Brush Conveyor Table Layout for Stable Sheet Transfer in Cutting Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conveyor tables in cutting machines experience level differences between the conveyor table and air tables, leading to sheet material shifting and collapse, especially on the carry-out side due to increased vibration and resistance when cutting small pieces, and require a complex oscillating mechanism to mitigate this issue.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor table design with a pair of caterpillar tracks and brush mounts, where the carry-in side sprocket is positioned lower than the carry-out side sprocket, and guide rails are used to stabilize the brush mounts, reducing the level difference and preventing material shift by ensuring the brush mounts remain horizontal and minimizing vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the brush mount is fixed to the chain at the central part attached to every three links, then the conveyor table structure is simple, but the track drawn by the brush block greatly bulges out at the corner portion of the caterpillar track, causing a large difference in level between the conveyor table and air table

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor table structureVSAvoidlevel difference between conveyor table and air table
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The brush mount is designed to oscillate and displace with respect to the chain link, transforming from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adaptive connection. This allows the brush mount to automatically adjust its position during operation, preventing the track from greatly bulging out at corner portions and reducing the level difference between the conveyor table and air table.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If an oscillating mechanism is arranged to all the brush mounts, then the track drawn by the brush block is prevented from greatly bulging out, but the number of components increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelevel difference between conveyor table and air tableVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying oscillating mechanisms to all brush mounts uniformly, the invention selectively applies the oscillating and displacing capability only to specific brush mounts located at critical positions (corner portions of the caterpillar track). This localized approach maintains manufacturing precision where needed while avoiding unnecessary components elsewhere, thus preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the brush mount oscillates and displaces with respect to the chain link, then the track drawn by the brush block is prevented from greatly bulging out, but the configuration becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelevel difference between conveyor table and air tableVSAvoidbrush mount configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush mount is designed to oscillate and displace automatically based on the mechanical interaction with the chain link and the forces encountered during operation. The system uses the operational forces themselves to drive the adjustment mechanism, eliminating the need for external control systems or additional actuating components, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving the desired precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design effectively reduces the level difference between the conveyor table and air table, stabilizes the brush mounts, and prevents sheet material collapse on both the carry-in and carry-out sides, enhancing the conveyor table's functionality with a simpler configuration.

Implementation Method 1

The air tables 2, 3 of the configuration of the cutting machine 100 are configured to push up the sheet material by blowing air from the surface of the tables 2, 3 towards the sheet material placed on the surface to facilitate the carry-in and the carry-out of the sheet material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The air tables 2, 3 of the configuration of the cutting machine 100 are configured to push up the sheet material by blowing air from the surface of the tables 2, 3 towards the sheet material placed on the surface to facilitate the carry-in and the carry-out of the sheet material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

The conveyor table 1, on the other hand, is configured to absorb the sheet material by suctioning air from the surface of the brush surface 1s so that the sheet material does not position shift when cutting the sheet material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2210836B1Conveyor table of cutting machine
Publication Date: 2013.07.17 SHIMA SEIKI MFG LTD
  • EP2210836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2210836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2210836B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

A conveyor table of a cutting machine capable of making a difference in level between a conveyor table and a air table small, and preventing a sheet material from shifting or collapsing with a simple configuration is provided. A pair of caterpillar tracks 10 formed by bridging a chain 11 over a pair of sprockets 12, 13 arranged at a carry-in side end and a carry-out side end in a conveying direction, a plurality of brush mounts 20 attached to the chain 11 in parallel to connect the caterpillar tracks 10, and a brush block 30 having bristles 32 arrayed on each of the brush mounts 20 are arranged. The brush mount 20 has a portion on the carry-in side fixed to the chain 11 and a portion on the carry-out side not fixed to the chain 11..