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.

Abstract: A runtogether sensor comprising a balanced beam having a plurality of tines for insertion between a plurality of parallel wires in motion for sensing a pair of stuck together wires by means of a switch associated with the balanced beam for providing a signal indicative of a runtogether condition to an annunciator which provides verbal announcements of runtogether conditions, as well as other conditions to maintenance personnel for immediate corrective action.

Abstract: An arrangement for evaluating the performance of a yarn processing machine including a plurality of yarn processing stations that are individually operatable and each of which includes a monitoring device for the operating conditions thereof and a yarn quality monitoring device capable of detecting yarn quality defects comprises data links which separately supply first signals from the condition monitoring devices and second signals from the yarn quality monitoring devices to an evaluation location. An associating device is situated at the evaluation location, being connected to the data links and operative for associating the second signals which are representative of quality defects with the associated yarn processing stations.

Abstract: A wire tangle sensor is disclosed for sensing tangled wire in a wire fabrication process prior to being fed into a wire drawing machine so that a tangled wire signal may be sent to a verbal annunciator. A verbal announcement of a tangled wire condition is made for immediate corrective action by maintenance personnel to avoid a production shutdown. The wire tangle sensor comprises a metallic probe positioned in close proximity to a moving wire which touches the wire when it becomes tangled thereby grounding the probe and providing a current path for a switch which initiates the verbal announcement.

Abstract: The needle thread-break monitor for embroidery machines comprises a double-armed rocking lever acting as a switch in an electrical circuit of an alarm system. The rocking lever is mounted on a bearing shaft forming one pole or terminal of the switch. The other pole or terminal of the switch is formed by a limit or abutment shaft arranged substantially vertically above and extending substantially parallel to the bearing shaft. The arm of the rocking lever not having a thread guide cooperates with the limit shaft, which carries a sleeve of electrically insulating material forming a stop limiting the open position of the switch. The arm of the rocking lever having a thread guide cooperates with the sleeve. The sleeve is rotatable between a terminal or limit position on the terminal or limit shaft enabling electrical contact and another limit position inhibiting electrical contact. The sleeve serves as a support for a needle thread in the relaxed or non-tensioned state.

Abstract: A fault pre-warning device for use in tufting machines has a switching strip (11) over which the carpet web is guided in such a way that the switching strip (11) is acted on by a defined force in the switching direction. On the occurrence of excessive tension in one or more of the warp threads the switching strip (11) initiates a switching process.

Abstract: The system according to the invention comprises a sensor composed of a movable unit formed by an electrical circuit in which are placed two supple blade switches closed by a rocking member in response to the presence of a yarn. Said circuit comprises a conductor wound on a magnetic core. The data transmitting device comprises a fixed looped conductor of which one part is parallel to the path followed by the sensor and traverses the core. Means are provided for generating oscillations in the looped conductor, as well as means for detecting a variation in the oscillating conditions induced by a change of state of the electrical circuit due to the closure of one switch and indicating that the sensor has met up with a yarn. Due to the detection of the variations in the oscillating conditions, it is possible to find out the number of breakages occurring in the textile machine.

Abstract: A yarn eveness detector in a textile machine generates an analog signal in response to yarn uneveness. The analog signal is digitized and subjected to real time processing in a computer for analysis of both cyclic and non-cyclic yarn irregularity. A signal may be generated in response to irregularities exceeding a certain value.

Abstract: An engine oil pressure monitor includes an engine oil pressure sensor and an engine speed sensor. A plurality of pressure alarm values are generated to correspond to designated distinct ranges of engine speed. One of the alarm values is selected according to which engine speed range contains the sensed engine speed. An alarm signal is generated when the sensed pressure falls below the alarm value. The alarm is disabled when the engine speed falls below a minimum non-zero engine speed and is disabled unless the pressure failure condition persists for at least a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The amplitude of a signal (original waveform) produced by weft sensors is relativized, and the signal waveform is analyzed in various aspects based on multiple parameters to discriminate a weft yarn and a jet of fluid accurately. More specifically, a discriminating function is calculated beforehand from a signal indicative of the weft yarn and jet of fluid under normal weft insertion conditions, and a signal produced in actual detection operation is compared with the discriminating function to determine whether the weft yarn is present or not. The discriminating function can be obtained by extracting feature parameters from a signal generated by the weft sensors, and relativizing the feature parameters with respect to the original signal waveform to find a reference quantity. The feature parameters include the original waveform per se, a differentiated value thereof, an integrated value thereof, frequencies in certain frequency ranges, and sampling averages of the above parameters.

