Abstract: Apparatus the temperature of a thermoplastic sheet including a hollow wave guide having a bend therein, for receiving and transmitting infrared energy emitted by the sheet between a sheet heater at a sheet forming station and differential pressure forming apparatus at a forming station. One end of the hollow channel is mounted adjacent the sheet. At the opposite end of the hollow channel, a plurality of infrared energy sensors is mounted for sensing the infrared energy. Infrared sensors include mechanism for converting the infrared energy to electrical energy to operate a control system which controls the level of electrical power to the heater and thus controls the temperature of the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for severing and stacking articles which have been differentially pressure formed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet. Apparatus is provided for moving the sheet in a horizontal path and relatively vertically moving opposed upper and lower trim dies into engagement with vertically opposite sides of the sheet to trim the articles from the sheet at a trim station. The articles free fall through an opening in the lower die and free fall to an underlying accumulator. The accumulator includes mechanism which is moveable from a stack forming position in the path of freely falling articles to receive and accumulate freely falling severed articles in a stack, and a releasing position in which a formed the stack is released for vertical free fall.

Abstract: Apparatus for differential pressure forming an article in a sheet of thermoplastic material having a pair of opposed differential pressure molds at a forming and trimming station moveable between open positions and closed positions engaging opposite sides of the sheet of thermoplastic material for differentially pressure forming an article in the sheet. Mechanism is provided for severing the article from the sheet and includes a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on the molds for movement therewith between spaced apart positions and sheet engaging positions when the molds are moved between open and closed positions. After the part is formed, wedge mechanism is moved transversely of the relative path of travel of the dies for incrementally indexing one of the dies toward the other of the dies to sever the article at the forming and trimming stations.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet including a pair of opposed trim dies which will trim parts out of a web of thermoplastic material. Apparatus is provided for pushing the trimmed parts out of the trimming station at a greatly accelerated rate. The apparatus includes a pusher member reciprocally movable in a to-and-fro path of travel between a retracted position and a forward ejecting position. Apparatus is provided for moving the ejector mechanism in the to-and-fro path and includes a toggle linkage mechanism which engages a cam for movement between relatively folded positions on one side of a plane and relatively oppositely folded positions on the opposite side of the plane to rapidly advance and even more rapidly retract the pusher member.

Abstract: A take-up mechanism for simultaneously winding a plurality of yarns, tapes, or other strands on a plurality of take-up spindles is described. The mechanism comprises a support unit, a plurality of yarn take-up spindles positioned in substantially vertical alignment on the support unit, and a motor or the like in cooperation with the take-up spindles for driving separately each of the plurality of spindles. A compensator arm assembly comprising a plurality of compensator arms with each having a guide roll is positioned in substantially vertical alignment relative to the take-up spindles, with each of the compensator arms of the assembly individually controlling the speed of the drive motor for a take-up spindle. The plurality of yarn strands are fed to the compensator arm guide rolls at an angle of at least 60 degrees and no greater than 90 degrees. The take-up mechanism can be arranged in a compact manner which is of critical concern in a factory.

Abstract: Apparatus for vertically adjusting the position of a lower mold relative to an upper mold to control the shut height or spacing between the upper and lower molds when they are moved between vertically spaced apart, open positions, and closed positions engaging opposite sides of a thermoplastic sheet of material to form an object therein.A plurality of toggle links are pivotally coupled to each other and to the mold and frame for determining the final position of the mold and the closed position.The toggle link mechanism for the lower mold is mounted on the frame via a horizontally adjustable wedge mechanism which vertically adjusts another cooperating wedge mounting one pivotal end of the lower toggle links.

Abstract: Size reduction system for processing plastic articles is disclosed. The system includes granulating means operable to comminute articles delivered to it, an article feed means which serves to move articles in a generally vertical path from a loading point to the granulating means while simultaneously crushing each of the articles into a compacted form. The feed means includes projections which operate to pull the articles into the article feed means while concurrently puncturing those articles. The invention provides a simple and efficient means for processing articles into reduced size for reclaiming. The invention further provides a system which utilizes minimum operating space by virtue of the vertical orientation and integration of the feed system relative to the granulator and the functioning of the feed system to compact articles preliminary to entry into the granulator, thereby allowing for a granulator of reduced size.

Abstract: A take-up mechanism for winding strand material at low speeds comprising a take-up spindle and traverse mechanism driven by a torque motor having a flywheel interconnected in the drive system is described. The flywheel controls power fluctuation during the strand winding operation and provides for a substantially uniform tension on the yarn strand during winding.

Abstract: This relates to the provision of a stall shutdown circuit for a brushless direct current motor wherein energization of the windings of the stator of the motor is controlled by transistors. By providing a stall shutdown circuit for shutting down power to the transistors when a stall condition exists, the capacity of the power supply transistor may be reduced to one-third of that presently required, thereby greatly reducing the cost of the motor. The brushless direct current motor utilizing the stall shutdown circuit of the present invention is particularly useful in a textile machine such as a take-up device where it is necessary to stop a spindle to doff and don yarn packages.

Abstract: In a loom of the type in which a weft strand is projected in free flying fashion from one side of a warp shed to the opposite side thereof and which includes a lay rockable between a weft projecting position and a beat up position, a reed fixed on the lay for beating up the inserted weft strand into the fell of the fabric being woven when the lay moves to beat up position, and a strand reception tube carried on the lay for receiving the free end of the projected weft strand proximate to such opposite side, the improvement of a support for the reception tube which permits bodily pivotal displacement of the reception tube toward and away from the reed while pivoting with the lay.

