Ceiling Profile Punching Line for Mixed-Length Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current production lines for metal profiles used in plasterboard false ceilings require separate lines for main and secondary profiles, leading to higher installation costs and reduced production speed for secondary profiles, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A unified production line with a profiling machine, cutting group, punching group, and management and control unit that allows for the production of both main and secondary metal profiles without limiting the production speed of secondary profiles, utilizing a first portal-type punching press and multiple C-supported punching presses aligned to efficiently process different profile lengths and hole configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If separate production lines are used for main profiles and secondary profiles, then each profile type can be optimized for its specific requirements, but installation costs increase and the production line complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile production optimizationVSAvoidproduction line configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the production of main profiles and secondary profiles into a single integrated production line. The profiling machine, cutting group, and punching group are shared resources that can be configured to produce different profile types by adjusting parameters such as cutting lengths and punching patterns, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lines for each profile type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The production line is designed with universal equipment that can perform multiple functions. The profiling machine can create different cross-sections, the cutting group can cut to various lengths, and the punching group can create different hole patterns, allowing a single line to produce both main profiles (3600mm with specific hole patterns) and secondary profiles (1200mm and 600mm with different hole patterns) by reconfiguring parameters rather than requiring dedicated equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a single production line is used for both main and secondary profiles, then installation costs are reduced, but the production speed of secondary profiles may be limited by the larger press capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction line configurationVSAvoidsecondary profile production speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The punching group is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing the press to adjust its operating parameters based on the profile type being produced. For secondary profiles, the system can optimize punching speed and pattern to match the higher production rate requirements (40 pieces/minute), while for main profiles, it adjusts to the lower speed requirement (27 pieces/minute), thereby maintaining high productivity across different product types on the same line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the larger press is used for secondary profiles, then equipment versatility is improved, but production speed becomes excessively low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepress utilizationVSAvoidsecondary profile production speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes parameter changes in the punching process to optimize performance for different profile types. By adjusting pressing speed, punching pattern density, and tooling configurations, the larger press can adapt its capabilities to match the higher production rate requirements for secondary profiles while maintaining the ability to produce main profiles at their optimized lower speed, thereby achieving both versatility and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4393616A1Line for producing metal profiles for plasterboard false ceilings
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 DALLAN S R L CASTELFRANCO VENETO
  • EP4393616A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4393616A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4393616A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention concerns a line (1) for producing metal profiles (P1, P2, P3) for plasterboard false ceilings, comprising in sequence along a profile advancement direction (X) : a profiling machine (10); a cutting group (20); a punching group (30); a system (40) for extracting the finished metal profiles (P1, P2, P3) from the punching group (30); a management and control unit (50). The punching group (30) comprises: - a first punching press (310) of the portal type having an elongated punching head (311) along a first operating direction (Y1); and a plurality of second punching presses with a C-support (320a, 320b, 320c), which are arranged downstream of said first punching press (310) and which are aligned with each other to form a row along a second operating direction (Y2) parallel to the first (Y1). The management and control unit (50) is configured so as to alternatively operate in use said first punching press (310) and at least one part of said second punching presses (320a, 320b, 320c) as a function of the type or length of the metal profiles (P1, P2) in output from the cutting group (20). The system (40) for extracting finished metal profiles (P1, P2, P3) from the punching group (30) is integrated with said second punching presses (320a,b,c) and comprises a conveyor belt (41).