Abstract: An abnormal condition warning apparatus for a sewing machine is disclosed. Plural detecting means disposed in the sewing machine detect the occurence of abnormal conditions in which stitch forming instrumentalities are prevented from forming a desired stitch pattern, and each of the plural detecting means generates a detection signal according to the detection. Plural groups of speech data are permanently stored in memory means, and each of the groups is predetermined to represent one of the abnormal conditions in voice. Selecting means selects one group from the plural groups according to the detection signal, an electric signal is generated based on the selected group, and electroacoustic means disposed in the machine speaks one of the abnormal conditions in response to the electric signal.

Abstract: Jet looms have feelers for detecting whether a weft yarn has been properly inserted through a warp shed at an end of the warp shed.Air jet looms have photoelectric feelers the sensitivity of which becomes lowered with time due to dust or fly waste attached to the feelers in operation. Water jet looms incorporate electrode feelers with insulation therebetween tending to be deteriorated due to water applied, and hence the sensitivity of such feelers is also reduced with time.An apparatus according to the present invention increases the gain of a variable-gain amplifier for amplifying an output signal from the feeler as the level of the output signal is lowered, so that the amplified signal is maintained at a suitable level.

Abstract: A device for indicating the triggering of a signal transducer in, for example, thread surveillance and monitoring systems.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for preventing the traveling block of a drilling rig from being drawn into the top of the rig and also for preventing the traveling block from falling downwardly below a predetermined bottom position. A high position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a valve stem providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled onto the drum. A low position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a stem yieldably urged at all times into engagement with the cable for actuation and providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled off of the drum. An air supply is connected to the inlets of the valve and the outlets of the valves supply air to stop the actuation of the cable drum. The longitudinal axis of the valves are positioned generally perpendicular to the surface of the cable drum and their stems are longitudinally movable.

Abstract: A light source is energized by pulses controlled by a frequency standard taken from a resonant circuit output. The resonant circuit acts as a narrow-band filter and comprises the capacitance of a photoresponsive receiver and an associated inductor so that a desired filter frequency is obtained. The accurate coincidence of the light source pulse frequency and the resonant circuit acting as a narrow-band output filter permits optical interference acting on the measuring apparatus to be effectively suppressed.

Abstract: An electronic device for monitoring the insertion or travel of the filling or weft thread on an air jet weaving machine or loom which comprises at least one air jet arranged at the picking side of the machine, and a lathe or sley beam with thereon fixed lamellae forming a reed. The device comprises a tactile weft thread travel sensor arranged at the weaving machine upstream of said air jet, a start pulse generator controlled by the weaving machine, an optoelectrical sensor located near the end of the reed adjacent the weft receiving means, and electronic circuitry controlled by said start pulse generator and optoelectrical sensor for producing an activating signal defining the time interval during which the weft thread travel is monitored.

Abstract: A weft or filling thread monitor comprises a wire-shaped feeler pin which is pivoted by a thread, against the action of spring force, in the region of a measuring field. The measuring field encompasses a light-emitting diode and a photocell and enables generating, in a contactless manner by the feeler pin, an electrical control signal which is related to the monitored thread. This control signal is infed to a first input of a gate switching stage, at the second input of which there is applied a machine-controlled reference signal. In the absence of the control signal there appears at the output a work signal suitable for shutdown of the machine. Due to these measures such thread monitoring apparatus, working with contactless signal triggering, can fulfil all of the requirements placed thereon.

