US3741139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control arrangement for constant rateyarn delivery carpet tufting machines
Assignee: Milliken Research Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-01
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A control system designed for use in a carpet-tufting machine in which a row of tufts is formed in each cyclical operation of the machine. Each tuft in each row receives yarn from an individual yarn-delivery device, and the control system regulates these devices so that (1) the height of the tufts may be varied both within a row, and from row to row, and (2) the yarns that form the tufts are delivered at a substantially constant rate. The control system starts, advances, and turns off the yarn-delivery devices in accordance with a pre-programmed instruction which identifies the devices to be so operated by group, and number within each group, and thus effects a very rapid operation of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Z Frentress
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:12
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05C; D05C15/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/12; G05B19/16; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/18; G11B20/1866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A yarn control arrangement for a cyclically-operated tufting machine, in which, in each cycle of operation, a plurality of yarns of different lengths are dispensed at a substantially constant rate through a backing to form at least a portion of a row of tufts comprising, in combination, a. a plurality of stepping means for feeding predetermined lengths of yarn with each step of said stepping means; b. means for generating spaced pulses which are adapted to step said plurality of stepping means; c. switch means for applying said pulses from said generating means to said plurality of stepping means; and d. means for storing information in records which are made up of blocks of information, a record being provided for each cycle of operation, and each of the blocks of a record corresponding to a different step of said stepping means, said information within each block identifying those stepping means which are to be switched in connection with the step with which the block is associated; said information being arranged to identify said stepping means by group and number within the group; and said switch means including means operatively responsive to the identification of the stepping means by group and number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A yarn control arrangement for a cyclically-operated tufting machine, in which, in each cycle of operation, a plurality of yarns of different lengths are dispensed at a substantially constant rate through a backing to form at least a portion of a row of tufts comprising, in combination, a. a plurality of stepping means for feeding predetermined lengths of yarn with each step of said stepping means; b. means for generating spaced pulses which are adapted to step said plurality of stepping means; c. switch means for applying said pulses from said generating means to said plurality of stepping means; and d. means for storing information in records which are made up of blocks of information, a record being provided for each cycle of operation, and each of the blocks of a record corresponding to a different step of said stepping means, said information within each block identifying those stepping means which are to be switched in connection with the step with which the block is associated; said information being arranged to identify said stepping means by group and number within the group; and said switch means including means operatively responsive to the identification of the stepping means by group and number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising, in combination, a. a plurality of hollow tufting needles arranged in a row; to which yarn is metered in predetermined steps and at a substantially constant rate by the stepping means; b. a source of fluid pressure for blowing the metered lengths of yarn through the needles to make the tufts; c. means for sequentially recalling from the information storing means the blocks of information in synchronism with the steps; and d. means responsive to each of the recalled blocks of information for selectively controlling the switch means to turn off the stepping means identified in each block by group and number before the next step of the stepping means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A yarn control arrangement according to claim 1 in which said switch means connect said pulse-generating means to said pluraLity of stepping means at the beginning of a cycle of operation and disconnect said pulse-generating means from those stepping means identified in a block after that step of the stepping means associated with said block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A yarn control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said switch means connects said pulse-generating means to said stepping means when a stepping means is identified in a block and after the step of the stepping means associated with that block, and said switch means disconnects said pulse-generating means from said stepping means at a predetermined interval in the cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control arrangement according to claim 1 including means for sequentially distributing said information blocks in synchronism with said steps, and providing group and stepping means number signals to the switch means in accordance with the group and number information in the block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
A control arrangement according to claim 3, further comprising means for providing an electrical signal at the beginning of each cycle; and wherein said switch means includes a plurality of gates, each of said gates being associated with one stepping means, and being connected to receive said pulses from the pulse-generating means, and having means responsive to a beginning of cycle signal for passing said pulses to said associated stepping means, each of said gates also having an input corresponding to a group number and a stepping means number, and having means responsive to the receipt of a group and a stepping means number signal thereon for barring additional pulses from said pulse-generating means to said stepping means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A control arrangement according to claim 6 wherein each of said gates includes a pair of logic gates, one of said logic gates being connected to receive group and motor number signals, and the other of said logic gates being connected to receive pulses from said pulse-generating means, said other logic gate being enabled by the signal marking the beginning of a cycle, and being disabled by a signal from said first logic gate which receives the group and stepping means number signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A control arrangement according to claim 7 wherein each of said gates further includes a two-condition flip-flop connected to receive the signal marking the beginning of a stitching cycle and put in one condition by said signal, and also being connected to said other logic gate and adapted to be put in its other condition by a signal from said gate, and an output of said flip-flop being connected to said first logic gate to enable such gate when said flip-flop is in the one condition and to disable the gate when it is in the other condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said blocks of information terminate with an end-of-block signal, and means are provided for inhibiting that pulse to step said stepping means which is associated with the next block until after said end-of-block signal is received by said inhibiting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A control arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said inhibiting means includes means for blocking the next arriving step pulse if said end-of-block signal has not arrived prior to the occurrence of said pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A control arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said means for storing information includes a fast-access memory and a slow-access memory, and wherein means are provided for initiating the transfer from said slow-access memory to the fast-access memory in the interval between the end-of-block signal and the associated pulses to step the stepping means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for synchronizing said pulses from said generating means with the beginning of each cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A control arrangement according to claim 12, wherein means are provided for varying the frequency of said pulses from said generating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
A control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said records of information in said means for storing information are arranged in inTerleaved pairs with each pair followed by a parity character, each of said pairs of records having at their ends a forward-stop-command character and a reverse-stop-command character, said control arrangement further comprising readout gate means for passing the records from the information-storing means to said disconnecting and connecting means, means for identifying said reverse-stop-command character and said forward-stop-command character, means for disabling said readout gate means in response to identification of one of said stop-command characters at the end of a record, and means for enabling said readout gate means in response to identification of a different stop-command character at the beginning of a next record.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said means for disabling and enabling is a flip-flop having its set and reset inputs connected to the identifying means, and its output connected to the gate means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control arrangement according to claim 15 wherein said stop-command character at the end of a record is the reverse-stop-command character, and the stop-command character at the beginning of the next record is the forward-stop-character.
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 |