Weft Feeder Wire Strand Transmission Adjust Winding Circumference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weft feeder devices with adjustable winding drums face issues of excessive wear due to wobbling guiding structures and require fixed drum segments, which complicates the adjustment of the winding circumference and increases mechanical stress.

Innovation Solution

A weft feeder device with a central drive wheel and wire strands that transmit motion to driven legs, allowing for adjustable winding circumference without significant play, using interconnected wire strands to maintain tension and prevent unwanted movement of drum segments during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wobbling guiding structure is used to move feeding drum segments, then the winding circumference can be adjusted, but excessive wear occurs on the legs, guiding structure and housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of winding circumferenceVSAvoidwear of legs and guiding structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wobbling guiding structure with a wire strand transmission system. The wire strands connect the drive wheel to the drum segments, transmitting motion without requiring physical contact between moving parts. This substitution eliminates the wear problem while maintaining adjustability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The wire strands act as intermediaries between the drive wheel and the drum segments. Instead of direct mechanical contact causing wear, the wire strands transmit the driving force, reducing friction and wear on the guiding structure and housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If drum segments are fixed in position to maintain set winding circumference, then stability is improved, but adjustment of winding circumference becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of winding circumferenceVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the drum segments dynamic by allowing them to move radially along the drum axis. The wire strand transmission system enables easy adjustment of the winding circumference by rotating the drive wheel, which moves the drum segments to the desired position. Once adjusted, the segments remain stable at the new position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If wire strands are used to connect drive wheel to driven legs, then motion transmission is simplified, but play may occur during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of motion transmissionVSAvoidprecision of drum segment positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wire strands are pre-tensioned during assembly to eliminate play before operation begins. This preliminary tensioning ensures that the wire strands remain taut during operation, maintaining precise positioning of the drum segments without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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 simplifies the adjustment of the winding circumference while minimizing mechanical stress and wear, ensuring precise control over the winding process without excessive movement of drum segments, thus enhancing the device's operational efficiency and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

The wire strand can be held under tension for avoiding a movement of the driven leg and, thus, of the associated drum segment during operation of the weft feeder device when the winding circumference is to be kept constant.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3679185B1Weft feeder device
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 PICANOL NV
  • EP3679185B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3679185B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3679185B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Weft feeder device comprising a winding drum (1) and a drive mechanism (2) that comprises a central drive wheel (6, 60) arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis (10), wherein the winding drum (1) comprises at least one drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) mounted so as to be moveable in a radial direction about the drum axis (10), wherein the drum segment (3, 4, 5; 30, 40, 50) comprises at least a first driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (6, 60), wherein the drive mechanism (2) further comprises at least one wire strand (7, 8, 9) extending along the periphery of the central drive wheel (6, 60) for a motion transmission from the drive wheel (6, 60) to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130), which at least one wire strand (7, 8, 9) is fixed to the driven leg (11, 12, 13; 110, 120, 130) and to the central drive wheel (6, 60).