Safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine and method of operating the textile machine

A method of operating a textile machine having a material processing means extending from a movable support, comprising the steps of:

• processing a textile material with said processing means, said processing means having an exposed surface for contacting bales of fiber material and being movable in at least one direction;
• monitoring an area in the vicinity of said material processing means;
• and
• said monitoring step further including a step of directing a sensing beam at least in the direction of movement of the movable support, for recognizing an object outside of the textile material, said sensing beam being movable with the movable support.

A method of operating a textile machine having a material processing means extending from a movable support, comprising the steps of:

• processing a textile material with said processing means, said processing means having an exposed surface for contacting bales of fiber material and being movable in at least one direction;
• monitoring an area in the vicinity of said material processing means;
• said monitoring step further including a step of directing a sensing beam at least in the direction of movement of the movable support;
• and
• providing protecting against entry of an object at a side of said material processing means located opposite said movable support.

A textile machine, comprising:

• means for processing a textile material;
• said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;
• means for movably supporting said material processing means;
• said supporting means being movable in a predetermined travel direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;
• said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;
• means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material;
• and
• said monitoring means further including:
• first sensing means for establishing a first detection path in the predetermined travel direction of the movable supporting means.

A textile machine, comprising:

• means for processing a textile material;
• said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;
• means for movably supporting said material processing means;
• said supporting means being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;
• said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;
• means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material;
• said monitoring means further including:
• a first sensing device for establishing a first detection path below said material processing means;
• and
• at least one protective device for protecting against unwanted entry of objects into the area being monitored from a side of said material processing means located opposite said supporting means.

An apparatus for opening bales of textile fibers, comprising:

• a machine frame movable in a first direction;
• an opening member extending from said machine frame;
• said opening member having at least one rotatable roller for opening of the bales of textile fibers and being movably supported on said machine frame for movement in a second direction;
• a surface of said opening member being exposed where said at least one rotatable roller contacts a fiber bale to be opened;
• means for establishing an acoustic curtain about said exposed surface of said opening member;
• said acoustic curtain establishing means further including:
• at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted on said machine frame and at least one additional ultrasonic sensor mounted on said opening member;
• each of said ultrasonic sensors providing a signal for deactivating operation of said opening member upon detecting penetration of an object into a portion of said acoustic curtain;
• and
• a profile of said fiber bale being used to determine a boundary of said acoustic curtain.

A textile machine, comprising:

• means for processing a textile material;
• said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;
• means for movably supporting said material processing means;
• said supporting means being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;
• said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;
• means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material;
• said monitoring means further including:
• first sensing means for establishing a first detection path below said material processing means;
• and
• at least one additional sensing means for establishing a second detection path from a side of said material processing means located opposite said supporting means.

A safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine, comprising:

• monitoring means which monitor at least a part of a danger zone such that an object located in the danger zone stops the traveling unit of the textile machine;
• the monitoring means comprising at least one electro-acoustical transducer;
• the at least one electro-acoustical transducer transmitting an acoustical signal;
• means for receiving an acoustical signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone;
• means for splitting the transmitted acoustical signal into an acoustical measuring signal which is directed towards the danger zone to be monitored and an acoustical reference signal;
• a reference reflector towards which there is directed the acoustical reference signal;
• the reference reflector being located at a predeterminable spacing from the electro-acoustical transducer;
• and
• the reference reflector being located above the electro-acoustical transducer.