Movable Deposit Head for Round Can Sliver Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing can changing systems face challenges such as slow can exchange times, potential damage to round cans due to high forces, and fluctuations in strip weight, which hinder efficient card production and require complex adaptations for varying can sizes and heavy loads.

Innovation Solution

A device with a movable depositing head that shifts between full and empty cans, reducing can positions from three to two, allowing for faster changes without moving the cans, and utilizing a single drive for two can plates to simplify the can plate drive and reduce space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the round cans are moved and repositioned during can changeovers, then the local assignment between discharge head and cans can be changed, but the feed rate must be reduced to avoid damaging the cans and this reduces card production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecan changeover processVSAvoidcard production
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the round cans during can changeovers as in known devices, the patent inverts the approach by moving the transfer head above the cans. The transfer head is movable along the axis of the round cans, allowing it to be positioned over different cans (full or empty) without moving the cans themselves. This enables quick can changeovers while maintaining constant feed rate and avoiding damage to the cans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the feed rate is reduced during can changeovers to avoid damaging cans, then the cans are protected from damage, but card production is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecan integrityVSAvoidcard production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the transfer head instead of the cans, allowing high-speed positioning without subjecting cans to damaging forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The feed rate is maintained at a constant high level throughout the can changeover process. The movable transfer head enables continuous operation without interruption or reduction in feed rate, ensuring both can integrity and maximum productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If large changes in feed rate are made during can changeovers, then can changeover speed increases, but strip weight fluctuates and negatively impacts product quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecan changeover timeVSAvoidstrip weight consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed rate remains constant throughout the can changeover process. The movable transfer head enables rapid can changes without interrupting or altering the feed rate, ensuring continuous fiber deposition with consistent strip weight and high product quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Loss of time

If the transfer head is moved instead of the round cans, then high acceleration can be achieved and changeover time reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecan changeover timeVSAvoidtransfer head mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer head serves multiple functions: it deposits fiber onto cans, moves between different can positions, and enables rapid can changeovers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, actually simplifying the overall device while achieving high acceleration and short changeover times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3148914B1Device on a carder for filling a round can with sliver
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 TRUETZSCHLER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3148914B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3148914B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3148914B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5e

AI summary

In a device on a carder (K) for filling a round can (15) with sliver (14), e.g. cotton, man-made fibers or the like, the sliver (14) can be dispensed and be placed in the round can (15) in the form of rings by a rotatable delivery head (19). In order to prevent the round cans (15) from moving when cans are replaced, i.e. when the local association between the delivery head (19) and a full can and an empty can is changed, the delivery head (19) can be displaced relative to the round cans (15), two rotatable can dishes (27a, 27b) are provided, on each of which a round can is arranged, and a driving mechanism (43) is provided for rotatingly driving the two can dishes.