Having Monitoring Or Inspecting (e.g., Abnormality Detection) Patents (Class 700/143)
  • Patent number: 11907249
    Abstract: Methods and systems for stitching real-time and historical data are disclosed herein. The data may be gathered from a line card and represent metrics of hardware or software elements of the line card. The historical data may be transferred and stored in an archive of a control card of a network element and the real-time data may be accessed by a proxy host of the control card substantially in real-time. A network administration device may access the historical data on the file collector and/or the real-time data from the proxy host of the control card and convert them to a time series database format and store the converted data in a time series database. A user may access a portion of the converted real-time and/or historical data using a graphical user interface, the accessed portion representing data gathered during a period of time selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Madhumita Pal, Dale Chin, Ramanujan Puranam, Madhura Joshi
  • Patent number: 10914025
    Abstract: A sewing-machine operating program is installed in a terminal device of a user. A specifying information acquiring step causes a short-distance information acquiring unit to acquire specifying information recorded on a sewing-machine main unit. In the distance measuring step, an apart distance is calculated from a detection result of a movement detecting sensor with a position where the specifying information is acquired being as an initial position. In the distance comparing step, for a remote operation to the sewing-machine main unit, the apart distance and a prescribed distance are compared. In the function restricting step, when the apart distance is within the prescribed distance, an operation command is transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit via a wireless communication device, and when the apart distance exceeds the prescribed distance, the operation command is not transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9459018
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, IV, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 8972039
    Abstract: A stitchwork status checking apparatus includes a stitchwork data receiver unit that receives stitchwork data on a stitchwork pattern selected and currently stitched by a sewing machine, a converter unit that converts the received stitchwork data into a unique code, a status data receiver unit that receives a unique code converted based on the stitchwork data currently stitched by the sewing machine, and a code comparator unit that compares a code converted by the converter unit with a code received by the status data receiver unit. The stitchwork data receiver unit receives the stitchwork data through a transmission protocol that surely transmits data to a transmission destination. The status data receiver unit receives the code through a transmission protocol that transmits data to a transmission destination within a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kongo, Yukio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 8957960
    Abstract: A machine vision system program editing environment includes near real time context generation. Rather than requiring execution of all preceding instructions of a part program in order to generate a realistic context for subsequent edits, surrogate data operations using previously saved data replace execution of certain sets of instructions. The surrogate data may be saved during the actual execution of operations that are recorded in a part program. An edit mode of execution substitutes that data as a surrogate for executing the operations that would otherwise generate that data. Significant time savings may be achieved for context generation, such that editing occurs within an operating context which may be repeatedly refreshed for accuracy in near real time. This supports convenient program modification by relatively unskilled users, using the native user interface of the machine vision system, rather than difficult to use text-based or graphical object-based editing environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Saylor, Dahai Yu, Ryan Northrup, Gyokubu Cho, Akira Takada
  • Publication number: 20150045939
    Abstract: A stitchwork status checking apparatus includes a stitchwork data receiver unit that receives stitchwork data on a stitchwork pattern selected and currently stitched by a sewing machine, a converter unit that converts the received stitchwork data into a unique code, a status data receiver unit that receives a unique code converted based on the stitchwork data currently stitched by the sewing machine, and a code comparator unit that compares a code converted by the converter unit with a code received by the status data receiver unit. The stitchwork data receiver unit receives the stitchwork data through a transmission protocol that surely transmits data to a transmission destination. The status data receiver unit receives the code through a transmission protocol that transmits data to a transmission destination within a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi KONGO, Yukio HOSAKA
  • Patent number: 8914140
    Abstract: The system and method uses a virtual frame of reference to evaluate and control a manufacturing system. Electronic images from a vision system may be analyzed using the virtual frame of reference to control the phasing of devices in the manufacturing system and to generate alerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar Singh, Jeremy Georges Bertin, Thomas Keith Olschner, Jon Richard Rossiter, Steven Arthur Marshall
  • Patent number: 8884577
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for a rotary electric machine receiving power from a DC power supply, a DC-AC converting circuit is provided with serially connected circuits each having high-potential-side and low-potential-side switching elements. When a short-circuit occurs at the switching elements, all the switching elements are turned OFF for failsafe and a path connecting the machine and the battery is opened. In such a case, a switching element belonging to part of the switching elements is turned ON, with potential at all the terminals of the rotary electric machine being the same. A location of the short-circuit occurs is identified, based on changes in current passing through the machine and being detected in response to turning ON the switching element. The changes are at least one of a reduction change in deviation of the current from a zero point and a reduction change in an absolute value of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8810189
