Textile Machine LED Illumination for Shaded Yarn Defect Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Textile machines, such as automatic winders, face challenges in operator visibility and workability due to shaded areas around yarn processing devices, making it difficult to detect and remove defects like entangled yarn, especially when these areas are poorly illuminated.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an illuminating section, preferably LED lights, that illuminates the areas requiring operator attention from the outer side, directing light towards shaded spaces between unit frames and yarn storage devices, and activating only when defects are detected to improve visibility and reduce energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If warning lamps and green lamps are attached to indicate defect locations, then the operator can understand the occurrence of defect and the area, but the area requiring operator work remains poorly illuminated and visibility is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect location informationVSAvoidvisibility of work area
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional indicator lamps (front side and upper part) to three-dimensional illumination by placing light sources at multiple spatial positions (upper side, lower side, and side surfaces) to illuminate the work area from multiple angles, solving the visibility problem in shaded regions

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces reflective members (reflectors) as intermediaries to redirect and distribute light from the light sources to the work area, enhancing illumination efficiency and ensuring adequate visibility in difficult-to-reach shaded regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple light sources are positioned at upper side, lower side, and side surfaces to illuminate shaded areas, then visibility of work area is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of work areaVSAvoidillumination system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations (upper side, lower side, side surfaces), allowing each segment to illuminate specific shaded areas independently, thereby improving overall visibility while maintaining modular simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: indicating defect locations, illuminating work areas from multiple angles, and providing adequate visibility in shaded regions, thereby justifying the increased structural complexity through enhanced multi-functionality

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

3Use of energy by stationary object

If LED lights are used to illuminate defect areas, then energy consumption is reduced and lifespan is extended, but illumination coverage may be insufficient without multiple positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of illuminating sectionVSAvoidillumination coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent expands illumination coverage by positioning LED light sources in three-dimensional space (upper side, lower side, side surfaces) rather than a single location, allowing comprehensive coverage of shaded work areas while maintaining the energy efficiency of LED technology

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

Solution Approach 2:

Reflective members are introduced as intermediaries to redirect and distribute LED light to difficult-to-reach areas, maximizing the illumination coverage of energy-efficient LED sources without requiring additional high-power light sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances operator workability by providing bright, targeted illumination of defect areas, reducing manual effort and extending LED lifespan through controlled lighting, while preventing yarn storage failures and facilitating smooth yarn detachment.

Implementation Method 1

US 3 219 171 A discloses a textile machine with an illuminating section according to the preamble of claim 1.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3085651B1Textile machine
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 MURATA MASCH LTD
  • EP3085651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3085651B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3085651B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A textile machine (automatic winder) includes a plurality of winding units (2). Each of the winding units (2) includes a unit frame (6), and an LED lamp (71) is attached to the unit frame (6). For example, when a defect occurs in a yarn storage device (5) or the like, that is, when work of an operator is required, the LED lamp (71) illuminates the yarn storage device (5) to improve workability of the work for the operator.