Nested Plane Plate Design for Press Tool Height Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press tools for producing green compacts have a large overall height and varying elasticities between tool levels, leading to difficulties in demolding and potential cracking of the green body due to different expansion of components when the pressing force is reduced.

Innovation Solution

A level plate design with guide surfaces at different heights to reduce tilting and rotation, allowing for a nested arrangement of plane plates to minimize overall height and uniformity in elasticities, and the use of multiple lifting cylinders to distribute torque evenly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If individual plane plates are spaced apart at different heights along the axial direction, then each tool level can have its own elastic characteristics, but the overall height of the press tool becomes large and components expand differently causing demolding difficulties and green body cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemolding capabilityVSAvoidoverall height of press tool
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where multiple plane plates are positioned within the same axial space rather than being spaced apart. The plane plates are arranged concentrically with different radial extents, allowing them to occupy the same axial region while maintaining functional independence. This nesting approach dramatically reduces the overall height of the press tool while preserving the elastic characteristics needed for demolding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional axial arrangement (where plane plates are stacked at different heights) to a two-dimensional radial arrangement (where plane plates are nested concentrically at the same axial level). This dimensional change allows multiple components to coexist in the same axial space by utilizing radial space, thereby reducing overall height while maintaining functional independence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual plane plates are spaced apart at different heights, then each can be independently designed, but the different elasticities cause different expansion when pressing force is reduced, leading to green body cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelasticity uniformity across tool levelsVSAvoidgreen body integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting plane plates concentrically at the same axial level, all plates experience the same axial displacement and elastic deformation when pressing force is applied or released. This uniform deformation behavior ensures that all tool levels expand equally when pressure is reduced, preventing differential expansion that would cause green body cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The nested arrangement creates an equipotential condition where all plane plates are at the same axial position and experience identical elastic deformation conditions. This ensures uniform elasticity behavior across all tool levels, eliminating the potential for differential expansion and maintaining green body integrity during demolding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Ease of manufacture

If plane plates have constant wall thickness and rectangular cross section, then manufacturing is simple, but the structure requires large axial space and results in large overall height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplane plate fabricationVSAvoidaxial space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs concentric nesting where plane plates with different radial dimensions are positioned within the same axial space. This allows multiple plates to be manufactured with simpler geometries while occupying minimal axial space, as they stack radially rather than axially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The design shifts from axial stacking (one-dimensional arrangement) to radial nesting (two-dimensional arrangement). This dimensional transformation allows plane plates to maintain simple constant wall thickness designs for ease of manufacture while dramatically reducing the axial space they occupy by utilizing radial space instead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3645259B1Plane plate of a pressing tool
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 GKN SINTER METALS ENG GMBH
  • EP3645259B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3645259B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3645259B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a plane plate (1) for a pressing tool (2) of a press (3), wherein: the plane plate (1) can be moved by means of at least one lifting cylinder (4) along an axial direction (5) in order to actuate a punch (6) of the press (3); the plane plate (1) has an upper side (39) pointing in a first axial direction (38) and a lower side (41) pointing in a second axial direction (40) opposing the first axial direction (38), a connection (34) for the at least one lifting cylinder (4), a centrally located receiving portion (9) for contacting the punch (6) or a punch holder of the press (3), and at least one first guide surface (7), which is parallel to the axial direction (5) and at least part of which is cylindrical, for contacting a first guide column (8), and a second guide surface (31), which is parallel to the axial direction (5) and at least part of which is cylindrical, for contacting a second guide column (37); on the lower side (41) of the plane plate (1), the first guide surface (7) has a first lower end (28) and the second guide surface (31) has a second lower end (32); and the first lower end (28) and the second lower end (32) are arranged at heights (29) which differ from one another with respect to the axial direction (5) and thus are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction (5).