Wiper Blade Rubber Regeneration With Deformation-Controlled Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper blade regeneration methods fail to achieve satisfactory wiping performance, leading to irregular wiping due to deformation of the cut surface during the regeneration process, which is exacerbated by the use of automated driving systems that require higher precision in windshield cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A blade-rubber regeneration device and method that utilizes a sandwiching member to stabilize the lip portion and a pressing member to prevent elastic deformation during the cutting process, ensuring accurate regeneration of the blade rubber by maintaining the cut surface parallel to the original surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple cutter is used to cut off the blade rubber tip-end, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of the cut surface deteriorates causing irregular wiping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcut surface precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is segmented into multiple functional components: a pressing member that applies force to the blade rubber before cutting, a cutting member that performs the cut, and a support structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the pressing member preventing deformation and the cutting member creating a precise cut surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member performs a preliminary action by pressing the blade rubber tip-end in the longitudinal direction before the cutting member makes contact. This preliminary pressing prevents elastic deformation of the blade rubber during the cutting process, ensuring that the cut surface remains flat and parallel to the original surface, thereby achieving high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If the blade portion enters the lip portion from the side to cut off the tip end, then the cutting process is simplified, but elastic deformation occurs causing the cut surface to tilt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting process easeVSAvoidcut surface orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member applies a preliminary counteracting force to the blade rubber tip-end in the longitudinal direction before the cutting member enters from the side. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the elastic deformation that would otherwise occur during side-entry cutting, preventing the cut surface from tilting and ensuring it remains parallel to the original surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

By pressing the blade rubber tip-end before cutting, the pressing member prepares the material in advance to resist deformation during the side-entry cutting process. This preliminary action maintains the structural integrity and orientation of the blade rubber, allowing the cutting member to enter from the side without causing the cut surface to tilt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If no pressing member is used during cutting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the wiping performance deteriorates due to cut surface deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidwiping performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member performs a preliminary pressing action on the blade rubber tip-end in the longitudinal direction before and during the cutting process. This preliminary action prevents elastic deformation of the blade rubber, ensuring that the cut surface remains flat and parallel to the original surface, thereby maintaining high wiping performance comparable to new blades.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member applies controlled force to the blade rubber tip-end, creating a stabilizing pressure that prevents deformation during cutting. This controlled pressure ensures the cut surface remains flat and parallel, directly contributing to reliable wiping performance by eliminating irregularities that would cause uneven contact with the windshield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 device and method enable high-accuracy regeneration of blade rubber, achieving wiping performance comparable to new blades by preventing deformation and ensuring consistent contact with the windshield.

Implementation Method 1

a pressing member which presses the tip end of the lip portion toward the base part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4596338A1Recovery apparatus for blade rubber, recovery method for blade rubber, and manufacturing method for recovery blade rubber
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 CANON KK
  • EP4596338A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4596338A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3B
  • EP4596338A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A

AI summary

A blade-rubber regeneration device is provided, which is capable of regenerating a blade rubber, whose wiping performance lowered, with higher accuracy. This is a blade-rubber regeneration device including a blade portion for cutting off the tip end of a lip portion of the blade rubber in a longitudinal direction of the blade rubber, the regeneration device cutting off a part of the tip end of the lip portion by relatively moving the blade portion from an end part A, which is one of end parts in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber toward an end part B, which is the other end part, and the regeneration device including a sandwiching member of sandwiching the lip portion and a pressing member for pressing the tip end of the lip portion, the sandwiching member sandwiching at least a part of the lip portion from both side portions of the lip portion under a specific condition, and the pressing member pressing the tip end of the lip portion prior to the movement.