Leather Drying Frame With Rapid Mesh Hooking Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current support frames for drying and conditioning leathers in the tanning industry are laborious, expensive to produce, and require complex welding processes, leading to high production costs and frequent maintenance needs, with the fine-gauge metallic mesh being unsuitable and prone to wear.
Innovation Solution
A support frame design featuring mechanical rapid hooking/engagement means, such as shaped teeth and through holes, allows for simpler and quicker assembly of a perforated metallic mesh with a load-bearing perimetrical structure, reducing production costs and extending the integrity and lifespan of the coupling means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional coupling means (welding, perimetrical elements) are used to connect the metallic mesh to the load bearing structure, then the connection is stable, but the assembly process becomes laborious, time-consuming, and costly with frequent maintenance required
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system transitions from static permanent connections (welding) to dynamic reversible connections (mechanical engagement). The teeth can be inserted into receptacles and later removed or repositioned, providing flexibility while maintaining connection stability during the drying operation
Solution Approach 2:
The tooth-receptacle mechanism acts as an intermediary between the metallic mesh and the load bearing structure. Instead of direct welding or rigid bonding, the coupling means serve as intermediate elements that transmit mechanical loads while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly through simple insertion and engagement actions
2Reliability
If traditional coupling means (welding, perimetrical elements) are used to connect the metallic mesh to the load bearing structure, then the connection is stable, but production costs increase due to labor and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into simple, manufacturable components (teeth and receptacles) that can be produced through straightforward fabrication processes. The teeth can be attached to the metallic mesh using simple methods, and the receptacles are integral features of the load bearing structure, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to welding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The tooth elements are designed as simple, replaceable components that can be manufactured at low cost. If wear or damage occurs during use, individual teeth can be replaced without replacing the entire coupling system or undergoing expensive repair operations, effectively treating these elements as consumable parts
3Productivity
If mechanical rapid hooking/engagement means are used to connect the metallic mesh to the load bearing structure, then assembly speed increases and production costs decrease, but the connection may be less stable than traditional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth are pre-positioned and attached to the metallic mesh before the actual coupling operation. The receptacles are pre-formed as integral features of the load bearing structure. This preliminary preparation allows the final coupling action to be a simple, rapid insertion motion while ensuring proper alignment and stable engagement without requiring complex adjustment during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical connection methods (welding, bolting, clamping) with a simpler mechanical engagement system (teeth inserting into receptacles). This substitution maintains connection stability through geometric interlocking while dramatically simplifying the assembly process to a single insertion action
Data Source
AI summary
A support frame (1) of leathers to be dried (or desiccated) and/or conditioned comprising a load bearing perimetrical structure (2) suitable to slide on air guides and to be folded, a flat metallic mesh (3) of the perforated sheet type, placed in the intermediate space (or room 4) defined by the load bearing perimetrical structure (2) and provided with two side faces (3a, 3b) opposite each other, each of which suitable to support one or more leathers to be dried and/or conditioned blocked to the flat metallic mesh (3) by means of pliers, and coupling means (5), through which the flat metallic mesh (3) is stably coupled with the load bearing perimetrical structure (2). In particular, the coupling means (5) include mechanical rapid hooking/engagement means (6) arranged in correspondence of at least a portion of the outer perimetrical edge (3c) of said flat metallic mesh (3) and of at least a portion of the inner perimetrical edge (2c) of said load bearing perimetrical structure (2).