Circular Comb Segment With Varying Tooth Row Distances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing comb segments for cotton combs face a trade-off between achieving a high combing effect and ensuring easy accessibility for cleaning, as a denser tooth arrangement enhances combing but hinders cleaning, while a more open design improves cleaning but reduces combing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A comb segment with obliquely arranged rows of teeth and varying tooth row distances, allowing for alternating engagement and disengagement with cotton fibers, combined with toothless spacers for flexible adjustment, enables both effective combing and efficient cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of teeth per comb segment is increased to enhance combing effect, then the combing effect is improved, but the accessibility of intermediate spaces for cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombing effectVSAvoidaccessibility for cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The comb segment is divided into multiple rows of teeth with varying tooth row distances, creating segmented zones of different densities. This segmentation allows certain areas to have high tooth density for effective combing while other areas have larger spacing for cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the comb segment are designed with different tooth row distances to serve different functions. Areas with smaller tooth row distances provide high combing effect, while areas with larger tooth row distances facilitate cleaning accessibility, making each local region optimized for its specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the teeth are arranged densely on the comb segment, then the combing effect is enhanced, but the cleaning of intermediate spaces becomes insufficient or impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombing effectVSAvoidcleanability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The comb segment design incorporates varying tooth row distances that create dynamic zones - some areas maintain high density for combing while others provide open spaces for cleaning. This dynamic spatial arrangement resolves the static contradiction between density and cleanability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves beyond a uniform two-dimensional tooth arrangement by introducing variation in the third dimension (tooth row distance along the comb segment length). This dimensional variation allows simultaneous optimization of combing effect and cleanability in different spatial zones.

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

3Ease of operation

If the intermediate spaces are designed generously for cleaning accessibility, then the cleanability is improved, but the combing effect is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for cleaningVSAvoidcombing effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The comb segment is segmented into functional zones with different tooth row distances. Cleaning-accessible zones with larger spacing are combined with high-density combing zones, allowing the system to achieve both cleanability and combing effect through spatial segmentation rather than compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the tooth row distance is reduced to increase tooth density, then the combing effect is improved, but the ability to remove combed out particles and fiber components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombing effectVSAvoidparticle removal capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different local regions of the comb segment have different tooth row distances optimized for different functions. High-density regions maximize combing effect while low-density regions with larger spacing enable effective particle and fiber component removal, allowing each region to excel at its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2451999B1Comb segment for a circular comb
Publication Date: 2015.01.28 STAEDTLER & UHL
  • EP2451999B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2451999B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2451999B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a comb segment for a circular comb of a comb roller for combing cotton, comprising a plurality of tooth rows (6; 6a) disposed adjacent to each other in the direction of a rotary axis (3) of the comb roller (2), having a row circumferential direction (10) and each having a plurality of teeth (7) disposed adjacent to each other in the row circumferential direction (10), wherein the comb segment (5) can be rotated about the rotary axis (3) in a direction of rotation (4) in the assembled state on the comb roller (2), the tooth rows (6; 6a) are disposed diagonally relative to the rotary axis (3), so that the row circumferential direction (10) and the direction of rotation (4) form an angle of approach a, at least one spacer (8, 9; 8, 9a) is provided between two adjacent tooth rows (6; 6a), and a tooth row distance (D1; D2) between two adjacent tooth rows (6; 6a) measured perpendicular to the row circumferential direction (10) varies cyclically.