Circular Blade Rod Cutting Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rod cutting devices in the tobacco processing industry fail to provide a safe, quick, and clean cut through rods without deflecting them from their path, and are not adaptable for cutting multiple strands efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A rod cutting device with a circular blade that rotates about an axis transverse to the rod, guided linearly by a circular knife guide device, allowing for perpendicular movement and adjustable angles to accommodate multiple strands, utilizing a hydraulic cylinder or motors for linear movement and featuring a wavy or toothed cutting edge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a circular blade is used for cutting rods, then the cutting speed increases, but the rod may be deflected from its path during cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidrod path stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A guide device with guide openings is introduced as an intermediary element between the circular blade and the rod. The guide openings constrain the rod's movement path, preventing deflection during high-speed cutting while allowing the circular blade to rotate at high speeds for efficient cutting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The orientation of the circular blade's axis of rotation is changed to be substantially perpendicular to the rod's longitudinal axis. This parameter change in blade orientation, combined with the guide device, enables high-speed cutting while maintaining rod path stability through proper geometric alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the circular blade is designed for single strand cutting, then the cutting precision is high, but the device cannot efficiently process multiple strands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidmulti-strand processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is designed with multiple guide openings that can accommodate multiple strands simultaneously. The circular blade's rotational cutting action works effectively for all strands passing through the guide openings, enabling the device to process multiple strands with the same cutting precision as single-strand cutting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device is segmented into multiple guide openings, each capable of guiding a separate strand. This segmentation allows independent positioning of multiple strands while maintaining precise cutting for each strand through the common circular blade mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the circular blade moves quickly through the rod, then productivity increases, but the cut quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting productivityVSAvoidcut quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is pre-positioned and constrained in the guide openings before the circular blade begins cutting. This preliminary positioning ensures that the rod remains stable and properly aligned throughout the high-speed cutting process, maintaining cut quality while enabling high productivity through rapid blade rotation and quick feed movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables precise, fast, and controlled cutting of rods and strands, allowing for efficient processing and defined cut lengths, even at high speeds, with the ability to adjust angles for optimal performance and accommodate multiple strands, ensuring safe operation and efficient machine startup and shutdown.

Implementation Method 1

a circular blade that rotates about an axis transverse to the rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear force: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 2

The circular blade guide device can be provided with a hydraulic cylinder that generates the linear movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP2220949B1Length cutting
Publication Date: 2013.06.05 KORBER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP2220949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2220949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2220949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The cutting device has a circular knife (10) rotatable around a rotational axis (11). A circular knife guiding device is arranged parallel to the rotational axis and linearly moves the circular knife during operating the device. The rotational axis is arranged perpendicular to rod guide paths (19, 19'). A rod guide device (17) is provided with two guide openings for guiding two rods (14, 15), which are arranged parallel to each other. The rod guide paths serve as a hinge bracket for the circular knife. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for cutting rods in a tobacco processing industry (2) a method for controlled shut down of a rod-making machine.