Flexible Mold Demolding Apparatus for Simulated Stone

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The process of removing simulated stone building products from molds is difficult and labor-intensive, especially when molds have multiple cavities, leading to high costs and potential damage to either the product or the mold.

Innovation Solution

A demolding apparatus with a conveyor assembly and gripping mechanism that advances the mold, using an ejection roll and removal roll to dislodge the product by applying forces in the machine direction and cross-machine direction, ensuring secure gripping and controlled dislodging to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual labor is used to remove simulated building products from molds, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but labor intensity increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual labor flexibilityVSAvoiddemolding speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mold itself performs the demolding action through its flexible nature. The flexible mold is inserted into the rigid simulated building product and then flexed to extract the product from the mold cavity, allowing the mold to demold itself without requiring external manual intervention for each demolding operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a rigid mold that requires complex extraction mechanisms, the invention inverts the approach by using a flexible mold that can be inserted into and extracted from the rigid product. This inversion simplifies the demolding process and increases productivity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If force is applied to remove the product from the mold, then productivity increases, but the risk of damaging the product or mold increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedemolding efficiencyVSAvoidproduct or mold damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the mold from rigid to flexible. This parameter change allows the mold to conform to the product shape and be extracted without applying excessive forces that would cause damage. The flexibility enables gentle extraction while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible mold acts as a cushioning element before extraction. By using the flexible nature of the mold to gradually extract the product, the system prevents sudden impacts or excessive forces that would damage either the product or the mold, thereby reducing harmful factors while maintaining efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid demolding mechanism is used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct dimensional accuracyVSAvoiddemolding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the complex rigid demolding mechanism and replaces it with the simple flexible mold itself. The flexible mold's inherent elasticity and ability to conform to shapes eliminate the need for complex extraction devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision through the mold's precise cavity design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7841852B2Apparatus for demolding building products from a mold

Publication Date: 2010.11.30 BORAL STONE PRODS

AI summary

A demolding apparatus for removing molded building products from a mold has a conveyor assembly to advance the mold in a machine direction. A removal mechanism contacts a dislodged portion of the molded building product and applies a dislodging force to the dislodged portion of the molded building product.