Method and apparatus for controlling the diameter of glass fibers

Claim 2

In an apparatus for producing glass fibers which comprises a plurality of fiber forming apparatus, each comprising: a. a container for holding molten glass, b. means for issuing the molten glass from the container in the form of a plurality of streams, c. means for attenuating the streams into cooled solidified fibers, d. means for collecting the fibers in a forming package, and e. means for conveying the forming package to an end-finding station, the improvement which comprises f. means for weighing said forming package comprising i. computer means programmed to respond to applied signals and to produce output signals according to a relationship which computes a forming package weight, compares the weight to a sequence of weight categories and describes each package according to a weight category, ii. load cell means coupled with the computer means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means, iii. forming package supporting means coupled with the load cell means to cause the load cell means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means upon the imposition of a forming package, iv. data entry means to transmit and apply product code signals to the computer means, v. output signal display means responsive to computer output signals, and g. means for conveying said weighing means (f) to locations adjacent each of the plurality of fiber forming apparatus.

Claim 3

In the method of producing glass fibers which comprises producing glass fibers at a plurality of fiber forming positions according to a process which comprises: a. providing molten glass in a container, b. withdrawing the molten glass from the container in the form of a plurality of streams, c. attenuating the streams and cooling them to solidify them into fine fibers by applying an attenuating force on the cooled fibers which is transmitted through the fibers to the streams as the fibers are moving at a high rate of speed, d. collecting the fibers in a forming package on a rotating collet driven by a motor at a controlled speed, and e. conveying the package to an end-finding station, the improvement which comprises f. programming a computer to receive load cell signals, product code signals, clock signals, motor status signals, and collet rotation signals, to compute in response to motor status signals and collet rotation signals, during fiber collection, an actual average collet winding speed, to compute from the actual average collet winding speed and the product code signals an actual average fiber speed, to compute a forming package weight from the load cell signals and product code signals, to compute an actual average fiber diameter from the forming package weight, the product code signals, and the clock signals, to compare the forming package weight and the actual average yarn diameter to weight and fiber diameter categories, and to produce an output signal defining the weight and fiber diameter category of the package, g. transmitting from the rotating collet, during forming, to the computeR signals corresponding to each rotation, h. transmitting from the motor to the computer running status signals, i. supporting the forming package on a load cell causing a signal to be transmitted to the computer, and in response thereto a package weight and fiber diameter category signal from the computer, j. segregating the forming package in response to the computer output signal, and k. conveying the segregated forming package to an end-finding station.

Claim 4

In the method of producing glass fibers which comprises producing glass fibers at a plurality of fiber forming positions according to a process which comprises: a. providing molten glass in a container, b. withdrawing the molten glass from the container in the form of a plurality of streams, c. attenuating the streams and cooling them to solidify them into fine fibers by applying an attenuating force on the cooled fibers which is transmitted through the fibers to the streams as the fibers are moving at a high rate of speed, d. collecting the fibers in a forming package on a rotating collet driven by a motor at a controlled speed, and e. conveying the package to an end-finding station, the improvement which comprises f. programming a computer to receive load cell signals, product code signals, clock signals, motor status signals, and collet rotation signals, to compute in response to motor status signals and collet rotation signals, during fiber collection, an actual average collet winding speed, to compute from the actual average collet winding speed and the product code signals an actual average fiber speed, to compute a forming package weight from the load cell signals and product code signals, to compute an actual average fiber diameter from the forming package weight, the product code signals, and the clock signals, to compare the forming package weight and the actual average yarn diameter to weight and fiber diameter categories, and to produce an output signal defining the weight and fiber diameter category of the package, g. transmitting from the rotating collet, during forming, to the computeR signals corresponding to each rotation, h. transmitting from the motor to the computer running status signals, i. supporting the forming package on a load cell causing a signal to be transmitted to the computer, and in response thereto a package weight and fiber diameter category signal from the computer, j. segregating the forming package in response to the computer output signal, and k. conveying the segregated forming package to an end-finding station.

Claim 5

In the method of producing glass fibers which comprises producing glass fibers at a plurality of fiber forming positions according to a process which comprises: a. providing molten glass in a container, b. withdrawing the molten glass from the container in the form of a plurality of streams, c. attenuating the streams and cooling them to solidify them into fine fibers by applying an attenuating force on the cooled fibers which is transmitted through the fibers to the streams as the fibers are moving at a high rate of speed, d. collecting the fibers in a forming package on a rotating collet driven by a motor at a controlled speed, and e. controlling the temperature of the molten glass in the container during the forming run, the improvement which comprises f. programming a computer to receive load cell signals, product code signals, clock signals, motor status signals, and collet rotation signals, to compute in response to motor status signals and collet rotation signals, during fiber collection, an actual average winding speed, to compute from the actual average winding speed and the product code signals an actual average fiber speed, to compute a package weight from the load cell signals and product code signals, to compute an actual average fiber diameter from the actual average fiber speed, the package weight, product code signals and the clock signals, to compare the actual average fiber diameter to a standard fiber diameter according to the product code signals, and to produce an output signal indicating fiber diameter category, g. transmitting from the rotating collet, during forming, to the computer signals corresponding to each rotation, h. transmitting from the motor to the computer running status signals, i. supporting the forming package on a load cell causing a signal to be transmitted to the computer, and j. issuing a fiber diameter category signal from the computer.

