Film Letting-Off Device for Roll Baler Width Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional film letting-off devices for roll balers face issues with smooth film unwinding due to high sliding resistance and film fluttering, leading to inefficient wrapping and disassembly challenges, especially in cold conditions.

Innovation Solution

A film letting-off device with a brake drum and drive roller system that reduces film width using paired width reducing rollers connected via an endless chain, ensuring smooth unwinding and enhanced film stability through controlled tension and reduced fluttering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional net letting-off device is used to let off film, then the film can be supplied to the wrapping system, but the film cannot be let off smoothly due to high sliding resistance and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth film let-offVSAvoidsliding resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary roller made of a material with low friction coefficient (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) is introduced between the film and the brake arm shaft. This intermediary roller acts as a mediator that reduces the sliding resistance and prevents direct contact between the film and the metal shaft, thereby enabling smooth film let-off without damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If film is used as wrapping material instead of twine or net, then disassembly becomes easier, but film fluttering occurs causing wrapping inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisassembly easeVSAvoidfilm stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The film width is dynamically adjusted during the wrapping process. The film is fed at its original width during the main wrapping phase, and then the width is reduced immediately before the winding end. This dynamic adjustment prevents film fluttering by ensuring proper tension and coverage, while maintaining the ease of disassembly advantage throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If film width is maintained throughout the wrapping process, then coverage is complete, but film fluttering occurs reducing wrapping efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidwrapping efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The film width is periodically adjusted during the wrapping process. The film is fed at full width for the majority of the wrapping cycle to ensure complete coverage, and then the width is reduced in the final stage before winding ends. This periodic adjustment optimizes both coverage area and wrapping efficiency by preventing fluttering only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If the brake arm shaft is made rotational to reduce sliding resistance, then film let-off improves, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm let-off smoothnessVSAvoidbrake arm shaft structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the brake arm shaft rotational (which would increase structural complexity), an intermediary roller is introduced. This roller can rotate freely on the stationary brake arm shaft, providing the necessary rotational motion for smooth film let-off while keeping the brake arm shaft structure simple and stationary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Facilitates efficient and smooth film unwinding, reduces material usage, and simplifies the disassembly of rolled bales by minimizing film flutter and static issues, while maintaining the ease of film-based wrapping.

Implementation Method 1

a brake shoe 25... adapted to turn on the brake arm shaft 23, for sliding to contact with the brake drum 22

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a drive roller device... for applying a pulling force to the film wound on the film roll, thereby to extract the film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2022318B1Film letting-off device for roll baler and method for winding film on rolled bale
Publication Date: 2010.02.10 TAKAKITA CO LTD
  • EP2022318B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2022318B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2022318B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a film letting-off device for a rolled bale V, which is arranged immediately upstream of a roll baling device B for covering and wrapping the outer circumference of the rolled bale V with a film F, for letting off said film F. A width reducing device H, which is constituted such that a pair of width reducing rollers 96 arranged in the widthwise direction of the film F so as to reduce the width of the film F being let off from a film rolling device E, while said rolled bale V is being covered with the film F, are brought close to and apart from each other while being centered, is arranged between said film rolling device E and said drive roller device D.