Machine Tool Splashguard with Selective Door Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tool splashguards require all arcuate doors to be opened to access the front part of the machining region, necessitating the deactivation of the spindle and machining liquid supply, limiting convenience and safety during manual tool changes and workpiece preparation.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool splashguard design allowing the front side door and machining chamber side door to be independently opened and closed, with a door locking switch system enabling selective opening and closing patterns to ensure safety and efficiency during machining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If all arcuate doors are opened to access the front part of the machining region, then access to the machining region is improved, but the spindle and machining liquid supply must be deactivated, reducing productivity and safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to machining regionVSAvoidspindle deactivation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The splashguard is divided into multiple independently operable arcuate doors (first door, second door, third door) that can be opened or closed separately. This segmentation allows selective access to different regions of the machining area without requiring all doors to be opened, thereby maintaining spindle operation and machining liquid supply when only partial access is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If all arcuate doors are opened to access the front part of the machining region, then access to the machining region is improved, but safety is reduced due to complete deactivation of machining process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to machining regionVSAvoidmachining process safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The splashguard is divided into multiple independently operable arcuate doors (first door, second door, third door) that can be opened or closed separately. This segmentation allows selective access to different regions of the machining area without requiring all doors to be opened, thereby maintaining spindle operation and machining liquid supply when only partial access is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If multiple arcuate doors are provided for different access points, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to machining regionVSAvoiddoor configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The splashguard is divided into multiple independently operable arcuate doors (first door, second door, third door) that can be opened or closed separately. This segmentation allows selective access to different regions of the machining area without requiring all doors to be opened, thereby maintaining spindle operation and machining liquid supply when only partial access is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple arcuate doors share common structural characteristics and operating mechanisms, allowing them to perform similar functions (providing access, containing chips and coolant) while serving different access points. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to having entirely different access mechanisms for each door.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2865486B1Work machine
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 MAKINO MILLING MASCH CO LTD
  • EP2865486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2865486B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2865486B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work-machine splash guard for enclosing a space for machining a workpiece, and preventing the spraying of chips and machining fluid, is equipped with: a front-surface door (65) for opening and closing in the horizontal direction via an arc-shaped movement, and positioned on the front-surface side of the work machine (10); a side-surface door (66) for opening and closing by performing an arc-shaped movement that is concentric with the front-surface door (65), and overlapping with the front-surface door (65); and door-locking switches (75, 76) for selectively allowing the opening/closing of the front-surface door (65) and the side-surface door (66) according to an opening/closing pattern.