Compression Press with Segmented Electric Motors for Planarity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compression presses with fluid-dynamic pistons face challenges in maintaining planarity due to uneven compression resistance, leading to precision issues and potential damage to guides, especially when molding products with uneven mass distribution.

Innovation Solution

A compression press design utilizing multiple independent electric motors to control the movement of half-mould supports, ensuring maximum planarity by activating at least three motors to adjust and maintain precise alignment between the supports, with encoders for precise movement control and correction mechanisms to maintain deviations within tight tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fluid-dynamic pistons are used to move the first forming plate, then the pressing operation can be performed, but planarity between the first and second plate cannot be maintained due to uneven compression resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing operationVSAvoidplanarity between plates
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The first forming plate is divided into multiple independently controllable zones (first zone, second zone, third zone), each driven by a separate electric motor. This segmentation allows each zone to independently adjust its position to compensate for uneven compression resistance, maintaining overall planarity during the pressing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static, uniformly driven plate to a dynamic, adaptively controlled plate. The control device continuously monitors and adjusts the position of each zone based on real-time compression resistance variations, enabling the plate to dynamically maintain planarity throughout the pressing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If fluid-dynamic pistons are used, then pressing can be performed, but precision of the press deteriorates due to variability in compression resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing capabilityVSAvoidpress precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing system is segmented into multiple independently controlled zones, each with its own drive mechanism and position control. This allows precise measurement and adjustment of each zone's position, maintaining overall press precision even when compression resistance varies across different areas of the workpiece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device receives feedback on the position of each zone and adjusts the drive mechanisms accordingly. This closed-loop control system continuously monitors and corrects position deviations, ensuring high measurement precision and repeatability throughout the pressing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the first plate encounters marked variability in compression resistance, then uneven mass distribution is compressed, but this creates absence of planarity between plates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling uneven mass distributionVSAvoidplanarity between plates
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Each zone of the first forming plate is equipped with independent control capabilities, allowing local adjustments to be made in response to local variations in compression resistance. This enables the system to adapt to uneven mass distribution while maintaining overall planarity, as each zone can independently compensate for local conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the position and pressure applied by each zone based on real-time feedback about compression resistance variations. This dynamic adaptation allows the press to handle workpieces with uneven mass distribution while maintaining precise planarity control throughout the forming process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If significant absence of planarity occurs, then product forming can proceed, but risk of damaging guides increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct forming capabilityVSAvoidguide integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device proactively adjusts the position of each zone before significant planarity deviations occur. By continuously monitoring and correcting position variations during the pressing operation, the system prevents the development of conditions that could lead to guide damage, ensuring both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3088172B1Compression press and use thereof
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 GF SRL
  • EP3088172B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3088172B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A compression press comprising: -a first support (21) suitable for supporting a first half-mould; -a second support (22) suitable for supporting a second half-mould, said second support (22) being opposite the first support (21); the first and the second support (21, 22) being capable of being brought towards and/or away from each other; -at least a first, a second and a third electric motor (31, 32, 33) that control the movement of the first and the second support (21, 22) towards and away from each other. the first, the second and the third electric motor (31, 32, 33) act in a first, a second and a third zone (211, 212, 213) of the first support (21), respectively.