Material feed rate control system

Claim 2

For use in a cyclically operable textile machine for making textiles and having a material feed mechanism adjustable for adjusting the linear feed rate of material, a material feed rate control system operable for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting for any difference between the actual linear feed rate and a pre-established desired feed rate, the control system comprising first and second subtracting predetermining counters settable to counts preestablishing the desired linear feed rate and operating means for indexing the first counter in a subtracting direction from its set count in accordance with the length of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter in a subtracting direction from its set count in accordance with the number of cycles of operation of the textile machine and, during the interval after one of the counters reach zero and before the other counter reaches zero, for automatically adjusting the feed mechanism in accordance with the difference between the actual number of counts the first and second counters have been indexed and the set counts thereof.

Claim 3

A material feed rate control system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the counters is variably settable for pre-establishing the desired linear feed rate.

Claim 4

In a cyclically operable yarn knitting machine having a variable speed mechanism adjustable for adjusting the yarn linear feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system for automatically controlling the rate of feed of yarn to the machine and comprising bi-directional control means for adjusting the variable speed mechanism and operable in opposite directions for increasinG and decreasing respectively the linear feed rate, first and second predetermined counter means, operating mean for indexing the first counter means in accordance with the number of machine cycles and for indexing the second counter means in accordance with the length of material fed to the machine and for operating the bi-directional control means for adjusting the material feed rate during the interval after one of the counter means reaches a predetermined count thereof and until the other counter means reaches a predetermined count thereof for adjusting the linear feed rate of yarn.

Claim 5

In a cyclically operable yarn knitting machine having a variable speed mechanism adjustable for adjusting the yarn linear feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system for automatically controlling the rate of feed of yarn to the machine and comprising bi-directional control means for adjusting the variable speed mechanism and operable in opposite directions for increasinG and decreasing respectively the linear feed rate, first and second predetermined counter means, operating mean for indexing the first counter means in accordance with the number of machine cycles and for indexing the second counter means in accordance with the length of material fed to the machine and for operating the bi-directional control means for adjusting the material feed rate during the interval after one of the counter means reaches a predetermined count thereof and until the other counter means reaches a predetermined count thereof for adjusting the linear feed rate of yarn.

Claim 6

For use in a cyclically operable machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system comprising first and second counter means, and operating means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship between the counts of the first and second counter means and a pre-established relationship, the operating means comprising a bi-directional stepping motor for adjusting the material feed mechanism and adapted to be indexed in opposite directions for increasing and decreasing respectively the material feed rate and electrical pulse generator means for indexing the first and second counter means and the stepping motor.

Claim 7

For use in a cyclically operable machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system comprising first and second counter means, and operating means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship between the counts of the first and second counter means and a pre-established relationship, the operating means comprising a bi-directional stepping motor for adjusting the material feed mechanism and adapted to be indexed in opposite directions for increasing and decreasing respectively the material feed rate and electrical pulse generator means for indexing the first and second counter means and the stepping motor.

Claim 8

A material feed rate control system according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said counter means is selectively presettable to selectively establish said preestablished relationship.

Claim 9

For use in a cyclically operable machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system comprising first and second counter means, and operating means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material feed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship between the counts of the first and second counter means and a pre-established relationship, the operating means being operable for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism during the interval after one of said counter means reaches an established count thereof and before the other counter means reaches an established count thereof, the said established counts establishing said pre-established relationship.

Claim 10

For use in a cyclically operable machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system comprising first and second counter means, and operating means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material feed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship between the counts of the first and second counter means and a pre-established relationship, the operating means being operable for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism during the interval after one of said counter means reaches an established count thereof and before the other counter means reaches an established count thereof, the said established counts establishing said pre-established relationship.