Abstract: The admission of pressurized fluid into the weft insertion nozzle of a loom is detected by an electrical signal generating means arranged in the nozzle in communication with the fluid delivery passage through the nozzle, the generating means generating a signal indicative of such fluid admission and applying the same to a conductor extending to an exterior point for use in monitoring the proper operation of the loom. Preferably, the signal generating means is fluid pressure responsive, such as a piezoelectric crystal exposed to the fluid pressure in the nozzle passage.

Abstract: A monitoring unit for a fluid weft insertion loom monitors the yarn supply withdrawal.

Abstract: An intermittently-operating strand delivery system having:(1) a nozzle passageway through which the strand is guided;(2) a supply for pressurized medium;(3) conduit means connecting between said nozzle passageway and said supply including a pressure-operated on-off flow valve; and(4) separate servo valve units for independently applying and releasing control pressure, respectively to and from the pressure-operated flow valve to move the cam between alternately open and closed positions to admit medium from the supply to the nozzle passageway for a controlled interval and thereby permit a pulse of medium to pass through the nozzle passageway and project a length of the weft strand therefrom. The servo units can take the form of separate solenoids or rotary spool valves. The opening of the pressure-operated valve preferably incorporates an avalanching effect to accelerate its opening action.

Abstract: The actuation of a nozzle utilized for propelling the yarn in an air weft insertion weaving system is controlled by means of a single rotary servo valve having an arrangement of ports adapted to be brought during valve rotation into registration alternately with an air pressure source and with the atmosphere for alternately pressurizing and venting a pilot chamber for opening and closing the nozzle. Preferably, the rotary valve includes a rotary spool enclosed within a sleeve of air permeable material to provide an air bearing for the spool.

Abstract: A strand is furnished to a strand consuming unit, e.g. loom, having a periodic demand for a finite length of strand by:(a) continuously advancing the strand from a supply source for winding onto a first surface,(b) continuously advancing the strand from the first surface onto one end of a second surface for rewinding thereof on the second surface,(c) periodically operating the consuming unit to withdraw the strand from an opposite end of such second surface while continuing the advance of the strand both to such first surface and from the first surface toward the first end of the second surface, and(d) halting withdrawal of the strand when a finite length thereof has been withdrawn from the opposite end of the second surface by the consuming unit.

Abstract: In strand user devices such as a yarn storage feeder system of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,480 and having a yarn storage unit upon which a quantity of yarn is maintained from a yarn supply for intermittent withdrawal and delivery to yarn consuming means, a significant improvement in efficiency of the strand user device is achieved by incorporating strand guide means which are operable to control the movement of the strand, especially strand in the form of tape, from its supply source and into the user device while precluding fibrillation or splitting of the tape. Particularly in the handling of plastic tape fibrillation or splitting of the tape can occur as the tape is drawn from its supply source and guided in an angular path through a stationary member directing it to the inlet end of the storage feeder.

Abstract: An improved solenoid actuated yarn clamp for controlling the flow of a moving strand of yarn particularly in conjunction with a fluid weft insertion loom. The improved clamp is double acting, being displaced positively between an operative yarn clamping position and an inoperative position releasing the yarn for further movement. The actuation of the clamp in both directions preferably occurs in two stages in which a relatively movable portion of the armature is first attracted into engagement with the energized solenoid, resulting in enhancement of the flux path of the solenoid, causing movement of the remainder of the armature. A preferred electronic circuit for regulating the actuation of the improved clamp is also disclosed which permits the adjustment of the clamping and nonclamping portions of the operative cycle of the clamp.

Abstract: Increased resistance to unraveling is imparted to a fringe selvage of the type formed by weaving on a fluid weft insertion loom by means of a special selvage construction produced along the opposite side edges of the fabric which combines a pair of twisted binder threads and a juxtaposed leno chain stitch. The binder threads extending along the edges of the warp are opened or separated for the insertion of each weft thread therebetween and then closed and separated in the opposite direction to entwine around the corresponding end of each inserted weft thread while being simultaneously twisted about their own axis and preferably the timing of the closing of the binder threads during the weaving cycle is slightly in advance of the closing of the warp shed itself.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for weaving in which a weft strand is projected in substantially free flight into the warp shed of a loom and is guided across at least a portion of the shed by a plurality of guides, preferably annular in shapes disposed in operative position within the shed in interdigitating with the warp threads, the guides being moved to and fro along an arcuate path for withdrawal to an inoperative position substantially entirely outside the shed and return within the shed and having an opening at a common point thereon to permit the inserted strand to egress therefrom during their withdrawal from the shed, the improvement of (a) engaging the inserted weft strand at spaced points along its length while the strand is within the shed and within the guides and (b) bodily displacing the strand outwardly through such common opening before the guides are withdrawn from said shed. The strand is ordinarily displaced in timed relation to the movement of the guides along their path.

Abstract: A quality monitoring system for looms is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of signal producing units disposed at various loci on the loom. These units operate to detect faults in the warp or filling yarns being woven into the fabric. Detection of such faults produce signals which are registered and accumulated in a counter. Signals provided from different sources can be weighted at different values so that a fault from one source can excite the counter to a different level than a fault from another source The accumulation of these values thus provides a quality point index indicative of the probable quality of the fabric being woven. Since a useful application of the quality point index is to assess this index or value in terms of faults in the woven fabric per unit length of loom operating time, or unit length of fabric woven, a divider circuit is provided to divide either of the aforementioned units by faults detected.