Nozzle Replacement Mechanism for Paper Coating Spraying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coating chemical spraying devices for papermaking machines require time-consuming and risky nozzle changes, disrupting the continuous application necessary for high-quality creping, and pose hazards to operators due to the need to pull out the coating chemical supplying tube and change nozzles near hot, rotating components.

Innovation Solution

The coating chemical supplying tube is located outside the box body, with nozzle members mounted to be individually movable through the wall, allowing for independent replacement without disrupting the others, and using a bayonet mount for easy orientation and quick exchange, along with a platform for pivoting and oscillation to ensure uniform coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the coating chemical supplying tube is pulled out of the box body to change nozzles, then the nozzle can be replaced, but the process becomes time-consuming and disrupts continuous coating application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle replacementVSAvoidcontinuous coating application
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating chemical supplying tube is divided into a fixed portion (outside the box body) and a removable portion (nozzle member inside the box body). This segmentation allows the nozzle to be replaced independently without removing the entire supplying tube, enabling quick nozzle changes while maintaining continuous coating application to other nozzles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle member is extracted as a separate, independently removable component from the coating chemical supplying tube. This extraction allows the nozzle to be quickly removed and replaced through the wall opening without disrupting the main supplying tube or other nozzles, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If the nozzle is changed by opening a door in the box body to reach inside, then the nozzle can be replaced, but the operator is exposed to hot, fast rotating Yankee dryer and the process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle replacementVSAvoidoperator safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle member is extracted as a separately removable component that can be accessed through an opening in the box body wall. This allows the operator to replace the nozzle from outside the box body, avoiding exposure to the hot Yankee dryer and improving operator safety while maintaining ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

An opening in the box body wall serves as an intermediary access point for nozzle replacement. This intermediary allows the operator to reach and replace the nozzle without opening a large door or exposing themselves to the hot environment inside the box body, thus protecting the operator while enabling easy maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of repair

If the coating chemical supplying tube is pulled out completely to change nozzles, then all nozzles can be serviced, but the continuous coating application is disrupted for the entire machine width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle servicingVSAvoidcoating application interruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented so that each nozzle member can be independently removed and serviced through the wall opening. This allows individual nozzle maintenance without removing the entire supplying tube, minimizing coating application interruption to only the specific section being serviced while maintaining continuous operation elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design enables rapid and safe nozzle changes with reduced risk to operators and maintains continuous coating chemical application, minimizing quality disruptions and operational hazards.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of spray nozzle members for spraying coating chemical through said opening onto the moving surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3332955B1A device for spraying a coating chemical onto a moving surface of a papermaking machine
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 VALMET AB
  • EP3332955B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3332955B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

A device for spraying a coating chemical onto a moving surface (1) of a papermaking machine includes a machine-wide box body (2) extending in a cross machine direction and defines an internal space configured to enclose part of a spraying equipment (3) and also defines an elongate opening (22) facing said moving surface (1). The spraying equipment (3) includes a plurality of spray nozzle members (30) for spraying coating chemical through said opening (22) onto the moving surface (1), a coating chemical supplying tube (32) is connected to the nozzle members (30), and a plurality of valves (33) are mounted on the coating chemical supplying tube (32), one for each nozzle member (30). To make it possible to change a nozzle member (30) without requiring that the coating chemical supplying tube (32) has to be pulled out of the box body (2), and where the nozzle change can be carried out with less risk for the operator to any danger, the coating chemical supplying tube (32) with said valves (33) is located outside of the box body (2), and the nozzle members (30) extend through a wall portion (36) of the box body (2) and are mounted to be individually movable axially to permit removal of anyone of them independently of the other ones.