Method and apparatus for volume or size detection of a yarn package and for deriving confined control processes therefrom

Claim 1

A method for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin with a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers and for deriving defined control processes in accordance with the ascertained size, which comprises: moving bobbins with yarn packages in a given direction of motion at a predetermined speed between a column of a plurality of light transmitters disposed one above the other with respect to the given direction of motion and a column of a plurality of light receivers disposed one above the other with respect to the given direction of motion, each of the light transmitters being associated with a respective one of the oppositely disposed light receivers, for placing at least some of the light receivers into a shadow; switching at least one of the light transmitters and light receivers on and off in cycles at a predetermined rhythn, order and duration; delivering a signal to a computer from each of the light receivers placed into a shadow in each cycle by a bobbin; calculating the volume of the bobbin with the computer from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from the signals from the shadowed light receivers delivered during the given time, and from the predetermined speed of motion of the bobbins; subtracting the volume of the tube of the bobbin from the volume of the bobbin for determining the volume of the yarn package; and assigning the bobbins to a specific work station as a function of the volume of the yarn package.

Claim 2

A method for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin with a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers and for deriving defined control processes in accordance with the ascertained size, which comprises: moving bobbins with yarn packages in a given direction of motion at a predetermined speed between a column of a plurality of light transmitters disposed one above the other with respect to the given direction of motion and a column of a plurality of light receivers disposed one above the other with respect to the given direction of motion, each of the light transmitters being associated with a respective one of the oppositely disposed light receivers, for placing at least some of the light receivers into a shadow; switching at least one of the light transmitters and light receivers on and off in cycles at a predetermined rhythn, order and duration; delivering a signal to a computer from each of the light receivers placed into a shadow in each cycle by a bobbin; calculating the volume of the bobbin with the computer from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from the signals from the shadowed light receivers delivered during the given time, and from the predetermined speed of motion of the bobbins; subtracting the volume of the tube of the bobbin from the volume of the bobbin for determining the volume of the yarn package; and assigning the bobbins to a specific work station as a function of the volume of the yarn package.

Claim 10

An apparatus for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin and for performing defined control processes derived according to the ascertained size, comprising: a transport apparatus with a conveyor belt on which bobbins are transported at a predetermined speed, said transport apparatus having a drive for said conveyor belt, and said transport apparatus having a column of a plurality of light transmitters disposed one above the other and a column of a plurality of light receivers disposed one above the other and facing said light transmitters, said columns being disposed opposite one another alongside said conveyor belt and each of said light transmitters being associated with a respective one of said light receivers; a timer connected to at least one of said light transmitters and light receivers for switching at least one of said light transmitters and light receivers on and off in a predetermined order and for a predetermined duration; a signal line connected to said timer, a computer connected through said signal line to said timer; other signal lines connected between said light receivers and said computer; a further signal line through which said computer communicates with said drive of said transport apparatus for specifiying a transport speed; said computer having means for calculating the volume of the bobbin from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from signals received through said signal line from said light receivers, and from said specified transport speed; at least one means for assigning the bobbins to a certain work station, and an additional signal line through which said computer communicates with said assigning means.

Claim 11

An apparatus for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin and for performing defined control processes derived according to the ascertained size, comprising: a transport apparatus with a conveyor belt on which bobbins are transported at a predetermined speed, said transport apparatus having a drive for said conveyor belt, and said transport apparatus having a column of a plurality of light transmitters disposed one above the other and a column of a plurality of light receivers disposed one above the other and facing said light transmitters, said columns being disposed opposite one another alongside said conveyor belt and each of said light transmitters being associated with a respective one of said light receivers; a timer connected to at least one of said light transmitters and light receivers for switching at least one of said light transmitters and light receivers on and off in a predetermined order and for a predetermined duration; a signal line connected to said timer, a computer connected through said signal line to said timer; other signal lines connected between said light receivers and said computer; a further signal line through which said computer communicates with said drive of said transport apparatus for specifiying a transport speed; said computer having means for calculating the volume of the bobbin from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from signals received through said signal line from said light receivers, and from said specified transport speed; at least one means for assigning the bobbins to a certain work station, and an additional signal line through which said computer communicates with said assigning means.

Claim 17

An apparatus for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin and for performing defined control processes derived according to the ascertained size, comprising: a transport apparatus with a conveyor belt on which bobbins are transported at a predetermined speed, said transport apparatus having a drive for said conveyor belt, and said transport apparatus having a group of light transmitters and a group of light receivers disposed one above the other and opposite one another in pairs on opposite sides of said conveyor belt; a timer connected to at least one of said groups of light transmitters and light receivers for switching at least one of said groups of light transmitters and light receivers on and off in a predetermined order and for a predetermined duration; a computer connected to said timer, connected to said light receivers and connected to said drive of said transport apparatus for specifying a transport speed; said computer having means for calculating the volume of the bobbin from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from signals received through said signal line from said light receivers, and from said specified transport speed; and at least one means connected to said computer for assigning the bobbins to a certain work station.

Claim 18

An apparatus for optically scanning a yarn package on a bobbin and determining the size of the yarn package and of the bobbin and for performing defined control processes derived according to the ascertained size, comprising: a transport apparatus with a conveyor belt on which bobbins are transported at a predetermined speed, said transport apparatus having a drive for said conveyor belt, and said transport apparatus having a group of light transmitters and a group of light receivers disposed one above the other and opposite one another in pairs on opposite sides of said conveyor belt; a timer connected to at least one of said groups of light transmitters and light receivers for switching at least one of said groups of light transmitters and light receivers on and off in a predetermined order and for a predetermined duration; a computer connected to said timer, connected to said light receivers and connected to said drive of said transport apparatus for specifying a transport speed; said computer having means for calculating the volume of the bobbin from a given time required for scanning one bobbin, from signals received through said signal line from said light receivers, and from said specified transport speed; and at least one means connected to said computer for assigning the bobbins to a certain work station.