Trunk Sawing Machine Guard with Pin-Guide Safety Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators using trunk sawing machines are at risk of injury due to exposure to the saw disc and ejected wood fragments, as existing safety devices do not effectively protect against direct contact and fragment ejection during the cutting process, and previous solutions are either ineffective or impractical for inserting and implementing.

Innovation Solution

A trunk sawing machine design that includes a guard to cover the swinging structure at the top during cutting, featuring a safety device with a manually actuated control to prevent unintentional movement of the swinging structure, using a pin and guide system or a pawl mechanism to ensure the structure remains in a receded position until intentionally actuated, and resilient means for automatic return.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guard is moved to a receded condition to allow cutting operation, then the cutting operation can be performed, but the operator is exposed to the risk of contact with the saw disc and ejection of wood fragments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting operationVSAvoidoperator exposure to saw disc and wood fragments
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guard is extended in the vertical dimension to cover the top opening of the swinging structure. This additional vertical coverage creates a complete enclosure around the saw disc and cutting zone, preventing operator exposure from above while still allowing the cutting operation to proceed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard is divided into a fixed portion and a movable distal portion. The movable distal portion can be independently positioned to cover the top opening during cutting operations, providing targeted protection exactly where needed without interfering with the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a covering element is added to protect the operator during cutting, then operator safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protectionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The covering element is integrated with the existing guard structure rather than being a separate component. The movable distal portion is attached to the fixed portion, forming a unified guard assembly that combines protection functions with the existing machine structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guard structure serves multiple functions: it encloses the saw disc, protects against wood fragment ejection, and the movable distal portion specifically covers the top opening. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive protection without adding separate dedicated components for each protection need.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3623125B1Trunk sawing machine
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 RICCA ANDREA & C
  • EP3623125B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3623125B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3623125B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The sawing machine with rotary saw disc (3) comprising a covering element (7) arranged above the rotary saw disc (3) and having a proximal side (6) hinged to a portion (5) of the swinging structure (2) of the trunk sawing machine and a distal portion (13) slidably constrained to a support (1) thereof by means of a system in which a pin (10, 24) is slidable with respect to a groove (9) or guide (23).