Rotating Arm Assembly for Web Material Roll Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for closing the tail end of paper rolls are inefficient due to slow operation and require sequential handling of rolls, limiting productivity in the paper transformation process.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a rotating assembly with angularly displaced arms that simultaneously ejects one roll from the cradle and feeds another into the closing station, utilizing a feeding path with rollers forming a cradle and a closing member, allowing for continuous operation and efficient roll handling through controlled advancement and gluing or mechanical pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single swinging arm is used to eject rolls sequentially, then the device structure is simple, but the operation speed is slow and productivity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single swinging arm is divided into multiple arms (first arm, second arm, third arm) arranged angularly around a rotation axis. Each arm can independently eject rolls from the cradle, allowing parallel operation and significantly increasing productivity while maintaining relatively simple individual arm structures
Solution Approach 2:
The arm assembly is made rotatable about a vertical axis, transforming the static single-arm structure into a dynamic multi-position system. This allows the arms to serve multiple stations and process multiple rolls simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and productivity
2Productivity
If sequential roll handling is used, then the device operation is simple, but the operational time is long and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
While one arm is ejecting a roll, other arms are simultaneously positioning or ejecting other rolls. The rotational movement ensures continuous operation without idle time between roll processing steps, eliminating the sequential waiting time inherent in single-arm systems
Solution Approach 2:
Rolls are pre-positioned in the cradle in advance, and multiple arms are prepared in different angular positions to handle different rolls simultaneously. This preliminary arrangement allows parallel processing and reduces the total operational time
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 configuration significantly increases productivity by enabling simultaneous ejection and feeding of rolls, reducing operational time and enhancing efficiency in closing the tail end of paper rolls without the need for mechanical adaptations across varying roll diameters.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation of a step of said rotating assembly causing the ejection of a closed roll from the cradle and allowing the entrance in said cradle of a next roll to be closed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
The device (1) comprises a feeding path (P) of the rolls ( R, R1) to be closed and a closing station placed along that path. The closing station of the tail end comprises two rollers (15, 17) forming a cradle (19) for receiving the rolls (R, R1) and a closing member (21) of the tail end (L). The device also comprises a rotating assembly (23) that rotates around an axis (A- A) transverse respect to the feeding path of the rolls and comprising groups (27A, 27B, 27C) of arms (28A; 28B, 28C) arranged with respect to one another angularly displaced around the rotation axis of the rotating assembly (23). Each arm comprises a front part (29) configured to eject a roll ( R, R1 ) from the cradle (19) and a back part (31) configured to hold subsequent rolls along the feeding path, preventing their entering in the closing station until the ejection of the roll from the cradle (19). The rotation of one step of the rotating assembly (23) causes the ejection of a closed roll (R) from the cradle (19) and allows the entering in said cradle (19) of a subsequent roll (R1) to be closed.