Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of texturizing a yarn and simultaneously monitoring the quality of a crimped yarn produced during said yarn texturizing process, comprising the steps of: forwarding a yarn to a crimping device in a texturizing zone and texturizing said yarn in said zone to insert a crimp therein; measuring a first velocity of the crimped yarn whilst forwarding the crimped yarn through said zone from said crimping device under a first tension which is sufficient to draw out the crimp; then forwarding the crimped yarn under a stabilizing second tension which is insufficient to draw out the crimp and measuring a second velocity of the yarn whilst so forwarding it; and calculating a crimp velocity value from said yarn velocity measurements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of texturizing a yarn and simultaneously monitoring the quality of a crimped yarn produced during said yarn texturizing process, comprising the steps of: forwarding a yarn to a crimping device in a texturizing zone and texturizing said yarn in said zone to insert a crimp therein; measuring a first velocity of the crimped yarn whilst forwarding the crimped yarn through said zone from said crimping device under a first tension which is sufficient to draw out the crimp; then forwarding the crimped yarn under a stabilizing second tension which is insufficient to draw out the crimp and measuring a second velocity of the yarn whilst so forwarding it; and calculating a crimp velocity value from said yarn velocity measurements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising; forwarding said crimped yarn through said texturizing zone, by means of a feed device, wherein said first velocity measurement is effected by measuring the peripheral speed of said yarn feed device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 2 comprising feeding the yarn from said texturizing zone through a subsequent processiong region wherein said subsequent processing region has two spaced locations therein, and wherein said second velocity measurement is effected by detecting, at said two spaced locations, a parameter of said yarn which moves with said yarn, and measuring the elapsed time between such detections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said second velocity measuring step comprises detecting at said two locations a static electrical charge carried by said yarn.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for texturizing a yarn and simultaneously monitoring the quality of a crimped yarn produced during said texturizing comprising: a texturizing zone and means disposed in said texturizing zone for crimping a yarn to insert a crimp therein; first forwarding and tensioning means operable to forward the crimped yarn through said texturizing zone from said crimping means under a first tension sufficient to draw out the crimp therein; first velocity measuring means operable to measure the velocity of the crimped yarn whilst it is forwarded under said first tension; second forwarding and tensioning means operable to forward said crimped yarn under a second stabilising tension insufficient to draw out the crimp; second velocity measuring means operable to measure the velocity of the crimped yarn whilst it is forwarded under said stabilizing second tenson; and calculating means operable to calculate a crimp velocity value from said yarn velocity measurements.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for texturizing a yarn and simultaneously monitoring the quality of a crimped yarn produced during said texturizing comprising: a texturizing zone and means disposed in said texturizing zone for crimping a yarn to insert a crimp therein; first forwarding and tensioning means operable to forward the crimped yarn through said texturizing zone from said crimping means under a first tension sufficient to draw out the crimp therein; first velocity measuring means operable to measure the velocity of the crimped yarn whilst it is forwarded under said first tension; second forwarding and tensioning means operable to forward said crimped yarn under a second stabilising tension insufficient to draw out the crimp; second velocity measuring means operable to measure the velocity of the crimped yarn whilst it is forwarded under said stabilizing second tenson; and calculating means operable to calculate a crimp velocity value from said yarn velocity measurements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a subsequent processing apparatus, wherein said first forwarding and tensioning device comprises a feed device operable to feed said crimped yarn after it has passed through said crimping means, and wherein said first velocity measuring means is operable to measure the peripheral speed of said feed device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 comprising two spaced locations, wherein said second velocity measuring means comprises detecting means operable to detect at said two spaced locations a parameter of the yarn which moves with the yarn, and time measuring means operable to measure the elapsed time between such detections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said detecting means comprises static electrical charge measuring means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus, according to claim 7 wherein said second velocity measuring means comprises: a housing in which two spaced locations are located and which defines a path of travel of the yarn therethrough; and said detecting means comprises at each location a sensor adapted to detect the presence of a static electric charge on said yarn and to produce an electrical signal proportional to the value of said static electric charge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each sensor comprises a disc of an electrically conductive material having an aperture therein through which a yarn may pass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising a body of an electrically insulating material, wherein said discs are separated by said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said housing comprises a case of an elecrically conductive material and which encloses said discs and said insulating body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising an amplifier and having an input respective to each disc, wherein each disc is electrically connected to said respective input of said amplifier and then to said calculating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said amplifier is a high impedance, non-inverting, negative feedback operational amplifier having a leakage resistor disposed between each of said inputs and a zero volt (earth) lead.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each of said resistors has a value of substantially 180 KΩ.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said calculating means comprises: delay means operable to apply a delay to said signal from said sensor at said first location; and correlating means operable to cross-correlate said delayed signal with said signal from said sensor at said second location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said locations are spaced substantially 200 mm apart.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
A false twist crimping machine having a plurality of yarn processing stations, and for each of said stations an apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each second velocity measuring means comprises: a housing having first and second spaced locations therein and detecting means at each of said spaced locations operable to detect a parameter of the yarn which moves with the yarn and to produce an electrical signal proportional to the value of said parameter, and wherein said calculating means comprises signal store means for each of a set of said yarn processing stations each to receive said signal from a respective measuring means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
91 words
A false twist crimping machine according to claim 18 wherein said calculating means comprises correlating means operable to cross-correlate said signals from said detecting means at said spaced locations of said second velocity measuring means at a first yarn processing station of said set, simultaneously with said calculating means receiving into a respective signal store means said signals from at least one other measuring means at an adjacent yarn processing station of said set, and to repeat said operation in sequence for each of said yarn processing stations of said set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A false twist crimping machine according to claim 19, wherein four measuring means at adjacent yarn processing stations are adapted to produce signals which are received simultaneously into the respective signal store means of said calculating means.