Spinning Machine Drafting Unit Fiber Guide Axial Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drafting systems for spinning machines face difficulties in aligning fiber guides with compression devices, requiring frequent detachment and reattachment, which complicates the process and leads to misalignment issues due to thermal expansion and oscillating movements.

Innovation Solution

A drafting system with a traversing device and fiber guides that can be displaced in the axial direction relative to the traversing element, using a bearing as a spatial reference point to maintain alignment with the compression device, and an oscillating movement that allows the fiber guide to shift and realign during operation, ensuring proper alignment with the suction slot or other compression units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fiber guide is permanently attached to the changing element, then the structure is simple and stable, but aligning the fiber guide with the compaction device becomes cumbersome and requires frequent detachment and reattachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment of fiber guide with compaction deviceVSAvoidattachment mechanism of fiber guide
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber guide is made displaceable relative to the changing element through a guide rail and coupling element mechanism, allowing it to move axially during the changing movement to automatically align with the compaction device. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for frequent detachment and reattachment while maintaining proper alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fiber guide automatically aligns itself with the compaction device through the displacement mechanism during operation. The changing element's movement causes the fiber guide to shift along the guide rail, and the coupling element's geometry ensures automatic alignment without requiring external intervention or manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the fiber guide is made displaceable to facilitate alignment, then alignment with compaction device is improved, but the risk of misalignment due to thermal expansion and oscillating movements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmaintaining alignment under thermal and mechanical variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is designed with specific geometric parameters and displacement characteristics that allow the fiber guide to automatically compensate for thermal expansion and oscillating movements. The displacement mechanism transforms these variations into beneficial alignment adjustments rather than misalignments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail and coupling element mechanism is pre-configured to counteract the effects of thermal expansion and oscillating movements. The displacement capability is designed to anticipate and compensate for these variations before they cause misalignment, maintaining reliable operation under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the fiber guide is fixed relative to the changing element, then alignment stability is maintained, but the rollers are subjected to concentrated stress in a small area reducing their service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of rollersVSAvoidfiber guide displacement mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber guide's displaceable connection to the changing element allows it to move during the changing movement, which distributes the contact stress from the fiber composite over a wider area of the rollers. This dynamic adjustment prevents concentrated stress in a single location, extending roller service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The displacement mechanism introduces an additional degree of freedom in the axial direction, allowing the fiber guide to adjust its position to distribute loading across multiple roller surfaces rather than concentrating force at a single point, thereby extending roller durability.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3680372B1Drawing frame of a spinning machine
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
  • EP3680372B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3680372B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3680372B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drafting unit (1) of a spinning machine with pairs of rollers (2, 3, 4) between which at least one fiber composite (5) can be passed and drawn, with a changing device (6) comprising a changing element (7) and at least one fiber guide (8), wherein the at least one fiber guide (8) can guide a fiber composite (5) associated with the fiber guide (8), wherein the changing element (7) is changeable in a changing movement (CB) relative to the pairs of rollers (2, 3, 4) in their axial direction (X), and wherein the at least one fiber guide (8) is arranged on the changing element (7) so that the at least one fiber composite (5) can be changed by means of the changing movement (CB) of the fiber guide (8) associated with the fiber composite (5), with a compaction device (9) by means of which the fiber composite (5) drawn by the pairs of rollers (2, 3, 4) can be compacted, and with at least one bearing in which at least the roller pairs (2, 3,4), the changing device (6) and/or the compaction device (9) are mounted. According to the invention, the changing device (6) is arranged relative to at least one bearing (23, 24) such that the at least one fiber guide (8) can be displaced in the axial direction (X) relative to the changing element (7) by means of the changing movement (CB) on the at least one bearing (23, 24), so that the at least one fiber guide (8) can be aligned relative to the compaction device (9) in the axial direction (X).