Slide Shoe Cutting for High-Throughput Panel Edge Profiling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing continuous milling machines for panel profiling are limited by the need for multiple motor positions to create profiles with chamfers or bevelled edges, which restricts throughput speed and increases power requirements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a slide shoe or pressure shoe with a fixed cutting blade on a continuous milling machine, allowing for the creation of chamfers or bevelled edges without occupying additional motor positions, thereby enabling more efficient use of available milling cutters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple motor positions are used to create profiles with chamfers or bevelled edges, then the profiling capability is improved, but the throughput speed is reduced and power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofiling capabilityVSAvoidthroughput speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the function of the fixed transport element and the cutting tool into a single integrated structure. The transport element is equipped with cutting edges that directly profile the panel edges during transport, eliminating the need for separate motor positions dedicated to chamfering or beveling operations. This merging of transport and cutting functions maintains high throughput speed while achieving complete profiling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed transport element is designed to serve multiple functions: it transports the panels through the machine and simultaneously performs cutting operations to create various profiles including chamfers and bevelled edges. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized motor positions, thereby maintaining productivity while expanding profiling capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple motor positions are used to create profiles with chamfers or bevelled edges, then the profiling capability is improved, but the power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofiling capabilityVSAvoidpower requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transport function and cutting function into a single integrated system. The fixed transport element with integrated cutting edges performs both transport and profiling operations simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional motor positions and their associated power consumption. This reduces overall power requirements while maintaining comprehensive profiling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed transport element is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both transport and cutting operations. By making the transport element itself capable of cutting, the system eliminates the need for separate high-power cutting motors, thereby reducing total power requirements while achieving versatile profiling capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If additional rotating milling cutters are used, then the throughput speed and power efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput speedVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of equipping rotating milling cutters with cutting edges, the patent inverts the approach by equipping the fixed transport element with cutting edges. This inversion simplifies the system because the fixed element does not require complex rotational mechanisms, bearings, or motor control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while still enabling the use of additional cutting positions to improve throughput speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3930976B1Cutting device for a continuous milling machine and method for the manufacture of panels
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 UNILIN BVBA
  • EP3930976B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3930976B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3930976B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Cutting device for a continuous milling machine (1) for the profiling of one or more edges (2) of panels (3). The cutting device comprises a slide shoe (4) or pressure shoe (5), which has a sliding surface or sliding surfaces (6) for guiding a surface (7-8) of a panel to be milled (3) over it or them. The aforementioned slide shoe (4) or pressure shoe (5) is provided with at least one cutting blade (9) for machining the panel (3), wherein this cutting blade maintains a fixed position during this machining. The slide shoe (4) or the pressure shoe (5) is provided in order to support the surface of the panel to be milled by means of its sliding surface or sliding surfaces (6) on a rotating milling cutter (11) that carries out a milling operation on the edge of the panel.