Computerized control system for a carding machine

Claim 1

An electronic control system for a machine which forms fiber material into a length of sliver which is delivered into a storage can, and which includes a carding cylinder, a feed roller for supplying fiber material to the cylinder, a doffer for removing a web of carded fibers from the cylinder and means for removing the carded fibers from the doffer and forming them into the length of sliver, each of the carding cylinder, feed roller and doffer being driven at a respective operating speed, said system comprising: monitoring means for monitoring the operation of said machine; controllable regulator means connected for controlling the operating speed of at least one of said doffer and feed roller; and microcomputer means connected to said monitoring means and said regulator means for controlling said regulator means, said microcomputer means comprising: data memory means operable for receiving data signals constituting representations of predetermined values for the operating speed of at least one of said doffer and feed roller and properties of the fiber material to be processed, for storing such representations, and for transmitting data signals constituting such representations; program memory means for storing a representation of the sequence of operations to be performed by said microcomputer means, said program memory means being operable for receiving signals for controlling readout from said program memory means and for transmitting program signals based on the stored representation of the sequence of operations; microprocessor means constituting a central processing unit and connected for controlling the transmission of such signals to and from said data memory means and said program memory means; interface logic means connected to said microprocessor means for supplying to said microprocessor means data signals intended for said data memory means and for receiving from said microprocessor means data signals transmitted by said data memory means and program signals transmitted by said program memory means, and connected to said monitoring means for receiving information therefrom; input means connected to said interface means for the input of data and program information to be stored in said data memory means and said program memory means; and output logic means connected between said interface logic means and said regulator means for supplying signals for controlling said regulator means; whereby said microcomputer means control the operation of said machine on the basis of the representations stored in said data and program memory means and the information provided by said monitoring means.