Hobbing Machine Common Carriage for Integrated Chamfering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hobbing machines require significant structural complexity and multiple processing stations to efficiently produce hobbed and chamfered workpieces with different toothed areas, leading to increased idle time and material deformation issues.

Innovation Solution

A hobbing machine design where the hobbing head is independently movable on a common carriage, allowing for integrated chamfering on the same workpiece spindle without moving the spindle, and utilizing a single slide for all tools to minimize structural complexity and processing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple processing stations and workpiece spindles are used for integrated chamfering and hobbing, then productivity and manufacturing precision are improved, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the hobbing head and chamfering devices onto a single common carriage that moves along a common slide. This merging of multiple processing functions into one integrated unit allows the workpiece to be processed sequentially by different tools without re-clamping, achieving integrated hobbing and chamfering while avoiding the need for multiple independent workpiece spindles and processing stations, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common carriage serves multiple functions by carrying both the hobbing head and chamfering devices, and the single workpiece spindle handles both hobbing and chamfering operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated stations for each operation, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to perform multiple operations in sequence

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

2Productivity

If a rotary holder with two workpiece spindles is used for switching between hobbing and chamfering positions, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and structural effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidle time reductionVSAvoidstructural effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a rotary holder with multiple workpiece spindles to switch between operations, the patent merges all processing functions (hobbing and chamfering) onto a single common carriage that moves linearly along a common slide. The single workpiece spindle remains stationary while the carriage moves to position different tools, eliminating the complex rotary switching mechanism while maintaining continuous processing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static rotary holder configuration into a dynamic linear motion system. The common carriage can move along the common slide to bring different tools (hobbing head or chamfering devices) into position as needed, providing dynamic repositioning capability without the mechanical complexity of a rotary holder with multiple spindles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the hobbing head is fixed on the common carriage without independent infeed movement, then device complexity is reduced, but the hobbing head collides with the workpiece during chamfering operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the motion control into two independent components: the common carriage provides coarse positioning along the common slide for bringing tools into general position, while the hobbing infeed device provides fine independent adjustment of the hobbing head position perpendicular to the direction of travel. This segmentation allows the chamfering devices to operate without collision while maintaining the simplicity of a common carriage structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables the rapid production of hobbed and chamfered workpieces with reduced idle time and material deformation, as the hobbing head can be positioned to avoid collisions during chamfering, and all necessary processes can be performed in a single clamping without re-clamping the workpiece.

Implementation Method 1

a hobbing head (7) for hobbing the workpiece (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

A burr protruding radially from the teeth or even a sharp edge of the teeth is typically eliminated by chamfering, in which a flat chamfering tool is pressed against the edge of the workpiece to be flattened; The material of the workpiece is thereby plastically deformed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3013506B1Hobbing machine comprising a hobber head and two chamfering devices on a common carriage
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 FELSOMAT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3013506B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3013506B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3013506B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a hobbing machine (1), comprising - a workpiece spindle (2) for rotating a workpiece (5) about an axis of rotation (RA), - a hobber head (7) for the hob machining of the workpiece (5), and - a first chamfering device (13) for chamfering the workpiece (5) in a first axial region (6a). The invention is characterized in that the hobbing machine (1) further comprises a second chamfering device (14) for chamfering the workpiece (5) in a second axial region (6b), and in that the hobbing machine (1) has a common carriage (10), on which both the hobber head (7) and the first chamfering device (13) and the second chamfering device (14) are arranged, and by which the hobber head (7), the first chamfering device (13) and the second chamfering device (14) can be moved together along a direction of travel (z). The invention provides a structurally simple hobbing machine, by means of which hobbed and chamfered workpieces having at least two different toothing regions can be produced with little time expenditure.