Handheld Scoring Apparatus with Adjustable Guide Carriage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet material cutting devices lack a manually operated apparatus capable of longitudinally scoring and slicing materials of arbitrary length, fail to provide quick latching of guiding and score/cutting mechanisms, and do not have an adjustable guide system to match the width of selected workpieces for linear cutting.

Innovation Solution

A portable, handheld apparatus with a handle, pair of rails, blade carriage, and opposing workpiece guides, featuring adjustable blade cartridges and latching mechanisms to enable precise scoring and slicing along a linear path without requiring significant operator skill, accommodating various workpiece widths and lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a manually operated apparatus is designed for scoring and slicing materials of arbitrary length, then the device can handle various workpiece sizes, but the device complexity increases due to the need for adjustable guides and latching mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to handle materials of arbitrary length and various workpiece widthsVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustable guide system and latching mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into modular components: a handle assembly, a blade carriage assembly, and a guide carriage assembly. Each assembly can be independently adjusted and latched, allowing the device to accommodate workpieces of various lengths and widths while maintaining manageable complexity through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide carriage and blade carriage are designed to be movable along the handle assembly, allowing dynamic adjustment of the guide position and blade depth. The latching mechanisms provide static locking positions during operation, combining dynamic adjustability with operational stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If quick latching mechanisms are implemented for the guiding and score/cutting mechanisms, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional latching components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of quick latching and unlatching operationsVSAvoidnumber of latching components and mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latching mechanisms are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the natural motion of the carriages. When the guide carriage or blade carriage is moved to a desired position, the latching mechanism automatically locks into place without requiring additional manual intervention, and can be quickly released by a simple pulling motion on the carriage itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3403781B1Scoring and slicing apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 GUNNTECH MFG
  • EP3403781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3403781B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3403781B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus (100) for cutting a workpiece (110), the apparatus (100) having a pair of spaced apart rails (2) fixed to a handle (1), the rails (2) extending away from the handle (1) in a first direction, a guide carriage (6) slidingly engaged with the rails (2), a blade carriage (8) slidingly engaged with the rails (2) between the handle (1) and the guide carriage (6), a pair of runners (5) for supporting the workpiece, one of the runners (5) joined with the handle (1) and a second one of the runners (5) joined with the guide carriage (6), the runners extensive in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction, and a cutting blade (11) engaged with the blade carriage (8) in a position for cutting into the workpiece (110) during relative movement between the apparatus (100) and the workpiece (110). With the guide carriage (6) adjusted for receiving the workpiece (110) on the runners (5) between the guide carriage (6) and the handle (10), the blade carriage (8) is adjusted to a location for severing the workpiece (110).