Movable Weft Feeder with Stroboscopic Insertion-Zone Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weaving machines lack effective machine-mounted lighting solutions for enhancing visibility during weft thread insertion, which is crucial for proper operation and safety, and existing hand-held lights complicate the process and pose safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A device with a built-in light source, preferably stroboscopic, is integrated into the weaving machine to illuminate the weft insertion zone, allowing for safe and efficient visual inspection of weft thread insertion processes without requiring additional mounting structures, and can be adjusted for optimal illumination and synchronized with the weaving frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If hand-held lights are used to illuminate the weft insertion zone, then visibility is improved, but safety risks increase and the process becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is integrated directly into the weft feeder element, merging the illumination function with the existing threading mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate hand-held lights and ensures the light source moves with the weft feeder element to the presenting position, providing consistent illumination while improving safety through machine-mounted integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If additional mounting structures are added to the weaving machine for lighting, then illumination is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidmounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is integrated into the existing weft feeder element structure, utilizing the already-present mounting mechanisms. This approach provides illumination without requiring additional separate mounting structures, thereby avoiding increased device complexity while still achieving the lighting objective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the light source is fixed on the weaving machine, then illumination is stable, but adaptability to different weaving widths is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination stabilityVSAvoidadjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is mounted on the movable weft feeder element rather than being fixed to the machine frame. This dynamic mounting allows the light source to move with the weft feeder element to the presenting position, adapting to different weaving widths while maintaining stable illumination during the threading operation through its fixed position relative to the weft thread guide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the weft feeder element is positioned for easy threading access, then ease of operation improves, but illumination of the insertion zone may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreading accessVSAvoidinsertion zone visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source moves with the weft feeder element to the presenting position, ensuring the insertion zone remains illuminated during threading operations. This dynamic positioning maintains illumination intensity while the weft feeder element is positioned for easy operator access, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and illumination quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution improves visibility and safety during weft thread insertion, enabling precise monitoring of the process and reducing the risk of accidents by providing synchronized illumination that does not interfere with machine operations.

Implementation Method 1

The light source in embodiments is a stroboscopic light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStroboscopic effect: Stroboscopic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4310234B1Device for selecting and presenting weft threads
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 PICANOL NV
  • EP4310234B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4310234B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4310234B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for selecting and presenting weft threads to an insertion element of a weaving machine, the device (1) comprising a weft feeder element (4), wherein the weft feeder element (4) is mounted so as to be moveable between a rest position and a presenting position, and wherein the device (1) comprises a light source (16), which is configured and arranged for illuminating a weft insertion zone from above. The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a device (1) for selecting and presenting weft threads to the insertion element and a control unit (70).