Electric circuit means for textile strand ends down detecting apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus which travels detector means along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for locating and reporting ends down thereon, an electrical circuit combination particularly adapted for traversal of a photosensitive means field of view along a portion of a spinning frame wherein ends of yarn normally are ballooned between stationary and rotating guides and comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and generating a pulse electrical signal in response to variations in illumination in said field of view indicative of the presence of an end of yarn, said photosensitive means being mounted for traversal of said field of view along a plurality of locations where ends of yarn normally are present, signal conditioning means comprising pulse shaping circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for shaping the characteristics of received pulse signals, said pulse shaping circuit means comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals which originate from said photosensitive means and have varying pulse characteristics, and said signal conditioning means further comprising a frequency responsive circuit electrically connected to said amplifier for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for passing substantially unimpeded a pulse signal indicative of variations in illumination in said field of view of said photosensitive means occurring at a predetermined frequency coordinated to the rotational speed of the ballooned ends of yarn, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said pulse shaping circuit means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and responsive to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view for distinguishing between absence and presence of ends of yarn at traversed locations and for generating an output pulse electrical signal upon an end of yarn being absent from a location at which the same should normally be present.

Claim 3

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 1 wherein said frequency responsive circuit comprises a tuned tank circuit of inductance and capacitance elements selected to attenuate pulse signals having repetitive frequencies other than said predetermined frequency.

Claim 4

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 1 wherein said frequency responsive circuit comprises an integrator circuit of resistance and capacitance elements selected to attenuate pulse signals having repetitive frequencies below said predetermined frequency.

Claim 5

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 1 wherein said signal conditioning means further comprises a differentiator circuit of resistance and capacitance elements electrically connected to said frequency responsive circuit for receiving a pulse signal passed therethrough and for smoothing such a received pulse signal to a standardized shaped characteristic.

Claim 6

In an apparatus which travels detector means along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for locating and reporting ends down thereon, electrical circuit means for determining the absence of ends of yarn comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and generating a pulse electrical signal in response to variations in illumination in said field of view indicative of the presence of an end of yarn, said photosensitive means being mounted for traversal of said field of view along a plurality of locations where ends of yarn normally are present, signal conditioning means comprising pulse shaping circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for shaping the characteristics of received pulse signals, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said pulse shaping circuit means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and responsive to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view for distinguishing between absence and presence of ends of yarn at traversed locations for generating an output pulse electrical signal upon an end of yarn being absent from a location at which the same should normally be present, said logic circuit means comprising a resettable, freerunning oscillator normally generating output pulse electrical signals at a predetermined time interval coordinated to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view and responsive to receipt of a shaped pulse signal from said pulse shaping circuit means for initiating timing of said predetermined interval, said predetermined time interval being slightly greater than the interval at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present, so that cadenced resetting of said oscillator by shaped pulse signals indicative of ends of yarn being present at traversed locations inhibits generation of an output pulse signal by said oscillator. 6 In an apparatus which travels detector means along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for locating and reporting ends down thereon, electrical circuit means for determining the absence of ends of yarn comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and generating a pulse electrical signal in response to variations in illumination in said field of view indicative of the presence of an end of yarn, said photosensitive means being mounted for traversal of said field of view along a plurality of locations where ends of yarn normally are present, signal conditioning means comprising pulse shaping circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for shaping the characteristics of received pulse signals, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said pulse shaping circuit means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and responsive to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view for distinguishing between absence and presence of ends of yarn at traversed locations and for generating an output pulse electrical signal upon an end of yarn being absent from a location at which the same should normally be present, said logic circuit means comprising cadence signal generating means for producing cadence pulse signals correlated to the intervals at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and further wherein said logic circuit means further comprises means for receiving both shaped pulse signals from said pulse shaping circuit means and cadence pulse signals from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn at a traversed location and receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 7

