Combined Grinding Brushing Device for Indexable Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current grinding and brushing processes for indexable inserts are inefficient, requiring separate machines and manual handling, leading to inconsistent quality, increased costs, and risk of damage due to manual processing and additional cleaning steps.

Innovation Solution

A combined grinding and brushing device with a base body featuring an abrasive coating and a brush arranged around the axis of rotation, allowing for integrated edge preparation on the same machine tool, eliminating the need for separate operations and reducing handling risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If separate grinding and brushing operations are performed on different machines, then each operation can be optimized independently, but the overall process time increases and the risk of damage during handling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge preparation qualityVSAvoidtotal processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the grinding wheel and brush into a single integrated tool body that rotates together on the same spindle. The grinding wheel is positioned at a first radial distance from the spindle axis while the brush is positioned at a second radial distance, allowing both operations to be performed simultaneously on the workpiece in one continuous motion, thereby eliminating the need for separate operations and reducing handling time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tool body is designed to perform multiple functions - both grinding and brushing - within a single device. The grinding wheel removes material and the brush simultaneously rounds the edges, making the device universal for both operations that would traditionally require separate specialized tools and machine setups

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

2Ease of operation

If manual brushing is used, then flexibility in processing can be maintained, but quality consistency deteriorates and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing flexibilityVSAvoidedge preparation quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The brush is designed with bristles that automatically engage with the workpiece edges as the tool body rotates, providing self-regulating contact pressure and consistent brushing action without requiring manual application force. The rotational motion naturally maintains uniform contact across the brush surface, ensuring consistent edge rounding quality while reducing dependence on operator skill level

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If wet blasting is used for edge preparation, then cutting edge quality can be improved, but the complexity of the process and cleaning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting edge qualityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of edge rounding from complex wet blasting processes and achieves it through a simple mechanical brush action. By removing the need for water-silicon carbide or water-corundum mixtures, high-pressure nozzles, and subsequent cleaning operations, the invention simplifies the process while maintaining effective edge preparation through purely mechanical means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grain sizes of blasting medium are used to achieve different quality levels, then product versatility improves, but the time required to switch between quality levels increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality level adaptabilityVSAvoidswitching time between quality levels
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The brush is designed with adjustable parameters including bristle length, brush hardness, and rotational speed that can be dynamically modified to achieve different edge preparation quality levels. This dynamic adjustability allows the same brush mechanism to produce varying edge qualities without requiring physical replacement of blasting media or reconfiguration of the entire system, eliminating switching time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 consistent quality, reduces production costs, and minimizes the risk of damage by integrating brushing into the grinding process, enabling unmanned operation and eliminating the need for additional cleaning steps.

Implementation Method 1

Grinding wheels are used in the manufacturing industry, for example, for edge and surface processing of materials with high hardness values

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP3787835B1Combined grinding and brushing device
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 HARTMETALL WERKZEUGFAB PAUL HORN
  • EP3787835B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3787835B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3787835B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

Combined grinding and brushing device that defines an axis of rotation (22) about which the combined grinding and brushing device (10) is rotated during the use thereof, wherein the combined grinding and brushing device (10) has a main body (24) that is configured substantially in the form of a disc, ring or plate and extends in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation (22), wherein the main body (24) has, in a first region (42), an abrasive layer (32) that is arranged directly on the main body (24) and extends in the circumferential direction at least partially about the axis of rotation (22), and wherein the main body (24) has, in a second region (44) spaced apart from the first region (42), a brush (34) that is arranged directly on the main body (24) and extends in the circumferential direction at least partially about the axis of rotation (22).