Yarn balloon detector for cone over cone lazy twist

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing a plurality of twisted yarn strands of substantially uniform twist comprising: a first quantity of yarn, a second quantity of yarn, means defining a passage through which at least one strand from each of said first and second quantities of yarn moves with one of said strands ballooning about another of said strands and at least intermittently contacting the periphery of said passage so that said one strand is uniformly twisted about the other strand, means for pulling said strands through said passage, means for detecting the ballooning of said one strand in said passage and means connected to said detecting means for producing a given signal when said detecting means detects that said one strand is not ballooning, means for detecting said other strand and producing a predetermined signal when said other strand is not present.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a light source disposed for providing a light beam across the region in which said one strand is twisting about said other strand so that said beam is periodically interrupted by the said ballooning strand, a light detector disposed for receiving said light beam and producing a signal which varies as a function of incident light so that said signal fluctuates when said beam is being periodically interrupted, and wherein said producing means includes: circuit means connected to said detector for receiving said varying signal and producing a first output signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is being periodically interrupted, and a second output signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is not being periodically interrupted.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said circuit means includes: an input DC blocking capacitor for receiving said signal from said light detector, first electronic switch means with an input connected to said blocking capacitor for shifting from a first to second output condition when said blocking capacitor passes parts of a fluctuating signal which are changing in a given polarity direction, a further capacitor connected to the output of said first electronic switch means for changing its charge toward a predetermined constant voltage when said first electronic switch means is in said second output condition, and second electronic switch means connected to said further capacitor for producing said second output signal when said further capacitor changes its charge to a given voltage level and producing said first output signal when said further capacitor does not change its charge to at least said given voltage level.

Claim 5

An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said electronic switching means each includes first and second darlington connected transistors.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 4, further including means for producing a direct current voltage, means for connecting said light source to said direct current voltage circuit, means for connecting said light detector to said blocking capacitor and to said direct current voltage producing means for causing said detector to vary in resistance as a function of incident light so as to apply said input signal to said blocking capacitor.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 3, further including: logic means connected to said second electronic switch means for providing an output voltage of first or second voltage levels, a third capacitor connected to said logic means for changing its charge toward a given constant voltage when said logic means shifts from said first to second output voltage level, third electronic switch means with an input connected to said third capacitor for shifting from a first to second output condition when said third capacitor changes its charge to a predetermined voltage level, fourth electronic switch means connected to said third electronic switch means and to a device of the type which is operated by a change in the electric current flowing through it for causing said device to be operated when said third switch means shifts to said second condition, a fourth capacitor connected to the said third electronic switch means for changing its charge toward a predetermined voltage when said third electronic switch means shifts from said first to said second output condition, fifth electronic switch means connected to said fourth electronic switch means and to said fourth capacitor for shifting from a first to second output condition when said fourth capacitor changes its charge to a given voltage level and for causing said device to be deactivated when said fifth electronic means shifts to said second output condition.

Claim 8

An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said third and fifth electronic switching means each includes a Schmidt trigger circuit.

Claim 9

An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said logic means includes an exclusive OR circuit.

Claim 10

An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said fourth electronic switch means includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a diode connecting said first transistor to said second transistor, and a triac connected in series with a current carrying portion of said device and to said second transistor and wherein said fifth electronic switch means includes a diode connected to said second transistor.

Claim 11

An apparatus as in claim 9, further including switch means for disabling said fifth electronic switch means.

