Apparatus for and method of handling linear elements

Apparatus for handling a linear element comprising:

• means for linearly advancing a linear element along a given path;
• detection means effective to sense the motion of the element during its advancement including a movably mounted guide member upon which the linear element is turned during advancement and an electrical circuit including a switch for controlling electrical signals from the circuit in response to the motion of the linear element, the electrical switch comprising a fixed electrical contact and an electrical conductor carried by and moving with the movable guide member, such electrical conductor including a portion projecting from the guide member so that such portion will be moved by the linear element during advancement thereof to intermittently contact the fixed electrical contact and thereby supply intermittent pulse-like electrical signals having a varying frequency and period of duration and a fixed amplitude corresponding in frequency and period of duration to the opening and closing of the switch effected by the linear element;
• and
• another electrical circuit responsive to the varying frequency of the intermittent pulse-like electrical signals for controlling the linear element advancing means.

Apparatus for packaging strand comprising:

• a wound strand package;
• means for linearly advancing the strand from one end of the package along a given path;
• motion detection means effective to sense movement of the strand during its linear advancement including movably mounted guide member upon which the linear element is turned during advancement and an electrical circuit including a switch for controlling supply of electrical signals from the circuit in response to the movement of the strand, the switch comprising a fixed electrical contact and an electrical conductor carried by and moving with the movable guide member, such electrical conductor including a portion projecting from the guide member so that such portion will be moved by the strand during its advancement to intermittently contact the fixed electrical contact and thereby supply intermittent pulse-like electrical signals having a varying frequency and period of duration and fixed amplitude corresponding in frequency and period of duration to the opening and closing of the switch by the strand;
• and
• another electric circuit responsive to the varying frequency of the intermittent pulse-like signals for controlling the strand advancing means, whereby the advancement of the strand will be stopped when the frequency of the signal is less than a predetermined frequency.

Apparatus for packaging roving formed from a plurality of individual strands comprising:

• a plurality of strand serving packages each mounted for linear withdrawal of a strand from one end thereof;
• a rotatable collector spaced from the serving packages upon which the roving is wound as a package;
• means for rotating the collector;
• gathering means between the packages and the collector for combining the strands into the roving;
• motion detection means for each of the strand effective to sense strand movement during strand withdrawal, each of the motion detecting means including an elongated guide member pivotally mounted at one end, such guide member defining a guide opening intermediate its ends through which a strand is advanced to turn on the member and an electric circuit including a switch for controlling supply of electrical signals in response to movement of the strand, the switch comprising a fixed electrical contact and an electrical conductor carried by and moving with the pivotally mounted guide member, such electrical conductor including a portion projecting from the other end of the elongated guide member such that the projecting portion will be moved by the strand during its advancement to intermittently contact the fixed electrical contact and thereby supply intermittent pulse-like electrical signals having a varying frequency and period of duration and a fixed amplitude corresponding in frequency and period of duration to the opening and closing of the switch by the strand;
• and
• another electrical circuit responsive to the frequency of each of the intermittent pulse-like electrical signals for interrupting the rotation of the collector when the frequency of at least one of the electrical signals falls below a predetermined number.