Abstract: An order produced by an interruption of yarn delivery at the exit of a spinning unit is cancelled so that the yarn-piecing automaton does not stop in front of the unit but continues to travel towards another spinning unit. At the same time, an alarm system is automatically triggered in order to warn operating personnel that a servicing operation is urgently required.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting the presence of a running thread takes advantage of the inherent physical irregularities of the thread to generate an alternating current signal as the thread passes through a capacitive element. The variations in capacitance resulting from the running thread are detected and amplified as an alternating current electrical signal, which disappears instantly with thread stoppage or breakage.

Abstract: A yarn tension detector having a cage-like form pivotably moveable between predetermined limits about the pivot point and under the control of the tension of a moving yarn. The detector includes a pair of spaced abutment members in an electrical circuit with a lamp. The cage-like member makes a circuit whenever it engages one or the other of the abutments to thereby cause the bulb to light. The member also includes oppositely directed guide formations about which a yarn is trained and as the yarn is fed from a creel to, for example, a tufting machine the tension in the yarn as it moves through the guide formations pivots the member. One of the guide formations progressively opens when the yarn tension is in excess of a predetermined high tension to release the yarn from the detector after it has indicated the yarn tension fault.

Abstract: A proximity detector has permanent magnets positioned within a chassis so that the axis and poles of the flux field of the permanent magnet are substantially normal to the front of the chassis. A switch is positioned along the front of the chassis proximate the magnet. The switch has contacts operable by the magnetic flux field of the magnet. A shield is positioned between the magnet and the rear of the chassis and between the switch and the rear of the chassis. The shield acts to inhibit extraneous magnetic fields from interferring with the detector operation and as a magnetic conductor to focus the magnetic flux field. The flux field of the permanent magnet is modified by a ferromagnetic object positioned at a predetermined distance from the front of the chassis to cause the contacts of the switch to operate in relation to the positioning thereof and in turn send an operate signal indicative of the positioning of the ferromagnetic object at the front of the switch to an external circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting when the tying mechanism of a baler has failed to properly tie a cord or wire around a bale which has been formed in the baler, and further for producing an alarm for the operator of the baler that the tying mechanism is not functioning properly. The apparatus includes a sensor needle which is mounted for pivotal movement over one of the surfaces of the bale and beneath the tying cord which extends lengthwise along the surface of the bale of material which is being formed. If the tying mechanism has securely knotted the cord around the bale of material, the tied cord will engage the sensor needle and pivot the sensor needle back as the tied bale moves towards the discharge end of the bale forming chute. A clock mechanism is provided which activates an alarm if the sensor needle is not engaged and swung back within a preset time interval.

Abstract: At each work position of a textile machine having a plurality of work positions driven by a common drive unit (warper's creels, winder or spooling and spinning machines, or circular knitting machines, for example), an electronic monitor device is provided which is responsive to thread travel. An indicator device is associated with each travel monitor and comprises a storage element and an indicator connected thereto, for the permanent indication of a thread breakage. To prevent false indications of thread breakage when the machine is stopped, a control signal is generated when the machine's drive unit is operating. Each indicator device further includes an electronic switch responsive to the control signal to insure the storage unit can be set to indicate a thread breakage only during operation of the drive unit.

Abstract: A sensing device responsive to ballooning motion of textile yarns, and producing electrical sensing signals comprising a hollow or ring-shaped yarn guide body whose interior periphery is provided with motion responsive and non-responsive elements in alternate sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining reeving of a pulley system including head pulleys on a jib or boom of a crane and reeving pulleys opposite the head pulleys. There is provided a sensor which may be electrically, mechanically, optically or pneumatically operable at some of the pulleys of the pulley system for sensing the presence or absence of the rope at its associated pulley. Each sensor provides a signal which is fed into a decoder module which may be connected to a display unit for displaying the information or a control device for enabling or inhibiting operation of the associated lifting equipment.

Abstract: In order to monitor irregularities in textile yarn being produced in an open-end spinning turbine of the type having an elastically mounted rotor, there is provided a sensor arranged to sense radial deflections experienced by the rotor or its bearing and associated with the occurrence of such irregularities.

Abstract: In the production of yarn in an open-end spinning turbine having an elastically mounted rotor bearing, a break in the yarn or an operating state which influences yarn quality is detected by means of a sensor which produces a signal representative of radial deflections of the bearing and an evaluation circuit which responds to the absence of and/or a change in the signal component produced by the sensor as a result of radial deflections created by the fiber material present on the rotor.

