Suction Element Transport for Flat Goods Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for feeding flat goods, such as metal sheets, to processing units like printing or painting machines face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and reducing mechanical stress at high production speeds, leading to potential edge damage and alignment errors.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a first transport device with rotating deflection wheels and suction belts, and a second transport device with independently driven suction elements and sensors, which corrects the position and alignment of flat goods by adjusting the suction elements' speed and position relative to the processing unit's edges, ensuring precise and shock-free feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical alignment methods (side marks, alignment marks, panel stops) are used to achieve precise positioning, then alignment precision is improved, but mechanical stress on sheet edges increases leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment stops and side marks with an optical measurement system using light barriers and sensors to detect sheet positions and edges. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact that causes edge damage while maintaining precise alignment through optical detection and electronic control of sheet positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light barriers and optical sensors as intermediary elements between the sheet and the alignment system. These intermediaries enable precise position detection without direct mechanical contact, thereby reducing mechanical stress on sheet edges while achieving accurate alignment through optical signal detection.
2Productivity
If production speed is increased to meet higher throughput requirements, then productivity is improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates and visual inspection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where optical sensors continuously detect sheet positions and edge locations during high-speed transport. This real-time feedback information is processed to dynamically adjust transport timing and positioning, maintaining precise alignment accuracy even at increased production speeds where manual visual inspection would be impossible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated optical detection systems including light barriers and sensors that operate at high speeds. This substitution enables continuous monitoring and alignment verification during high-speed production, maintaining precision without the limitations of human visual inspection capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If friction-dependent transport means are used to convey sheets, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to friction coefficient variations and speed differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control through optical sensors that monitor sheet position and transport speed in real-time. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of transport parameters to compensate for variations in friction coefficients and speed differences between transport systems, maintaining reliable and consistent sheet conveyance despite changes in operating conditions.
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
The solution enables precise and shock-free feeding of flat goods, reducing alignment errors and mechanical stress, even at high production speeds, by using suction elements and sensors to adjust the position and speed of the flat goods relative to the processing unit's edges.
Implementation Method 1
each having a suction surface facing the transport plane and formable into a shape corresponding to the shape of the leading edge of the planar good
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for feeding planar goods to a processing unit (50) in a transport plane and a transport direction (06), in particular for feeding sheets to a printing and/or coating unit of a coating machine or the like, wherein the planar goods are transported in a sequential arrangement in a horizontal position by means of a transport device (01), wherein the transport device (01) has a first transport unit (10) with a guide forming the transport plane for the planar goods and a second transport unit (20) downstream of the first transport unit (10), and the second transport unit (20) comprises two suction elements (21; 22) and each suction element (21; 22) is assigned a first drive (23), wherein the suction elements (21;22) are or are driven independently of each other in the transport direction (06) by the first drives (23), both suction elements (21; 22) are assigned to a common carrier (25) and the carrier (25) is connected to a second drive (24) with which the carrier (25) can be or is moved transversely to the transport direction (06).