Press Frame Support Element Absorbs Reaction Forces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing presses for compacting powdered materials face challenges in achieving precise alignment of components, leading to bending and increased wear, which affects the pressing result, and require extensive design and disassembly for maintenance and tool interchangeability.

Innovation Solution

A press design with a support element between the upper and lower holding plates that absorbs reaction forces, allowing the drive motors to remain stationary, reducing component movement and enabling a simpler, more precise pressing process with fewer components and less deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If multiple individually manufactured components are used in the power flow path, then device flexibility and ease of assembly are improved, but manufacturing tolerances accumulate and component bending increases, deteriorating pressing precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidpressing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individually manufactured components (upper die, lower die, guide columns, and support element) into a single integrally formed tool guide frame. This merging eliminates the interfaces between components, preventing accumulation of manufacturing tolerances and eliminating bending at connection points, thereby maintaining pressing precision while still allowing modular replacement of the entire tool guide unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If drive motors are mounted on moving press assemblies, then compact design is improved, but the motors move vertically during pressing, increasing wear on guides and reducing pressing precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact designVSAvoidpressing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the press into distinct functional modules: a stationary press frame, a movable tool guide unit containing the dies, and drive motors mounted on the stationary frame. This segmentation allows the drive motors to remain stationary while the tool guide unit moves, eliminating vertical movement of motors and associated wear, while maintaining compact overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If large dimensional tool guide frames are used to minimize bending, then pressing precision is improved, but device complexity and additional effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing precisionVSAvoidtool guide frame complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a diagonally oriented support element that creates a triangular stiffening structure within the tool guide frame. This diagonal bracing provides structural rigidity and minimizes bending under pressing loads without requiring an overall increase in frame dimensions, thereby maintaining pressing precision while avoiding excessive device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of operation

If extensive disassembly is required for maintenance, then component accessibility is improved, but productivity and ease of repair deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidmaintenance efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the tool guide unit as a self-contained, modular assembly that can be removed and replaced as a complete unit. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and replace worn components (such as the entire tool guide frame with integrated dies) without extensive disassembly of the press, thereby improving both component accessibility and maintenance efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2768662B1Press
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 MASCHINENFABRIK LAUFFER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2768662B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a press for producing a pellet out of powdered material, and comprising: a press frame that has an upper and a lower retainer plate interconnected by a plurality of vertical spacers, and that has at least one support element arranged between said upper and lower retainer plates; at least one upper ram unit comprising at least one upper press ram, and/or at least one lower ram unit comprising at least one lower press ram; and at least one receiving portion for powdered material to be pressed by said upper and/or lower press ram; and also at least one upper drive unit which comprises at least one upper drive motor for displacing the upper ram unit in a vertical direction, and/or at least one lower drive unit which comprises at least one lower drive motor for displacing the lower ram unit, and/or the receiving portion, in a vertical direction. During operation, said upper drive unit and/or lower drive unit is/are supported on the support element such that the reaction forces which are generated from the pressing forces produced as the powdered material is pressed in the at least one receiving portion, as action forces, are introduced into said support element, said upper drive motor and/or lower drive motor being arranged on the press frame in such a manner that when the upper ram unit and/or lower ram unit and/or receiving portion move(s) vertically, the upper drive motor and/or the lower drive motor will not also be moved in the vertical direction alongside.