Partial opening device for the pre-opening of grippers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stretching units face challenges with unreliable gripper opening, particularly at high speeds, leading to mechanical stress and reduced service life due to forced opening methods.

Innovation Solution

A partial opening device is introduced to pre-open grippers, reducing mechanical stress by only partially opening the grippers, which are then fully opened by a non-contact magnetic opening device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical forced opening devices (opening wheels or opening strips) are used to ensure reliable gripper opening, then gripper opening reliability is improved, but mechanical stresses on grippers increase significantly reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripper opening reliabilityVSAvoidgripper service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical forced opening system (opening wheels or strips with stops) with a magnetic field-based opening system. The magnetic opening device generates a magnetic field that acts on ferromagnetic elements in the gripper to open it without mechanical contact, eliminating impact stresses while ensuring reliable opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the opening device and the gripper. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the magnetic field serves as the medium to transmit the opening force, allowing reliable opening without the harmful mechanical impacts that reduce gripper service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If non-contact magnetic opening devices are used to reduce mechanical stress on grippers, then gripper service life is improved, but opening reliability decreases at high gripper travel speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripper service lifeVSAvoidgripper opening reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the magnetic opening device upstream of the gripper in the travel direction, allowing the magnetic field to begin acting on the gripper before it reaches the high-speed zone. This preliminary action ensures the gripper is already opening when it encounters the challenging high-speed conditions, maintaining reliability without increasing mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the magnetic opening device adjustable in its position along the gripper travel path. This dynamic positioning allows optimization of the magnetic field application timing and location, ensuring reliable opening at high speeds while maintaining the non-contact advantage that preserves gripper service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stress or pressure

If non-contact magnetic opening devices are used to reduce mechanical stress, then mechanical stresses are reduced, but opening rate becomes insufficient for difficult-to-open grippers (large film thicknesses, stuck blade flaps, high transverse film tension)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stress on gripperVSAvoidgripper opening rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the magnetic opening device with a partial mechanical opening device (partial opening disc) in a hybrid system. The magnetic field provides the primary opening force without mechanical contact, while the partial mechanical device provides additional force when needed for difficult-to-open grippers, achieving both low stress and high opening rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite opening system that integrates two different opening mechanisms (magnetic and partial mechanical) into a unified device. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both systems: the magnetic field for stress-free operation and the mechanical component for enhanced opening capability when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 ensures reliable gripper opening even at high speeds, extends the service life of grippers, and reduces mechanical stress by using a partial opening device in conjunction with a magnetic opening device.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic opening device (120), wherein the magnetic opening device (120) is configured to open the gripper (28) using magnetic force when the gripper (28) is guided past the magnetic opening device (120)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20250058513A1Partial opening device for the pre-opening of grippers

Publication Date: 2025.02.20 BRUCKNER MASCHINEHAU GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A partial opening device for pre-opening grippers, in particular grippers of a stretching unit, comprises at least one partial opening disc and a drive, wherein the drive is configured to drive said at least one partial opening device. The partial opening disc has a circumferential surface comprising a rotating contact surface, wherein the contact surface is configured to engage with a blade flap of a gripper when the gripper is guided past the partial opening disc so that the gripper is pre-opened.