Composite Rod-Bed Holder for Cross-Directional Profiling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rod-bed assemblies for coating or sizing fiber webs lack the ability for cross-directional profiling of dosing or coating medium due to the rigidity of the holder, which restricts the adjustment of sizing or coating medium distribution across the fiber web.

Innovation Solution

A rod-bed assembly with a holder made of composite material having a low longitudinal stiffness modulus, featuring cuts or notches on its back side to reduce bending forces and allow for cross-directional profiling, enabling flexible medium distribution while maintaining structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the holder is made of rigid material to maintain structural integrity, then the holder can securely hold the insert, but the holder cannot be bent for cross-directional profiling of medium distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcross-directional profiling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is made of composite material with specifically controlled fiber orientation and structure to achieve a low longitudinal stiffness modulus (8-40 GPa). This parameter change allows the holder to be sufficiently flexible for cross-directional profiling while maintaining adequate strength for secure insert holding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is constructed from composite material with tailored fiber orientation and structure. This composite construction enables the holder to exhibit anisotropic mechanical properties - flexible enough in the longitudinal direction for profiling while maintaining structural integrity for insert retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the holder is made flexible to enable cross-directional profiling, then the holder can be bent for medium distribution adjustment, but the holder cannot securely hold the insert

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-directional profiling capabilityVSAvoidinsert holding capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material parameters are specifically tuned to achieve a longitudinal stiffness modulus of 8-40 GPa, which provides the optimal balance between flexibility for profiling and strength for insert holding. The fiber orientation is designed to provide sufficient rigidity in the transverse direction while allowing longitudinal flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The anisotropic composite structure provides direction-dependent mechanical properties - flexible in the longitudinal direction for profiling operations while maintaining adequate strength and rigidity in the transverse direction to securely hold the insert.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the holder is made of rigid material, then manufacturing is simple, but cross-directional profiling of medium distribution is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholder manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmedium distribution profiling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is manufactured as a composite structure with controlled fiber orientation and porosity. While the manufacturing process is more complex than rigid materials, it enables the unique property of controlled flexibility for profiling while maintaining structural integrity, thus achieving the functional requirement that rigid materials cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material parameters (fiber orientation, stiffness modulus, porosity) are controlled during manufacturing to achieve the desired mechanical properties. This parameter control enables the holder to be formed with the specific flexibility needed for cross-directional profiling while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized composite processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the holder is made flexible for profiling, then medium distribution can be adjusted, but the force required for bending increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium distribution adjustmentVSAvoidbending force requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The holder's longitudinal stiffness modulus is optimized to 8-40 GPa through composite material selection and fiber orientation control. This parameter optimization ensures the holder is flexible enough for profiling operations with reasonable bending forces while maintaining sufficient rigidity for structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The holder may include cuts or notches that segment the structure, creating controlled flexibility zones. These segments allow the holder to bend more easily for profiling operations while maintaining structural integrity in other areas, thus reducing the force required for bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9433964B2Rod-bed assembly

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 VALMET TECH INC

AI summary

A rod-bed assembly has a holder (30) and an insert (20) removably and insertably supported in a groove (31) of the holder (30), the rod-bed assembly being for a rod (10) rotatably supported in a recess (21) on a front side of the insert (20). Longitudinal bending of the holder (30) in a cross-direction is under 0.5%, advantageously under 0.35%, of the longitudinal distance between two profiling loading points of the holder (30).