Inspectable Suction Roll Segmented Removable Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction rolls in paper converting machines face maintenance challenges due to dust and debris accumulation, leading to partial obstruction of suction holes and pipes, requiring complex and costly maintenance operations for cleaning and replacing sealing elements.
Innovation Solution
A suction roll design with removable portions that allow external access and replacement of sealing members without disassembling the entire unit, featuring openings wide enough to accommodate the sealing members for easy removal and installation, reducing the need for crane-assisted maintenance and minimizing labor and time costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction roll uses a fixed tubular body with internal lateral surface for sealing members, then the suction system can maintain vacuum seal, but the sealing members become difficult to access and replace requiring crane assistance and complex disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tubular body is divided into a main portion and removable portions that can be detached. The removable portions are positioned at locations where sealing members are accessible, allowing maintenance personnel to reach and replace sealing members without disassembling the entire suction roll structure or requiring crane assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members are positioned on the external lateral surface of the movable tubular body at locations that are accessible from the outside dimension, rather than being embedded in the internal lateral surface. This dimensional repositioning allows maintenance personnel to access and replace sealing members through openings in the removable portions without needing to disassemble the internal structure.
2Reliability
If the suction roll requires periodic maintenance for cleaning suction holes and replacing sealing elements, then the suction system can maintain effectiveness, but the maintenance operations are complex, time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tubular body is segmented into a main portion and removable portions that can be quickly detached. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to rapidly access and clean suction holes in the removable portions and replace sealing members without disassembling the entire suction roll, significantly reducing maintenance time and operational disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable portions are designed with openings that provide preliminary access to sealing members and suction holes before maintenance is needed. This preliminary design consideration allows for quick maintenance operations by eliminating the need for complex disassembly procedures, thereby reducing the time and cost of maintenance activities.
3Ease of repair
If the opening width in removable portions is made large enough to accommodate sealing members, then sealing member replacement is simplified, but the structural integrity of the movable tubular body may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The movable tubular body is divided into a main portion and removable portions. The openings in the removable portions are strategically positioned and sized to accommodate sealing members during maintenance while maintaining the structural integrity of the overall tubular body. The removable portions can be detached when needed for maintenance and reattached to restore the complete structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Simplifies and speeds up maintenance processes by enabling quick replacement of sealing elements, reducing downtime and operational costs while preventing wear and jamming issues.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (240) configured to produce a predetermined vacuum degree... causing the processed sheet, or web, of paper to be sucked and to adhere at corresponding portions of said external lateral surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A suction roll (1) for feeding a web, or sheet in a machine for converting paper, or similar products, comprises a movable tubular body (10) configured to rotate about a longitudinal rotational axis (101) and provided with an external lateral surface (11) and with an internal lateral surface (12) in pneumatic communication with each other through a plurality of suction holes (3) organized according to a predetermined number of longitudinal rows (30). It is, furthermore, provided a fixed tubular body (20) coaxially arranged with respect to the movable tubular body (10) and provided with an external lateral surface (21) and with an internal lateral surface (22) delimiting a longitudinal cavity (24) pneumatically connected to a suction device configured to produce a predetermined vacuum degree. A first and at least a second sealing element (23a, 23b) extend longitudinally to the suction roll (1) at respective angular positions. The movable tubular body (10) comprises a main portion (10a) and at least a removable portion (10b, 10c) configured to removably engage with each other in order to arrange the same in a disassembled configuration, in which the first and/or the second sealing member (23a, 23b) can be reached from the outside.