Manually Actuated Ceramic Cutter With Lateral Guide for Clear Scoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Monoguide ceramic cutters suffer from limited cutting tool mobility, obstructed visibility of the cutting area, and irregular cutting due to friction-induced movements, leading to poor cutting quality.

Innovation Solution

A manually actuated ceramic cutter with a single lateral longitudinal guide and offset track arrangement, featuring rolling elements to ensure smooth and precise movement of the tool-carrier head, enhancing visibility and cutting precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single longitudinal guide is used to move the tool-carrier head, then the device complexity is reduced compared to two-guide cutters, but the operator's view of the cutting area is obstructed by the guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide structureVSAvoidvisibility of cutting area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is repositioned from a central location to a lateral position, moving it to a different spatial dimension relative to the cutting path. This lateral offset arrangement allows the guide to support the tool-carrier head without obstructing the operator's direct line of sight to the cutting area, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and improved visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the cutting tool is positioned in the lower portion of the tool-carrier head for compactness, then the device size is reduced, but the cutting tool mobility and vertical movement are severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool-carrier head sizeVSAvoidcutting tool mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tool-carrier head is divided into functionally independent components: the head body that moves along the lateral guide, and the cutting tool that can independently rotate vertically on a horizontal shaft. This segmentation allows the head to remain compact while the cutting tool retains full vertical mobility through rotational movement, resolving the contradiction between compact size and tool mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting tool is made dynamically adjustable through a horizontal shaft that enables vertical plane rotation. This dynamic positioning capability allows the cutting tool to move closer to or further from the ceramic piece as needed, providing the mobility and adaptability required for effective cutting while maintaining a compact head structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the tool-carrier head moves along the guide by friction alone, then the device complexity is reduced, but sudden and intermittent movements occur resulting in irregular scoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement control mechanismVSAvoidcutting line quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Rolling elements are introduced as intermediary components between the tool-carrier head and the lateral guide. These rolling elements mediate the movement, converting direct frictional contact into smooth rolling motion. This intermediary mechanism eliminates sudden and intermittent movements, ensuring continuous and precise scoring of the cutting line while adding minimal complexity to the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides improved visibility and smooth, straight cutting lines with reduced interference, ensuring high precision and consistent cutting performance.

Implementation Method 1

the longitudinal guide means comprise a single longitudinal guide disposed on one side of the tool-carrier head, the guide being offset laterally from a vertical plane coinciding with the longitudinal path of the cutting tool during the scoring of the ceramic pieces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4624121A1Manually actuated ceramic cutter
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 RUBI TOOLS GROUP SA
  • EP4624121A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4624121A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4624121A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a manually actuated ceramic cutter comprising a work table (1) mounted on a support structure (5), and a tool-carrier head (2) provided with a cutting tool (21) and with an actuating handle (22), which tool-carrier head can be moved along longitudinal guide means comprising a single longitudinal guide (3) disposed on one side of the tool-carrier head (2), the guide being offset laterally from a vertical plane coinciding with the longitudinal path of the cutting tool (21) during the scoring of the ceramic pieces and being attached by the ends thereof to respective sides of supports (51) attached at opposite ends of the support structure (5). The longitudinal guide (3) comprises longitudinal tracks (31, 32) for moving a sliding piece (4), the side of which piece is provided with a horizontal shaft (41) for rotating the tool-carrier head (2) in a vertical plane.