In an apparatus which travels detector means along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for locating and reporting ends down thereon, electrical circuit means for determining the absence of ends of yarn comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and generating a pulse electrical signal in response to variations in illumination in said field of view indicative of the presence of an end of yarn, said photosensitive means being mounted for traversal of said field of view along a plurality of locations where ends of yarn normally are present, signal conditioning means comprising pulse shaping circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for shaping the characteristics of received pulse signals, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said pulse shaping circuit means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and responsive to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view for distinguishing between absence and presence of ends of yarn at traversed locations for generating an output pulse electrical signal upon an end of yarn being absent from a location at which the same should normally be present, said logic circuit means comprising a resettable, freerunning oscillator normally generating output pulse electrical signals at a predetermined time interval coordinated to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view and responsive to receipt of a shaped pulse signal from said pulse shaping circuit means for initiating timing of said predetermined interval, said predetermined time interval being slightly greater than the interval at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present, so that cadenced resetting of said oscillator by shaped pulse signals indicative of ends of yarn being present at traversed locations inhibits generation of an output pulse signal by said oscillator. 6 In an apparatus which travels detector means along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for locating and reporting ends down thereon, electrical circuit means for determining the absence of ends of yarn comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and generating a pulse electrical signal in response to variations in illumination in said field of view indicative of the presence of an end of yarn, said photosensitive means being mounted for traversal of said field of view along a plurality of locations where ends of yarn normally are present, signal conditioning means comprising pulse shaping circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for shaping the characteristics of received pulse signals, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said pulse shaping circuit means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and responsive to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view for distinguishing between absence and presence of ends of yarn at traversed locations and for generating an output pulse electrical signal upon an end of yarn being absent from a location at which the same should normally be present, said logic circuit means comprising cadence signal generating means for producing cadence pulse signals correlated to the intervals at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and further wherein said logic circuit means further comprises means for receiving both shaped pulse signals from said pulse shaping circuit means and cadence pulse signals from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn at a traversed location and receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 8

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 6 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises reflective indicia means spaced in predeteRmined relation to said traversed locations at which ends of yarn are normally present, and second photosensitive means mounted for movement with said first photosensitive means and along said reflective indicia means for generating said cadence pulse electrical signals in response to reflection therefrom, said indicia and second photosensitive means being so positioned relative to said locations of ends of yarn and said first photosensitive means that said cadence pulse signals are produced in coordination with generation of pulse electrical signals by said first photosensitive means in response to viewing of present ends of yarn.

Claim 9

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 6 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises an oscillator generating pulse signals at a predetermined frequency.

Claim 10

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 6 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises level shift recognition circuit means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and for distinguishing between a first level of photosensitive means response which is indicative of traversal of a location where ends of yarn normally are not present and a second level of photosensitive means response which is indicative of traversal of a location where ends of yarn normally are present, whereby said photosensitive means cooperates in the origination of both shaped pulse signals and cadence pulse signals.

Claim 11

An electrical circuit combination according to claim 6 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises movement signaling means for generating a train of pulses correlated to the movement of said photosensitive means along said plurality of locations and further wherein said signal distinguishing means includes counter means for counting said train of pulses and thereby determining the position of said photosensitive means relative to said locations.

Claim 12

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising a resettable, freerunning oscillator normally generating output pulse electrical signals at a predetermined time interval coordinated to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view and responsive to receipt of a shaped pulse signal from said signal conditioning means for initiating timing of said predetermined interval, said predetermined interval being slightly greater than the interval at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present, so that cadenced resetting of said oscillator by shaped pulse signals indicative of ends of yarn being present at traversed locations inhibits generation of an output pulse by said oscillator.

Claim 13

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising a resettable, freerunning oscillator normally generating output pulse electrical signals at a predetermined time interval coordinated to normal traversal of said photosensitive means field of view and responsive to receipt of a shaped pulse signal from said signal conditioning means for initiating timing of said predetermined interval, said predetermined interval being slightly greater than the interval at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present, so that cadenced resetting of said oscillator by shaped pulse signals indicative of ends of yarn being present at traversed locations inhibits generation of an output pulse by said oscillator.

Claim 14

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising cadence signal generating means for producing cadence pulse signals correlated to the intervals at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and further wherein said logic circuit means further comprises means for receiving both shaped pulse signals from said signal conditioning means and cadence pulse signals from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn at a traversed location and receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 15

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising cadence signal generating means for producing cadence pulse signals correlated to the intervals at which said photosensitive means field of view normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and further wherein said logic circuit means further comprises means for receiving both shaped pulse signals from said signal conditioning means and cadence pulse signals from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn at a traversed location and receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 16

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising movement signaling means for generating a train of pulses correlated to the movement of said traveling pneumatic cleaner along a traversed textile apparatus and counter means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means and to said movement signal means for counting said train of pulses and for distinguishing between receipt of a shaped pulse signal prior to a count indicative of the movement of said traveling pneumatic cleaner adjacent a traversed location and absence of a shaped pulse signal at such count.

