Sequential Fabric Endpoint Clamping for Automated Spreading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric spreading devices require complex structures with suction functions to spread fabric, making them cumbersome for automated handling in industries like apparel, cleaning, and medical services.
Innovation Solution
A deformable thin object spreading device with a clamping unit, moving mechanism, and endpoint detecting part, which uses a control system to clamp and move the fabric without suction, allowing for simplified structure and efficient spreading by detecting and clamping endpoints sequentially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fabric spreading clamp with suction function is used to spread fabric, then the fabric can be effectively spread, but the structure of the spreading device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the suction function from the spreading device, replacing it with a simple clamping mechanism. The fabric spreading clamp is replaced by a clamping unit that only performs mechanical clamping without any suction capability, thereby eliminating the complex suction system while maintaining the core spreading functionality through sequential clamping and moving operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the pneumatic suction system with a purely mechanical clamping system. Instead of using suction forces to hold and spread fabric, the device uses mechanical clamping units that grip the fabric at specific points and move it to desired positions through coordinated mechanical motion, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple clamps with suction function are used to spread fabric, then the spreading capability is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the single clamping unit universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions: clamping fabric at different positions, moving fabric to various locations, and working in coordination with the moving mechanism to achieve spreading. This single multi-functional unit replaces multiple specialized clamps, reducing component count while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic coordination between the clamping unit and the moving mechanism. The clamping unit can clamp at different positions and the moving mechanism dynamically transports the clamped fabric to various locations, allowing the system to adapt to different spreading requirements without adding more static clamping components
Data Source
AI summary
A deformable thin object spreading device and method are disclosed. The device includes a control part configured to: control a clamping unit and a moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp a first point of a deformable thin object; cause an endpoint detecting part to detect a first endpoint; control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp the first endpoint; cause the endpoint detecting part to detect a second endpoint; control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp both of the first endpoint and the second endpoint; cause the endpoint detecting part to detect a third endpoint; and control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp both of the first endpoint or the second endpoint and the third endpoint of the deformable thin object.