Weaving Gripper Fork Element With Split Bearing Seats for Lower Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fork-elements for gripper drive systems in weaving machines are heavy due to additional mass balancing elements, which affect their strength and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fork-element design with a separately fastened second bearing seat positioned closer to the coupling element, reducing the need for additional mass balancing elements, and incorporating a hollow main body with recesses for weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional mass balancing elements are added to the fork-element, then the strength and stability are improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing seat is divided into two separate bearing seats (first bearing seat and second bearing seat) positioned at different locations on the fork-element. This segmentation allows each bearing seat to independently support loads, reducing the need for additional mass balancing elements while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The second bearing seat is positioned closer to the coupling element in the radial direction, creating a three-dimensional distribution of bearing seats. This spatial arrangement optimizes the moment of inertia and weight distribution without requiring additional mass balancing elements, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining strength.
2Weight of moving object
If the second bearing seat is positioned closer to the coupling element, then the weight is reduced by eliminating mass balancing elements, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing seat is segmented into two separate bearing seats that can be independently designed and positioned. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex mass balancing elements, as each bearing seat independently contributes to the moment of inertia and load support.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the second bearing seat is optimized to be closer to the coupling element, changing the geometric parameters of the fork-element. This parameter change reduces the moment of inertia and eliminates the need for additional mass balancing elements, thereby reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity through proper geometric design.
3Manufacturing precision
If the second bearing seat is formed separately and fastened using fixation elements, then the manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing seat is manufactured as separate components (first bearing seat and second bearing seat) that are then assembled onto the fork-element using fixation elements. This segmentation allows each bearing seat to be manufactured with high precision independently, ensuring accurate positioning while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing seats are pre-manufactured with precise geometries and then assembled onto the fork-element using fixation elements. This preliminary manufacturing of separate components allows for higher precision in bearing seat fabrication, as each component can be manufactured and inspected independently before final assembly, thereby improving positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a fork-element for a gripper drive system (1) for a weaving machine comprising a first bearing seat (10), a second bearing seat (11), and a main body (12) with a coupling element (13) configured for coupling the fork-element (5) to a crank (4) of the gripper drive system (1), wherein the second bearing seat (11) is positioned closer to the coupling element (13) than the first bearing seat (10), and wherein the first bearing seat (10) is formed integrally with the main body (12) and the second bearing seat (11) is formed separately and can be fastened to the main body (12) using fixation elements (14). The invention further relates to a to a fork-element system (50), and to a gripper drive system comprising a fork-element and/or a fork-element system (1).