Leporello Folding Drive Mechanism with Pivoting Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms for Leporello folding of fibrous material webs, such as corrugated cardboard, require significant space, materials, and components, leading to high wear and inefficiency due to large motion amplitudes and air turbulences, which disrupt the folding process.
Innovation Solution
A compact drive mechanism using a pair of rollers with non-coinciding rotation and pivot axes, where one roller is driven to convey the web through a passage gap, allowing for reduced dimensions and precise folding, and a pivot drive that minimizes component amplitudes and air disturbances, enabling efficient Leporello folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drive belts or pivoting mechanisms are used for Leporello folding, then the folding function is achieved, but the space requirement and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the driving function and the folding function into a single integrated roller mechanism. The driven roller performs both the driving motion and the pivoting motion required for Leporello folding, eliminating the need for separate drive belts and pivoting mechanisms. This merging of functions directly reduces device complexity and space requirement while maintaining the folding capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If large motion amplitudes are used in drive mechanisms, then the folding range is sufficient, but air turbulences increase and disrupt the folding process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic motion control where the roller's pivoting amplitude is continuously adjusted during the folding process. The amplitude starts larger to achieve the necessary folding range, then decreases as the web approaches the folded position. This dynamic adjustment ensures sufficient folding range while minimizing air turbulences at critical moments, preventing disruption to the folding process.
3Ease of operation
If traditional drive mechanisms with multiple components are used, then the driving function is achieved, but material wear and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the drive mechanism. By using a single driven roller that directly performs both driving and pivoting functions, the system removes drive belts, separate pivoting mechanisms, and associated components. This reduction in components directly lowers energy consumption by eliminating friction and energy losses in intermediate transmission elements, while also reducing material wear.
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 significantly reduces the size and energy consumption of the drive mechanism, enhances precision, and increases production speed by minimizing air turbulences and component movement, resulting in a more efficient and precise Leporello folding process.
Implementation Method 1
The rollers rotate around their own rotational axis, in particular when the fibrous material web is running through the passage gap
Implementation Method 2
A pivot drive is also provided having a pendulum axis that in particular does not coincide with the rotational axis. The at least two rollers are pivotably mounted such that the rotational axis of the rollers are pivoted back and forth about the common pendulum axis upon activation by the pivot drive
Data Source
AI summary
Drive mechanism for an apparatus for laying an in particular unfolded fibrous material web, in particular a paper web or a corrugated paper web, like a corrugated cardboard web, in a Leporello fold, comprising a pair of opposing rollers that form a passage gap for the fibrous material web and respectively define a rotational axis around which said rollers rotate, in particular when the fibrous material web passes through the passage gap, characterised by a rotational axial roller drive that rotationally drives at least one of the two rollers for delivering the fibrous material web through the passage gap to form the Leporello stacking, and a pivot drive that has in particular a pendulum axis not coinciding with the rotational axes, wherein the at least two rollers are pivot-mounted such that the rotational axes can be pivoted back and forth about the common pendulum axis.