Warp letoff control system

Claim 2

In combination, first input means for supplying a predetermined input signal, second input means for supplying a regularly recurring input signal, third input means for supplying an input signal having a variable frequency rate, logic means for receiving the input signals from said first, second and third input means and for producing an output signal representative of a relationship Between said input signals from said first and third input means as a function of the input signals from said second input means, and utilization means connected to receive said output signal from said logic means.

Claim 3

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said utilization means includes a variable speed drive device which has the speed thereof controlled as a function of said output signal from said logic means.

Claim 4

The combination recited in claim 1 including counter means connected to receive said input signals from said first and third input means and to supply signals to said logic means.

Claim 5

The combination recited in claim 3 including pulse shaping means connected between said third input means and said counter means.

Claim 6

The combination recited in claim 4 including control means for selectively supplying some of said regularly recurring input signals from said second input means to said counter means to affect the count relationship between said input signals supplied to said counter means by said first and third input means.

Claim 7

The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said control means includes at least one bistable means for supplying a signal to said counter means in response to alternate ones of said regularly recurring input signals supplied by said second input means, and pulse delay means for controlling the application of the signal from said bistable means to said counter means as a function of said regularly recurring signals supplied by said second input means.

Claim 8

The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said pulse delay means includes a pair of logic gates connected in series, energy storage means connected between said pair of logic gates whereby the second logic gate is triggered only after the first logic gate has been triggered and caused sufficient energy to be stored in said energy storage means to trigger said second logic gate, one-shot circuit means connected to said second logic gate to receive signals therefrom and to produce an output signal of predetermined length in response to a signal from said second logic gate, and an AND gate connected to receive signals from said bistable means and said one shot circuit means and to supply a signal to said counter means upon the concurrent application of prescribed signals, thereby to selectively insert a count signal into said counter means in addition to the variable frequency signals from said third input means.

Claim 9

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first input means includes manually controlled switches.

Claim 10

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said second and third input means include sensors for detecting motion of separate devices.

Claim 11

The combination recited in claim 1 including pulse shaping means for supplying control signals to said logic means in response to said regularly recurring signals from said second input means.

Claim 12

The combination recited in claim 1 including buffer means connected between said logic means and said utilization means, said second input means connected to supply said regularly recurring signals to said buffer means such that said buffer means supplies signals from said logic means to said utilization means only in response to a signal from said second input means.

Claim 13

The combination recited in claim 1 including first and second adjustable divider means connected to receive signals from said first and second input means respectively, and said means connecting said logic means to said first and second adjustable divider means to selectively adjust the dividing rate thereof.

Claim 14

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said logic means includes counter means connected to receive said predetermined input signal from said first input means to establish an initial signal condition in said counter means and to receive said variable frequency input signal from said third input means to alter said initial signal condition in said counter means, decoding means for deTecting the signal conditions at said counter means and producing an output signal representative of said signal condition, output buffer means for selectively transferring the output signal from said decoding means to said utilization means in response to a signal from said second input means.

Claim 15

The combination recited in claim 13 including pulse shaping means connected to receive said regularly recurring signals from said second input means, and means connecting said output buffer means to said pulse shaping means and to said counter means whereby the operation of said counter means and said pulse shaping means is selectively and concurrently altered by a prescribed signal from said output buffer means.

Claim 16

The combination recited in claim 1 including buffer gate means connected between said first input means and said logic means, said buffer gate means being selectively rendered operative in response to a signal produced by said second input means.

Claim 17

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first input means comprises a plurality of manually controlled switches associated with a knitting machine and said predetermined input signal represents a desired yarn length to be used in the knitting machine operation, said second input means comprises means for detecting the operation of a direct drive means whereby the speed of the knitting machine operation is detected, said third input means comprises means for detecting the operation of the yarn supply wherein the variation in speed of the yarn supply is detected, and said utilization means includes a variable speed drive means for selectively altering the speed of said yarn supply whereby a prescribed relation between the yarn supply and the knitting machine operation is retained.

Claim 18

A control system comprising first sensor means for producing signals representative of motion of a first device, second sensor means for producing signals representative of motion of a second device, input means for producing a signal representative of a predetermined value, first counter means for selectively receiving signals in parallel from said input means in response to a signal from said first sensor means, said first counter means further receiving signals in series from said second sensor means, decoding means connected to receive signals from said first counter means which signals are representative of a relationship between the signals supplied to said first counter means in series and in parallel, output means, and control means connected to receive signals from said decoding means and to drive said output means in accordance with the signals from said decoding means in response to a signal from said first sensor means.

Claim 19

A control system comprising first sensor means for producing signals representative of motion of a first device, second sensor means for producing signals representative of motion of a second device, input means for producing a signal representative of a predetermined value, first counter means for selectively receiving signals in parallel from said input means in response to a signal from said first sensor means, said first counter means further receiving signals in series from said second sensor means, decoding means connected to receive signals from said first counter means which signals are representative of a relationship between the signals supplied to said first counter means in series and in parallel, output means, and control means connected to receive signals from said decoding means and to drive said output means in accordance with the signals from said decoding means in response to a signal from said first sensor means.

Claim 20

The control system recited in claim 17 including circuit means connected to periodically produce an output signal as a function of signals from said first sensor means and to supply said output signal to said first counter means in addition to signals supplied to said first counter means by said second sensor means.

Claim 21

The control system recited in claim 17 including second counter means connected to receive signals from said first sensor means, said first and second counter means each including at least one portion thereof which can selectively vary the counting operation of the respective counters.

Claim 22

The control system recited in claim 17 wherein each said portion of said first and second counter means is connected to receive a signal from said decoding means which selectively and concurrently changes the counting operation of the counters.