Rotatable Platform for Spun Bonding Extrusion Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 'spun bonding' plants face inefficiencies due to the need for rotary joints, which cause sealing issues and reduce performance, especially when handling high-temperature and high-pressure polymeric materials, limiting their ability to quickly adapt to varying web dimensions and production demands.

Innovation Solution

A 'spun bonding' plant design featuring a rotatable platform that integrates the melting station and extrusion bar without a rotary joint, allowing for adjustable inclination of the extrusion bar relative to the conveyor belt, enabling flexible production of non-woven webs without interruptions and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotary joint is used to connect the melting station and extrusion bar to enable rotation, then the extrusion bar can be inclined at different angles to vary web width, but sealing issues and performance reduction occur due to high-temperature and high-pressure polymeric materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweb width adjustment capabilityVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the rotary joint component entirely from the system. Instead of rotating the extrusion bar through a rotary joint, the entire platform carrying both the melting station and extrusion bar is rotated as a unified structure, eliminating the sealing problem associated with rotary joints while maintaining the ability to adjust web width through platform rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The melting station and extrusion bar are merged into a single integrated platform structure. This consolidation allows the entire assembly to be rotated together without requiring rotary joints, thereby maintaining sealing integrity while enabling web width adjustment through platform rotation rather than individual component rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the extrusion bar is rotated independently to adjust web width, then production flexibility improves, but rotary joints cause interruptions and reduce productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction flexibilityVSAvoidproduction continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The melting station and extrusion bar are combined on a single rotatable platform, allowing the entire assembly to be rotated together. This eliminates the need for rotary joints that cause interruptions, maintaining production continuity while enabling web width adjustment through platform rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The platform rotation mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the extrusion bar inclination angle during operation. This dynamic capability allows continuous production with flexible web width adjustment, as the entire platform can be rotated to change the angle without stopping the production line or using rotary joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple extrusion dies are provided for different web widths, then adaptability to varying dimensions is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional variation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of extrusion dies
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single extrusion bar on the rotatable platform serves multiple functions by producing webs of different widths. By rotating the platform to different angles, the same extrusion bar can generate various web widths, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated extrusion dies and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The web width is controlled by changing the inclination angle parameter of the extrusion bar through platform rotation rather than by changing the physical extrusion die. This parameter-based control method allows a single extrusion bar to produce multiple web widths, reducing the number of components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design enhances production flexibility, productivity, and cost-effectiveness by eliminating rotary joint-related issues, allowing for quick adjustments in web width and characteristics, minimizing waste, and improving overall efficiency and profitability.

Implementation Method 1

a melting station (11) suitable for receiving and melting a base polymeric material (MP)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

an extrusion bar or head (12) adapted to receive from the melting station (11) the polymeric material (MP) in the molten state to produce a plurality or bundle or array of continuous filaments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExtrusion: Extrusion

Implementation Method 3

a conveyor belt (13) adapted to advance along a given direction of advancement (A) and to receive from the above the bundle (FF) of continuous filaments produced by the extrusion nozzles (12a), so as to form, on the surface of the conveyor belt (13), a web (V) of a non-woven fabric and continuously evacuate it from the plant (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConveyor transport:

Implementation Method 4

consolidation means (14), suitable for consolidating the non-woven web (V) formed on the conveyor belt (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat and pressure consolidation:

Data Source

PatentEP3906334B1Plant and process of the spun bonding or melt blowing type for the production of a non-woven web
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SOFT N W
  • EP3906334B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3906334B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3906334B1 patent drawingFigure 1B

AI summary

An innovative plant (10) for the production with the "spun bonding" technology or similar of a web (V) of non-woven fabric, comprising: - a melting station (11) suitable for receiving and melting a polymeric base material (MR), - an extrusion bar or head (12) with a plurality of extrusion or drawing nozzles (12a) adapted to receive from the melting station (11) the polymeric material (MR) in the molten state to produce a plurality or bundle of continuous filaments (FF); - a conveyor belt (13) adapted to advance along a direction of advancement (A) and to receive from the above the continuous filaments (F), produced by the extrusion nozzles (12a), so as to form a web (V) of non-woven fabric; and - consolidation means (14) designed to consolidate the non-woven web (V) formed on the conveyor belt (13); wherein the plant (10) is characterized by a special structure (20) comprising a base platform (21), rotatable (f, f, f") around a respective vertical rotation axis (X), and wherein the melting station (11), suitable for receiving and melting the base polymeric material (MR), and the extrusion bar (12), suitable for receiving from the melting station (11) the polymeric material (MR) in the molten state, are totally built and solidly supported by this rotatable base platform (21) (f, f, f), so as to be rigidly connected to each other without the interposition of any rotating joint. Advantageously, the plant (10) allows to vary, without interrupting its operation, the width (L, L', L") of the non-woven web (V) produced by the same plant, by rotating (f, f, f") and adjusting the base platform (21) around the respective vertical rotation axis (X), so as to vary the inclination (a) of the extrusion bar (12) with respect to the direction of advancement (A) the conveyor belt (13).