Rotatable Conveyor Safety Plate for Wood Splitting Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wood processing machines with movable conveyor belts fail to maintain a safe distance from the splitting knife, posing a risk of user injury due to the space created when the belt moves from a vertical transport position, which does not meet safety standards like DIN EN 609-1.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable conveyor belt system with rotatable fulcrum and movable protective plates that automatically adjust to cover the space created by the conveyor belt's movement, ensuring the splitting knife is inaccessible, eliminating the need for sensors and providing a cost-effective, reliable safety mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the conveyor belt is made movable and adjustable to different angles, then the machine's versatility and ease of operation are improved, but safety is worsened because the movement creates access space to the splitting knife

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor belt position adjustmentVSAvoiduser access to splitting knife

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the user and the splitting knife. This plate moves together with the conveyor belt but maintains a constant protective barrier, allowing the belt to be adjustable while preventing access to the dangerous area regardless of belt position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective plate is made dynamic by connecting it to the conveyor belt's movement mechanism. As the belt moves to different angles, the protective plate automatically follows and adjusts its position, maintaining continuous protection without requiring manual intervention or complex sensor systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible protective net with swinging doors and sensors is used, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from splitting knifeVSAvoidsensor system and movable doors

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective plate serves itself by being mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt's movement system. It automatically positions itself to maintain protection without requiring separate sensors, motors, or control systems to detect and respond to belt position changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The complex sensor and control system is extracted and replaced with a simple mechanical linkage. The protective function is achieved through pure mechanical movement coupled to the conveyor belt, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, controllers, and power systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the splitting knife is moved further in the machine interior with elongated side plates, then safety distance is improved, but this solution is not useful when the transport belt is adjustable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance to splitting knifeVSAvoidadjustable transport belt

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a static elongated side plate, a dynamic protective plate is used that is mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt. This allows the protective barrier to maintain the required safety distance regardless of the belt's angular position, making it compatible with adjustable transport belts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4197727B1A splitting, a cutting or a cutting-splitting machine with a safety mechanism for restraining access to splitting means

Publication Date: 2024.11.06 PISEK - VITLI KRPAN D O O

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AI summary

The present invention belongs to the field of splitting and cutting-splitting machines, particularly to the field of safety devices for said machines, which prevent the user from accessing to parts, which split or cut wood. The invention relates to a splitting, a cutting or a cutting-splitting machine with a safety mechanism for restraining access to splitting means. The machine has a frame to which a movable and optionally left-right adjustable conveyor belt is mounted, said conveyor belt being rotatable around a fulcrum in the bottom part of the conveyor belt. On both sides of the conveyor belt, a movable protective plate is provided, so that the protective plate is arranged to cover at least part of the machine frame and part of the conveyor belt side. The protective plate is provided with at least one groove, cut-out, guide or a similar structure, along which a screw, or a similar element mounted on the side of the conveyor belt and/or on the machine frame is movable. The protective plate is through a connective lever or a handle connected to an axis of the protective plate, which is located in the bottom part of the conveyor belt frame, wherein the protective plate is mounted to the fulcrum of the conveyor belt, around which said conveyor belt is rotatable and thus enables installation of the conveyor belt in a transport position or in a working position at any angle relative to the ground.