GB2089078A

GB2089078A - An indication device

Info

Publication number: GB2089078A
Application number: GB8130965A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-10-16
Filing date: 1981-10-14
Publication date: 1982-06-16
Also published as: SE8007254L; DE3141220A1; SE437089B; DE3141220C2; GB2089078B

Abstract

In, for example, a thread surveillance and monitoring system, signal transducers are coupled in series, and also in parallel, and each is provided with first circuitry which is operative, in response to the occurrence of a signal from the transducer, to generate a control signal which is fed to the immediately subsequent signal transducer in the series coupling, this transducer having, like the remainder, second circuitry for generating, in response to the control signal, a deviation in the transducer signal, and a further control signal which is fed to the immediately subsequent signal transducer in the series coupling, whereby there occurs, on the signal line providing the parallel connection, a transducer signal having a deviation for each one of the signal transducers between the transducer generating the transducer signal and one end of the signal line. These deviations are counted at a central location, to identify the activated transducer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An indication device The present invention relates to a device, in a surveillance system with a multiplicity of transducers for generating a signal corresponding to an event for which the tranducer is responsive to react, and which may be, for example, a fault of some type, to indicate that signal transducer which emits a signal.

In prior art surveillance systems having different types of signal transducers, a signal from a transducer is indicated in different ways. Examples of indicators are lamps, instruments, alarm devices or the like, which are connected each to their transducer and which are normally placed centrally in an operating panel or the like. Thus, one indication line is required for each transducer, and a large number of transducers requires as large a number of indicator lines in at least those cases where it is desirable to watch over each one of the transducers. The wiring for such a system will, obviously be extensive and such systems are, as a result, costly, sensitive to disturbance and complicated.

This is particularly valid in thread surveillance systems for spinning machines, yarn frames, texturising machines etc. in which a very great number of threads is to be surveyed. In a number of machines it is desirable to survey a hundred threads, and more.

Furthermore, it is desirable to obtain an indication of the faulty thread or the triggering thread sensor.

The basis of the present invention resides in the task of realising a device for indicating a triggering signal transducer in a simple and efficient manner, it being, moreover, possible to utilise the device for satisfying the above-mentioned desires within the art in thread monitoring systems.

The above-disclosed task is solved according to the present invention in the device disclosed by way of introduction which is characterised in that the signal transducers are coupled in series by means of lines between the signal transducers, and also coupled in parallel by means of one signal line, and that each one of the series-coupled signal transducers is provided with first circuit means which are operative, in response to the occurrence of a signal from the transducer, to generate a control signal which is fed to the immediately subsequent signal transducer in the series coupling, this transducer having, like the remainder, second circuit means for generating, in response to the control signal, a deviation in the transducer signal, and a further control signal which is fed to the subsequent signal transducer in the series coupling, whereby there occurs, on the signal line, a transducer signal having a deviation for each one of the signal transducers between the transducer generating the transducer signal and one end of the signal line. The fi rst and second circuit means may include a monomultivibrator which is switchable by means, on the one hand, of a transducer signal, and, on the other hand, of a control signal.

Preferably, the monomultivibrator has two signal inputs and two signal outputs of which the one input is coupled to the transducer and the other input is coupled to the one monomultivibrator output of the immediately preceding signal transducer in the series coupling, and of which the one output is coupled to the signal line and the second output to the second monomultivibrator input of the immediately preceding signal transducer in the series coupling.

Furthermore, circuit means are disposed between the outputs of the monomultivibrator in order to generate, in the form of a deviation in the transducer signal, a counting pulse in correspondence with a control signal on the second input of the monomultivibrator.

The device according to the present invention allows for the employment of a great number of transducers irrespective of the wiring involved.

Thus, the number of indicatable transducers is optional and is independent of the wiring. All transducers may be identical and need not be coded in any manner. Furthermore, the device according to the present invention allows for optional engagement and disengagement of transducer and transducers. Moreover, the device according to the present invention permits an extremely simple computor processing of the transducer signals for, for example, individual monitoring for establishing systematic faults, this being of special interest in thread monitoring systems for establishing systematic faults as a result of yarn quality, wear, incorrect adjustment, and so on.

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying drawings, and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 sa block diagram of a thread sensor with a device according to the present invention in one embodiment; Fig. 2 is a diagram of a construction having IC circuits of one device according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of a central unit for a monitoring and surveillance system equipped vvith devices according to the present invention.

A device according to the present invention is usable in practically all surveillance systems where it is desirable to establish which one of a great number of transducers emits a signal. The preferred embodiment of the present invention described below is, however, particularly intended for use in conjunction with multi-thread surveillance, and the preferred embodiment will be described in the following discussion in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram and a pulse diag ram for one embodiment of the device according to the present invention which is intended to watch over a thread in a spinning machine, yarm frame, texturising machine or the like. In such a machine, there is provided one device of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 for each thread.

