Loop Gripper Handling Device Axial Slide Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of tufting modules on a tufting machine is complex due to the need for precise alignment and coupling of longitudinally movable slides, requiring significant manual skill and time.
Innovation Solution
A loop gripper handling device with clamp receptacles that securely hold slides in axial positions using frictional engagement, allowing for easy transport and installation, and facilitating coupling to the drive device by maintaining the slides' axial positions during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If slides are transferred to a uniform coupling position during assembly, then coupling to drive elements becomes possible, but manual skill and time requirements increase due to complex alignment procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp receptacles are pre-configured with frictional engagement surfaces and geometric constraints that automatically maintain slides in their correct axial positions during transport and assembly. This preliminary positioning arrangement eliminates the need for complex real-time alignment operations, allowing workers to simply attach the module without requiring high manual skill for precise slide positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp receptacles act as an intermediary mechanism between the slides and the final coupled state. By providing a friction-based holding interface, the receptacles temporarily secure slides in the correct position during handling and transport, serving as a mediator that simplifies the transition from loose slides to precisely aligned, coupled components without requiring complex alignment tools or procedures.
2Manufacturing precision
If slides are held in axial positions during transport, then alignment accuracy is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional clamping mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp receptacles are integrated directly into the loop gripper module structure, merging the transport/holding function with the existing module architecture. Rather than adding separate external clamping devices, the receptacles are built-in features that provide friction-based axial positioning, thereby maintaining alignment precision while avoiding significant increases in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The frictional engagement in the clamp receptacles provides self-service axial positioning of slides during transport and handling. The geometric configuration and friction characteristics of the receptacles automatically maintain slide positions without requiring active control systems, motors, or complex mechanical actuators, thus achieving precise alignment maintenance with minimal added 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
Simplifies the assembly process by reducing manual skill requirements and increasing efficiency, ensuring accurate alignment and secure coupling of slides, thus enabling quicker and safer handling of tufting modules.
Implementation Method 1
the slides are held in an axially non-displaceable manner in the individual clamping receptacles by means of frictional engagement. The frictional force acting in the clamping receptacles between the slides and the corresponding opposing surfaces of the clamping receptacle is preferably greater than any acceleration force acting on the slides occurring during transport of the loop grippers.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
The handling unit (10) according to the invention comprises a loop gripper module (11) and a clamping device (12) which is in frictional contact with the slides (24-33) of the loop gripper module (11). The slides (24-33) are lightly clamped in corresponding slots of the clamping device and cannot slip against each other, even during shaking, and in particular cannot slip out of the loop gripper module (11). The slides are thus all in the same position and do not need to be manually adjusted during assembly. To remove the clamping device, which is designed, for example, as a plastic clip, it simply needs to be pushed towards or pulled away from the loop gripper module. When this force is applied, the plastic clip is levered off the slides (24-33) in a rotating motion.