Rotating Lower Plate Blanking Press for Efficient Mold Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blanking press cleaning methods are inefficient, particularly for large rough pieces, as they fail to effectively remove residues from mold cavities and require significant downtime and additional space, with existing solutions either not ensuring optimal cleaning or increasing machine footprint and downtime.

Innovation Solution

A blanking press with a lower plate that rotates about a horizontal axis within the working region, allowing for an overturned configuration for enhanced cleaning without increasing machine footprint, using a motor-reducer system and balancing elements to manage high loads and facilitate intermediate positions, and incorporating blowing elements for effective residue removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blowing air or pressurized fluids is used to clean the lower half-mold, then cleaning is performed quickly, but optimal cleaning is not achieved especially when blanked rough pieces are large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lower plate is made movable through rotation about a horizontal axis, transitioning from a static position during blanking to a tilted position during cleaning. This dynamic reconfiguration allows gravity to assist the blowing elements in removing residues from mold cavities, achieving both quick and effective cleaning without increasing machine footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the lower plate is moved outside the blanking press for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but machine footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmachine footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the lower plate horizontally outside the press, the invention utilizes vertical dimension by tilting the lower plate about a horizontal axis. This rotational movement repositions the mold cavities to facilitate gravity-assisted cleaning while keeping the entire mechanism within the existing machine footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the lower plate is translated outside and inside the blanking press, then cleaning access is improved, but machine downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidmachine downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lower plate is tilted to the cleaning position immediately after the blanking operation completes, without requiring translation outside the press. This preliminary repositioning enables cleaning to begin without delay, and the plate returns to the working position directly after cleaning, minimizing machine downtime while ensuring effective cleaning access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If common rotation systems with hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are used to tilt the lower plate, then rotation is achieved, but intermediate positions between working and tilted cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation capabilityVSAvoidintermediate positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation system incorporates a positioning mechanism that allows the lower plate to be held at various intermediate angles between the horizontal working position and the tilted cleaning position. This enables flexible operation where the plate can be stopped at any angle during the tilting process, providing adaptability for different cleaning requirements and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution enables efficient cleaning of mold residues within the same footprint, reducing machine downtime and allowing simultaneous piece extraction, with the ability to manage high loads and maintain durability, while preventing residue dispersal within the press.

Implementation Method 1

a common solution is to clean the lower half-mold by blowing air or pressurized fluids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurized fluid flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP4194122A1Blanking press and method of cleaning a half-mould
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 DIESSE PRESSE SRL
  • EP4194122A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4194122A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4194122A1 patent drawingFigure 5a

AI summary

A blanking press (1) comprises a frame (3), a lower plate (12) whereupon the lower half-mold (22) is accommodated and an upper plate (11) whereupon the upper half-mold (21) is accommodated. The lower plate (12) is movable in rotation about a horizontal axis (X-X) contained within the working region (L).