Stone Slab Cutting Machine with Rotating Bench and Suction Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for cutting stone slabs into tiles result in significant material waste due to irregular edges and inefficient cutting processes, requiring manual handling and repositioning, which increases industrial costs and reduces productivity.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a primary and auxiliary bench system, using suction cups connected to a vacuum source for handling and transferring strips, allowing for continuous cutting and optimization of slab utilization by rotating the slab and adjusting spindle positions, thereby minimizing waste and enhancing productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional cutting machines with one or two spindles are used to cut slabs into tiles, then the cutting operation can be performed, but significant material waste occurs due to irregular edges and inefficient cutting processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cutting operation into multiple sequential passes using a single spindle. The slab is first cut into longitudinal strips, then rotated 90 degrees and cut into transverse strips, and finally rotated again and cut into individual tiles. This segmentation of the cutting process allows for optimized material utilization at each stage, reducing waste compared to traditional single-pass cutting methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a rotatable bench that can be dynamically repositioned between cutting passes. The bench rotates 90 degrees between longitudinal and transverse cutting operations, allowing the same slab to be efficiently utilized from multiple orientations. This dynamic repositioning eliminates the need for fixed cutting directions and maximizes material usage.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling and repositioning of slabs is performed between cutting steps, then cutting operations can be completed, but industrial costs increase and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bench is equipped with self-positioning mechanisms that automatically rotate and reposition the slab between cutting passes without requiring manual intervention. The system performs its own handling and repositioning operations, eliminating the need for external handling equipment and reducing operational complexity while maintaining high productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If repeated handling and repositioning of material on the cutting bench is required, then cutting cycles can be completed, but downtime between successive machining steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting process is designed to continue without interruption through automated bench rotation and spindle repositioning. The single spindle automatically returns to cutting position after each pass, and the bench rotates continuously between operations. This eliminates idle downtime between machining steps and maintains continuous productive action throughout the entire cutting cycle.
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
The machine significantly reduces material waste and increases productivity by enabling efficient cutting and handling of stone slabs, optimizing the use of material and simplifying the cutting process, making it suitable for integration into a complete processing line.
Implementation Method 1
suction cups connected to a vacuum source for handling and transferring strips
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A machine for optimized cutting of slabs (16) of stone or stone-like material lying on a primary bench (34) comprises a first beam (28) on which a plurality of spindles (30) are mounted and is movably supported on two travelways (24, 26). In turn each of the spindles (30), whose position is adjustable along the beam, support cutting disks (32) having a fixed axis of rotation parallel to the said first beam (28) which is parallel to the feeding direction (F) of the rough slabs (16) to be cut. A second beam (38) is mounted on the same travelways (24, 26), parallel to the first beam (28) and provided with a handling device comprising suction-cups (40, 42). Since the primary bench (34) is rotatable about a vertical axis, by varying in succession the direction of the rough slab (16) with respect to the first beam (28) it is possible to perform longitudinal cutting passes in order to obtain strips (46a-46f) as well as transverse cutting passes of one or more selected strips transferred by said handling device (40, 42) from the primary bench (34)to the auxiliary bench (44) in order to obtain tiles.