Creel with integrated yarn delivery and control system
AssigneeTuftco Corporation
InventorsShannon Day, Jeff Smith, Rob Padgett, Randy Stanfield, Kevin Whiteside
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication system is provided for a yarn creel with sensors and displays located throughout the array of yarn positions and communicating with a creel controller to facilitate transfer and display of thread-up information and analysis of operational data.
Claims19
A communication system for a creel for use in supplying yarns to a tufting machine and having an array of locations for mounting yarn packages comprising:
- a controller communicating with a plurality of sensors located proximate yarn mounting locations;
- said controller communicating with a plurality of displays located proximate yarn mounting locations;
- said controller accessing a virtual creel for mapping a yarn threadup for a pattern to yarn mounting locations;
- and
- an input for pattern information at least including a yarn threadup
- wherein the controller is in communication with the tufting machine during the tufting of the pattern.
A method for coordinating display and sensor information from a yarn creel with an operator interface of a tufting machine comprising the steps of:
- inputting pattern information into the tufting machine;
- extracting or generating yarn threadup information from the pattern information;
- mapping the yarn threadup information to a plurality of yarn mounting locations in the creel;
- communicating yarn threadup or mapping information from the tufting machine to the yarn creel;
- activating displays located proximate selected yarn mounting locations;
- mounting yarn packages at the selected yarn mounting locations proximate the activated displays;
- and
- actuating sensors proximate the selected yarn mounting locations and communicating sensor information to the tufting machine.
A creel comprising:
- an array of locations for mounting yarn packages;
- a controller communicating with a plurality of screens capable of displaying graphic and textual information, being located proximate yarn mounting locations;
- and
- an operator interface for specifying the graphic and textual information shown on the screens
- wherein the controller is in communication with an associated tufting machine during tufting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.