Fabric Controlled Patents (Class 66/166)
  • Patent number: 11798154
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine, a method for controlling textile fabric defects, and a method for retrofitting a circular knitting machine are provided. The circular knitting machine includes a fixed support structure, a rotational support structure, and a system for controlling textile fabric defects. The system includes a digital camera for capturing digital images of knitted textile fabric, a data processor for processing the captured digital images, a camera support structure for holding the camera, and a lighting system to illuminate the knitted textile fabric from the camera side for capture by the digital camera. The camera support structure is fixed to the rotational structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTEX EUROPE, UNIPESSOAL LDA.
    Inventors: Gilberto Martins Loureiro, António Jorge Mendes Da Rocha
  • Patent number: 10542782
    Abstract: A man's briefs have a torso encircling member which consists of a front portion and a rear portion, an elastic waist band portion disposed at the top of the torso encircling member, and a genitalia receiving compartment formed by a midsection of the front portion and a strip of fabric associated with the inside of the front portion. The strip of fabric is coupled to the front portion so that the strip is oriented parallel to the front portion. The strip has two top ends connecting to the waist band portion, and a bottom section extending downwardly to loop around the bottom of scrotum of the wearer. The strip of fabric has a curved narrow opening for receiving the genitalia, and may have no seam binding at the edge of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Stance, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Shupe, Justin Cleveland
  • Patent number: 5133198
    Abstract: The apparatus has particular use in the detection of flaws in articles being knitted on a circular knitting machine and aplies in particular to the manufacturing of footwear. The apparatus comprises a light source, an electro-optical sensor receiving light coming from the light source after the light has been reflected by the knitted fabric, or after it has passed through that knitted fabric. Devices are provided for processing the data produced by the electro-optical sensor. According to the invention, there is provided a linear endoscope fixedly mounted along the rotation axis of the machine, whose viewing cone is matched to a distal lens and is oriented radially towards the knitted fabric. The photosensitive zone of the electro-optical sensor is located at the image plane of a lens located at a proximal end of the endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Institut Textile De France
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Bachmann
  • Patent number: 4799365
    Abstract: The device for monitoring the knitwear (16') of a flatbed knitting machine for falling-off exhibits several support bodies (18) having in each case a feeling lever (17) which rests against the knitwear (16') and which is coupled to a switching arm (25). The switching arm (25) is constructed as a contactless contactor and is moved during an adjusting movement of the feeling lever (17), which is triggered when knitwear (16') has fallen off, through the contact range of an electric switching device, for example a light barrier or an ultrasonic barrier or through a magnetic field area into an ineffective end position so that a control signal can be triggered only during the adjusting movement of the switching arm (25) between its end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: H. Stoll GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Ernest Goller, Fritz Walker
  • Patent number: 4710646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thread movement sensor comprising an arm with at least one thread guide. The invention solves the problem of sensitivity of the sensor to the vibrations of the machine by making a part of the arm an element of a magnetic circuit of coil, the latter being connected to the control circuit of a knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Elitex koncern textilniho strojirenstvi
    Inventors: Otakar Curda, Jaroslav Maxa, Pavel Uhlir
  • Patent number: 4702283
    Abstract: Optical scanning and inspection of loomed fabric on one or more looms is carried out using a travelling optical scanner that scans an inspection area of fabric on a loom faster than the fabric traverses the inspection area, such inspection area provided between the weaving portion of the loom and the fabric take-up roll. The scanner generates signals that can routinely be compared with preset reference standards and which can be used to control the stopping of the loom upon the detection of a weaving defect. Fabric moving through multiple looms can be scanned in sequence by a scanner traversing multiple inspection areas of the looms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: N.V. Weefautomaten Picanol
    Inventor: Henri Shaw
  • Patent number: 4633914
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to detect high tension in a web material being taken-up and cutting off the take-up device upon such detection to prevent stretching and necking of the fabric being handled. The detection device provides a time delay between detection of the condition of high tension and deactivation of the fabric take-up apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Carry
  • Patent number: 4565076
    Abstract: A single safety device to automatically stop a conventional circular knitting machine in the event of failure of the belt used to drive a pair of fabric advancing rollers of the machine while the fabric is being knit, and/or to stop the machine in the event of failure to secure the so-advanced fabric to the rotary shaft upon which the fabric is normally rolled to sequentially form individual rolls of fabric on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Precision Fukuhara Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 4464913
    Abstract: A rundown detector system for controlling operation of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine includes a photoelectric circuit, including fiber optic means and a sensor for sensing predetermined extended periods of low reflected light level and emitting signals to a logic circuit. The logic circuit includes a timer and counting mechanism for stopping rotation of the machine cylinder if a predetermined number of signals are emitted to the logic circuit within a predetermined time period. The timer mechanism also prevents stopping of the machine cylinder, upon start-up of the machine, until a predetermined amount of knit fabric absent of defects has moved past the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Consolidated Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Joel C. Rosenquist, Kenneth J. Thompson, Wayne G. Foster
  • Patent number: 4454730
    Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Marvel Specialty Company
    Inventors: Clifton Gregory, Lester W. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4364243
    Abstract: Circular knitting machine for the production of high pile fabrics having combed-in fabrics, having a needle cylinder with displaceably mounted knitting needles defining a circular knitting field along the upper edge of the cylinder, carding devices disposed along the knitting field, and an exhaust disposed above the knitting field. A lamp is fastened to the exhaust to illuminate the knitting field from within, and a mirror is fastened to the exhaust for the section-wise viewing of the inside of portions of the knitting field disposed on the side of an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Sulzer Morat GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Kunde
  • Patent number: 4361171
    Abstract: A weaving detector for detecting weaving defects generated on the surface of a ground fabric of a carpet or rug moving in a first direction is disclosed. The weaving detector moves in the direction of the width of the cloth and includes one or more detecting sensors spaced in the direction of the movement of the cloth. A guide sled is connected to the sensors and has upwardly curved ends so as to prevent the catching of a defect by the sled. The sensors only provide a defect signal when both sensors simultaneously detect a defect. The sensors are supported by upper and lower supports having vibration absorbing springs therebetween so that the electrical controls are not damaged by the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Inventor: Tsutomu Fukuda
  • Patent number: 3999405
    Abstract: Rotating baffle supported from below substantially closes opening at knitting level of tubular fabric produced by circular pile fabric knitting machine, and deflects air jet carrying stray fiber up toward exhaust intake above machine. Secondary rotating baffle at lower level further reduces movement of air with entrained fiber into tubular fabric, and carries stop motion ring. Rotation of the ring with the goods minimizes skewing at the tube slitting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1976
    Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation
    Inventors: Norman C. Abler, Ralph A. Koegel