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclose a drive system including a machine including a plurality of phases and configured to generate power based on a plurality of phase currents, each respectively associated with the plurality of phases and a direct current (DC) bus, operatively connected to the machine. The DC bus includes a high-side line, a low-side line, and an inverter including a plurality of switching systems, operatively connected between the high-side line and the low-side line, the plurality of switching systems, each configured to output a respective one of the plurality of phase currents. The drive system also includes a controller, operatively connected to the DC bus and the machine, the controller configured to determine if a failure exists in the drive system based on the plurality of phase currents and a DC bus voltage, the DC bus voltage being a voltage across the high-side line and the low-side line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Brij N. Singh, Chris J. Tremel, Alan K. Gilman
  • Patent number: 8683366
    Abstract: A field device is able to diagnose a broad spectrum of possible faults and/or states, and includes: structure for performing user defined, diagnostic methods; which has an input circuit, via which at least one input variable is fed to the structure; which has an evaluation unit, which serves for deriving, on the basis of at least one input variable selected by the user and at least one evaluating method selected by the user, at least one characterizing variable; which has a monitoring unit, which monitors the derived characterizing variables on the basis of monitoring criteria selected by the user; and which has an output unit, which, upon the meeting of a monitoring criterion, outputs a diagnosis associated with such monitoring criterion; and an interface, via which a user selects the input variables for each user defined diagnostic method, selects the evaluating methods to apply to the input variables, selects the monitoring criteria, and specifies the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Hammer, Dietmar Spanke, Herbert Schroth
  • Publication number: 20140058553
    Abstract: There are disclosed a control panel (200) and a laundry machine (100) having the same, the control panel (200) including a screen (210) to display information on laundry and at least one piece of washing information, an information input unit to input a plurality of laundry types, and a control unit to determine the at least one piece of washing information based on information inputted from the information input unit. A method for controlling a laundry machine (100) includes the steps of enabling a user to input a plurality of laundry types, and a step of determining at least one piece of washing information based on the plurality of the inputted laundry types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Junghwan Lee, Nerry Son, Yeji Um, Hoil Jeon
  • Patent number: 8558499
    Abstract: To provide a controller apparatus of a type, in which the controller is given the redundancy so that the control of the drive motor can be properly performed at all times when an abnormality such as the failure of the controller occurs, with the reliability consequently increased, a plurality of controllers are provided, each including a power circuit for outputting a drive current for the drive motor and a control circuit, which is a light electric circuit, for controlling the power circuit in response to a motor drive command fed from a higher control. An abnormality determiner is provided for determining an abnormality occurring in the controller then in use according to a prescribed rule and then generating a switching signal. A switch is provided, which is operable in response to the switching signal to change the controller then in a state of functioning relative to the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Koichi Okada, Takeshi Kanda
  • Patent number: 8421803
    Abstract: This invention facilitates monitoring operation for checking whether or not quality of a substrate deteriorates as well as operation for identifying a cause of deterioration in quality. Identification information of constituent elements related to measurement target sections (pads) on a component-mounted substrate is arranged into hierarchal structure data. A first axis is arranged with the measurement target sections associated with this arrangement. A second axis is arranged with information (identification information of lots and squeegees) representing production conditions of the substrates according to an order of the substrates being processed. A two-dimensional area defined by the first axis and the second axis is set. A color map is generated, in which measured data of the measurement target sections on the substrates are arranged in colors at corresponding positions within the two-dimensional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Kojitani, Keiji Otaka, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20120310404
    Abstract: A method for detecting the structure of a textile multi-filament product and a method for processing a textile multi-filament product includes detecting the structure. In the method for detecting the structure of the textile multi-filament product, a fed multi-filament product is optically detected in a linear/sectioned manner in a detecting direction different than the feeding direction in order to obtain primary detection data. The detection data are evaluated and a parameter and/or a change thereto describing the structure of the multi-filament product is derived therefrom. The parameter or the change thereto is used in the processing method to control a pre-processing step or a processing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SGL CARBON SE
    Inventors: Tobias Schmidt, Thomas Putz, Heide Gommel
  • Patent number: 8321180
