Fibrous Cushion Roll for Bowling Lane Web Contact Conformity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bowling lane cleaning technologies fail to maintain intimate contact between the absorbent web material and the lane surface due to surface irregularities, leading to uneven cleaning and liquid distribution.
Innovation Solution
A backup roll with an exposed fibrous pile face comprising radially projecting, short non-absorbent fibers that yield and bend to conform to lane surface irregularities, anchored to a flexible substrate and a cushion body, ensuring consistent contact and even liquid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a smooth backup roll is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the absorbent web cannot maintain intimate contact with the lane surface due to surface irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The backup roll surface is covered with a wrapper featuring a fibrous pile face, where the fibers provide localized compliance and conformability to lane surface irregularities. This local quality change allows the web to maintain intimate contact with the lane surface while the overall roll structure remains simple and easy to manufacture.
2Ease of operation
If the wrapper is permanently attached to the roll, then the structure is simpler, but the wrapper cannot be easily replaced or cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapper is detachably secured to the roll body using fastening mechanisms such as hook and loop strips, allowing the wrapper to be dynamically removed and replaced. This dynamic attachment system enables easy maintenance and cleaning of the wrapper while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 ensures the absorbent web maintains intimate contact with the lane surface, facilitating even cleaning and preventing excessive liquid pickup, while allowing for easy replacement and cleaning of the wrapper sections.
Implementation Method 1
the body of the roll is constructed from a cushion material such as a closed cell polyurethane foam
Implementation Method 2
the fibers yield and bend as necessary to enable the outside surface of the web to conform and contact surface irregularities
Implementation Method 3
the fibers are constructed from non-absorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
A bowling lane maintenance machine has a cleaning assembly in which liquid cleaner is deposited on the lane surface at the front of the machine as the machine moves down the lane. Immediately behind the point of application of the cleaning solution, a wiping web assembly spreads the solution across the entire surface of the lane and presses the solution down into the conditioner for subsequent pickup by a suction pickup head behind the wiper web assembly. The web is looped under a backup roll having an exposed fibrous pile face that engages the inside surface of the web while the outside surface engages the lane. The fibrous pile encourages the web to remain in intimate contact with the lane surface at all times while accommodating surface irregularities such as depressions and other variations in lane contour.