Drafting Unit Dust Cover for Spinning Mill Roller Axles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drafting systems and pressure roller units in spinning mills face issues with fiber flight and dust formation, leading to functional impairment and the need for regular cleaning and maintenance due to accumulation of dirt on exposed axes between the holding body and the sleeve.

Innovation Solution

A dust cover that encloses the axis between the holding body and the elastic cover, which is rotatable with the sleeve, effectively reduces dirt accumulation by creating a moving surface and preventing exposure of the axle, and can be designed as an extended sleeve or a separate component attached to the sleeve or cover, allowing for easy retrofitting and material variation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the axle is exposed between the holding body and the sleeve, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but fiber and dust accumulate on the exposed axle leading to functional impairment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A dust cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the holding body and the sleeve to protect the axle from fiber and dust accumulation. The dust cover is rotatably mounted on the holding body and extends to cover the axle surface, preventing dirt deposits while maintaining the simplicity of the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dust cover is designed as a thin, flexible protective shell that can rotate with the sleeve. This thin-film structure provides effective protection against fiber and dust accumulation without adding significant complexity to the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a dust cover is added to enclose the axle, then dirt accumulation is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt accumulationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust cover is merged with the existing sleeve structure, where the dust cover and sleeve work together as an integrated rotating assembly. This combination reduces the need for separate mounting mechanisms and minimizes the increase in device complexity while effectively enclosing the axle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dust cover serves multiple functions: it protects the axle from dirt accumulation, rotates with the sleeve to prevent dust deposition, and can be designed to work with different sleeve configurations. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by providing several benefits simultaneously.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the dust cover is made as a separate component, then material selection is flexible and retrofitting is easy, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust cover is designed as a simple, easily replaceable component that can be manufactured from various materials including plastics or metals. Its straightforward design allows for easy retrofitting onto existing drafting systems without requiring complex assembly procedures or specialized materials.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2412852B1Drafting unit for a staple fibre roving and press roller device for the same
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
  • EP2412852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2412852B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The device has upper rollers (7, 13) including axles (15, 16) fastened at a holding body (17), and a sleeve rotatably mounted on one of the axles (16). The axles are held by the body. A rubbery-elastic cover is arranged on the sleeve and placed at a distance from the body. An outer circumference of the axles is enclosed by a dust cover on a total length between the rubbery-elastic cover and the body. The body includes a region with a concave cylindrical surface, which surrounds a part of an outer circumference of the dust cover under formation of a gap. An independent claim is also included for a stretching unit comprising lower rollers.