to dispose of waste parts, then waste disposal efficiency is improved, but good parts may accidentally fall into the waste chute

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste disposal efficiencyVSAvoidsorting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt acts as an intermediary between the sawing station and the waste chute. It provides a controlled transport path that separates the timing of waste identification from waste disposal. The conveyor belt allows the system to prepare for waste disposal (open the chute) while ensuring that only actual waste parts are diverted, preventing good parts from accidentally falling in and maintaining sorting accuracy while improving waste disposal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The waste chute is opened in advance as a preliminary action before waste parts actually need to be disposed of. This allows the system to be ready for immediate waste ejection when needed, improving disposal efficiency. Combined with the conveyor belt's controlled motion, this preliminary opening does not compromise sorting accuracy because the chute remains open but waste parts are only diverted when correctly identified.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If friction-based conveyance is used, then the structure is simple, but the conveying performance is insufficient for high-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying performanceVSAvoidconveyance mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a conveyor belt system that uses friction between the belt surface and workpiece parts, enhanced by the pressing action of the acceleration roller. This friction-based approach is simple in principle but achieves high conveying performance through controlled belt speed and optimized contact pressure, avoiding the need for complex mechanical grippers or automated positioning systems while maintaining high-speed conveying capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 solution enables high-speed sawing with accurate sorting of waste and good parts, ensuring reliable conveyance and efficient waste disposal by minimizing reliance on friction factors and optimizing the timing of waste chute opening, thereby enhancing overall process performance and accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

The workpiece parts cut off by the saw are accelerated away from the saw area by means of the acceleration roller, in that the sawed workpiece parts are pressed against a conveyor belt of the transport device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

In the direction of transport of the workpieces behind the saw there is at least one hold-down device which holds down the sawn workpiece parts during transport by an endlessly circulating conveyor belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1889699B1Device for separating waste parts of workpieces, with a saw, in particular an optimising chopsaw and method using such a device
Publication Date: 2012.10.31 GRECON DIMTER HOLZOPTIMIERUNG SUD GMBH
  • EP1889699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1889699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1889699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Wooden workpieces (2) typically have defects that are marked before entering a saw (3). The markings determine the cutting position at which the workpieces (2) must be sawn by the saw blade. To ensure high-performance and accurate removal of the waste pieces, the workpiece parts (2') cut off by the saw (3) are accelerated and conveyed away from the sawing area by means of an acceleration roller (17, 18). This allows successive, sawn workpiece parts (2') to be rapidly transported through the device one after the other. The device is used for sawing wooden workpieces.