Saw Blade Tooth Grinding Wheel Positioning for Damage-Free Sharpening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the ideal grinding wheel position relative to a saw blade are manual, time-consuming, and prone to damaging saw blades, especially for saw blades with complex geometries or small tooth pitches, leading to high rejection rates and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically determines the grinding wheel position by establishing geometric relationships between the grinding wheel and the saw blade, ensuring precise alignment at the end of the grinding path to avoid adjacent teeth and the main blade, using a control unit to automate settings and positions, and adjusting radial and tangential angles to achieve desired clearance angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual methods are used to determine grinding wheel position, then the process can be performed with simple equipment, but the method is time-consuming and prone to damaging saw blades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade damage preventionVSAvoidposition determination time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated optical measurement system. A camera captures images of the saw blade teeth, and a control unit processes these images to automatically calculate the grinding wheel position based on tooth geometry and pitch, eliminating manual intervention and its associated time loss and error risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the grinding machine to self-determine its optimal position by automatically measuring tooth parameters and calculating the required grinding wheel coordinates without operator intervention, making the positioning process autonomous and repeatable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If the grinding wheel position is not precisely determined, then the setup process is simpler, but adjacent teeth or the main blade may be unintentionally ground causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup simplicityVSAvoidgrinding position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual positioning with automated optical measurement and calculation. The system captures tooth images, extracts geometric parameters, and computes precise grinding wheel coordinates, ensuring accurate positioning without complex manual adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary measurement and calculation of the grinding position before the actual grinding operation. By determining the optimal position in advance through image processing and geometric calculation, the system ensures precision is achieved before machining begins, preventing accidental damage to adjacent teeth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple attempts are made to find the optimal grinding position, then the desired clearance angles may be achieved, but saw blades are damaged and rejection rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance angle accuracyVSAvoidblade rejection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs all necessary measurements and calculations before the grinding operation begins. By determining the precise grinding wheel position and path in advance through image processing, the system eliminates the need for multiple trial attempts, ensuring clearance angles are achieved correctly on the first pass without damaging the blade

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses image capture and processing to obtain feedback on the actual tooth geometry and position. This information is fed back to the control unit, which calculates the appropriate grinding parameters, ensuring the first grinding attempt achieves the desired clearance angles without requiring repositioning that could damage the blade

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If the grinding wheel is positioned to grind complex tooth geometries, then clean cuts are achieved, but the positioning becomes extremely complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut qualityVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual positioning procedures with automated optical measurement and computational geometry. The system captures tooth images, processes them to extract geometric parameters, and calculates the grinding wheel position automatically, maintaining the ability to handle complex tooth geometries while eliminating procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the tooth geometry through image capture and processing. This digital representation is then used by the control unit to calculate grinding parameters without requiring physical trial-and-error positioning, simplifying the process while maintaining precision for complex geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3127642B1Method for determining an ideal grinding disc position relative to a saw blade to be machined
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 VOLLMER WERKE MASCHFAB GMBH
  • EP3127642B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3127642B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3127642B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for determining an ideal grinding wheel position relative to a saw blade (200), in particular a circular saw blade or a band saw blade, wherein the method comprises: determining the position of the grinding wheel center point (PM) relative to the saw blade (200) based on at least one geometric relationship between the grinding wheel (100) and at least one tooth (204) of the saw blade (200) to be ground, wherein the geometric relationship between the grinding wheel (100) and the at least one tooth (204) of the saw blade (200) to be ground is defined at a position of the grinding wheel (100) that corresponds to the position of the grinding wheel (100) at the end of a grinding path on the tooth (204) to be ground.