Pendulum Gripper Laying Device for Continuous Strip Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gripper systems for laying band-shaped materials, such as fiber rovings, require an idle stroke to pick up new sections after depositing, leading to increased process times and inefficiencies in producing semi-finished products with multiple layers.

Innovation Solution

A laying device with two gripper systems and a pendulum gripper that alternately pulls out and deposits band sections without an idle stroke, allowing continuous feeding and deposition by moving the pendulum gripper between the gripper systems, enabling simultaneous feeding of one band while the other is being deposited.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional gripper system is used to pull and deposit strip sections, then the depositing function is achieved, but an idle stroke is required to pick up new sections after depositing, increasing process time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepositing speedVSAvoididle stroke time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous useful action by having the first gripper system deposit a first strip section while the second gripper system simultaneously pulls out a second strip section. This eliminates the idle stroke because one gripper is always engaged in a productive operation - either depositing or preparing the next strip section, ensuring the useful action continues without interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the second gripper system pull out and prepare the second strip section before the first gripper system completes its depositing operation. This advance preparation ensures that when the first gripper finishes depositing, the second gripper already has the next strip section ready, eliminating waiting time and idle strokes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple layers of strip-shaped material are laid sequentially with idle strokes, then layer deposition is achieved, but production time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rateVSAvoidprocess time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through alternating operations of the first and second gripper systems. While the first gripper deposits a strip section, the second gripper pulls out the next section, and then they alternate. This periodic coordination of two gripper systems enables continuous production across multiple layers without idle strokes, significantly reducing total process time compared to sequential single-gripper operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4086068B1Laying device and laying method for strip-shaped material
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 TECHN UNIV CHEMNITZ
  • EP4086068B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP4086068B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4086068B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a laying device and a laying method for strip-shaped material, comprising a first gripper system (2) for drawing out a first strip from a first storage unit (4.1), and a first separating device and a depositing surface (1.1) for depositing a separated strip section of the first strip (F1), wherein the first gripper system (2) and the depositing surface (1.1) are movable relative to each other in several axes, and wherein the first gripper system (2) has at least one first axially movable gripper for gripping the strip (F1), which is movable along a longitudinal axis for drawing out and positioning the strip, wherein the laying device has at least one second gripper system (3) with at least one second gripper for drawing out a second strip (F2) from a second storage unit (4.1).2) has, wherein the first and second grippers are movable towards and away from each other and a pendulum gripper is movable back and forth between the first and second grippers and is designed to alternately extend the first belt (F1) and the second belt (F2) to a required length and place them on the storage surface (1.1).