Necker Machine Belt Drive Assembly for Low-Downtime Power Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shaft-based drive assemblies for necker machines are prone to costly breakdowns and require extensive lubrication, leading to significant downtime when a drive shaft fails, especially if the failure occurs in a difficult-to-reach location.

Innovation Solution

A drive assembly comprising multiple motors with output shafts, drive wheel assemblies, and timing/drive belts, which provides a more reliable and maintainable solution by distributing power and reducing the risk of single-point failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shaft-based drive assembly is used, then the necker machine can be driven, but the system requires extensive lubrication and is prone to breakdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive assembly reliabilityVSAvoidlubrication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional shaft-based mechanical drive system with a belt-driven system. The drive assembly includes an electric motor coupled to a drive shaft, which rotates a drive wheel. A belt connects the drive wheel to a driven wheel on the necker machine, eliminating the need for complex lubrication systems and reducing breakdown risks associated with shaft-based drives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If a shaft-based drive assembly is used, then power can be transmitted, but downtime increases when a drive shaft fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenecker machine productivityVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the belt from the critical drive path, allowing it to be easily removed and replaced independently of the motor and shafts. The belt is accessible and can be quickly swapped without disassembling the entire drive assembly, significantly reducing downtime when belt wear or failure occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a shaft-based drive assembly is used, then the necker machine can operate, but maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive assembly reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a belt that is designed to be replaced periodically rather than maintained indefinitely. The belt is a relatively inexpensive component compared to shafts and motors, and its replacement is simple and quick. This approach reduces maintenance costs by substituting expensive, hard-to-replace components with cheaper, easily replaceable belts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Power

If a shaft-based drive assembly is used, then power transmission is achieved, but the system requires extensive lubrication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transmissionVSAvoidlubrication material

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the lubrication-dependent shaft-based system with a belt-driven system. The belt transmission requires no lubrication, eliminating the continuous consumption of lubrication materials while maintaining effective power transmission from the motor to the necker machine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11370015B2Drive assembly

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 STOLLE MACHINERY CO LLC

AI summary

A drive assembly for a necker machine includes a plurality of motors, each motor including an output shaft, a plurality of drive wheel assemblies, each drive wheel assembly operatively coupled to an associated necker machine drive shaft, and a number of timing/drive belts operatively coupled to each drive wheel assembly.