Textile Machine Yarn Catcher Standby Position Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Textile machines face challenges in accurately aligning driven members, such as yarn catching members, due to the need for high mounting accuracy, which is time-consuming and requires technical skill, and results in potential collisions or failure to catch yarn ends.

Innovation Solution

A textile machine configuration that includes a driven member, a driving section, an origin sensor, a command value measuring section, and a drive control section to determine a standby position by counting pulses from a target to an origin position, allowing for accurate movement of driven members without relying on high mounting accuracy, using a stepping motor and magnet sensor for precise position control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high mounting accuracy is used to position driven members, then positioning accuracy is improved, but assembly time increases and operator skill requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the origin position of the driven member before actual operation. The origin sensor detects this pre-established origin position, allowing the control device to calculate accurate movement commands without requiring high mounting precision during assembly. This preliminary setup enables subsequent operations to proceed with standard mounting accuracy while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical alignment system with an electronic control system. Instead of relying on mechanical jigs and skilled operators to achieve precise mounting positions, the system uses an origin sensor to detect the origin position and a control device to calculate movement commands based on this detected position. This substitution of mechanical precision requirements with electronic detection and calculation resolves the contradiction between positioning accuracy and assembly complexity.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If high mounting accuracy is used to position driven members, then positioning accuracy is improved, but operator skill requirements and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment procedures with a simplified electronic detection and calculation system. The origin sensor automatically detects the origin position, and the control device automatically calculates the movement commands, eliminating the need for complex mechanical jigs and skilled manual alignment operations. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies self-service by enabling the driven member to self-position through electronic control based on detected origin position. Instead of requiring external mechanical jigs and skilled operators to manually align components, the system uses the origin sensor to detect the origin position and the control device to automatically calculate and execute the positioning, allowing standard assembly procedures to achieve accurate positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If theoretical command values are used for movement, then device simplicity is maintained, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to mounting errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces feedback by using the origin sensor to detect the actual origin position of the driven member and feeding this information back to the control device. The control device then calculates movement commands based on this detected origin position rather than using only pre-programmed theoretical values. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to actual mounting conditions while maintaining device simplicity, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This configuration enables easy assembly and accurate positioning of driven members, reducing operator load and preventing collisions, while ensuring reliable yarn end catching and efficient yarn winding operations.

Implementation Method 1

an origin sensor adapted to detect an origin position, which is a reference position, of the driven member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

using a stepping motor and magnet sensor for precise position control

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2671830B1Textile machine, standby position determining method of driven member of winding unit, and winding unit
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 MURATA MASCH LTD
  • EP2671830B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2671830B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2671830B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stepping motor moves an upper-yarn catching member (30) by an amount corresponding to a specified number of pulses. A magnet sensor detects an origin position, which is a reference position, of the upper-yarn catching member (30). A number-of-pulse counting section obtains an actual measurement value, which is the number of pulses necessary for moving the upper-yarn catching member (30) from a target position to the origin position. A drive control section determines a standby position of the upper-yarn catching member (30) in view of the actual measurement number counted by the number-of-pulse counting section, a theoretical value, and the origin position.