Press Tool Plane Plate with Nested Guide Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press tools for producing green compacts have issues with varying elasticities between tool levels, leading to problematic demolding and potential cracks in the green body due to different expansion of components, and they have a large overall height and weight, making them cumbersome and costly.

Innovation Solution

A level plate design with a one-piece construction, featuring cylindrical guide surfaces at different heights to reduce torque and tilting, and a centrally arranged receptacle to minimize torque, allowing for a nested arrangement of plates to reduce overall height and weight, and using additive processes to adjust rigidity and weight distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If individual plane plates are spaced apart and permanently arranged at different heights, then the press tool can accommodate multiple tool levels, but the overall height and weight increase, making the structure cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of multiple tool levelsVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by arranging plane plates at the same height level, allowing them to be stacked vertically like nested dolls. This enables multiple tool levels to be accommodated within a compact height, as each plane plate can support tool components while maintaining alignment with guide columns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from vertical stacking (different heights) to horizontal arrangement (same height level), utilizing the radial dimension to accommodate multiple tool levels. This dimensional change allows plane plates to be arranged side-by-side rather than one above the other, reducing overall height.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual plane plates are spaced apart and permanently arranged at different heights, then the press tool can accommodate multiple tool levels, but the weight increases, making the structure costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of multiple tool levelsVSAvoidoverall weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting tool levels at the same height level on a single plane plate, the patent eliminates the need for multiple separate plane plates at different heights. This reduces the total weight of stationary components while maintaining the capability to accommodate multiple tool levels through vertical stacking of tool components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If guide surfaces are arranged at the same height, then the plane plate structure is simplified, but torque and tilting increase during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplane plate structureVSAvoidtorque and tilting
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by positioning guide surfaces at different height levels on the plane plate. This asymmetric arrangement creates a stabilizing effect where the vertical offset of guide surfaces counteracts torque and tilting forces during operation, while the guide surfaces remain coaxially aligned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Adaptability or versatility

If different elasticities exist between tool levels, then the press tool can accommodate varying tool configurations, but demolding becomes problematic and cracks may form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevarying tool configurationsVSAvoiddemolding process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates equipotentiality in elasticity by arranging all tool levels at the same height level on a single plane plate. This ensures that all tool levels experience identical elastic deformation characteristics during pressing and demolding, preventing differential expansion that could cause cracks or demolding issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP3645262B1Plane plate of a pressing tool
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 GKN SINTER METALS ENG GMBH
  • EP3645262B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3645262B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3645262B1 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 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, and at least one guide surface (7, 31) which is parallel to the axial direction (5) and at least part of which is cylindrical for contacting a guide column (8, 37); and, in at least one first cross-section (10) extending between the receptacle (9) and the guide surface (7, 31), parallel to the axial direction (5) and along a radial direction (1) running perpendicularly to the axial direction (5), the plane plate (1) has at least one first region (12) having a wall thickness (13) and a first centre line (21), the first centre line (21) running at least in part at a first angle (22) of at least (10) degrees and at most (80) degrees with respect to the radial direction (11).