Sheet Metal Blank Rounding With Speed-Matched Roller Transfer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for rounding sheet metal blanks for container production face challenges in maintaining high throughput speed while preventing edge deformation and damage, leading to incorrect welds and scrap, due to speed differences at transfer points and mechanical sensitivity of thin sheets.

Innovation Solution

Adapting the peripheral speed of transport rollers using a servo motor to match the feed transport speed, reducing impact on sheet metal edges, and optimizing the linear drive for smooth acceleration and deceleration to minimize edge damage, ensuring precise and gentle handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high throughput speed is maintained in the rounding process, then productivity is improved, but edge deformation and damage occur due to speed differences at transfer points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput speedVSAvoidedge quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the roller peripheral speed adjustable and variable during operation. The driven rollers can change their rotational speed dynamically to match different material feed rates and thicknesses, allowing the system to maintain high throughput while preventing edge damage through optimized speed matching at transfer points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the rounding machine by allowing independent adjustment of roller speeds and torques. This enables optimization of the speed difference at transfer points to minimize impact on sheet metal edges while maintaining high productivity, and allows adaptation to different material properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sheet metal blank is fed at lower speed to the roller pair, then edge damage is reduced, but transport time becomes unconstant and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge damageVSAvoidtransport time consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the roller peripheral speed to match the feed transport speed at the moment of insertion, eliminating speed mismatches that cause grinding transfer and inconsistent transport time. This dynamic speed matching maintains both edge integrity and transport consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system monitors the feed transport speed and adjusts the roller peripheral speed accordingly, creating a feedback loop that ensures consistent transport time while preventing edge damage through optimized speed synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the leading edge strikes the stop element hard to maintain high speed, then productivity is improved, but the stop element must be spring-loaded and edge damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport speedVSAvoidimpact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the deceleration parameters by adjusting the roller speed just before the blank reaches the stop element. This controlled deceleration reduces impact force while maintaining overall high transport speed, eliminating the need for spring-loaded stops and preventing edge damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3600709B1Method for rounding sheet metal blanks for containers and a longitudinal seam welding machine for producing can bodies, comprising a round station
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 CAN MAN
  • EP3600709B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for rounding sheet metal blanks prior to welding on a longitudinal seam welding machine, comprising a controller by means of which the speed upon transferring the sheet metal blank (11) onto a first transport means after being removed from the magazine ensures a slip-free transfer, i.e. the sheet metal blank is transferred from a first to a second transport means at the same speed in each case.