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing ply lay-up data for a composite part. A designation of a location is received for the composite part in a three dimensional object from a requester. A three dimensional model is opened in which the composite part is located. The ply lay-up data is extracted for a section within the composite part within the three dimensional model to form extracted ply lay-up data for the section. An output file is created containing a two dimensional drawing for the section with the ply lay-up data identifying a ply stacking sequence, an orientation of each ply in the ply stacking sequence, and a material for the each ply in the ply stacking sequence. The output file is returned to the requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jamie A. Kessel, Phillip Jon Fisher, Paul J. Shirron, Donald M. Mullins
  • Patent number: 8214072
    Abstract: In an apparatus for monitoring and securing danger zones on power-driven textile machines, in particular spinning room preparatory machines, having movable machine parts, an optical monitoring device monitors a movable danger zone to form a movable protection zone, such that a person and/or an object intruding into the danger zone triggers a switching operation. To produce an apparatus that allows guarding of danger zones in a simple and reliable manner, stationary monitoring device is present, which is selectively activatable and forms a dynamically movable protection zone around the movable danger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Truetzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fritz Hoesel
  • Patent number: 8175850
    Abstract: A monitoring system with dynamically configurable non-interfering signal processing is disclosed. In one aspect, data relating to the management of the operation of a machine and data relating to the safety protection of the machine are combined in a non-interfering manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Nelson, Dustin Delany Hess, Summer Woodson
  • Patent number: 8108063
    Abstract: Dye transfer in a dying machine or washing machine is controlled via a user display by showing a dialog having with color level indicators for setting a threshold to trigger a dye transfer control action, and with threshold adjustment controls; responsive to the threshold adjustment controls, changing transfer control parameters for initiation of control actions; responsive to the threshold being triggered, performing a control action by opening an abatement valve communicative to a reservoir holding a substantially liquid or gel form of a dye scavenger or inhibitor substance; and continuing to monitor the triggering of the threshold, and responsive to the threshold being triggered, continues to open the abatement valve until at least one condition is detected of a desired color threshold being met, a desired color threshold being regained, until a user intervention occurs, and until a particular wash stage is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kavita Agrawal, William K. Bodin, Lakshmi N. Potluri, Gregory W. Rybczynski
  • Patent number: 7983785
    Abstract: A computer-based fibre production monitoring system includes at least one sensor, and a computer server in communication with the sensors. Each sensor is configured to provide data packets each being associated with a respective threadline and providing a measurement of at least one physical characteristic of a fibre as it is drawn past the sensor on the threadline and wound onto a bobbin. The computer server is configured to provide an analysis of the physical characteristics on a per-threadline basis and/or per-bobbin basis from the measurements. The sensor is configured as an electric field sensor, and includes an insulating substrate, non-contacting electrodes disposed on the substrate, and vias extending transversely through the substrate. The electrodes are interlaced with one another. One portion of the vias is coupled to one portion of the electrodes, and another portion of the vias is coupled to another portion of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Instrumar Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Inkpen, Chris Nolan, Darryl Pike, Heather Rowe, John Hall, Dana Linfield, Joshua Swamidas, Chris Dawson, Gerard Galway, Shawn Walsh, Ruth Abraham
  • Patent number: 7675257
    Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Regal Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Brian L. Beifus, Paul Nathanael Selking, Vijay Dayaldas Gurudasani, Michael R. Koller
  • Publication number: 20090024245
    Abstract: In an apparatus for monitoring and securing danger zones on power-driven textile machines, in particular spinning room preparatory machines, having movable machine parts, an optical monitoring device monitors a movable danger zone to form a movable protection zone, such that a person and/or an object intruding into the danger zone triggers a switching operation. To produce an apparatus that allows guarding of danger zones in a simple and reliable manner, stationary monitoring device is present, which is selectively activatable and forms a dynamically movable protection zone around the movable danger zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Truetzschler GmbH & Co., Kg
    Inventor: Fritz Hosel
  • Patent number: 7346411
    Abstract: The present system enables the monitoring and automatic control of the tolerance in splice overlap of textile play , though the identification of the overlap area, identification and counting of textile cords in the overlap area, and the generation of a control signal for the manufacturing equipment based on parameters and criteria defined by a user. The system includes an image acquisition sub-assembly that contains a lighting module, artificial vision module, and respective elements of support, fixation, conditioning and adjustment. The system also includes a quality control computer program that has a module of morphologic image analysis for detection and recognition of the overlap of the ply, detecting and counting of cords in the overlap area, a module of support to the decision of acceptance/rejection of the ply based on parameters defined by the user and a module of an interface with production equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Mabor-Industria de Pneus, S.A.
