Grinding Device Frame Covering Cutting Edge for Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disc cutting machines pose a risk of injury to users during sharpening and grinding processes due to the exposure of the cutting edge, and they are not hygienic or user-friendly, especially during assembly and disassembly, as they require complex mechanisms and joints that can lead to accidental contact with the cutting edge.

Innovation Solution

A grinding device with a receptacle that grips the knife protection ring only when the stop plate is in a predetermined distance from the circular knife, allowing the grinding device to be attached and removed safely, even when the stop plate is closed, ensuring the cutting edge is covered, and featuring a frame with cover plates to protect the user from the cutting edge during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the stop plate is opened to allow the grinding device to contact the cutting edge, then the sharpening function is enabled, but the cutting edge becomes exposed and poses a risk of injury to the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharpening functionVSAvoidrisk of injury
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is designed to automatically cover the cutting edge before the sharpening operation begins. The cover plates are positioned to extend over the cutting edge area, creating a protective barrier in advance of when the grinding elements contact the blade, thus eliminating the need to open the stop plate for safety reasons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cover plates act as an intermediary protective element between the user and the cutting edge. These plates are integrated into the frame structure and positioned to physically block access to the cutting edge while allowing the grinding and honing operations to proceed through or around them

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a blade guard ring is used to protect the cutting edge, then user safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to required joints and opening mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from cutting edgeVSAvoidcomplexity of guard mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function is segmented into multiple fixed cover plates integrated into the frame rather than a single complex movable guard ring. This segmentation allows each plate to independently cover specific areas, eliminating the need for joints and opening mechanisms while maintaining comprehensive protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover plates are merged with the frame structure itself, making the protection system an integral part of the device rather than a separate movable component. This integration eliminates the need for complex guard mechanisms with joints and opening/closing actions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the grinding device is designed with a simple attachment mechanism to the stop plate, then ease of assembly is improved, but the reliability of protection during assembly and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassemblyVSAvoidprotection reliability during assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame with cover plates is designed to be attached to the stop plate in its closed position, with the cover plates already in place to protect the cutting edge before any assembly or disassembly operations begin. This preliminary protective configuration ensures safety throughout the entire assembly and disassembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cover plates serve as a continuous protective intermediary between the user's hands and the cutting edge during assembly and disassembly operations. Even though the attachment mechanism is simple, the cover plates maintain a physical barrier that prevents accidental contact with the cutting edge

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4104969B1Grinding device for a windscreen cutting machine with assembly protection
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 BIZERBA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4104969B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4104969B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4104969B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

A grinding device (22) for a disc cutting machine, comprising a grinding stone (39) for sharpening a rotating circular blade, a honing stone for deburring the blade, and a handle (34) for moving the grinding stone and/or the honing stone to the circular blade, is characterized in that the grinding device has a holder (24) for attachment to a stop plate of the disc cutting machine, with an insertion device for positive insertion into the stop plate, wherein the holder has a U-shaped plate receptacle with a slot for inserting the stop plate into the slot when the grinding device is pushed onto the stop plate, and that a receptacle (43) of the grinding device is provided for positively engaging a blade guard ring, wherein the receptacle is designed to engage the end of the blade guard ring.if the stop plate is at least a predetermined distance from the circular blade in the direction of a rotation axis of the circular blade, and the end of the blade guard ring is not gripped when the distance between the stop plate and the blade guard ring is less than the predetermined distance, and that the grinding device has a frame (36) for covering a partial section of a cutting edge of the circular blade and for pivoting the grinding device from an installation position to a working position. This ensures hygienic and safe grinding of the circular blade.