Wood Panel Cutting Machine With Parallel Swarf Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting machines for wood panels face inefficiencies due to the main pusher's inability to feed new panels while discharging swarf, leading to long work cycles and low productivity.
Innovation Solution
The cutting machine design includes independently movable support plates on the discharge trapdoor and a robotic manipulator, allowing the cutting assembly to operate while discharging swarf, and using pushing members to feed components onto the table or trapdoor, eliminating the need for the main pusher's pushing bars, and enabling simultaneous cutting and swarf discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the main pusher uses its pushing device to push components and swarf during cutting, then the pushing function is achieved, but the main pusher cannot feed new panels simultaneously, leading to long work cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pushing function into two separate systems: the main pusher's pushing device handles swarf discharge, while a secondary pusher handles component pushing. This segmentation allows the main pusher to simultaneously perform panel feeding and swarf pushing without functional conflict, thereby reducing work cycle time and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a secondary pusher as an intermediary device to take over the component pushing function. This allows the main pusher to dedicate its pushing device solely to swarf discharge while another mechanism (secondary pusher) handles component handling, enabling parallel operations and reducing overall work cycle time.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the discharge trapdoor is in the closed position, then the support surface is continuous, but swarf cannot be discharged efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge trapdoor is segmented into two independent movable support plates instead of a single monolithic door. This allows one plate to be opened for swarf discharge while the other remains closed to maintain support surface continuity for ongoing cutting operations, thus resolving the contradiction between surface stability and swarf discharge efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The trapdoor system transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic partially open state through independent movement of the two support plates. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between maintaining surface continuity and enabling swarf discharge as needed, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.
3Device complexity
If the main pusher's pushing bars are used for swarf discharge, then the pushing function is utilized, but the work cycle time increases due to inability to feed panels simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary pusher as an intermediary device to handle component pushing, freeing up the main pusher's pushing device to focus exclusively on swarf discharge. This intermediary mechanism enables parallel execution of panel feeding and swarf management operations, reducing work cycle time while effectively utilizing the pushing function.
Solution Approach 2:
By assigning swarf discharge to the main pusher's pushing device while introducing a secondary pusher for component handling, the system enables continuous panel feeding without interruption for swarf management. The useful actions of panel feeding and swarf discharge occur simultaneously and continuously, eliminating idle time in the work cycle.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cutting machine to cut panels (2) made of wood or the like has a main pusher (21) and a secondary pusher (22) to move respective panels (2) through a cutting station (17); each pusher being provided with at least one gripping member (24, 28), which is shaped like tongs so as to grip at least one panel (2), and with a pushing device (25, 31, 36) to push at least one component (C) separated from the related panel (2) and/or swarf of the related panel (2) downstream of the cutting station (T).