Trimmer Deceleration Nip for Sheet Material Speed Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet material trimmers face challenges in efficiently decelerating sheet material articles from a high infeed speed to a trimming station without disrupting the processing of subsequent articles, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors in trimming.

Innovation Solution

A trimmer system that includes an infeed, a deceleration nip formed by a combination of fixed position rollers and actuating belts, and a trimming station transporter, where the deceleration nip transfers sheet material articles from the infeed to the trimming station at a matching speed, decelerating them to a stop for precise trimming and then re-accelerating them to the infeed speed for continuous processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the deceleration nip is used to transfer sheet material from infeed to trimming station, then trimming precision is improved, but processing speed is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrimming precisionVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The deceleration nip dynamically adjusts the surface speed of the deceleration rollers to match the infeed speed during transfer, then decelerates the sheet material to a stop for trimming, and finally re-accelerates it back to infeed speed. This dynamic speed adjustment enables precise trimming while maintaining continuous high-speed processing of subsequent articles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The deceleration nip operates in periodic cycles: accelerating to match infeed speed, transferring the article, decelerating to stop for trimming, then re-accelerating for the next article. This periodic operation allows precise trimming of each article while maintaining overall system productivity through continuous cycling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Manufacturing precision

If the sheet material is decelerated to a stop for trimming, then trimming accuracy is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrimming accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The deceleration nip performs preliminary deceleration before the trimming station, so that by the time the sheet material reaches the trimming point, it is already at the correct speed or stopped. This preliminary action ensures accurate trimming while the system continues to feed articles at high speed, maintaining overall processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

While one sheet material is being trimmed, the deceleration nip is already preparing the next article by accelerating it to match speed. This continuous overlapping operation ensures that trimming accuracy is achieved for each article while the system maintains high throughput without idle time between articles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the deceleration nip matches speed with infeed during transfer, then article transfer reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearticle transfer reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deceleration nip incorporates speed sensing and control mechanisms that continuously monitor the infeed speed and adjust the deceleration roller surface speed to match. This feedback control ensures reliable article transfer without slippage or misalignment, while the automated control system manages the complexity through intelligent algorithms rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 ensures consistent and precise trimming of sheet material articles by maintaining synchronized speeds throughout the processing cycle, preventing disruptions and ensuring accurate cutting of subsequent articles while maintaining efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a decelerator between the infeed and the trimming station transporter. The decelerator forms a deceleration nip for transferring the sheet material article from the infeed to the trimming station transporter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2933213B1Trimmer and method of operating a trimmer
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 MANROLAND GOSS WEB SYST GMBH
  • EP2933213B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2933213B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2933213B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A trimmer (10) is provided. The trimmer includes an infeed (12) for transporting a sheet material article at a first speed, a trimming station transporter (46) for decelerating the sheet material article for trimming by a trimming device (52), and a decelerator (14) between the infeed and the trimming station transporter. The decelerator forms a deceleration nip (32) for transferring the sheet material article from the infeed to the trimming station transporter. A method of operating a trimmer (10) is also provided.