Vertical Belt Finishing Device for Workpieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional finishing devices are inefficient and costly for medium and small batch production due to their large footprint and complex setup processes, making them unsuitable for applications beyond large-scale production.
Innovation Solution
A vertical machine concept with a 90° tilt from conventional designs, featuring a rotating supply roll, horizontal driving unit, and pivotable holding plates, allowing for easy setup and reduced machining time through multiple finishing belt holding devices and a finishing belt handling device that can access workpiece surfaces perpendicularly, thereby minimizing setup time and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional horizontal finishing devices are used, then machining precision can be maintained, but setup time increases and device footprint enlarges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal machine concept by implementing a vertical machine concept where the workpiece holding axis is vertical instead of horizontal. This 90° tilt fundamentally changes the machine architecture, allowing finishing belts to contact workpiece surfaces from above while the workpiece rotates on a vertical axis. This inversion reduces setup time and footprint while maintaining finishing precision through the preserved ability to apply controlled pressure and achieve proper belt-workpiece contact geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, effectively changing the spatial dimension of the machine concept. By making the workpiece holding axis vertical and positioning finishing belts to contact workpiece surfaces from above, the machine occupies less floor space and allows easier access to workpiece surfaces, thereby reducing setup time while maintaining machining capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional horizontal finishing devices are used, then machining stability is ensured, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal machine concept by implementing a vertical machine concept where the workpiece holding axis is vertical instead of horizontal. This 90° tilt fundamentally changes the machine architecture, allowing finishing belts to contact workpiece surfaces from above while the workpiece rotates on a vertical axis. This inversion reduces setup time and footprint while maintaining finishing precision through the preserved ability to apply controlled pressure and achieve proper belt-workpiece contact geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, effectively changing the spatial dimension of the machine concept. By making the workpiece holding axis vertical and positioning finishing belts to contact workpiece surfaces from above, the machine occupies less floor space and allows easier access to workpiece surfaces, thereby reducing setup time while maintaining machining capability.
3Productivity
If multiple finishing units are added for batch production, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the finishing operation into multiple independent finishing units, each with its own finishing belt and driving mechanism. These units are arranged around the vertical workpiece axis, allowing simultaneous machining of different workpiece portions. Each finishing unit can be independently adjusted and positioned, enabling flexible configuration for different batch sizes and workpiece types, thus increasing productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical machine concept creates a universal platform that can accommodate different numbers and configurations of finishing units. The modular architecture allows the same basic structure to serve different production volumes by simply adding or removing finishing units, rather than requiring completely different machine configurations for different batch sizes.
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 vertical machine concept significantly reduces setup time and occupies less space, making it more economical and efficient for medium and small batch production by allowing faster preparation and synchronization of machining operations.
Implementation Method 1
a machining tool having a granular cutting compound of a finishing stone or belt being pressed by a pressing device onto the circumferential surface to be worked
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a finishing device (10), comprising a finishing belt, a finishing belt holding device, a first drive for rotationally driving a workpiece about a workpiece axis and a second drive for oscillating said workpiece and said finishing belt relative to another along said workpiece axis, wherein said finishing belt holding device has a holding section for holding a portion of said finishing belt, said portion having an active area provided for finishing a circumferential workpiece surface, said portion extending in a plane which is vertical when referring to the direction of gravity (28) and said portion extending in a horizontal direction when referring to the direction of gravity and when viewing in the running direction of said finishing belt, and in that the finishing device comprises a workpiece holding device defining a workpiece holding axis which is vertical when referring to the direction of gravity.