Yarn Feed Control System for Low-Speed Tension Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing yarn or metal wire feed devices, particularly those using brushless motors, face challenges in controlling tension and speed at low speeds due to poor braking action, leading to undesirable dragging of the drive shaft and inability to maintain precise yarn feed tension.

Innovation Solution

A control system that continuously measures the angular position of the drive shaft using an encoder, compares it with predetermined parameters, and feeds command signals to the actuator to maintain desired yarn characteristics, such as tension, speed, and torque, independent of external stresses, using PID controllers and an inverter with vectorial piloting to optimize motor performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a brushless motor is used to drive the yarn feed device, then the motor provides considerable accelerating action and high power, but the braking action is poor at low speeds causing the drive shaft to be dragged into rotation undesirably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor powerVSAvoidbraking action
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a tension sensor to continuously measure yarn tension and feeds this information back to a PID tension controller, which compares the measured tension with a reference signal and adjusts the motor command signals accordingly to maintain desired yarn feed tension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameters by using PID (proportional-integral-derivative) control instead of simple speed control, allowing the motor to maintain precise tension control across varying speeds by dynamically adjusting motor output based on tension feedback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the actuator rotational speed is reduced to control yarn tension, then the yarn feed speed decreases, but the braking torque becomes insufficient allowing external traction to drag the drive shaft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator speedVSAvoidbraking torque
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from speed-only control to tension-based PID control, changing the control parameter from rotational speed to yarn tension, enabling the actuator to maintain adequate braking torque even at low speeds by responding to tension feedback rather than speed commands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The tension sensor provides continuous feedback on yarn tension, allowing the control system to detect when external traction is dragging the drive shaft and immediately adjust motor output to compensate, maintaining control authority across the full speed range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a PID tension controller is used to maintain yarn tension, then tension control is improved, but the system cannot operate independently without interface or synchronism with the textile machine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetension controlVSAvoidmachine compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system is designed with dual capability: it can operate independently using tension sensor feedback and PID control, or it can interface with textile machine synchronism systems when required, making it universally applicable to different machine configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables precise control of yarn feed characteristics, minimizing torque ripple and ensuring optimal yarn tension and speed regulation at low motor speeds, preventing drive shaft dragging and achieving high precision and efficiency in yarn feeding.

Implementation Method 1

means 4 for continuously measuring an angular position of the drive shaft of the actuator 2, for example by means of an encoder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEncoder measurement:

Implementation Method 2

the actuators of known type, in particular brushless motors, have a considerable accelerating action but poor braking action

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2080724B1System for controlling the feed of a yarn or wire to a machine, and relative method
Publication Date: 2013.01.30 B T S R INT
  • EP2080724B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2080724B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2080724B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system (1) for controlling the feed of a yarn to a textile machine or a metal wire to a coil winder or a similar machine, the yarn or wire unwinding from its own spool and cooperating with a rotary member associated with its own rotation actuator (2) before being directed to the machine, the yarn or wire having its own characteristic value of tension and/or speed and/or quantity during this feed, the rotation actuator (2) comprising a stator and a rotor acting on an exit drive shaft (13) and being piloted by its own piloting means, the rotary member about which the yarn or wire winds being keyed onto the exit drive shaft (13), the control system comprising: - means (4) for continuously measuring an angular position of the drive shaft of the actuator (2), - comparison and command means (5, 8) connected downstream of the measurement means (4), to compare an instantaneous parameter correlated to the measured angular position of the drive shaft (13), with a corresponding predetermined parameter relative to a prefixed characteristic value of the yarn or wire, and to feed command signals to piloting means (3, 6) for the actuator (2) such that the instantaneous parameter conforms to the predetermined parameter, so as to obtain the required characteristic value of the yarn or wire fed to the machine.