Claim 11

For use in a cyclically operable textile machine for making textiles and having a material feed mechanism for feeding material at an established linear rate and adjustable for adjusting the linear feed rate, a material feed rate control system comprising counter means adapted to be indexed to accumulate the actual relationship between the length of material feed to the machine and the number of cycles of operation of the machine and presettable for pre-establishing a desired relationship therebetween, and operating means operable for indexing the counter means to accumulate the actual relationship and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the linear feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship and the pre-established desired relationship, the counter means comprising first and second counters presettable for presetting respective counts establishing said desired relationship, the operating means being operable for indexing the first counter to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter to count the amOunt of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual counts of the first and second counter means and the preset counts, the operating means comprising first and second pulse generators for indexing the first and second counters respectively, and bi-directional adjustment means operable for automatically connecting at least one of the pulse generators for adjusting the linear feed rate during the interval after one of the counters has been indexed by the amount of the preset count thereof and before the other counter has been indexed by the amount of the preset count thereof.

Claim 12

For use in a cyclically operable textile machine for making textiles and having a material feed mechanism for feeding material at an established linear rate and adjustable for adjusting the linear feed rate, a material feed rate control system comprising counter means adapted to be indexed to accumulate the actual relationship between the length of material feed to the machine and the number of cycles of operation of the machine and presettable for pre-establishing a desired relationship therebetween, and operating means operable for indexing the counter means to accumulate the actual relationship and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the linear feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual relationship and the pre-established desired relationship, the counter means comprising first and second counters presettable for presetting respective counts establishing said desired relationship, the operating means being operable for indexing the first counter to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter to count the amOunt of operation of the machine and for automatically adjusting the material feed mechanism for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual counts of the first and second counter means and the preset counts, the operating means comprising first and second pulse generators for indexing the first and second counters respectively, and bi-directional adjustment means operable for automatically connecting at least one of the pulse generators for adjusting the linear feed rate during the interval after one of the counters has been indexed by the amount of the preset count thereof and before the other counter has been indexed by the amount of the preset count thereof.

Claim 13

A material feed rate control system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said counters has a switch operable when the counter is indexed by the amount of the preset count thereof to operate the control means for connecting a pulse generator to operate a bi-directional adjustment means.

Claim 14

A material feed rate control system according to claim 7 wherein the counters are resettable to commence a control cycle and further comprising means for automatically resetting the counters after they have both been indexed by the amount of their respective preset counts.

Claim 15

For use in a machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system for automatically adjusting the material feed rate for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual feed rate and an established feed rate comprising a bi-directional motor operable for adjusting the material feed mechanism and adapted to be selectively operated in opposite operative directions thereof for increasing and decreasing respectively the material feed rate, first and second counter means, counter drive means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine, and control means for automatically operating the bi-directional motor during substantially the entirety of an interval after one of the counter means has been indexed a first predetermined count thereof and before the other counter means has been indexed a second predetermined count thereof, the said first and second predetermined counts of the first and second counter means determining said established feed rate and the control means providing for operating the bi-directional motor in a selected direction correcting the material feed rate towards said established feed rate.

Claim 16

For use in a machine having a material feed mechanism for feeding material to the machine and adjustable for adjusting the material feed rate to the machine, a material feed rate control system for automatically adjusting the material feed rate for at least partly correcting the material feed rate in accordance with any difference between the actual feed rate and an established feed rate comprising a bi-directional motor operable for adjusting the material feed mechanism and adapted to be selectively operated in opposite operative directions thereof for increasing and decreasing respectively the material feed rate, first and second counter means, counter drive means for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material fed to the machine and for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine, and control means for automatically operating the bi-directional motor during substantially the entirety of an interval after one of the counter means has been indexed a first predetermined count thereof and before the other counter means has been indexed a second predetermined count thereof, the said first and second predetermined counts of the first and second counter means determining said established feed rate and the control means providing for operating the bi-directional motor in a selected direction correcting the material feed rate towards said established feed rate.

Claim 17

A material feed rate control system according to claim 10 wherein the counter drive means comprises pulse generator means connected for indexing the first counter means to count the amount of material fed to the machine and connected for indexing the second counter means to count the amount of operation of the machine, and wherein the control means comprises first and second control switches operable by the first and second counter means respectively when they are indexed said first and second predetermined counts respectively, the control means being operable by the respective control switch of said one counter means for connecting the pulse generator means for operating the bi-directional motor in said selected direction.

Claim 18

A material feed rate control system according to claim 11 wherein the control means is operable by the respective control switch of said other counter means for disconnecting the pulse generator means from operation of the bi-directional motor.