Wrapping Machine Sliding Electric Contact Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wrapping machines with horizontal rotating rings suffer from significant wear and tear on sliding electric contact means, leading to frequent maintenance interruptions and prolonged downtime due to the complexity of replacing annular conductive bars and contacting brushes.
Innovation Solution
The wrapping machine design features sliding electric contact means with annular conductive bars fixed to the outer side wall of the supporting ring, allowing for easier inspection and replacement of contacting brushes and conductive bars, reducing wear and maintenance intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding electric contact means with annular conductive bars are used on the inner side wall of the supporting carriage, then electrical power and control signals can be transmitted to the unwinding unit, but the contacting brushes suffer from significant wear and tear leading to frequent maintenance interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional configuration by mounting the annular conductive bars on the outer side wall of the supporting carriage instead of the inner side wall. This inversion allows the contacting brushes to be positioned on the outer circumference where they can be easily accessed for maintenance while still maintaining electrical contact with the conductive bars through the supporting carriage structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the conductive bars from a radial inner-wall configuration to an outer-circumference configuration, effectively moving the contact interface to another dimensional location. This spatial repositioning enables maintenance personnel to access and replace brushes without disassembling the entire supporting carriage structure.
2Reliability
If annular conductive bars are mounted on the inner side wall of the supporting carriage, then electrical transmission is achieved, but replacement of conductive bars and brushes is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the supporting carriage structure into modular components, with the annular conductive bars mounted on the outer side wall forming a separable assembly. This segmentation allows the conductive bars and brushes to be independently accessed and replaced without affecting the entire supporting carriage system, significantly reducing maintenance downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the annular conductive bars from the inner wall configuration and positions them on the outer circumference, making them accessible for quick removal and replacement. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to quickly swap out worn components without complex disassembly procedures.
3Power
If centrifugal force acts on the brushes during rotation of the rotating ring, then power transmission is maintained, but wear of the brushes is accentuated
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the mounting position of the conductive bars from inner wall to outer circumference, the patent changes the direction and magnitude of centrifugal force effects on the contacting brushes. The brushes now operate in a configuration where centrifugal force does not directly increase contact pressure and wear, while still maintaining effective power transmission.
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 configuration significantly reduces wear on contacting brushes and annular conductive bars, extends maintenance intervals, and allows for quick and easy replacements, minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The brushes are kept in abutment with the conductive bars with a predefined pushing force by means of elastic elements, such as springs
Implementation Method 2
sliding electric contact means are provided, which comprise an annular structure fixed to the supporting carriage and provided on an inner side wall thereof with a plurality of conductive annular bars (sliding contacts) on which respective contacting brushes slide which are instead mounted on the rotating ring
Data Source
AI summary
A wrapping machine (1) for wrapping a load (100) with a film (50) comprises a main frame (2) that slidably supports a supporting carriage (3), a moving ring (4) rotatable and supporting an unwinding unit (5) provided with a reel (51) of film, pre-stretching rollers (52, 53) and at least one electric motor (37, 38) to rotate said pre-stretching rollers (52, 53), sliding electric contact means (10) for supplying electric current to, and/or exchanging electric signals with, the unwinding unit (5) and comprising brush means (11) fixed to the moving ring (4) and arranged to slidably abut conductive bar means (12) fixed to a supporting ring (6) of the supporting carriage (3), drive and control means (40) fixed to the brush means (11) and to the unwinding unit (5) to drive and control the electric motor (37, 38) and comprising a detector device (46) connected to the brush means (11) and configured to detect and record possible supply interruptions of electric current during operation.