GB895515A - Improved means for counting knots and the like in yarn and like thread-like material - Google Patents

Abstract

895,515. Spinning and testing yarns. SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. May 13, 1960 [May 14, 1959], No. 16990/60. Class 120(3) An indicating device which may be mounted on a textile machine to check the efficiency of the machine and/or the operator, continuously and successively registers the occurrence of thickened portions such as knots or slubs in a running yarn without interrupting the yarn travel. Separate electromagnets actuate indicating circuits and reset the device on completion of a yarn investigation. As shown, passage of a yarn I through a slit 12 permits a spring 11 to retain a pivoted lever 2 in a position whereat a contact 8 bridges spring-loaded points 9 to maintain a circuit for energising electro-magnet 14: a knot will deflect the lever sufficiently to open the circuit between points 9 and then slide over the top of slit 12 between arms 13 to allow lever 2 to resume normal position and enable yarn to pass again through slit 12. When, at the commencement of an investigation, the electro-magnet is energized, an armature portion 15 is drawn against fixed portion 16 and causes a rod 18 to tilt a lever 19 about a spindle 20 and lift a pivoted slide 22 in a guide 23 to cause a flanged-extension or pawl 28 to engage a tooth of a ratchet wheel 29 which is thereby rotated to lift an arm 35 from a stop 48 into the starting position. When the electro-magnet 14 is deenergized, slide 22 falls or is lowered and is pulled to a position against a flange 24 by a spring 34 so that, when electromagnet 14 is automatically reenergized, pawl 28 again rises and rotates wheel 29 an amount limited by engagement of extension 30 with a ratchet tooth but sufficient to cause a plate 36 carried on insulated arm 35 to bridge a first set of contacts 37a, 37b, to complete an indicating lamp circuit, and so register the passage of a knot. The action may recur until expiration of the yarn and/or until all indicating lamp circuits have been successively operated, after which latter the occurrence of further knots will result in pawl 28 rising and falling harmlessly and ineffectively in a blank region 60 of the ratchet. On completion of the test, the electro-magnet 14 is deenergized (to free slide 22) and an electromagnet 39 raises an extension 43 of an armature 42 into engagement with a projection 47 (irrespective of the extent by which wheel 29 has been rotated) to rotate wheel 29 until arm 35 is arrested by stop 48, whereat the device is reset in preparation for the next test. The resetting may be automatically initiated, e.g. from a ball-winding machine. The movements of wheel 29 are restrained by adjustable friction means, Fig. 5 (not shown).