Gluing Machine Workpiece Guide Surface Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gluing machines are cumbersome and difficult to manage when guided on the underside of workpieces, making it challenging for operators to access and position edge bands effectively.

Innovation Solution

A gluing machine design that is supported on the upper side of the workpiece, allowing for easier accessibility, with a favorable center of gravity, adjustable tape guide, and a cantilevered workpiece guide surface that can be detachably mounted for flexibility, enabling precise positioning and adaptation to different workpiece geometries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the gluing machine is guided on the underside of the workpiece panel, then the edge band can be applied to the end face, but the machine becomes cumbersome and difficult to manage for the operator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator accessibilityVSAvoidmachine management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional guidance approach by moving the workpiece guide surface from the underside to the upper side of the workpiece panel. This inversion allows the operator to easily access and position the machine on the accessible upper surface, eliminating the cumbersome management issues while maintaining the ability to apply edge bands to the end face through the tape guide device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the workpiece guide surface is fixed on the machine housing, then the machine structure is simple, but the machine cannot adapt to different workpiece geometries and edge band widths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different workpiecesVSAvoidmachine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the workpiece guide surface movable relative to the machine housing through a bearing arrangement. This allows the guide surface to be positioned at different locations and orientations depending on the workpiece geometry and edge band width, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall machine structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The workpiece guide surface is segmented into a detachable cantilever component that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the guide surface to be adapted to different workpiece geometries without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire machine structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the machine housing is designed to be stiff and torsion-resistant, then the machine maintains stability during operation, but the machine becomes less adaptable to different workpiece sizes and configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the workpiece guide surface into a detachable cantilever component that can be independently adjusted and positioned. This allows the main machine housing to remain stiff and torsion-resistant for stability, while the segmented guide surface provides adaptability to different workpiece sizes and configurations through independent positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2875920B1Gluing apparatus with a workpiece guiding surface
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 FESTOOL GMBH
  • EP2875920B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2875920B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2875920B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a gluing machine (10) for applying an edge banding strip (U) to an end face (S) of a workpiece plate (W), with a portable machine housing (20) that can be guided manually along the workpiece plate (W), with an adhesive application device (70) for applying adhesive (K) to a reverse side of the edge banding strip (U) and with a strip guiding device (50) for guiding the edge banding strip (U) provided with adhesive (K) to the end face (S) of the workpiece plate (W) for bonding to the end face (S).The gluing machine (10) is provided to have at least one workpiece guide surface (100) for support and guidance on a top surface (O) of the workpiece plate (W) extending next to the end face (S), so that the gluing machine (10) in its operating position is supported on the top surface (O) of the workpiece plate (W) when applying the edge banding strip (U) to the end face (S), and that a strip outlet (56) of the strip guide device (50) for guiding the edge banding strip (U) to the end face (S) of a workpiece plate (W) is arranged next to the workpiece guide surface (100), so that in the operating position of the gluing machine (10) the strip guide device (50) guides the edge banding strip (U) to the end face (S) of the workpiece plate (W) below the workpiece guide surface (100).