Strand break detector

Strand break detector for monitoring a number of longitudinally straightened strands extending along a number of predetermined paths to determine if a strand is broken or missing, comprising:

• an optical transmitter with lightreceiving means disposed to provide relative movement between said transmitter and said strands with said movement in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally straightened strands and said transmitter generating a signal for each strand passing said transmitter in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal dimension of said strand;
• an electronic circuit for receiving and processing the signal from the transmitter;
• a shield arranged in front of the light-receiving means and forming an inlet for light to the light-receiving means;
• and
• a slide surface on said shield disposed to engage in sliding contact strands approaching said inlet and guiding the strands engaging the slide surface past the light inlet as said transmitter and strands move relative to one another in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally straightened strands with said slide surface disposed a distance from said light-receiving means to guide said strands past said inlet with strands separated from said light-receiving means by a preselected space.