Drafting Unit Roller Loading and Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stretching plants for textile machines, particularly air pin machines, face issues such as uneven load distribution on upper rollers, inability to independently set roller pairs for individual spider points, and difficulty in achieving precise positioning of rollers due to high operating speeds.

Innovation Solution

A stretching plant design featuring multiple roller pairs with individually adjustable load devices and swiveling upper roller carriers, allowing for independent loading and positioning of upper rollers, which can be swung out for easy access and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If top rollers are mounted on a common loading arm, then the structure is simplified, but uneven loading occurs and individual adjustment is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller mounting structureVSAvoidroller positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the roller mounting structure into independent modules. Each top roller is mounted on its own separate support with individual loading, rather than being grouped on a common loading arm. This segmentation allows each roller to be independently positioned and loaded, eliminating the uneven loading problem while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If top rollers are individually mounted on separate supports, then individual positioning is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller positioning precisionVSAvoidroller mounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs universal support structures and standardized mounting mechanisms that can be replicated across multiple rollers. Each top roller has its own support with identical loading and positioning features, allowing individual adjustment while using the same design template. This universality reduces the overall complexity by avoiding the need for custom-designed supports for each roller.

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

3Productivity

If rollers operate at high speeds, then productivity increases, but precise positioning becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinning speedVSAvoidroller positioning tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates dynamic positioning features that allow for real-time adjustment of roller positions during operation. The support structures include mechanisms for fine-tuning roller alignment while running, enabling the system to compensate for positioning drift caused by high-speed operation, thermal expansion, and vibration, thus maintaining precise positioning tolerances at high productivity levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design enables precise and independent positioning of rollers with lower tolerances, allows for individual loading of upper rollers, and facilitates easy access and maintenance, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the stretching plant.

Implementation Method 1

The top roller is mounted and held in the housing of the drafting system by means of a top roller carrier pivotable about a rotational axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivoting motion: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

The loading arm has an individually adjustable loading device for each pair of rollers, which loads the respective pivoting top roller carrier when the loading arm is closed in a loading position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4177387B1Drawing frame for a textile machine
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SAURER INTELLIGENT TECH AG
  • EP4177387B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4177387B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4177387B1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~7

AI summary

In a drafting unit (1) for a textile machine, in particular an air spinning machine, for drafting a strand-shaped fiber assembly fed to the drafting unit, comprising several pairs of rollers arranged one after the other in a running direction (A) of the fiber assembly, each with an upper roller (3) and a lower roller (4), and a loading device for loading the upper roller (3) of the several pairs of rollers;wherein the respective lower roller (4) is mounted and held in a housing (2) of the drafting unit (1), and wherein the respective upper roller (3) is mounted and held in the housing (2) of the drafting unit (1) by means of an upper roller carrier (30) pivotable about an axis of rotation, it is provided that the drafting unit (1) further comprises a pivotable load arm (20) which can be brought into an open position and a closed position, wherein the load arm (20) has an individually adjustable load device (40) for each pair of rollers, which, when the load arm (20) is closed, loads the respective pivotable upper roller carrier (30) in a load position.