Pintle insertion tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually inserting a pintle through interdigitated loops to close seams in papermaking textiles is time-consuming, inexact, and requires prolonged concentration, making it inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A pintle insertion tool with a drive assembly featuring a housing, rollers, and a motor system that rotates the rollers in both directions to guide the pintle lead wire through the loops, allowing for efficient and precise seam closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual insertion method is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity is low and time consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
A lead wire is introduced as an intermediary carrier to transport the pintle through the interdigitated loops. The lead wire passes through the loops first, then the pintle is attached and pulled through using the lead wire, simplifying the insertion process and enabling automated or semi-automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead wire is pre-threaded through the interdigitated loops before the pintle is attached. This preliminary action prepares the path for pintle insertion, allowing the pintle to be simply pulled through the already-positioned lead wire, significantly reducing insertion time and complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual insertion method is used, then equipment cost is low, but manufacturing precision is low
Solution Approach 1:
The lead wire serves as a guiding intermediary that ensures the pintle follows the correct path through the loops. This intermediary structure provides inherent alignment, eliminating the need for personnel to maintain concentration on alignment for extended periods while achieving precise seam closure.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-positioning the lead wire through the loops, the alignment path is established in advance. This preliminary alignment action ensures that when the pintle is attached and pulled through, it automatically follows the correct trajectory, achieving high precision without requiring prolonged operator attention.
3Productivity
If automated drive assembly is implemented, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lead wire acts as a low-energy intermediary that transfers the driving force from the motor to the pintle. The motor only needs to provide enough force to pull the lightweight lead wire and attached pintle through the loops, rather than directly manipulating the heavier textile sheets, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical insertion process is replaced with an automated motor-driven system that uses the lead wire as a transmission medium. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical manipulation of the textile sheets while using minimal energy to pull the lead wire-pintle assembly through the loops.
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 tool significantly reduces the time and effort required to close seams by automating the process, ensuring accurate alignment and efficient insertion of the pintle, thereby improving productivity and reducing manual labor.
Implementation Method 1
The rollers are formed as wheels and include rubber contact surfaces adapted to engage the pintle lead wire
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a pintle insertion tool is disclosed. The pintle insertion tool includes a housing, and a drive assembly supported by the housing. The drive assembly includes a controller connected to a power supply and configured to drive at least one motor. The drive assembly includes a first roller and a second roller defining at least a portion of a channel therebetween. The at least one motor is configured to rotate the first roller and the second roller in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. The channel is adapted to receive a pintle lead wire such that the pintle lead wire is driven by the first roller and the second roller through interdigitated seam loops on opposing ends of a textile sheet so that a pintle can be pushed into position to complete a seam.