U-Shaped Carrier Slider Rotation Fix for Roller Parallelism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing top roller carrying and loading arm systems in spinning machines face issues with non-rotatable fixation of the slide, which leads to varying manufacturing inaccuracies affecting the parallel position of the upper roller relative to the lower roller, due to play between flat rails and the slider.

Innovation Solution

A surface structure on the slide engages with a corresponding structure on the carrier's inner surface to achieve a positive fit, ensuring the slide is fixed rotationally without affecting parallelism, allowing for cost-effective and simplified manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If non-rotatable fixation is achieved by positive fit between flat surfaces of slide and flat rails, then the slide can be fixed in position, but manufacturing inaccuracies cause variable play that negatively affects parallel position quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidparallel position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing surface structuring (depressions and elevations) only at specific contact areas on the slide and carrier, rather than requiring precision across entire flat surfaces. This localized feature concentration allows play in non-critical areas while maintaining precision where it matters for parallel guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat surface contact to three-dimensional interlocking surface structures with depressions and elevations. This dimensional change creates form-fit engagement that eliminates play while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, resolving the contradiction between fixation reliability and parallel position precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If flat rails and slide outer surfaces are used for guidance, then manufacturing is simpler, but play between surfaces degrades parallel position quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidparallel position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention maintains simplicity in overall manufacturing while introducing localized surface structuring only at guidance contact areas. The bulk of the components can still be manufactured with standard tolerances, but critical contact zones receive enhanced surface features that ensure precise parallel guidance without requiring high-precision manufacturing throughout the entire component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If surface structuring with depressions and elevations is implemented, then parallel guidance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparallel position precisionVSAvoidsurface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surface structuring is segmented into discrete depressions and elevations rather than continuous complex surfaces. This segmentation allows the features to be manufactured as separate, repeatable elements that can be produced using standard embossing or molding techniques, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The depressions and elevations can be designed with simple curved or rounded profiles rather than complex angular geometries. This use of simple curvature makes the surface structures easier to manufacture using conventional forming processes, reducing device complexity while still providing effective form-fit engagement for precise parallel guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2189558B1Upper cylinder carrying and load arm for a stretching unit
Publication Date: 2013.05.22 OERLIKON TEXTILE COMPONENTS
  • EP2189558B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2189558B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2189558B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The arm has a downwardly opening U-shaped carrier (1) in which a slider is arranged. A holder (3) accommodates a top roll and an adjusting device (4), where the slider is movable opposite to the carrier in a longitudinal direction and is fixable at an upper side of the carrier by the adjusting device. A contact surface of the slider has a ridge for rotationally fixed arrangement of the slider within the carrier with respect to a vertical axis and engaged with a corresponding recess of an inner surface of the upper side of the carrier for obtaining a form-fit connection.