Yarn Feed Module With Restrain Element for Filament Detachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Yarn filaments often stick to the drive roller during yarn supply, leading to disruptions in the yarn pick-up process, particularly in tufting and weaving machines, causing incomplete yarn pickup and potential breakage.

Innovation Solution

A yarn feed module with a restrain element arranged between the drive roller and guide element, ensuring the yarn detaches from the drive roller along a common tangent, using a smooth restrain surface to separate filaments and prevent sticking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the drive roller has a rough mantle surface to prevent slippage, then the grip on the yarn is improved, but the yarn filaments stick to the drive roller causing disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip forceVSAvoidyarn supply continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The yarn supply path is segmented into distinct zones: the drive roller zone for gripping and accelerating, and the detachment zone with the guide element for releasing. This segmentation allows the rough surface to provide grip only where needed while the smooth transition zone enables clean detachment without filament sticking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide element acts as an intermediary between the drive roller and the yarn pick-up system. It provides a smooth surface that mediates the transition from the rough drive roller surface to the pickup point, enabling clean yarn detachment without direct contact between stuck filaments and the pickup mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the yarn hangs loosely in the machine, then the yarn path is more flexible, but the yarn sticks more to the drive roller

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn path flexibilityVSAvoidsticking tendency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element is positioned to create a preliminary detachment action before the yarn reaches the pick-up system. This preliminary guidance action pre-prevents sticking by establishing a clean separation point, ensuring that even loosely hanging yarn does not adhere to the drive roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If the yarn remains completely stuck to the drive roller, then the yarn tension is maintained, but the yarn breaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn tensionVSAvoidyarn integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element converts the potentially harmful complete adhesion of yarn to the drive roller into a beneficial controlled detachment process. By providing a smooth transition surface, it transforms the sticking phenomenon from a damage-causing force into a controlled release mechanism that maintains tension without breaking the yarn.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 restrain element effectively separates filaments from the drive roller, ensuring uninterrupted yarn supply and preventing damage, maintaining consistent yarn tension and pick-up efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the mantle surface of such a drive roller typically has a degree of roughness in order to avoid slippage of the yarn over this mantle surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a guide element which is arranged behind the drive roller viewed in the supply direction in order, during supplying of the yarn, to guide the yarn by contact therewith so that the supply direction is adjusted by the guide element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectContact guidance:

Implementation Method 3

a restrain element which, viewed in the supply direction, is arranged between the drive roller and the guide element in order to ensure that the yarn detaches from the drive roller on supplying of the yarn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion prevention:

Data Source

PatentEP3983325B1Yarn feed module
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 VANDEWIELE NV
  • EP3983325B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3983325B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3983325B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a yam feed module (1) for supplying yarn (2) into a textile machine, comprising: - a drive roller (3) for supplying the yarn (2); - a guide element (5) for guiding the yarn (2); and - a restrain element (6) which is arranged between the drive roller (3) and the guide element (5) in order, on supplying of the yarn (2), to ensure that the yarn (2) detaches from the drive roller (3). The invention also concerns a textile machine comprising such a yarn feed module (1).