Elastic Strip Stretching Discs With a Common Drive Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for stretching elastic strips in absorbent article manufacturing are complex, costly, and require multiple driving assemblies, which complicates maintenance and setup processes.
Innovation Solution
A single driving assembly powers multiple sets of rotatable discs to stretch elastic strips in a cross-machine direction, using a common drive shaft and rotation-transmitting mechanism, allowing for simpler design, reduced space requirements, and easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single driving assembly is used to power multiple sets of rotatable discs, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but control precision and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple driving assemblies are merged into a single driving assembly that powers all sets of rotatable discs through a common drive shaft. This consolidation reduces the total number of components, simplifies the overall structure, and lowers cost while maintaining functional capability across all stretching stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single driving assembly is designed with multi-functionality to power multiple sets of rotatable discs simultaneously. The common drive shaft and rotation-transmitting mechanism enable one driving assembly to perform the function that previously required multiple separate assemblies, achieving universality in power transmission.
2Reliability
If multiple separate driving assemblies are used for each set of rotatable discs, then control precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple driving assemblies into one, the patent reduces the number of components that require maintenance and repair. The consolidated structure provides better access to the driving assembly and rotatable discs, making threading, cleaning, and maintenance operations easier compared to having multiple scattered assemblies throughout the apparatus.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate driving assemblies are used, then individual control over each stretching station is improved, but space requirements and apparatus complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The consolidation of multiple driving assemblies into a single unit reduces the overall space occupied by the apparatus. The common drive shaft and centralized rotation-transmitting mechanism eliminate the need for multiple separate motor housings, gearboxes, and support structures that would be required if each stretching station had its own driving assembly.
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
This configuration simplifies the apparatus, reduces costs, and enhances accessibility for processes like threading, setting, cleaning, and maintenance, while providing precise control over elastic strip stretching for efficient absorbent article production.
Implementation Method 1
elastic strips (i.e. broader and flatter sheet-like lengths of elastic material capable of stretching in one or in multiple directions, for imparting elasticity over a larger area)
Implementation Method 2
Each rotatable disc has an outer surface provided with at least one gripping element configured to receive an edge of an elastic strip at a pick-up location and hold the edge of the elastic strip
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (10) for stretching a plurality of elastic strips (16, 18) in the cross-machine direction (CD). The apparatus (10) comprises a first set of rotatable discs (34) for stretching a first elastic strip (16) in a cross-machine direction (CD), and a second set of rotatable discs (62) for stretching a second elastic strip (18) in a cross-machine direction (CD). The first rotatable disc (36) is inclined at an angle with respect to the second rotatable disc (40). Each rotatable disc (36, 40) has an outer surface (36e, 40e) provided with at least one gripping element (50) configured to receive an edge of an elastic strip (16, 18) at a pick-up location and hold the edge of the elastic strip (16, 18) as the elastic strip (16,18) is advanced in the machine direction (MD) from the pick-up location to a drop-off location during operation, whereby the distance between the first rotatable disc (36) and the second rotatable disc (40) of each set of rotatable discs (34, 62) is greater at the drop-off location than at the pick-up location, thereby stretching the elastic strip (16,18) in the cross-machine direction (CD). The apparatus (10) also comprises a common power source (54), a common drive shaft (56), and a rotation-transmitting mechanism (58), whereby the common drive shaft (56) and the rotation-transmitting mechanism (58) are configured to transmit power from the common power source (54) to both the first set of rotatable discs (34) and the second set of rotatable discs (62) to rotate the first rotatable disc (36) and the second rotatable disc (40) of each set of rotatable discs (34, 62).