Projectile Launching Rack Driven by Servomotors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projectile weaving looms face mechanical challenges with high impulsive thrust, leading to uncontrolled projectile behavior and reduced weft insertion speed due to the limitations of torsion-bar and toothed wheel launching systems.

Innovation Solution

A weft insertion system utilizing a rack driven by multiple toothed wheels meshed with electric servomotors, allowing for controlled and evenly distributed thrust, reducing motion inversion time and enabling higher insertion speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a torsion-bar launching device with cam mechanism is used to impart high impulsive thrust to the projectile, then the projectile can be launched with sufficient speed, but the mechanical stresses increase and the control precision of projectile motion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojectile launch speedVSAvoidmechanical component reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical torsion-bar and cam mechanism with an electric servomotor that directly drives the rack. This substitution eliminates the complex mechanical transmission components, reducing mechanical stresses and improving reliability while maintaining precise control of the projectile launch speed through electronic control of the servomotor.

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

2Productivity

If a single powerful motor drives the rack to achieve high insertion speed, then productivity increases, but the motion inversion time increases due to high inertia

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweft insertion speedVSAvoidmotion inversion time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single powerful motor into multiple electric servomotors that collectively drive the rack. Each servomotor has low inertia, enabling rapid motion inversion and acceleration. The combined thrust of multiple motors achieves the required high insertion speed while the low individual inertia allows quick direction changes, reducing motion inversion time and increasing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If a toothed wheel mechanism is used to control projectile acceleration, then the projectile trajectory becomes more stable, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojectile trajectory stabilityVSAvoidlaunching mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the toothed wheel mechanism entirely by using electric servomotors with rack drives. The servomotors provide direct, controlled acceleration to the rack, which in turn propels the projectile. This approach achieves stable projectile trajectories through precise electronic control while significantly reducing mechanical complexity compared to toothed wheel systems.

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

4Speed

If high impulsive thrust is applied to the projectile, then launch speed is achieved, but uncontrolled lateral oscillations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojectile launch speedVSAvoidprojectile trajectory precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses electric servomotors that can dynamically adjust the acceleration profile of the rack during the projectile launch. This dynamic control allows the system to apply the necessary thrust for high launch speed while precisely controlling the acceleration to prevent lateral oscillations and ensure accurate projectile trajectory through electronic feedback control.

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 system achieves stable projectile trajectories and increased weft insertion speed, comparable to other weaving looms on the market, by distributing power through multiple low-inertia motors and precise electronic control, minimizing stress and ensuring synchronized motion.

Implementation Method 1

a rack (R) driven into motion by a plurality of toothed wheels (D), arranged in succession along the development of rack R and meshed therewith, each of wheels D being driven by a respective electric servomotor M

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3037575B1Insertion system of the weft threads in a weaving loom
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 ITEMA
  • EP3037575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3037575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3037575B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Weft thread insertion system into a projectile weaving loom, wherein the projectiles (1) are launched into the shed due to the mechanical action of a thrust member provided with alternate cyclic movement consisting of a rack (R) driven into motion by a plurality of toothed wheels (D), each one controlled by a respective electric servomotor (M), arranged in succession along the rack (R) and meshed therewith.