Trimmer Pusher Position and Force Detection for Abnormal Material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trimmers struggle to accurately position and trim bound materials of abnormal length during the book binding process, leading to imprecise trimming due to incorrect positioning and varying material dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A trimmer system equipped with a pusher, pusher moving device, positioning part, reaction force detector, and determiner that assesses the normalcy of the bound material's length by monitoring the pusher's stopped position and reaction force within predefined allowable ranges, allowing for appropriate action such as removal of abnormal materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the pusher stops at a preset position based on normal material length, then the trimming position is correct for normal materials, but the positioning becomes incorrect for abnormal materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrimming precisionVSAvoidadaptability to abnormal material length
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses reaction force detection as feedback to determine whether the bound material has abnormal length. The reaction force detector monitors the force exerted on the pusher during positioning, and this information is fed back to the controller to identify abnormal materials and prevent incorrect trimming operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of material length abnormality before the trimming operation. By detecting the reaction force during the pushing phase and determining whether the material length is normal beforehand, the system prevents incorrect trimming actions from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the pusher applies sufficient force to position all materials, then normal materials are positioned correctly, but abnormal materials may cause positioning errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial length detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct mechanical measurement of material length with a force-based detection method. Instead of mechanically measuring the length of the bound material, the system uses the reaction force detector to sense the force characteristics during pushing, which indirectly indicates material length abnormality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the system processes all materials without detection, then processing speed is maintained, but trimming accuracy decreases for abnormal materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidtrimming precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the bound material to self-identify its length status through the reaction force it generates during pushing. The material's physical characteristics (normal or abnormal length) automatically produce distinct reaction force patterns that the detector recognizes, eliminating the need for separate measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables precise determination of normal or abnormal material lengths, facilitating appropriate actions like removing abnormal materials, thereby ensuring accurate trimming and maintaining process efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a reaction force detector that detects a reaction force to which the pusher is subject

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReaction force detection: Force

Data Source

PatentEP3584046B1trimmer
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3584046B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584046B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3584046B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trimmer that determines whether the length of the bound material is normal or abnormal so as to take an appropriate action, such as remove the bound material having the abnormal length before trimmed. A trimmer comprising: a pusher 2 that pushes the bound material 1; a pusher moving device that moves the pusher 2; a positioning part 111 that positions the bound material pushed by the pusher 2; an allowable position memory that memorizes an allowable position range relevant to the pusher 2; an allowable reaction force memory that memorizes an allowable reaction force range relevant to the pusher 2; and a determiner that determines whether a length of the bound material is normal or abnormal; wherein the determiner determines that: the length L of the bound material 1 is normal when the stopped position of the pusher 2 is in the allowable position range, and the reaction force of the pusher 2 is in the allowable reaction force range; and the length L of the bound material 1 is abnormal when the stopped position of the pusher 2 is out of the allowable position range, or the reaction force of the pusher 2 is out of the allowable reaction force range.