Punching Machine Movable Guide Scrap Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional punching machines face inefficiencies in separating products from scraps, especially when the scraps are large or have complex shapes, as existing methods struggle to reliably distinguish and remove them without requiring significant manual effort or complex machinery.

Innovation Solution

A punching machine with a separating mechanism that includes movable guides controlled by a unit set by operator input, allowing precise separation of products and scraps by moving guides between retreating and protruding positions along a conveying path, enabling reliable separation even for complex scrap shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If air jet is used to separate product and scrap, then separation is achieved for small or simple-shaped scraps, but separation is incomplete for large or complicated-shaped scraps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to scrap shape and size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs movable guides that can dynamically adjust their positions between protruding and retreating states. These guides are positioned to contact and guide specific portions of the scrap during conveyance, allowing the system to adapt to various scrap shapes and sizes. The dynamic positioning enables reliable separation whether the scrap is small or large, simple or complicated in shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable guides act as intermediary elements between the conveying units and the scrap. By introducing these intermediate guiding components, the system can physically direct and control the movement of scrap through the conveying path, ensuring complete separation from the product regardless of the scrap's characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If worker manually separates product and scrap from stacked sheets, then separation is achieved, but working burden is heavy and working efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation completenessVSAvoidworking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical separation with an automated conveying and guiding system. The movable guides, controlled by a control unit, automatically direct scrap away from products during conveyance, eliminating the need for workers to manually separate stacked sheets while maintaining complete separation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service separation where the conveying mechanism and movable guides automatically perform the separation function without human intervention. The scrap is guided away from the product by the movable guides during the conveying process itself, making the separation process autonomous and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If machine automatically separates product and scrap from stacked sheets, then working efficiency is high, but machine size becomes large and machine becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidmachine complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the separation function into distinct movable guides that operate independently within the conveying system. Rather than requiring a complex dedicated separation machine, the separation capability is divided into multiple simple guiding components that can be integrated into the existing conveying path, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable guides serve multiple functions: they guide scrap during conveyance, separate scrap from product, and can be repositioned to handle different scrap configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single integrated system to perform both conveying and separation tasks, eliminating the need for separate complex separation machinery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2796253B1Punching machine
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP2796253B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2796253B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2796253B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A punching machine comprising a separating mechanism for separating the sheet into the product and a scrap during the conveyance and removing the scrap from the conveyance path. The movable guides 21 are moved in vertical direction by the guide drive units 22 between a retreating position and a protruding position. The setting section 29 is provided for setting a contact start point on the sheet and a contact end point on the sheet S. The movable guides 21 are moved between the retreating position and the protruding position so as to keep contacting with an area of the sheet S from the contact start point to the contact end point while the sheet S is conveyed from the first conveying unit 15 to the second conveying unit 16.