Button Maker Layout for Single-Direction Loading and Detachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing button product manufacturing devices lack convenience in operations such as loading and detachment of components, leading to inefficiencies during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A button product manufacturing device is designed with a cassette and conveying unit that can be pulled out from a common direction, allowing for simplified operations like refilling and detachment, enhancing operational convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If members (film, front lid, back lid) are loaded and components are detached in the related art button product manufacturing device, then the manufacturing process can be completed, but the operational convenience is poor and requires operations from multiple directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational convenienceVSAvoidloading and detachment operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separable functional modules: the conveying unit can be detached from the housing, and the cassette can be removed from the accommodation chamber. This segmentation allows each component to be independently accessed and maintained, improving operational convenience without complicating the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying unit is extracted as a detachable component from the housing, and the cassette is extracted as a removable component from the accommodation chamber. This extraction enables operators to access and replace these components from a single direction (front side), eliminating the need to access multiple directions and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If the conveying unit is made detachable from the housing, then maintenance and component replacement become easier, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent replacement easeVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying unit is segmented as a separate detachable module from the housing, allowing it to be removed and replaced independently. This segmentation simplifies repair operations as the conveying unit can be accessed and replaced from the front side without disassembling the entire device, while the modular structure adds minimal complexity to the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the cassette is designed to be pulled out from the first accommodation chamber, then refilling operations become more convenient, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefilling convenienceVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cassette is extracted as a removable component from the first accommodation chamber, allowing operators to pull it out and refill it from the front side of the device. This extraction design simplifies refilling operations significantly, and the housing structure is modified minimally to accommodate this removable cassette design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4640105A1Badge product making device
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP4640105A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4640105A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4640105A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a button product making device with which an operation for making a button product can be performed from a particular direction. A button product making device 100 comprises: a printing unit 1 that includes a cassette 90 accommodating a medium W to be printed, and a housing 80 with a first accommodation chamber 81 accommodating the cassette 90, and performs printing on the medium W to be printed; a mold unit 3 that joins a front member 11 covered with the medium W to be printed and a back member 12 to make a button product 10; and a conveying unit 2 that conveys the medium W to be printed from the printing unit 1 to above the front member 11 in the mold unit 3 and is attachable/detachable with respect to the housing 80. The direction in which the cassette 90 is withdrawn from the first accommodation chamber 81 is the same as a detachment direction in which the conveying unit 2 is detached from the housing 80.