Flatbed Machine Table Frame for Portal Rail Parallelism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flatbed machines face challenges in maintaining parallelism and rigidity of the portal guide rails due to the use of continuously cast profile sections, which are not straight enough for direct support and require complex and costly processes to form supports, leading to increased weight and cost.

Innovation Solution

A table design using extruded profile sections with vertical stop surfaces and panel elements that form a rigid frame, absorbing material stresses and ensuring linearity without additional vertical supports, allowing for lightweight construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If continuously cast profile sections are used to construct the upper frame, then weight is reduced, but the profile sections are not straight enough to ensure the required parallelism of the portal guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of upper frameVSAvoidstraightness of profile sections
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming the support for the portal guide rail on the continuously cast profile section before assembling the upper frame. This preliminary formation of the support ensures that the profile section is prepared in advance with the necessary features, allowing for subsequent straightening operations without compromising the integrated structure. The support is formed by removing material or adding material to the profile section in a controlled manner before final assembly, ensuring both weight reduction and adequate precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If material is removed from continuously cast profile sections to form supports, then portal guide supports can be created, but deformation occurs due to released stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to form supportsVSAvoidstructural stability of profile section
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by forming a rigid three-dimensional frame structure that compensates for and cushions the deformation caused by stress release when material is removed to create supports. The additional vertical supports and bracing elements create a stiffening effect that counteracts the local deformation, maintaining overall structural stability. This approach allows the supports to be formed by material removal while the surrounding rigid structure prevents excessive deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the wall thickness and cross-sectional dimensions of the continuously cast profile sections in specific areas. By changing these geometric parameters, the profile sections can accommodate material removal for support formation while maintaining adequate structural stability. The design adjusts local thickness parameters to balance the need for support formation with the need to prevent deformation from stress release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid three-dimensional frame is constructed to ensure parallelism, then portal guide parallelism is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparallelism of portal guideVSAvoidcomplexity of frame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the upper frame into modular components: continuously cast profile sections for the horizontal members and separate vertical support elements. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and prepared independently with appropriate precision, then assembled into the complete frame. The profile sections can be produced with controlled straightness, and the vertical supports are added as discrete elements, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining overall parallelism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If thick-walled and voluminous profile sections are used, then deformation from stress release is prevented, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to deformationVSAvoidweight of profile sections
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the wall thickness and cross-sectional properties of the continuously cast profile sections at different locations. Areas where supports are formed have adjusted local properties to accommodate material removal, while other areas maintain optimized thickness for weight efficiency. This local differentiation allows the structure to resist deformation where needed without uniformly increasing weight across the entire profile section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4183525B1Table for a flat bed machine and method for producing a table for a flat bed machine
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 WISSNER KIRSTEN
  • EP4183525B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4183525B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4183525B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In a table (1) for a flatbed machine with a horizontally oriented flatbed (2), an upper frame (3) enclosing the flatbed (2), a lower frame (9) resting on the floor, and panel elements (16-21) extending between the upper frame (3) and the lower frame (9), the upper frame (3) is formed with extruded profile sections (4-7) that run along the sides of the upper frame (3) and are rigidly connected to one another, and on the undersides of which vertically extending stop surfaces (34) for the upper ends (43) of the panel elements (16-21) are formed. At least one of the extruded profile sections (4-7) on one side of the upper frame (3) has a support (22) for a portal guide rail (23).The subframe (9) is formed with further extruded profile sections (10-13) that run along the sides of the subframe (9) and are rigidly connected to one another, and on the upper surfaces of which further vertically extending stop surfaces (40) for the lower ends of the panel elements (16-21) are formed. The panel elements (16-21) are designed and attached to the subframe (9) and the upper frame (3) as well as to each other, such that the upper frame (3), the panel elements (16-21) and the subframe (9) form a rigid table frame (26).