Comber Frame Structure with Upper Rails for Component Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional frame structures for combers require high machining accuracy and multiple manufacturing steps to ensure precise positional relationships between components, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A frame structure comprising left and right frames with upper and lower rails that support nipper, cylinder, and detaching rollers, allowing for varying distances between components while maintaining accurate positional relationships, eliminating the need for high-accuracy machining of surface plates and middle frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If base surface plates and middle frames are used with high machining accuracy (one hundredth of a millimeter or less), then positional relationship among nipper shaft, cylinder shaft, and detaching rollers is maintained, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to constant temperature machining and multiple manufacturing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional relationship accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the frame structure with integrated positioning features) that mediates between the base surface plates and the rotating components. This intermediary frame structure incorporates built-in positioning mechanisms that simplify the machining requirements while maintaining the necessary positional accuracy among nipper shaft, cylinder shaft, and detaching rollers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the machining parameter requirements by designing a frame structure that tolerates larger dimensional variations. Instead of requiring constant temperature machining to achieve one hundredth of a millimeter accuracy, the new design allows for standard machining tolerances while maintaining functional positional relationships through its structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If base surface plates and middle frames are used with high machining accuracy, then component positions are precisely maintained, but the number of manufacturing steps increases requiring constant temperature machining

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional toleranceVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The frame structure is designed with preliminary integrated positioning features and built-in alignment mechanisms that pre-establish the correct positional relationships. This preliminary design action eliminates the need for time-consuming constant temperature machining and multiple adjustment steps during assembly and commissioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If surface plates and middle frames with high machining accuracy are used, then component support accuracy is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport position accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a frame structure design that uses standard, readily available machining capabilities instead of expensive constant temperature machining. The design accepts that individual components may have larger tolerances but compensates through the overall structural design, effectively using 'cheaper' manufacturing methods to achieve the same functional result.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2397583B1Frame structure for comber
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP2397583B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2397583B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A frame structure for a comber includes a left frame, a right frame, and two front and rear upper rails. The left frame and the right frame are arranged so that all the combing heads are between the left and right frames. The front and rear upper rails extend between and are coupled to upper parts of the left and right frames. At least a nipper shaft, a cylinder shaft, and a detaching roller are supported by the upper rails.