US3771325A - Element position detector system - Google Patents

Element position detector system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3771325A
US3771325A US00139104A US3771325DA US3771325A US 3771325 A US3771325 A US 3771325A US 00139104 A US00139104 A US 00139104A US 3771325D A US3771325D A US 3771325DA US 3771325 A US3771325 A US 3771325A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
jack
light
sensor means
detector system
jacks
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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 - Lifetime
Application number
US00139104A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Sweeney
G Dyer
R Johnson
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Boeing North American Inc
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Rockwell International Corp
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Publication date
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D3/00—Control of position or direction
    • G05D3/12—Control of position or direction using feedback
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B35/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, knitting machines, not otherwise provided for
    • D04B35/10—Indicating, warning, or safety devices, e.g. stop motions
    • D04B35/18—Indicating, warning, or safety devices, e.g. stop motions responsive to breakage, misplacement, or malfunctioning of knitting instruments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D3/00—Control of position or direction
    • G05D3/12—Control of position or direction using feedback
    • G05D3/20—Control of position or direction using feedback using a digital comparing device

Definitions

  • the detector system of this invention is particularly applicable for use in conjunction with circular knitting machines in which the pattern jacks can be automatically changed through the application of an appropriately applied magnetic field, although the concept is applicable with other types of equipment where similar sensing is of value and should, therefore, not be narrowly interpreted.
  • the detector system utilizes a sensor element, capable of projecting and receiving light which is located on the knitting machine with one face operably adjacent the tricks of the needle cylinder so that light projected from the emitter and receptor face will strike the edges of the pattern jacks as they move past the sensing site.
  • the signal derived from the voltage generator is appropriately shaped and amplified so that a usable signal can be fed to a comparator logic system. in the logic system the signal derived from the voltage generator is compared with the signal from the jack actuator command to determine the presence of any malfunctioning. The system also provides for comparison between the command output and other signals derived from the voltage generator output to determine what particular type of malfunctioning has occurred.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a sensor device for use in conjunction with electro-magnetically operated jack positioning devices on rotary knitting equipment.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved detector system which can determine whether a pattern jack has passed its operating stage in either a knit or a non-knit position erroneously.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the general relationship between the edges of the pattern jacks, the light emitting and receiving sensor and associated reflected light receiving voltage generating means.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective showing the general construction of the light emitting and receiving sensor of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which the output sensed from the moving elements can be compared with a command input signal.
  • FIG. 4 is a series of graphs showing the relationship between proper jack positioning and the various derived outputs on a 1X1 select jack pattern.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic similar to that of FIG. 4 showing the signals derived when a jack passes the sensing site at an erroneous elevated level.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the outputs derived when a jack passes the sensing site below the selected level.
  • the type of knitting machine with which this invention is most applicable is one in which the pattern jacks can be automatically adjusted to either a position where it will cause the knitting needles to knit or not to knit. This is accomplished through the use of an electro-magnetic control system including an electromagnetically functioning jack actuator which is operated by a command system, specifically a computer input.
  • Machines of this type generally comprise a large number of knitting stations or feeds, although it would also be applicable to relatively small diameter machines with a small number of yard feed stations.
  • Ser. No. 135,3l9 filed Apr. 19, I971, (docket 1676) there is described a complete jack actuator system as used on a machine'having 48 feed stations and therefore 48 jack actuator arrays.
  • the electromagnetic jack actuators are positioned reasonably critically. with respect to the edges of the pattern jacks as they pass by a selecting site. If during the course of operation misalignmentshould occur it opens the possibility of jack actuation not occurring as it should in response to a command input. When this happens it is of course essential that the malfunctioning be located promptly and the cause for the malfunctioning appropriately corrected.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings where the numeral 10 illustrates diagrammatically the edges of pattern jacks as they would be in a 1X1 select position. That is at the given site only every other one of the needles will be caused to move to the knit position and the alternate needles will remain in the non-knit position.
  • a sensor 11 which comprises a head 12 and a pair of fib reoptic cables 13 and 14 which are capable of transmitting oiconducting light from and to the head 12.
  • the side of the head 12 adjacent the edges of the pattern jacks 10 is an emitter-receiving face 15 where the signal and the output signal from the sensor means, that light source which is to supply light to the lowermost operably adjacent the other of the optic fibre cables 1 (14) is a receiver 21 for the light which is being emitted from the cable 14.
  • This receiver 21 may appropriately be a photocell which will take the light being conducted to it and convert it into a voltage pulse.
  • the photocell 21 is connected to a signal processor 22 which serves to sharpen and improve the nature of the voltage pulse received from photocell 21.
  • Signal processer 22 may advantageously be a saturating amplifier which will shape the analog signal and square it to deliver a cleaner signal.
  • the signal processer 22 then delivers an output signal which is connected to additional apparatus.
  • the light reflected from the emittor-receptor face can be adjusted to strike the needle or jack butts so that reflection from the needle cylinder is not a significant factor.
  • the system can then differentiate between the presence or absence of any given jack (or other type of passing element) by means of determining whether or not light is being reflected back to result in the generation of a-voltage pulse.
  • the overall system then comprises first gating means 26 for receiving as input signals the actuator command is, the signal derived from processor 22. If a signal is received from the output sensor and the actuator command coincidentally, then no output signal will come from gating means 26 and proper operation of the apparatus will be indicated.
  • Second gating means 27 re ceives the output signal from gate 26 and the actuator command signal to give a first error signal indicating that a jack has passed the sensor means 11 in an improper position. Specifically, it identifies the error as one where a jack is in the non-knit wrongly.
  • Third gating means 28 receives the output signal from gate 26 and the output signal from the command system to indicate that a jack has passed the sensor means 11 in the knit or uppennost position erroneously.
  • the output of the gating elements 27 and 28 are indicated in FIG. 6 to deliver a down error signal and an up-error signal, respectively.
  • An additional gate 29 is provided which receives as input signals those derived from gate elements 27 and 28 and has been labelled as an OR gate29. As indicated, this gate will give a positive indiction of all errors that have occurred, whether up or down.
  • the actuator command signal is fed into NAND gate 26'with the jack position sensor output so. that no signal occurs at pulse coincidence but signals do occur for all other combinations.
  • the output signal from NAND gate 26 is then forwarded to AND gate 27 with the jack position input pulse to yield a down errorsignal.
  • the output signal from NAND gate 26 is also forwarded to AND gate 27 with the actuator command signal and from this is derived the up error signal.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a vertical series of five outputs which occur at various edges of the detecting operation.
  • the uppermost of the six vertical elements present in FIG. 3 is representative of the positions the jacks should correctly assume in a 1X1 pattern select. In this case it can be seen that every other jack is in the down or non-knit position with alternating jacks being in the upper or knit position.
  • the light being emitted and received through sensor head 12 will cause the photocell 21 to generate pulses which coincide with the passage of a lower jack past the detecting site.
  • the voltage pulse coming from the photocell 21 goes through signal processor 22 and is processed to deliver an improved signal.
  • the fourth vertical line from the top of the vertical series of curves represents the input derived from the actuator command or input signal system. It can be seen that the pulses received, as generated by photocell 21, coincide with the clocking pulses received from the command system. When this occurs the lower two lines indicate that there are no detector output signals that would indicate any sort of machine malfunction. Comparing the curves of FIG. 3 with those of FIG. 4 it will be noted that the jack numbered 30" is in a raised position, whereas. to be properly located it should be in a lower position.
  • sensor means for positioning operably adjacent the needle cylinder for projecting light against the edges ofjacks in the non-knit position and for collecting a portion of the light reflected by the edges;
  • aid sensor means comprises at least two light conductng fibre cables terminating in an emitter and receptor face fofiio's idoning adjacent the edges of said jacks, one of said cables being operably connected to a source of light and the other of said cables being operably joined to a light responsive voltage generator.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
US00139104A 1971-04-30 1971-04-30 Element position detector system Expired - Lifetime US3771325A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13910471A 1971-04-30 1971-04-30

