Sheet Manufacturing Transport Cover for Automatic Jam Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet manufacturing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently restarting operations after transport failures due to unknown residual materials and require manual intervention, leading to prolonged downtime.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a sheet forming unit that accumulates and compresses fiber materials, a transport unit with rollers, an abnormality detection sensor, and a cover that rotates to open the transport path upon detecting abnormalities, allowing for automated response to transport issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation of the apparatus is stopped due to transport failure, then the abnormality can be detected and addressed, but the apparatus requires manual intervention and takes time to restart
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is pre-configured to be movable between closed and open positions, and the drive motor is pre-positioned to automatically execute the opening action when abnormality is detected, eliminating the need for manual intervention during restart
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis through the abnormality detection sensor and self-service through automatic cover opening via the drive motor, allowing the apparatus to handle its own restart process without external manual intervention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover remains closed during normal operation, then the transport path is protected, but manual intervention is required when abnormality occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cover transitions from a static closed position during normal operation to a dynamically open position when abnormality is detected, allowing the system to adapt its state based on operational conditions without requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The abnormality detection sensor provides feedback about transport failures to the control system, which then triggers the drive motor to automatically open the cover, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to detected abnormalities
3Extent of automation
If automated cover opening is implemented, then manual intervention is reduced, but additional components (drive motor, sensor) are added
Solution Approach 1:
The drive motor serves multiple functions: it opens the cover during abnormalities and can potentially close it during restart, while the abnormality detection sensor integrates with the existing transport monitoring system, reducing the need for entirely separate component systems
Data Source
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AI summary
A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet, and a transport unit that transports the sheet along a transport path, in which the transport unit includes a plurality of transport rollers that transport the sheet, a sheet sensor that detects an abnormality generated in transport of the sheet in the transport unit, a cover that is installed above the transport path and is configured to rotate around a shaft of a rotation shaft, and a drive motor that rotates the cover, the cover moves between an open position that opens an upper portion of the transport path and a closed position that covers the upper portion of the transport path, and the cover moves from the closed position to the open position by the drive motor being rotationally driven when the sheet sensor detects an abnormality generated in the transport of the sheet.