Weaving Machine Shed-Forming Device Reference Position Indication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Adjusting the coupling positions of a shed-forming device in weaving machines is complex and requires knowledge of the driving device and transmission mechanism, often leading to incorrect settings and weaving faults, especially when dealing with non-linear relationships between heald frame amplitudes and coupling positions.

Innovation Solution

Providing perceptible indications for reference coupling positions on the drive levers, allowing operators to set coupling positions without knowledge of the driving device or transmission mechanism, using visual cues like different shapes, colors, or symbols to facilitate correct adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If operators adjust coupling positions using traditional methods without visual indications, then the adjustment process requires extensive knowledge of driving devices and transmission mechanisms, but this leads to incorrect settings and weaving faults

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling position setting accuracyVSAvoidoperator skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drive lever itself provides the setting information through integrated visual indications (scale markings and reference marks). The system serves itself by embedding the measurement reference directly on the component being adjusted, eliminating the need for external tables or complex calculation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses visual color-coded or pattern-coded indications on the drive lever scale and reference marks. Different colors or patterns indicate different reference coupling positions for various heald frames, providing immediate visual feedback to operators without requiring technical knowledge of the underlying mechanics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If detailed tables and calculations are provided for coupling positions, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and operator burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling position accuracyVSAvoidsetting procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential measurement information from complex calculation tables and embeds it directly on the drive lever as simplified visual scale markings and reference marks. This extraction transforms complex tabular data into intuitive visual indicators that can be read directly during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The visual indications on the drive lever serve as an intermediary between the complex transmission mechanism and the operator. Instead of requiring operators to understand the complex relationship between driving device position and heald frame amplitude, the reference marks and scale provide a direct visual mapping that simplifies the interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If coupling positions are adjusted without visual reference marks, then the transmission mechanism design remains simple, but the reliability of shed formation decreases due to incorrect settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshed formation accuracyVSAvoiddevice manufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reference coupling position markings are pre-calculated and pre-marked on the drive lever during manufacturing. This preliminary action embeds the correct setting information directly on the component, ensuring that operators can achieve accurate shed formation without requiring complex real-time calculations or adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple heald frames require different coupling positions, then the adaptability of the system improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring correct positions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-heald frame configurationVSAvoidcoupling position identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scale markings and reference marks on the drive lever to correspond to different heald frames. Each heald frame has its own designated reference mark and scale section, allowing operators to easily identify and set the correct coupling position for each specific heald frame without confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2619361B1Shed-forming device for a weaving machine
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 PICANOL NV
  • EP2619361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2619361B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2619361B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Shed-forming device comprising a number of drive levers (4, 33) and a number of transmission mechanisms (2, 34), wherein each transmission mechanism (2, 34) can drive a heald frame (3) and can be driven by a driving device (14) via a drive lever (4, 33), wherein the transmission mechanism (2, 34) and the drive lever (4, 33) are coupled in a specific coupling position by means of a connection (5), and wherein at least one indication (22, 23, 27, 28, 46) for a reference coupling position is provided on at least one drive lever (4, 33). Method for producing and method for setting a shed-forming device (1) for a weaving machine.