Touch Probe Roller-Shoe Scanning for Discontinuous Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scanning devices struggle to reliably scan workpieces with both smooth and discontinuous surfaces without leaving contact marks, particularly when dealing with grooves, bores, and other surface irregularities, as they either experience static friction or fail to accurately navigate these features.

Innovation Solution

A scanning device comprising a receiving device that accommodates both a scanning roller and a scanning shoe, allowing for adjustable contact with the workpiece surface, enabling the use of either the roller or shoe based on surface properties, or both simultaneously, to prevent contact marks and ensure accurate scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a feeler roller is used to scan smooth workpiece surfaces, then rolling friction is achieved without static friction and no shiny traces are left on high-quality surfaces, but the feeler roller cannot be used on workpieces with discontinuities such as grooves, bores, cracks, or indentations as this causes disruptive impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact marks on surfaceVSAvoidscanning reliability on discontinuous surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning device combines both a feeler roller and a feeler shoe into a single system that can handle both smooth surfaces and discontinuous surfaces. The feeler roller is used for smooth surfaces to avoid contact marks, while the feeler shoe is used for discontinuous surfaces to prevent disruptive impacts, making the system universally applicable to various workpiece conditions.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between the feeler roller and feeler shoe based on the workpiece surface conditions. The feeler shoe can be lowered to contact the surface when discontinuities are detected, and the feeler roller is used for smooth portions, allowing adaptive response to varying surface characteristics during scanning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a feeler shoe is used to scan workpieces with grooves, bores, and acute or obtuse-angled ends, then gentle approach is achieved at high feed rates, but static friction occurs with the workpiece leading to contact marks and shiny traces on sensitive surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning capability on discontinuous surfacesVSAvoidcontact marks on surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning device incorporates both feeler shoe and feeler roller to handle different surface types. The feeler shoe provides reliable scanning for discontinuous surfaces while the feeler roller serves as an alternative for smooth surfaces where static friction and contact marks are problematic.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which scanning element to use based on surface conditions. When smooth surfaces are detected, the feeler roller is engaged to avoid static friction marks. When discontinuities are detected, the feeler shoe is engaged for reliable scanning, creating a dynamic adaptation to surface characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables reliable and mark-free scanning of both smooth and discontinuous workpiece surfaces by selectively engaging the roller or shoe, or both, depending on the surface characteristics, thereby preventing start-up impacts and ensuring precise contact adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

tracer rollers offer the advantage that they only have rolling friction when they come into contact with the workpiece to be traced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

feeler shoes exhibit static friction with the workpiece to be scanned

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStatic friction: Static Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3248746B1Sensor device for machining unit, machining tool and method of scanning
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 HOMAG GMBH
  • EP3248746B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3248746B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3248746B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

Touch probe device for machining devices, in particular machining units for machining preferably plate-shaped workpieces, which preferably consist at least partially of wood, wood-based material and/or plastic, comprising a touch roller device with at least one touch roller, a touch shoe device with at least one touch shoe and a receiving device for receiving the touch roller device and the touch shoe device.