Textile yarn production control apparatus and method

Claim 2

In a system handling data as to ends down conditions of textile yarn forming machines and having a traveling unit traversing one or more of the machines for monitoring ends of yarn normally being formed thereby and means communicating with the traveling unit for determining the ends down condition of a traversed machine from the condition of monitored ends, the combination therewith of means for optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn by said textile yarn forming machines and comprising: means operatively communicating with said ends down condition determining means for comparing a determined ends down condition of said traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition, for encoding a signal identified to said traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of said determined and standard conditions, and for transmitting an encoded signal, and means operatively communicating with said comparing, encoding and transmitting means for receiving transmitted signals, for decoding a received signal to identify the signal with said traversed machine and the comparative relation of said determined and standard conditions, and for controlling the rate of production of textile yarn by said traversed machine in accordance with a decoded signal.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said comparing, encoding and transmitting means includes means for generating and emitting a binary word signal identified to said traversed machine.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means for generating and emitting a binary word signal comprises means for generating a plurality of data bit signals and means for serially arranging said plurality of data bit signals into a single, multiple bit, word.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said comparing, encoding and transmitting means includes means for generating and emitting frequency modulated electrical energy at a frequency identified to said traversed machine.

Claim 6

In a system handling data as to ends down conditions of textile yarn forming machines and having a traveling unit traversing one or more of the machines for monitoring ends of yarn normally being formed thereby and means for determining the ends down condition of a traversed machine from the condition of monitored ends, the combination tHerewith of means for optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn by said textile yarn forming machines and comprising: means operatively communicating with said ends down condition determining means for comparing a determined ends down condition of said traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correleated to optimum yarn production thereby, for encoding a speed control signal identified to said traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of said determined and standard conditions, and for transmitting an encoded signal, and means operatively connected with said traversed machine and communicating with said comparing, encoding and transmitting means for receiving transmitted signals, for decoding a received signal to identify the signal with said traversed machine and the comparative relation of said determined and standard conditions, and for varying the rate at which textile yarn is produced by said traversed machine in accordance with a decoded signal.

Claim 7

In a system handling data as to ends down conditions of textile yarn forming machines and having a traveling unit traversing one or more of the machines for monitoring ends of yarn normally being formed thereby and means for determining the ends down condition of a traversed machine from the condition of monitored ends, the combination tHerewith of means for optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn by said textile yarn forming machines and comprising: means operatively communicating with said ends down condition determining means for comparing a determined ends down condition of said traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correleated to optimum yarn production thereby, for encoding a speed control signal identified to said traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of said determined and standard conditions, and for transmitting an encoded signal, and means operatively connected with said traversed machine and communicating with said comparing, encoding and transmitting means for receiving transmitted signals, for decoding a received signal to identify the signal with said traversed machine and the comparative relation of said determined and standard conditions, and for varying the rate at which textile yarn is produced by said traversed machine in accordance with a decoded signal.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said comparing, encoding and transmitting means includes means programmed in accordance with a predetermined profile of conditions acceptable during incremental periods of time from start-up of a traversed machine to doffing of filled bobbins therefrom.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said comparing, encoding and transmitting means includes means programmed in accordance with the characteristics of the yarn being produced on said traversed machine.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said system further has a trolley conductor extending adjacent one or more of said machines for movement of a traveling unit therealong and wherein said comparing, encoding and transmitting means comprises means for generating a radio frequency carrier, means for frequency modulating the radio frequency carrier and means coupling a resultant frequency modulated signal onto said trolley conductor.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said yarn forming machines each comprise a main drive alternating current electrical motor and wherein said receiving, deciphering and rate varying means comprises means for modulating at least one characteristic of electrical current delivered to said motor and thereby for varying the rotational speed thereof.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 9 further comprising means operatively connected to said current modulating means for indicating to a machine operator the relative magnitude of the rotational speed of said main drive alternating current electrical motor.