The device comprises essentially a thread sensor 1 which may be of the piezoelectric type and be responsive to thread movements of a speed of 30m/min and more. The signal generated on thread movement at the above-given speed is fed to an ampiifier 2 and further to a detector 3. The detector 3 is provided with a function switch 4 for switching the detector 3 between one state in which it emits a signal on discontinuation of the signal from the thread sensor, and another state in which it emits a signal for the occurrence of signal from the thread sensor 1. In certain cases, it is desirable to be able to sense a break in a thread, and in certain cases it may be desirable to sense the occurrence of thread movement.With the switch 4 in the illustrated, open position, the detector is effective to emit a signal on discontinuation of the signal from the thread sensor 1. The detector 3 is coupled to a monomultivibrator 5 by the intermediary of a diode D1 and a capacitor C3.

Furthermore, the detector is coupled to a stop pulse output 6. The stop pulse output 6 is further coupled to the connection between the diode D1 and the capacitor C3. The monomultivibrator 5 includes a transistorT2 and can, besides, be of any conventional type whatsoever. The monomultivibrator 5 has, furthermore, a control signal input 7 ("carry in") and a control signal output 8 ("carry out"). A capacitor C1 is coupled in between the monomultivibrator 5 and the control signal outputS, the connection between the monomultivibrator 5 and the capacitor C1 being coupled to a transistor T1 by the intermediary of two series-connected resistors R1 and R2.The transistor T1 is further coupled to the stop pulse output 6 by the intermediary of a Zener diode D2 and to the transistor T2 in the monomultivibrator 5 by the intermediary of a connection 9.

The connection between the resistors R1 and R2 is coupled to the monomultivibrator 5 by the intermediary of a connection therebetween and a capacitor C2, whose other side is coupled to earth or to a zero reference level. The device in Fig. 1 is supplied with a voltage at +12V via an input 10 and a zero reference level via an input 11. There is a further line 12 to the device of Fig. 1, this line being coupled to the amplifier 2 for sensitivity adjustment thereof.

A signal from the thread sensor 1 is ampiified in the amplifier 2 and fed further to the detector 3.

Since this detector is equipped with the function switch 4 and when the function switch is in the illustrated, open position, the detector 3, on discontinuation of the signal from the thread sensor, emits a signal A on the one hand to the diode D1 and, on the other hand, to the stop pulse output 6. The signal A is shown in greater detail in the pulse diagram and is a signal having a voltage of +12V. The signal A lasts until such time as a reset is effected from a central surveillance unit which is illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 3. The aim ofthe signal may be to stop the machine on the occurrence of a break in the thread which is acting upon the thread sensor 1. The signal A passes further to the monomultivibrator 5 which is triggered by the signal A or the so-called fault signal.

When the fault signal A is triggered, the monomultivibrator is switched in such a manner as to emit a signal B on its output 8 by the intermediary of the capacitor Cl. As will be apparent to the skilled reader of the pulse diagram, the signal B is a positive signal.

The transistor T2 in the monomultivibrator 5 is nonconductive. The capacitor C2 will be charged by the signal B bythe intermediaryofthe resistors and when the capacitor C2 has been charged to a predetermined level, the transistorT2 will be conductive, whereby the transistorT1 will also be conductive and cause the capacitor C2 to discharge by the intermediary of the resistor R2. This will cause the Zener diode D2 to lower the level of the signal A on the stop pulse output 6. In the present embodiment, the level is lowered to about 6V and this gives rise to a negative counting pulse on the stop pulse output 6.

In the pulse diagram, the stop pulse C is shown with a number of counting pulses. In a surveillance sys tem, all devices according to Fig. 1 are interconnected in such a manner that all stop pulse outputs 6 are interconnected with a stop signal line, that the output 8 leads to the control signal input 7 on the immediately subsequent monomultivibrator 5, while the control signal input 7 is coupled to the control signal output of the immediately preceding monomultivibrator. The supply inputs 10 and 11, as well as the sensitivity adjustment input 12, are also coupled in parallel. The signal B on the control signal output 8 will thus be fed to the control signal input 7 on the immediately subsequent monomultivibrator 5.This immediately subsequent monomultivibrator is triggered and emits, on its output 8, a signal (B) which is identical to the signal B but is shifted in time. This signal (B) gives rise to the second counting pulse in the stop pulse signal C. The immediately subsequent monomultivibrator 5 in the series coupling gives rise to the third counting pulse in the stop pulse signal C.