    Inventors: Nuno Filipe Martins Silva, Andre Teixeira Puga, Antonio Alberto da Silva Maia, Ireneu Manuel Silva Dias, Agostinho Jose Barbosa Ferreira, Filipe de Sousa Pinto
  • Patent number: 7308333
    Abstract: A stitching apparatus with thread tension control is provided. Tension in a thread is monitored during stitching apparatus operations, and remedial action is taken in response to the detection of an anomaly in the thread tension profile. The remedial action can include altering a feed rate of the thread in order to adjust the thread tension, and/or repeating a previous operation. Anomaly detection can be performed with respect to stitching or sewing operations, and also with respect to trim operations performed in connection with moving between elements and/or thread color changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Melco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kern, Joseph A. Keating, Victor Justin Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7231709
    Abstract: In accordance with a component mounting apparatus, a component stored in a component feeder is held by a component holding member and is then mounted in a mounting position on an object. The apparatus functions to, when a mounting posture of the component in which the component is mounted onto the object is inclined with respect to a basic posture of the component by a mounting angle, hold the component from the component feeder by the component holding member that has preliminarily been rotated to the mounting angle in such a direction as to depart from a reference posture of the component holding member prior to the mounting of the component on the object. And afterwards, the component holding member is rotated in a specified direction to finally return the component holding member to the reference posture, and then the component is mounted on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Yoshida, Takeshi Takeda, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 7210322
    Abstract: A method and a device for easily setting a processing condition from a dent rate of a product by giving an arbitrary dent producing condition and a shotblast processing condition in a shotblasting process. The method calculates a processing time, a projection amount and a projection material speed for enabling a target dent rate to be set, from the number of dents in a predetermined dent unit area and time. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a dent unit area from a projection material hardness, a projection material particle size, a projection material speed and the hardness of a processed product; calculating the number of dents required to attain a predetermined target dent rate; and calculating a processing time from the number of dents, a projection amount, a projection material density and the projection material particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7187995
    Abstract: Techniques are described for inspecting a web and controlling subsequent conversion of the web into one or more products. A system, for example, comprises an imaging device, an analysis computer and a conversion control system. The imaging device images the web to provide digital information. The analysis computer processes the digital information to identify regions on the web containing anomalies. The conversion control system subsequently analyzes the digital information to determine which anomalies represent actual defects for a plurality of different products. The conversion control system determines a value for at least one product selection parameter for each of the products, and selects one of the products for conversion of the web based on the respective determined value. Exemplary product selection parameters include web utilization, unit product produced, estimated revenue or profit, process time, machine capacity and demand for the different products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Brandon T. Berg, Carl J. Skeps, James A. Masterman
  • Patent number: 7187988
    Abstract: An automated method and system that uses a Web service to make real-time production status available to customers from a manufacturing environment. Each time Work in Process (WIP) data is updated from manufacturing execution systems to a central database, a database trigger checks the alert conditions. These conditions are automatically compared to the WIP data to see if the user-defined conditions have been met. If so, a function is called which automatically sends an alert to the customer via the internet and either e-mail, pager, or mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsu Ming Ta
  • Patent number: 7184860
    Abstract: A monitoring system is provided for remotely monitoring in-store equipment. A controller is provided in each store for monitoring and controlling in-store equipment. A monitoring computer is connected to the controller in each store through a communication line. The controller includes data transmission means for transmitting to the monitoring computer data related to each in-store equipment and predetermined measurement data, and display means for displaying power saving advice information fed from the monitoring computer, and the monitoring computer comprising power saving advice information production means for producing power saving advice information for efficiently operating each in-store equipment on the basis of the data received from the controller, and power saving advice information transmission means for transmitting to the controller the produced power saving advice information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakajima, Tsuyoshi Kawaai
  • Patent number: 7130709
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alarming indications and troubleshooting indications and actions in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Popp, Kyle S. Allen, Jamie L. Bell, Henry L. Carbone, II., Scott G. Chapple, Clinton David Clark, Tim G. Dollevoet, John G. Hein, Archie Dodds Morgan, Nicholas A. Popp, Shawn A. Quereshi, Erica C. Tremble
