Nonwoven Web Stabilizing Plate Design to Reduce Air Flow Fluttering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nonwoven web guiding devices face issues with poor running behavior, such as fluttering and tears, due to air flows caused by guide and treatment rollers, leading to undesirable properties like reduced strength and inhomogeneous products, which existing solutions like additional rollers or spoiler plates have not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

A nonwoven web guiding device with stabilizing plates positioned strategically in front of or behind rollers, and possibly above or below the web, to control air flow and guide the web without direct roller contact, using stabilizing plates with specific distance settings and configurations to minimize air flow disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If higher web tensions are used to control the fleece web, then the running behavior is improved, but the strength of the nonwoven web transversely to the machine direction is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverunning behaviorVSAvoidstrength transversely to machine direction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizing plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the feed device and the guide/treatment rollers. This plate mediates the air flow interactions, preventing direct harmful effects on the nonwoven web while maintaining proper web control without requiring excessive tension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow that originally caused harmful fluttering and running behavior issues is converted into a beneficial effect. The stabilizing plate redirects this air flow to support the web from below, transforming the harmful upward air current into a stabilizing force that improves running behavior without increasing web tension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If additional rollers or guide elements are installed in the conveying path, then the running behavior is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverunning behaviorVSAvoidnumber of rollers and guide elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding multiple rollers or complex guide elements, a single stabilizing plate is introduced as a simple intermediary component. This plate effectively addresses the running behavior issues by managing air flow interactions without requiring additional mechanical guidance elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical solution of adding more rollers and guide elements is replaced with a simpler aerodynamic approach. The stabilizing plate modifies air flow patterns to achieve proper web control, substituting a complex mechanical guidance system with a simpler aerodynamic field-based solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If spoiler plates are installed to divert air currents, then the air flow disturbances are reduced, but the manufacturing precision and reliability are not sufficiently improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow disturbancesVSAvoidrunning behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to block or divert air currents with spoiler plates, the stabilizing plate works by allowing and redirecting the air flow from below. This inverted approach - supporting the web with upward air flow rather than blocking downward air flow - achieves superior running behavior control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing plate serves as an intermediary that actively manages air flow interactions. Unlike passive spoiler plates that merely block air, this plate mediates between the feed device air flow and the web, creating a controlled aerodynamic environment that significantly improves running behavior and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution significantly improves the running behavior of nonwoven webs by reducing air flow influences, eliminating fluttering, and maintaining web strength without the need for high tensions, resulting in a functionally reliable and cost-effective guiding method.

Implementation Method 1

an air flow is always caused which is, so to speak, moved along with the nonwoven web in the conveying direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3372719B1Nonwoven fabric guiding device

Publication Date: 2019.11.20 REIFENHAUSER GMBH & CO MASCHFAB

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AI summary

Non-woven web guiding device for guiding a non-woven web made of plastic fibers conveyed in the conveying direction F. The fleece web is brought into physical contact with at least one guide and/or treatment roller or with at least one roller unit made up of at least two guide and/or treatment rollers. At least one stabilizing plate extending in the conveying direction F and transversely to the conveying direction F of the nonwoven web is provided in the conveying direction F in front of or directly in front of the roller or the roller unit and/or behind or immediately behind the roller or the roller unit. The fleece web is guided along the at least one stabilization plate with the proviso that the distance a between the surface of the stabilization plate facing the fleece web and the fleece web surface is 0 to 20 mm.