Folder-Gluer Frame Apron for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current folder-gluers face impractical maintenance operations due to the need for operators to access and adjust various parts, leading to increased adjustment and stoppage times, fatigue, and potential errors, especially in machines of significant length or with large blanks, where operators must move long distances or straddle walls to access rear parts.
Innovation Solution
A module with a frame featuring transverse elements that form an apron, allowing operators to climb and access functional arrangements easily, reducing the need for extensive movement and providing a stable platform for maintenance, thereby enhancing ergonomics and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the folder-gluer has significant length or large width, then the machine can process larger blanks and meet production requirements, but the operator has to move over long distances or straddle walls to access rear parts, increasing maintenance difficulty and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to the maintenance access problem. Instead of requiring horizontal movement across long distances or straddling walls, the frame structure incorporates horizontal portions at elevated positions that allow operators to climb up and access functional arrangements from above. This dimensional change transforms an inaccessibile rear area into an accessible platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal portions of the frame act as intermediary platforms between the ground and the functional arrangements. These intermediate structures provide a stable working surface that mediates the gap between operator reach and the elevated functional components, eliminating the need for direct ground-level access to rear parts.
2Ease of repair
If the operator must access rear parts of the machine, then maintenance can be performed on all functional arrangements, but the operator has to move over 20 meters or straddle walls, increasing stoppage time and error risk
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing vertical access through climbable frame structures with horizontal portions, the invention eliminates the need for operators to traverse long horizontal distances. The elevated platforms position maintenance points within easy reach, reducing movement time and allowing quicker access to functional arrangements for adjustments and repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure is pre-configured with horizontal portions at strategic locations where functional arrangements are mounted. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that maintenance points are already positioned in accessible locations, eliminating the need for operators to move equipment or reposition themselves during maintenance operations.
3Area of stationary object
If the operator must straddle walls to access functional arrangements, then maintenance can be performed on large-width machines, but the operation becomes impractical and increases fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the maintenance access approach by moving from horizontal straddling to vertical climbing. The horizontal portions of the frame create elevated platforms that provide stable working surfaces at appropriate heights, allowing operators to perform maintenance in a comfortable, ergonomic position rather than straddling walls or bending over.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal frame portions serve as intermediary platforms that eliminate the need for operators to straddle machine walls. These intermediate structures provide stable, elevated working surfaces that bring functional arrangements within easy reach, improving maintenance ergonomics while preserving the machine's large width capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A module for a folder-gluer (1) includes a frame (13) having two substantially vertical front and rear walls (14, 16) and at least one functional arrangement (28, 33) held by the frame (13), at least one transverse element (17, 18), mechanically connecting and maintaining parallelism between the first and rear walls (14, 16) and the transverse element is configured with at least one substantially horizontal portion forming an apron (19), which is configured to permit an operator (30) to climb onto the frame and to access the functional arrangement (28, 33).