Web Transfer Suction Device for Secure Roll Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transfer of a paper web from a wound roll to a following machine unit in slitter winders is time-consuming and prone to failure due to manual guidance, requiring a more efficient and secure method.

Innovation Solution

A suction device grips the material web, a separating device creates a transfer strip that wraps around a guide element, and the web is deflected at an angle to ensure secure transfer, with optional suction rollers and pressurized fluid cutting, and a conveyor device with suctioned sections to stabilize the web.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual feeding of material web is used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but productivity is reduced and reliability deteriorates due to time-consuming manual guidance and malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweb transfer speedVSAvoidtransfer device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A transfer strip is introduced as an intermediary element between the winding roll and the conveying device. The transfer strip is separated from the material web, wrapped around a guide element, and transferred to the conveying device, enabling automated web transfer without direct mechanical contact between the winding roll and conveyor systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical feeding with an automated system using suction devices to capture and hold the web start, a separating device (laser, mechanical cutter, or water jet) to create the transfer strip, and a conveying device with suction sections to transfer and guide the web automatically.

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

2Reliability

If the material web is deflected at a large angle at the guide element, then web tension is improved, but the transfer strip separation from the rest of the material web becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweb tension stabilityVSAvoidtransfer strip separation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element has a specific geometric design with a defined wrap angle (less than 180°) and curvature that is optimized locally at the transfer strip region. This local geometric configuration enables both adequate web tension and clean separation of the transfer strip from the main material web by creating different wrapping angles - the transfer strip wraps less than the rest of the material web.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the suction device is brought into contact with the winding roller, then web capture is facilitated, but the risk of web damage or misalignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweb capture simplicityVSAvoidweb transfer safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A suction device (suction roller or suction plate) is used to capture the web start through negative pressure instead of mechanical clamping or gripping. This pneumatic approach provides gentle yet secure holding of the web material, reducing the risk of web damage, misalignment, or slippage during the transfer process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 method enables quick and secure web transfer with improved web tension and reduced risk of failure, facilitating efficient feeding of paper or cardboard webs to subsequent machine units.

Implementation Method 1

capturing the beginning of the material web with a suction device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

Cutting can be performed mechanically, by laser, or by means of a pressure fluid such as water or air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure fluid cutting: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3830010B1Web transfer
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 VOITH PATENT GMBH
  • EP3830010B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transferring the material web (1) of a winding roll (2) to a following machine unit. This is intended to occur in a simple and secure manner by virtue of the fact that the start of the material web (1) is grasped by a suction device (3), the suction device (3) with the material web (1) is moved away from the winding roll (2), a transfer strip (5) is separated from the material web (1) by a separating device (4) arranged between the winding roll (2) and the moved-away suction device (3), and this transfer strip (5) is fed to a conveying device (6).