Dynamic Pelt Stretching Speed Control to Prevent Tearing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for stretching animal pelts, particularly mink pelts, often result in suboptimal stretching, leading to a lower number of pelts being stretched to their optimal length without causing damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that control the stretching speed, reducing it in the final stages to allow for further extension without tearing, using a controller to adjust the speed based on detected parameters such as force, time, and length, allowing for selective continuation of stretching until the nearest classification size is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pelt is stretched with high speed to increase productivity, then the stretching process is faster and more efficient, but the pelt may be torn or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching speed is made dynamic rather than constant. The system automatically adjusts the stretching speed during the process, reducing it when the pelt approaches its optimal stretched length to prevent damage, while maintaining higher speeds during earlier stages to ensure productivity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between speed and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the stretching process in real-time. Based on detected parameters such as force, time, and length, the controller adjusts the stretching speed accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically reduce speed when the pelt is near its classification size, preventing tearing while maintaining efficient processing during earlier stages.
2Reliability
If the stretching speed is reduced to prevent pelt damage, then the pelt can be stretched further without tearing, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching process uses periodic variation in speed rather than maintaining a constantly reduced speed. The system operates at higher speeds during initial stretching phases and automatically reduces speed only during critical phases when the pelt approaches its optimal length. This periodic adjustment minimizes processing time while still preventing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the stretching speed parameter dynamically based on detected parameters (force, time, length). Rather than maintaining a uniformly low speed, the controller adjusts the speed parameter throughout the process, keeping it high when safe and reducing it only when necessary to prevent damage, thereby minimizing overall processing time.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed for stretching a pelt (1) on a pelt board (2) comprising a pelt board holder (10) for holding one end part (4) of the pelt board (2), pelt holders (5) arranged to grip at least a part of the lower periphery of the pelt (1) when arranged on the pelt board (2), driver (11) for mutually displacing the pelt board (2) placed in the pelt board holder (10) and the pelt holders (5) in a longitudinal direction of the pelt board (2) so as to stretch the pelt (1), and controller (12) arranged to control the operation of the driver (11), where the controller is configured to reduce the speed with which the pelt (1) is stretched by means of the driver (11) during stretching of the pelt (1). Furthermore is disclosed a method of stretching pelts (1) accordingly.