In this manner, each monomultivibrator in the series coupling afterthatwhose detector 3 has emitted a signal A, will give rise to a counting pulse in the stop pulse signal C. As soon as the counting pulse has been generated in the stop pulse signal C, the signal B will disappear, which results in a negative signal or pulse on the control signal output 8, this pulse causing the subsequent monomultivibrator 5 to be triggered and to give rise to a stop pulse signal. When the control signal on the output 8 has passed the last monomultivibrator and, thereby, the last signal transducer in the series coupling, it will be fed into a central unit which may be of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3.The control signal output 8 on the last monomultivibrator 5 is coupled to the input 13 of the central unit, whereas the stop pulse outputs 6 are coupled to the input 14 and supply voltage is coupled to the input 15 for zero voltage reference and the input 16 for +1 2V. In the present case, the central unit in Fig. 3 is operative on the one hand to react to the stop pulse C proper by switching of the relay 17 which, on switching by means of a stop pulse signal C, lights a light-emitting diode 18 and can cause the machine to stop, if desired. Furthermore, the central unit in Fig. 3 is operative to count the number of counting pulses in the stop pulse signal C, whereupon the number of counting pulses will be disclosed by means of the figure indicator 1 9A and the figure indicator 19B. The indicator 19A shows hundreds and the indicator 19B shows single numbers.

The circuits shown in the central unit according to Fig. 3 may be per se conventional and will not be described in greater detail here. Fig. 2 illustrates a construction of a device according to the present invention according to Fig. 1 with the help of socalled IC circuits. In the circuit illustrated in Fig. 2, the amplifier and detector are buiit-in to a so-called interdasign circuit 2632A, while the monomultivib- rator 5 is made up of an IC circuit 555. If it is desired to provide central amplification control or sensitivity adjustment, the lead 12 shown in Fig. 1 is coupled to the point 20. If the circuit means are to be provided with a function switch 4, this is to be coupled to the input 10 on the 2632A circuit.Otherwise, the circuit means of Fig. 2 are coupled in the same manner as the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

As a result of the present invention, it will possible to construct thread surveillance and monitoring systems for monitoring several hundred threads at the same time. This is primarily because the surveillance section or signal transducer 1, 2, 3, 5 proper may be made very small and at a reasonable cost As has been pointed out earlier, it is difficult in such a sys tem to receive information as to which of the threads has caused the triggering. This problem is solved according to the present invention by means of the introduction of one single thread as a result of which it is possible to identify an unlimited number of transducers.The device according to the present invention also allows for extremely simple checking that all of the transducers in the system are activated and also how many transducers are included in the system, in that a control signal is impressed upon the first transducer on the input 7, whereafter a number of counting pulses will be obtained which corresponds to the number of transducers. The counter in the central unit illustrated in Fig. 3 may be replaced by a computer or even supplemented by a computor or some other medium for procsssing the stop pulse signal C for statistics and follow up of the number of triggerings and possibly for establishing which thread or threads most often cause the triggering.

Naturally, the invention described above is not restricted merely to thread surveillance and monitoring, but may very well be employed in othersurveil- lance contexts with a large number of signal triggering units.

Claims

1. A device, in a surveillance system having a multiplicity of transducers generating a signal in correspondence with an event for which the transducer is operative to react and which may, for example, be a fault of some type, forindicating that signal transducer which emits a signal, wherein the signal transducers are, on the one hand, coupled in series by means of lines between the signal transducers, and, on the other hand, coupled in parallel by means of one signal line; and wherein each one of the series-coupled signal transducers is provided with circuit means which are operative, in correspondence with the occurrence of a signal from the transducer, to generate a controi signal which is fed to the immediately subsequent signal transducer in the series coupling, which transducer, like the remainder, has second circuit means for generating, in correspondence with the control signal, a deviation in the transducer signal, and a further control signal which is fed to the subsequent signal trans ducer in the series coupling, whereby there occurs on the signal line a transducer signal with a deviation for each one of the signal transducers between the transducer generating the transducer signal and one end of the signal line.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second circuit means comprise a monomultivibrator which is switchable by means of a transducer signal and by means of a control signal.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the monomultivibrator has two signal inputs and two signal outputs, of which the one input is coupled to the signal transducer and the other input is coupled to the one monomultivibrator output of the immediately preceding signal transducer in the series coupling, and of which the one ouput is coupled to the signal line and the other output to the second monomultivibrator input of the immediately so be quent transducer in the series coupling.

4. The device as recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein circuit means are disposed between the outputs of the monomultivibrator for generating, in the form OT a deviation in the transducer signal, a counting pulse in correspondence with a control signal on the second input of the monomultivibrator.

5. A device according to any preceding claim substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A surveillance system including a plurality of transducers and a device as claimed in any preceding claim.