Grinding Mill Reverse Actuation for Fine Gap Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adjusting the degree of grinding in grinders, particularly to finer levels, is challenging due to residue accumulation in the grinding gap, which can cause damage and hinder adjustment, requiring quick adjustments shortly after the grinding process begins.

Innovation Solution

Actuating the grinder in a second direction after completing the grinding cycle to remove residues from the grinding gap, allowing for adjustments over a longer period and preventing damage, by either user input or automatically after a predetermined number of operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the grinding gap is reduced to achieve finer grinding degrees, then the fineness of ground material is improved, but residues accumulate in the grinding gap causing damage and preventing adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefineness of ground materialVSAvoidgrinder adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cleaning action by actuating the grinding mechanism in reverse direction before adjustment is made. This removes residues from the grinding gap in advance, preventing them from interfering with the subsequent adjustment process or causing damage during fine grinding setup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuously actuating the grinding mechanism only in the forward grinding direction, the system inverts the operation by actuating it in reverse direction for a predetermined period. This reverse actuation loosens and removes accumulated residues, enabling safe adjustment to finer grinding degrees

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If adjustment is made shortly after grinding begins to remove residues, then the grinding gap cleanliness is improved, but the time available for adjustment is severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrinding gap cleanlinessVSAvoidtime available for adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic reverse actuation at predetermined intervals during the grinding process. This periodic cleaning action maintains grinding gap cleanliness without requiring immediate adjustment after grinding begins, thereby providing sufficient time for users to make adjustments when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the grinding mechanism is actuated in reverse direction for a predetermined period, then residues are removed from the grinding gap, but the grinding cycle time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidue removal effectivenessVSAvoidgrinding cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters by actuating the grinding mechanism in reverse direction for a predetermined period. This parameter change (reverse actuation duration) is optimized to effectively remove residues while minimizing the impact on overall grinding cycle time, balancing cleanliness with productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4287913B1Device and method for grinding ground goods

Publication Date: 2024.03.27 JURA ELEKTROAPPARATE AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a method for grinding material to be ground, the method comprising the steps: actuating the grinding mill in a first direction for grinding the material to be ground, and actuating the grinding mill in a second direction different from the first direction, actuation of the grinding mill in the second direction taking place once the grinding of the material to be ground is completed.