Automated Textile Machine Shaping 3D Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current textile production methods for three-dimensional structures are inefficient and labor-intensive, involving decoupled process steps that lead to lower reproducibility, dimensional accuracy, and productivity, with manual handling resulting in material waste and high costs.

Innovation Solution

An automated textile machine with a mechanical/mechatronic system that manipulates specific threads within the textile structure using a multi-axis controllable device, allowing for precise shaping and forming of three-dimensional structures within the textile machine, eliminating the need for manual molding and reducing material waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual handling and decoupled process steps are used for producing three-dimensional textile structures, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but productivity and reproducibility decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidautomation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the weaving process and shaping process into a single integrated textile machine. The shaping periphery is integrated directly into the textile machine, allowing threads to be manipulated and the textile structure to be formed continuously during production, eliminating separate manual handling steps and increasing productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The textile machine performs self-shaping through automated thread manipulation by the shaping periphery. The system automatically grasps, pulls, and positions threads to form the three-dimensional structure without requiring external manual intervention, thereby increasing both productivity and reproducibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of substance

If manual molding and handling are used, then adaptability in shaping is maintained, but material waste increases and costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial wasteVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated mechatronic shaping periphery. The shaping periphery uses automated grippers and control systems to manipulate threads precisely, eliminating the need for manual molding operations that typically result in material waste and high labor costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If decoupled process steps are used, then process flexibility is maintained, but dimensional accuracy and reproducibility decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the weaving device and shaping periphery into a single integrated textile machine with a unified control system. This integration ensures that thread manipulation and structure formation occur in a coordinated manner, maintaining dimensional accuracy and reproducibility while managing device complexity through systematic design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3879018B1Textile machine and method of producing a textile structure
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DRESDEN
  • EP3879018B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3879018B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3879018B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

According to various embodiments, a textile machine (100) can have the following: a yarn feeder (120) for guiding yarns (111) to a work station (112); a take-off (130), wherein the work station (112) is arranged between the yarn feeder (120) and the take-off (130); a working device (110) for processing the yarns (111) in the work station (112) into a textile structure (121), wherein the working device (110) is configured to connect the yarns (111) together in such a way that a shape of the textile structure (121) can be changed by means of a manipulation (143, 243) of one or more predefined yarns (123) that are integrated into the textile structure (121); and a manipulation device (140) which is configured to manipulate one or more predefined threads (123) in at least one manipulation area (141, 241) which is arranged between the thread feed (120) and the take-off (130).