Interlayer Web Loop Storage for High-Speed Slicer Feed Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interleaver and underleaver technologies in high-speed slicers face challenges in reliably decoupling the ejection of material web from the cutting area from the inert material supply, especially at high cutting speeds, leading to stress and inefficiency in material web management.

Innovation Solution

A device providing single-track or multi-track web-shaped intermediate sheet material with a loop store that includes a brake and suction/blowing devices to maintain web tension and control the web course, ensuring continuous and stress-free web supply to the cutting area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the material web is ejected dynamically into the cutting area at high cutting speeds, then the productivity is improved, but the material web experiences stress and the decoupling from the inert material supply becomes difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidmaterial web supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: an inert material supply (roll) and a dynamic ejection mechanism. The material web is segmented into a stored loop portion and an active ejection portion, allowing the supply side to remain stationary while the ejection side adapts to high-speed cutting requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The material web is pre-formed into a loop configuration in the loop store before being ejected into the cutting area. This preliminary looping action ensures that the web is ready for dynamic ejection without requiring the material supply itself to be dynamic, thus maintaining reliability while enabling high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a loop store with brake and suction/blowing devices is used to maintain web tension and control web course, then the material web stress is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial web supply reliabilityVSAvoidloop store mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loop store acts as an intermediary between the inert material supply and the dynamic cutting area. The brake and suction/blowing devices are localized within this intermediary zone, allowing web tension and course control to be applied only where needed without complicating the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Suction and blowing devices are used to control the material web course and maintain tension in the loop store. This pneumatic approach provides precise control with simple device architecture, avoiding complex mechanical tensioning mechanisms while ensuring reliable web supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

The solution ensures reliable decoupling and efficient web supply, preventing material web stress and maintaining web length, even at high cutting speeds, thereby enhancing the interleaver/underleaver performance.

Implementation Method 1

the loop store comprises a suction device for the material loop

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the loop store includes a brake for the material web

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3889082A1Provision of web-shaped sheet material to a cutting area
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 WEBER FOOD TECHNOLOGY SE & CO KG
  • EP3889082A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3889082A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3889082A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for the single-track or multi-track provision of web-shaped interlayer material at a cutting area in which single-track or multi-track fed products are cut into slices and interlayers are inserted, which are separated from the provided interlayer material in the cutting area, with a material supply, and with a removal device designed to remove the material web from the material supply, wherein a loop storage is provided for the material web in which the material web forms a loop.