Variable Angle Feed Roll for Log Debarking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current log processing heads face difficulties in handling logs of varying diameters, particularly during debarking, due to inconsistent feed roll angles and forces, leading to complications in debarking and reduced efficiency when processing Eucalyptus trees.
Innovation Solution
The feed means feature elevations on a carrier with adjustable angles, allowing for varying axial and tangential forces based on the log's diameter, ensuring consistent contact and movement, regardless of the log's size, and can be integrated into different types of processing heads with or without delimb knives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If feed rolls with constant angle ribs are used, then the structure is simple, but the debarking performance deteriorates when processing logs of varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roll surface is divided into multiple zones along the axial direction, with each zone having elevations at different angles. This local differentiation allows the feed roll to adapt to logs of varying diameters, with smaller diameter logs contacting zones with smaller angles and larger diameter logs contacting zones with larger angles, thereby maintaining consistent debarking performance across different log sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The elevation angles are dynamically varied along the axial direction of the feed roll rather than being constant. This dynamic configuration enables the feed roll to automatically adapt to different log diameters as they pass through, with the contact point moving to appropriate zones that provide optimal elevation angles for each specific log size
2Adaptability or versatility
If the elevation angle varies along the axial direction, then the adaptability to different log diameters improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different axial zones of the feed roll are equipped with elevations at different angles tailored to specific log diameter ranges. This localized optimization provides high adaptability to various log sizes while keeping each local zone's structure relatively simple and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roll surface is segmented into multiple discrete zones, each with its own elevation angle configuration. This segmentation allows for modular design and manufacturing, where each zone can be independently formed or adjusted, reducing overall complexity compared to a fully continuous variable angle surface
3Force
If steeper elevation angles are used, then the tangential movement force increases for larger logs, but the axial movement efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation angle parameter is varied along the axial direction to optimize the balance between tangential force and axial movement. By adjusting the angle parameter according to the specific log diameter being processed, the system achieves sufficient tangential force for effective debarking while maintaining adequate axial movement speed for high productivity
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 enhances productivity, reduces fuel consumption, and simplifies the design by maintaining effective debarking and feeding performance across different log diameters without the need for additional components or orientation control.
Implementation Method 1
The outer circumference of the carrier (44) is provided with elevations (46), which follow a line, the angle of which varies along the axial direction. Depending on the place, where the feed means contacts the log by means of its elevations this causes more or less rotation and less or more axial movement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5a~5c
AI summary
A feed means (28) has a cylindrical carrier (44) on the outer side of which elevations (46) are provided. These elevations (46) run in lines with an angle alpha to the rotation axis (48) of the feed means (28), whereas this angle alpha is progressing over the axial extension of the carrier (44). Such a feed means (28) is installed in a log processing head (10) for moving a log L in a longitudinal and a tangential direction. Due to the changing angle alpha the proportion of longitudinal and tangential components varies over the width of the feed means (28) and depending on where at the axial position the log L hits the elevations (46), the rotation of the log L varies as well.