Pre-turning Bar Mechanism for Coating Sheet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for turning coating sheets from a single stack are inefficient, complex, and prone to damaging the sheets due to slow cycle times and mechanical stress, leading to increased operational costs and inaccuracies in placement.
Innovation Solution
A device with a pre-turning bar and pull-over bar system, where the pre-turning bar contacts and rotates the rear edge of the coating sheet, allowing precise turning and placement above the sheet, enabling simultaneous operations that reduce mechanical stress and improve cycle efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If suction lifters of a suction frame are used to lift and turn coating sheets, then individual sheets can be moved to the horizontal working height of a drawing bar, but the cycle times of a coating press designed as a short-cycle press cannot be achieved, resulting in time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The turning process is divided into two separate phases: pre-turning (lifting the trailing edge) and completing the turning (pulling the sheet over). This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently and enables parallel operations with the drawing bar, significantly reducing cycle time while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-turning bar performs preliminary turning action by lifting the trailing edge of the coating sheet before the main turning operation. This preliminary action prepares the sheet for the subsequent pull-over operation, enabling faster cycle times by pre-positioning the sheet for the next operation
2Reliability
If a suction bar with suction cups is positioned below the new leading edge of the coating sheet after turning, then the sheet can be gripped, but air is drawn between the coating sheet and the pre-pulling table during pre-pulling, requiring reduced pre-pulling speed to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the suction bar below the sheet (which causes air entrapment), the pre-turning bar is positioned above the trailing edge of the coating sheet. This inverted positioning eliminates the air gap problem, allowing high-speed pre-pulling without sheet damage while maintaining reliable gripping
3Ease of operation
If an unloading device is used to turn coating sheets, then sheets can be rotated 180°, but precise positioning of the depositing position is not possible, as the unloading device can only drop the coating sheet approximately in the correct location
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-turning bar acts as an intermediary that precisely positions the trailing edge of the coating sheet before the main turning operation. This intermediary positioning mechanism ensures accurate final depositing position, eliminating the approximation problem of direct drop methods
4Adaptability or versatility
If a device with vertical stand and rotatable carrier is used for turning sheets, then sheets can be reverse-turned from lateral stacks, but the mechanical design is quite complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex vertical stand and rotatable carrier mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler horizontal pre-turning bar that rotates about its longitudinal axis. This extraction of the unnecessary vertical movement mechanism significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining full sheet turning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention discards the complex mechanical brush engagement and deflection shafts from prior art, recovering only the essential turning function through a simplified pre-turning bar and pull-over bar system, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining adaptability
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 significantly accelerates the turning process, reduces the risk of damaging coating sheets, and allows for precise placement, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The trailing edge of the coating sheet 2, which is lying on the turning station 8, is then attracted from below by suction lifters of a pre-turning bar 6 located below the table surface level
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device and a method for turning a coating sheet (2) separated from a single stack of sheets (1) onto a pre-drawing table (5) using a coating strip (3) are provided. These devices are economical to manufacture and can be operated quickly without damaging the table. This is achieved by the device having a pre-turning strip (6) arranged below the table level in a head area of the pre-drawing table (5) facing the stack of sheets (1). The pre-turning strip (6) has contact means that can secure the end of a coating sheet (2) that has been drawn onto a turning position (8) by the coating strip (3). The pre-turning strip (6) is rotatably mounted upwards, forwards and about its longitudinal axis parallel to the end of the coating sheet. The device also includes a draw strip (7) with contact means.which is movable from a transfer position of the raised and moved in the pulling direction (4) and rotated by up to 180° pre-turning strip (6) to the storage place (9) of a turned coating sheet (2) on the pre-drawing table (5).