US3740937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
End down detecting means for automatic yarn piecing apparatus
Assignee: Maremont Corp
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
•
Granted: 1973-06-26
•
Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract First and second photoelectric units mounted upon the carriage of an automatic yarn piecing apparatus movable along a textile spinning frame respectively detect whether the carriage is adjacent a yarn delivery zone of the spinning frame and whether yarn is present within each such zone. Variations from a preestablished norm in the photoelectric outputs of the units are converted into signals directed to a correlating circuit which includes a bistable memory device. The correlating circuit is effective to actuate a nand-gate type of control device that initiates a cycle of operation of the piecing apparatus when the carriage is in operative adjacent relationship to a yarn delivery zone wherein no yarn is detected. The correlating circuit may be temporarily disabled when desired, by inhibiting its memory device and as when the carriage of the piecing apparatus moves past an end of a spinning frame, to negate the possibility of a piecing operation being then inadvertently initiated. Inexpensive, durable and compact electrical components and circuits are employed to conserve space, to minimize manufacturing cost and maintenance, and to insure consistently reliable operation under adverse operating conditions. The successful use of a conventional phototransistor and light source in the photoelectric yarn-detection unit is achieved by restrictively limiting the vision of the phototransistor to a particular area of the spinning frame and by subjecting its electrical output to high-gain amplification, preferably in the approximate order of 50,000 times, prior to signal-conversion thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 W Drake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:15
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01H; D01H15/00; D01H15/013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
In an automatic yarn piecing apparatus adapted to service a textile spinning frame having a plurality of horizontally spaced yarn delivery zones whereat yarn normally passes downwardly from delivery rolls and past a suction duct to yarn collecting means, said apparatus including a carriage adapted to move along said spinning frame and to be halted upon institution of piecing operations adjacent yarn-delivery zones requiring servicing by reason of an end-down condition thereat, improved means for detecting said end-down conditions and for initiating said piecing operations, comprising: first photoelectric signal-producing means for detecting whether said carriage is adjacent a yarn delivery zone of said spinning frame; second photoelectric signal-producing means for detecting whether yarn is present within an area of each said zone closely adjacent said delivery rolls of said spinning frame; a nand-gate control device effective when actuated to produce an output signal initiating a piecing operation, said device having a pair of input terminals and being actuated by the coincidental receipt of actuating-type input signals at each of said terminals; and signal-correlating circuit means interconnecting said first and second signal-producing means and said control device for actuating said control device when no yarn is detected by said second means within a yarn delivery zone detected by said first means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
In an automatic yarn piecing apparatus adapted to service a textile spinning frame having a plurality of horizontally spaced yarn delivery zones whereat yarn normally passes downwardly from delivery rolls and past a suction duct to yarn collecting means, said apparatus including a carriage adapted to move along said spinning frame and to be halted upon institution of piecing operations adjacent yarn-delivery zones requiring servicing by reason of an end-down condition thereat, improved means for detecting said end-down conditions and for initiating said piecing operations, comprising: first photoelectric signal-producing means for detecting whether said carriage is adjacent a yarn delivery zone of said spinning frame; second photoelectric signal-producing means for detecting whether yarn is present within an area of each said zone closely adjacent said delivery rolls of said spinning frame; a nand-gate control device effective when actuated to produce an output signal initiating a piecing operation, said device having a pair of input terminals and being actuated by the coincidental receipt of actuating-type input signals at each of said terminals; and signal-correlating circuit means interconnecting said first and second signal-producing means and said control device for actuating said control device when no yarn is detected by said second means within a yarn delivery zone detected by said first means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said signal-correlating means includes a bistable memory device effective in a first operating condition to produce an actuating-type signal at one of said input terminals of said control device and ineffective in a second operating condition to produce an actuating-type signal at said one input terminal of said control device; said memory device assuming or maintaining said first condition thereof upon detection by said first means of a yarn delivery zone and assuming said second condition upon yarn-detection by said second means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said signal-correlating means further includes a branch circuit interconnecting the other of said input terminals of said control device and said means for producing an actuating-type signal at said other input terminal of said control device upon cessation of the detection of a yarn delivery zone by said first means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said branch circuit includes capacitor means and signal-everting means for limiting the time of production of said actuating-type signal at said other input terminal of said control device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, and further including inhibiting means effective when actuated to inhibit said memory device and maintain the same in said second condition thereof irrespective of signals produced by said first signal-producing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said inhibiting means includes a nand-type unit within that portion of said signal-correlating circuit interconnecting said first signal-producing means and said memory device, said nand-type unit normally varying its output in response to signal variations of said first means and upon actuation of said inhibiting means being rendered unresponsive to signal-variations of said first means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said nand-type unit has a pair of input terminals and said first signal-producing is connected to one of said input terminals, and wherein said inhibiting means further includes a bistable memory unit connected to the other of said input terminals of said nand-type unit, said nand-type unit varying its output in response to signal-variations of said first means when said memory unit is in a first operating condition and said nand-type unit being unresponsive to signal-variations of said first means when said memory unit is in a second operating condition, and switch means for varying as desired the operating condition of said memory unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said second signal-producing means includes a light-producing unit and a light-receiving unit mounted upon said carriage in vertically-spaced relationship to each other, the path of vision of said light-receiving unit extending through and substantially normal to the ordinary path of travel of yarn issuing from said delivery rolls of said spinning frame and projecting beyond said path of travel in closely adjacent but downwardly-spaced relationship to said suction duct of said spinning frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 8, including means mounting said light-receiving unit and said light-producing unit upon said carriage for independent positional adjustment of each said unit about either of two axes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said light-receiving unit comprises a phototransistor device having a narrow field of vision, and lense means for further narrowing said field of vision of said phototransistor device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said second signal-producing means further includes Darlington-type amplifier means for subjecting the output of said phototransistor device to high-gain amplification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the high-gain amplification of said output of said phototransistor device is in the approximate order of 50,000.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said second signal-producing means further includes potentiometer means for balancing the output of said Darlington-type amplifier as required to compensate for ambient light conditions at said phototransistor device, and a signal-producing differential amplifier connected in series with said Darlington-type amplifier and responsive to uncompensated for variations in output thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, and further including track means carried by an extending longitudinally of said spinning frame and mounting said carriage of said piecing apparatus for movement therealong, light reflecting means upon said track means corresponding in number and spacing to said yarn delivery zones of said spinning frame, said first signal-producing means including a light-producing unit and a light-receiving unit mounted upon said carriage in closely adjacent confronting relationship to said track means for cooperation with said reflecting means during movement of said carriage along said track means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, within said light-receiving means iNcludes a phototransistor, and said first signal-producing means includes potentiometer means balancing the output of said phototransistor to compensate for ambient light conditions thereat, and a differential amplifier connected in series with said phototransistor and responsive to uncompensated for variations in said output.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said reflecting means comprises a reflective strip for each of said delivery zones of said spinning machine, and said signal-producing means is responsive to movement of said units thereof both into and out of confronting relationship with each said reflective strip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |