NC-Controlled Cut Material Sorting for Collective Yard Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting machines face inefficiencies when handling multiple cut materials, as they often require separate sorting of products and residual parts, leading to decreased working efficiency, especially when all materials need to be handled collectively.

Innovation Solution

A cutting machine and method that utilize an NC device to control the cutting machine main body, material supply device, and product carrying-out device, allowing for the sorting of all cut materials into a single yard through distinct operation modes, enabling efficient handling of both product and residual materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cut materials are sorted into different yards (product yard and residual material yard), then product quality control is improved, but working efficiency decreases when all materials need to be handled collectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct quality controlVSAvoidworking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting machine provides multiple operation modes that can be dynamically selected based on processing needs. The NC device switches between first operation mode (all materials to product yard) and second operation mode (separate sorting) to adapt to different working requirements, resolving the contradiction between quality control and working efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If separate sorting of products and residual parts is implemented, then material management precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial management precisionVSAvoidsorting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The product carrying-out device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can carry out all cut materials to the product yard in the first operation mode, or separately carry out cut materials and residual materials to different yards in the second operation mode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate handling systems while maintaining material management precision

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

3Productivity

If all cut materials are sorted into a single yard, then working efficiency is improved, but adaptability decreases when separate handling of products and residuals is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial handling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on requirements. When collective handling is needed, the first operation mode sorts all materials to the product yard for efficient processing. When separate handling is required, the second operation mode provides distinct sorting to different yards, maintaining adaptability while preserving working efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4082705B1Cutting machine and cutting method
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 AMADA CO LTD
  • EP4082705B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4082705B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4082705B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cutting machine 1 includes a cutting machine main body (10) configured to cut a material transported along a longitudinal direction of a material into a plurality of cut materials, a material supply device (20) and a product carrying-out device (40) configured to carry the material into the cutting machine main body (10) and to sort and carry out each of the plurality of cut materials into a product yard (45) for accommodating a product or a residual material yard (30) for accommodating a residual material of the material, respectively, and an NC device (11) configured to control the cutting machine main body (10), the material supply device (20), and the product carrying-out device (40). The NC device (11) is provided with a first operation mode for causing all of the plurality of cut materials to be carried out to the product yard 45.