Powered Strap Cutter With Biased Hold-Down Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual strap cutting is time-consuming and fatiguing, especially when the load or strap orientation is awkward, and existing shears lack the capability to securely hold down one or both ends of the strap during cutting.

Innovation Solution

A powered strap cutter with a housing, battery-powered motor, and drive train, featuring a cutting head with a plunger, biased hold-down, and cutting blade that secures the strap against a foot with a shear edge, allowing for efficient cutting while holding down one or both strap ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual shears are used to cut straps, then the cutting function is provided, but the operation becomes time-consuming and fatiguing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoiduser fatigue
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical shears with a powered cutting system that uses an electric motor to drive the cutting blade through a drive train mechanism. This substitution eliminates manual effort and fatigue while significantly increasing cutting speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting head is designed with a plunger mechanism that moves dynamically to engage and disengage the cutting blade. The hold-down foot and spring system provide dynamic adaptation to different strap positions and thicknesses, making operation easier while maintaining high cutting speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If conventional shears are used, then cutting is performed, but the strap ends are not held down during cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrap positioning stabilityVSAvoidcutter structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is segmented into distinct functional components: a hold-down foot with spring mechanism to secure the strap, a plunger to drive the cutting action, and a cutting blade. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while maintaining overall device manageability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hold-down foot acts as an intermediary element between the strap and the cutting blade. It secures the strap in position during cutting, ensuring reliable positioning without requiring the entire device structure to be overly complex. The spring mechanism provides adaptive pressure through this intermediary component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 powered cutter significantly reduces the time and effort required to cut straps by securely holding them in place during the cutting process, enhancing efficiency and reducing user fatigue.

Implementation Method 1

a power supply, namely a battery, mounted to the housing, a motor positioned at least in part in the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the hold-down is biasedly mounted to the plunger by one or more springs. As the plunger moves toward the foot and the hold-down contacts the strap, the springs compress

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The link is eccentrically coupled to the plunger to move the plunger in a reciprocating manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3013538B1Powered two-stage strap cutter
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 SIGNODE INTERNATIONAL IP HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP3013538B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3013538B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3013538B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A powered cutter for strap includes a housing, a power supply mounted to the housing, a motor positioned at least in part in the housing and a drive train operably connected to the motor. A cutting head includes a plunger, a cutting blade operably mounted to the plunger, a hold-down biasedly mounted to the plunger, a foot and a shear edge. The drive train is operably connected to the plunger. The plunger moves toward the foot to move the hold-down into contact with the strap, securing the strap against the foot, and as the hold-down secures the strap, the cutting blade contacts and cuts the strap at the shear edge.