Dental Mold Pull-Off Lever for Low-Distortion Thermoforming Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for separating dental model molds from thermoformed plastic parts face issues with material distortion and handling difficulties due to varying demolding forces caused by complex contours and undercuts, leading to scrap and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A device with a puller featuring an engagement hook and lever kinematics, articulated via sliding joints and an articulation axis, allows for easy insertion and reliable displacement of the hook without release, facilitated by a reset element and guide elements, enabling controlled force transmission and manual adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a puller with fixed monoaxial pull-off movement is used, then the device structure is simple, but material distortion occurs during demolding of complex contours
Solution Approach 1:
The puller is transformed from a fixed monoaxial movement system into a dynamic multi-directional system through the engagement hook and lever mechanism. The lever can pivot around the axis of rotation, and the engagement hook can deflect transverse to the pulling-off direction, allowing the system to adapt to varying demolding forces and complex mold contours dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement of the engagement hook is extended from a single axial dimension to multiple dimensions. The engagement hook can move not only along the pulling-off direction but also deflect transverse to it through the lever's rotation and the hook's articulation, creating a two-dimensional movement capability that better handles complex contours.
2Reliability
If tensioning means is knotted tightly for secure engagement, then engagement reliability is improved, but handling becomes difficult when changing model molds
Solution Approach 1:
The complex knotted tensioning means is extracted and replaced with a simplified engagement hook that attaches to a dedicated hook engagement area on the model mold. This extraction maintains the reliability of engagement while eliminating the handling difficulties associated with knotting and reattaching tensioning means.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement hook system is designed to be self-contained and self-serviceable. The hook automatically engages with the hook engagement area during mold placement and can be easily released when changing molds, eliminating the need for manual knotting and reattachment operations.
3Device complexity
If the puller is mounted on a fixed axis, then the device structure is simple, but the engagement hook cannot adapt to varying demolding forces
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed axis mounting is enhanced with dynamic elements: the lever can rotate around the axis of rotation, and the engagement hook can deflect transverse to the pulling-off direction. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying demolding forces while maintaining a relatively simple mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in the movement trajectory and force application direction through the lever's rotation and the engagement hook's deflection capability. This enables adaptation to different demolding force requirements without fundamentally changing the mounting structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separating a model mold (7), in particular a dental model mold, from a thermoformed plastic part, for example a plastic film (4), has a separating platform (1) that has a removal opening (2), the edge of which forms a stop limit (3) for a free edge of the plastic part, and a puller (6) for the model mold (7). The puller (6) is arranged on the side of the separating platform (1) facing away from the stop limit (3) and can be moved from an engagement position to a removal position along a pulling-off direction (5), and the puller (6) is mounted on a rotation axis extending parallel to a plane spanned by the removal opening (2) and is attached to a lever (10) movable about the rotation axis. The puller (6) comprises an engagement hook (8) for the model mold (7) and, on the one hand, the lever (10) is articulated to the separating platform (1) via two sliding joints (12, 13) arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the lever (12, 13), wherein one of the sliding joints (12) forms the axis of rotation for the lever (10), and/or, on the other hand, the puller (6) is articulated to the lever (10) via an articulation axis (11) extending parallel to the axis of rotation.