Textile Machine Side-Plate Actuation for Precise Roller Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile machines require manual mechanical machining of side plates to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, leading to increased assembly effort and difficulty in adjusting components due to irregular gaps and potential changes during transport.

Innovation Solution

A textile machine with side plates fixedly mounted on a base frame, utilizing actuators to apply tensile or compressive forces to adjust the gap between the side plate and roller end face to a predetermined target value, eliminating the need for mechanical machining and enabling precise gap adjustment during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical machining is used to compensate for irregularities in side plate, then gap uniformity is improved, but assembly effort and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap uniformityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical machining system with a measurement and compensation system. Instead of physically removing material through filing or machining operations, the invention uses digital measurement tools to detect irregularities and compensates for them by selecting appropriate mounting positions or adjusting the side plate orientation, thereby eliminating time-consuming mechanical operations while maintaining gap uniformity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a digital representation or model of the actual geometric deviations of the side plate and roller components. By measuring and documenting the irregularities, the system uses this information to calculate optimal mounting configurations that compensate for the deviations, replacing the need for iterative mechanical trial-and-error with a planned, information-driven approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If side plate is mechanically machined to compensate for irregularities, then gap consistency is improved, but ease of adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap consistencyVSAvoidadjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow the side plate position to be dynamically modified after initial installation. Instead of creating a fixed, machined interface, the invention uses adjustable fixtures or positioning systems that can be reconfigured if components settle or shift during transport, maintaining gap consistency while preserving ease of adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from modifying the physical geometry of components through machining to modifying the mounting parameters and positioning. By adjusting mounting positions, orientations, or using interchangeable positioning elements, the system achieves gap consistency without permanently altering the components, thereby maintaining their adjustability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If iterative machining and re-fitting is performed, then gap uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap uniformityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs measurement and calculation of optimal mounting configurations before actual assembly. By pre-determining the correct positioning and orientation based on measured irregularities, the invention eliminates the need for iterative trial-and-error machining cycles, reducing assembly process complexity while achieving the required gap uniformity in a single operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4293147B1Textile machine for processing fibrous material and method for operating a textile machine
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 TRÜTZSCHLER GRP SE
  • EP4293147B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293147B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4293147B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a textile machine (1) for processing fibrous material and a method for operating such a textile machine (1). The textile machine (1) comprises at least one roller (2) rotatably arranged about a rotary axis (D), with which the fibrous material can be processed, and side plates (3) arranged on both sides of the roller (2), each of which is attached to an associated base frame (8). At least one of the side plates (3) is fixedly attached to its associated base frame (8), and at least one actuating element (12) that interacts with the base frame (8) is associated with this side plate (3).By actuating the adjusting element (12), a tensile or compressive force can be applied to the side plate (3) in interaction with the base frame (8) in the direction of the axis of rotation (D) of the roller (2) in order to change the position of the side plate (3) relative to the end face (S) of the roller (2) and to adjust a gap (13) between the side plate (3) and the opposite end face (S) of the roller (2) to a predetermined setpoint.