Zigzag Supply Bundle for Consistent Tricot Pull-Off Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supply bundles of tubular, circular-knitted tricot material for covering cuboid objects suffer from inconsistent force requirements for material removal and irregular geometric structures, leading to variable friction and aesthetically unappealing appearances.

Innovation Solution

A supply bundle is formed with layers arranged in a zigzag configuration around a central axis, where each layer is connected via 180° fold lines, maintaining consistent layer lengths and rectangular cross-sections, ensuring constant force and regular material application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the supply bundle is irregularly compressed and combined in the axial direction, then the supply bundle can be formed, but the force required to pull the tricot material off varies and the structure is geometrically inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply bundle formationVSAvoidgeometric regularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The supply bundle is divided into multiple layers (first layer, second layer, third layer, etc.) arranged in a specific zigzag pattern around the central axis. Each layer is segmented into distinct sections that can be independently controlled during formation, allowing consistent geometric structure while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular layering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The layers are pre-arranged in a zigzag configuration with predetermined fold lines before the supply bundle is put into service. The fold lines are created at specific positions (180° apart) during the formation process, ensuring that the geometric regularity is established in advance rather than requiring adjustment during use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the supply bundle is irregularly combined, then material can be loaded, but the pull-off force varies and friction changes with usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetricot material capacityVSAvoidpull-off force consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The tricot material is divided into discrete layers stacked in a regular zigzag pattern, with each layer contributing a predictable amount of material. This segmentation ensures that as layers are sequentially removed, the pull-off force remains consistent because each layer presents similar friction characteristics and geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The regular zigzag arrangement with fixed fold lines maintains constant geometric parameters (layer spacing, fold position, radial distance) throughout the supply bundle. This parameter consistency ensures that the friction and pull-off force remain uniform regardless of how much material has been used

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If layers are arranged in a zigzag configuration with 180° fold lines, then the structure is regular and visually appealing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural regularityVSAvoidlayer arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The zigzag configuration introduces a controlled asymmetry in the layer arrangement, with fold lines positioned at 180° intervals around the central axis. This asymmetric but repeating pattern creates visual appeal and geometric regularity while maintaining a manageable level of complexity through its periodic nature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The layers are arranged in a curved, circumferential pattern around the central axis, forming a ring-shaped supply bundle. The zigzag fold lines follow the curvature of the ring, creating a regular three-dimensional structure that is both visually appealing and mechanically consistent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2714522B1Supply package
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 HEYNEN SYST
  • EP2714522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2714522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2714522B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A supply package has a quantity of tubular, preferably round-knitted, elastic tricot material; the supply package has a central axis (26); the quantity of material is arranged in an annular manner around the central axis (26). The tricot material is folded in a zigzag shape in a number of superposed layers, wherein the individual layers are located at an increasingly large distance from the central axis (26).