Winder Spindle Axial Clamping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle designs for winders face challenges in achieving a high clamping force without complexity and expense, with issues such as plastic deformation, uneven clamping forces, and potential damage to sleeves due to friction, especially when dealing with synthetic threads.
Innovation Solution
A spindle design featuring a series-connected clamping ring system with a driver ring that passes clamping force along the spindle's axis, utilizing polyamide clamping rings with alternating incisions for adjustable force distribution and a spring system for actuation, which allows for uniform clamping and reduced deformation, along with a modified bearing arrangement for enhanced stability and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If plastic spacers and retaining rings are used for clamping, then the clamping device can be simplified, but the plastic parts undergo plastic deformation over time, reducing elastic restoring forces and making sleeve removal more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to metal (steel) for the clamping rings, eliminating plastic deformation issues. The metal material maintains consistent elastic restoring forces over time, ensuring reliable sleeve removal and clamping force consistency throughout the device's operational life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hybrid system combining metal clamping rings with plastic spacers. The plastic spacers provide insulation and positioning, while the metal clamping rings provide reliable, deformation-free clamping forces. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials to resolve the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
2Force
If O-rings are used to compress the clamping ring for sleeve removal, then the clamping force can be maintained, but the outer diameter of the clamping elements increases, complicating the sliding on new sleeves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the O-ring component from the system by using self-compressing metal clamping rings with built-in elastic restoring forces. This removal of the external O-ring eliminates the need for additional compression mechanisms, maintaining compact outer dimensions while preserving reliable clamping force for easy sleeve removal and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal clamping rings are designed with inherent elastic properties that automatically provide the necessary compression and restoring forces without requiring external O-rings or additional components. The clamping rings self-regulate the clamping force, eliminating the need for separate force-application mechanisms that would increase outer diameter.
3Force
If radially adjustable pins are used for clamping, then the spools can be secured, but the pins perform axial movement that interferes with clamping action and locally damages the spools due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using pins that move radially and axially to create clamping force (which causes friction and damage), the patent inverts the approach by using rings that expand radially outward from axial compression. This inversion eliminates axial movement during clamping, preventing friction-based damage to the spools while maintaining effective clamping force through pure radial expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible metal clamping rings that can elastically deform and expand radially when compressed axially. This flexible ring structure distributes clamping force uniformly around the sleeve without concentrated contact points, eliminating the localized friction damage caused by rigid pins while maintaining secure clamping.
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 design achieves a high clamping force with reduced complexity and cost, ensuring consistent clamping across all winding cores and allowing for higher spindle speeds and longer cantilever lengths while minimizing damage and deformation, using wear-resistant polyamide materials.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic restoring forces of the clamping ring
Implementation Method 2
plastic parts begin to creep under stress and over time, thus undergoing plastic deformation
Implementation Method 3
the elastic restoring forces decrease, making it more difficult to remove the sleeves
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Spindle for a winder for winding one or more threads into a spool on at least one winding sleeve (19), wherein each winding sleeve (19) can be clamped onto a rotating sleeve (14) by at least one clamping ring (20), wherein the actuation of the at least one clamping ring (20) is effected by means arranged inside the sleeve (14), wherein the means act on the at least one clamping ring (20) on the outer circumference of the spindle (1) along the spindle axis, and wherein the clamping ring (20) is arranged on a drive ring (21) which connects a spacer sleeve (18) with a spacer ring (23).