Claim 13

In a system handling data as to ends down conditions of textile yarn forming machines and having means for monitoring ends of yarn normally being formed by one or more of the machines and means for determining the ends down condition of a traversed machine from the condition of monitored ends, the combination therewith of means for optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn by said textile yarn forming machines and comprising: means operatively communicating with said ends down condition determining means for comparing a determined ends down condition of said traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correlated to optimum yarn production thereby, for encoding a speed control work signal identified to said traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of said determined and standard conditions, and for transmitting on encoded word signal, and means operatively communicating with said comparing, encoding and transmitting means for receiving transmitted word signal, for decoding a received word signal to identify the signal with said traversed machine and the comparative relation of said determined and standard conditions, and for varying the rate at which textile yarn is produced by said traversed machine in accordance with a decoded word signal.

Claim 14

In a system handling data as to ends down conditions of textile yarn forming machines and having means for monitoring ends of yarn normally being formed by one or more of the machines and means for determining the ends down condition of a traversed machine from the condition of monitored ends, the combination therewith of means for optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn by said textile yarn forming machines and comprising: means operatively communicating with said ends down condition determining means for comparing a determined ends down condition of said traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correlated to optimum yarn production thereby, for encoding a speed control work signal identified to said traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of said determined and standard conditions, and for transmitting on encoded word signal, and means operatively communicating with said comparing, encoding and transmitting means for receiving transmitted word signal, for decoding a received word signal to identify the signal with said traversed machine and the comparative relation of said determined and standard conditions, and for varying the rate at which textile yarn is produced by said traversed machine in accordance with a decoded word signal.

Claim 15

In a textile yarn forming operation, a method of optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn forming machiNes wherein ends of yarn normally formed on one or more of the machines are monitored and reports are made to a data processing system which determines the ends down conditions of traversed machines, the method comprising the steps of comparing a determined ends down condition of a traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correlated to optimum yarn production by the traversed machine, encoding and transmitting a control signal identified to the traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of the determined and standard conditions, receiving and decoding the transmitted control signal identified to the traversed machine, and controlling the rate of production of textile yarn by the traversed machine in accordance with the comparative relation of the determined and standard conditions.

Claim 16

In a textile yarn forming operation, a method of optimizing the rates of production of textile yarn forming machiNes wherein ends of yarn normally formed on one or more of the machines are monitored and reports are made to a data processing system which determines the ends down conditions of traversed machines, the method comprising the steps of comparing a determined ends down condition of a traversed machine with a predetermined standard condition correlated to optimum yarn production by the traversed machine, encoding and transmitting a control signal identified to the traversed machine and correlated with the comparison of the determined and standard conditions, receiving and decoding the transmitted control signal identified to the traversed machine, and controlling the rate of production of textile yarn by the traversed machine in accordance with the comparative relation of the determined and standard conditions.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of comparing determined and standard conditions includes weighting the comparison in accordance with a predetermined profile of conditions acceptable during incremental periods of time from start-up of a traversed machine to doffing of filled bobbins therefrom.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of comparing determined and standard conditions includes weighting the comparison in accordance with the characteristics of the yarn being produced.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of encoding and transmitting a control signal comprises generating and emitting frequency modulated electrical energy at a frequency identified to the traversed machine.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting a control signal comprises coupling frequency modulated electrical energy to a trolley conductor along which a traveling detector unit moves in monitoring the traversed machine.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of encoding and transmitting a speed control signal comprises generating and emitting a binary word signal identified to the traversed machine.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of generating a binary word signal comprises serially arranging a plurality of data bit signals into a single, multiple bit, word.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of effecting the production of textile yarn comprises modulating at least one characteristic of alternating electrical current delivered to a main drive motor for the traversed machine to thereby govern the rotational speed thereof.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of accumulating control signal data over an extended period of time for analysis to aid in determining the relative efficiency of the textile yarn forming machines.