Rotatable Transport Device for Creasing Flexibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing creasing devices have limited flexibility in adapting to changing boundary conditions and blank designs, restricting the flexibility of subsequent work steps like folding and gluing due to fixed rotation angles of transport rollers relative to creasing shafts.

Innovation Solution

A creasing device with a transport device that can be rotated about its vertical axis, allowing adjustable angles between transport rollers and creasing shafts, and featuring movable alignment and hold-down means for flexible alignment and increased friction, enabling the blank to be aligned and transported transversely for precise edge alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the transport device uses fixed rotation angles of transport rollers relative to creasing shafts, then the device structure is simple, but the flexibility in adapting to changing boundary conditions and blank designs is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in adapting to changing boundary conditionsVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport device is made rotatable about its vertical axis, allowing the rotation angle to be dynamically adjusted according to different blank designs and boundary conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the device to adapt to various folding and gluing operations without requiring multiple fixed-angle devices, thereby improving versatility while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the transport device is rotated to enable flexible alignment, then the adaptability to various blank orientations is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling various blank orientationsVSAvoidtransport device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport device serves multiple functions: it not only transports blanks but also aligns them through rotation to different orientations required for subsequent folding and gluing operations. By integrating alignment and orientation adjustment into the transport device itself, the invention eliminates the need for separate alignment devices, thereby handling various blank orientations without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If fixed alignment means are used, then the device structure is simple, but the flexibility for precise edge alignment across different blank types is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecise edge alignmentVSAvoidflexibility for different blank types
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment means is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned according to different blank types and alignment requirements. This dynamic positioning capability enables precise edge alignment for various blank orientations while maintaining a relatively simple device structure, as the alignment means can be adjusted without requiring multiple fixed alignment devices for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 flexibility allows for precise alignment and improved frictional force adjustment, enhancing the device's ability to handle various blank orientations and types, thereby improving the flexibility and efficiency of subsequent work steps such as folding and gluing.

Implementation Method 1

The blank can be transported in a transport plane and in a transport direction perpendicular to the creasing shafts by at least one driven transport roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The blank can be pressed onto the transport plane by a hold-down device in order to ensure increased friction properties between the blank and the transport rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

Due to the twisting of the transport rollers in relation to the transport direction and due to the friction between the blank and the transport rollers, the blank experiences a force transverse to the transport direction, which transports the blank in the direction of the alignment means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2845825B1Scoring device with rotatable transport device
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 KAMA GMBH
  • EP2845825B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2845825B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2845825B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention, which relates to a creasing device for creasing flat blanks, in particular sheets of paper, cardboard, corrugated board or laminated materials, comprising at least one pair of counter-rotating creasing shafts and a transport device comprising transport rollers for transporting the blank from a feeder to the creasing shafts in a transport plane and a transport direction perpendicular to the creasing shafts, wherein at least one transport roller is driveable and the blank can be pressed onto the transport plane by a hold-down device, further comprising at least one alignment device extending parallel to the transport direction for aligning a blank edge in the transport direction, is based on the objective of providing a creasing device which is flexibly adjustable to changing boundary conditions, such as those specified by the subsequent work steps or the design shape of the blank.The problem is solved by making the transport device rotatable about the normal to the transport plane.