Mobile Coil Transport for On-Site Wire and Sheet Straightening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for transporting and processing cold-formed stainless steel wires or sheets are limited by their maximum length and require manual handling, making it difficult to achieve desired lengths and quality at the customer's premises.

Innovation Solution

A transport system comprising a platform with a receptacle for coiled wires or sheets, a drive for automated conveyance, and a straightening device, along with an optional cutting device, allowing for the production of sections with desired lengths and quality at the customer's site, integrated with a transport container for secure and automated handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If wires or sheets are transported in maximum lengths (approximately 12 m) stretched out on HGV, then they can be delivered to customer premises, but the length is limited and requires manual handling at customer site

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportable lengthVSAvoidhandling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wire or sheet is divided into manageable coil sections that can be independently handled and processed. Each coil represents a segment that can be transported and processed separately, eliminating the need to handle entire 12m lengths manually at the customer site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transport platform acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer and customer premises. It carries the complete processing system (drive, straightening device, cutting device) to the customer site, enabling automated processing without manual handling of the wire or sheet itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If coiled wire or sheet is transported to customer premises, then transport flexibility is improved, but the wire or sheet does not conform to customer requirements regarding straightness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport flexibilityVSAvoidstraightness quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The straightening process is performed preliminarily at the customer premises before the wire or sheet is used. The transport platform delivers the coiled material and the straightening device processes it on-site, ensuring the material meets customer requirements for straightness before final installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The customer premises becomes self-sufficient for final processing. The transport platform delivers all necessary equipment (drive, straightening device, cutting device) to the customer site, enabling the customer to perform final processing operations without external assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If manual processing is performed at customer premises, then flexibility is maintained, but productivity and automation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual processing operations are replaced by an automated mechanical system. The drive mechanism automatically feeds the wire or sheet from the coil through the straightening device and cutting device, eliminating manual labor while maintaining processing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If transport system includes automated processing equipment, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing automationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport platform serves multiple functions: it transports the wire or sheet coils, houses the drive mechanism, supports the straightening device, and provides the cutting device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate equipment at the customer premises, managing complexity while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11541441B2Transport system for a wire or a sheet and method for delivering a wire or a sheet

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 ALLEIMA GMBH

AI summary

Transport system which makes to transport a wire or sheet of any length and with the required quality to the location of the use of the wire or the sheet. The transport system has a transport platform, a receptacle for the wire or the sheet, wherein the receptacle is configured such that the wire or the sheet may be received coiled on the receptacle, a drive, wherein the drive is configured such that the wire or the sheet may be conveyed by the drive in a transport direction, and a straightening device, wherein the straightening device is configured such that the wire or the sheet can be straightened with the straightening device, wherein the receptacle, the drive and the straightening device are arranged on the transport platform such that the wire or the sheet may be drawn automatically from the receptacle and fed to the straightening device by the drive.