Extrusion Machine Shielding and Wheel Change for Profile Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extrusion machines face challenges in maintaining the quality of profiles by allowing oxygen absorption during the molding process and have difficulties in safely and efficiently changing the friction wheel, leading to potential machine overload and damage.
Innovation Solution
The extrusion machine incorporates a shielding unit with oxygen-free gas nozzles to minimize oxygen ingress and a method for precise control of the gap between tool components, along with improved accessibility and safety features for friction wheel changes, such as a cantilever arm and support arrangement, to prevent oxygen absorption and facilitate safer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the extrusion machine operates without a shielding unit, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but oxygen is absorbed by the heated extrusion material leading to reduced profile quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shielding unit that creates an inert or reduced-oxygen atmosphere around the heated extrusion material using gas nozzles. This prevents oxygen absorption by the hot material, thereby maintaining high profile quality and preventing oxidation defects without requiring complex structural modifications to the entire machine
2Reliability
If the friction wheel is tightly secured on the drive shaft for safe operation, then machine reliability is improved, but the friction wheel change process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the friction wheel mounting system into separable components: the friction wheel, the drive shaft with keyway, and a locking mechanism. This segmentation allows the friction wheel to be securely mounted during operation through the keyway and locking mechanism, while also enabling straightforward removal and replacement by disengaging these same components, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of change
3Productivity
If the friction wheel is easily accessible for quick changes, then operational efficiency is improved, but machine overload and damage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary safety features into the friction wheel change process: alignment guides are pre-positioned to ensure correct positioning, and the keyway-locking mechanism is pre-configured to automatically engage when the friction wheel is properly seated. This allows operators to quickly change friction wheels while maintaining safety, as the preliminary arrangements prevent misalignment and overload conditions
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 minimizes oxygen absorption, maintaining high profile quality and simplifies the friction wheel change process, reducing the risk of machine damage and improving operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first nozzle and the at least one second nozzle are each formed to emit a gas which is free of gaseous oxygen to minimize or prevent access of ambient air to the heated extrusion material
Implementation Method 2
at least one friction wheel rotatable about a drive axis, which friction wheel is provided with at least one peripheral groove, and is in drive connection with a drive device
Data Source
AI summary
An extrusion machine includes a main frame, a friction wheel, a tool holding device, a locking device and a tool unit supported on the tool holding device. Furthermore, a shielding unit with at least one first nozzle and at least one second nozzle is provided, wherein the nozzles are formed to emit a gas which is free of gaseous oxygen. The first nozzle is directed at a peripheral portion of the friction wheel. The second nozzle is arranged below a stripping area of the tool unit. Further, an extrusion machine has a sensor unit between the tool holding device and the tool unit and a method controls distance between two tool components of the extrusion machine. Furthermore, different extrusion machines as well as methods for changing friction wheels are provided.