Compacted Ceramic Powder Manufacturing With Adaptive Border Deburring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceramic product manufacturing systems face inefficiencies in deburring operations due to imprecisions in cutting, leading to excess material protrusions, space requirements for multiple finishing stations, and alignment issues, which compromise productivity and precision.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing system with a deburring/trimming assembly using truncated cone grinders and a detection assembly to adjust the deburring trajectory based on real-time border development, ensuring precise removal of excess material without rotating or handling articles, combined with a conveyor system to maintain article spacing and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple finishing stations are provided to process transverse borders, then deburring completeness is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeburring completenessVSAvoidnumber of finishing stations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a movable support structure that can dynamically adjust its position along the conveyor direction, replacing multiple fixed finishing stations. The support structure moves to different positions to process different articles, enabling one abrasive tool to perform the function of multiple stations while maintaining complete deburring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces movement along the conveyor direction (a new dimension) for the support structure, allowing the abrasive tool to access transverse borders of articles at different positions. This dimensional addition enables a single tool to replace multiple stationary tools arranged along the conveyor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If articles are stopped for transverse border processing, then deburring precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeburring precisionVSAvoidworkpieces per minute
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed to move along the conveyor direction while the abrasive tool processes the transverse borders. This dynamic positioning allows the system to maintain article spacing and alignment without stopping the conveyor, thereby preserving high productivity while achieving precise deburring through controlled movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor continues to move articles through the finishing station without interruption. The movable support structure performs deburring operations continuously as articles pass by, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous production flow, thus preserving productivity while ensuring precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If detection assembly adjusts deburring trajectory in real-time, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeburring trajectory precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection assembly monitors the actual position and orientation of articles in real-time and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of the deburring trajectory to match the actual article configuration, ensuring high precision while using a coordinated control approach that manages complexity through integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system serves multiple functions: it coordinates the movable support structure, adjusts the abrasive tool trajectory, and processes detection assembly data. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional control system, the patent manages complexity while achieving precise real-time trajectory adjustment.

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

4Manufacturing precision

If conveyor system maintains article spacing, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearticle alignmentVSAvoidconveyor control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system automatically maintains article spacing and alignment through its own control mechanisms without requiring external intervention for each article. The system self-regulates the positioning of articles as they move through the finishing station, ensuring precision while managing complexity through automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances deburring precision and reduces space requirements, allowing high productivity without the need for extensive finishing stations, thus optimizing production efficiency and article quality.

Implementation Method 1

an abrasive tool (20) configured to intercept and finish (namely, deburr/trim) the border (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP4334098B1Manufacturing system and method for manufacturing articles made of compacted ceramic powder
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SACMI TECH SPA
  • EP4334098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4334098B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4334098B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A manufacturing system (1) and a method for manufacturing articles made of compacted ceramic powder (MCP), the system (1) comprising: a supply assembly (3) to supply ceramic powder (CP); a compaction device (5) to obtain a layer of compacted ceramic powder (KP); a cutting device (12) to cut, at least crosswise, the layer of compacted ceramic powder (KP) in order to obtain a plurality of articles made of compacted ceramic powder (MCP) which are moved by a conveyor assembly (7); a deburring/trimming assembly (19) to deburr/trim at least a first, transverse border (2) of each article made of compacted ceramic powder (MCP); a detection assembly (24) to detect a quantity correlated with the development of the first, transverse border (2); and a control assembly (21) to operate said deburring/trimming assembly (19) depending on the information detected by said detection assembly (24).