Flexible Material Handling System with Releasable Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the aerospace industry, handling large-scale carbon fiber elements for aircraft wings requires precise laying to avoid creasing, stretching, crushing, or tearing, which is challenging with human labor due to uncontrolled forces and potential quality compromises, risking structural integrity and safety.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising first and second rollers with releasable connectors that pick up, transfer, and store flexible material, ensuring accurate handling and storage by engaging and disengaging the material at specific points, preventing deformation and ensuring precise control over the material's placement and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If human workers are used to lay down carbon fiber sheets, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to uncontrolled forces and potential quality compromises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human manual handling with an automated robotic system featuring a main carrier with multiple releasable connectors that can be precisely controlled by a control system, eliminating human variability while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automated control where the robotic manipulator independently positions and places carbon fiber sheets without human intervention, with the control system managing the entire process from pickup to placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If automated systems with multiple rollers and releasable connectors are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the handling function into multiple independent releasable connectors distributed across rollers, each capable of independently engaging or releasing the material, allowing precise localized control while maintaining overall system manageability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main carrier with releasable connectors serves multiple functions: picking up material, transporting it, positioning it precisely, and placing it on the mold, reducing the need for separate specialized devices for each operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11577919B2System for handling flexible material

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 LOOP TECH

AI summary

A system for handling sheets of flexible material. The system comprises a first roller (5.2) which comprises a plurality of first releasable connectors (3.2) and a second roller (5.3) which comprises a plurality of second releasable connectors. The system further comprises an array of third releasable connectors (2.1) which is displaceable between at least the first and second rollers (5.2, 5.3). The first, second and third releasable connectors releasably attach to a sheet of flexible material in use.