Jacquard Machine Knife Grids Using Watt's Linkage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Jacquard machines face challenges in reducing component count and hinge points while maintaining vertical motion accuracy and minimizing wear and inertia, leading to increased costs and maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a Watt's linkage rod system into a cinematic drive chain, where one or several elements of the Watt's linkage are part of the drive chain, allowing adjustable amplitude of motion and reducing the number of components and hinge points, with adjustable stroke mechanisms to ensure equal stiffness and dimensioning of knife grids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional linear guides or guiding slots are used to vertically guide the knife grids, then vertical motion is achieved, but wear and maintenance costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical motion accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional sliding guides and guiding slots with a Watt's linkage rod system that uses hinge points and rods to achieve vertical motion. This substitution eliminates direct sliding contact between the knife grid and guide components, significantly reducing wear and maintenance requirements while maintaining vertical motion accuracy through the geometric constraints of the linkage mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If more guiding components are added to ensure vertical motion, then motion accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical motion accuracyVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the guiding function into the existing cinematic drive chain by integrating the Watt's linkage rod system with the driving levers and linking rods. Rather than adding separate guiding components, the drive chain elements themselves perform both driving and guiding functions, reducing overall component count while ensuring vertical motion through the linkage geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driving levers and linking rods serve dual functions: they transmit the driving motion to the knife grids while simultaneously guiding them in vertical motion through their hinge point connections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated guiding components, reducing device complexity while maintaining motion accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If the knife grids are positioned one above the other to share linear guides, then space is saved, but the height required for installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehorizontal spaceVSAvoidinstallation height

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the knife grid support into two separate horizontal planes, with each knife grid having its own independent Watt's linkage rod system. This segmentation allows both knife grids to operate at the same vertical level rather than stacking them vertically, reducing installation height while maintaining compact horizontal footprint through independent linkage systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If traditional guiding systems are used, then vertical motion is achieved, but inertia and vibrations increase at high speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical motion stabilityVSAvoidinertia

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy sliding guides and slot mechanisms with a lightweight Watt's linkage rod system using hinge points and slender rods. This substitution significantly reduces the moving mass of the guiding system, thereby reducing inertia and vibrations at high operational speeds while maintaining vertical motion stability through the geometric constraints of the linkage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7610939B2Jacquard machine

Publication Date: 2009.11.03 VAN DE WIELE MICHEL

AI summary

The invention relates to a Jacquard machine, comprising 2 sets of knifes moving up and down in opposition, which each, at each of their extremities, are taken up in separate knife grids (4a, 4b) being driven by a cinematic drive chain (30), and each, at one of their extremities (20a, 20b), being guided into a straight motion by means of a “Watt's linkage” rod system, the height of lift of each of these extremities (20a, 20b) of the knife grids (4a, 4b) being adjustable, and the knife grids (4a, 4b) each at their first extremities (20a, 20b) being linked with at least one first driving lever (2, 2a, 2b, 10) by means of a first linking rod (3a, 3b), and at their second extremities (21a, 21b) being linked with at least a second driving lever (2, 10) by means of a second linking rod (14a, 14b), wherein per knife grid (4a, 4b) one or several elements (1, 101, 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b) of the Watt's linkage rod system are part of the cinematic drive chain (30), and the amplitude of the motion of the said extremity (20a, 20b) of the knife grid (4a, 4b) is adjustable in the cinematic drive chain (30) before the linking point (9a, 9b) between the first rod (1, 101, 1a, 1b) and the third rod (3a, 3b) of the Watt's linkage rod system with respect to the drive motor.