GB1357216A - Obtaining electronic data for controlling textile machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1357216 Controlling shedding on looms DRING RUDOLF HELL GmbH 1 July 1971 [8 July 1970] 30944/71 Heading D1E [Also in Division G3] To derive a digital representation of a textile pattern, to be stored on core or magnetic tape type store 40, see also Figure 1 (not shown) and used to control a loom, the pattern is projected at an enlarged scale on a translucent projection surface 1 and the position, and colour of each element of the pattern as defined by raster elements 11 is transferred, element by element in a scanning process in one of eight possible directions from any one raster element controlled by buttons, for example 63, in unit 57 on console 5, to a buffer store 41, for subsequent transfer to magnetic tape store 40. The colour of each element is determined by an operator, who operates one of the buttons, for example 68 on the console, to register the colour, and, as a check, to cause a scanning head 13 using colour imprinting pegs to make a correspondingly coloured imprint on a foil (not shown) covering the translucent projection surface 1. The increment commands from unit 57 operate via pulse transmitter 36 to operate stepping motors 19, 22, Figure 2 to operate carriage 4, the coordinate position being indicated on counters 8, 9. For encoding the symmetrical pattern shown in Figure 2, the carriage is initially set to origin 79, the pattern being orientated, via button 118 to place axes of symmetry along the X and Y axes, and that portion only of the pattern having positive X and Y coordinates is encoded. During transfer to store 40, operation of buttons -X; -Y; -X and -Y, respectively, enable encoding of the other three quadrants of the pattern, transfer being initiated by button 104, and unit 100 allows for permutation of colours of corresponding positions during the transfer, if desired. Scanning is carried out on lines following a given colour, buttons 71, 72 allowing automatic repetition of scanning movements at slow or fast rates, the one colour being registered at each raster element. Button 70 allows movement without colour registration. Holder (12) Figure 1 (not shown) supports a diapositive of the pattern, and a diapositive representation Which is projected onto surface 1 of the raster elements 11, for operator guidance. The rastor representation may alternatively be applied either to the surface 1 on a foil, or to the diapositive for projection therewith. The transfer onto tape may be entirely electronic, or as a check accompanied by the movement of the carriage 4 imprinting on the foil the pattern being transferred in adjoining horizontal raster lines. Instead of colour buttons in unit 58, the unit may be designed to operate only with all of a set of colour pegs but one fitted into orifices to complete contacts, in unit 58, and one transferred to a position on the scanning head 3. Stepping motor operated lead screw 20 provides "X" movement for the carriage 4, "Y" movement being provided by stepping motor 22 rotating to change the relative distribution of the steel tape 24 of fixed length, on either side of pulley 29 engaging perforations in the tape. The amount of movement in "X" and "Y" corresponds to the warp and weft of the textile. A button 114 allows movement of carriage 4 without counting at 8, 9, until the count and carriage position agree. Buttons 116, 117, 119 control the projected image size, focus and brightness. The method is applicable to cross woven fabrics.