Publications (1)

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US3771325A true US3771325A (en) 1973-11-13

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US00139104A Expired - Lifetime US3771325A (en) 1971-04-30 1971-04-30 Element position detector system

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US (1) US3771325A (enExample)
BE (1) BE782879A (enExample)
BR (1) BR7202579D0 (enExample)
CA (1) CA956716A (enExample)
CH (1) CH549677A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2220786A1 (enExample)
ES (1) ES402249A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2136749A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1367731A (enExample)
IT (1) IT952383B (enExample)
NL (1) NL7204154A (enExample)
ZA (1) ZA721520B (enExample)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027982A (en) * 1975-04-23 1977-06-07 Kyodo Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. Needle detector for circular knitting machines
US4091280A (en) * 1976-09-13 1978-05-23 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Fiber optic position sensing and indicating apparatus for electrical interference sensitive environments
US4371783A (en) * 1980-11-03 1983-02-01 Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. Multichannel fiber optic light guide for capsule inspection
US4499649A (en) * 1982-08-11 1985-02-19 Usm Corporation All lead sensor
US4547666A (en) * 1983-01-19 1985-10-15 National Computer Systems, Inc. Mark array sense reader with sequential output signals
US4549087A (en) * 1982-12-27 1985-10-22 Usm Corporation Lead sensing system
US4852901A (en) * 1987-02-20 1989-08-01 Beasley Donald R Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
US4938495A (en) * 1987-02-20 1990-07-03 Beasley Donald R Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
US5524460A (en) * 1992-05-26 1996-06-11 Microtex Sas Di Dott. L. Michetti Device for continously monitoring the needles of a knitting machine during operation thereof
US6259357B1 (en) 1999-12-30 2001-07-10 Joseph Heider Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
EP0962570A3 (en) * 1998-06-03 2001-08-01 MATEC S.p.A. Method for checking the selection of the needles of a needle cylinder in knitting machines particularly for hosiery and the like
US6691534B1 (en) * 1999-05-31 2004-02-17 Protechna Herbst Gmbh & Co. Kg Light-scanning head for knitting-machine needles, a corresponding light-scanning system and method for checking knitting-machine needles, using said light-scanning system
US6769709B1 (en) * 2003-09-03 2004-08-03 Alan L. Piper Trailer hitch alignment system and method

