Textile Tool Wear Protection Layer and Color Contrast

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Solution Overview

Problem

Textile tools such as machine needles experience significant wear during textile manufacturing, especially when dealing with abrasive yarns or solid materials, leading to high wear and maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

A textile tool with a tool core made of a metallic material, coated with a wear protection layer of higher hardness than the core, featuring a varying layer thickness and a lighter top layer for easier thread insertion and visual identification, applied using physical or chemical methods like PVD or CVD, with the top layer removed in high-wear areas to reduce roughness and prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wear protection layer is applied to the tool core, then wear resistance is improved, but the threading of the thread becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidthreading ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different surface properties to different areas of the thread recess. The insertion area has a lighter top layer for visibility and easier threading, while the circumferential area has a darker wear protection layer for durability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both wear resistance and threading ease in different zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses color contrast between the lighter top layer and darker wear protection layer to make the thread recess more visible and easier to thread. The lighter color in the insertion area provides visual guidance for thread insertion while the darker surrounding area maintains wear protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If the wear protection layer completely covers the tool core, then wear protection is improved, but visual identification of thread recess becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear protectionVSAvoidthread recess identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a local quality difference by applying a lighter top layer specifically in the insertion area of the thread recess, while the rest of the tool core maintains the darker wear protection layer. This allows visual identification of the thread recess without compromising overall wear protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses color contrast as a detection aid. The lighter top layer creates a visible contrast against the darker wear protection layer, making the thread recess easily identifiable. This resolves the contradiction by providing visual detection capability while maintaining complete wear protection coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If a thick wear protection layer is applied, then durability is improved, but thread insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool durabilityVSAvoidthread insertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a thinner lighter top layer in the thread insertion area and a thicker darker wear protection layer in the circumferential area. This local differentiation allows easy thread insertion where needed while maintaining thick protection for durability where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies wear protection partially - a lighter top layer is applied only in the insertion area rather than uniformly across the entire tool. This partial application provides sufficient protection for durability while minimizing interference with thread insertion ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

The solution significantly reduces wear and tear on the tool, allows for easier thread insertion, and provides visual indicators of tool usage and wear, enabling timely replacement and maintaining efficiency throughout the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

The wear protection layer can be applied to the tool core by deposition, for example by a physical or chemical method such as a PVD method, a CVD method or a PACVD method.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical Vapour Deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 2

The wear protection layer can be applied to the tool core by deposition, for example by a physical or chemical method such as a PVD method, a CVD method or a PACVD method.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Vapour Deposition: Chemical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3243946B1Textile tool, use of the textile tool and method for producing the same
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 GROZ BECKERT KG
  • EP3243946B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3243946B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a textile tool (10), for example, a machine sewing needle (11), with a working section (15) and a holding section (16). In the working section (15), the textile tool (10) has a thread recess (20) for receiving a thread. The textile tool (10) has a tool core (30) made of a core material. In the working section (15), the textile tool (10) is coated with a wear-resistant layer (31) that differs from the core material of the tool core (30). The wear-resistant layer (31) is provided in the area of ​​the thread recess (20) with a cover layer (32) that is lighter in color than the wear-resistant layer (31). The cover layer (32) is present within and adjacent to the thread recess (20). Preferably, a front end region (15a) adjoining a front end (12) of the textile tool (10) remains free from the top layer (32).