Connecting Sheet Container with Airflow and Suction for Drum Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing production machines in the tobacco processing industry face disruptions due to unused connecting sheets accumulating on conveyor drums, leading to potential clogging and reduced process reliability.

Innovation Solution

A collecting container with an air table and suction system is used to remove unused connecting sheets from conveyor drums, utilizing compressed air to guide sheets into the container and a suction device to extract them, minimizing design effort and ensuring smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a collecting container is provided on the conveyor drum to remove unused connecting sheets, then process reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess reliabilityVSAvoiddesign effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the unused connecting sheets from the conveyor drum surface by providing a collecting container with an inlet opening that receives sheets removed from the conveyor. This separation of the collection function from the main conveyor system resolves the contradiction by implementing a targeted removal mechanism that improves reliability without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The collecting container acts as an intermediary element between the conveyor drum and the production process. It provides a designated space to temporarily hold removed connecting sheets, preventing them from interfering with the production process while maintaining a simple overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If air is applied to remove connecting sheets from the conveyor drum surface, then sheets are effectively collected, but sheets may fly around and cause disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet removal efficiencyVSAvoidsheets flying around
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts connecting sheets directly from the conveyor drum surface into a contained space (collecting container) rather than using open air blasts that would allow sheets to scatter. The inlet opening provides a controlled entry path that captures sheets immediately upon removal, preventing them from flying around and causing disruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of air application (which could cause sheets to fly around) into a beneficial controlled flow that directs sheets into the collecting container through the inlet opening. The air stream becomes a controlled transport mechanism rather than a disruptive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If the collecting container is designed with simple structure, then design effort is minimized, but sheet collection effectiveness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign effortVSAvoidsheet collection effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sheet collection function into distinct components: an inlet opening for receiving sheets, an interior space for containing sheets, and optional air application means. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while collectively achieving effective sheet collection, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents unused sheets from accumulating and flying around, maintaining a clean production environment and enhancing process reliability by ensuring continuous operation of the production machine.

Implementation Method 1

an air table which can be or is pressurized with compressed air is provided in the region of the inlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

the interior space is connected to a suction line for sucking connecting sheets out of the interior space, wherein a suction device is connected to the suction line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3923747B1Collecting container for connecting sheets
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 KORBER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3923747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923747B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3923747B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to, among others, a collecting container (50) for connecting sheets of the tobacco-processing industry. The collecting container (50) is arranged or can be arranged on a conveyor drum (112) for conveying connecting sheets of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising an inner chamber (58) for receiving connecting sheets and an inlet opening (54) for the connecting sheets, wherein the connecting sheets are supplied or can be supplied into the inner chamber (58) from an outer chamber of the collecting container (50) via or through the inlet opening (54). The collecting container (50) is characterized in that the inner chamber (58) is connected to a suction line (56) for suctioning connecting sheets out of the inner chamber (58), a suction device being connected to said suction line (56), and/or compressed air is supplied or can be supplied to the interior (58) by means of a compressed air source.