Fibre Strip Application Head Ultrasonic Cutting and Waste Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibre strip application systems in industries like aeronautics face productivity reductions due to frequent machine stops, inaccurate cutting with support paper, and downtime for waste removal, which limits the efficiency and flexibility of the process.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an unwinder and rewinder to separate fibre strips from support paper immediately, a rocker for tension control, drive modules with caterpillar strips, a differential cutting system with orientable blades for precise cuts, and a waste separation module that allows continuous operation without speed reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fibre strips are supplied with support paper until the application area, then the strip is protected and easy to handle, but cutting accuracy deteriorates and circulation speed must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support paper is separated from the fibre strip at the unwinder exit, dividing the handling process into two distinct phases: the support paper is collected in a rewinder while the fibre strip passes alone through the application head, enabling accurate cutting without the paper constraint
Solution Approach 2:
The support paper is extracted from the fibre strip path at the unwinder, allowing the fibre strip to travel independently through the application head and cutting modules, thereby eliminating the interference of support paper with cutting operations
2Ease of manufacture
If the application head is moved to a collector for waste removal, then cuttings can be deposited, but production downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste collection system operates autonomously with a roller that deviates excess fibre pieces into a collecting box during continuous strip circulation, eliminating the need to stop production for waste removal
Solution Approach 2:
The waste separation module enables continuous operation by collecting cuttings during the normal circulation of the fibre strip through the application head, maintaining uninterrupted production flow
3Productivity
If rotational cutting systems are used for fibre strips without support paper, then cutting speed increases, but cutting accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional rotational cutting systems with ultrasonic cutting modules that use high-frequency vibrations to cut fibre strips, achieving both high speed and high precision without the accuracy limitations of rotational systems
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting system uses dynamically adjustable ultrasonic blades that can be positioned and oriented precisely, allowing accurate cutting of fibre strips at high speeds through controlled vibration rather than rotational motion
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 enhances productivity by minimizing stops, ensuring accurate cutting, and continuous operation, reducing waste and adherence issues, thus improving the overall efficiency and flexibility of fibre strip application.
Implementation Method 1
a longitudinal cutting module and through a differential cutting system, the former acting by means of blades driven by ultrasound, to make the necessary longitudinal cuts on the strip
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to improvements in fiber strip application heads for applying fiber strips (4) that are supplied with a support and protection paper (5), the fiber strip (4) to be applied being supplied with the immediate separation of the protection paper (5) at the exit from the feed reel (1), such that the fiber strip (4) circulates by itself through the head, passing through drive modules (10) formed by caterpillar strips, with the passage through a longitudinal cutting module (20) and through a waste separation module (22) in the path towards the application area.