Grinding Machine Optical Contact Zone Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grinding machines for slab elements lack effective systematic control to ensure optimal abrasive tool contact, leading to inefficient material removal and reduced quality of machined surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A grinding machine equipped with an optical system that monitors the contact zone between abrasive tools and slab elements, allowing for real-time image analysis to determine material removal and generate error signals for corrective action, ensuring consistent and accurate control of abrasive tool wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional grinding machines operate without systematic optical monitoring, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and control over material removal are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over material removalVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical measurement methods with an optical monitoring system that uses cameras and image processing to detect the contact zone between abrasive tools and slab elements. This substitution enables precise, automated control of material removal without requiring complex mechanical measurement devices

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates optical copies (images) of the contact zone between abrasive tools and slab elements. By capturing and analyzing these visual copies, the system can determine material removal amounts and monitor tool wear without physically measuring the actual contact area, thus improving precision while keeping the device relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If abrasive tools are used without real-time monitoring, then the ease of operation is high, but the productivity and quality standard are reduced due to material waste and inefficient machining

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback system where the optical monitoring system continuously captures images of the contact zone, the control unit analyzes these images to determine material removal amounts, and this information feeds back to adjust the grinding process. This closed-loop feedback enables real-time optimization of productivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the grinding machine to self-monitor and self-adjust its operation. The optical system automatically detects contact conditions, the control unit processes the information, and corrective actions are triggered without requiring constant manual intervention, thus improving productivity while keeping the operation simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If manual control methods are used to monitor abrasive tool contact, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of material removal control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual measurement methods with an optical detection system that uses cameras and digital image processing. This substitution achieves high measurement precision by capturing detailed visual information of the contact zone and analyzing it through computational algorithms, avoiding the need for complex physical measurement instruments

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 reduces material waste, optimizes abrasive tool performance, improves surface quality, and enhances operational safety by enabling precise control of material removal without direct operator intervention.

Implementation Method 1

an optical group configured to detect an image of a rubbing contact zone between the abrasive tool and the slab element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3299122B1Edge grinding machine
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 ITALVISION
  • EP3299122B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299122B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3299122B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A grinding machine (20,40) of slab elements (T) which comprises at least an abrasive tool (24,44) able to come into contact with a surface (T1,T2) of the slab element (T) and an optical group (25,45) located in proximity of the abrasive tool (24,44) configured for detecting an image of a contact zone between the surface (T1 ,T2) and the abrasive tool (24,44).