Claim 17

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: photosensitive means having a predetermined field of view and being mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner for traversal of said field of view along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said photosensitive means generating a pulse electrical signal in response to movement of said field of view across a location at which an end of yarn is present, signal conditioning means electrically connected to said photosensitive means for receiving pulse signals therefrom and comprising an amplifier for shaping to a substantially uniform shaped pulse characteristic pulse signals originating from said photosensitive means and having varying shaped pulse characteristics, and logic circuit means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means for receiving shaped pulse signals therefrom and for determining from received pulse signals the presence and absence of ends of yarn, said logic circuit means comprising movement signaling means for generating a train of pulses correlated to the movement of said traveling pneumatic cleaner along a traversed textile apparatus and counter means electrically connected to said signal conditioning means and to said movement signal means for counting said train of pulses and for distinguishing between receipt of a shaped pulse signal prior to a count indicative of the movement of said traveling pneumatic cleaner adjacent a traversed location and absence of a shaped pulse signal at such count.

Claim 18

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: detector means mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner and for traveRsal along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said detector means generating an electrical signal in response to movement across a location on a traversed textile apparatus at which an end of yarn is present, and logic circuit means mounted for movement with said traveling pneumatic cleaner and operatively electrically connected to said detector means for receiving signals therefrom and comprising cadence signal generating means for producing an electrical signal correlated to the interval at which said detector means normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and means for receiving both signals passing from said detector means and signals passing from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn and the receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 19

In an apparatus which travels a pneumatic cleaner along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames for removing lint and the like therefrom, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: detector means mounted for movement with a traveling pneumatic cleaner and for traveRsal along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present, said detector means generating an electrical signal in response to movement across a location on a traversed textile apparatus at which an end of yarn is present, and logic circuit means mounted for movement with said traveling pneumatic cleaner and operatively electrically connected to said detector means for receiving signals therefrom and comprising cadence signal generating means for producing an electrical signal correlated to the interval at which said detector means normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and means for receiving both signals passing from said detector means and signals passing from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn and the receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises indicia means spaced in predetermined relation to said traversed location at which ends of yarn are normally present and second detector means mounted for movement with said first detector means and along said indicia means for generating said cadence electrical signals in response to traversal of a location at which an indicia means is present, said indicia means and second detector means being so positioned relative to said locations of ends of yarn and said first detector means that said cadence electrical signals are produced in coordination with generation of electrical signals by said first detector means in response to traversal of present ends of yarn.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first and second detector means comprise radiant energy level responsive devices for remotely detecting the respective presence of an end of yarn and of an indicia means.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said cadence signal generating means comprises level shift recognition circuit means electrically connected to said detector means for receiving signals therefrom and for distinguishing between a first level of detector means response which is indicative of traversal of a location where ends of yarn normally are not present and a second level of detector means response which is indicative of traversal of a location where ends of yarn normally are present, whereby said detector means cooperates in the origination of said both signals.

Claim 23

In an apparatus which travels along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: detector means mounted for traversal along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present and for generating an electrical signal in response to movement across a location on a traversed textile apparatus at which an end of yarn is present, and logic circuit means operatively electrically connected to said detector means for receiving signals therefrom and comprising cadence signal generating means for producing an electrical signal at the interval at which said detector means normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and means for receiving both a signal originating from said detector means and a signal originating from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn and the receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.

Claim 24

In an apparatus which travels along textile strand processing apparatus such as spinning frames, electrical circuit means for locating ends down by determining the absence of ends of yarn normally present thereon comprising: detector means mounted for traversal along a portion of said textile apparatus where ends of yarn normally are present and for generating an electrical signal in response to movement across a location on a traversed textile apparatus at which an end of yarn is present, and logic circuit means operatively electrically connected to said detector means for receiving signals therefrom and comprising cadence signal generating means for producing an electrical signal at the interval at which said detector means normally traverses locations at which ends of yarn are normally present and means for receiving both a signal originating from said detector means and a signal originating from said cadence signal generating means and for distinguishing between receipt of both signals indicating the presence of an end of yarn and the receipt of one signal indicating the absence of an end of yarn from a traversed location.