Method and apparatus for controlling yarn coatings
OwnerJohn A. Strandberginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling yarn coatings such as sizing are provided which includes nuclear radiation detectors which measure the attenuated radiation through processed yarn. Before and after radiation measurements are signaled to a computer which is programmed to generate a signal which controls squeeze rollers that adjust, according to specific size requirements. A second embodiment of the invention is provided for processing tire cord webs and utilizes digital line scan cameras in conjunction with the radiation detector sensors. Line scan cameras provide an opacity measure to determine yarn count and maintain an accurate density measurement even as lateral shifts in the web during processing occur.
Claims29
A yarn sensor comprising:
- a yarn guide, means for generating radioactive emissions, said emissions generating means positioned proximate said yarn guide to radiate yarn passing along said yarn guide, means to detect radiation from said emissions generating means, said radiation detection means opposingly positioned from said emissions generating means relative to said passing yarn, a means to measure yarn opacity, said opacity measuring means positioned proximate said radiation detection means, a microprocessor, a yarn evenness sensor, said evenness sensor joined to said microprocessor and said microprocessor connected to said radiation detection means.
A yarn sensor apparatus for measuring the change in the density of processed yarn after sizing to control the sizing application comprising:
- a first nuclear emission sensor, a means to process electronic data, said first nuclear sensor in communication with said electronic data processing means, a second nuclear emission sensor, said second nuclear emission sensor in communication with said electronic data processing means, a sizing applicator, said sizing applicator positioned between said first emission sensor and said second emission sensor, said electronic data processing means communicating with said applicator, means to measure opacity, said opacity measuring means positioned proximate said first emission sensor, whereby said electronic data processing means controls the size applicator to regulate the amount of size applied to the yarn.
A method for controlling the coating of yarn during processing by comparison to a known yarn density comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining the density of the yarn before coating;
- (b) sensing the evenness of the yarn;
- (c) measuring the opacity of said yarn for use in density determination of the yarn;
- (d) applying a coating to the yarn in a continuous process;
- (e) determining the density of the yarn after coating;
- (f) computing the differences between the determined densities;
- (g) comparing the difference in density to a known density;
- and
- (h) adjusting the coating application accordingly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.