Airlaying Equipment With Movable Housing Walls for Web Width Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-laid web manufacturing processes require significant trimming to adjust web width, leading to waste and lack of flexibility in producing articles of varying dimensions without process interruptions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and process that allows for adjustable lateral walls in the feed duct to control the cross-directional width of the web, combined with a movable collector tool and suction system to deposit fibers uniformly, enabling precise width adjustment without cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed lateral walls are used in the housing, then the structural stability is maintained, but the web width cannot be adjusted without process interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The housing transitions from a static structure with fixed lateral walls to a dynamic structure where at least one lateral wall can be moved between different positions. This allows the web width to be adjusted during operation without interrupting the production process, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity by introducing controlled mobility to specific components.
2Productivity
If large width apparatuses are used for air-laying, then high productivity is achieved, but material waste increases due to trimming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables direct adjustment of the web width parameter by moving the lateral wall to different positions, allowing the web to be produced at the exact required width without subsequent trimming. This changes the production approach from fixed-width production followed by cutting to variable-width production matching the final product requirements, thereby eliminating material waste while maintaining high productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If trimming is performed to adjust web width, then article dimension requirements are met, but process interruption and additional processing time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral wall position is adjusted in advance to the desired web width before the air-laying process begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the web is produced with the correct width from the start, eliminating the need for subsequent trimming operations and associated process interruptions, thus achieving manufacturing precision without time loss.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lateral walls are moved towards or away from each other, then the cross-directional width of the web is adjusted, but the feed duct configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is segmented into movable and fixed components, with at least one lateral wall capable of independent movement. This segmentation allows the feed duct configuration to be simplified by having only the necessary portions movable, rather than requiring the entire structure to be complex and fully adjustable, thus achieving web width variability with controlled device complexity.
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
Facilitates flexible production to meet product requirements, reduces material waste, and optimizes fiber throughput, ensuring uniform deposition and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a suction system for sucking air through the foraminous surface
Implementation Method 2
a supply of individualized short fibers suspended in an air stream
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
The present invention is an apparatus and a process for forming a fibrous web comprising short fibers and optionally particulate material, whereby the apparatus respectively the process is adapted to provide an easy and quick adjustment of the cross-directional width of the web by varying the distancing of the lateral walls of the housing.