GB1589152A - Detection of faults in tufted fabrics - Google Patents

Detection of faults in tufted fabrics Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1589152A
GB1589152A GB2095378A GB2095378A GB1589152A GB 1589152 A GB1589152 A GB 1589152A GB 2095378 A GB2095378 A GB 2095378A GB 2095378 A GB2095378 A GB 2095378A GB 1589152 A GB1589152 A GB 1589152A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fabric
radiation
detector
tufting
fault
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
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GB2095378A
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Spencer Wright Industries Inc
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Spencer Wright Industries Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Spencer Wright Industries Inc filed Critical Spencer Wright Industries Inc
Priority to GB2095378A priority Critical patent/GB1589152A/en
Publication of GB1589152A publication Critical patent/GB1589152A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05C—EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05C15/00—Making pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features by inserting loops into a base material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/89—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in moving material, e.g. running paper or textiles
    • G01N21/892—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in moving material, e.g. running paper or textiles characterised by the flaw, defect or object feature examined
    • G01N21/898—Irregularities in textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. textiles, wood
    • G01N21/8983—Irregularities in textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. textiles, wood for testing textile webs, i.e. woven material

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Description

(54) DETECTION OF FAULTS IN TUFTED FABRICS (71) We, SPENCER WRIGHT INDUSTRIES, Inc., a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Tennessee, United States of America, of 1501 Riverside Drive, Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment :- The invention concerns the detection of faults in tufted fabrics.
In the manufacture of tufted fabrics wherein multiple side-by-side lines of stitches are entered in a backing fabric by respective needles which repeatedly pierce such fabric and co-operate with oscillating loopers disposed at the opposite side of the fabric from the needles to form loops in the backing fabric, any malfunction in the operation of a needle/looper combination or fault in the yarn feed to a needle will manifest itself in a fault in the tufted fabric, which fault, by the nature of the construction of a tufted fabric, will continue along the line of stitching until remedied. Thus, for example, a broken yarn will give rise to a missing line of stitching, whilst a light or loose yarn or a poor knife action will result in some anomaly in the tuft or in the backstitch in the line of stitches to which the non-standard yarn relates.
Present day tufting machines operate at very high speed, and so much so that a fault which remains undetected for only a short time can give rise to an appreciable length of fabric which exhibits the fault. Bearing in mind that tufted fabrics are produced in widths of up to five metres, any appreciable length of faulty fabric which is produced represents a significant financial disadvantage to the producer.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of and a means for detecting faults in tufted fabrics.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is proposed a method for detecting faults in a tufted fabric which comprises the steps of directing radiation at one surface of the said tufted fabric, with a radiation transmitting device, scanning a surface of the said tufted fabric, being the said one surface or otherwise, with a radiation receiving device which receives radiation from said scanned surface, and monitoring the received radiation with a monitoring device which detects deviations from a norm which deviations are representative of a fabric fault.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, the radiation is directed at one surface of the fabric and the scanning is of the other surface of the fabric, thereby viewing the same by transmitted radiation.
According to a further preferred feature, a limited area only of the surface of the fabric is scanned at any one time, the area of scan oscillating back and forth in the transverse direction of the fabric during the advance of such fabric.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tufting machine including apparatus for detecting faults in a tufted fabric produced by the machine, said apparatus comprising a radiation transmitting device for directing radiation at one surface of the fabric, a radiation receiving device adapted to scan a surface of the fabric, being the said one surface or otherwise, to receive radiation therefrom, and a monitoring device sensitive to the radiation received by the receiving device so as to detect deviations from a norm which deviations are representative of a fabric fault.
The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with refer ence to the accompanying drawings and in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic section taken through apparatus for use in detecting faults in a tufted fabric in accordance with the method of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fabric showing the path of movement relative to an advancing fabric of receivers of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of such as the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in relation to a fabric having a fault therein.
