US3760184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric monitoring device for pluralities of threads
Assignee: Erwin Sick GmbH Optik Elektronik
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Filing: 1972-03-10
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1992-03-10
Abstract
Abstract In a photoelectric monitoring device for pluralities of threads, such as in warp knitting machines, a laser beam is split into a number of parallel partial beams by means of beam splitting partially transparent mirrors arranged in the optical path of the laser beam at an angle to the beam axis thereof. Each such partial beam is directed transversely across one group of threads, the threads of said group being parallel and arranged in one plane, and impinges on an associated photoelectric detector. Air flow means either in the form of an air outlet pipe or in the form of a pipe surrounding the light path of each partial beam, having a longitudinal slot and connected to a suction source make sure that broken threads are moved through the respective partial beam to cause a pulse signal from the detector.
Inventors
- 👤 P Brose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:42
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B35/00; D04B35/10; D04B35/14; D04B35/16; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/89; G01N21/8914; G01N21/8915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A photoelectric monitoring device for groups of threads, such as in warp knitting machines, in which monitoring beams of light are directed transversely across one group of threads each and impinge on photoelectric detectors, the improvement comprising that the monitoring beams of light are formed by providing a single light source forming a light beam and by arranging a plurality of beam splitting mirrors one behind the other in the optical path of said light beam and at an angle to the beam axis thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A photoelectric monitoring device for groups of threads, such as in warp knitting machines, in which monitoring beams of light are directed transversely across one group of threads each and impinge on photoelectric detectors, the improvement comprising that the monitoring beams of light are formed by providing a single light source forming a light beam and by arranging a plurality of beam splitting mirrors one behind the other in the optical path of said light beam and at an angle to the beam axis thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light source is a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beam splitting mirrors are partially transparent mirrors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source is a laser emitting a laser beam, and a first partially transparent beam splitting mirror is located in the optical path of said laser beam at an angle to the beam axis, the partial beam transmitted by said first partially transparent mirror being directed across a first group of threads to a photoelectric detector as a first monitoring light beam, and wherein a plurality of additional partially transparent mirrors are located in the optical path of the partial beam reflected by said first partially transparent mirror at an angle to the beam axis, the partial beams reflected by said additional partially transparent mirrors being directed across additional pluralities of threads to one photoelectric detector each as additional beams for the monitoring of the threads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and additional partially transparent mirrors are arranged parallel to each other and at an angle of 45* to the beam axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the partially Transparent mirrors are mounted in a tubular housing having windows in its wall for the light beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a detector optical system in the optical path of each said monitoring light beams, the detector for the respective monitoring light beam being located in the focal point of said detector optical system, the aperture of said detector optical system being large as compared to the monitoring light beam cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light source is a laser emitting a laser beam and said laser and said beam splitting mirrors are mounted in a housing, the housing being supported by vibration damping means, said vibration damping means being designed, however, to oppose rotary oscillations of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air outlet pipe extends across said groups of threads and a blower is connected to said air outlet pipe, each of said light beams being formed on the side of the respective group of threads remote from said outlet pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tubular housing comprises a plurality of tubular housing sections, the housing sections being connected by threaded sleeves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the monitoring light beams passes through a pipe extending across one of the pluralities of threads and provided with an axial slot, said pipe being connected to a suction source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beam splitting mirrors are fully reflecting mirrors located in different partial cross sections of the light beam emanating from said light source to thereby fully reflect the intercepted part of the beam and permit the remaining, unintercepted part, to pass by.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A photoelectric monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transmittance of the first of a total of n partially transparent mirrors is 1/n 100 percent and the transmittance of the successive mirrors in the optical path is (n - 2)/(n - 1) 100%, (n - 3)/(n - 2) 100% . . . (n - K)/(n -(K-1)) 100%, K being the current number of the mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a photoelectric monitoring device for use with a knitting machine or the like having n groups of threads to be monitored against breakage of a thread, wherein said device includes means to produce n beams of light, one for each group respectively, and a photoelectric detector for each beam respectively to produce a signal when the respective beam is intercepted by a broken thread, the improvement comprising: said means comprising a laser for producing a single main beam of light having a relatively small cross section, n mirror means positioned transverse to said main beam, each mirror means being for a respective group, said mirror means being arranged in a series such that each of the mirror means except that last permits part of the main beam to pass by while forming from the main beam a partial beam to monitor the respective group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a photoelectric monitoring device for use with a knitting machine or the like having n groups of threads to be monitored against breakage of a thread, wherein said device includes means to produce n beams of light, one for each group respectively, and a photoelectric detector for each beam respectively to produce a signal when the respective beam is intercepted by a broken thread, the improvement comprising: said means comprising a laser for producing a single main beam of light having a relatively small cross section, n mirror means positioned transverse to said main beam, each mirror means being for a respective group, said mirror means being arranged in a series such that each of the mirror means except that last permits part of the main beam to pass by while forming from the main beam a partial beam to monitor the respective group.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first mirror means in said series has a transmittance of approximately 1/n 100 percent and the transmittance of the successive mirrors in the series is approximately (n - 2)/(n - 1) 100%, (n - 3)/(n - 2) 100% . . . (n - K)/(n -(K-1)) 100% K being the current number of the mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |