Method and device for determining the state of a yarn fed to a textile machine by sensing its movement in front of an optical sensor

Abstract: A method for determining the state of a movement or stoppage of a yarn fed to a textile machine, comprises determining the variation in the shape and/or position of the yarn relative to an optical sensor in front of which said yarn is made to run during its fed to said machine and, on the basis of this variation in position and/or shape, generating an electrical signal to be used for operating an indicator indicating the state of progress of the yarn, a machine control circuit or a similar member. Said method is implemented by an optical sensor which generates at least one output an electrical signal variable on the basis of the variation in the shape and/or position of the yarn relative to the sensor, said signal being compared with a reference signal in order to operate switch means causing an electrical output signal to be generated for use by a means indicating the state of progress of the yarn and/or a machine control circuit or a similar member.

Description: This invention relates to a method for determining the state of a movement or a stoppage of a said yarn being fed to a textile machine, and subsequently for further verifying that it is correctly fed to said machine as set in the preamble of the independent claim 1. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the said method as set in the preamble of the independent claim of device. Various devices and methods are already known for determining said state of progress or stoppage or, in general, the state of movement of yarn fed to a textile machine. One of these devices has substantially "tuning fork" configuration and basically comprises a sensitive magnetostrictive piezoelectric element or the like which converts vibrations generated by a feeler member of tuning fork configuration, in contact with the yarn, into electrical signals which are used to measure the yarn movement by an electrical or electronic circuit which controls the machine operation. Such a device (or similar devices comprising generally a feeler member in direct contact with the yarn and connected to a sensitive element of the aforesaid type) has considerable drawbacks. In this respect, it is substantially influenced by vibration or noise external to the machine or generated within the machine during its operation. These noises and vibrations considerably limit the application of such devices to textile machines. This is because such noises and vibrations in many cases exceed the vibration generated by the yarn of the feeler member and transmitted to the sensitive element. Because of such noise, this latter may therefore generate spurious signals which prejudice the proper operation of the machine. Consequently such devices must necessarily be combined with anti-vibration members which limit these external influences in determining the state of the yarn. Other devices of electrostatic type are known, but these are easily influenced by the conditions of the environment in which they operate, and by the humidity and type of yarn. Such devices, which operate (as is well known) on the basis of the electrostatic charges generated by the moving yarn with which they cooperate, are considerably influenced by the moisture content of the yarn, to the extent that a yarn which is too moist is unable, during its passage over the corresponding device, to leave or generate electrostatic charges which are sufficient for this latter to detect effective movement. Similar problems arise when the yarn is too dry or too easily electrifiable, such as yarns containing wool, which electrify excessively to falsify the measurement of the state of movement by the sensor device. In such a case this latter is able to detect a state of movement of the yarn even if it is not moving. Other photoelectric cell devices are also known for determining the state of progress of yarns fed to a textile machine. Briefly, these operate on the basis of interrupting a light beam generated by a light emitter and directed onto a receiver member connected to a control circuit. When the yarn positioned between the emitter and receiver moves, it shifts in position between these members and interrupts the light beam present between them. This enables the control circuit to sense the movement and to control in known manner the operation of the textile machine or that part of it to which the yarn is fed. EP-A-0 100 412 describes a method and a corresponding system for determining irregularities in the yarn such as malformations (uneven thickness, fraying, knots or similar) or count variations. The pior-art system includes rollers which guide the yarn during its movement between a laser light source and a multi-element detector array which is a photodiode array having a plurality of light sensor. The yarn is fed from a pay-out spool to a take-up spool which "pulls" the yarn from said pay-out spool. JP-A-58 078 961 discloses a sensor to detect yarn movement comprising a guide sensor having a substantially U-shaped element. Between its parallel arms the yarn moves so to intercept linear beams of light emitted by projectors E1-E3 and received by receptor R1-R3. In such a document, the yarn can move in a very narrow space (i.e. between the arms) and only if one of the beams is intercepted, the yarn movement can be detected. JP-A-61 196 109 relates to a device suitable for measuring the diameter of a vulcanized longsized object located in a vulcanizing tube. Such photoelectric cell devices require precise setting and precise positioning relative to the emitter and receiver to ensure that during each stage of operation of the textile machine the yarn always remains between said emitter and receiver. These devices are consequently difficult to apply an additional complication being that they have to be positioned as close as possible to the bobbins from which the yarn unwinds, because only here has the yarn sufficient agitation to give it a high probability of detection. In addition, to enable the light beam passing between the emitter and receiver to be easily interrupted by the yarn and enable the control circuit to generate an appreciable signal indicative of the movement of said yarn, said light beam must have a cross-section equal to or only slightly greater than that of the yarn being monitored. Because of this, such a device is very sensitive to the accumulation of dust or residues left on it by the moving yarn, and which can obscure the light beam, which is normally of very small cross-section (such as that of the yarn). This obscuring affects the proper operation of the device. