Jacquard Loom Control via Serial Loop Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Jacquard loom control systems face challenges in efficiently managing large amounts of information for rapid hook selection, leading to potential errors and high costs due to complex wiring and large memory requirements, as well as limitations in modifying designs during weaving.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a main controller and secondary controllers connected via a serial loop link, reducing the number of connecting wires and allowing for flexible configuration, with each secondary controller managing a group of selection devices and capable of controlling multiple Jacquard machines from a single main controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each control card has large memory capacity to store all design weave information, then the Jacquard machine can control all hooks, but the cost increases and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into a main controller that stores complete design weave information and multiple secondary controllers that each control specific groups of hooks. Each secondary controller only needs to store and process the portion of weave information relevant to its assigned hooks, rather than requiring all controllers to have full memory capacity. This segmentation reduces individual memory requirements and overall system complexity.
2Force
If weave information is stored in memory before weaving begins, then the design can be prepared in advance, but the preparation time is very long for designs with several thousand picks
Solution Approach 1:
The main controller receives and stores the complete design weave information in advance. During weaving operation, the secondary controllers continuously receive the necessary control signals from the main controller via the serial loop link, allowing the system to be prepared ahead of time while maintaining the ability to respond in real-time during the weaving process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of connectors are used on the main controller electronic card to connect to multiple secondary controllers, then all secondary controllers can be connected, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serial loop link provides a universal communication interface that can connect any number of secondary controllers to the main controller using the same two-wire topology. Each secondary controller has identical connection interfaces, allowing the system to scale from 2 to many controllers without requiring different connector types or increasing the number of connectors on the main controller. The same serial communication protocol serves multiple functions for both data transmission and control signals.
4Adaptability or versatility
If control signals are transmitted through numerous parallel connections, then all secondary controllers can receive control signals, but the risk of errors during assembly and signal transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex parallel wiring with a serial communication system using the RS-422 standard. This substitution reduces the physical complexity of connections while maintaining reliable signal transmission. The differential signaling and protocol error checking inherent in RS-422 serial communication provide robust error detection and correction capabilities, reducing transmission errors compared to numerous parallel connections.
Data Source
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AI summary
The system has a main controller (70) with a main memory (76), and two secondary controllers (40A, 40B) control group of selection devices (20). The main controller and the secondary controllers are connected to each other by a recommended standardtype serial connection (90) in a loop, where the connection sends a control signal and data signal. Cards (30) are connected in series to one of the secondary controllers. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a jacquard mechanism for formation of shed on a shuttle loom.