Fixed-Gap Refiner Using Rotor Speed Control for Short Fibers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refiners face limitations in adjusting the gap between the stator and rotor beating parts, particularly when processing materials with short fibers or no stiffness, leading to inadequate beating performance.

Innovation Solution

The refiner variably controls the rotation of the rotor beating part's motor instead of adjusting the gap between the stator and rotor beating parts, using a motor control system to increase the rotational speed and enhance beating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the gap between the stator beating part and the rotor beating part is adjusted, then the beating performance is improved for conventional materials, but the processing capability for materials with short fibers or no stiffness is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capability for different raw materialsVSAvoidgap adjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameter from gap size to rotational speed. By varying the rotational speed of the rotor beating part according to different raw materials, the system achieves adaptability without mechanical gap adjustment, resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed gap design combined with variable speed control creates a universal processing system that can handle diverse materials (conventional materials, short fibers, non-stiff materials) through a single mechanism, eliminating the need for material-specific gap adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the gap between the stator beating part and the rotor beating part is fixed, then the device structure is simplified, but the beating effect for difficult-to-process materials is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidbeating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains structural simplicity with a fixed gap while compensating for beating efficiency through dynamic parameter change - specifically, adjusting the rotational speed of the rotor beating part to optimize the beating effect for different material types including short fibers and non-stiff materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the rotational speed of the rotor beating part is increased, then the beating effect for difficult materials is enhanced, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeating effectVSAvoidmotor energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic speed control where the motor rotational speed is adjusted according to the specific raw material being processed. This allows the system to use higher speeds only when necessary for difficult materials, while operating at lower speeds for conventional materials, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining effective beating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4180570B1refiner
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 AIKAWA IRON WORKS CO LTD
  • EP4180570B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP4180570B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4C
  • EP4180570B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

[Objective] An object of the present invention is to provide a refiner capable of corresponding to a raw material by, instead of adjusting a gap between a stator beating part and a rotor beating part, variably controlling a rotational rate of a motor of the rotor beating part. SOLUTION: A method of beating by a refiner is provided wherein the refiner supplies a raw material between a stator beating part 1 and a rotor beating part 2 and beats the raw material, and instead of adjusting a gap t between the stator beating part 1 and the rotor beating part 2, a rotational rate of a motor 4 of the rotor beating part 1 is variably controlled to correspond to the raw material.