Textile Machine Actuator Assembly With Shared Magnetic Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator assemblies for textile machines have a large overall height due to the alternated arrangement of spools, which increases the size of the weaving machine and affects the depth of the working area, leading to interference between warp and weft threads.
Innovation Solution
The actuator assembly features a configuration where each magnetic plate is shared between two linear actuators, with spools moving between upper and lower permanent magnets, and includes a cooling circuit with channels in the magnetic plates for efficient heat dissipation, eliminating the need for springs and using capacitors to store energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If spools are arranged in an alternated manner to limit the overall depth of the actuator assembly, then the depth is reduced, but the overall height of the actuator assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each magnetic plate is shared between two adjacent linear actuators, serving dual purposes. The magnetic plates are arranged in pairs where the second magnetic plate of one actuator serves as the first magnetic plate of the next actuator, thereby reducing the overall height of the actuator assembly while maintaining the compact depth configuration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the overall depth of the actuator assembly is reduced, then interference between warp threads and weft members is avoided, but the vertical stroke of each heddle frame must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the spatial arrangement parameters of the actuator assembly by reducing its overall depth through the shared magnetic plate configuration. This parameter change allows for a more compact design that prevents thread interference while the reduced height compensates for the decreased vertical stroke capability.
3Length of stationary object
If spools are arranged alternately above and below heddles to limit depth, then the depth is minimized, but the height of the actuator assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic plates are merged between adjacent actuators, with each plate serving two actuators simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the vertical space required for the actuator assembly, counteracting the height increase that would otherwise result from the alternate spool arrangement.
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 design reduces the overall height of the actuator assembly, minimizes energy loss as heat, and maintains the functionality of previous solutions while allowing for a smaller footprint and improved heat management.
Implementation Method 1
When the spool is powered in a first way, the electro-magnetic field it generates tends to align to a first couple of magnets, and therefore it moves from the equilibrium position deforming the springs. Then, when the electric power supply of the spool is inverted, also the electro-magnetic field it generates is inverted, such that it tends to move for aligning to the second couple of magnets.
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic plates comprise a cooling circuit with channels suitable for housing circulation of a cooling liquid
Implementation Method 3
each spool is mounted on respective leaf springs. In the equilibrium position, in which the springs are undeformed, the spool is halfway between the two couples of magnets. When the spool is powered in a first way, the electro-magnetic field it generates tends to align to a first couple of magnets, and therefore it moves from the equilibrium position deforming the springs.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuator assembly 20 for a textile machine 22, wherein: the actuator assembly comprises a plurality n of spools 24 distributed along depth d; the actuator assembly comprises a plurality n+1 of magnetic plates 26 distributed along depth d; the magnetic plates and the spools are alternated along depth d such that each spool is received between two adjacent magnetic plates; each magnetic plate comprises an upper permanent magnet 28 and a lower permanent magnet 30 having opposed orientation; the upper permanent magnets of all the magnetic plates have the same orientation; the lower permanent magnets of all the magnetic plates have the same orientation; each spool is movable along height h between an upper position and a lower position and vice versa, wherein the upper position is comprised between the upper permanent magnets of the two adjacent magnetic plates and the lower position is comprised between the lower permanent magnets of the two adjacent magnetic plates; and each spool can be electrically powered in two opposed ways. The invention further relates to a textile machine comprising the actuator assembly.