Abstract: A safety wire for use in a heating blanket has a core, a heating wire wrapped around the core, and a guard wire spaced apart from the heating wire. In a normal mode of operation, the guard wire is not physically or electrically coupled to the heating wire, but in a breakdown mode of operation, the guard wire is electrically coupled to the heating wire. A TRIAC may be operatively coupled to the heating wire so that when the guard wire is electrically coupled to the heating wire, the TRAIC is turned on so that current flows from the heating wire to a fuse.

Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.

Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.

Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.

Abstract: Electric blankets and methods and systems for making electric blankets are provided. Certain electric blanket embodiments include a laminated scrim blanket with a heating element embedded therein. Other embodiments provide an electric blanket formed from conductive fibers. Another embodiment includes a central circuit that controls the position of electricity to an electric blanket responsively to temperature rate of change. A further embodiment includes a machine for inserting a heating element within passageways of a blanket shell.

Abstract: Electric blankets and methods and systems for making electric blankets are provided. Certain electric blanket embodiments include a laminated scrim blanket with a heating element embedded therein. Other embodiments provide an electric blanket formed from conductive fibers. Another embodiment includes a central circuit that controls the position of electricity to an electric blanket responsively to temperature rate of change. A further embodiment includes a machine for inserting a heating element within passageways of a blanket shell.

Abstract: An optical web defect detection system includes a light source, a detector disposed with respect to the light source so that the detector receives light modulated by the web, and a control mechanism in operative communication with the detector. The control mechanism receives an output signal from the detector to detect a defect in the web based thereon. The detector may be disposed so that it receives light modulated by the web and emitted by the light source at an oblique angle with respect to a plane defined by the web. A first detector may be disposed at a first distance from the web less than a second distance at which a second detector is disposed from the web. A shift mechanism may reciprocally remove the detector in a path parallel to a plane defined by the web.

Abstract: An electric blanket includes a heating element extending through the blanket so that, upon receiving electric current from a power source, the element heats the blanket. A regulator circuit is connected to the element. It is configured to measure the resistance of the element and to control delivery of the electric current from the power source to the element responsively to the resistance so that the element heats to a desired temperature.

Abstract: An optical web defect detection system includes a light source and a detector disposed with respect to the light source so that the detector receives light modulated by a web moving proximate the light source. The detector outputs a signal corresponding to the modulated light. The detector may include a plurality of fiber optic elements having ends arranged in a group aligned generally parallel to the orientation of a defect in the web. A control mechanism is in operative communication with the detector to receive the signal therefrom. The control mechanism may include a signal processing stage and a defect detection stage that receives a signal modified by the signal processing stage and compares the modified signal to a predetermined criteria to determine whether a defect occurs in the web.

Abstract: An optical web defect detection system includes a light source and a detector disposed with respect to the light source so that the detector receives light modulated by a web moving proximate the light source. The detector outputs a signal corresponding to the modulated light. An adjustment mechanism is in operative communication with the detector to adjust the position of the detector with respect to the web. A control mechanism is in operative communication with the detector and the adjustment mechanism. The control mechanism receives the signal to detect a defect in the web based thereon and adjusts the position of the detector to optimize reception of the modulated light by the detector.