Abutment Unit for Smokers Articles with Adjustable Pushers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing abutment units for smokers' articles in filter-making machines require frequent substitutions and downtime due to the need to adjust the abutment drum and pushing systems to accommodate varying filter lengths, making them inflexible and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An abutment unit with a rotatable drum featuring adjustable pusher means and engagement mechanisms that allow for the abutment of filter pieces of varying lengths without requiring mechanical unit substitutions, enabling continuous operation by distributing pushing pressure evenly across the pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the abutment drum and pushing systems are adjusted to accommodate varying filter lengths, then the machine can produce different filter sizes, but frequent substitutions and downtime are required
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing system incorporates movable pushing members that can be adjusted in position along the axial direction to accommodate different filter lengths. The pushing members are mounted on adjustable supports that allow their position to be changed without replacing the entire abutment drum or pushing system, enabling dynamic adaptation to varying production requirements while maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment drum is designed with a universal structure that can handle multiple filter lengths through the adjustable positioning of pushing members. The same drum and pushing system infrastructure serves multiple functions by simply repositioning the pushing members, eliminating the need for different specialized drums for different filter sizes
2Ease of operation
If the abutment drum length is reduced to allow pushing systems to reach axial ends of flutes, then pushing can be effective, but the drum must be substituted when filter lengths vary
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing members are made movable along the axial direction of the flutes, allowing them to reach the axial ends of the flutes for effective pushing while maintaining a shorter abutment drum. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to adapt to different filter lengths without requiring drum substitution, resolving the contradiction between pushing effectiveness and adaptability
3Ease of manufacture
If the distance between divided parts of the first piece is increased to allow third piece placement, then assembly is possible, but the movement system must be substituted when filter sizes vary
Solution Approach 1:
The flutes are designed with adjustable width through movable flanks that can be positioned to accommodate different spacing requirements between filter pieces. This allows the third piece to be placed between the divided parts at appropriate distances without requiring substitution of the entire movement system, maintaining ease of manufacture while reducing system complexity
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 solution allows for versatile and efficient assembly of filter plugs of different lengths without the need for frequent mechanical adjustments or downtime, ensuring consistent production and reduced down times in the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary abutment drum equipped on its outer surface with a plurality of suction flutes extending along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
An abutment unit (1) for pieces (100a, 100b, 100c) of smokers' articles, comprises: an abutment drum (2) rotatable about an axis of rotation (R) and comprising a plurality of suction flutes (3) arranged on its outside surface, extending parallel to the axis of rotation (R) and delimited by corresponding flanks (4), a pusher system (5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20) for pushing at least a first and a second piece of smokers' article, located in a corresponding flute (3) and aligned along a respective main axis, towards each other along the flute (3); the pusher system (5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20) comprising engagement means (7, 8) by which the first and second pieces of smokers' articles are engaged and which are at least partly movable along an abutment direction parallel to the axis of rotation (R) between an away position spaced from the abutment drum (2) and a near position close to the abutment drum (2) and actuating means (11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20) for actuating the engagement means (7, 8) for engaging the pieces of smokers' articles; the engagement means (7, 8), especially when at the near position, project at least partly towards the drum (2) beyond an axial dimension of the flanks (4) of the flutes (3). [Figure 1]