Method and apparatus for measuring the linear density of a travelling fiber sliver

An apparatus for producing a signal representing a given characteristic of a travelling textile material, said apparatus comprising

• a sensor responsive to the speed of flow of material and a given characteristic to generate an output signal dependent upon the speed of flow of the material and the given characteristic;
• means for generating a further signal defining a series of intervals, each interval being of short duration and corresponding to a determinable length of textile material passing said sensor;
• and
• an integrator operable to integrate an output signal from said sensor over each said interval to produce an integrated signal representative of said characteristic but substantially independent of the speed of flow of the material.

An apparatus for producing measuring values corresponding to a linear density of a travelling fiber sliver, said apparatus comprising

• a pneumatic measuring funnel for passage of a travelling fiber sliver therethrough;
• a pneumatic/electric transducer pneumatically connected to said funnel to measure the pressure therein during travel of a fiber sliver therethrough and to emit an electrical signal corresponding to a measured pressure;
• an integrating circuit means electrically connected to said transducer to receive and integrate said electrical signal;
• a pair of rolls for moving the fiber sliver through said funnel;
• a transmission for driving said rolls, said transmission including a rotatable gear;
• a proximity initiator adjacent said gear to pick-off predetermined increments of motion of said gear corresponding to a given length of travel of the fiber sliver and to emit an impulse corresponding thereto;
• and
• a control logic means connected to and between said proximity initiator and said integrating circuit means to receive an impulse from said initiator and to control said integrating circuit means whereby said electrical signal is integrated over a given period of time corresponding to a received impulse.

A method of producing measuring values corresponding to a linear density of a travelling fiber sliver, said method comprising the steps of

• transporting a fiber sliver at an operating speed through a measuring funnel;
• obtaining a pressure measuring signal depending on the linear density of the fiber sliver from a given point in the funnel;
• transforming the obtained signal into a proportional voltage signal;
• obtaining a further signal defining a series of intervals, each interval being of short duration and corresponding to a determinable length of fiber sliver passing through the measuring funnel;
• and
• continuously integrating the proportional voltage signal over each said interval to produce an integration value as a measure of the linear density in the fiber sliver independent of the speed of the fiber sliver.