Retractable Screen Guide Assembly Alignment Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable screen systems face difficulties in adjusting the upper and lower bracketing components and guide tracks, leading to issues with alignment and tension maintenance, which can result in unsightly bowing, noise, and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The screen assembly features a guide assembly with a carrier, rollers, and latches that allow for adjustable positioning of the track assemblies, including a bead guide to prevent coning and maintain panel alignment, reducing friction and wear by using guide wheels that can roll within runners, and a mechanism to adjust the dynamic support relative to the static support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bracketing components and guide tracks are made fixed and rigid, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the alignment precision and ease of adjustment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the bracketing components adjustable rather than fixed. The upper bracketing component can be positioned at different locations along the upper connection region, and the lower bracketing component can be positioned at different locations along the lower connection region. This allows the system to adapt to variations in screen tension and alignment requirements while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid connection between the bracketing components and the screen dispenser.
2Device complexity
If the guide tracks are made fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and adjustment capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tracks incorporate adjustable features that allow the bracketing components to be repositioned along the connection regions. This dynamic capability enables easy adjustment of the screen's alignment and tension without requiring complex mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while improving operability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the screen tension is increased to prevent bowing, then the panel alignment is improved, but the friction and wear on the guide tracks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable bracketing components allow the screen tension to be optimized dynamically. By positioning the bracketing components at optimal locations along the connection regions, the system can maintain proper panel alignment with reduced tension, thereby minimizing friction and wear on the guide tracks while preventing bowing.
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
This solution enables smooth and quiet operation of the screen, maintains panel alignment, and reduces wear by allowing for tension adjustment without cables, preventing bowing and damage, while ensuring the panel is supported along its length.
Implementation Method 1
a roller assembly to which the flexible panel is fastened at a distal end to be wound onto the roller assembly
Implementation Method 2
The insert may be in the form of at least one wheel or roller, the, or each, roller and the runner being configured so that the, or each, roller can roll to and fro within the runner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A screen assembly includes a support structure. A roller assembly is mounted on the support structure. A flexible panel with a distal end is mounted on the roller assembly so that the flexible panel can be wound on to and off the roller assembly as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. Two opposed track assemblies are arranged on the support structure, sides of the flexible panel and each track assembly being configured so that the sides of the flexible panel can slide within the track assemblies as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. At least one of the track assemblies has a static support that is fixed relative to the support structure and a dynamic support that is displaceable relative to the static support. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An elongate guide assembly is mounted on a proximal end of the flexible panel to guide movement of the flexible panel with respect to the track assemblies. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An insert is mounted on at least one end of the guide assembly. The dynamic support of said at least one of the track assemblies includes a runner in which the insert is received to slide or roll with respect to the dynamic support as the flexible panel is retracted and extended.