Claim 12

A circuit for producing a first output signal when a substantially constant amplitude input signal is received and a second output signal when a fluctuating input signal is received comprising: an input D.C. blocking capacitor for receiving said input signal, first electronic switch means with an input connected to said blocking capacitor for shifting from a first to second output condition when said blocking capacitor passes parts of a fluctuating input signal which are changing in a given polarity direction, a further capacitor connected to the output of said electronic switch means for changing its charge toward a predetermined constant voltage when said first electronic switch means is in said second output condition, second electronic switch means connected to said further capacitor for producing said second output signal when said further capacitor changes its charge to a given voltage level and producing said first output signal when said further capacitor does not change its charge to at least said given voltage level, and means connected to said blocking capacitor for detecting a yarn strand and producing said fluctuating input signal when said strand is detected and said substantially constant input signal when said strand is not detected, means for detecting a further strand and producing a further signal indicating the detection of said further strand, logic means connected to said second electronic means and to said further strand detecting means for receiving said further signal and said first and second output signal and producing a first logic signal when said first output is received and said further signal indicates detection of said further strand and a second logic signal when said second output is received and said further signal does not indicate detection of said further strand.

Claim 13

A circuit for producing a first output signal when a substantially constant amplitude input signal is received and a second output signal when a fluctuating input signal is received comprising: an input D.C. blocking capacitor for receiving said input signal, first electronic switch means with an input connected to said blocking capacitor for shifting from a first to second output condition when said blocking capacitor passes parts of a fluctuating input signal which are changing in a given polarity direction, a further capacitor connected to the output of said electronic switch means for changing its charge toward a predetermined constant voltage when said first electronic switch means is in said second output condition, second electronic switch means connected to said further capacitor for producing said second output signal when said further capacitor changes its charge to a given voltage level and producing said first output signal when said further capacitor does not change its charge to at least said given voltage level, and means connected to said blocking capacitor for detecting a yarn strand and producing said fluctuating input signal when said strand is detected and said substantially constant input signal when said strand is not detected, means for detecting a further strand and producing a further signal indicating the detection of said further strand, logic means connected to said second electronic means and to said further strand detecting means for receiving said further signal and said first and second output signal and producing a first logic signal when said first output is received and said further signal indicates detection of said further strand and a second logic signal when said second output is received and said further signal does not indicate detection of said further strand.

Claim 14

A circuit as in claim 11, wherein said electronic switch means each includes first and second darlington connected transistors.

Claim 15

A circuit as in claim 11, wherein said means connected to said blocking capacitor includes means for producing a direct current voltage, a light source connected to said direct current voltage producing circuit, photoresponsive means connected to said blocking capacitor and to said direct current voltage producing means for varying in resistance as a function of incident light so as to apply said input signal to said blocking capacitor.

Claim 16

Apparatus for detecting yarn balloon comprising: means defining a passage for a yarn strand so that said strand balloons through said passage, a light source disposed for producing a light beam across and within said passage, so that said beam is periodically interrupted by the ballooning strand in said passage, a light detector disposed in said passage for receiving said light beam, and producing a signal which varies as a function of incident light so that said signal fluctuates when said beam is being periodically interrupted, and circuit means connected to said detector for receiving said varying signal and producing a first signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is being periodically interrupted and a second signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is not being periodically interrupted.

Claim 17

Apparatus for detecting yarn balloon comprising: means defining a passage for a yarn strand so that said strand balloons through said passage, a light source disposed for producing a light beam across and within said passage, so that said beam is periodically interrupted by the ballooning strand in said passage, a light detector disposed in said passage for receiving said light beam, and producing a signal which varies as a function of incident light so that said signal fluctuates when said beam is being periodically interrupted, and circuit means connected to said detector for receiving said varying signal and producing a first signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is being periodically interrupted and a second signal when said signal from said detector indicates said beam is not being periodically interrupted.

Claim 20

A method as in claim 15, wherein said yarn quantities are on cones and said step of pulling strands includes the step of pulling at least said another strand through a central passage in the cone holding said one yarn strand.

Claim 21

A method as in claim 15, including the step of detecting the presence of said another strand and producing a given signal when said another strand is not detected.

Claim 22

A method as in claim 15, wherein said step of detecting includes the step of producing a beam of light which impinges upon photoresponsive means and which is periodically interrupted by the ballooning strand.