Slicing Machine Collision Prevention via Control Run
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Solution Overview
Problem
Slicing machines often experience collisions between the blade and other adjustable components during operation due to independent adjustments, leading to potential damage and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A control run is performed before the slicing operation to check for collisions by moving the blade and other components relative to each other, using a slow rotating blade and a control element like a light beam to detect potential collisions, and adjusting positions to prevent collisions, with sensors to automatically detect and prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blade and other adjustable components are adjusted independently during slicing operation, then the adaptability of the machine is improved, but the risk of collision between components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary actions by automatically adjusting components in a predetermined sequence before slicing operation begins, ensuring that adjustments are coordinated and collision-free. The system checks for collisions during the control run before actual slicing starts.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect the positions of the blade and other components in real-time, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to monitor component positions and prevent collisions by adjusting the slicing program based on detected positions.
2Reliability
If a control run with slow rotating blade is performed to detect collisions, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time before actual operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control run with slow rotating blade is performed as a preliminary action before actual slicing operation to detect potential collisions. This preliminary check ensures safety while accepting the time investment as necessary for preventing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical collision detection method with sensors that detect component positions electronically. This substitution allows for faster and more precise collision detection without requiring extensive manual testing.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are used to automatically detect component positions, then the precision of collision detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the slicing operation, coordinates component adjustments, detects collisions, and monitors component positions. By making the control system universal, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
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
This method effectively prevents collisions during slicing operations, reducing the risk of damage and downtime by ensuring the blade and other components do not collide, allowing for reliable and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
If the control element is the light beam of a photoelectric sensor, the photoelectric sensor can simultaneously serve as a collision sensor and report the interruption of the light beam to the control.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to reliably avoid collisions between components of a slicing machine, in particular between a blade and another component, a control run is carried out before the start of a slicing operation, during which the respective component that has a risk of collision or the respective counter-component is brought into a position closest to the other component and tested to see whether a collision occurs.