  • Patent number: 7123981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing registration control in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc
    Inventors: Tim G. Dollevoet, Robert L. Popp, Kyle S. Allen, Henry L. Carbone, Scott G. Chapple, John G. Hein, Archie Dodds Morgan, Shawn A. Quereshi, Erica C. Tremble, Colleen S. Colford, Joseph J. Gimenez
  • Patent number: 7120515
    Abstract: Techniques are described for inspecting a web and controlling subsequent conversion of the web into one or more products. A system, for example, includes an imaging device, an analysis computer and a conversion control system. The imaging device images a sequential portion of a web to provide digital information. The analysis computer processes the digital information with an initial algorithm to identify regions on the web containing anomalies. The conversion control system selects one of a plurality of converting sites to convert the web into a product, and analyzes at least a portion of the digital information with at least one subsequent algorithm to determine which anomalies represent actual defects in the web for the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Brandon T. Berg, Carl J. Skeps, James A. Masterman, Wayne R. Roller
  • Patent number: 7103440
    Abstract: The invention uses microwaves in the spinning industry in order to determine the band mass of an elongated, substantially non-twisted fiber structure. In addition, a method for measuring the sliver mass from the frequency detuning and the damping of resonance signals of a microwave sensor while taking into consideration the moisture of the fiber structure with a computer is suggested. Likewise, a corresponding spinning preparation machine and a laboratory device for measuring the sliver mass are part of the invention. Lastly, a method and a spinning preparation machine for recognizing foreign matter in a moved fiber structure with the aid of microwaves is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Joachim Dämmig, Chokri Cherif
  • Patent number: 6999837
    Abstract: A device for controlling and monitoring a yarn processing system, which comprises an electronic main control unit and at least one yarn feeding unit, and inside of which a serial communications field bus system is provided with at least one field bus for carrying out communication. At least one bi-directional event line is provided outside the field bus system in order to transmit a time critical and/or time-specific, digital and anonymous event signal for carrying out and/or confirming events. For at least one communication participant connected to the field bus system, an event specific characteristic feature of respective event signal can be defined by the software side configuration inside the field bus system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Iropa AG
    Inventors: Thomas Rundberg, Niklas Wahlgren, Lars Helge Gottfrid Tholander, Paer Josefsson
  • Patent number: 6990431
    Abstract: Systems, software and methods of embodiments of the present invention are able to monitor and evaluate the efficiency of an equipment operating cyclically to displace a variable workload without any input from an operator or the use of specialized metering equipment. A cyclic equipment efficiency monitoring system includes a workload calculator for determining the workload being accumulated and displaced through a system having an equipment operating cyclically by using the equipment status signals and clock signals. An efficiency calculator extracts a probable efficiency. The accuracy is increased by a self adjustment mechanism. A data quality certification mechanism verify that workload and efficiency values are within possible range and declare alarm conditions, high variation conditions or maintenance conditions. A variation alarm gate generates an alarm if the workload or the efficiency are outside acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Municipal and Industrial Data Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Benoît Beaudoin, Jonathan Corriveau
  • Patent number: 6983065
    Abstract: A method of analyzing machine vision images to identify low contrast features such as scratches or cracks on the polished ends of optical fibers. A bank of oriented filters having incremental angles of orientation are tuned to respond to the frequency characteristics of oriented scratches or cracks having an approximate width. The filters are applied to an image to generate a filter response image for each filter orientation. The set of filter response images are combined to form a single data set indicating a magnitude and angle for each pixel in the original image. Elements of the combined data set having corresponding angles and magnitudes are grouped to form contour components that can be optionally input to higher order processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuf Akgul, Ivan Bachelder, Prabhav Morje, Juha Koljonen, Jason Davis
  • Patent number: 6978041
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase efficiency in review work by appropriately narrowing down review work that verifies shapes of visual defects relating to an enormous amount of defects detected by a visual inspecting apparatus with high sensitivity. In order to appropriately extract defect information from an inspecting apparatus, a filter function and a sampling function are prepared by unitizing the functions. As a result, defects as review targets are narrowed down and extracted automatically using the filter function and the sampling function in combination. In addition, sequencing the filter conditions and the sampling conditions and registering the sequence enables automatic filtering and sampling on the basis of information on a wafer as a review target, and thereby only defect information on the review target is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Isogai, Hitoshi Komuro, Hideo Wada, Katsuharu Shoda
  • Patent number: 6928335
