Strand breakage detection system for use with a plurality of strands being fed in unison along a rotating circular array of feed paths

A system for sensing breakage of one or more of a plurality of strands of material that are being fed substantially in unison along an array of separate feed paths while the array of feed paths is being rotated about an axis of rotation, comprising:

• a) stationary means including base structure for supporting rotatable means and for mounting stationary detector means thereon;
• b) rotatable means connected to the stationary means for rotation relative thereto about an axis of rotation, including rotatable structure for defining an array of separate feed paths along which strands of material are movable substantially in unison while the rotatable structure rotates relative to the stationary means about the axis of rotation;
• c) with the rotatable means additionally including:
• i) guide means connected to the rotatable structure including a plurality of separate sets of guides, with each of the separate sets of guides being positioned along a separate one of the feed paths that are defined by the rotatable structure;
• ii) with each of the sets of guides including at least two spaced guide formations that each define a through passage that surrounds its associated feed path to assist in guiding along its associated feed path a reach of strand material that bridges such space as extends between the two spaced guide formations;
• iii) indicator means including a plurality of separate indicator arms that each are associated with a separate one of the sets of guides, with each indicator arm being pivotally connected to the rotatable structure for movement relative thereto about an associated pivot axis, with each indicator arm having a strand engagement formation that is extensible into the space that extends between its associated pair of guides to engage the associated reach of strand material that bridges such space, and to thereby detect for breakage of the associated strand as the strands are moved along the separate feed paths, and as the array of feed paths is rotated about the axis of rotation;
• iv) flag means including a separate indicator flag connected to each of the indicator arms for pivotal movement about the associated pivot axis, with the range of permitted movement of each of the indicator arms extending at least between an associated nested position of the arm wherein the flag means is held relatively close to other portions of the associated indicator means, and an extended position of the arm wherein the flag means is extended so as to project away from other portions of the associated indicator means;
• v) biasing means connected to the rotatable structure for separately biasing each of the indicator arms in a direction that extends both toward its associated nested position and toward its associated extended position, with effect of the operation of the biasing means on each of the indicator arms being such that:
• i) if an associated strand reach is engaged by its associated strand engaging formation while the strand reach is being held taut (as is characteristic when the associated strand is unbroken and is being properly fed along its associated feed path), the biasing means simply biases the associated strand engaging formation into engagement with the associated strand reach and positions the associated indicator flag in its associated nested position;
• however,
• ii) if an associated strand reach is absent or is not found to be held taut when engaged by its associated strand engagement formation (as is characteristic when the associated strand is broken or otherwise is failing to be fed properly along its associated feed path), the biasing means causes the associated strand engaging formation to move beyond where it would normally be held by its engagement with a taut strand reach, and positions the associated indicator flag in its associated extended position;
• and,
• d) detector means connected to the base structure for being mounted in a stationary position alongside a path of movement that is followed by such ones of the flag means as are positioned in their extended positions for providing a signal that is indicative of sensed breakage of one or more of the strands that are being fed along the rotating array of feed paths in response to detection by the detector means of the passage of one or more of the extended indicator flag means.

A method for rapidly sensing the breakage of one or more of a plurality of strands of material that are being fed substantially in unison along an array of separate feed paths that are defined by apparatus that rotates about an imaginary axis of rotation that is located so as to extend substantially centrally among the rotating array of feed paths, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing apparatus including rotary means for rotating about an imaginary axis of rotation, and non-rotary means for being positioned adjacent the rotary means during rotation of the rotary means relative to the non-rotary means about the axis of rotation;
• b) providing guide means connected to the rotary means for defining reach portions of an array of separate feed paths that are to be followed by a plurality of strands of material, with the guide means including a plurality of individual guides that are arranged in a substantially circular array that extends substantially concentrically about the axis of rotation, and with each of the guides serving to position a reach portion of a separate one of the strands such that the reach portions of the plurality of strands are spaced apart and extend in said substantially circular array;
• c) providing strand reach engagement means including a plurality of individual strand engagement members each of which is movably connected to a separate one of the guides, with each of the strand engagement members being movable from a sensing position wherein the strand engagement member engages its associated reach portion of its associated strand, to an indicating position, with the indicating positions extending in a substantially circular array that extends substantially concentrically about the axis of rotation;
• d) providing biasing means including a plurality of biasing devices each of which is interposed between a separate one of the guides and its associated strand engagement member for biasing the associated strand engagement member into engagement with the associated reach portion in a direction that, should such reach portion be absent due to breakage of the associated strand has broken, will cause movement of the associated strand engagement member through its sensing position to its indicating position;
• e) providing sensing means connected to the non-rotary means and extending adjacent a substantially circular path of movement that is followed by the guides and the strand engagement members as the rotary means rotates about the axis of rotation, with the sensing means including transmitter means and receiver means, with the transmitter means being operable to transmit energy such as electromagnetic radiation along a beam path from the transmitter means to the receiver means, with the receiver means being operative to provide an output signal that is indicative of when an interruption has taken place in the transmission of energy along the beam path, and with the beam path being oriented such that, when all of the strand engagement members are in their sensing positions, the beam path is not interrupted by any of the strand engagement members, however, when at least one of the strand engagement members moves to its associated indicating positions, the beam path is intercepted by portions of the moved strand engagement members whereby the receiver means senses an interruption of transmission of energy along the beam path and provides said output signal as an indication of the breakage of one or more of the strands that are being fed along the feed paths;
• f) feeding a plurality of strands of material along said plurality of separate feed paths;
• and,
• g) utilizing said sensing means to sense any breakage of one or more of said strands and, in response thereto, to provide said output signal.