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for determining in a totally reliable manner the state of progress of a yarn fed to a textile machine. A further object is to provide a method which is relatively simple to implement and can be effected at a low cost and with a small number of components. A further object is to provide a method of the aforesaid type which gives excellent results even when applied to textile machine in which a significant amount of dust is generated, as in jute processing. A further object is to provide a method of the aforesaid type which gives excellent results even when applied to textile machines in which there is substantial vibration generation or which are located in noisy environments. A further object is to provide a method which can be used with excellent results to determine the state of progress of yarn under non-optimum environmental conditions. A further object is to provide a method for determining the movement of a yarn fed to a textile machine by detecting least irregularity in the yarn such as small malformation or count variation. Nevertheless, said irregularity being acceptable for the use of said yarn. A further object is to provide a device for determining and monitoring the state of progress of yarn fed to a textile machine which is of simple construction, of low cost, of universal application to any type of textile machine and is able to operate, without any problem, under any yarn and/or environmental humidity condition or under any noise or vibration level of the environment in which said textile machine is located or of the machine itself. A further object is to provide a device of the aforesaid type able to operate properly under non-ideal conditions of dust and cleanliness, ie when the moving yarn carries with it any dust or the like which thus settles on the device. A further object is to provide a device for determining the state of progress of a yarn of the aforesaid type in which this determination is effected without requiring any contact with the yarn, with the result that the characteristics of this latter do not undergo alteration. A further object is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which can be positioned at any point of the path followed by the yarn directed to the textile machine. A further object is to provide a device of the aforesaid type able to determine the correct progress of the yarn also by detecting its least irregularity in the yarn such as count variation or the presence of small malformations, or the presence of foreign bodies entrained by the yarn. These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a method for determining and monitoring the state of movement or stoppage of a yarn fed to a textile machine, as set in the characterizing part of the independent claim 1. Said method is implemented by a device for determining the state of movement or stoppage of a yarn fed to a textile machine, as set in the characterising part of the independent claim relating to said device. The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is a partial side view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation showing the essentials of a circuit scheme of the device according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a schematic partial view of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the device according to the invention comprises an optical sensor S consisting of a receiver member 1 cooperating with a light emitting member 2 and with a control circuit 3 having an output 4. The emitter member 2, in particular an infrared light signal emitter of wide emission angle, generates a light cone 6 within which the receiver 1 is positioned. A yarn 8 fed to a known textile machine (not shown) such as a loom or a hosiery knitting machine freely moves within a sensitive region or area 7 of this cone. The area 7 is delimited by said cone and by the dimensions of the sensitive member or photo-sensitive surface 9 of the receiver 1. The receiver 1, in one embodiment, is a known PSD or an optical position sensor able to generate, depending on the presence or absence of a light signal, at least two output currents I1 and I2 flowing from a cathode 10 to anodes 11 and 12 located to the sides 13 of the receiver 1. This sensor has a large-dimension light sensitive surface (but totally contained within the cone 6), the choice of which is based on the position of the emitter 2, ie the position of the source generating the light which strikes the surface 9. This allows simple determination of the state of movement and/or stoppage of a yarn being monitored by the device of the invention, without any limitation on the type of yarn or its position of movement, and with considerable insensitivity to accumulation of dust and other residues deriving from the movement of the yarn. All this is achieved because of the wide light cone generated by the emitter 2 and the large photo-sensitive surfaces 9 of the receiver 1. Said currents I1 and I2 derive from this latter, they