Apparatus to count and control crimps in a moving tow of yarn

An apparatus to count closely spaced variations of light intensity in a single pulse of light transmitted from a target having striations to cause said variations in light intensity comprising, in combination

• a stroboscopic light,
• a condenser lens,
• a mirror,
• a focusing lens,
• a scanner photodiode array to sense said variations in intensity of light in said single pulse and transmit an electronic signal in response,
• means to read out said electronic signal, and
• means to trigger said stroboscopic light,
• said stroboscopic light being located to transmit intense light pulses, initiated by said means to trigger, to pass through said condenser lens and then to and from said target onto said scanner photodiode array, said scanner photodiode array being electrically connected to counter means to count the number of variations in said single pulse of light and to said read-out means so that the number of striations on the target is indicated, said focusing lens being located so that light reflected from said target is focused onto said diode array, and said mirror being located so that said pulse of stroboscopic light is reflected onto said target and said apparatus is located on the same side of said target as said pulse is reflected from.

An apparatus to count closely spaced variations of light intensity in a single pulse of light transmitted from a target having striations to cause said variations in light intensity comprising, in combination

• a stroboscopic light,
• a condenser lens,
• a scanner photodiode array to sense said variations in intensity of light in said single pulse and transmit an electronic signal in response,
• means to read-out said electronic signal,
• means to trigger said stroboscopic light,
• means to move said target,
• a controller,
• crimping means, and
• means to exert pressure on said crimping means,
• said stroboscopic light being located to transmit intense light pulses, initiated by said means to trigger, to pass through said condenser lens and then to and from said target onto said scanner photodiode array, said scanner photodiode array being electrically connected to counter means to count the number of variations in said single pulse of light and to said read-out means so that the number of striations on the target is indicated, and said moving target is a moving tow of yarn exiting from said crimping means, whereby said controller controls discharge of said yarn tow from said crimping means by regulating said pressure means in response to said signal.

An apparatus to count crimps in a moving tow of yarn exiting from a crimping means comprising, in combination,

• a stroboscopic light,
• a timing means to trigger said stroboscopic light,
• a condenser lens,
• a mirror,
• a transparent support for said tow,
• a focusing lens,
• a diode array to sense and transmit as an electronic signal variations in intensity of light from striations in said tow caused by crimps,
• an electronic means to convert said signal to a data bit,
• an electronic board circuit,
• an electronic terminal board,
• a programmable calculator,
• a light-emitting diode digital read-out device,
• an enclosure to support said light, lenses, mirror, array, circuit and board,
• a controller,
• an exit control gate on said crimping means,
• a fluid cylinder,
• said light, condenser lens, mirror, focusing lens, diode array, circuit and terminal board, mounted inside said enclosure, with said light mounted below said condenser lens, and said mirror mounted above said condenser lens so that light is directed through said condenser lens, and reflected from said mirror through said transparent support to be transmitted through said electronic circuit to said electronic means to convert said signal and to said terminal board as a data bit to said programmable calculator which averages multiple signals and transmits an electronic signal to said read-out device, thereby providing a reading of the number of crimps per inch of said tow, said exit control gate having pressure exerted thereon by said fluid cylinder, and said controller controlling discharge of said yarn tow from said crimping means by regulating said pressure on said exit control gate by the fluid cylinder in response to said signal from said programmable calculator.