Separating Device Wear Reduction via Dynamic Holding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing separating devices for elongate workpieces, such as pipes, experience increased wear leading to reduced service life, necessitating a method to extend the operational lifespan of these devices.

Innovation Solution

The method involves partially opening the holding device while the separating knife is within the workpiece's cross-section during the cutting process, reducing contact and wear on the cutting blade, and synchronizing the movements of the holding device and knives using an eccentric disk or electronic control to optimize the cutting cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the holding device remains closed during the entire cutting cycle, then the workpiece is securely held without play, but the separating knife experiences increased wear and reduced service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece holding stabilityVSAvoidseparating knife service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device transitions from a static closed position to a dynamic state where it opens partially during the cutting cycle. Specifically, the holding device is opened at least partially when the separating knife is at least partially in the cross section of the workpiece, reducing contact and wear on the knife while maintaining workpiece security when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the holding device is opened completely after cutting, then the separating knife has minimal contact with the workpiece during reset, but the workpiece may shift or become unstable during the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparating knife service lifeVSAvoidworkpiece position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than opening the holding device completely, the invention applies partial opening - the holding device is opened at least partially during the cutting process. This partial action is sufficient to reduce wear on the separating knife while maintaining enough constraint to prevent workpiece shift or instability during the critical cutting phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2671657B1Separating device and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 SCHMIDT & REMMERT
  • EP2671657B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2671657B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2671657B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The method involves closing a retention device (2) for holding a workpiece to-be-separated. The workpiece is separated (4) by displacing a separating knife from a starting position to a separating position through a cross-section of the workpiece. The retention device is partially opened (6) while the separating knife is partially in the cross-section of the workpiece. The retention device is partially opened before or during resetting of the separating knife from the separation position to the starting position. An independent claim is also included for a separating device for separating a workpiece.