Separate Cutting and Welding Carriages for Faster Metal Strip Joining

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting and welding devices for metal strips face challenges such as reduced productivity due to lengthy welding cycles, excessive mechanical structural tolerances, and bulkiness, particularly when handling strips with different formats and properties, and lack modularity, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A device with separate carriages for cutting and welding, where the first carriage is used exclusively for welding and the second carriage for cutting, eliminating the need for intermediate repositioning steps and using high-performance heads, simplifying the process and reducing mechanical structural tolerances, and incorporating a streamlined guide path system for efficient movement and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single carriage with switchable cutting and welding heads is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to intermediate repositioning steps and excessive mechanical structural tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarriage structureVSAvoidcutting and welding cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate carriages: a first carriage dedicated to welding operations and a second carriage dedicated to cutting operations. Each carriage has its own guide path and is optimized for its specific function, eliminating the need for intermediate repositioning steps required by switchable heads on a single carriage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

While the carriages are specialized, the overall device maintains versatility by being able to handle different strip formats and properties through the coordinated operation of the two carriages, each with high-performance heads optimized for their respective functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If welding time is increased to accommodate larger strip formats, then adaptability improves, but productivity decreases and accumulation means are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewelding range for different formatsVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamically adjustable parameters including the guide paths for the carriages and the positioning systems, allowing optimization of welding and cutting operations for different strip formats without requiring increased welding time, thus maintaining productivity across various formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If separate carriages for cutting and welding are used, then productivity increases by eliminating repositioning steps, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting and welding cycle timeVSAvoidcarriage and guide path system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If accumulation means are installed to maintain continuous movement during welding, then productivity is maintained, but cost and equipment bulkiness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous strip movementVSAvoidaccumulation means

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting operation is performed in advance before welding, with the second carriage cutting the strip to the required length while the first carriage is positioned for welding. This preliminary cutting action allows the welding process to proceed without interruption to strip feed, eliminating the need for accumulation means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11014213B2Device for moving an arrangement for cutting and welding metal strips

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 CLECIM SAS

AI summary

A device for moving at least one cutting and welding arrangement able to cut, then weld a tail of a first metal strip to a head of a second metal strip, includes at least one first carriage holding at least one welding head. The first carriage is movable over a guide path following a first course across a transverse strip region. At least one second carriage is movable separately from the first carriage and holds a cutting head. The second carriage is movable on a guide path following a second course. The welding head is used exclusively for a welding mode, the second carriage is used exclusively for a cutting mode and the two carriages have parked positions on either side of the tail and head widths of the strips. A welding method which is associated with the device is also provided.