Referring now to the drawings, apparatus for use in detecting faults in a tufted fabric comprises a plurality of receivers or detectors 11 each oscillatable along a respective path of predetermined extent parallel to and adjacent to the surface of such fabric 12 to receive radiation from a transmitter or emitter 13 located at the opposite side of the fabric.
In the embodiment illustrated the three detectors are shown although numbers significantly in excess of this are contemplated, each detector being mounted for motion transtersely of the fabric so as to scan slightly more than one third of the total width thereof, the respective paths being such as to provide for a limited overlap a as between the paths of adjacent detectors at the extremes of movement thereof, as is indicated in Fig. 2.
The emitter may comprise a continuous source extending throughout the full lateral extent of this fabric, although a respective emitter for each detector may be provided if preferred, in which case the emitters would move in register and synchronism with the related detector.
In a typical arrangement each detector will have a traverse of, say, three to twelve inches, and will oscillate at, say, five cycles per second, and in its simplest form the emitter will comprise a light source and each detector will comprise a photo-electric or like sensor.
In the case of a fabric having no fault, the signal from each detector during its repeated traversing of its respective path of movement will be of a normal form determined by, inter alia, the extent to which the backing fabric 12 and the introduced tufts 14 will transmit the light from the light source. In the event that a missing yarn occurs during the traverse of any particular detector, the light transmission through the fabric will be correspondingly increased, and thus will be manifested as a deviation from the norm of the signal from the detector, which deviation can be used to operate some suitable indi cator means or to stop the tufting machine.
By suitably arranging the rate of traverse of the detectors in relation to the rate of feed of trufted fabric, the maximum period between successive passes across any given line of stitches, and thus period for which a fault can remain undetected, can be determined.
If the apparatus is positioned closely adjacent to the tufting position, the length of tufted product exhibiting the fault can be minimised, with consequential saving in the amount of substantial product.
As an alternative to utilising transmitted light (or other radiation) as a means of detecting a fault, an increased transmission occurring via the section of fabric from which the yarn is missing relates and being sensed by the detector, an analogous arrangement might be utilised whereby the emitter and detector both occur at the same side of the fabric, say the backstitch side of the fabric, and the detector receives reflected light (or other radiation). The absence of a backstitch in any instance will be detected as a deviation from the normal signal as received by the detector, and can be used to operate a suitable indicator and/or to stop the tufting machine.
Scanning of the backstitch side of the fabric does provide for the possibility not only of detecting the absence of a backstitch in any instance, but also of detecting deviation from the norm of a backstitch which, though present, is not of a standard form, such a non-standard form arising for example from a poor cutting action (in the case of a cut-pile fabric) which gives rise to a pulling or undue tightening of the backstitch and a localised deformation of the surface configuration at the backstitch side of the fabric.
The invention is not restricted to the use of photoelectric detectors nor to the use of such detectors in the context of visible light, since other detectors and radiations may be preferred in some instances. The invention is concerned with the detection of faults which may include missing or displaced yarns caused by faults in the tufting process.It is to be noted that in the case where such fault involves reciprocation of a needle having no yarn threaded therewith through a backing fabric the needle may in some cases produce an aperture in the fabric which is large enough to permit passage of radiation therethrough whereby the radiation transmission properties of the fabric are of course dramatically changed; but in other cases an aperture may be produced which is very small or is virtually non-existent due to closing up of the fabric on retraction of the needle whereby radiation transmission properties are not so dramatically modified and reliance is had for example on change in translucence or reflection.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method for detecting faults in a tufted fabric which comprises the steps of directing radiation at one surface of the said tufted fabric, with a radiation transmitting device, scanning a surface of the said tufted fabric, being the said one surface or otherwise, with a radiation receiving device which receives radiation from said scanned surface, and monitoring the received radiation with a monitoring device which detects deviations from a norm which deviations are representative of a fabric fault.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

