Punch Holder Stop Mechanism for Safe Post-Sharpening Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing punching apparatuses for metalworking machines face challenges in accurately adjusting the length of the punch assembly after sharpening, leading to potential damage from incorrect adjustments, especially when the cutting tool is excessively shortened, which can cause collisions and stress on threaded couplings, requiring careful and experienced operator intervention.

Innovation Solution

The punching apparatus incorporates a stopping element with anti-rotation means and a threaded coupling with defined minimum length to prevent excessive shortening, ensuring the cutting tool is properly aligned and secured, preventing collisions and thread damage, and allowing safe adjustments even by inexperienced operators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cutting tool is sharpened periodically to maintain cutting capacity, then the cutting edge quality is improved, but the overall length of the tool is reduced, requiring manual adjustment of the punch assembly length which is complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting capacityVSAvoidadjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment through the interaction of the stopping element and threaded coupling. When the cutting tool is shortened after sharpening, the stopping element automatically engages with the threaded coupling at the predefined minimum length position, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment by operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cutting tool and the beating element. It provides a physical stop that prevents over-rotation of the threaded coupling, thereby automatically limiting the adjustment range to ensure the cutting tool maintains the required minimum engagement length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustment of the punch assembly length is performed by experienced operators, then the position accuracy can be maintained, but the operation requires skilled intervention and is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidoperator skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping element provides self-limiting adjustment functionality. As the beating element is rotated to adjust the cutting tool position, the threaded coupling engages with the stopping element's threads, and rotation automatically stops when the predefined minimum length is reached, eliminating the need for operator skill in judging the correct position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping element is pre-configured with threads at a specific position that corresponds to the minimum required engagement length. This preliminary setup ensures that before any adjustment occurs, the system already contains the information needed to stop at the correct position, removing the need for operator judgment during the adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the threaded coupling is rotated to adjust the cutting tool position, then the length of the punch assembly is changed, but excessive rotation can cause collision damage and thread stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment rangeVSAvoidcollision damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping element applies preliminary anti-action by providing a physical barrier that prevents the threaded coupling from rotating beyond the safe position. The threads on the stopping element engage with the threaded coupling and create mechanical resistance before excessive rotation can occur, thereby preventing collision damage and thread stress in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping element acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs the adjustment motion at the predefined limit position. When the threaded coupling reaches the stopping element, the engagement of their threads provides a gradual mechanical stop rather than a sudden collision, protecting the system from shock loads and damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This solution ensures accurate and safe adjustment of the punch assembly, preventing damage to the cutting tool and holder, maintaining thread integrity, and allowing reliable operation without risking accidental errors, thus enhancing the robustness and reliability of the punching apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

a threaded coupling (20) between the first connecting end (9) and the second connecting end (32), the threaded coupling (20) allowing the relative rotation between the beating element (7) and the punching tool (3) for linear movement of the punching tool (3) with respect to the beating element (7) along an adjustment stroke (C)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded coupling: Screw

Implementation Method 2

stopping element (10) with anti-rotation means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-rotation constraint:

Data Source

PatentEP4048457B1Punching apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 SALVAGNINI ITAL
  • EP4048457B1 patent drawingFigure 1~7
  • EP4048457B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4048457B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A punching apparatus (1) comprises a punch holder (2) and a punching tool (3; 13; 23); the punch holder (2) comprises a guiding body (4) provided with a mounting cavity (5) suitable to slidably receive the punching tool (3; 13; 23) and a driving assembly (6) connected to said guiding body (4) and provided with a beating element (7; 17) having a first connecting end (9; 19) coupled to a second connecting end (32; 42; 52) of the punching tool (3; 13; 23) by means of a threaded coupling that enables a relative rotation for a linear movement of the punching tool (3; 13; 23) with respect to said beating element (7; 17) along an adjustment stroke (C); the punching apparatus comprises a stopping element (10) having a first end (11) fixed inside a connecting cavity (15; 45) made in one of said connecting ends (9; 42) and arranged to receive the remaining connecting end (32; 19) and a second end (12) inserted into a stopping cavity (34; 24; 54) of said remaining connecting end (32; 19) and sliding inside the stopping cavity (34; 24; 54); the second end (12) of the stopping element (10) is provided with first stopping means (22) arranged to abut second stopping means (35; 25) provided at an opening of said stopping cavity (34; 24; 54) so as to prevent the stopping element (10) from disengaging from said stopping cavity (34; 24; 54) and to stop the adjustment stroke (C) of the punching tool (3; 13; 23).