Blade Box for Drum Mill Knife Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for comminuting organic substances, such as fruit, face issues with frequent knife replacement and wear, as well as the risk of fastening parts becoming loose during operation, leading to damage and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A knife bed design featuring exchangeable knife elements arranged to describe a circular cylinder surface, secured by positive locking and form-fit mechanisms, allowing for easy replacement and reduced risk of loose parts, with passage openings for efficient material discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If individual knives are used in the cutting device, then cutting functionality is achieved, but frequent replacement and individual alignment work is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknife replacement workVSAvoidknife replacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual knives are merged into a single knife bed component that can be replaced as one unit. The knife bed contains numerous knives arranged in a specific pattern, allowing all knives to be installed and aligned simultaneously rather than individually, significantly reducing replacement time and labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting system is segmented into replaceable knife beds that can be independently changed. Instead of replacing each knife individually within a fixed structure, the entire knife bed assembly is designed as a modular component that can be quickly removed and replaced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If fastening parts are used to secure knives, then knives are held in position, but fastening parts may come loose and damage the cutting operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknife positioning stabilityVSAvoidloose fastening parts in fruit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional fastening parts that could loosen and contaminate the product are extracted from the knife assembly. Instead of using separate fasteners that attach knives to the knife bed, the knives are integrated into the knife bed structure through form-fit connections, eliminating the fastening parts that could become loose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The knife bed is designed as a disposable or frequently replaceable component. Rather than attempting to permanently secure individual knives with durable fastening parts, the entire knife bed is designed to be replaced when wear occurs, eliminating the need for long-lasting fasteners that could fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If knives are securely fastened to prevent loosening, then positioning stability is improved, but replacement and alignment work increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknife fastening securityVSAvoidknife replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple knives and their fastening mechanisms are merged into a single integrated knife bed component. This allows the system to achieve secure positioning (all knives fastened simultaneously) while maintaining ease of replacement (the entire assembly is replaced as one unit rather than individual knives being unfastened and refastened).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2549892B1Blade box for disintegrating device for organic matter
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 BUCHER UNIPEKTIN
  • EP2549892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2549892B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2549892B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a blade bed (1) for a drum mill (11) for shredding fruits, comprising a plurality of blade elements (2), which protrude on the working side of the blade bed such that the blade elements describe a circular-cylinder-shaped outer surface around a central axis (X), wherein the blade elements extend perpendicularly to the circumferential direction of said circular-cylinder-shaped outer surface. Passages (7) are arranged between the blade elements (2) in order to discharge the pieces torn off by the blade elements (2) from the working side (A) of the blade bed (1) to the discharge side (B) thereof. The individual blade elements (2) are each positioned in the support structure (3, 4, 5, 6) in a form-fitted manner, with the support structure (3, 4, 5, 6) of the blade bed in a direction from the central axis (X) radially to the blade element (2) and in both circumferential directions of the circular-cylinder-shaped outer surface described by the protruding blade elements (2) and are secured in the position of the blades elements in the support structure (3, 4, 5, 6) by common securing means (8a, 8b, 9). After said securing means (8a, 8b, 9) are removed, the blade elements can be removed from the support structure (3, 4, 5, 6) individually. The design of the blade bed according to the invention makes it significantly easier to replace the blade elements compared to the prior art. Also, the risk of fastening parts detaching during operation, which then get into the fruit material to be comminuted and damage the blades, is significantly reduced.