Cutting Blade Replacement Alignment Using Camera-Registered Marks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing blade replacing apparatuses in cutting apparatuses face challenges in accurately aligning and holding cutting blades, leading to potential damage or improper fitting, which can hinder the blade replacement process due to errors in alignment between the blade holding unit and the storage unit.
Innovation Solution
A blade replacing apparatus with a movable storage section, a transporting unit, a camera, and a control unit that uses mark portions photographed by the camera to register and adjust the positions of the storage section and holding unit, ensuring proper alignment and maintaining accurate positional relations to facilitate safe and efficient blade replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a blade holding unit with a mechanism of sucking and holding a cutting blade is used, then the blade holding unit can suck any position of the cutting blade, but positional relation between the replacement cutting blade and the blade holding unit varies, causing the cutting blade to inappropriately contact the spindle and potentially be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing alignment between the blade holding unit and blade storage unit before the blade replacement operation. The alignment mechanism pre-adjusts their positional relationship to ensure accurate positioning when the replacement cutting blade is transferred, preventing inappropriate contact with the spindle during the replacement process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a camera to photograph mark portions on both the blade holding unit and blade storage unit, then automatically adjusting their positions based on the photographed images. This closed-loop control ensures precise alignment and maintains stable positional relationships throughout the blade replacement process
2Ease of operation
If manual work of replacing the cutting blade is performed, then the cutting blade can be replaced, but it takes time and effort and there is a fear of the cutting blade or the nut being accidentally dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing an automatic blade replacement apparatus that performs the entire blade replacement process without manual intervention. The system automatically transfers the replacement cutting blade from the blade storage unit to the spindle, eliminating the time-consuming and risky manual operations while ensuring safe and consistent blade replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated mechanical system. The blade holding unit, blade storage unit, and moving mechanism work together as an integrated automated system to perform blade replacement, substituting human hands and tools with controlled mechanical components that operate more efficiently and safely
3Device complexity
If alignment between the blade holding unit and the blade storage unit is not performed accurately, then it is difficult for the blade holding unit to hold the replacement cutting blade appropriately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alignment mechanism that mediates between the blade holding unit and blade storage unit. This alignment mechanism serves as an intermediate step that ensures precise positioning before the blade transfer operation, allowing both units to be held appropriately without requiring excessive complexity in either unit itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment procedures with an optical measurement and automatic adjustment system. By using a camera to photograph mark portions and automatically calculating positions, the system achieves high alignment precision without requiring complex mechanical alignment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a blade replacing apparatus for replacing a cutting blade. The blade replacing apparatus includes a blade storage unit including a movable storage section configured to store the cutting blade, a transporting unit including a holding unit configured to hold the cutting blade and a moving mechanism configured to move the holding unit, a camera configured to photograph the holding unit, and a control unit including an operation control section configured to control operation of the blade storage unit and the transporting unit and a position registration section in which positions of the storage section and the holding unit. The storage section includes a first mark portion photographable by the camera, and the holding unit includes a second mark portion photographable by the camera.