Overhead Drive Roller Press for Quick Die Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roller presses face challenges in quickly adjusting the die height and accessing the die for easy replacement, particularly in mobile or towed pelletizing devices, where the material properties often do not match the die requirements, necessitating laborious matrix changes and limited accessibility.

Innovation Solution

The roller press features an overhead drive with a height-adjustable counter-pressure plate that supports the flat die, allowing for quick adjustment of the die height and easy accessibility by lowering the counter-pressure plate, enabling rapid die changes and adaptation to varying material properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the drive is located below the die and coupled to the die head with the die head, then the structure is compact, but the die accessibility is poor and die changing is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedie accessibilityVSAvoiddrive structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive is inverted from the conventional below-die position to an above-die position. The vertical shaft now extends from above through the die and drives the pan head located below the die, reversing the traditional arrangement. This inversion allows the die to be accessed from the bottom side while the drive mechanism remains positioned above, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and die accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the pan head rotates in the feed hopper of the mill, then the drive is integrated, but the entire hopper often has to be removed for die changing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedie changing easeVSAvoiddie changing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The feed hopper is segmented into a removable upper portion and a fixed lower portion. The pan head rotates in the removable upper hopper section, which can be detached independently from the lower section containing the die. This segmentation allows the die to be accessed and changed without removing the entire hopper assembly, reducing die changing time while maintaining drive integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the die is fixed for a specific material, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the adaptability to different materials is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial adaptabilityVSAvoiddie specification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The die system is made dynamic by enabling quick interchangeability. Multiple dies with different specifications can be rapidly swapped depending on the material being processed. The improved accessibility and die changing mechanism allow the system to adapt to different material properties while maintaining high manufacturing precision for each specific material type through optimized die design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3300880B1Roller press
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 FELBERMAYR NATALIA
  • EP3300880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3300880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3300880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a roller press (1) for the production of pellets, in which a roller head with at least two rollers (3) rotates above a flat die (2) in a housing (7), the roller head being driven by a vertical shaft (4) mounted above the roller head, and the flat die (2) being supported by a height-adjustable counter-pressure plate (11) located below it. The invention further relates to the use of this roller press (1) in a mobile, self-propelled, or trailed harvesting machine.