Foamed Plastic Panel Cutting Wire Suction System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional apparatuses for manufacturing foamed plastic panels result in significant material wastage due to excess material removal during cutting and squaring, leading to increased production and disposal costs.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus employs cutting wires with a suction device to minimize material loss by precisely cutting and shaping foamed plastic sheets, reducing material wastage and incorporating an incision station to remove covering sheets, thereby directly aspirating dust and optimizing cutting efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional multiblade cutting units and transverse squaring units are used, then cutting and shaping functions are achieved, but significant material wastage occurs (15-30 mm removal per panel)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidmaterial wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical blade cutting systems with a wire cutting system. The wire, having negligible thickness compared to blades, cuts the foam material with minimal material removal. This substitution fundamentally changes the cutting mechanism from blade-based mechanical removal to wire-based cutting, eliminating the 15-30 mm material wastage associated with traditional multiblade units and squaring units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the critical parameter of cutting tool thickness from several millimeters (blades) to negligible thickness (wire). This parameter change directly reduces the amount of material that must be removed during cutting and squaring operations, transforming the material wastage from a significant 15-30 mm per panel to minimal amounts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If excess material is removed for cutting and squaring, then panel shaping is achieved, but production costs and disposal costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel shapingVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing blade-based cutting with wire cutting, the system achieves panel shaping with minimal material removal. The wire's negligible thickness eliminates the need to compensate for blade thickness in the cutting design, reducing both material costs and the costs associated with handling and disposing of excess foam material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If traditional blade-based cutting is used, then cutting function is achieved, but device complexity and material removal increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidcutting unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wire cutting system replaces complex multiblade assemblies with simpler wire-based mechanisms. The wire can be fed through guides and tensioned to achieve cutting action, eliminating the need for multiple thick blades, their mounting structures, and adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving cutting efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution significantly reduces material wastage, enhances productivity, and improves the reliability of the manufacturing process by using cutting wires with low thickness and independent blade movement for precise cuts, resulting in cost savings and efficient material usage.

Implementation Method 1

The apparatus is further provided with a device for picking up the dust generated as a consequence of the cutting of the sheet-like element 2 to be cut

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3380283B1Apparatus for manufacturing panels made of foamed plastic material
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 HENNECKE OMS SPA
  • EP3380283B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3380283B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An apparatus (1) for manufacturing panels (3) made of foamed plastic material, comprising a supporting framework (4) for a device (5) for feeding a plate-like element (2) to be cut to at least one cutting station (10) and a device (6) for unloading theplate-like element (2) cut into panels (3) made of foamed plastic material from the cutting station (10), the cutting station comprising a supporting structure (11) for at least one cutting wire (12) that forms, along its own extension, a cutting portion (12a) designed to contact the plate-like element (2) to be cut, means (13) being provided for the relative motion of the cutting portion (12a) with respect to the plate-like element (2) to be cut, there being also, upstream of each cutting station (10), an incision station having at least one first incision blade (14a) adapted to provide, at at least one face of the plate-like element (2) to be cut, a respective incision at the region designed to be contacted by the cutting portion (12a) of the cutting wire (12); the apparatus (1) comprises, substantially at the cutting station, a device for picking up the dust generated as a consequence of the cutting of the plate-like element (2).