Buffer Device Decouples Pulsating Infeed From Constant Outfeed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transferring folded fibrous webs to downstream machines often result in distortion and creasing due to pulsating speeds, leading to suboptimal quality and efficiency, especially at high speeds and with large card working widths.
Innovation Solution
A storage table with an endless belt that decouples the outfeed belt speed from the infeed speed of the storage table, ensuring the belt always moves at a positive speed and reducing pulsating sag, allowing for synchronized movement with the laying carriage's speed profile to minimize distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the take-off table is decelerated and accelerated in sync with the laying carriage to prevent curved laying, then the laying quality is improved, but the feed speed to downstream machines becomes non-constant
Solution Approach 1:
A storage table with an endless belt is introduced as an intermediary device between the take-off table and downstream machines. The storage table receives material at pulsating speed from the take-off table and delivers it at constant speed to downstream machines, decoupling the speed profiles of the two sides and resolving the contradiction between laying quality and feed speed constancy
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the take-off table handles pulsating speed for laying quality, the storage table with endless belt acts as a buffer zone, and the downstream delivery handles constant speed. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other
2Manufacturing precision
If the endless belt is driven at inlet coupled to the speed profile of the layer, then the distortion of folded fiber pile is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system at the inlet of the storage table is made dynamic by coupling it to the speed profile of the laying carriage. This allows the belt speed to adapt continuously to the pulsating motion of the laying carriage, minimizing distortion of the folded fiber pile while maintaining synchronization with the laying process
Solution Approach 2:
The drive system incorporates feedback from the laying carriage speed profile to continuously adjust the inlet belt speed. This feedback mechanism ensures that the storage table responds dynamically to changes in the laying process, maintaining fiber pile integrity without requiring complex manual intervention
3Productivity
If high delivery speeds are used to increase productivity, then the production efficiency is improved, but the pulsating sag increases causing distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The storage table with endless belt serves as a mediator that absorbs the pulsating motion generated by high-speed delivery. By decoupling the delivery speed from the laying speed, the system can operate at high productivity while the storage table compensates for pulsating sag, preventing distortion of the nonwoven web
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a storage table for a nonwoven fabric layer with a layer that lays down a folded fiber pile onto an outfeed conveyor (15), wherein the storage table (20) has an endless belt (21) that receives the folded fiber pile from the outfeed conveyor (15) at a pulsating speed (v22) and delivers it at a constant speed (v23) to a downstream machine for further processing or consolidation of the folded fiber pile. The invention further relates to a method for operating a storage table. The invention is characterized in that the endless belt (21) of the storage table (20) is driven at the infeed by a first drive and at the outfeed by a second drive, wherein the first drive is coupled to the movement and speed profile of the layer.