Pneumatic Brake for Printed Sheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for decelerating and positioning printed sheets in folding processes often result in damage due to sudden deceleration, leading to skewed or parallel folds, and existing solutions like brake brushes suffer from mechanical wear and complex adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic system that uses air pulses to generate braking force, either directly on the sheet or indirectly through mechanical elements, combined with controlled negative pressure to achieve precise deceleration and positioning, minimizing mechanical wear and ensuring precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a sheet stop is used to decelerate printed sheets, then the sheets are stopped at the correct position, but the sudden deceleration causes compression damage and springing back leading to skewed folds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcompression damage and springing back
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by using a brush element positioned before the sheet stop to gradually slow down the printed sheet. This pre-cushioning of the deceleration process prevents the sudden impact that would otherwise cause compression damage and springing back at the sheet stop, thereby maintaining fold quality while achieving precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a brush element as an intermediary between the printed sheet and the sheet stop. This mediator gradually dissipates the sheet's kinetic energy through friction before the sheet reaches the stop, avoiding direct sudden deceleration and the associated harmful effects of compression and springing back.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If brake brushes are used to slow down printed sheets, then deceleration is achieved, but mechanical wear increases and adjustment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeceleration capabilityVSAvoidadjustment complexity and mechanical wear
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a brush element that is simpler in construction compared to complex mechanical braking systems with multiple adjustable components. While the brush will experience wear, its simple design reduces adjustment complexity and makes it easier to replace, effectively treating it as a consumable component that maintains deceleration capability without requiring complex mechanical assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If the printed sheet is deflected by 90° using a sword and fed to folding rollers, then the folding process is achieved, but the sudden deceleration energy causes damage to the folded edge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding process efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to folded edge
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning a brush element in the path of the printed sheet before it reaches the folding rollers. This brush gradually reduces the sheet's speed and dissipates deceleration energy before the sheet is deflected and folded, preventing the sudden energy release that would otherwise damage the folded edge while maintaining productive folding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 pneumatic system effectively decelerates printed sheets to a pinpoint standstill with minimal residual energy, preventing damage and ensuring precise alignment, while reducing mechanical wear and complexity in adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

A device and a method for braking and precise positioning of a printed sheet in a processing machine with at least one means and at least one further means for generating a braking force effect on the printed sheet along the infeed direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

combined with controlled negative pressure to achieve precise deceleration and positioning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

The brake shoe is by means of a spring element such. B. a leaf spring made of spring steel or plastic material, resiliently movable, connected by a recording on the carrier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3002240B1Brake for printed sheets
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 MULLER MARTINI HLDG
  • EP3002240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3002240B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A method for operating a device for braking and positioning a printed sheet in a processing machine, wherein at least one means is provided along the feed direction of the printed sheet which exerts a braking force on the printed sheet and thus accomplishes the positioning of the printed sheet in connection with the operational process of a downstream processing station, characterized in that a first means is operated for pneumatic braking force-triggering impulses acting on the printed sheet, that at least a second means is operated for providing at least one braking force-generating frictional force acting on the printed sheet, that the first and/or second means generate intermittent, uniform or oscillating braking forces on the printed sheet, and that the braking forces are controlled by a control unit.which is operated with modifiable control profiles resulting from the queried operating parameters and/or through stored control profiles.