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing actual woven fabrics on the basis of measured yarn data has at least one measuring device for measuring the yarn diameter, a structure input device for inputting and freely changing definable structures, a device for controlling the measuring device and for evaluation, and a display device. The actual fabric being computed and represented on the basis of the measured yarn diameters and the freely definable structure and the fact that the defined structure of the fabric can be changed making it possible to adapt and optimize the actual fabric to the measured individual yarn diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Dieter Zweigle
  • Patent number: 6901309
    Abstract: A programming platform for generating parts programs for a machine tool or production machine is described. A user inputs an instruction to an interpreter integrated in the programming platform, a simulator then simulates an effect of the instruction, and a display graphically displays to the user the effect of the instruction in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation. A collision monitor monitors the effect of the instruction to determine if a collision between two or more machine elements and/or workpieces and/or tools can be expected. The programming platform hence represents a homogeneous integrated programming environment for generating, simulating and testing of parts programs for machine tools and production machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Hertinger
  • Patent number: 6807457
    Abstract: A method and system for the management of and assistance to weaving looms in the weaving premises includes, for each loom, a unit to control actuators, a set of operation sensors, and a logic a unit apt to correlate signals from the sensors with the control unit. The logic unit is connected, through communication elements, to a server of a service center common to various weaving premises. The server is interfaced to a client for the acquisition from and output to the weaving premises of loom data and for processing of diagnostic routines and of solutions to failures of the looms, and to database for the sorted storage of data and of diagnosis and solutions. The client is able to gain access into the database and compare data acquired from and output to the weaving premises to find solutions to the failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: PROMATECH S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Natali, Marc Arthur Uleman
  • Patent number: 6745097
    Abstract: A management method for fiber-processing and a management apparatus thereof, which can detect the occurrences of the selected monitoring events by monitoring the occurrences, can investigate the causes of the occurrences of the events by treating the events so that the factors of the occurrences of the problems can be easily determined whether they are attributable to the problem of the fiber-processing machine itself or the problem of supplied yarn, and can promptly accurately present countermeasures against the problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kusuzono, Mitsumasa Sasaki, Bunji Hamasu, Yoshiharu Imamura
  • Patent number: 6728593
    Abstract: A system for analyzing fabric surface appearance includes a feed mechanism for running a fabric over a crest including a frame for holding the fabric bent to form a crest, an image capturing device for capturing profile images of the fabric surface at the crest, and a computer system for manipulating the images. The computer system produces a three-dimensional representation of the fabric surface and identifies characteristics in the three-dimensional representation. The information is compared to reference data to identify a grade for the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Jinlian Hu, Binjie Xin, Yueyang Guo, Edward Newton
  • Patent number: 6690987
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatically presenting a generally pre-needled textile sheet coming from an upstream module and intended to feed a cross-layer module, the apparatus comprising means for measuring the positions of the longitudinal edges of the textile sheet, means for adjusting the width of said textile sheet, means for adjusting the position of said textile sheet, and processor means responsive to the position measuring means to control the adjustment means in real time in such a manner that the textile sheet presents determined width and position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti
    Inventors: Yvon Baudry, Robert Jean, Jean Pascal Pirodon
  • Patent number: 6650959
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting foreign fibers in a moving textile material, in particular in moving threads, yarns or slivers, include providing a probe for picking up triboelectric signals from the moving textile material and comparing the output of the probe with a reference value to provide a signal representative of detection of a foreign fiber in the textile material. The apparatus may be used in a card, a drawing bench, a ring spinning machine, an air-jet spinning machine, an open-end spinning machine, a chemical spinning machine, a bobbin winding machine a doubling machine, a combing machine, a bobbin frame, a texturing machine or a loom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventor: Patrick Bouvyn
  • Patent number: 6628807
    Abstract: A device for testing the color and reflectivity of garments by obtaining a image of the garment to be tested and reference samples simultaneously and segmenting the image of the garment into zones and obtaining characteristics, i.e. color, reflectivity, and brightness, of the each zone which are compared to the reference samples. The zones are then displayed where the zones that are within range are displayed in one color and those out of the range are displayed in another color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Lavanderie Dell'Alto Adige S.p.A.
