Linearly Moveable Clamps for Tooling Board Centring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centring blocks for flat bed die-cutting, stripping, or blanking machines are complex and expensive, making them unsuitable for entry-level machines, and they require precise alignment and handling, which can be cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective centring block with linearly moveable clamps and a biasing mechanism that allows for easy assembly and precise alignment of tooling boards, featuring slanted surfaces for automatic clamp lifting and a compact design with a helical spring biasing system, enabling precise positioning and easy tooling board exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If swivel mounted clamps are used to centre the tooling board, then the tooling board can be restrained and centred, but the device becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The centring block is divided into multiple independent linearly moveable clamps (first clamp, second clamp, third clamp, fourth clamp) that can move separately along guide elements. Each clamp is independently biased by its own biasing means, allowing simplified individual components rather than a complex integrated swivel mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed to be linearly moveable along guide elements rather than fixed or swivel-mounted. This dynamic linear movement allows the clamps to adapt to the tooling board during insertion while maintaining precise positioning, achieving reliable centring with simpler linear guides instead of complex swivel joints.
2Ease of manufacture
If linearly moveable clamps with biasing means are used, then assembly is simplified and cost is reduced, but precise positioning must be achieved without manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means (springs) are pre-installed on the clamps before final assembly, and the guide elements are pre-positioned with precise tolerances. This preliminary preparation allows for easier final assembly while ensuring that the linearly moveable clamps achieve precise positioning automatically when biased against the tooling board, without requiring manual adjustment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The linearly moveable clamps with biasing means automatically self-adjust and self-centre the tooling board during insertion. The springs provide continuous biasing force that pushes the clamps against the tooling board, automatically achieving precise positioning without requiring manual handling or adjustment by the operator.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple linearly moveable clamps are used, then positioning precision is improved, but the number of moving parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into multiple independent clamps (first, second, third, and fourth clamps) each with its own guide element and biasing means. This segmentation allows each clamp to independently contribute to positioning precision while maintaining simple individual components with linear movement, avoiding the need for complex interconnected mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each clamp is designed with specific local functions: clamps on opposite sides (first and third, second and fourth) work together to restrain movement in different directions. The guide elements provide localized linear guidance, and the biasing means provide localized spring force. This distribution of localized functions across multiple simple clamps achieves high positioning precision without requiring each individual component to be complex.
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 solution provides precise positioning of tooling boards with reduced assembly complexity and cost, allowing for high-precision processing without manual handling of clamps, and enables single-person operation for tooling board exchange, enhancing the usability and efficiency of entry-level machines.
Implementation Method 1
The centring block further comprises at least one biasing means which is configured to bias the first and the second clamps towards an aligning position against the tooling board
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the clamps, in particular both of the clamps, comprise a slanted surface facing away of the reception space and in a direction opposite to the insertion direction, wherein a clamp is moved against a biasing force of the biasing means when a force is applied on the slanted surface to lift the clamp
Data Source
AI summary
A centring block (12) for centring a tooling board (14) in a flat bed die-cutting, stripping or blanking machine is provided, the tooling board (14) having a protruding alignment element (30), comprising a first clamp (24) and a second clamp (26) which are arranged adjacent to each other to define a reception space (28) between them and which are mounted linearly moveable separately from each other in a direction perpendicular to a main extension plane of the tooling board (14) and at least one biasing means (34) which is configured to bias the first and the second clamps (24, 26) towards an aligning position against the tooling board (14), wherein each of the clamps (24, 26) comprises a stop portion (31) for restricting a movement of the tooling board (14) in an insertion and an opposite direction and to fix the tooling board (14) is in a centre position. Furthermore, a centring assembly (10) comprising a centring block (12) is provided.