Dynamic Accumulator Speed Control for Fiber Thickness Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing systems for recycling fiber feedstock struggle with maintaining consistent thickness of accumulated material due to variations in material discharge through sieves, leading to inconsistent processing outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A fiber processing device with a sieve and accumulator configuration where the accumulator operates at a higher speed during startup and maintains this speed during initial processing periods to manage material thickness, even when the amount of material discharged increases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the accumulator operates at a higher speed during startup, then the thickness variation of accumulated material is suppressed, but the processing capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness consistencyVSAvoidprocessing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The accumulator speed is made dynamic rather than constant. During startup, the accumulator operates at a higher speed to prevent material buildup and thickness variation. During normal processing, it operates at a lower speed to maximize processing capacity. This time-varying speed control resolves the contradiction between thickness consistency and processing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by accelerating the accumulator before material discharge begins. This preliminary high-speed operation ensures that the accumulator is ready to handle material flow without causing thickness variation, preventing the problem before it occurs during the startup phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the sieve operates at higher speed to increase material discharge, then productivity is improved, but the thickness consistency of accumulated material deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial discharge rateVSAvoidthickness consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system monitors the accumulator speed and adjusts it based on the operational phase. When detecting startup conditions, the system feedback-controlledly increases accumulator speed to maintain thickness consistency despite increased material discharge from the sieve. This feedback mechanism coordinates sieve and accumulator speeds to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11390992B2Fiber processing device, fibrous feedstock recycling device, and control method of a fiber processing device

Publication Date: 2022.07.19 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Variation in the thickness of accumulated material is suppressed when material containing fiber is dispersed by the sieve and accumulated. A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a drum that sieves defibrated material containing fiber, a first web former that accumulates first screened material discharged from the drum, and a processor that processes a first web accumulated in the first web former. During processing by the processor, the mesh belt operates at a first speed. When operation starts with the drum not operating, a startup operation including the mesh belt operating at a higher speed than the first speed in a first period after the drum starts is executed.