Blade Changing Assembly With Linear Holders for Compact Cutting Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cutting apparatuses with existing blade changing systems occupy a large space due to the circular arrangement of blade holders, necessitating a more compact solution for consumable part replacement.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a consumable part holding unit, a changing apparatus, and a moving unit that includes rotational shafts with tiltably coupled holders spaced at angular intervals, allowing for efficient movement and positioning of consumable parts within a reduced spatial footprint, enabling automatic blade changing outside the processing chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If blade holders are disposed on a circle around the central axis of the shaft, then the blade changing apparatus can hold multiple blades, but the apparatus occupies a large space
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holders are arranged linearly along the shaft axis rather than radially around it, allowing the holders to be nested or stacked in a compact configuration. This reduces the horizontal footprint of the apparatus while maintaining the capacity to hold multiple blades at different axial positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional circular arrangement of blade holders to a one-dimensional linear arrangement along the shaft axis. By changing the spatial dimension of holder arrangement, the apparatus achieves compactness in the horizontal plane while distributing holders along the vertical axis.
2Productivity
If the blade changing apparatus is positioned inside the processing chamber, then it can change blades during processing, but it increases the complexity of the processing chamber environment
Solution Approach 1:
The blade changing apparatus is extracted from the processing chamber and positioned externally. This separates the blade changing function from the processing environment, allowing the chamber to maintain its simplified structure while the apparatus performs automatic blade changes outside the chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft serves as an intermediary mechanism that connects the external blade changing apparatus with the internal cutting blade system. The shaft transmits the blade holders and enables blade changes to be performed outside the processing chamber while still affecting the internal cutting operation.
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
The solution reduces the space required for consumable part changing, enhances efficiency by allowing automatic blade replacement, and prevents mist deposition on the changing apparatus, maintaining processing chamber cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
the first holder having a first holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft... the first holding surface of the first holder may be tiltably coupled to the rotational shaft by a joint assembly having a resilient member
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting apparatus includes a mount flange having a mount land that has a surface for holding a cutting blade as a consumable part, a changing apparatus for changing cutting blades, and a moving unit for moving the changing apparatus between a changing position for changing cutting blades and a retracted position. The changing apparatus includes a rotational shaft, a first holder for holding a used cutting blade, the first holder having a first holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft, and a second holder for holding a replacement cutting blade, the second holder being disposed in a position angularly spaced a predetermined angle from the first holder around the rotational shaft, the second holder having a second holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft.