Transparent Profile Light Deflection for Textile Machine Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting devices for textile machines are inflexible, costly, and inefficient due to the need for multiple fixtures to ensure all-around visibility and mechanical protection, with complex structures and limited visibility angles, especially on curved or double-row surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a transparent profile element that deflects light outward, allowing for single or multiple lighting elements to be securely attached and wired, providing all-around visibility without additional fixation, and featuring a simple, cost-effective design that appears to 'float' optically, enhancing visibility and mechanical protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If lighting elements are mounted on the outer wall perpendicular to the floor, then the lighting elements can represent operating parameters of the spinning preparation machine, but the lighting elements are not visible from the rear of the wall and require additional lighting devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of lighting elementsVSAvoidnumber of lighting devices required
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is divided into two functional parts: a light-emitting section containing the lighting elements and a transparent profile element that deflects light. This segmentation allows the light-emitting section to be mounted on the wall while the transparent profile element redirects light to multiple directions, making the lighting visible from all sides without requiring additional lighting devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent profile element acts as an intermediary between the light-emitting section and the external environment. It receives light from the lighting elements and deflects it towards the outer surfaces, serving as a mediator that enables light to reach observers from different angles without direct line of sight to the light source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If lighting elements are mounted on curved surfaces or double-row sashes, then comprehensive coverage can be achieved, but the mounting becomes difficult and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveall-around visibilityVSAvoidmounting difficulty and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device with the transparent profile element serves multiple functions: it provides light emission, redirects light in multiple directions, and can be mounted on various surface types (flat, curved, double-row structures). This universal design eliminates the need for different mounting solutions for different surface geometries, reducing both difficulty and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent profile element redirects light from a single-point source in three-dimensional space, distributing it across multiple directions and surfaces. This dimensional transformation of light propagation allows a single lighting device to achieve comprehensive coverage that would otherwise require multiple devices mounted at different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If signal lights use a cone-shaped reflector to deflect light, then light can be reflected to the sides, but the structure becomes complex and requires encasement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight reflection to sidesVSAvoidstructural complexity and encasement requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a physical cone-shaped reflector that requires complex mounting and encasement, the invention uses a transparent profile element that optically copies the light-deflection function. The transparent profile element refracts and reflects light through its geometry, achieving the same light distribution effect without the mechanical complexity of a reflector system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical reflector system (which requires physical structure, mounting, and encasement) with an optical solution using a transparent profile element. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical fastening and encasement while achieving the same light-deflection purpose through optical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Illumination intensity

If multiple lighting devices are provided to ensure all-side monitoring, then complete visibility is achieved, but the cost and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive visibilityVSAvoidnumber of lighting devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the light-emitting function and the light-deflection function into a single integrated device. The light-emitting section and transparent profile element work together as one unit, combining what would otherwise require separate components (light source plus multiple redirecting elements) into a single lighting device that provides all-around visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables flexible, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing all-around light coverage for textile machines, reducing the need for multiple fixtures and complex structures, while ensuring mechanical protection and enhanced visibility from various angles.

Implementation Method 1

The profile element is designed and arranged with a light incidence side on a light-emitting side of the luminous section to deflect light emitted by the luminous section towards at least one outer surface of the profile element facing away from the luminous section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3864205B1Illumination device for textile devices and textile devices equipped therewith
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 TRUETZSCHLER GRP SE
  • EP3864205B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3864205B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3864205B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to an illumination device (104, 120, 210) designed to be attached to a textile device (100, 200) or integrated into the textile device (100, 200), and having at least one lamp portion (32, 35) having at least one lamp part (32), comprising an arrangement having at least one lamp element (32a) and a transparent profile element (10), which is designed and arranged having a light incidence side (11) on a light-emitting side of the lamp portion (32, 35), to deflect light emitted from the lamp portion (32, 35) in the direction of at least one outer surface (12) of the profile element (10) facing away from the lamp portion (32, 35), such that the deflected light is visible from different viewing angles on the at least one outer surface (12) from the outside in relation to the illumination device (104, 120, 210).