Circular Knitting Machine Cutting Blade Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circular knitting machines face issues with fluctuating cutting blade speeds due to slippage or wear, leading to unclean or faulty cut edges, especially when separating tubular fabric in areas of normal stitch formation, and existing solutions complicate the adjustment and replacement of drive wheels, increasing design effort and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The flexible shaft of the circular knitting machine is driven at a constant preselected speed by coupling it to the existing drive means for the draw-off and/or take-up rollers, eliminating the need for additional drives and support rings with toothed gears, allowing for easy access and replacement of the drive wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the drive wheel is designed as a friction wheel, then the installation is simple and easy to adjust, but the cutting blade speed fluctuates due to slippage or wear causing unclean cut edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based mechanical drive system with a positive drive system using a timing belt and pulley. The timing belt engages with teeth on the pulley to provide a slip-free connection, ensuring constant cutting blade speed while maintaining ease of installation and adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the drive wheel is designed as a gear wheel, then the cutting blade speed is constant, but the machine requires support rings with toothed rings increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes traditional gear mechanisms with a timing belt drive system. The timing belt with toothed pulleys provides positive engagement for constant speed transmission without requiring complex support rings with integrated toothed structures, thereby reducing overall machine complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive system is segmented into separate functional components: the timing belt as the transmission element and the pulley as the drive element. This separation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies the overall structure compared to integrated gear-support ring assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate motor is used to drive the cutting blade, then the speed can be adjusted electrically, but the design effort increases and position adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The timing belt drive system serves multiple functions: it provides constant speed transmission, allows easy speed adjustment by changing pulley diameters or belt positions, and maintains simple mechanical construction. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate electric motors while achieving speed adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive timing belts and pulleys that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than investing in complex electric motor systems. The mechanical components are designed for ease of replacement and adjustment, reducing long-term maintenance costs and design complexity.
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
This solution ensures a constant and adjustable cutting blade speed, simplifies the machine's construction, and prevents the need for additional drives, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective cutting process with improved cut quality.
Implementation Method 1
The drive wheel of the flexible shaft can be designed as a friction wheel
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine has a frame (6) in which a take-off roller (4) and/or a rolling roller (5), drive unit (36) for driving the rollers, and a knife (19) for isolating a fabric tube are rotatably supported. A flexible shaft (21) is firmly connected with the knife and a drive wheel (38) to move the knife by rotation in revolutions based on cord speed. The drive wheel of the flexible shaft stands in effective connection with the drive unit for the take-off roller and/or rolling roller, and with a chain drive or belt drive of the drive unit.