Rotating Flat Goods With Decoupled Partial Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for turning flat goods, such as sheets or stacks, at high throughput rates face challenges with strong decelerations and accelerations, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies, especially when processing items of different formats, as the distance between turning points is fixed and can cause compression or stretching.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that divide the rotation process into two or more partial steps using at least two rotating devices arranged in the transport direction, with a transport device decoupling the turning processes, allowing adjustable distance between turning points and flexible initiation of the turning process to accommodate different formats, ensuring goods are moved at a constant speed throughout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single rotating device is used to turn flat goods at high throughput rates, then productivity is improved, but strong decelerations and accelerations occur causing potential damage to the goods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput rateVSAvoidrisk of damage to goods
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation process is divided into multiple partial rotations, each performed by a separate rotating device. The first rotating device performs a first partial rotation through a first angle, and the second rotating device performs a second partial rotation through a second angle, completing the total rotation angle. This segmentation allows each device to operate at controlled speeds, avoiding the strong decelerations and accelerations that would occur in a single-device system while maintaining high throughput capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the distance between turning points is fixed in existing devices, then device structure is simplified, but goods of different formats may be compressed or stretched

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidaccommodation of different formats
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The distance between the first rotating device and the second rotating device is made adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the system to adapt to different formats of flat goods by modifying the spacing between turning points, preventing compression or stretching of the goods while processing various sizes and types of material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If turning process is initiated at fixed points in existing devices, then control is simplified, but flexible processing of different formats is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidflexible initiation for different formats
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The initiation of the turning process is made flexible and adjustable. The system can initiate the first partial rotation at different points depending on the format and requirements of the flat goods being processed. This dynamic control capability allows adaptation to various formats while maintaining operational simplicity through coordinated control of the multiple rotating devices.

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

Enables the processing of flat goods with different formats at high throughput rates while minimizing the risk of damage, allowing for adjustable distance between turning points and flexible initiation of the turning process, ensuring smooth and efficient rotation without compression or stretching.

Implementation Method 1

The first rotating device and the second rotating device each have pairs of rollers spaced apart transversely to the direction of travel of the sheet and which are driven by a stepper motor in order to generate the predetermined speed-time profiles of the pairs of rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2935060B1Device and method for rotating flat goods
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 BOWE SYSTEC AG
  • EP2935060B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2935060B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2935060B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a method for rotating flat goods (10) moved in a transport direction (x), particularly sheets or stacks of sheets, from a first orientation (a) to a second orientation (b) by a predefined total rotation angle (α), said device having a first rotating means (1), in which the goods (10) are first rotated by a first rotation angle (α1), and having at least one second rotating means (2), in which the goods (10) are subsequently rotated by a second rotation angle (α2), wherein the first rotating means (1) and the second rotating means (2) are arranged one after the other in the transport direction (x). In order to be able to process goods of different formats with the highest possible throughput and the fewest possible faults, and in order to ensure the gentlest possible handling of the goods, a transport means (3) is arranged between the first rotating means (1) and the second rotating means (2), said transport means moving the goods rotated by the first rotation angle (α1) in the first rotation means (1) further linearly in the transport direction (x) and transferring them to the second rotating means (2) for further rotation.