Adjustable Gap Cutting Device for Flexible Panels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting devices currently available are unsuitable for cutting panels made of plastic or rubber materials due to a large gap distance between the cutting knife and the support bar, leading to frayed cut edges, especially in materials like vinyl floor tiles and PVC tiles.

Innovation Solution

The gap distance between the cutting knife and the support bar is adjustable using replaceable strips, allowing for customization to suit different materials, with options for adjustment during assembly or operation, and the cutting knife's thickness can be modified to optimize cutting quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the gap distance between the cutting knife and support bar is large (2mm to 2.5mm), then the forces required for cutting are reduced, but the cut edges become frayed and cutting quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting forceVSAvoidcut edge quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the gap distance adjustable through replaceable strips with different thicknesses. This allows optimization of the gap distance parameter based on material thickness: smaller gaps (0.2mm to 2mm) for thin materials like PVC tiles to prevent fraying, and larger gaps for thick materials like vinyl floor tiles to reduce cutting forces. The cutting edge quality and cutting force requirements are thus balanced by dynamically changing the gap parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the gap distance is reduced to below 2mm, then cut edge quality is significantly improved, but the forces required for cutting increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut edge qualityVSAvoidcutting force
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by enabling parameter changes through interchangeable strips. Users can select appropriate gap distances based on material properties: smaller gaps for thin materials to achieve clean cuts, and larger gaps for thick materials to reduce required cutting forces. This makes the cutting device adaptable to different materials without compromising either cut quality or force requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the gap distance adjustable rather than fixed. The replaceable strip system allows the gap parameter to be dynamically changed according to the specific cutting task, enabling optimization between cut quality and force requirements for different material thicknesses and types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the cutting device is designed for a specific gap distance, then it is simple to manufacture, but it cannot adapt to different materials with varying thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidmaterial adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the support bar structure into modular components: a fixed support bar and replaceable strips that can be independently exchanged. This segmentation allows the cutting device to maintain a simple base structure while adding adaptability through interchangeable elements. Different strip thicknesses can be selected based on material requirements, making the device versatile without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables parameter changes by using replaceable strips with different thicknesses to adjust the gap distance. This allows a single cutting device to adapt to various material thicknesses (from thin PVC tiles to thick vinyl floor tiles) by simply changing the strip parameter, thereby achieving high versatility while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2714343B1Cutting device for plates, like floor tiles or shingles made of plastic, rubber or another flexible material
Publication Date: 2017.11.29 WOLFCRAFT GMBH
  • EP2714343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2714343B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2714343B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a cutting device comprising a cutting blade (10) which is pivotably fixed to a stand (1), the cutting edge (12) of said cutting blade (10) descending into an entry slot (6) between two supporting members (2) during the cutting process in order to press out a strip of material (9') from a panel-shaped workpiece (9) placed on the supporting members (2). The width of the entry slot (6) is adjusted to the material thickness of the cutting blade (10) in such a way that, when the cutting blade (10) is positioned in the centre of the entry slot (6), a gap remains, at least in the region of the cutting edge (12), between each of the two supporting member edges (4') or slot walls (4) and thebroad faces(11) of the cutting blade (10), lying opposite said supporting member edges (4') or slot walls (4). In order for floor coverings consisting of synthetic material, rubber or of another tough or elastic material to be cut with sufficiently high cutting quality on the cutting device, it is proposed that the size of the gap distance (11, 4') be adjustable.