Cleaning Tool Attachment for Complex Workpiece Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Some workpiece shapes make it difficult to remove burrs, chips, or cleaning liquid from internal recesses using existing high-pressure cleaning devices.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning tool attachment with a rotation axis conversion gear mechanism and synchronous rotation mechanism is mounted on a main spindle, allowing multiple cleaning tools to rotate at the same speed and phase angle, effectively reaching and removing foreign matter and cleaning liquid from workpieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single rotational nozzle is used for high-pressure cleaning, then the cleaning device can operate simply, but it cannot effectively clean internal recesses of complex workpiece shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning capability for complex shapesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning device is segmented into multiple independent rotational nozzles (first rotational nozzle and second rotational nozzle) that can be mounted on the same spindle. Each nozzle can be independently oriented to target different areas of the workpiece, including internal recesses, thereby enhancing adaptability to complex shapes without requiring a completely new device design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a dimensional change by mounting nozzles at different angular positions around the spindle axis. The first rotational nozzle and second rotational nozzle are positioned at different orientations, allowing them to attack the workpiece from multiple directions simultaneously, enabling effective cleaning of internal recesses and complex geometries.

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

2Productivity

If multiple rotational nozzles are mounted on the same spindle, then cleaning coverage increases, but synchronization of nozzle rotation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidrotation synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple rotational nozzles are merged onto a single spindle structure, sharing the same rotational axis and drive mechanism. This integration ensures that all nozzles rotate in perfect synchronization at the same speed, eliminating the need for separate drive systems and maintaining reliable rotational coordination while increasing cleaning coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single spindle serves as a universal mounting structure for multiple rotational nozzles of different types and orientations. This multi-functional design allows various cleaning tools to be mounted on the same rotating platform, ensuring they all benefit from the synchronized rotation and can be selectively positioned to address different cleaning requirements.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If nozzles are positioned at different orientations, then access to internal recesses improves, but maintaining synchronous phase angles becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to cleaning target areasVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure utilizes angular positioning around the spindle axis to achieve different nozzle orientations. By arranging nozzles at specific angular positions (e.g., 90 degrees apart), the system gains the ability to access internal recesses and various surfaces of the workpiece while maintaining a relatively simple radial mounting structure that naturally supports synchronous rotation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting structure is designed to be dynamically balanced, allowing nozzles at different orientations to rotate smoothly without interfering with each other. The structural design accommodates the dynamic forces generated during high-speed rotation, ensuring that nozzles maintain their relative phase angles automatically through proper balancing and positioning rather than requiring complex active control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3178572B1Cleaning tool attachment
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 SUGINO MACHINE
  • EP3178572B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3178572B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3178572B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaning tool attachment reduces the amount of foreign matter or cleaning liquid remaining on a workpiece. The cleaning tool attachment includes a housing (2), a first shaft (3) integrally connectable to a main spindle, a second shaft (4) having an axial direction different from an axial direction of the first shaft (3), a plurality of tool mounting shafts (5) having an axial direction parallel to the axial direction of the second shaft (4), a rotation axis conversion gear mechanism (6) arranged in the housing, and a synchronous rotation mechanism (8) arranged in the housing. The synchronous rotation mechanism (8) transmits a driving force of the second shaft (4) to the plurality of tool mounting shafts (5), and rotates the plurality of tool mounting shafts (5) at the same rotational speed and with synchronous phase angles.