Method and apparatus for optically monitoring a knitted article
AssigneeProtechna Herbst GmbH & Co. KG
InventorPeter Flamig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For optical monitoring of a knitted article for faults during the manufacture thereof in a knitwear processing machine, the knitted article is scanned line by line by the optical scanner. The scan signals generated in the process are delivered to a digital processing circuit. In a reference mode, the scan signals are stored as pattern signals in the digital processing circuit. In a subsequent operating mode during manufacture of the knitted article, the scan signals are compared as operating scan signals with the pattern signals corresponding to the scan position, to check if they match. If they do not match, a fault signal is generated.
Claims20
Method for optically monitoring a knitted article for faults during the manufacture thereof in a knitwear processing machine, said knitwear processing machine including an optical scanner for scanning the width of the knitted article perpendicularly to the direction of take-off and, on detection of a fault in the knitted article, indicates such a fault and/or stops the knitwear processing machine, comprising:
- scanning the knitted article line by line with the optical scanner and delivering scan signals generated by the optical scanner during such scanning to a digital processing circuit;
- storing the scan signals in the digital processing circuit as pattern signals while in a reference mode;
- and
- in a subsequent operating mode during manufacture of a knitted article, scanning the knitted article line by line and comparing the scan signals generated by the optical scanner during the operating mode with the pattern signals which correspond in scan position thereto, thereby determining whether the scan signals generated during the operating mode match the corresponding pattern signals.
An optical monitoring device for a knitwear processing machine comprising:
- a light source for generating a beam;
- a light detector;
- means for mounting said light source and said light detector in stationary positions;
- a scanning carriage movably mounted between said light source and said light detector, said scanning carriage being movable in a plane;
- a 90.degree. corner reflector including first and second partial reflectors and a bisecting line formed by said first and second partial reflectors, the bisecting line running parallel to the beam which is generated by the light source;
- said first partial reflector facing towards said light source and being fully reflective;
- said second partial reflector facing towards said light detector and being semitransparent, whereby transmitted light rays from said light source pass through said second partial reflector, and light rays reflected by a knitted article positioned in a plane parallel to the plane within which said scanning carriage is movable will be deflected by said second partial reflector wards said light detector.
A knitwear processing machine comprising:
- means for knitting a knitted article;
- means for optically monitoring a knitted article for faults during the manufacture thereof, said means for optically monitoring including means for scanning the width of a knitted article line by line perpendicularly to a direction of take-off of the knitted article, said means for scanning including means for generating scan signals depending upon the physical characteristics of the knitted article being scanned;
- a digital processing circuit;
- means for delivering scan signals generated by said means for scanning to said digital processing circuit, said digital processing circuit being capable of storing the scan signals as pattern signals while in a reference mode;
- and
- means for comparing scan signals generated by said means for scanning while in an operating mode with said pattern signals for corresponding scan positions, thereby determining whether the scan signals generated during the operating mode match the corresponding pattern signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.