Spherical Receiving Device Guide Groove for Rotational Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotational molding technologies face challenges in achieving precise multi-axis rotation and adaptive rotation curves for uniform material distribution and efficient mold operation, leading to potential material accumulation and complex control requirements.
Innovation Solution
A spherical receiving device with a guide device that allows a single drive wheel to follow a predetermined rolling path, enabling rotation about continuously changing axes without requiring multiple motors or complex sensor monitoring, and incorporating features like guide grooves and toothing for precise alignment and electrical conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive wheel is used to rotate the spherical receiving device, then the device complexity is reduced, but achieving precise multi-axis rotation and adaptive rotation curves becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical receiving device with a guide groove that follows a curved path on the sphere's surface. This curvature design allows a single drive wheel to naturally generate complex multi-axis rotation movements by rolling along the curved guide path, eliminating the need for multiple motors while maintaining precise rotation control through the geometric constraints of the spherical geometry and guide curve.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple motors and complex sensor monitoring are used to achieve precise rotation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical receiving device with its integrated guide groove structure serves its own control function. The guide groove's predetermined curved path automatically constrains the drive wheel's motion to generate the desired complex rotation pattern, eliminating the need for external sensors and complex control systems. The geometry itself provides the control mechanism, achieving uniform material distribution through passive geometric constraints rather than active electronic control.
3Ease of operation
If the drive wheel follows a simple circular path, then the rolling path is simple to control, but material accumulation occurs and product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is designed with a specific curved path on the spherical surface that deviates from simple circular trajectories. This curved path ensures that the drive wheel follows a complex rolling pattern that uniformly distributes material throughout the mold cavity during rotation, preventing material accumulation in specific regions while maintaining ease of control through the fixed geometric guide structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex rotation patterns are implemented to prevent material accumulation, then product quality is improved, but the guide device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is segmented into a series of discrete guide grooves that can be individually designed and manufactured. Each groove segment follows a specific curved path pattern that contributes to the overall complex rotation motion. This segmentation allows the complex rotation pattern to be achieved through a relatively simple guide structure that can be easily manufactured and maintained, without requiring a monolithic complex mechanism.
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 solution allows for precise, adaptive rotation that reduces material accumulation, simplifies control, and enables efficient automated loading and unloading of molds, while maintaining low operational complexity and wear reduction.
Implementation Method 1
a drive wheel (7) driven by a drive motor (5), which rolls on the outside (2) of the spherical receiving device (1) and drives the spherical receiving device (1) to rotate
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a spherical receiving device for receiving at least one rotational mold, which is designed and intended to be driven to rotation in a rotating device by means of a drive wheel rolling on the outside of the spherical receiving device. The spherical receiving device is characterized in that it has at least one guide device which causes a drive wheel rolling on the outside of the spherical receiving device to follow a predetermined rolling path on the outside of the spherical receiving device. The invention further relates to a rotating device comprising such a spherical receiving device and a drive wheel driven by a drive motor, which rolls on the outside of the spherical receiving device and drives the spherical receiving device to rotate.It is provided that, in addition to a curvature caused by the spherical shape of the receiving device, the rolling path has a further curvature and/or that the rolling path does not run exclusively along a large circle or a small circle of the receiving device.