  1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
    fabric of receivers of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of such as the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in relation to a fabric having a fault therein.
    Referring now to the drawings, apparatus for use in detecting faults in a tufted fabric comprises a plurality of receivers or detectors
    11 each oscillatable along a respective path of predetermined extent parallel to and adjacent to the surface of such fabric 12 to receive radiation from a transmitter or emitter 13 located at the opposite side of the fabric.
    In the embodiment illustrated the three detectors are shown although numbers significantly in excess of this are contemplated, each detector being mounted for motion transtersely of the fabric so as to scan slightly more than one third of the total width thereof, the respective paths being such as to provide for a limited overlap a as between the paths of adjacent detectors at the extremes of movement thereof, as is indicated in Fig. 2.
    The emitter may comprise a continuous source extending throughout the full lateral extent of this fabric, although a respective emitter for each detector may be provided if preferred, in which case the emitters would move in register and synchronism with the related detector.
    In a typical arrangement each detector will have a traverse of, say, three to twelve inches, and will oscillate at, say, five cycles per second, and in its simplest form the emitter will comprise a light source and each detector will comprise a photo-electric or like sensor.
    In the case of a fabric having no fault, the signal from each detector during its repeated traversing of its respective path of movement will be of a normal form determined by, inter alia, the extent to which the backing fabric 12 and the introduced tufts 14 will transmit the light from the light source. In the event that a missing yarn occurs during the traverse of any particular detector, the light transmission through the fabric will be correspondingly increased, and thus will be manifested as a deviation from the norm of the signal from the detector, which deviation can be used to operate some suitable indi cator means or to stop the tufting machine.
    By suitably arranging the rate of traverse of the detectors in relation to the rate of feed of trufted fabric, the maximum period between successive passes across any given line of stitches, and thus period for which a fault can remain undetected, can be determined.
    If the apparatus is positioned closely adjacent to the tufting position, the length of tufted product exhibiting the fault can be minimised, with consequential saving in the amount of substantial product.
    As an alternative to utilising transmitted light (or other radiation) as a means of detecting a fault, an increased transmission occurring via the section of fabric from which the yarn is missing relates and being sensed by the detector, an analogous arrangement might be utilised whereby the emitter and detector both occur at the same side of the fabric, say the backstitch side of the fabric, and the detector receives reflected light (or other radiation). The absence of a backstitch in any instance will be detected as a deviation from the normal signal as received by the detector, and can be used to operate a suitable indicator and/or to stop the tufting machine.
    Scanning of the backstitch side of the fabric does provide for the possibility not only of detecting the absence of a backstitch in any instance, but also of detecting deviation from the norm of a backstitch which, though present, is not of a standard form, such a non-standard form arising for example from a poor cutting action (in the case of a cut-pile fabric) which gives rise to a pulling or undue tightening of the backstitch and a localised deformation of the surface configuration at the backstitch side of the fabric.
    The invention is not restricted to the use of photoelectric detectors nor to the use of such detectors in the context of visible light, since other detectors and radiations may be preferred in some instances. The invention is concerned with the detection of faults which may include missing or displaced yarns caused by faults in the tufting process.It is to be noted that in the case where such fault involves reciprocation of a needle having no yarn threaded therewith through a backing fabric the needle may in some cases produce an aperture in the fabric which is large enough to permit passage of radiation therethrough whereby the radiation transmission properties of the fabric are of course dramatically changed; but in other cases an aperture may be produced which is very small or is virtually non-existent due to closing up of the fabric on retraction of the needle whereby radiation transmission properties are not so dramatically modified and reliance is had for example on change in translucence or reflection.
    WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method for detecting faults in a tufted fabric which comprises the steps of directing radiation at one surface of the said tufted fabric, with a radiation transmitting device, scanning a surface of the said tufted fabric, being the said one surface or otherwise, with a radiation receiving device which receives radiation from said scanned surface, and monitoring the received radiation with a monitoring device which detects deviations from a norm which deviations are representative of a fabric fault.
  2. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1,
    wherein a limited area only of the surface of the fabric is scanned at any one time, the area of scan oscillating back and forth in the transverse direction of the fabric during the advance of such fabric.
  3. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the radiation is directed at one surface of the fabric and the scanning is of the other surface of the fabric, thereby viewing the same by transmitted radiation.
  4. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the radiation is directed at the backstitch of the fabric and the scanning is of the same surface of the fabric, thereby viewing the same by reflected radiation.
  5. 5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fabric is scanned immediately after the tufting thereof in closely spaced disposition relative to the tufting needles.
  6. 6. A tufting machine including apparatus for detecting faults in a tufted fabric produced by the machine, said apparatus comprising a radiation transmitting device for directing radiation at one surface of the fabric, a radiation receiving device adapted to scan a surface of the fabric, being the said one surface or otherwise, to receive radiation therefrom, and a monitoring device sensitive to the radiation received by the receiving device so as to detect deviations from a norm which deviations are representative of a fabric fault.
  7. 7. A tufting machine according to claim 6, wherein said transmitting device and said receiving device of said apparatus are arranged respectively for transmitting and receiving radiation at opposite sides of the fabric.
  8. 8. A tufting machine according to claim 6, wherein said transmitting device and said receiving device of said apparatus are arranged respectively for transmitting and receiving radiation both at the backstitch side of the fabric.
  9. 9. A tufting machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said receiving device of said apparatus is adapted to be oscillated, during advance of said fabric from the machine, in a direction transversely to the direction of said advancement, thereby to scan a predetermined width of the fabric.
  10. 10. A tufting machine according to claim 9, wherein there are a plurality of receiving devices arranged in spaced disposition in said transverse direction, each receiving device being mounted for oscillation within predetermined limits, the paths of adjacent receiving devices overlapping at the limits thereof.
  11. 11. A tufting machine according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the or each receiving device each comprises a photoelectric cell.
  12. 12. A tufting machine according to claim 11, wherein the or each receiving device comprises a multiple photo-cell unit.
  13. 13. A tufting machine according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein said apparatus is applied directly adjacent the tufting instrumentalities of the machine to scan the fabric immediately after the formation of tufts therein.
  14. 14. The method of detecting faults according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
  15. 15. A tufting machine according to claim 6, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB2095378A 1978-05-20 1978-05-20 Detection of faults in tufted fabrics Expired GB1589152A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2095378A GB1589152A (en) 1978-05-20 1978-05-20 Detection of faults in tufted fabrics

