Fibrous Panel Folding and Pressing with Horizontal Segmented Rollers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for folding and pressing fibrous sheets to produce panel-shaped building elements are inefficient, leading to low production rates and potential damage to the thin film coating, which affects the quality of lightweight building elements.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize a fibrous sheet with a central portion and lateral portions, featuring a folding mechanism to upturn and fold the lateral portions at a right angle, followed by a pressing mechanism with segmented rotary wheels to adhere them to the central portion, allowing for swift and effective folding and pressing, primarily moving in a horizontal plane to increase production rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a pressing member moves in a closed loop around the fibrous sheet to fold and press, then the building element is formed with attached lateral portions, but the production rate is low due to the complex looping motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rateVSAvoidpressing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member is divided into multiple segments that can independently move and press different portions of the fibrous sheet. This segmentation allows the pressing action to be broken down into simpler, more efficient movements rather than requiring a complex closed-loop motion, thereby increasing production rate while maintaining effective pressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing mechanism employs dynamic, movable pressing members that can adjust their position and movement trajectory. Instead of following a fixed closed loop, the pressing members dynamically adapt their motion paths to optimize the folding and pressing process, reducing overall cycle time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If existing folding and pressing methods are used, then the lateral portions are attached to the central portion, but the thin film coating may be damaged affecting quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment firmnessVSAvoidthin film damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing members are designed to apply pressure locally and selectively to specific areas of the fibrous sheet rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This localized pressing approach ensures firm attachment of lateral portions to the central portion while avoiding excessive force that could damage the thin film coating in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing mechanism incorporates cushioning elements or controlled pressure progression that prevents sudden or excessive force application. By cushioning the pressing action beforehand and increasing pressure gradually, the system maintains reliable attachment while protecting the thin film coating from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If the pressing member moves in a closed loop, then folding and pressing are achieved, but the time required for each cycle is long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding and pressing qualityVSAvoidcycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The folding mechanism performs preliminary folding actions before the pressing members engage. By pre-positioning and pre-folding the lateral portions into their final configurations, the subsequent pressing step requires less time and movement, thereby reducing overall cycle time while maintaining folding and pressing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing members move rapidly through non-critical pressing zones and concentrate their action on critical attachment areas. This selective rushing through of the pressing cycle reduces overall time while ensuring that essential folding and pressing quality requirements are met in the critical zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 significantly increases production rate while maintaining a firm attachment of components, reducing the time required for folding and pressing, and ensuring uniform pressure for improved quality and durability of the building elements.

Implementation Method 1

providing an adhesive for adhering the two lateral portions to the spacing elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

making the two pressing members move on top of said outer parts of the lateral portions to press them against the spacing elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3676084B1A method of and a device for producing a fibrous panel-shaped building element
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 IKEA SUPPLY AG
  • EP3676084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3676084B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3676084B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method of and a device for folding over and pressing a fibrous sheet (2) to produce a panel-shaped building element (3) having two large faces (30) are disclosed. The device (1) comprises two pressing members (16a, 16b) that move mainly horizontally across the fibrous sheet (2), which has a central portion (23) and two lateral portions (24), to first fold the two lateral portions (24) over the central portion (23) to form a sandwich (23, 24), and then roll the two pressing members (16a, 16b) over the entire width of each lateral sheet portion (24) while pressing the sandwich (23, 24) to form the building element (3). Preferably, a sequence of fibrous sheets (2) is continuously fed through the device (1), and the device (1) continuously reciprocates to move together with each of the sheets (2) during the folding and pressing thereof.