Skew Roller Axis Cleaning Device for Machining Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for machining rollers, such as those used in vehicle construction, are inefficient due to the need for additional drive devices to achieve effective cleaning, which increases complexity and maintenance efforts.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning procedure and device that utilize a single driven brush roller, where the machining roller's axis is aligned or angled relative to the brush roller's axis, allowing the brush roller's bristles to effectively remove contaminants while inducing rotation in the machining roller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the processing roller is moved towards a rotating brush roller until their outer circumferences rest against each other with parallel roller axes, then the brush roller can remove contaminants from the processing roller, but the processing roller rotates at the same speed as the brush roller resulting in an inefficient cleaning process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoiddrive device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies asymmetry by aligning the roller axes of the processing roller and brush roller skew to each other instead of parallel. This skew alignment creates a speed difference between the two rollers during contact, generating relative motion that dramatically improves cleaning efficiency without requiring additional drive devices on the processing roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Productivity

If an additional drive device is provided to rotate the processing roller in the opposite direction or at a different speed, then cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiddrive device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs self-service by utilizing the inherent rotation of the processing roller during its normal operation on the processing tool. The skew alignment between roller axes allows the processing roller's own rotation to create the necessary relative motion for effective cleaning, eliminating the need for separate drive mechanisms and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If two brush rollers are used to form a roller nip for cleaning the processing roller, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the number of moving parts increases leading to higher maintenance effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential cleaning function from a dual-brush-roller system and implements it with a single brush roller. By using skew alignment between the processing roller and single brush roller axes, the patent achieves effective cleaning with fewer moving parts, thereby reducing maintenance effort while maintaining cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach enhances the efficiency of the cleaning process by ensuring complete coverage and removal of contaminants from the machining roller's surface without the need for additional drive devices, thereby reducing maintenance and improving cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

the bristles of the brush roller rest on the surface of the processing side of the processing roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

If the brush roller resting against the folding roller is driven by the drive device, contaminants can be removed from the folding roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP4124393B1Method for cleaning a roller of a machining tool and corresponding cleaning device
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 MASCHBAUU SERVICE AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHN CHEMNITZ
  • EP4124393B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4124393B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4124393B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a rotatably mounted machining roller of a machining tool with a cleaning device, wherein the machining roller is brought towards a brush roller set in rotation by means of a drive device of the cleaning device until a section of the outer circumference of the machining roller abuts a section of the outer circumference of the brush roller. The machining roller (2) is brought towards the brush roller (6) in such a way that, when the outer circumference of the machining roller (2) abuts the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), a roller axis (4) of the machining roller (2) and a roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) are skew to each other. The invention further relates to a cleaning device for carrying out the method.