Optical Micrometer for Composite Tape Width Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for measuring the width of composite tape in slitting machines is slow, inaccurate, and wasteful, requiring manual adjustments and scrap material for setting up cutters.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical micrometers for continuous, automated measurement of tape width during the slitting process, using a transmitter and receiver to sense the tape edge with non-contact radiant energy, synchronized by a programmed controller to maintain alignment and accommodate varying tape widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual measurement and adjustment method is used, then the measurement can be performed with simple equipment, but the measurement speed is slow and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement with an optical measurement system using a transmitter and receiver that emit and detect light beams. This substitution enables continuous, automated width measurement during slitting operations, dramatically increasing measurement speed and productivity while eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is designed to operate automatically during the slitting process without requiring machine stoppage or manual intervention. The transmitter and receiver continuously monitor tape width as it passes through the cutter, providing real-time feedback that enables self-adjusting cutter positioning and eliminates the need for separate manual measurement steps.
2Measurement precision
If hand measurement of sample lengths is used, then the measurement method is simple to implement, but measurement accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual ruler or caliper measurement with an optical measurement system that uses light transmission through the tape. The transmitter emits light and the receiver detects the light beam interruption pattern as the tape edge passes through, automatically calculating precise width measurements with high accuracy and repeatability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical measurement system creates an optical copy or representation of the tape edge position by detecting where the light beam is interrupted. This optical information is then converted into precise digital width measurements, eliminating the inaccuracies of manual visual estimation and hand measurement.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple sample lengths are cut for adjustment, then the cutter can be calibrated, but material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical measurement system is positioned to measure tape width immediately after cutting, allowing real-time verification of cutter accuracy without requiring preliminary test cuts. The system provides instant feedback on whether the cutter is producing the desired width, enabling immediate adjustment without wasting additional material on trial runs.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system provides continuous feedback on tape width during the slitting process. This feedback loop allows operators to verify cutter performance and make precise adjustments based on actual measurements rather than trial-and-error testing, minimizing material waste while ensuring manufacturing precision.
4Productivity
If the measurement device is added to the slitting machine, then continuous measurement is enabled, but the machine complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical measurement system is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can be integrated into various slitting machine configurations. The transmitter and receiver units are self-contained modules that can be positioned at different locations along the tape path, allowing the same basic measurement technology to serve multiple measurement points and functions without requiring completely different systems for each application.
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
Enables rapid, precise, and continuous measurement of tape width, reducing waste and improving accuracy by allowing real-time adjustments during the slitting process without interfering with the normal operation of the machine.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter for directing radiant energy over the tape
Implementation Method 2
a receiver for receiving radiant energy from the transmitter that passes across an edge of the tape
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided for slitting composite material int1aaaaaaaaaaao tape and for measuring the width of the slit tape as the tape is being reeled onto take up rolls. The tape width is measured by an optical micrometer. The optical micrometer includes a transmitter for directing radiant energy over the tape and, a receiver for receiving radiant energy from the transmitter that passes across an edge of the tape and for producing a signal related to the width of the tape.