Servo Driven Pad Placement Device for Disposable Articles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional placement devices for disposable worn articles face challenges in increasing the interval between parts without overloading the servo motor, which can complicate the device structure and reduce precision.

Innovation Solution

The placement device employs two or more re-pitch units with pairs of pads rotating about a common axis, each driven by two servo motors, allowing for efficient placement of parts with a wide interval without the need for multiple servo motors, thus simplifying the configuration and reducing motor load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the rotation speed of the servo motor is changed for each revolution of the pads to increase the interval between parts, then the interval between parts is increased, but the load on the servo motor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterval between partsVSAvoidload on servo motor
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the pad rotation function into multiple independent pads (first pad, second pad, third pad, fourth pad) each controlled by its own servo motor, allowing simultaneous operation at different positions around the common axis to reduce individual motor load while maintaining part spacing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from linear sequential pad operation to radial distribution around a common axis, where multiple pads operate simultaneously at different angular positions, effectively utilizing the rotational dimension to achieve both wide part intervals and reduced motor load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If three or more pads are placed on a single rotation axis to reduce servo motor load, then the servo motor load is reduced, but the device structure becomes complicated and part placement precision is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservo motor loadVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the pad assembly into four distinct pads (first, second, third, fourth pads) distributed around a common rotation axis, with each pad independently controlled by its own servo motor, achieving load distribution without structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple pads and their corresponding servo motors are merged into a single rotation axis system, where all pads rotate together around the common axis while maintaining individual control, simplifying the overall structure compared to separate rotation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Force

If three or more pads are placed on a single rotation axis to reduce servo motor load, then the servo motor load is reduced, but part placement precision is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservo motor loadVSAvoidpart placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Each pad is independently controlled by its own servo motor, allowing precise individual positioning and acceleration/deceleration control for each pad while distributing the mechanical load across multiple motors, thereby maintaining high placement precision despite reduced individual motor load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic acceleration and deceleration control for each pad individually, allowing pads to adjust their speed profiles during rotation to ensure precise part placement while distributing the dynamic load across multiple servo motors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3466383B1Positioning device, positioning system, and positioning method
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ZUIKO CORP
  • EP3466383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3466383B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3466383B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A placement device for arranging parts of a disposable worn article on the base material B, wherein: a first unit U1 includes first and third pads P1 and P3 capable of accelerating and decelerating; a second unit U2 includes second and fourth pads P2 and P4 capable of accelerating and decelerating; the first unit U1 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the first pad P1 and the third pad P3 about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M; and the second unit U2 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the second pad P2 and the fourth pad about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M.