Fabric Spreading Clamp Control Without Suction Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fabric spreading devices require complex structures with suction functions to spread fabric, making them cumbersome and inefficient for automatic handling in industries like apparel and healthcare.

Innovation Solution

A deformable thin object spreading device with a clamping unit, moving mechanism, and end point detecting part, which uses a control system to clamp and move the fabric without suction, allowing for efficient spreading by detecting and clamping multiple points on the fabric.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fabric spreading clamp with suction function is used to spread fabric, then the fabric can be held and spread effectively, but the structure of the spreading device becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric holding capabilityVSAvoidspreading device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the suction function from the spreading device, replacing it with a simpler clamping mechanism that uses mechanical pressure through pressure generating members (such as rollers or pressing members) to hold and spread the fabric without requiring complex suction systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the pneumatic suction system with a mechanical clamping system that uses pressure generating members to apply direct mechanical pressure to the fabric, achieving reliable fabric holding through mechanical means rather than atmospheric pressure differential

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple clamps are used to clamp corners of fabric for spreading, then the fabric can be spread effectively, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric spreading effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of clamps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the single clamping unit multi-functional by enabling it to clamp different points on the fabric sequentially (first point, then first end point, then second end point) rather than requiring separate clamps for each corner, achieving the same spreading effect with a universal clamping mechanism

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic movement to the clamping unit, allowing it to move to different positions on the fabric (guided by end point detecting part) and adaptively clamp different points during the spreading process, replacing the static multi-clamp configuration with a dynamic single-clamp system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If end point detecting part and control system are added to clamp multiple points, then spreading accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespreading accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements self-service through the end point detecting part that automatically detects the endpoints of the fabric and provides this information to the control part, which then autonomously controls the clamping unit to clamp the correct points without requiring complex external guidance or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces feedback through the end point detecting part that continuously monitors the fabric position and provides real-time information to the control part, enabling the system to adjust the clamping unit's position and actions based on detected endpoint locations, achieving high precision through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2647757B1Device for spreading shapeable thin items and method for spreading shapeable thin items
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 SEVEN DREAMERS LAB
  • EP2647757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2647757B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2647757B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a deformable thin object spreading device capable of spreading a deformable thin object with a simple structure. In the deformable thin object spreading device of the present invention, a control part is 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 (S1); cause an end point detecting part to detect an end point (S3); control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp the end point detected in S3 (a first end point) of the deformable thin object (S4); cause the end point detecting part to detect an end point (S6); control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp both of "the first end point" and "the end point detected in S6 (a second end point) " of the deformable thin object (S7); cause the end point detecting part to detect an end point (S9); and control the clamping unit and the moving mechanism to cause the clamping unit to clamp both of "the first end point or the second end point" and "the end point detected in S9" of the deformable thin object (S10).