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5725437A (en) * 1994-09-29 1998-03-10 Lorraine C. McCarty Billiard/pool cue
AU6633598A (en) 1997-05-15 1998-12-08 Nanomotion Ltd. Optical position monitor for knitting machines
AU2711697A (en) * 1997-05-15 1998-12-08 Nanomotion Ltd. Knitting machine
JP2003082565A (ja) * 2001-09-11 2003-03-19 Precision Fukuhara Works Ltd 丸編機における自走組織設定装置

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2493543A (en) * 1947-09-08 1950-01-03 Brush Dev Co Monitoring system of comparator type
US3313128A (en) * 1963-10-21 1967-04-11 Morat Gmbh Franz Knitting machine with synchronized pattern control
US3365699A (en) * 1962-07-20 1968-01-23 North Atlantic Res Products Lt Apparatus for the automatic dimensional inspection of an object
US3449931A (en) * 1965-10-01 1969-06-17 Agency Ind Science Techn Method and device for detecting a break in knitting needles
US3449928A (en) * 1965-03-06 1969-06-17 Morat Gmbh Franz Selector apparatus for circular knitting machines
FR1583356A (enExample) * 1967-09-26 1969-10-24
US3529445A (en) * 1968-04-08 1970-09-22 Sick Erwin Apparatus for controlling the operation of circular knitting machines
US3577750A (en) * 1968-07-22 1971-05-04 Electronit Ltd Inspection apparatus for circular knitting machines
US3646542A (en) * 1970-02-25 1972-02-29 Russell Mills Inc Monitor systems

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2493543A (en) * 1947-09-08 1950-01-03 Brush Dev Co Monitoring system of comparator type
US3365699A (en) * 1962-07-20 1968-01-23 North Atlantic Res Products Lt Apparatus for the automatic dimensional inspection of an object
US3313128A (en) * 1963-10-21 1967-04-11 Morat Gmbh Franz Knitting machine with synchronized pattern control
US3449928A (en) * 1965-03-06 1969-06-17 Morat Gmbh Franz Selector apparatus for circular knitting machines
US3449931A (en) * 1965-10-01 1969-06-17 Agency Ind Science Techn Method and device for detecting a break in knitting needles
FR1583356A (enExample) * 1967-09-26 1969-10-24
US3529445A (en) * 1968-04-08 1970-09-22 Sick Erwin Apparatus for controlling the operation of circular knitting machines
US3577750A (en) * 1968-07-22 1971-05-04 Electronit Ltd Inspection apparatus for circular knitting machines
US3646542A (en) * 1970-02-25 1972-02-29 Russell Mills Inc Monitor systems

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Rottmann, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 9, No. 5, Oct. 1966, pp. 540 & 541 *

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027982A (en) * 1975-04-23 1977-06-07 Kyodo Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. Needle detector for circular knitting machines
US4091280A (en) * 1976-09-13 1978-05-23 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Fiber optic position sensing and indicating apparatus for electrical interference sensitive environments
US4371783A (en) * 1980-11-03 1983-02-01 Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. Multichannel fiber optic light guide for capsule inspection
US4499649A (en) * 1982-08-11 1985-02-19 Usm Corporation All lead sensor
US4549087A (en) * 1982-12-27 1985-10-22 Usm Corporation Lead sensing system
US4547666A (en) * 1983-01-19 1985-10-15 National Computer Systems, Inc. Mark array sense reader with sequential output signals
US4852901A (en) * 1987-02-20 1989-08-01 Beasley Donald R Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
US4938495A (en) * 1987-02-20 1990-07-03 Beasley Donald R Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
US5524460A (en) * 1992-05-26 1996-06-11 Microtex Sas Di Dott. L. Michetti Device for continously monitoring the needles of a knitting machine during operation thereof
EP0962570A3 (en) * 1998-06-03 2001-08-01 MATEC S.p.A. Method for checking the selection of the needles of a needle cylinder in knitting machines particularly for hosiery and the like
US6691534B1 (en) * 1999-05-31 2004-02-17 Protechna Herbst Gmbh & Co. Kg Light-scanning head for knitting-machine needles, a corresponding light-scanning system and method for checking knitting-machine needles, using said light-scanning system
US6259357B1 (en) 1999-12-30 2001-07-10 Joseph Heider Trailer hitch positioning apparatus
US6769709B1 (en) * 2003-09-03 2004-08-03 Alan L. Piper Trailer hitch alignment system and method
US20050046147A1 (en) * 2003-09-03 2005-03-03 Piper Alan L. Trailer hitch alignment system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1367731A (en) 1974-09-25
BR7202579D0 (pt) 1973-06-07
BE782879A (fr) 1972-09-01
FR2136749A5 (enExample) 1972-12-22
CA956716A (en) 1974-10-22
NL7204154A (enExample) 1972-11-01
ZA721520B (en) 1972-11-29
IT952383B (it) 1973-07-20
DE2220786A1 (de) 1972-11-16
ES402249A1 (es) 1975-03-01
CH549677A (de) 1974-05-31

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