Rotating Drum Pattern Plate Holding Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing rotary drum for fiber-stacking devices requires frequent detachment and reattachment of pattern plates to change product shapes, which is cumbersome due to bolt-based fastening, and maintenance is complicated by potential clogging issues.

Innovation Solution

A rotary drum with a holding mechanism featuring fixed and movable hooks that securely attach pattern plates to the drum body, allowing for easy detachment and reattachment without the need for bolts, and includes a locking mechanism for secure positioning and a temporary fastening mechanism for precise placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If pattern plates are fastened to the drum body by bolts, then the pattern plates are securely attached to the drum body, but the detachment and reattachment of the pattern plates become troublesome and require a work space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidease of detachment and reattachment
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is divided into multiple hooks (first hook, second hook, third hook, fourth hook) distributed around the drum body circumference. Each hook independently secures a corresponding pattern plate, allowing segmented attachment and detachment operations rather than requiring complete bolt removal across the entire plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Hooks serve as intermediary elements between the drum body and pattern plates, providing a simplified mechanical interface that eliminates the need for bolts. The hooks engage with recesses in the pattern plates, creating a secure yet easily reversible connection that requires minimal workspace

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pattern plates are frequently detached and reattached to change product shapes, then product shape flexibility is achieved, but the operation becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct shape changeabilityVSAvoidtime for plate replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple pattern plates are pre-prepared with different fiber-stacking depression shapes corresponding to different product shapes. The hooks are pre-positioned on the drum body, allowing operators to quickly swap between pre-configured pattern plates without complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing replacement time while maintaining shape versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system allows dynamic reconfiguration of pattern plates on the drum body. Operators can detach and attach different pattern plates during operation to change product shapes, with the hook mechanism enabling rapid transitions between different stacking configurations without stopping the entire system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2623656B1Rotating drum of fiber stacking device
Publication Date: 2015.10.21 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP2623656B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2623656B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2623656B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A rotary drum (2) for a fiber-stacking device is provided with a drum body (2B), a plurality of pattern plates (6) each of which has a single fiber-stacking depression (6D), and a plurality of holding mechanisms (7), each of which holds a corresponding pattern plate (6) on the outer circumferential surface of the drum body (2BC) in a detachable manner. Each holding mechanism (7) is provided with a fixed hook which is immovably attached to one side of the drum body and which forms a fixed side holding groove (8F) with the outer circumferential surface of the drum body and with a movable hook which is attached to the other side of the drum body movably between a holding position and a release position, which forms a movable side holding groove (8M) with the outer circumferential surface of the drum body when at the holding position, and which opens the movable side holding groove when at the release position. When the movable hook (7FM) is at the holding position, the two side parts of the pattern plate (6) are accommodated inside the fixed side holding groove (8F) and the movable side holding groove (8M).