    Inventors: Heinrich Mumelter, Riccardo Bolognini
  • Patent number: 6618632
    Abstract: A method of monitoring and/or controlling machining plans having time-dependent machining parameters includes measuring desired time-dependent machining parameters as a measured curve, generating time-independent numerical values from the measured machining parameters, and entering the time-independent numerical values into a classifier distinguishing between normal states of the machining plant and abnormal states of the machining plant. Training vectors regarded as abnormal can be filtered out from training vectors available by determining a distance of each training vector from every other training vector with a selected measure of distance for filtering of the abnormal training vectors, the training vectors having components made of time-independent numerical values, and the classifier can be trained with training vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Federl, Gerhard Pöppel, Frank Wachtmeister
  • Patent number: 6556885
    Abstract: A control system for a group of fiber processing machines includes a superordinated control console; and separate machine-specific control consoles connected to each respective fiber processing machine. The superordinated control console and the machine-specific control consoles are connected to one another by control and regulating devices via a network. The superordinated control console includes a stationary unit having arrangements for supplying current, for communicating with said network, for storing and administering data, and a computer. The superordinated control console further includes a mobile unit having an operating and displaying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Fritz Hösel
  • Patent number: 6532396
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for controlling components of individual work stations of a textile machine wherein the textile machine includes a plurality of adjacent such work stations. The work station components are run at a first speed during normal operation. A time period is established at the start of a voltage loss to the components. At the conclusion of this time period, the components are shut down. The components assume a second set speed as they run down during the time period beginning at the start of the voltage loss. Upon the voltage loss, an auxiliary current source is activated and the speed of the components which are supplied with auxiliary voltage from the current source is reduced in a controlled manner with the aid of a control program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Gaukler, Mario Maleck
  • Publication number: 20020103565
    Abstract: A control system for a group of fiber processing machines includes a superordinated control console; and separate machine-specific control consoles connected to each respective fiber processing machine. The superordinated control console and the machine-specific control consoles are connected to one another by control and regulating devices via a network. The superordinated control console includes a stationary unit having arrangements for supplying current, for communicating with said network, for storing and administering data, and a computer. The superordinated control console further includes a mobile unit having an operating and displaying unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Fritz Hosel
  • Patent number: 6408221
    Abstract: To optimize the cleaning of cotton in a spinning milk, there is entered into a control original data concerning fiber characteristics and proportions of different types of contamination inherent to the origin of fiber cotton bales. Also there is entered into the control a desired degree of cleaning and a throughput quantity of the carded fiber sliver. The control delivers predetermined control signals based upon the entered original data, the throughput quantity of the carded sliver and the desired degree of cleaning. These control signals set adjustable operating members governing the rate of opening of the cotton bales by bale opening machines, the degree of cleaning of the cotton fibers by cleaning machines and the rate of processing of the cotton fibers by at least one carding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reiter AG
    Inventors: Robert Demuth, Jürg Faas, Peter Fritzsche, Eduard Nüssli
  • Patent number: 6338002
    Abstract: An Internet inline control apparatus for knitting machines includes a producer computer processor, a user computer processor linked to the producer computer processor, an intelligent communication unit linked to the user computer processor, a human machine interface linked to the intelligent communication unit, a control unit linked to the intelligent communication unit and a peripheral device linked to the control unit. Through the apparatus, the knitting machine producer is able to monitor and directly adjust knitting machines installed at remotely located user sites through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Pai Lung Machinery Mill Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Ming Kuo