Due to the improvement of the mechanical properties of polymer composite belts used in vacuum belt conveyors, its perforation process causes a lot of technical issues for manufacturers worldwide. The objective of this paper is to analyze the belt punching process with two cutting edges and present the influence of the piercing punch shape on the perforation force. Based on the analysis, the analytical stress model was derived and validated by using both empirical and FEM tests. The application of the proposed model was proved by presenting the methodology used to estimate the perforation force for the flat piercing punch based on the mechanical properties of the belt obtained from simple strength tests (uniaxial tension, compression, and shear), with an error between 4 and 15%. In this report, the analysis of the piercing punch profiles was made and eight different piercing punch profiles were tested. Presented results confirmed that the spherical bowl punch may be considered as a most effective tool for belt punching, because it reduced the perforation force by 60% and the precision of the created holes was the best among the tested punch profiles for all three groups of polymer composite belts. By combining the obtained results, in the form of shape factors β, with the perforation force approximation model, it is possible to calculate peak force value for the specified tool profile and belt type and use this data in the design process of the punching dies.

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The on-going rapid development of industry encourages development of new production technologies and designing of machines that use inventive mechanical engineering solutions, a big demand for parts of such machines being a natural consequence. Polymeric power transmission belts are a good example of that. This paper proposes an improvement in the process of production of such belting. Their production includes cutting to length and splicing of elastic round belts to obtain endless belts of the specified length. This is the key phase of the whole production process. A number of splicing methods are available using different physical phenomena. One of them is butt welding technique. In this process heat is applied on the material through an additional heating element called the heat platen. The effect depends on several factors, including preparation of the work pieces. Due to its characteristics the process is often carried out by hand. The need for automated manufacturing was created by important factors associated with manufacturing on an industrial scale: cost, time and quality. The proposed butt welding machine, complete with a control system is an answer to this need. The practical benefits include improved repeatability of splices, time savings and less work load for the operator.

Abstract:The article presents the results of research on the effect of extrusion tube geometry on the axial force being the key parameter of the dry ice piston extrusion process. The tests were carried out with the experimental set-up based on a cylindrical extrusion tube used alone and supplemented with reducer (orifice). The focus of the experiments was to determine the effect of compression tube reducer on the value of the force of resistance FOP in the dry ice compression process. Its value can subsequently be used as the basis for establishing guidelines for designing and building machines for compression and pelletizing of dry ice.