Abstract: This invention relates to a take-up machine utilized in conjunction with the production of fiber or yarn wherein the product fiber or yarn, as it is produced, is wound onto spools or tubes. A control is provided for varying the speed of an electric motor which drives a spindle on which the tube or spool is mounted. This control is actuated by the position of a compensator arm which is connected to a core of a linear voltage differential transformer which, in turn, controls current flow through an NPN power transistor. The power transistor, in turn, controls current flow through a rectifier having one circuit for each of three windings of a three-phase AC motor, thereby controlling the speed of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: Thermoforming machines with a heating station and a downstream mold station have carrier clamp frames for gripping the edges of sheets of plastic at a load station and indexing them successively to a heating station and a mold station. The carrier frame members to which the plastic may be releasably clamped carry their own remotely operated clamps and are themselves expandable and contractible to a condition in which, prior to molding, they control the sag in the sheet formed during heating of the sheets to differential pressure forming temperature. The plastic sheet can be molded to only a portion of a product which functions as a mold member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming hollow articles from plasticized materials are disclosed. A preform is partially formed under substantially no pressure on a preform core by introducing the core into a void-free charge of plasticized material that is placed in a preform cavity from a source of the plasticized material. After the preform core and preform cavity have moved together to define a preform mold space, the charge of plasticized material is subjected to a pressure forming step to form a completely packed preform on the core. The preform is then blow-molded in a blow cavity by introducing blowing gas into the preform through the preform core. Neck mold structure that strips and releases the formed article from the core is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for detection and monitoring of improper operation of commutator-brush combinations conveying current to or from the electromagnetic rotary member of a motor or generator, and relates, more particularly, to means for detecting defective brushes in critical motor driven textile units such as yarn storage feeder devices which operate to store yarn temporarily for use by user means such as a loom.

Abstract: A take-up mechanism for a winding unit wherein yarns, tapes or other strands are wound on tubes or similar supports. The invention particularly relates to a compensator wheel mounted for pivoting so that it maintains alignment with the strand passing therearound in all operative positions of the compensator wheel. In another embodiment, the compensator wheel configuration includes a concave curvature which may be used in a conventional take-up mechanism in conjunction with certain strands such as carbon fibers which may suffer edge damage during winding.

Abstract: A mechanism for clamping a web of thermoplastic material against the face of a female mold prior to closure of the mold includes a clamping ring assembly mounted on the machine frame for movement relative to the frame independently of the molds. The clamping assembly is driven to and from its web clamping position by a cam mounted on the rock shaft which drives the molds between their open and closed positions and a constant radius section on the cam holds the clamp in its clamping position throughout a substantial portion of the operating cycle.

Abstract: Stacks of generally dish-shaped, nested plastic articles are gripped and transferred from elevated, horizontally adjacent chutes comprising circumferentially disposed, axially extending supports, which are open at both ends to permit articles to be both fed thereto and removed axially therefrom, to a conveyor disposed at a lower level. A transfer arm, mounting stack gripping receivers, which pivot on the transfer arm, is swung in an arcuate path and the receivers are moved relative to the transfer arm, responsive to swinging movement of the transfer arm, such that the receivers travel from a first position, horizontally axially aligned with said chutes and axially intermeshed with the supports, in a path having a first axially linear increment, then a downward arc to rotate said stacks substantially 90.degree., and finally a vertically linear path to deposit the stacks on the conveyor.

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 differential pressure forming machine with upper and lower mold members for forming cup-like articles in a web of thermoplastic material includes a mold assembly in which two separable die members, when in their closed position cooperatively form an article defining mold cavity which extends through one member and into the other. The two die members, when opened, are spaced from each other by a distance greater than the depth of the formed article. An endless chain of carrier members is located with one run extending between the two die members. Each carrier member has an opening smaller than the circumference of the formed article. Closing of the die members expands the carrier member opening outwardly of the periphery of the die cavity and closing of the entire mold assembly in the forming operation effects a severing of the formed article from the web.

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: The thickness of plastic film extruded from a die is maintained at a desired uniform dimension by utilizing the thermal expansion and contraction of die adjusting bolts to control the width of the orifice of the die. A thickness gauge measures the film thickness across its transverse dimension and provides a signal to a microcomputer which uses the information to calculate the desired die bolt movements. The movements are converted to bolt temperature changes to change the set temperature of each die bolt. A temperature sensing element in the die bolt provides a temperature signal to the microcomputer which controls the amount of power output to each bolt to attain the new set temperature. The temperature sensing and control system provides greater sensitivity, accuracy, and faster response to changing conditions than systems relying only on measurement of thickness variations to control power output to the bolt heaters without using bolt temperature for feedback.

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.