Needle Holder Plate Cleaning Machine with Pressurized Fluid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for cleaning needle holder plates in knitting machines are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly, often requiring manual removal and reinstallation of components, and existing ultrasonic machines are inefficient and require long operating cycles.

Innovation Solution

A machine designed to clean needle holder plates with a sliding drawer mechanism, a washing tank, and dispensing means for pressurized washing fluid, allowing for quick and effective cleaning without complete removal of the plates, using a hydraulic circuit with filtering elements to optimize cleaning power and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning methods are used, then cleaning can be performed, but it requires complete removal of needle holder plates and all needles and actuator rods, consuming long time and qualified personnel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmachine stoppage time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning machine divides the needle holder plate into multiple cleaning zones with different cleaning methods (ultrasonic cleaning for some areas, jet spray cleaning for others), allowing simultaneous cleaning of different sections without complete disassembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a specialized cleaning machine as an intermediary device that handles the cleaning process, eliminating the need for manual cleaning and reducing machine stoppage time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional ultrasonic cleaning machines are used, then cleaning can be performed, but they require complete removal of needle holder plates and needles, and operating cycles last several hours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidcleaning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ultrasonic cleaning technology with jet spray cleaning technology in a single machine, allowing simultaneous operation of both cleaning methods on different zones of the needle holder plate, thereby reducing total cleaning time while maintaining high cleaning quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning machine applies ultrasonic cleaning selectively to specific zones where it is most effective, while using jet spray cleaning for other areas, avoiding the need for complete disassembly and reducing overall processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If manual cleaning operations are performed, then cleaning can be accomplished, but it represents high costs in terms of labour and knitting machine management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidmaintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning machine is designed to be easily loaded and unloaded with automatic cleaning cycles, reducing the need for qualified personnel and minimizing manual intervention, thereby lowering labor costs while maintaining effective cleaning performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables rapid, effective cleaning of needle holder plates, reducing maintenance costs and time, and improving the operational efficiency of knitting machines by allowing for quick loading and unloading of plates and efficient dirt removal.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulic circuit with filtering elements to optimize cleaning power and efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2841632B1Machine for cleaning needle holder plates for knitting machines
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 GALIOTTO MARCELLO
  • EP2841632B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2841632B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2841632B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The machine (1) for cleaning needle holder plates for knitting machines comprises: - a base frame (12); - a washing tank (15), assembled on the base frame (12); - a supporting device (16) which can be placed in correspondence to said washing tank (15) and suitable for supporting, in a preset washing position, at least a needle holder plate (2) for knitting machines, the needle holder plate (2) comprising: - a plate-shaped body (3) having a work side (4) substantially rectilinear and a plurality of grooves (5) substantially transversal to the work side (4); and - a plurality of needles (6) for knitwear, housed sliding in the grooves (5) and having a work extremity (7) which protrudes overhanging from the work side (4); and - dispensing means (18) associated with the base frame (12) and suitable for dispensing a washing fluid (19) under pressure towards the needle holder plate (2) placed in the preset washing position.