Deformable Sheet Gripper for Roll Trimming Without Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for removing leading and trailing trims from cut rolls of paper or web materials are complex, energy-intensive, and can damage delicate materials due to the need for suction and stationary guides.
Innovation Solution
A device with a continuous flexible member equipped with deformable sheets that grip and transfer products, eliminating the need for suction and stationary guides, using contrasting surfaces to deform the sheets and create a gripping mechanism that advances at the same speed as the products, allowing for efficient trim discharge without damaging the materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction is used to make rolls adhere to the continuous flexible member, then the rolls can be effectively conveyed from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, but the device requires a continuous flow of aspirated air which increases energy consumption and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic suction system with a mechanical gripping system. The continuous flexible member is equipped with mechanical gripping elements (such as fingers or clamps) that physically grasp the rolls and convey them through the trimming zone, eliminating the need for continuous air suction and associated energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the suction system components (vacuum pumps, air flow generation devices) from the device structure, replacing them with a simpler mechanical gripping mechanism that achieves the same conveying function without the energy-intensive air flow requirement.
2Productivity
If a continuous flexible member with gripping elements is used to transfer products, then the structure can effectively eliminate trims, but the device complexity increases due to the need for activation mechanisms and continuous flexible member control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a continuous flexible member (such as a belt or chain with attached gripping elements) that can bend and conform to the product path. This flexible structure allows the gripping elements to be positioned optimally for trim elimination while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through the use of flexible rather than rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flexible member is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing its speed and position to be adjusted to match the production line requirements. The gripping elements can be activated or deactivated in specific zones to selectively grip products for trimming while allowing other products to pass through, optimizing productivity without requiring the entire system to be complex.
3Ease of operation
If stationary guides are used along the advancement path, then the rolls can be guided during trimming, but delicate materials may be damaged due to contact with fixed guides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces stationary fixed guides with dynamic guiding elements that move with the products. The continuous flexible member itself serves as a moving guide that travels with the rolls through the trimming zone, providing guidance without the rolls needing to slide against or be constrained by fixed stationary surfaces that could cause damage to delicate materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flexible member acts as an intermediary between the fixed device structure and the delicate rolls. It provides the necessary guidance and support functions while being flexible enough to accommodate the rolls without imposing rigid constraints that could damage the material, effectively mediating between the need for guidance and the need to protect the product.
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 simplifies the system, reduces energy consumption and noise, and prevents damage to delicate materials by using deformable sheets to transfer products without the need for suction or stationary guides, effectively removing trims while being adaptable to various roll sizes and lengths.
Implementation Method 1
contrasting surfaces cause a deformation of the deformable sheets against the products so as to grip each of said products between opposed deformable sheets
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2~3B
AI summary
The device comprises: a product advancement path (R); a first conveyor (1) for advancing the products (R) and said trims (RC, RT); downstream of the first conveyor (1), a second conveyor (7) for receiving the products (R); a discharge zone (9) for the trims (RT, RC) between the first conveyor (1) and the second conveyor (7); at least one continuous flexible member (17A, 17B) with gripping elements that can be activated to transfer the products (R) from the first conveyor (1) to the second conveyor (7). The gripping elements comprise deformable sheets (21 A, 21 B) carried by said at least one continuous flexible member (17A, 17B), arranged to grip said products (R) and transfer them from the first conveyor (1) to the second conveyor (7). At least between the first conveyor (1) and the second conveyor (7) and lateral to said advancement path, contrasting surfaces (41 A, 41B) are provided, which cause the deformation of said deformable sheets (21 A, 21B) against the products (R) so as to grip the products with the deformable sheets (21A, 21B) between the first conveyor (1) and the second conveyor (7). Furthermore, at least one portion (18) of the longitudinal length of the continuous flexible member (17A, 17B) is devoid of said deformable sheets (21 A, 21B).