Sheet Mold Transfer Device Tension Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sheet-shaped mold conveying/positioning devices face issues with maintaining the flat shape and preventing loosening or cutting of the mold during the peeling process, which can inhibit smooth operation and lead to transfer failures.

Innovation Solution

A conveying/positioning device that includes an unused-mold placing device, a mold rolling-up device, and a tension maintaining device to keep the sheet-shaped mold flat and prevent loosening, using a roller and air cylinder to apply constant tension, ensuring the mold remains stable during peeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sheet-shaped mold is peeled from the molding target, then the transfer is completed, but the mold may change form, loosen, or cut

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer completionVSAvoidmold form stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The tension maintaining device applies preliminary counteracting force to prevent the mold from loosening or changing form during peeling. The device maintains constant tension on the mold throughout the peeling process, counteracting the forces that would otherwise cause form changes or cutting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The mold rolling-up device prepares the mold in advance by rolling it up after peeling, preventing form changes before they occur. The tension maintaining device is activated during peeling to maintain mold stability proactively rather than reactively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If the mold is kept under constant tension, then the flat shape is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflat shape maintenanceVSAvoidtension maintaining mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tension maintaining device uses a cylinder (pneumatic or hydraulic) to generate and control tension forces. This allows for simple, reliable tension application without complex mechanical linkages, maintaining the mold's flat shape through fluid-powered actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The system controls the tension parameter dynamically during the peeling process. The tension force is adjusted as needed to maintain the mold's flat shape while preventing over-tensioning that could cause cutting, optimizing the balance between shape maintenance and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2548713B1Sheet-mold transfer/positioning device
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 TOSHIBA MASCH CO LTD
  • EP2548713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2548713B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2548713B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A conveying/positioning device includes: a unused-mold placing device 9 that places a rolled mold MB of a sheet-shaped mold M thereon; a mold rolling-up device 11 that rolls up the flat sheet-shaped mold MA supplied from the unused-mold placing device 9; and a tension maintaining device that constantly maintains a tension of the flat sheet-shaped mold even if a form of the flat sheet-shaped mold is changed when the peeling is performed.