Furniture Component Lamellae Cutting for One-Piece Variable Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of furniture components with variable geometric extension is complex and costly due to the need for precise alignment and gluing of lamellae, requiring multiple steps and high material strength, leading to increased time and expense.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a one-piece base body where the separating sections are cut using high-energy cutting processes like water jet or laser cutting, forming connecting sections automatically, allowing for simpler and cost-effective production of lamellae packs with improved mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional gluing methods are used to connect lamellae, then the furniture component achieves structural integrity, but the production process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical gluing process with a mechanical cutting process. High-energy cutting processes (water jet or laser cutting) are used to create separating sections in the base body, which automatically forms connecting sections between lamellae. This substitution eliminates the need for glue application, alignment, clamping, and drying steps, significantly simplifying the production process while maintaining structural integrity through the mechanically formed connecting sections.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the connecting sections from the base body through selective cutting. By removing material at specific locations to create separating sections, the connecting sections are automatically formed and extracted as integral parts of the base body structure. This approach eliminates the need for separate connection components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If traditional gluing methods are used to connect lamellae, then the furniture component achieves structural integrity, but the production time increases due to drying time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the time-consuming chemical gluing process with an immediate mechanical cutting process. The high-energy cutting processes (water jet or laser cutting) create the separating and connecting sections in a single operational step without requiring drying time. The structural integrity is achieved immediately upon completion of the cutting process, eliminating the waiting period associated with adhesive curing.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs the forming of connecting sections as a preliminary action during the base body fabrication process itself. By integrating the creation of separating and connecting sections into the base body manufacturing step, the structural integrity is established before final assembly, eliminating subsequent time-consuming joining operations and their associated drying times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If traditional gluing methods are used to connect lamellae, then the furniture component achieves structural integrity, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the multi-step chemical gluing process with a single-step mechanical cutting process using high-energy cutting methods. This substitution eliminates the need for glue materials, application equipment, clamping devices, and the labor-intensive alignment and monitoring processes, thereby reducing both material costs and manufacturing overhead while maintaining structural integrity through the precisely formed connecting sections.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the formation of separating sections and connecting sections into a single cutting operation. By combining these functions into one integrated process step performed on the base body, the patent eliminates the need for separate operations for each type of section, reducing process complexity and production costs while ensuring structural integrity through the unified design approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If traditional gluing methods are used to connect lamellae, then the furniture component achieves structural integrity, but the shaping freedom is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidshaping freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the constraint-imposing gluing process with a flexible cutting process. High-energy cutting methods (water jet or laser cutting) can easily accommodate complex geometries and varying shapes without the limitations of glue joint design. The connecting sections are formed by removing material rather than adding it, allowing for greater design freedom and adaptability in shaping the base body and its lamellae while maintaining structural integrity through the cut-formed connections.

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 approach reduces production time and costs, enhances mechanical stability, and allows for greater freedom in shaping and size variation of furniture components, enabling efficient production of variable extension furniture with improved resistance to deformation.

Implementation Method 1

carrying out a cutting process on the base body to produce the at least one separating section between the lamellae while retaining the at least one connecting section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater jet cutting: Jet Erosion

Implementation Method 2

A method involving a one-piece base body where the separating sections are cut using high-energy cutting processes like water jet or laser cutting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser cutting: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP2764797B1Method for the production of a furniture component and furniture component produced by this method
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 LIGNUM ARTS
  • EP2764797B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2764797B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2764797B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves providing a main body (30) and carrying out a cutting process on the main body for generating a separating section (22b) between fins (22) while maintaining a connecting portion (22a). A cutting gap is generated by width of less than about 1 mm. The main body is made of a wood fiber material, which comprises a binder. Cutting edges are grinded, and a surface of the main body is coated. A peripheral edge of the main body is cut, and the surface of the main body is coated. An independent claim is also included for a furniture component.