Fine-Pitch Reed Yarn Binding for Capillary-Resistant Tooth Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weaving reeds with small pitches face issues such as deformation and irregularities due to capillary forces and manufacturing inaccuracies, particularly when using metallic wires or nylon yarns, which affect the uniformity and precision of fine fabrics required for advanced applications like filter media and smartphone components.

Innovation Solution

A weaving reed design using a textile yarn with specific properties, including a twist coefficient and pre-tensioning, is employed to secure teeth positions, counteracting capillary forces and ensuring uniform inter-tooth spacing by wrapping around profile bars and expanding to increase friction, thereby maintaining precise alignment during bonding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If metallic wires are used to bind reed teeth, then the spacing precision between teeth is improved, but the reed becomes susceptible to deformation from capillary forces during bonding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespacing precision between teethVSAvoidstructural stability during bonding
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a binding yarn as an intermediary element between the metallic wire and the reed teeth. The yarn is impregnated with bonding agent and wrapped around the teeth, distributing the capillary forces that arise during bonding. This intermediary layer prevents the direct transmission of deforming forces to the precisely positioned teeth, thereby maintaining spacing precision while providing structural stability during the bonding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If reed pitch is reduced to produce finer fabrics, then fabric fineness is improved, but the metal strip becomes too thin and flexible to maintain tooth positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabric finenessVSAvoidrigidity of metal strip
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure combining a thin metallic strip with binding yarns impregnated with bonding agent. The metallic strip provides the basic reed structure with fine pitch, while the yarns reinforce the assembly, compensating for the reduced rigidity of the thin metal strip. This composite approach enables the production of fine-pitch reeds that maintain sufficient structural strength to hold tooth positioning throughout the bonding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If capillary forces are allowed to act on teeth during bonding, then adhesive bonding is achieved, but tooth displacement and deformation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidtooth position uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the binding yarns around the reed teeth before bonding and impregnating them with the bonding agent. The yarns are tensioned to preemptively counteract the capillary forces that will arise during bonding. This preliminary preparation creates a pre-stressed system that resists tooth displacement when bonding occurs, maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving the necessary bonding strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

The solution enables the production of reeds with fine pitches of one-eighth of a millimeter or less, achieving uniformity and stability of inter-tooth spaces, suitable for producing fabrics with consistent properties across their surface.

Implementation Method 1

expanding to increase friction, thereby maintaining precise alignment during bonding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

counteracting capillary forces and ensuring uniform inter-tooth spacing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary forces: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP4392604B1Reed, and process for manufacturing a reed
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 GROZ BECKERT KG
  • EP4392604B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4392604B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4392604B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In recent years, more and more new fields of application for woven fabrics have become available, e.g. as a filter medium. Satisfying the requirements for such applications requires very fine woven fabrics that can be manufactured only by means of reeds having an accordingly small pitch. When manufacturing such reeds, the small distances between the dents of the reeds have an influence on physical effects, e.g. capillarity, which could be disregarded until now when manufacturing reeds having larger pitches. The aim of the invention is to specify a reed having a pitch of no more than 1/8 mm and a process for manufacturing same, taking into account these specificities.