Movable Guide Device for Cushion Material Winding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for processing padding material strands into windings face challenges such as low supply speed, safety concerns due to moving parts, and disruptions in the feeding process, particularly at high conversion speeds, leading to delays in delivering wrapped cushioning material.

Innovation Solution

A device with a rotating winding axis and a guiding system that moves between active and passive positions to securely guide the padding material strand from the conversion machine to the winding device, ensuring safe and efficient threading and winding, even at high speeds, using a guide device that tapers and positions the strand between deflectors to prevent rotation interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the winding device operates continuously at high speed, then productivity is improved, but safety risks increase due to moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply speed of padding materialVSAvoidsafety risks from moving parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is extracted as a separate movable component that can be removed from the working area after threading the padding material. This allows the winding device to operate continuously without personnel needing to approach dangerous moving parts, maintaining high productivity while eliminating safety risks during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device is designed to be movable between an active guiding position and a retracted position. This dynamic positioning allows the guide to assist during threading then clear the winding area for continuous high-speed operation, resolving the conflict between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a beak-like guide device is used to guide the padding material, then guidance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance of padding material strandVSAvoidstructure of guide device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is segmented into movable guide elements that can be positioned independently. This modular approach provides effective guidance while keeping the overall structure simpler and more manageable compared to a single complex fixed guide structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device uses movable components rather than a fixed complex structure. The guide can be positioned and retracted as needed, providing guidance functionality with a simpler, more adaptable structure that reduces overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the guide device remains in the winding area, then guidance is maintained, but the winding area is blocked for the growing spiral

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance of padding materialVSAvoidwinding area availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is designed to move between an active guiding position during threading and a retracted position during winding. This dynamic positioning maintains guidance when needed while clearing the winding area to accommodate the growing spiral, resolving the spatial conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The padding material is threaded into the winding device before the winding process begins. This preliminary threading action allows the guide device to be retracted early, providing full winding area for the spiral growth without compromising the initial guidance and positioning of the material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Manufacturing precision

If manual intervention is required for threading, then guidance precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreading accuracyVSAvoidsupply speed of padding material
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is designed to automatically guide and position the padding material strand during threading without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains threading accuracy while eliminating delays, thereby preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device acts as an intermediary mechanism that automatically positions and guides the padding material between the supply and winding device. This automated intermediary function provides precise threading guidance without requiring manual intervention, maintaining both precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3900924A1Device and method for processing an upholstery material strand
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 SPRICK GMBH BIELEFELDER PAPIER UND WELLPAPPENWERKE & CO
  • EP3900924A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3900924A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4c
  • EP3900924A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A device (1) for processing a strand of cushioning material (7), which is produced by a cushion forming machine (9) from a web-shaped starting material (11), in particular a roll or a leporello stack, for example of paper, into a cushioning material winding (5), comprises a winding device (3) rotatable about a winding axis (W), in particular vertical, for winding the strand of cushioning material (7) around a winding center, and a guide device (11) which is movable in the axial direction relative to the winding axis (W) between an active guide position and a passive detent position.which in the active guide position provides a limit extending in the axial direction (A) and in the radial direction (R) relative to the winding axis for guiding the cushion material strand from the cushion forming machine (9) to the winding device (3) and which in the passive detent position releases a winding area (31) surrounding the winding device (3) in the radial direction for receiving the cushion material winding (15).