Automatic Flat-Piece Cutting Machine with Parallel Accessory Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automatic cutting machines for deformable materials face inefficiencies due to the alternation between cutting and drilling processes, leading to increased downtime and reduced productivity, especially when dealing with long nestings and multiple hole diameters.

Innovation Solution

The machine integrates a cutting unit and an accessory processing unit, such as a drilling or die cutting unit, which operate simultaneously and independently on separate areas of the cutting mat, allowing for synchronized cutting and processing operations through an electronic control unit that adjusts paths in real time based on the mat's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cutting machine uses a single beam with both cutting and drilling devices, then the machine can perform both operations, but the alternation between cutting and drilling introduces dead time that slows down the work cycle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to perform both cutting and drillingVSAvoidwork cycle speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine is divided into two independent processing units: a cutting unit with a cutting blade and an accessory processing unit with drilling/die devices. Each unit operates independently on its own beam, eliminating the need to alternate between operations on a single beam and thus removing the dead time associated with switching between cutting and drilling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a second beam parallel to the first beam. The cutting unit operates on the first beam while the accessory processing unit operates on the second beam simultaneously. This spatial dimensionality change allows both operations to occur in parallel without interfering with each other, thereby eliminating the sequential alternation and associated downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the machine processes long nestings with numerous holes of varying diameters, then the cutting capacity is sufficient, but the alternation between cutting and drilling increases downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of long nestings with multiple hole diametersVSAvoiddowntime due to operation alternation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processing operations are segmented into two independent units operating on separate beams. The cutting unit handles the cutting path while the accessory processing unit handles all drilling and die operations simultaneously on parallel beam, eliminating the time loss from alternating operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Both cutting and accessory processing operations proceed continuously and simultaneously without interruption or alternation. The cutting blade operates continuously on the first beam while the drilling/die devices operate continuously on the second beam, maximizing the utilization of both processing units and eliminating idle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the cutting mat is used as a conveyor belt to transport the flat piece, then the material can be moved from loading to unloading area, but the travel time of the flat piece on the cutting table increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic material transportVSAvoidtravel time on cutting table

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transport function is extracted from the cutting table and assigned to a separate conveyor system. The conveyor belt independently transports the flat piece through the processing area, allowing the cutting table to focus on processing operations and reducing the overall cycle time by separating transport from processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual or mechanical transport method is replaced with an automated conveyor belt system that continuously moves the material through the processing area. This substitution provides more efficient and consistent transport, reducing travel time and improving the overall throughput of the cutting machine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250326150A1Automatic flat-piece cutting machine and related method

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 FK GROUP SPA

AI summary

The present invention pertains to a cutting machine for the automated cutting of at least one flat piece of deformable material. The machine comprises a cutting table which supports a cutting mat, a cutting unit provided with a blade and movable above the cutting mat to cut the flat piece into shapes and/or along lines according to a predetermined cutting path, an accessory processing unit provided with at least one accessory tool and movable over at least a portion of the cutting mat to perform accessory processing of the flat piece according to a predetermined accessory processing path, and an electronic control unit that controls the cutting unit and the accessory processing unit so as to actuate the accessory processing unit simultaneously to the cutting unit at least during a cutting step of the flat piece.