Web Transport Roller Speed Control for Slack Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet manufacturing apparatuses face instability in transporting sheet-like materials due to inappropriate speed settings of rollers, leading to increased slack and uneven transport of target recording media.

Innovation Solution

A transporting apparatus with a first roller and a second roller, equipped with detection sections and a measuring section to adjust the rotation speed of the second roller based on the time taken for the transport object to travel between the sections, ensuring stable transport by modifying the speed in a stepwise manner to maintain appropriate tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the rotation speed of rollers is increased to improve productivity, then the transport speed increases, but the slack in the transport target object increases and stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport speedVSAvoidtransport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the rotation speed of the second roller variable rather than fixed. The rotation control section dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the second roller based on real-time measurements from the measuring section, which detects the time it takes for the transport target object to pass between detection points. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal transport stability across varying speeds and conditions, resolving the contradiction between high productivity and transport stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control where the measuring section continuously measures the time for the transport target object to pass between detection points, and this measurement is fed back to the rotation control section. The rotation control section uses this feedback to automatically adjust the rotation speed of the second roller, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains transport stability while allowing for variable speeds to optimize productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the rotation speed of the second roller is modified frequently to maintain tension, then transport stability improves, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by designing a control system that automatically adjusts itself without external intervention. The measuring section and rotation control section work together in an autonomous feedback loop where the system self-regulates the rotation speed of the second roller based on real-time measurements, eliminating the need for manual control while maintaining transport stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the system by making the rotation speed of the second roller a variable parameter rather than a fixed value. The rotation control section modifies rotation speed parameters based on measurements from the measuring section, allowing the system to adapt to different transport conditions and maintain stability across varying operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3647489B1Transporting apparatus, fibrous feedstock recycling apparatus, and transporting method
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3647489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647489B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3647489B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transporting apparatus includes a pressurizing roller that transports a web-like or sheet-like transport target object and a heating roller disposed downstream of the pressurizing roller in a transport path, a first bottom sensor and a first top sensor that are disposed between the pressurizing roller and the heating roller, a measuring section that measures a time from when the transport target object is detected by the first bottom sensor until the transport target object is detected by the first top sensor, and a rotation control section that modifies a rotation speed of the heating roller when a time measured by the measuring section is shorter than a first reference time.