Plate Feed Roll Cam Profile for Safe Release and Thickness Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plate-like material feeding devices face challenges in easily adjusting clamping and releasing states according to material thickness, maintaining safety during operation, and requiring complex structures or additional brake mechanisms to prevent roll movement during maintenance, especially when power is cut off.
Innovation Solution
A plate-like material feeding device with a clamping and releasing mechanism using a circular cam and cam follower, featuring a projecting and recessed portion design that allows for increased lift and separation of rolls, preventing unintentional rotation and allowing for safe maintenance with a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional brake means are provided to prevent roll dropping during power cutoff, then safety during maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism automatically maintains the rolls in the releasing state during maintenance through its own geometric structure. The recessed portion of the cam profile passively holds the cam follower in position without requiring external brake means or additional control systems, making the system self-servicing for safety during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed portion of the cam profile is designed in advance to prevent the cam follower from falling off during maintenance operations. This pre-designed geometric feature acts as a mechanical stop that cushions against the harmful effect of gravity causing roll dropping, eliminating the need for reactive brake mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanism for adjusting upper roll position according to plate thickness is added, then adaptability to different materials is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism provides dynamic adjustability of the upper roll position through its variable profile. By changing the cam profile geometry, the system can adapt to different plate thicknesses while maintaining a simple overall structure. The cam follower naturally follows the profile contours, enabling continuous position adjustment without complex mechanical linkages.
3Reliability
If the recessed portion receives the cam follower at two points, then prevention of cam rotation during maintenance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed portion of the cam profile incorporates curved surfaces that contact the cam follower at multiple points. This curvature design provides rotational stability during maintenance by distributing contact forces, while being more tolerant to manufacturing variations compared to sharp-pointed contacts. The rounded geometry naturally guides the cam follower and prevents unintended rotation.
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
Enables easy adjustment of clamping and releasing states based on material thickness, ensures safe operation and maintenance with a sufficient opening amount, and maintains roll position without additional brake means, while maintaining a low-cost and straightforward design.
Implementation Method 1
switching between a clamping state in which at least one of the upper roll or the lower roll coupled to a cam follower is brought close to another one and a releasing state in which at least one of the upper roll or the lower roll is separated away from another one by moving the cam follower in accordance with an outer peripheral profile of a circular cam
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
Provided is a plate-like material feeding device configured to convey a plate-like material M by sandwiching the plate-like material M between a lower roll 101 and an upper roll 102. The plate-like material feeding device is configured to perform switching between a clamping state in which at least one of the upper roll 102 or the lower roll 101 is brought close to another one and a releasing state in which the at least one of the upper roll 102 or the lower roll 101 is separated away from another one by moving a cam follower 201 in accordance with an outer peripheral profile of a circular cam 200. The outer peripheral profile of the circular cam 200 has a projecting portion 200A in a range different from a rotation angle range of the circular cam during operation, and has a recessed portion 200B, which is formed in a vicinity of the top of the projecting portion 200A and is configured to receive a part of an outer periphery of the cam follower 201.