Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A stuffer box crimping machine comprising a stuffer box, feed means for supplying yarn to the stuffer box to form a plug of yarn therein, a take-up device arranged to withdraw yarn from the stuffer box and to form the yarn into a package, a D.C. motor arranged to drive the take-up device, detector means arranged to produce a level-dependent electrical output in dependence on the level of the plug of yarn in the stuffer box, a diameter sensor for sensing the diameter of the package and arranged to provide a diameter-dependent electrical output dependent on the diameter of the package, a speed sensor operative to detect the rate at which yarn is fed to the stuffer box by the feed means and to provide a feed-dependent electrical output in dependence on the detected rate, and control means arranged to receive the level-dependent electrical output, the diameter-dependent electrical output and the speed-dependent electrical output and being operative to control the rotational speed of the D.C. motor whereby the plug of yarn in the stuffer box is maintained between predetermined limits in dependence on the said electrical outputs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A stuffer box crimping machine comprising a stuffer box, feed means for supplying yarn to the stuffer box to form a plug of yarn therein, a take-up device arranged to withdraw yarn from the stuffer box and to form the yarn into a package, a D.C. motor arranged to drive the take-up device, detector means arranged to produce a level-dependent electrical output in dependence on the level of the plug of yarn in the stuffer box, a diameter sensor for sensing the diameter of the package and arranged to provide a diameter-dependent electrical output dependent on the diameter of the package, a speed sensor operative to detect the rate at which yarn is fed to the stuffer box by the feed means and to provide a feed-dependent electrical output in dependence on the detected rate, and control means arranged to receive the level-dependent electrical output, the diameter-dependent electrical output and the speed-dependent electrical output and being operative to control the rotational speed of the D.C. motor whereby the plug of yarn in the stuffer box is maintained between predetermined limits in dependence on the said electrical outputs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a drive motor for the feed means, and wherein the speed sensor is a tachogenerator arranged to be driven by the drive motor for the feed means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
A machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the detector means comprises upper and lower detectors arranged at upper and lower levels of the stuffer box and each operative to detect the presence and absence of the plug of yarn at the respective levels, and to provide the level-dependent electrical output, the control means being operative, in response to said level-dependent electrical output, to increase the rotational speed of the D.C. motor when the detected level of the plug of yarn is above the upper level, being operative to decrease the rotational speed of the D.C. motor when the detected level of the plug of yarn is below the lower level, and being operative to maintain the rotational speed of the D.C. motor unchanged when the detected level of the plug of yarn is between the upper and loweR levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the detectors are ultrasonic wave detectors and wherein the control means includes an amplifier producing an output signal in dependence on a reference signal applied to the input of the amplifier, and wherein the output signal of the amplifier controls a thyristor to supply the voltage to the armature of the D.C. motor whereby to drive the motor at a rotational speed dependent on the reference signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine as claimed in claim 4 including means for detecting the actual rotational speed of the D.C. motor and providing a feed-back signal dependent on the rotational speed for the amplifier whereby to adjust the amplifier output signal, if necessary, in a corrective sense to maintain the motor rotating at the speed dependent on the reference signal.