Ribbon Needle Loom Variable Weft Insertion Path

Solution Overview

Problem

Ribbon needle weaving looms face challenges in maintaining consistent weft thread tension during transitions from wider to narrower ribbon widths, leading to unappealing weave regions and potential thread breakage.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a ribbon needle weaving loom with two countercurrently introducible weft thread insertion needles and independently displaceable carriers, along with a reed that can adjust height and pivot, utilizing electromechanical actuating drives and a programmable control unit to manage weft thread tension effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the weft transport speed is adjusted to maintain constant weft thread tension at the reed beat-up, then the maximum weft tension increases to a value which can lead to thread breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweft thread tension consistencyVSAvoidthread breakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the weft insertion needle's path of motion variable rather than fixed. The needle follows different trajectories depending on the desired ribbon width, allowing the system to adapt its motion characteristics dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by enabling constant weft thread tension at beat-up while preventing excessive maximum tension through optimized needle paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes geometric parameters of the needle insertion path based on the target ribbon width. By adjusting the needle's starting position, insertion angle, and trajectory curvature, the system maintains optimal weft thread tension throughout the insertion process. This parameter adaptation allows consistent beat-up tension without exceeding safe maximum tension limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the width of the ribbon to be woven is reduced, then the minimum bandwidth is woven, but the weft thread tension ratio becomes unfavorable leading to weaving faults

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveribbon width variationVSAvoidweave quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptation of the weft insertion needle's motion path according to the target ribbon width. For different width settings, the needle follows optimized trajectories that maintain proper weft thread tension characteristics. This dynamic path adjustment enables the loom to produce both wide and narrow ribbons with consistent quality, avoiding weaving faults in transition regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the geometric parameters of the needle insertion path based on the desired ribbon width. The needle's starting position, insertion depth, and motion curvature are adjusted as parameters to match the target width. This parameter adaptation ensures that weft thread tension remains within optimal ranges regardless of whether producing wide or narrow ribbons, maintaining manufacturing precision across variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the weft needle moves beyond the knitting needle during weft insertion, then the weft thread is reliably inserted, but the maximum weft tension increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweft thread insertion reliabilityVSAvoidmaximum weft tension

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the weft insertion needle's path of motion variable rather than fixed. The needle follows different trajectories depending on the desired ribbon width, allowing the system to adapt its motion characteristics dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by enabling constant weft thread tension at beat-up while preventing excessive maximum tension through optimized needle paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes geometric parameters of the needle insertion path based on the target ribbon width. By adjusting the needle's starting position, insertion angle, and trajectory curvature, the system maintains optimal weft thread tension throughout the insertion process. This parameter adaptation allows consistent beat-up tension without exceeding safe maximum tension limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11149364B2Ribbon needle loom

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 TEXTILMA AG

AI summary

In order to improve the design of a ribbon needle loom for applications in which the woven material (9) shall have a variable width, it is proposed to arrange the weft needle (10, 16) and also the knitting needle (10b, 16b) serving to knit the weft thread (14, 15) at the side directed away from the weft insertion onto a common, displaceable carrier (10c, 16c). As a further improvement, in order to be able to produce symmetrical woven material (9) with such a ribbon needle loom, a bilateral weft-insertion is proposed, wherein the two weft needles (10, 16) and the two knitting needles (10b, 16b) by means of which the respective weft thread (14, 15) is knitted at the side directed away from the weft insertion are each disposed on a common, displaceable carrier (10c, 16c). Advantageously, the carriers (10c, 16c) do not hinder each other upon displacement, but rather are arranged on top of each other.