Fiber Cutting Device Feed Control Toggle and Anvil Roller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber cutting devices face issues with fibers sticking to the feed roller, leading to spooling and lost production time, and there is a need for efficient starting and stopping of cutting, as well as minimizing waste and increasing production rates in composite manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A fiber cutting device with a feed control toggle that moves between a stop position and a cutting position to control the fibers, using a flap or roller for sliding contact with the anvil roller to prevent sticking and allow precise control over cutting, enabling efficient start and stop operations and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a feed roller is used to deliver fibers to the cutting head, then the fibers can be continuously fed into the cutting zone, but the fibers may stick to the feed roller surface causing spooling and production interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the feed roller component entirely from the cutting device. Instead of using a rotating feed roller to deliver fibers, the invention uses a feed table with fibers positioned at an angle, allowing fibers to be fed to the cutting head without contact with a rotating surface that causes sticking and spooling issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feed table as an intermediary structure between the fiber source and the cutting head. This feed table allows fibers to be delivered at an optimized angle without requiring direct contact with a rotating feed roller, thereby preventing the sticking and spooling problems while maintaining continuous feeding capability.
2Productivity
If the cutting device operates continuously without control mechanisms, then production rate increases, but waste increases due to inability to start and stop efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feed table that can be dynamically adjusted in position and angle, allowing the cutting device to start and stop efficiently. This dynamic control mechanism enables precise fiber delivery only when needed, preventing waste while maintaining high production rates during active cutting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of fiber delivery by using a feed table that positions fibers at an optimized angle relative to the cutting head. This parameter change allows for efficient start and stop operations, reducing fiber waste while maintaining continuous production capability during active cutting.
3Device complexity
If traditional feed rollers are used, then fiber delivery is simple, but the device complexity increases due to sticking and spooling problems requiring additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic feed roller component entirely, simplifying the device structure while eliminating the sticking and spooling issues that would require additional control mechanisms. The feed table provides a simpler, more reliable fiber delivery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed table design allows fibers to be delivered passively without requiring active control mechanisms to prevent sticking and spooling. The geometric configuration of the feed table itself prevents these problems, making the system self-regulating and easier to operate.
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 allows for precise control over fiber cutting, reducing waste and increasing production rates by preventing fibers from sticking to the feed roller and enabling efficient start and stop operations, thus improving the efficiency of composite manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the anvil roller draws the plurality of fibers to be cut between the momentary contact with each of the one or more blades of the cutting head and the anvil roller
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber cutting device is disclosed having a cutting head with one or more blades disposed across a surface of the cutting head and disposed to rotate about a cutting head axis. An anvil roller is disposed and driven to rotate about an anvil axis and has a surface in momentary contact with each the one or more blades of the cutting head. Fibers are delivered to the device across a feeder. A feed control toggle may be moved to a stop position, where a first end of the feed control toggle presses the plurality of fibers against the feeder to stop motion of the fibers and prevent cutting. Contact with the anvil roller to draw the fibers between the cutting head and the anvil may also be controlled by the feed control toggle. A flap for sliding contact between the fibers and the anvil may also be used.