Patent US3902308A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3902308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical sensing system for textile apparatus
Assignee: Leesona Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-19
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1993-09-19
Abstract
Abstract In an automatic spinning machine equipped with a traveling tender carriage capable of detecting the existence of an abnormal condition at a station on the machine and servicing the station to restore it to normal operation, an optical sensing system is associated with the carriage to optically sense the movement of the carriage into registration with a spinning station and provide an indication thereof by reflection from a curved specular surface situated at the station. Preferably the sensing system includes a plurality of sensing stages, the outputs of which are used to control the arrest of the carriage and its alignment with a station to be serviced according to a predetermined sequence. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of photodector cells is employed in each sensing stage and the signals generated thereby are compared electronically to detect when the cell pair is disposed symmetrically of the center line of the given station.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Evans Bernstein
- 👤 Robert Stephen Erbstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:28
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01H; D01H13/00; D01H13/14; D01H13/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In an automatic multi-station strand processing machine equipped with a motor-driven traveling tender carriage capable of detecting the existence of an abnormal condition at a processing station in the machine and servicing the station to restore it to normal operation, an improved control arrangement for arresting said carriage in operative alignment with said station which comprises means responsive to the detection of an abnormal condition at a given station to arrest the travel of the carriage at a point past the center line of said station and then reverse the driving direction of the carriage motor, a plurality of sensing stages on said carriage disposed in fixed spaced relation in the direction of carriage travel and adapted to sense individually the passage thereof into registration with the center line of said station and to generate a corresponding output signal, means for arresting the reverse travel of said carriage responsive to a signal from a first sensing stage, and means operative when said carriage is arrested for observing signals from the first sensing stage and a second stage spaced downstream relative to the reverse direction of carriage travel of said first stage to indicate misalignment of the carriage with respect to said station center line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In an automatic multi-station strand processing machine equipped with a motor-driven traveling tender carriage capable of detecting the existence of an abnormal condition at a processing station in the machine and servicing the station to restore it to normal operation, an improved control arrangement for arresting said carriage in operative alignment with said station which comprises means responsive to the detection of an abnormal condition at a given station to arrest the travel of the carriage at a point past the center line of said station and then reverse the driving direction of the carriage motor, a plurality of sensing stages on said carriage disposed in fixed spaced relation in the direction of carriage travel and adapted to sense individually the passage thereof into registration with the center line of said station and to generate a corresponding output signal, means for arresting the reverse travel of said carriage responsive to a signal from a first sensing stage, and means operative when said carriage is arrested for observing signals from the first sensing stage and a second stage spaced downstream relative to the reverse direction of carriage travel of said first stage to indicate misalignment of the carriage with respect to said station center line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a further sensing station arranged in leading relation to said two stations to observe the arrival of the reversely traveling carriage into proximity with the station to be serviced and to prepare the carriage to be arrested.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said further sensing station reduces the driving speed of the carriage preparatory to its arrest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a one of said stages is operative to record the number of further stations passed in bringing the carriage to a stop thereby preventing the arrest of said carriage during its backup phase until said carriage reaches its proper station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means responsive to said signals from said first and second sensing stages indicating misalignment to operate said carriage to make a further attempt to arrest the carriage in operative alignment with said station centerline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for terminating the operation of said carriage motor after a predetermined number of attempts by said carriage to position in alignment with said station centerline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means for providing a signal to indicate that the carriage has failed to assume a condition of registration with said centerline after said predetermined number of attempts.
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) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |