Embossing Device With Heated Turret Head For Small Radius Corners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for embossing decorative layers onto surface elements with small radii are limited by low productivity due to manual operation or moderate cycle speeds, as they struggle to efficiently apply strip-shaped embossing films to rounded corners at high speeds.

Innovation Solution

An embossing device with elastic stamping elements, preferably made of silicone rubber, and a central heating system ensures rapid heat distribution, allowing for high cycle speeds by adapting to the corner radius through a piston-cylinder linear drive and turret mechanism, ensuring optimal transfer of the decorative layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual operation is used to fix decorative layer sections at rounded corners, then the decorative layer can be applied, but productivity is low due to low cycle speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveembossing speedVSAvoidmanual operation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The embossing device divides the continuous embossing process into discrete segments by providing multiple individual embossing tools arranged in a circular path. Each tool can independently emboss one corner of a workpiece, allowing parallel processing and eliminating the need for manual repositioning between corners, thus increasing productivity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The embossing device employs a rotating circular path that dynamically positions multiple embossing tools relative to the workpiece. This dynamic arrangement allows automatic sequential embossing of multiple corners without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between high productivity and ease of operation by automating the process while keeping the system simple to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If stroke embossing is used for rounded corners, then embossing can be performed, but cycle speeds remain moderate and productivity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle speedVSAvoidembossing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The embossing device maintains continuous useful action by arranging multiple embossing tools in a circular path that rotates continuously. As the circle rotates, different tools sequentially engage with different corners of the workpiece, ensuring that the embossing action is continuous rather than intermittent, thereby achieving high cycle speeds and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic rotation of the circular path carrying multiple embossing tools allows the system to maintain high embossing speeds by continuously presenting fresh tools to each corner of the workpiece. This eliminates the need to wait for single-point tools to complete each embossing cycle, resolving the contradiction between embossing speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If plastic pins are used in double embossing head, then higher embossing speeds can be achieved, but heat transport time is long due to insulating properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveembossing speedVSAvoidheat transport time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The embossing device changes the material parameter of the embossing tools from insulating plastic pins to thermally conductive materials that can rapidly transport heat. This parameter change reduces heat transport time while maintaining high embossing speeds, resolving the contradiction between speed and heat transport efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the insulating plastic pin material from the embossing tools and replaces it with materials that do not suffer from heat transport delays. This removal of the problematic material property allows the system to achieve both high embossing speeds and rapid heat transport, eliminating the time loss associated with thermal conduction through insulating materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If a single embossing tool is used for narrow sides, then the device is simple, but it cannot achieve high productivity for multiple corners

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput per unit timeVSAvoidnumber of embossing tools
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The embossing device segments the embossing function into multiple independent tools arranged in a circular path. Each tool is responsible for embossing one corner, allowing parallel processing of multiple corners simultaneously. This segmentation increases throughput significantly while keeping each individual tool simple, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circular arrangement of multiple embossing tools creates a universal system that can handle multiple corners of workpieces in a single operational cycle. Each tool performs the same embossing function but at different positions, making the overall system multi-functional in terms of corner processing capacity, thereby achieving high productivity without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The device achieves high productivity by maintaining freshly heated elastic stamping elements, enabling efficient embossing of small-radius corners with strip-shaped embossing foils at high speeds, suitable for various corner designs and configurations.

Implementation Method 1

the heat has to be transported from the inside of the stamp to the surface of the stamp, which takes a relatively long time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

There is always a freshly heated elastic stamping element in the embossing insert

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP1927479B1Embossing device having a heatable turret head and embossing method
Publication Date: 2013.01.30 LEONHARD KURZ STIFTUNG & CO KG
  • EP1927479B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The stamping device (10) has a turret head (16) rotatable around an axis (18) and provided at a linear drive device (20), where the head is movable back and forth between a stamping position and an inactive position. The head has a set of elastic stamp elements (28) at its periphery, and a heating device (30) is attached to the stamp elements of the head for heating the stamp elements. The linear drive device is formed by a piston cylinder device (22). The stamp elements exhibit a superficially silicone rubber. The heating device is provided in a center of the head.