Countershaft Coupling for Rapid Drive Gear Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fiber bundle condensing devices in spinning machines require significant downtime for drive gear replacement, leading to reduced productivity and increased costs due to the need for special parts and potential unbalanced rotation issues.

Innovation Solution

A fiber bundle condensing device configuration where countershafts are connected by couplings, allowing the drive gear to be replaced quickly by adjusting the distance between countershafts to accommodate the gear's width, without using special parts, and minimizing downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the drive gear is replaced by pulling out the series of countershafts from the spinning machine, then the drive gear can be replaced, but the replacement time increases significantly and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive gear replaceabilityVSAvoidspinning machine productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The countershaft series is segmented into individually replaceable units. Each countershaft can be detached and replaced independently by removing only the coupling connecting adjacent countershafts, rather than requiring removal of the entire series. This segmentation enables quick drive gear replacement while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the drive gear is divided into two parts to enable easier replacement, then the drive gear can be removed without pulling out countershafts, but the cost increases and rotation balance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive gear replaceabilityVSAvoiddrive gear rotation balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of dividing the drive gear itself, the coupling connecting the countershafts is removed (taken out) to enable drive gear replacement. This extraction of the coupling mechanism allows the intact drive gear to be freely mounted and dismounted from the countershaft without compromising the gear's structural integrity or rotation balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of repair

If multiple countershafts are connected by couplings, then the drive gear can be replaced by adjusting coupling distance, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive gear replaceabilityVSAvoidcountershaft connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling serves multiple functions: it connects adjacent countershafts to transmit rotational force during normal operation, and it can be quickly removed to enable drive gear replacement. This multi-functionality allows the coupling to fulfill both operational and maintenance requirements without adding significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables rapid replacement of drive gears with minimal disruption to the spinning machine's operation, improving workability and reducing costs by avoiding the need for specialized parts and minimizing downtime.

Implementation Method 1

a suction portion that exerts suction acting on the fiber bundle, an air-permeable apron that rotates along the suction portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4215653B1Fiber bundle condensing device for spinning machine
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP4215653B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4215653B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D

AI summary

A fiber bundle condensing device (100) includes a condensing device (110) configured to condense a fiber bundle (F) and including a delivery bottom roller (112) that is mounted on a rotary shaft (111) and transports the fiber bundle (F), a countershafts (130) configured to drive the rotary shaft (111), a driven gear (113) mounted on the rotary shaft (111), a drive gear (132) mounted on the countershaft (130). A plurality of the countershafts (130) corresponding to a plurality of the condensing devices (110) are connected by a coupling (150). A conditional expression W > d ≥ (1/4) x W is satisfied, where W represents a width of the drive gear (132) and d represents a distance between ends of the plurality of countershafts (130) connected by the coupling (150).