Cutter Knife Plastic Layer Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutter knives in meat processing machines face challenges with disassembly and assembly efforts, risk of injury, vibration-induced cracks or breakage, and difficulty in cleaning, which affect their operational efficiency and safety.

Innovation Solution

The cutter knife design incorporates a plastic layer or element on the knife base, providing a positive and cohesive coating or arrangement that reduces vibrations, simplifies assembly and disassembly, and enhances cleaning ease, with the plastic acting as a spacing and sealing element between knife levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal cutter knife is used, then cutting performance is maintained, but vibrations cause cracks and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of cracks and breakageVSAvoidvibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutter knife combines metal cutting section with plastic mounting section and plastic layer. The plastic layer (polymer material) acts as a vibration dampening medium between the metal blade and the mounting structure, reducing vibration transmission that causes cracks and breakage in conventional all-metal designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter of the mounting section from metal to plastic, which has different vibration characteristics. The plastic material provides higher damping characteristics, reducing the harmful vibrations that lead to cracking and breakage in traditional metal construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If separate sealing elements are used, then sealing function is provided, but assembly and disassembly effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassembly effortVSAvoidnumber of separate components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged into the plastic layer itself. The plastic layer is designed to directly contact and seal against the mounting section surfaces, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements like gaskets or O-rings. This integration reduces the number of parts and simplifies assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a vibration dampener, a sealing element, and a protective coating. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sealing components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If metal surface is used, then structural strength is maintained, but cleaning difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning easeVSAvoidcleaning difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic layer provides a non-stick surface that is easier to clean compared to traditional metal surfaces. The polymer material has different surface properties that prevent food accumulation and make cleaning more effective, while the metal cutting section maintains its structural strength and cutting performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the cutter knife have different material qualities optimized for their specific functions: the cutting section is metal for strength and cutting performance, while the mounting section and plastic layer are polymer materials optimized for vibration dampening, sealing, and ease of cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If plastic layer is applied to knife base, then vibrations are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration reductionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cutter knife is manufactured as a composite structure with the plastic layer integrated into the mounting section. This allows the vibration-dampening plastic component to be manufactured simultaneously with the metal cutting section through coordinated forming processes, avoiding the need for separate assembly steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the multi-material construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 reduces the risk of cracks and breakage, improves safety by eliminating the need for separate sealing elements, and facilitates easier cleaning and maintenance, while maintaining the cutter knife's operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the vibrations of the cutter knives during operation are to be reduced, thereby decreasing the risk of cracking and even breakage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the material bond is created by an adhesive which is arranged between the surface of the knife base and the inner surface of the plastic element, forming an adhesive layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4260942A1Mounting, vibration and hygiene-optimized cutter knife
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 ASTOR SCHNEIDWERKZEUGE
  • EP4260942A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4260942A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4260942A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a cutter knife (100) for a shredding machine or a mixer, wherein the cutter knife (100) comprises a cutting section as a knife blade (10) and a mounting section as a knife base (20), wherein the knife base (20) is a disc body or a disc body segment of the disc body, each having a central opening (50) for receiving a shaft, and wherein at least one knife blade (10) or several knife blades (10) are arranged on an outer end face (203) of the disc body or disc body segments. It is provided that a plastic layer (30') is partially or completely arranged on the surface of the knife base (20) of the cutter knife (100), or that a plastic element is partially or completely arranged on the surface of the knife base (20) of the cutter knife (100).