Rotating Leather Cutting Machine with Segmented Work Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leather cutting machines require manual operation for removing cut shapes and waste, leading to low productivity and high labor costs due to non-operative waiting times during the unloading process, which hinders efficient automation of the cutting process.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a rotating operating element featuring multiple work planes that can be independently positioned for leather stretching, cutting, and unloading, allowing for simultaneous operation of these processes, enabling automatic unloading and positioning of new leathers while cutting, and utilizing a conveyor system for waste removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operations are used for removing cut shapes and waste, then the machine structure remains simple, but productivity is considerably limited due to long non-operative waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The operating element is divided into multiple work planes (first, second, and third work planes) that can be independently positioned. Each work plane can perform different operations simultaneously - stretching, cutting, and unloading - thereby eliminating idle time and improving productivity without requiring a completely new machine design
Solution Approach 2:
The work planes are made movable and reconfigurable through a rotating operating element that can position different work planes in different locations (first position for stretching, second position for cutting, third position for unloading). This dynamic reconfiguration allows continuous operation and eliminates waiting time between operations
2Extent of automation
If a single operator performs all manual operations (stretching, collecting, sorting, removing waste), then labor costs are high, but the machine automation level remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The operations are segmented and assigned to different work planes that can operate independently and simultaneously. This allows the stretching operation to continue while cutting and unloading occur on other planes, enabling partial automation and reducing the need for specialized operator intervention during critical phases
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple work planes enable continuous operation where stretching, cutting, and unloading occur simultaneously without interruption. While one plane is being prepared for stretching, another is being cut and a third is being unloaded, eliminating idle time and reducing operator burden
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 solution enables automatic and efficient removal of cut leather shapes and waste, allowing for continuous operation with reduced labor costs and increased productivity by automating the unloading process, enabling the machine to perform multiple operations concurrently.
Implementation Method 1
a permeable material, for example felt, on which the leathers to be cut are stretched... the leathers stretched thereon are attracted by the depression source and held still and stable during the cutting operations
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The machine for cutting leathers comprises: a bearing structure (1), an operating element (2), shaped in such a way as to exhibit a rotation axis (Z) and at least three distinct work planes (21, 22, 23), each of which is arranged about the rotation axis (Z) and is provided with an aspirating plate that is activatable/deactivatable such as to retain or release the leathers, and cutting means (3) associated to the bearing structure (1 ), at a relative side thereof, and movable with respect thereto. The operating element (2) is mountable on the bearing structure (1) rotatably about its rotation axis (Z) and is activatable in rotation about the axis (Z) in order to successively position each work plane (21, 22, 23) at three successive and distinct positions (P1, P2, P3) with respect to the bearing structure (1): a first position (P1) of placing the leathers in which the leathers can be positioned and stretched above the work plane (21, 22, 23) and held stretched thereon following activation of the relative aspirating plate; a second position (P2) of cutting the leathers, in which the work plane (21, 22, 23) with the leathers stretched and retained thereon by the relative aspirating plate is located below the cutting means (3); a third position (P3) of unloading the leathers, wherein the leathers can be unloaded from the work plane (21, 22, 23) by force of gravity following the deactivation of the aspirating plate.