Air-Bellows Trough Shell Actuation for Uniform Mangle Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ironing machines with movable trough shells, like those in mangle designs, face issues with complex structures, high wear, and uneven contact pressure due to lever mechanisms and stability requirements, which can lead to twisting and reduced contact pressure in central areas.
Innovation Solution
The ironing machine employs a simple structure with air bellows attached to the support frame between the lateral ends of the trough shell, providing a floating connection and eliminating the need for levers, allowing for uniform contact pressure distribution and tolerance compensation, with additional features like a ram for force transmission and a cross brace for stability, and a sliding piece for low-friction coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lever mechanisms are used to move the trough shell, then the trough shell can be moved towards or away from the roller, but the structure becomes complex and causes high wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lever mechanism with a pneumatic actuator system. Air bellows (pneumatic cylinders) are coupled to the lateral ends of the trough shell, using pneumatic pressure to move the trough shell towards or away from the roller, eliminating the need for complex lever joints and reducing wear
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic cylinders (air bellows) to provide the force needed to move the trough shell. The pneumatic system delivers high contact pressures directly to the trough shell through the lateral supports, simplifying the overall mechanical structure while maintaining operational capability
2Reliability
If lateral coupling means are made very stable to withstand high contact pressures, then twisting and bending are prevented, but the structure becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for overly stable lateral coupling means by substituting the lever mechanism with a pneumatic actuator system. The pneumatic cylinders directly push the trough shell through the lateral supports, distributing forces more evenly and reducing the stability requirements for the coupling means
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies pneumatic force at specific lateral points where the air bellows are coupled to the trough shell ends. This localized force application through the lateral supports creates the necessary contact pressure without requiring the entire lateral coupling structure to be uniformly over-engineered for stability
3Force
If the trough shell is firmly connected to the ram of the air bellows, then force transmission is direct, but centering problems occur between the bowl and the roller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible lateral supports (which may be elastic or resilient elements) to connect the air bellows to the trough shell. These flexible elements allow the trough shell to self-center between the roller and trough while still transmitting the pneumatic force effectively, preventing centering problems that would occur with rigid connections
4Force
If levers are used to move the trough shell, then contact pressure can be applied, but wear increases due to the number of lever joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the lever joint mechanism with a pneumatic actuator system. The air bellows provide direct pneumatic force through the lateral supports to move the trough shell, eliminating multiple lever joints and their associated wear points, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance needs
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
This design ensures consistent contact pressure across the trough shell, reduces wear, and allows for quick adjustment of contact pressure, while protecting the actuator components from heat and extending their lifespan, and maintaining stability without the need for complex force distribution.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air bellows (10a, 10b, 10c) is provided as an actuator for moving the trough shell (3)
Implementation Method 2
a ram (13) is arranged between the air bellows and the trough shell in order to transmit the force generated by the air bellows to the outside of the trough shell
Implementation Method 3
a sliding piece for low-friction coupling
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an ironing machine (1) of the mangle type, comprising a support frame (2), a trough (3) movably arranged in the frame (2), a roller (5) rotatably mounted horizontally in a trough area (4) to form a bowl-shaped roller Smoothing space (4) for textiles between the roller shell (5a) and the trough (3), the trough (3) being provided with a heating device (6) or interacting with a heating device (6), the trough (3) being connected by means of at least an actuator (7) can be moved towards the roller (5) or away from the roller (5) and wherein the input area (8) for threading the textiles into the smoothing chamber (4) is arranged in the upper area of the ironing machine (1), A dispensing area (9) for the textiles from the smoothing chamber (4) is provided on the lower area of the trough (3), the trough (3) being movably guided in the support frame (2, 2a, 2b) and at least one air bellows (10a , 10b) as Actuator for the movement of the trough shell (3) is provided. The ironing machine is characterized in that the air bellows (10, 10a, 10b, 10c) is arranged on the support frame (2) in the area between the lateral ends of the trough shell (3) and on the outside of the trough shell (3) there is a receiving means (14 ) for the floating connection of the trough shell (3) to the air bellows (10, 10a, 10b, 10c).