Knitted Monofilament Insect Screen for High Opening Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect screens for greenhouses and open-field crops face challenges in providing an effective anti-insect barrier while maintaining adequate ventilation and longevity, as they often have low opening rates and rigidity due to large thread diameters, which restrict air exchange and are prone to fraying and mechanical stress.

Innovation Solution

A screen made from a net produced by chain stitch knitting using monofilaments with diameters between 0.04 to 0.1mm, allowing for higher opening rates and improved air and light transmission, with orifice geometries that can be varied to suit specific insect sizes, and featuring gripping zones for easy manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If large diameter threads are used in woven nets, then mechanical strength and resistance to slipping are improved, but opening rate decreases and air exchange is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidopening rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of thread diameter and weaving method. By using very fine monofilaments (0.04-0.1mm) instead of large diameter threads, and switching from woven to knitted construction, the patent achieves both high mechanical strength and high opening rate (>50%) simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between strength and opening rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If large diameter wires are used, then network cohesion is improved, but rigidity increases and folding/unfolding capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork cohesionVSAvoidfolding and unfolding capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters from large diameter wires to very fine monofilaments (0.04-0.1mm) and adopts knitted construction instead of woven. This parameter change reduces rigidity while maintaining network cohesion through the knitted structure's inherent flexibility, enabling easy folding and unfolding for greenhouse opening operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If woven fabrics are used, then mechanical barrier against insects is ensured, but fraying occurs during cutting and implementation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical barrierVSAvoidresistance to fraying
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the woven mechanical structure with a knitted structure. The knitted construction inherently prevents fraying that occurs in woven fabrics during cutting and installation, while maintaining the mechanical barrier function against insects through the continuous knitted mesh

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

4Reliability

If low opening rate nets are used, then insect barrier is ensured, but air exchange and crop aeration are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect barrierVSAvoidair exchange
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the construction parameters by using very fine monofilaments (0.04-0.1mm) and knitted methodology, enabling the net to achieve an opening rate greater than 50% while maintaining effective insect barrier functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between barrier effectiveness and air exchange

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2079341B1Insect protection screen
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 MDB TEXINOV SA
  • EP2079341B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2079341B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2079341B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The anti-insect screen of the present invention comprises a net made of textile threads, said net being made by cast-off stitch knitting on a warp or Rachel machine.