Clipping Machine Cover Damping for Safe Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clipping machines for producing sausage-shaped products face challenges in safely and easily opening and closing protective covers due to varying closing forces and speeds, which can lead to finger bruising and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a subsection damping device, comprising a gas-pressure spring and a linear extension unit, is used to control the closing speed and force of the protective cover, ensuring it remains below specified safety limits while allowing easier handling by providing additional spring force and damping effects during the closing movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gas-pressure spring is used to support the protective cover, then the ease of operation is improved, but the closing force becomes too high in the last section causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The closing movement of the protective cover is divided into two distinct phases: a first section where the cover closes freely under gravity and spring force, and a second section where the damping device activates to control the closing speed. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both easy operation and safety by applying different forces in different phases of the closing movement.
Solution Approach 2:
A damping device is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the protective cover and the housing. This damping device includes a damping element with a piston and cylinder arrangement that mediates the closing force, allowing high closing forces in the first section while limiting closing speed in the second section to prevent finger bruising.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective cover is made large and heavy for adequate protection, then the safety coverage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
A gas-pressure spring is used to counterbalance the weight of the large and heavy protective cover. The spring is arranged to support the cover in its opened position, compensating for the gravitational force acting on the heavy cover, thereby making it easy to open and close despite its considerable weight.
3Productivity
If higher closing speeds are used for faster operation, then the productivity is improved, but the safety is worsened due to increased risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The damping characteristics of the damping device are made dynamic by designing the damping element with a piston and cylinder arrangement where the damping force varies with the closing speed. In the first section of closing movement, the damping device allows high speeds for productivity, while in the second section, the damping force increases to limit the closing speed and prevent finger bruising.
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
This solution ensures a safe and comfortable operation by maintaining closing speed and force within safety limits, reducing the risk of injury and improving handling efficiency by allowing higher speeds and forces during most of the opening and closing movement.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-pressure spring is used to support the protective cover and is arranged to hold the protective cover in place when positioned in its opened position, while the gas-pressure spring merely reduces the force acting in closing direction
Implementation Method 2
the gas-pressure spring further has a mechanical damping effect or damping function for reducing the closing speed of the cover to avoid slamming
Implementation Method 3
a subsection damping device arranged to exert an additional force on the protective cover towards the opened position and to provide a damping effect to the movement of the protective cover
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clipping machine (CM) for producing sausage-shaped products (S) by filling a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing (M) and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing (TM) by at least one closure means (C), like a closure clip, the clipping machine (CM) comprising a plurality of mechanical and electrical components for producing the sausage-shaped products (S); a housing (H) accommodating the components of the clipping machine (CM), the housing (H) having at least one pivotable protective cover (PC) for covering and uncovering the components of the clipping machine (CM), wherein the protective cover (PC) is pivotably movable between a closed position and an opened position; a first spring device (100) arranged to exert a force on the protective cover (PC) in direction to the opened position of the protective cover (PC); and a subsection damping device (200) arranged to exert an additional force on the protective cover (PC) towards the opened position and to provide a damping effect to the movement of the protective cover (PC), as long as an opening angle (α) of the protective cover (PC) is smaller than a threshold angle (α1).