Abstract: The knotting mechanism of a crop baler has a spring-loaded arm normally pulled down to a lowered position by the binding twine during operation of the knotter. However, if the knotter accidentally fails to tie a knot or the twine otherwise slips loose, the resulting slack will allow the arm to swing upwardly, and this motion may be used to trigger a switch for setting off an alarm or to raise a signal flag, either of which would indicate that the knotter needs attention.

Abstract: A programmable bobbin thread detector which generates a signal when the amount of thread remaining on a bobbin is sufficient to complete only one more seam. At the beginning of each operation, the operator sews a complete seam with a full bobbin and the number of bobbin revolutions are stored in a first counter. The operator then fills a new bobbin. Each turn of the bobbin during the winding operation is detected and increments a second counter until its contents correspond to the total number of thread revolutions on the new bobbin minus the number of revolutions necessary to complete one seam. The complement of this number is loaded into a third counter. During subsequent sewing operations using a new bobbin, a third counter is incremented with each revolution of the bobbin, and an alarm is generated when the third counter reaches a predetermined state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and detecting the end of a wire segment in a computer controlled harness maker in which the wire is crimped twice in close proximity 90 degrees apart thereby forcing the wire next to the crimp to enlarge in size. The crimped wire is then pulled between two surfaces of the pinch mark detector which are spring loaded and rides at the nominal wire diameter until the crimp passes through the pinch mark detector depressing a plunger to activate a metal sensitive proximity switch providing an output signal representative of a pinch mark detect condition.

Abstract: For detecting an improperly inserted pick of weft yarn in a weaving loom, a tension signal representative of a total of tensions detected of a predetermined number of warp yarns forming an end portion of the weaving shed during beating of the weft yarn in each cycle of operation of the loom is compared with a variable reference signal which is representative of, for example, a predetermined fraction of the arithmetic means of the sums of the warp yarn tensions detected during the cycles of operation prior to the cycle in which the tension signal is produced and compared with the reference signal.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an electronic device enabling an operator to easily and correctly adjust the time interval in which the weft insertion in shuttleless looms fitted with an electronic weft or filling thread monitor is to be monitored. A safety interval of some milliseconds' duration is provided at the end of said time interval taking into account the unavoidable fluctuations of the weft insertion period.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring one or more electric signals representing movement of objects such as threads, strips, or the like during one or more surveillance time periods. A first signal detector detects the electrical signals representative of the movement. A trigger-signal-generating circuit generates a trigger signal upon detection of an electrical signal of at least a predetermined magnitude. A second signal detector is responsive to trigger signals to activate a surveillance circuit which indicates detection of a moving object. The apparatus includes a device for increasing the sensitivity of one or both of the signal detectors during all or part of the surveillance period.

Abstract: Novel device for detecting knot-like thick places in travelling textile threads, comprising a plate-shaped or rectangular vibratory member which is fixed at one end and has a straight edge at its other end. A plate-shaped piezoelectrical transducer element is fixed at one of the major surfaces of said vibratory member. A thread guiding member having a straight edge is arranged in essentially parallel relationship to the straight edge of the vibratory member such as to form a thread passage gap between said straight edges. Means adjust the width of said thread passage gap, and a case or support structure is provided for receiving the vibratory member, electromechanical transducer element and thread guiding member.

Abstract: A twist detecting device for use in a detwisting apparatus for a roped web of knit or woven fabric in a fabric processing system comprising a pair of sensing drums each having a plurality of axial grooves formed on at least a portion of the circumferential surface thereof and spaced apart from each other so that said roped web passes between said drums in a direction generally parallel with said grooves; means for supporting said drums rotatably about their respective axes so that as said twist in said rope is tightened, engagement of said twisted rope with said grooves on either one or both of said drums causes simultaneous rotation of said drums in the same direction, the direction of said rotation depending on the direction of said twist; and means for detecting said direction of rotation to produce a corresponding electrical signal which actuates a detwister so as to decrease or remove said twist in said roped web.