Reciprocating Cutting Blade Gap Adjustment From Above

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional adjustment mechanism for reciprocating cutting blades requires complex manual operations involving both upper and lower surfaces of the cutters, making it difficult to adjust the gap between the cutters safely and efficiently.

Innovation Solution

An adjustment mechanism that allows for gap adjustment by operating the adjustment screws and nuts from the upper surface of the support member, eliminating the need to access the lower surface, using tools to turn the screws and fix them to the support member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the conventional adjustment mechanism is used requiring access to both upper and lower surfaces of cutters, then the gap can be adjusted, but the operation becomes complex and difficult to perform safely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of gap adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the adjustment operation from the lower surface access requirement and relocates it to the upper surface. The adjustment screws are designed with external threads that protrude from the upper surface of the support plate, allowing the entire adjustment operation to be performed from above without needing to access the lower surface where the cutters are located.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the conventional adjustment mechanism by reversing the location of the adjustment screws from the lower surface (where they were traditionally positioned for access) to the upper surface of the support plate. This inversion allows the adjustment operation to be performed from the opposite direction, eliminating the need for hands to be positioned under the cutters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the worker needs to use hands over and under the cutters for adjustment, then the gap can be adjusted, but the worker must take attention to contact with cutters causing complex work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of gap adjustmentVSAvoidsafety during adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the adjustment operation from the dangerous zone under the cutters and relocates it to the safe zone on the upper surface. The adjustment screws with external threads protruding from the upper surface allow all adjustment operations to be performed while the worker's hands remain on the safe side, eliminating the need to place hands under the cutting blades.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary structure (the adjustment screw with external threads protruding from the upper surface) that mediates the adjustment operation. This intermediary allows the worker to control the gap between cutters from a safe distance without needing to directly manipulate components under the cutting blades, thereby eliminating safety concerns during adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If adjustment screws are positioned to allow access from below the cutters, then the gap can be adjusted, but the adjustment process requires alternating attention between upper and lower sides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of gap adjustmentVSAvoidtime for adjustment operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the adjustment operation entirely from the lower surface access requirement and consolidates it to the upper surface. By positioning the adjustment screws with external threads protruding from the upper surface of the support plate, the worker can perform all adjustment operations from a single location (the upper side) without needing to alternate between upper and lower surfaces, thereby reducing adjustment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3964045B1Reciprocating cutting blade apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 YAMABIKO CORP
  • EP3964045B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3964045B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3964045B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An adjustment mechanism is provided which enables easily adjusting the gap between two blades in the reciprocating cutting blade device. This reciprocating cutting blade device is provided with a pair of reciprocating cutting blades which are disposed in a state overlapping each other in the thickness direction, a support member which supports the reciprocating cutting blades so as to enable reciprocating motion in the longitudinal direction, and an adjustment mechanism which adjusts the gap between the reciprocating cutting blades on the lower surface side of the support member. The adjustment mechanism is provided with a screw hole which is provided in the support member, an adjustment screw which is provided with a male screw part that passes through an elongate hole provided in the reciprocating cutting blades and screws into the screw hole, and a nut which is screwed onto the male screw part projecting on the upper surface side of the support member and which fixes the male screw part and the support member, wherein an operated part, for operating rotation of the adjustment screw, is provided on the male screw part projecting on the upper surface side of the support member.