Punching Tool Cutting Edge Segmentation for Film Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional punching tools for cutting plastic-based foil elements often leave non-weakened material bridges at the transition between punch knives and other components, leading to sticking issues during the separation of complex shapes like yogurt cups.

Innovation Solution

The punching tool features a cutting edge with both cutting sections and a perforation section, where the cutting sections create complete cuts before the perforation section generates a break line, ensuring that material bridges are weakened and preventing sticking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the punching blade penetrates deep enough into the die to create complete cuts, then cutting precision is improved, but the risk of leaving unweakened material bridges at transitions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidseparation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edge is segmented into distinct functional zones: cutting sections for complete cuts and a perforation section for creating break lines with material weakenings. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between cutting precision and separation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the cutting edge have different local properties: the cutting sections are designed for complete penetration to create clean cuts, while the perforation section creates controlled material weakenings. This local differentiation ensures that material bridges are properly weakened at transitions while maintaining precise cutting where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the punching blade creates complete cuts along the entire edge, then cutting completeness is improved, but the ability to create controlled break lines with material weakenings is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting completenessVSAvoidbreak line creation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edge is divided into cutting sections that create complete cuts and a perforation section that creates controlled material weakenings for break lines. This segmentation enables both cutting completeness and controlled break line creation to coexist on the same punching blade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting edge has different local functions: cutting sections provide complete cuts for separation, while the perforation section provides controlled material weakenings for break lines. This local quality differentiation allows the blade to perform both functions simultaneously without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the punching blade uses a simple continuous cutting edge, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to produce both cutting lines and break lines is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting edge structureVSAvoidprocessing versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edge is segmented into cutting sections and a perforation section, allowing a single punching blade to perform multiple functions: creating complete cutting lines and controlled break lines with material weakenings. This segmentation increases processing versatility without requiring multiple separate tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The punching blade is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both cutting sections for complete cuts and a perforation section for break lines. This universal design allows one tool to handle multiple processing requirements, reducing the need for separate specialized tools.

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

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 design allows for complete and quick separation of complex foil elements along target break lines, optimizing product processing by eliminating sticking issues and ensuring seamless downstream operations.

Implementation Method 1

the cutting sections of the cutting edge first penetrate the film element to be processed before the perforation section comes into contact with the film element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the perforation section then creates a break line or predetermined breaking line as it moves further into the die

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4241946B1Punching tool
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 ROHRER TOOLS AG
  • EP4241946B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4241946B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4241946B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a die-cutting tool for cutting plastic-based film elements (12), comprising a die-cutting unit (13) having several knife carriers, each with at least one die-cutting knife (18) having a cutting wedge (28) tapering towards a cutting edge (29), and a die (14) assigned to the die-cutting unit (13) and opposite it for receiving the film element (12) to be processed, wherein the die-cutting unit (13) is mounted to be relatively movable relative to the die (14) during a die-cutting stroke in a stroke direction (15) between a starting position and a processing position, wherein the cutting wedges (28) of the die-cutting knives (18) plunge into the film element (12) to be processed in the processing position and, depending on their penetration depth, produce a cutting line or break line in the film element (12) along an edge length of the cutting edge (29),The cutting edge (29) has a perforation section (32) for generating a break line and on both sides of the perforation section (32) a cutting section (33) for generating a cutting line, wherein the cutting sections (33) project in the stroke direction (15) relative to the perforation section (32).