Sickle Blade With Segmented Cutting Angles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting blades experience issues with sticking of material, leading to rapid wear, high cutting force, and adhesion of slices to the knife, particularly due to the sticking of severed slices to the inclined cutting surface, which is exacerbated by small cutting angles and uneven surface transitions.

Innovation Solution

A cutting blade design featuring a large cutting angle of at least 10°, with a radially inward groove on the front side and a flat intermediate area parallel to the rear side, minimizing sticking by guiding slices away from the knife and reducing friction, while maintaining ease of production and re-sharpening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a small cutting angle is used, then the cutting force is reduced, but the slice adheres to the cutting surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting forceVSAvoidslice adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting surface is segmented into multiple zones with different angles: a first cutting surface with a smaller angle (5-15°) for initial penetration with low force, and a second cutting surface with a larger angle (20-40°) for complete separation and preventing adhesion. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cutting blade are given different surface properties and angles. The first cutting surface has a smaller angle suited for penetration, while the second cutting surface has a larger angle suited for preventing adhesion. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate angle in the appropriate location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a large cutting angle is used, then slice adhesion is prevented, but the cutting force increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslice adhesionVSAvoidcutting force
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting process is divided into two stages with different angles: initial penetration using a smaller angle (5-15°) to minimize force, and final separation using a larger angle (20-40°) to prevent adhesion. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both low force and adhesion prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first cutting surface with the smaller angle performs the preliminary action of penetrating the material with minimal force, preparing the way for the second cutting surface to complete the cut and prevent adhesion. This preliminary action reduces the overall force requirement while still achieving adhesion prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the cutting surface is extended radially, then slice guidance is improved, but the cutting effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslice guidanceVSAvoidcutting effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting surface is divided into two segments with different radial extensions and angles. The first cutting surface has limited radial extension with a small angle for low-force penetration, while the second cutting surface extends further radially with a larger angle for effective slice guidance and adhesion prevention. This segmentation optimizes both guidance and force requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2529903B1Sickle blade
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 ANTON & VOLKL PATENTE UG HAFTUNGSBESCHRANKT & CO KG
  • EP2529903B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2529903B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2529903B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The knife (1) has a convex bent cutting edge (2) whose distance is increased from a rotational axis (10) in progression direction of a contact region of the knife to a cutting material. The cutting edge is provided with a spiral-shaped outer circumferential contour. A cutting surface of front side (8) of the knife is arranged at cutting angle of 33 degrees to a main plane. A groove is arranged on the front side and radial-inwardly displaceable with respect to the cutting surface. The groove is extended along entire peripheral length of the cutting edge.