Compliant Container Cutting Tool for Non-Planar Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated container cutting processes face challenges with containers of varying sizes and non-planar sides, leading to potential damage to products or blades due to improper cutting paths and the presence of hazards.

Innovation Solution

An automated container cutting system utilizing a compliant cutting tool with a repositionable blade and a controller that adjusts cutting paths and blade positions to accommodate non-planar surfaces, incorporating sensors for shape determination and a blade bank for automatic replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated cutting is used on containers with non-planar sides, then cutting efficiency is improved, but product damage risk increases due to improper cutting paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidproduct damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning of the container exterior surfaces to create a digital model before cutting. This preliminary action maps the actual geometry including non-planar sides, allowing the cutting path to be pre-planned to avoid product damage while maintaining automated cutting efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect the actual container geometry and provides feedback to adjust the cutting path in real-time. This closed-loop feedback ensures that automated cutting adapts to non-planar surfaces, preventing product damage while maintaining high cutting efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If fixed cutting paths are used for automated cutting, then processing speed is improved, but adaptability to varying container sizes and shapes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidadaptability to container variations

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed static cutting paths to dynamic adaptive paths. Sensors continuously scan container variations and the control system dynamically adjusts cutting paths in real-time, enabling both high processing speed and adaptability to different container sizes and shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes cutting parameters (path, depth, angle) based on detected container characteristics. By dynamically modifying these parameters according to actual container geometry, the system maintains high processing speed while adapting to varying container sizes and non-planar sides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual cutting is used, then adaptability to non-planar surfaces is improved, but labor efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to non-planar surfacesVSAvoidlabor efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs self-adjustment by scanning its own working environment (container surfaces) and automatically modifying cutting paths. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining adaptability to non-planar surfaces, thereby improving labor efficiency without sacrificing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If rigid cutting tools are used, then structural stability is improved, but ability to follow non-planar cut lines deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidability to follow non-planar cut lines

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool incorporates compliant or flexible elements that allow it to dynamically adapt to non-planar surfaces while maintaining overall structural stability. This dynamic capability enables the rigid tool to follow contoured cut lines on non-planar container sides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250376288A1Automated container cutting apparatus, a system including the apparatus, and a method of cutting a container

Publication Date: 2025.12.11 CORNERSTONE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

The disclosure provides an automated container cutting system, a compliant cutting tool, and a process for automatically cutting containers that have one or more non-planar sides. The compliant cutting tool is attached to a moveable support of the automated container cutting system and uses a blade to cut an outer surface of a container along a cut line. The cut line can be independent of a cutting path of the moveable support that is used to move the compliant cutting tool. In one example the compliant cutting tool includes: (1) a wear plate that contacts one or more outer surfaces of a container during cutting and positions a blade against the outer surfaces during the cutting, and (2) a mechanical interface configured to control repositioning of the blade for the cutting. A blade bank can be used with the compliant cutting tool to allow automatic blade replacements.