Combined Guide and Support Element for Disc Cutting Machine Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing slicing machines for cutting string-shaped materials, particularly in the food industry, face difficulties in manufacturing and assembly due to complex torque support systems, which require precise adjustments and lubrication, leading to increased hygiene concerns and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
The elongate support element is designed as a combined guide and support element with rollable roller elements, eliminating the need for a separate torque arm and lubrication, allowing for simplified alignment and improved hygiene by integrating torque support directly into the guide and support element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate torque arm and additional running rail are provided for torque support, then the carriage can be protected against tilting, but the manufacture and assembly become considerably more difficult and extensive adjustment work is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is designed to perform dual functions: guiding the carriage in the y-direction and providing torque support to prevent tilting. The guide rail includes lateral guide surfaces that contact the carriage guide, creating a lever system that absorbs tilting torques without requiring a separate torque arm or additional running rail.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it guides the carriage movement, supports the carriage weight, and provides torque resistance against tilting. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate torque support components and reduces the number of adjustment operations required during assembly.
2Ease of operation
If lubricant is used to improve the sliding ability of the carriage guide on the support element, then the sliding performance is improved, but lubricant is lost and hygiene problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding friction mechanism with a rolling friction mechanism by introducing roller elements that rotate on the guide rail. This substitution eliminates the need for lubricant while maintaining smooth operation, as rolling contact generates significantly less friction and heat than sliding contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of friction by transitioning from sliding friction to rolling friction. The roller elements convert the sliding motion between the carriage guide and support element into rolling motion, dramatically reducing friction coefficients and eliminating lubricant requirements.
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 design simplifies the assembly and adjustment of slicing machines, reduces the need for lubrication, and enhances hygiene by eliminating lubricant residues, making the process more cost-effective and efficient while maintaining precise alignment for clean cuts.
Implementation Method 1
the support elements are designed as roller elements which bear against two opposite longitudinal sides of the guide and support element such that they can be rolled
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
An electrically operated disc cutting machine (1) with a carriage (8) supporting a support plate (6) via a carriage foot (7) which is movable parallel to the cutting plane (E), which is guided movably via a carriage guide (10) with at least two support elements and is linearly movable on a support element connected to the motor housing (3) parallel to the plane (A) of the support plate and parallel to the cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (X), is characterized in that the elongated support element is designed as a combined guide and support element (12) and together with the support elements (11) forms a linear guide, wherein the guide and support element is designed as an elongated rail and the support elements as roller elements which are rollably abutted on two opposite longitudinal sides of the guide and support element, and that the support elements abut the guide and support element transversely to the longitudinal axis of the guide and support element in a non-tilting manner.This allows the disc cutting machine to be improved cost-effectively and with particularly low technical effort with regard to the guidance and support of the carriage.