Circular Loom Orbit Recesses for Uniform Warp Thread Tension

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circular weaving machines face design complexity and mechanical challenges in maintaining uniform thread tension during the movement of warp bobbins, leading to thread wear, vibration, and limited speed, making them unsuitable for delicate fibers like carbon fibers.

Innovation Solution

A circular weaving machine design with movable warp bobbin devices and a guiding device that moves warp threads through narrow recesses of the orbit, maintaining thread tension and reducing deflections, allowing for high-speed weaving of sensitive fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the warp bobbin devices are moved through the weaving plane to enable weaving, then the fabric production capability is improved, but the design complexity and mechanical control requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric production capabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A guide device with thread guide elements acts as an intermediary between the warp bobbins and the weaving plane. The guide device directs warp threads through narrow recesses in the orbit, mediating the interaction between moving bobbins and the weaving process, thereby simplifying the mechanical design while maintaining production capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: stationary warp bobbins, movable guide devices with thread guide elements, and the orbit with recesses. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall system complexity while enabling fabric production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the warp bobbins are moved rapidly for high-speed weaving, then the productivity increases, but the thread tension uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweaving speedVSAvoidthread tension uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical tensioning mechanisms with a geometric solution: narrow recesses in the orbit that guide threads through fixed paths. This substitution eliminates the need for active mechanical control of thread tension during rapid bobbin movement, maintaining tension uniformity while enabling high-speed weaving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device and orbit recesses work together to automatically maintain thread tension through their geometric configuration. The system self-regulates thread tension during rapid movement without requiring external control mechanisms, enabling high-speed operation with uniform tension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If thread guide tubes are pivoted to guide warp threads at different angles, then the weaving flexibility is improved, but the thread wear increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweaving flexibilityVSAvoidthread wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the pivoting function from the thread guidance system. Instead of pivoting thread guide tubes, the patent uses stationary guide elements with narrow recesses that direct threads at appropriate angles without mechanical movement, eliminating friction-induced thread wear while maintaining weaving flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Mechanical pivoting of thread guides is replaced with a fixed geometric guidance system using narrow recesses in the orbit. This substitution eliminates contact friction between moving guide parts and threads, preventing thread wear while achieving the necessary thread direction changes for flexible weaving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If large slots are provided for thread guide tube passage, then the thread guide movement is facilitated, but the shuttle rotation homogeneity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread guide movementVSAvoidshuttle rotation homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing large physical slots, the patent creates narrow recesses that barely accommodate the thread passage. This copying of the minimal necessary passage space eliminates the disruptive effect of large openings on shuttle rotation while still facilitating smooth thread guide movement through the orbit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4455378B1Circular loom with orbit
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 GERMANIUMTECH GMBH
  • EP4455378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4455378B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4455378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a circular weaving machine for weaving a core with at least one shuttle (19) which has a weft thread spool (21) and is movable along a circular path (3) around the core (1). It is proposed that at least one guide device (11), designed to guide at least one warp thread (15) provided by a warp thread spool (10) of a warp spool device (9), is provided, which is movably arranged or designed outside a web plane (8) enclosed by the outer circumference of the circular path (3), wherein the guided warp thread (15), crossing the web plane (8), passes through a recess (18) of the circular path (3).