Adjustable Trough for Carding Machine Roller Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carding machines face complexity in assembly due to the need for constant gaps between rollers and fiber guide elements over a wide width, which is challenging to maintain, especially with four rollers, leading to inefficiencies and fiber retention issues.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable trough with three concave areas forming gaps with three rollers and a fourth concave region forming an adjustable gap with the fourth roller, allowing for flexible segmentation and precise adjustability, simplifying assembly and ensuring even gaps across all rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a trough with fixed surfaces is used to guide fibers between rollers, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the assembly complexity increases due to the need to maintain constant gaps across all rollers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrough manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trough is divided into multiple segments that can be independently adjusted. Each segment can be positioned to maintain constant gaps with its corresponding roller, simplifying the assembly process while keeping the manufacturing process simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trough incorporates adjustable elements that allow dynamic modification of the gap distances between the trough surfaces and the rollers. This adjustability enables precise gap control during assembly without requiring complex fixed structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the trough has fixed distances between surfaces and rollers, then the structure is rigid and stable, but the adaptability to adjust gaps during assembly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrough structural stabilityVSAvoidgap adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The trough design incorporates adjustable components that allow the gap distances to be modified while maintaining structural stability. The adjustment mechanism enables the trough to adapt to different roller positions while preserving overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By dividing the trough into adjustable segments, each segment can be independently positioned to achieve the desired gap distances, maintaining stability through proper segmentation while providing necessary adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If intermediate transfer rollers are used to transfer fiber web from pre-drum to reel, then the transfer process is extended, but fiber retention increases and carding performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarding performanceVSAvoidfiber retention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the intermediate transfer rollers from the fiber web transfer path, allowing direct transfer from the pre-drum to the reel. This extraction of unnecessary components eliminates the fiber retention issue while maintaining the extended transfer process benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3686327B1Tray for a roller card
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 TRUETZSCHLER GRP SE
  • EP3686327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686327B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a carding machine with an inlet side (1a) for fiber flakes, which are fed to a pre-drum (4) and broken down and aligned to individual fibers, wherein a first layer of fiber fleece is transferred by means of an upper take-off roller (7) to a transfer roller (9) and then onto a drum (11), wherein a second layer of fiber fleece is transferred by means of a lower take-off roller (8) to a transfer roller (10) and then onto the drum (11), wherein at least one layer of fiber fleece is drawn off from an outlet side (1b) of the carding machine by means of at least one take-off roller (14) for further processing, wherein a trough (12) is arranged inside the carding machine, which extends continuously over the working width of the carding machine and has three concave areas which, together with associated rollers (8, 9, 10), form a gap for guiding the fiber fleece.The invention is characterized in that the trough (12) has a fourth concave area which forms an adjustable gap with a fourth roller (11). The invention further relates to a trough for a carding machine.