Knot Forming Device Shutter Mechanism for Elongated Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for forming knots in elongated materials are limited by the internal tension and diameter of the material, causing issues such as escape, sticking, or inability to travel through the material track, requiring separate devices for different types of materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating shutter or guide elements within the device's central cavity to guide the elongated material along the material track, preventing escape and sticking, and allowing the same device to be used for a wide range of materials with varying diameters and tensions by blocking the opening and facilitating travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the material track is open to the central cavity allowing free travel of elongated material, then the material can be easily fed into the device, but the material may escape from the track or become stuck when its internal tension or diameter is not optimal
Solution Approach 1:
A shutter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the material track and the central cavity. This shutter element selectively blocks the opening of the material track, preventing material escape while allowing controlled material passage through the track geometry. The shutter element mediates between the open track configuration needed for feeding and the closed configuration needed for retention.
2Reliability
If the material track is completely closed to prevent material escape, then material retention is improved, but the material cannot be fed into the device or released from the track
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change its position between blocking and unblocking states. During material feeding, the shutter remains unblocking to allow easy insertion. During knot formation, the shutter blocks the opening to prevent escape. After knot formation, the shutter unblocks to allow material release. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between retention and operability.
3Reliability
If separate devices are provided for different types of elongated materials, then each material type can be optimized, but the device complexity and number of devices required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter element enables a single device to handle multiple types of elongated materials with different internal tensions and diameters. By controlling the opening state of the material track, the same device can accommodate various material properties without requiring separate specialized devices. This universal design reduces device complexity while maintaining material-specific performance through the adjustable shutter mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and method for forming a knot to elongated material (30). The device comprises a body (2, 4), a central cavity (13, 15) inside the body (2, 4), a material track (3, 5) along which the elongated material (30) is guided in the device, the material track (3, 5) comprising opening (32) extending along the material track (3, 5) and open to the central cavity (13, 15). The device further comprises one or more barrier elements (8; 33, 34) for blocking at least part of the opening (32) for preventing the elongated material from escaping from the material track also prevents collapsing/folding of the material (3, 5) to the central cavity (13, 15) via the opening (32).