Dry Machining Cell Airflow Layout for Chip and Dust Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machining technologies face challenges in reducing environmental pollution during automated dry processing, particularly in effectively removing chips and dust generated during machining.

Innovation Solution

The machining cell employs an enclosure with a workpiece table that is partially closed, using a blowing device aligned parallel to the clamping surface and a chip conveyor with a suction device oriented at an angle to the conveying direction, creating a negative pressure environment within the workspace to separate and remove waste efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a machining cell uses dry machining without enclosure, then the device complexity is reduced, but environmental pollution increases due to chips and dust generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenclosure structureVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a blowing device and suction device creating a controlled airflow system within the enclosure. The blowing device directs air flow parallel to the clamping surface to push chips and dust toward the suction device, while the suction device maintains negative pressure to extract lighter waste particles, effectively managing environmental pollution through pneumatic control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces air flow as an intermediary medium between the machining process and waste removal system. The blowing and suction devices create a mediated airflow environment that transports chips and dust from the tool interface area to collection points, preventing direct contact between generated waste and the surrounding environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a machining cell uses a fully closed enclosure, then environmental pollution is reduced, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to limited access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidaccess to work area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is designed with segmented access points including a workpiece table opening and maintenance openings in the housing walls. These segmented openings allow operators to load workpieces, observe machining processes, and perform maintenance tasks while the rest of the enclosure remains sealed to maintain the controlled airflow environment and prevent pollution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the blowing device aligns parallel to the clamping surface, then chip removal efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to precise orientation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechip removal efficiencyVSAvoidblowing device orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise orientation parameters for the blowing device, aligning it parallel to the clamping surface of the workpiece table. This parameter optimization ensures that the air flow direction efficiently pushes chips toward the suction device without becoming part of the complexity management, as it is a design specification rather than a controllable variable during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the extraction device creates negative pressure in the work area, then dust and light waste removal is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removalVSAvoidextraction device energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the blowing device and suction device into an integrated airflow management system. The blowing device directs heavy chips toward the suction area while the suction device simultaneously maintains negative pressure for dust extraction. This merging of functions optimizes energy usage by coordinating the two devices to work together rather than independently, reducing total energy consumption compared to separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 setup effectively separates and removes chips and dust from the machining area, reducing environmental pollution by utilizing the blowing device to direct waste away from the tool engagement point and the suction device to collect lighter waste, ensuring efficient waste management and minimizing contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing device (100) and a suction device (110), wherein the blowing direction of the blowing device (100) is aligned parallel to a clamping surface of the workpiece table (31)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The extraction device is adjusted so that the pressure in the work area is lower than the ambient pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a suction device (110), wherein the extraction device has an extraction channel (112) with an extraction direction (118) oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction (55) of the chip conveyor (51)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 4

A chip conveyor (51) with a conveying direction (55) oriented perpendicular to the blowing direction (105) is arranged below the workpiece table (31)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConveying: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4088860B1Machining cell for dry machining
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 ZIMMER GUNTHER
  • EP4088860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4088860B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4088860B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a machining cell for dry machining with a working area defined by an enclosure comprising an air blowing device and an extraction device, and to a method for operating such a machining cell for machining a workpiece. The enclosure is partially closed by means of a workpiece table. The air blowing direction of the air blowing device is aligned parallel to a clamping surface of the workpiece table. A chip conveyor with a conveying direction oriented perpendicular to the air blowing direction is arranged below the workpiece table. The extraction device also has an extraction channel with an extraction direction oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction of the chip conveyor, forming an angle between 20 degrees and 160 degrees with the air blowing direction. The present invention reduces the environmental impact during automated dry machining.