Servo-Driven Textile Folding Wing for Precision and Speed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile folding devices face limitations in achieving high folding performance and precise, gentle folding of textiles due to the use of pneumatic cylinders, which restrict pivoting speed and precision, especially when handling different fabric types.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of servo drives with a multi-part coupling gear allows for precise and load-dependent control of longitudinal folding wings, enabling quick and accurate pivoting, adapting to various fabric types by reducing the angle of rotation of the servo motor's output shaft compared to the pivoting angle of the folding wing, thus ensuring gentle compression and efficient folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pneumatic cylinders are used to pivot the longitudinal folding wings, then the device structure is simple, but the pivoting speed is limited and the end positions cannot be approached precisely or in a load-sensitive manner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivoting precision and load-sensitive controlVSAvoiddrive system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pneumatic cylinders with servo drives (electric motors) to pivot the longitudinal folding wings. This substitution enables precise control of pivoting angles and load-sensitive operation, allowing the folding wings to be positioned accurately according to different fabric types while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through electronic control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If pneumatic cylinders are used to pivot the longitudinal folding wings, then the device structure is simple, but the pivoting speed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding performanceVSAvoidpivoting speed control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pneumatic cylinders with servo drives to achieve high-speed pivoting of longitudinal folding wings. The servo motors enable rapid positioning with precise speed control, significantly improving folding performance and productivity while maintaining ease of operation through programmable control sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pivoting angle is increased to accommodate different fabric types, then the adaptability improves, but the compression force on the textiles increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to different fabric typesVSAvoidcompression force on textiles

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs servo drives that can dynamically adjust pivoting angles and compression forces based on detected fabric type. The load-sensitive control allows the system to optimize the balance between pivoting angle and applied force, ensuring gentle handling of delicate fabrics while maintaining effective folding of heavier materials, thereby improving adaptability without excessive compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the pivoting speed is increased to improve productivity, then the folding performance improves, but the precision of end positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding speedVSAvoidend position precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pneumatic cylinders with servo drives that can operate at high speeds while maintaining precise positioning accuracy. The electronic control system of the servo motors enables rapid pivoting with accurate end-position control, allowing the longitudinal folding wings to reach exact positions quickly, thus improving productivity without sacrificing manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3243955B1Device for folding of textiles, preferably items of clothing

Publication Date: 2023.02.22 HERBERT KANNEGIESSER GMBH & CO

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AI summary

Device for folding textiles, preferably articles of clothing (10), with at least one longitudinal folding station (20) which has at least one folding template, a stationary central part (21), two opposing longitudinal edges (22) and at least one longitudinal folding wing (23) pivotable by a servo drive (29), wherein the at least one longitudinal folding wing (23) is assigned to one of the opposing longitudinal edges (22) of the central part (21).