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2095378A GB1589152A (en) 1978-05-20 1978-05-20 Detection of faults in tufted fabrics

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GB1589152A true GB1589152A (en) 1981-05-07

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GB2095378A Expired GB1589152A (en) 1978-05-20 1978-05-20 Detection of faults in tufted fabrics

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2538761A1 (en) * 1982-12-29 1984-07-06 Polygraph Leipzig METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PRINTING SURFACE PORTIONS OF A MODEL PLATE OF PRINTING MACHINE
GB2170316A (en) * 1985-01-25 1986-07-30 Haigh Chadwick Ltd Web monitoring arrangement
GB2172102A (en) * 1985-03-09 1986-09-10 Haigh Chadwick Ltd Textile structure measurement
US4733080A (en) * 1985-03-09 1988-03-22 Haigh-Chadwick Limited Textile structure measurment
DE102008025420A1 (en) * 2008-05-27 2009-12-03 Manroland Ag Image capturing device for capturing predetermined clipping images of moving press product, has modules that are arranged at common carrier, and are spaced from each other, where carrier is displaceably mounted in direction of running line
CN105785898A (en) * 2016-03-31 2016-07-20 云南云铝涌鑫铝业有限公司 Intermediate-frequency furnace induction coil cooling water level monitoring alarm device and using method thereof

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2538761A1 (en) * 1982-12-29 1984-07-06 Polygraph Leipzig METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PRINTING SURFACE PORTIONS OF A MODEL PLATE OF PRINTING MACHINE
GB2132754A (en) * 1982-12-29 1984-07-11 Polygraph Leipzig Determination of print area of a printing master
GB2170316A (en) * 1985-01-25 1986-07-30 Haigh Chadwick Ltd Web monitoring arrangement
GB2172102A (en) * 1985-03-09 1986-09-10 Haigh Chadwick Ltd Textile structure measurement
US4733080A (en) * 1985-03-09 1988-03-22 Haigh-Chadwick Limited Textile structure measurment
DE102008025420A1 (en) * 2008-05-27 2009-12-03 Manroland Ag Image capturing device for capturing predetermined clipping images of moving press product, has modules that are arranged at common carrier, and are spaced from each other, where carrier is displaceably mounted in direction of running line
CN105785898A (en) * 2016-03-31 2016-07-20 云南云铝涌鑫铝业有限公司 Intermediate-frequency furnace induction coil cooling water level monitoring alarm device and using method thereof

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