Auxiliary Blower Air Supply Control in Weaving Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air weaving machines consume excessive compressed air when transporting weft threads, especially for fast-moving threads, which is inefficient and wasteful.

Innovation Solution

The method involves controlling the supply of compressed air to auxiliary blowers based on measurements of the weft thread's movement, allowing for early interruption of air supply when the thread has passed the blowers, reducing air consumption without affecting thread transport or stretching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If compressed air is supplied continuously to auxiliary blowers for transporting weft threads, then the weft thread transport is reliable, but air consumption is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweft thread transport reliabilityVSAvoidair consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the air supply duration variable rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the air supply interruption timing dynamically based on real-time measurements of weft thread transport speed, allowing the system to adapt air consumption to actual operational needs rather than using a continuous fixed supply pattern

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using detectors to measure the actual transport status of the weft thread and feeding this information back to the control unit. The control unit then uses this feedback to optimize the air supply interruption timing, creating a closed-loop control system that balances reliability and air consumption based on real-time conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If air supply to auxiliary blowers is interrupted early to reduce air consumption, then air efficiency improves, but weft thread transport may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair efficiencyVSAvoidweft thread transport quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the air supply interruption timing based on measured weft thread transport characteristics. For fast-moving weft threads, the air supply is interrupted earlier to improve efficiency, while for slower threads, the interruption is delayed to maintain transport quality, making the system adaptive to varying operational conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timing parameter of air supply interruption based on measured transport parameters. By adjusting when the air supply is cut off relative to the weft thread position and speed, the system optimizes the balance between air efficiency and transport reliability for different weaving conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach reduces air consumption by 30% to 50% of insertions, particularly benefiting fast-running weaving machines by optimizing air usage without impacting thread transport or restretching.

Implementation Method 1

compressed air is supplied to a number of blowers in order to transport a weft thread through a shed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

supply compressed air successively to the successive auxiliary blowers as the weft thread moves through the shed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir jet transport: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP1951941B1Method for introducing a weft thread in an air weaving machine and air weaving machine
Publication Date: 2013.10.16 PICANOL NV
  • EP1951941B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1951941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1951941B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for introducing a weft thread (4, 5) in an air weaving machine, which method comprises controlling the instant when the supply of compressed air to a set of auxiliary blowers (13, 14, 15, 16) is interrupted based on measurements on the transported weft thread (4, 5) during transport of this weft thread (4, 5). Air weaving machine provided with auxiliary blowers for applying the method.