Rotating Cutter Unit with Support Surface for Plasterboard

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plasterboards tend to get stuck in the cutter device during the manufacturing process, leading to jamming and loss of valuable manufacturing time, especially when processing relatively soft plasterboards.

Innovation Solution

The cutter unit is equipped with a plasterboard supporting surface that supports the plasterboard during at least part of the spinning motion, outside of the cutting position, to prevent bending and sagging at the cutter device position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the cutter unit is equipped with a knife blade that extends traverse to the traveling direction of the plasterboard, then the plasterboard can be cut effectively, but the plasterboard tends to get stuck and cause jamming during the cutting process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting effectivenessVSAvoidcutter device jamming
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutter unit is divided into functionally distinct segments: a knife blade for cutting and a supporting surface for stabilization. The supporting surface is positioned radially inward from the knife blade, creating separate functional zones that work together to prevent jamming while maintaining cutting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting surface acts as an intermediary element between the plasterboard and the knife blade. It provides a stable platform that prevents the plasterboard from bending and sagging, thereby reducing the likelihood of jamming during the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the plasterboard is relatively soft, then it is easier to process, but it is more prone to bending and sagging at the cutter device position, leading to jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplasterboard processabilityVSAvoidcutter device jamming
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface is positioned at a specific radial distance from the longitudinal axis, creating a localized support zone. This local quality enhancement provides targeted support to the plasterboard at the critical cutting position, preventing bending and sagging without affecting the overall processability of soft plasterboard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the knife blade extends in a direction traverse to the traveling direction of the plasterboard, then cutting can be performed, but the plasterboard may bend and sag at the cutter device position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous cutting capabilityVSAvoidplasterboard shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface provides preliminary support to the plasterboard before the knife blade makes contact. This preliminary action stabilizes the plasterboard in advance, preventing bending and sagging that would otherwise occur during the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4552813A1Cutter unit for cutting plasterboard pieces from a continuous supply of plasterboard while supporting the plasterboard, and plasterboard manufacturing device with such cutter unit
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 ETEX BUILDING PERFORMANCE INT SAS
  • EP4552813A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4552813A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4552813A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In a plasterboard manufacturing device (100), plasterboard (1) is moved continuously over a cutter unit (10) including a knife blade (11), and the cutter unit (10) is driven to perform a spinning motion about a longitudinal axis (AL) thereof, so that the knife blade (11) intersects with the moving plasterboard (1) at regular intervals. The cutter unit (10) is designed to be capable not only to make cuts in the plasterboard (1), but also to support the plasterboard (1) between successive cutting actions. To this end, the cutter unit (10) is provided with a plasterboard supporting surface (17) arranged and configured to support the plasterboard (1), particularly to do so during at least a part of a revolution of the spinning motion outside of the time of intersection of the knife blade (11) with the plasterboard (1). Both a cutter unit and a plasterboard manufacturing device are claimed.