Textile Machine Tool Module Groove Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tool modules for textile machines, such as tufting and knitting machines, are difficult to manufacture precisely and easily due to complex fastening mechanisms and material distortion during cooling.

Innovation Solution

A tool module design featuring a module body with at least two angled contact surfaces separated by a groove, allowing for precise casting and easy shaping, with the groove surrounding one contact surface to minimize distortion and facilitate secure attachment to the machine bar.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex fastening mechanisms are used to secure tool modules to the bar, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is segmented into multiple sub-surfaces by the groove, which divides the originally continuous surface into separate sections. This segmentation allows each sub-surface to be manufactured independently with simpler molds, improving manufacturing precision while maintaining the overall attachment reliability through the distributed contact areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure extracts material from the contact surface area, creating a recess that simplifies the molding process. By removing this portion, the mold design becomes less complex and manufacturing precision is improved, while the remaining contact surfaces still provide sufficient attachment reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If complex fastening mechanisms are used to secure tool modules to the bar, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The groove is integrated directly into the contact surface structure, merging the fastening feature with the contact function. This combination eliminates the need for separate fastening mechanisms while maintaining attachment reliability through the interlocking groove-contact surface geometry, thereby reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure serves dual purposes: it provides the contact surface for attachment and simultaneously acts as the fastening mechanism. The design is self-sufficient, requiring no additional components or complex mechanisms, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the contact surface is made large to improve attachment stability, then the attachment stability is improved, but the material distortion during cooling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidmaterial distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The groove divides the large contact surface into smaller sub-surfaces, which reduces the overall material distortion during cooling. Each segmented area can cool more uniformly independently, minimizing warping while the combined sub-surfaces still provide sufficient contact area for attachment stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove creates local variations in the contact surface structure, with different sub-surfaces having potentially different properties optimized for their specific locations. This local differentiation allows better control of thermal stress distribution during cooling, reducing overall distortion while maintaining stable attachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2746440B1Tool module for a textile machine
Publication Date: 2016.03.23 GROZ BECKERT KG
  • EP2746440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2746440B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8
  • EP2746440B1 patent drawingFigure 9~10

AI summary

A tool module (16) comprises a module body (15) with at least two contact surfaces (22, 27). These are separated from each other by a groove (30), one of which extends into the groove (30). This groove ensures a secure and precise fit of the tool module (16) on each bar. Yarn filaments or the finest dirt particles, burrs, or wear on the mounting surfaces can be collected by the groove. Furthermore, it ensures simple and trouble-free assembly.