Coaxial Cutter and Winding Unit for Bale Wire Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for cutting and removing wires from bales, such as pulp or paper bales, often fail to accurately grip the wires, leading to errors, wastage, and increased complexity due to unnecessary steps and potential fraying of the bale edges.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising coaxially arranged outer and inner rotatable cutters with cutting edges that move towards each other to cut the wires, paired with a winding unit for efficient removal, and a turning tool to reposition the bale for complete wire extraction, utilizing shared driving mechanisms and sensors for precise wire localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a two-step operation with gripping members is used to cut and remove wires, then the wire removal function is achieved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to additional error-prone steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cutting and winding functions into a single integrated unit where the cutting tool and winding tool share a common axis and driving mechanism. The cutting tool cuts the wire while the winding tool simultaneously winds the cut wire, eliminating the need for separate gripping members and multiple operational steps. This merging of functions reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting unit is designed with multi-functionality, where the same rotational mechanism serves both cutting and winding purposes. The cutting tool and winding tool are both driven by the same motor, and the rotational motion serves dual purposes: cutting the wire when the cutting edges engage, and winding the wire when the winding tool engages. This universal design reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall device.
2Reliability
If cutting is carried out over the whole side of the bale, then complete wire removal is achieved, but material wastage increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is designed with cutting edges that are positioned to engage only at the specific locations where wires are present on the bale surface. The cutting edges can be adjusted or positioned to match the typical wire placement patterns, so that cutting action is concentrated locally at wire positions rather than across the entire bale surface. This localised cutting approach maintains reliable wire removal while minimising material wastage and maximising productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an elongated arrangement with inner and surrounding tubular elements is used, then cutting and winding are combined, but the arrangement fails to grip wires correctly and requires a complicated driving mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using an inner tubular element and surrounding tubular element configuration that fails to grip wires correctly, the patent inverts the approach by using a cutting tool with cutting edges that actively engage the wire from the outside, and a winding tool that winds the wire from the same external position. This inverted configuration improves wire gripping accuracy by using direct external engagement rather than the previous inner-outer element arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
The device is for cutting and removing wires from bales, such as pulp bales, paper bales and the like. The device has at least one cutting unit that has a cutting tool for cutting off a wire that is arranged around a bale, and at least one winding unit that has a winding tool for unwinding the cut wire from the bale. The cutting tool has an outer cutter and an inner cutter which are coaxially arranged and rotatable with respect to each other. Each cutter has a cutting edge which are arranged to be moved towards each other when the cutters are rotated towards each other in a certain direction, in order to cut off objects, preferably bale wires, between them.