Adjustable Suction Element Sealing for Production Waste Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction devices for removing waste products from production machines often experience interference geometries, uneven speed and pressure fields, leading to clogging and unreliable waste extraction due to fixed suction element positions.

Innovation Solution

A suction device with a sealing means that allows the suction element to be variably positioned and adjusted along the suction chamber, ensuring reliable sealing and uniform flow, using mechanisms like roller blind seals, zippers, telescopic elements, or magnetic tapes to maintain sealing while allowing flexible positioning of the suction element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the suction element position is fixed in the main line, then the device structure is simple, but interference geometries arise and waste extraction becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction element position adjustabilityVSAvoidsealing means structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction element is made movable along the suction chamber instead of being fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position to adapt to different waste product locations. The sealing means dynamically opens and closes along with the suction element movement, maintaining sealing while enabling position adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing means is divided into multiple segments or sections that can independently open and close. When the suction element moves to a new position, only the relevant sealing segments open, while others remain closed, maintaining effective sealing without requiring the entire sealing structure to be complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If manual adjustment of suction pipes is used, then flexibility in positioning is achieved, but uneven speed and pressure fields occur leading to clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste extraction reliabilityVSAvoidsuction element adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The suction element can be dynamically adjusted to optimal positions based on waste product locations, and the sealing means dynamically adapts to maintain sealing. This dynamic capability ensures reliable waste extraction without creating uneven flow fields that cause clogging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the suction element moves along the suction chamber, then flexible positioning is achieved, but sealing of the suction chamber becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction element position adjustabilityVSAvoidsuction chamber sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing means is designed to dynamically open and close along with the suction element movement. When the suction element moves to a new position, the sealing means adjusts accordingly, opening at the new position and closing at the previous position, thereby maintaining continuous effective sealing of the suction chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing means acts as an intermediary between the movable suction element and the suction chamber, enabling the suction element to move while maintaining the sealing function. The sealing means mediates the conflict between movement and sealing by providing a mechanism that adapts to the suction element's position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents clogging and ensures reliable waste extraction by maintaining consistent suction capacity and flow rates, even with varying waste product surface properties, and is adaptable to different production machines.

Implementation Method 1

a suction unit 5, to create a negative pressure in the suction chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2892705B1Device for suctioning off waste products from a production machine
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP2892705B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2892705B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2892705B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for suctioning off waste products (2) from a production machine (3), in particular from a sheet extruder, comprising a suction chamber (10) on which at least one suction element (20) is arranged, said suction element extending into a suction space (4) located outside the suction chamber (10) in order to convey waste products into the suction chamber (10), and comprising a suction unit (5) to generate a negative pressure in the suction chamber (10). According to the invention, a sealing means (40) that rests against the suction element (20) and seals the suction chamber (10) is designed in such a way that the suction element (20) can move along the sealing means (40), thus enabling the position of the suction element (20) on the suction chamber (10) to be variably adjusted.