US 6,317,644 B1Granted

Monitor and malfunction predictor for textile machines

OwnerLaurence P. Rubelinventor

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Abstract

A monitor and malfunction detector for the thread feed of a textile machine. The monitor combines electronic information and mathematical analysis of the movement of the thread, including speed, tension and fiber and consistency, thereby permitting the determination of: 1) presence of knots and inconsistencies in the thread 2) the operating status of the textile equipment and thread feed; 3) the prediction of problems based upon the change of operating characteristics including speed, tension, draw and duty cycle patterns; 4) the control of the textile machine being monitored; 5) the diagnosis of mechanical faults; 6) production accounting; and 7) needle burr detection. The monitor also employs a unique signal comparison incorporating differential circuitry, pattern recognition, and averaging functions to achieve these goals efficiently and reliably as well as means to reduce or eliminate the effect of undesirable electromagnetic transients on the operation of the textile machine.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A monitor for use with textile type machines functioning during a combination of partial, singular or multiplicity of machine duty cycles, including a means to sense speed, tension and material condition of thread, yarn or fabric feeding along a path and means to process sensed information to determine and predict the following conditions:

thread breaks and material exhaustion;
material inconsistency;
knots and snags;
machine duty cycle pattern failures;
take up failure and threading errors;
draw per unit time failures;
skipped stitch;
feed and tension malfunction;
machine mechanical diagnosis;
and, stitch count determination, which comprises:
a speed and tension sensor which can be mounted anywhere along said path, having a means for sensing a combination of speed and tension of material moving through the textile machine and converting the combination of speed and tension of the material into a corresponding electrical signal;
an electronic signal processor which processes speed and tension sensor electrical signal output, said processor output being a prediction or determination of operational status of the machine being monitored;
an electrical connection between the speed, tension and material condition sensor and the electronic signal processor;
indicator means electrically connected to the signal processor;
and
means to eliminate avoid false triggering powerline transients and airborne electromagnetic transients to said electronic signal processor.

13 more elements

thread breaks and material exhaustion;
material inconsistency;
knots and snags;
machine duty cycle pattern failures;
take up failure and threading errors;
draw per unit time failures;
skipped stitch;
feed and tension malfunction;
machine mechanical diagnosis;
and, stitch count determination, which comprises:
a speed and tension sensor which can be mounted anywhere along said path, having a means for sensing a combination of speed and tension of material moving through the textile machine and converting the combination of speed and tension of the material into a corresponding electrical signal;
an electronic signal processor which processes speed and tension sensor electrical signal output, said processor output being a prediction or determination of operational status of the machine being monitored, said electronic signal processor including:
signal manipulation means, said signal manipulation means has one or more outputs being an analog or digital function of the sensor signal parameters, a function of speed and tension sensor signal value and a function of the duration of a snag;
setting adjustment means, used to preset signal levels to a required range or to establish preset, programmed or archived parameters;
and,
comparison means that compares one or more output signal parameters of the sensor or manipulation means to a predetermined value;
an electrical connection between the speed, tension and material condition sensor and the electronic signal processor;
and
indicator means electrically connected to said signal processor such that said indicator means indicates operational status or origin of failure of the machine being monitored.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/676,884Filed 29 Sep 2000 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Apr 1999
Granted: 13 Nov 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

D05C 13/02
Auxiliary devices incorporated in embroidering machines, not otherwise provided for; Ancillary apparatus for use with embroidering machines:…
B65H 61/005
Applications of devices for metering predetermined lengths of running material: for measuring speed of running yarns
B65H 63/00
Warning or safety devices
B65H 63/0321
Electrical or pneumatic: using electronic actuators