Textile Cage Guide Element Rotation Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cage units for textile machine drafting systems experience positional inaccuracy due to the guide element rotating about the central attachment point during warping, caused by uneven forces exerted on the guide element, leading to torque and subsequent rotation, which affects the quality of fiber structures being drawn.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a support element between the guide element's deflection edge and the central attachment point, which prevents rotation by providing additional support and ensuring precise positioning, with the support element being detachably connected via snap or screw connections, allowing for retrofitting of existing units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cage support is detachably attached to the cage via a snap connection, then the cage support can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the guide element rotates during warping due to uncompensated torque

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidpositional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is divided into a first support element attached to one deflection edge and a second support element attached to the other deflection edge. This segmentation allows each support element to independently counteract torque on its side while maintaining the overall stability of the guide element during warping operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second support elements work together in combination with the detachable snap connection to achieve both ease of assembly and positional stability. The support elements are integrated with the cage structure at the deflection edges while allowing the cage support to remain detachably connected to the central attachment point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the guide element protrudes beyond the cage support end faces, then it can effectively guide fiber strands, but it becomes vulnerable to rotation during warping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support elements are positioned at the deflection edges to preemptively counteract the torque that would cause rotation of the guide element during warping. By providing support at these strategic locations, the system prevents rotation before it can affect the positioning accuracy of the guide element relative to the cage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of manufacture

If the support element is molded onto the deflection edge, then the cage unit can be produced inexpensively, but the support must be permanently attached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidretrofit capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support element design serves multiple functions: it can be molded onto the deflection edge for cost-effective new production, or it can be detachably connected via snap or screw connections to enable retrofitting of existing cage units. This universal approach allows the same support element design to accommodate different manufacturing and application scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3198066B1Cage assembly having a guide element
Publication Date: 2018.01.31 MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
  • EP3198066B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3198066B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3198066B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cage assembly (1) for a drafting unit of a textile machine, comprising a cage (3) for guiding two small guide belts (4a, 4b) looped around a pressure roller twin (2), a cage support (13) that is releasably fastened at a central fastening point (23) of the cage (3) having two end walls (35a, 35b) facing away from each other, and a guide element (14), the respective end (14a, 14b) of which projects beyond the two end walls (35a, 35b) of the cage support (13), wherein the cage (3) has one each deflecting edge (8a, 8b) for deflecting the small guide belts (4a, 4b). In order to avoid a rotation of the guide element (14) about the central fastening point (23) of the cage (3), the cage assembly (1) has at least one support element (25) located between the respective deflecting edges (8a, 8b) and the guide element (14) at a distance (24) to the central fastening point (23) of the cage (3) for supporting the respective end (14a, 14b) of the guide element (14).