Claim 6

In the method of producing glass fibers which comprises producing glass fibers at a plurality of fiber forming positions according to a process which comprises: a. providing molten glass in a container, b. withdrawing the molten glass from the container in the form of a plurality of streams, c. attenuating the streams and cooling them to solidify them into fine fibers by applying an attenuating force on the cooled fibers which is transmitted through the fibers to the streams as the fibers are moving at a high rate of speed, d. collecting the fibers in a forming package on a rotating collet driven by a motor at a controlled speed, and e. controlling the temperature of the molten glass in the container during the forming run, the improvement which comprises f. programming a computer to receive load cell signals, product code signals, clock signals, motor status signals, and collet rotation signals, to compute in response to motor status signals and collet rotation signals, during fiber collection, an actual average winding speed, to compute from the actual average winding speed and the product code signals an actual average fiber speed, to compute a package weight from the load cell signals and product code signals, to compute an actual average fiber diameter from the actual average fiber speed, the package weight, product code signals and the clock signals, to compare the actual average fiber diameter to a standard fiber diameter according to the product code signals, and to produce an output signal indicating fiber diameter category, g. transmitting from the rotating collet, during forming, to the computer signals corresponding to each rotation, h. transmitting from the motor to the computer running status signals, i. supporting the forming package on a load cell causing a signal to be transmitted to the computer, and j. issuing a fiber diameter category signal from the computer.

Claim 7

The method described in claim 3 wherein the computer output signal indicates an adjustment to at least one of the control variables consisting of molten glass temperature and motor speed and the adjustment is applied to at least one of the control variables consisting of molten glass temperature and motor speed prior to next fiber forming run in order to minimize the variation of the fiber diameter from the standard fiber diameter.

Claim 8

The method described in claim 4 wherein the variable which is modified is the glass temperature.

Claim 9

The method described in claim 3 wherein the speed of travel of the cooled fiber is obtained by periodically sensing collet rotation signals, computing a winding speed (Si) according to number of rotations for each period, computing from each successive winding speed and from the first computed winding speed (So) a speed slope (Ai) according to the relation: Ai (So -Si)/ti where ti is the elapsed winding time according to the clock signals then responsive to a motor status signal indicating completion of winding, using the last computed speed slope and the elapsed winding time according to the clock signals at completion of winding (tf), and computing an actual average winding speed (Sa) according to the relation: Sa So- Aitf/2.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for producing glass fibers which comprises: a. a container for holding molten glass, b. means for issuing the molten glass from the container in the form of streams, c. means for Attenuating the streams into cooled, solidified fibers moving at a high rate of speed, d. means for collecting the cooled fibers in a forming package, said means (c) and (d) comprising collet rotating means, motor driving means and means for controlling the speed of said motor driving means, and e. means for controlling the temperature of the glass in the container, the improvement which comprises f. computer means programmed to respond to applied signals and to produce output signals according to a sequence of relationships which compute a forming package weight, a winding speed, therefrom a winding speed slope and an average actual winding speed, and a fiber forming time, and which therefrom compute an average actual fiber diameter and compare said average actual fiber diameter with a standard diameter, g. load cell means coupled with the computer means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means, h. forming package supporting means coupled with the load cell means to cause the load cell means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means upon the imposition of a forming package, i. data entry means to transmit and apply product code signals to the computer means, j. collet rotation signal means coupled with the collet rotating means to transmit and apply rotation signals to the computer means corresponding to each rotation of the collet rotating means, k. motor status signal means coupled with the motor driving means to transmit and apply status signals to the computer means, and l. means coupled with the computer means and responsive to the computer output signals to indicate a fiber diameter category.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for producing glass fibers which comprises: a. a container for holding molten glass, b. means for issuing the molten glass from the container in the form of streams, c. means for Attenuating the streams into cooled, solidified fibers moving at a high rate of speed, d. means for collecting the cooled fibers in a forming package, said means (c) and (d) comprising collet rotating means, motor driving means and means for controlling the speed of said motor driving means, and e. means for controlling the temperature of the glass in the container, the improvement which comprises f. computer means programmed to respond to applied signals and to produce output signals according to a sequence of relationships which compute a forming package weight, a winding speed, therefrom a winding speed slope and an average actual winding speed, and a fiber forming time, and which therefrom compute an average actual fiber diameter and compare said average actual fiber diameter with a standard diameter, g. load cell means coupled with the computer means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means, h. forming package supporting means coupled with the load cell means to cause the load cell means to transmit and apply a signal to the computer means upon the imposition of a forming package, i. data entry means to transmit and apply product code signals to the computer means, j. collet rotation signal means coupled with the collet rotating means to transmit and apply rotation signals to the computer means corresponding to each rotation of the collet rotating means, k. motor status signal means coupled with the motor driving means to transmit and apply status signals to the computer means, and l. means coupled with the computer means and responsive to the computer output signals to indicate a fiber diameter category.

Claim 12

The apparatus describe in claim 7 including: m. means to adjust at least one of the temperature controlling means and fiber speed means to minimize the variation of the cooled fiber diameter from the standard diameter.

Claim 13

The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein the programmed computer means for computing a winding speed, a winding speed slope and an average actual winding speed comprises means for computing a winding speed (Si) according to a number of collet rotations in a time period, means for computing from each successive winding speed and from the first computed winding speed (So) a speed slope (Ai) wherein said speed slope computing means is characterized according to the relation: Ai (So- Si)/ti where ti is the elapsed winding time of the time periods and means for computing an average actual winding speed (Sa) from a last computed speed slope at the conclusion of winding wherein said average actual winding speed computing means is characterized according to the relation: Sa So-Aitf/2 where tf is the elapsed winding time of the time periods to the conclusion of winding.

Claim 14

The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein the means for transmitting and applying signals and the computer means for producing computer output signals are electronic means for providing signals in the form of electronic signals.