Cutting Station Tool Change via Movable Chain Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermoforming packaging machines require significant time and effort to change complete cutting tools due to the need to dismantle and reassemble chain guides and tools, leading to lengthy downtimes.
Innovation Solution
The thermoforming packaging machine design allows for the complete cutting tool to be removed as a unit in the production direction, with cantilever-mounted chain guides and a tool changing carriage for ergonomic handling, minimizing interference and enabling independent alignment of the cutting station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the complete cutting tool is removed and reinstalled through the chain guides, then the cutting tool can be changed, but the chain guides must be dismantled and reassembled, leading to lengthy downtimes and high assembly effort
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide is divided into a fixed part and a movable part. The movable part can be displaced in the production direction to create clearance, allowing the complete cutting tool to be removed and installed without dismantling the entire chain guide structure. This segmentation enables rapid tool changes while maintaining chain guide functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The chain guide incorporates a movable section that can dynamically adjust its position along the production direction. This dynamic capability allows the chain guide to accommodate complete cutting tools of different lengths and configurations, enabling versatile tool changes without requiring full disassembly and reassembly.
2Ease of operation
If the chain guides are designed to accommodate complete cutting tools, then the tools can be guided during movement, but the guides protrude into the production direction and impede the removal of the cutting tool
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide is segmented into fixed and movable portions. The movable portion can be shifted to create clearance space, allowing complete cutting tools to be removed and installed without interference from guide structures. This segmentation simplifies the tool changing operation while maintaining the necessary guiding function.
Solution Approach 2:
A tool changing carriage serves as an intermediary device that facilitates the removal and installation of complete cutting tools. The carriage interacts with the movable chain guide section, coordinating their movements to enable smooth tool changes without direct interference between the tool and stationary guide structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chain guides are positioned to allow cutting tool access, then tool changes are possible, but additional space is required in the vertical direction increasing the machine footprint
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing additional vertical space for tool changing, the invention utilizes movement in the production direction (horizontal dimension). The movable chain guide section displaces horizontally to create clearance, allowing tool changes without increasing the vertical footprint of the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The chain guide employs dynamic movement in the production direction to create the necessary clearance space temporarily during tool changes. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for permanent additional space, maintaining a compact machine footprint while enabling complete tool interchangeability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The thermo-forming packaging machine (1) has chain guides for guiding a transport chain for a web-shaped material (8) and a cutting station (5). The cutting station has a complete cutting tool (4). The complete cutting tool is removed from the thermo-forming packaging machine in a direction of production (P). The chain guides are arranged in a region of the cutting station in the direction of production. A chain deflection wheel provided at an end of each chain guide in the direction of production.