being generated as a function of the variation in the position and/or shape of the shadow 17 (ie the dark region without light) generated on the photo-sensitive surface 9 of the yarn 8 present between the emitter 2 and the receiver 1 of the sensor S. As the position and/or shape of this shadow or dark region 17 varies on the surface 9, currents of different intensity are present at the anodes 11 and 12 of the receiver 1. This variation in position and/or shape occurs during the movement of the yarn 8 fed to the textile machine (not shown) and permits to detect this movement. This variation in the region 17 also can be related to least irregularity of the yarn (such as, for example, a change in its count or the presence of small malformations), said irregularity being in a range of acceptability for using the yarn, the detection of the irregularity enabling to detect the movement of the yarn. Specifically, with reference to Figure 2 (which shows a circuit for detecting only whether the yarn 8 is in movement or at rest), the anode 11 is connected to an electrical branch 20 terminating in a node 21 to which a branch 22 and a branch 23 are connected. The branch 22 comprises a resistor 24 connected to earth at 25. In the branch 23 there is a capacitor 26 connected to the non-inverting input 27A of a differential amplifier 27. The anode 12 is connected via an electrical branch 28 to a node 30 to which there is connected a branch 31 containing a resistor 32 connected to earth at 33, and a branch 34 containing a capacitor 35 connected to a node 36. To this latter there is connected a branch 37 terminating at the inverting input 27B of the amplifier 27. The node 36 also receives a branch 40 containing a resistor 41, and a branch 42 containing a further resistor 43 terminating in a node 43A to which there is connected a branch 44A terminating in a variable resistor 44 contained in the outlet branch 46 of the amplifier 27. The branch 46 terminates at the inverting input 48A of a second operational amplifier 48, to the non-inverting input 48B of which there extends a branch 49 connected, at a node 50, to an electrical branch 51 and an electrical branch 52. In the electrical branch 51 there is a resistor 53, said branch being connected to an electrical branch 55 connected to a direct current and voltage supply Vcc at the input 57 of the circuit 3. In the electrical branch 52 there is a further resistor 58 connected to earth at 59, said branch 52 being connected to the branch 40 at a node 60. Said branch 55 is connected to a node 65 to which electrical branches 66 and 67 are connected, the first (66) being connected to the cathode 10 of the receiver 1 and the second (67) being connected to the emitter 2 (connected to earth at 2A) via a resistor 70. In parallel with the second amplifier 48 there is a feedback branch 71 containing a resistor 72. The branch 71 is connected to the output branch 73 of said amplifier, which is connected to a circuit part 77 acting as a rectifier and amplifier, such as a voltage doubler. This circuit part, which is of known type, comprises a capacitor 78 in the branch 73 at the input of said circuit part, from which a branch 80 extends. To this latter there is connected a branch 74 containing a diode 79 connected to earth at 75. In the branch 80 there is a second diode 81 and a resistor 82. Between the diode 81 and this latter there is connected to the branch 80 a branch 83 which is connected to earth at 84 and contains a capacitor 85. Downstream of said resistor there is connected to the branch 80 a further branch 86 which is connected to earth at 87 and contains a resistor 88. The circuit part 77 is connected to the base 90 of a static switch, such as a transistor 91, the emitter 92 of which is connected to earth. The collector 93 of the transistor 91 is connected to the output 4 of the circuit 3. This output can be connected to an indicator-display 94 for indicating whether the yarn 8 has broken or is being correctly fed, to a control circuit 95 of known type for controlling the operation of the textile machine (not shown) to which the yarn is fed, or directly to a usual operating member of said machine. The method of the invention will now be described with reference to the operation of said device. It will be assumed that initially the yarn 8 is at rest, ie is not being fed to the textile machine. A continuous feed signal V A flows through the branch 55 and is divided at the node 65 into signals V B and V C . The signal V B passes through the resistor 70 to reach the emitter 2, said resistor acting as protection for this latter by limiting the intensity of the signal V B . The emitter 2 consequently generates the light cone 6, which strikes the photo-sensitive surface 9 of the receiver 1. This light cone is interrupted by the yarn 8, which generates the shadow or dark region 17 on said surface. The receiver 1 is fed at its cathode 10 with the signal V C , to generate as output at the anodes 11 and 12 the signals I1 and I2. In the situation under examination, these signals represent the position (substantially fixed) of the shadow 17 on the surface 9. With the yarn 8 at rest (or substantially so), the signals I1 and I2 quickly saturate the capacitors 26 and 35 (which consequently have infinite resistance and interrupt the branches 23 and 34 in which they are located) and thus discharge to earth via the resistors 24 and 32 along the branches 22 and 31. During the entire period in which the yarn 8 is substantially at rest (ie is not being fed to the textile machine), no signal reaches the amplifiers 27 and 48 and consequently no signal reaches the transistor 91, with the result that there is no signal at the output 4 of the circuit 3. This indicates that the yarn is at rest. This situation can be displayed by the indicator member 94 (which operates in known manner if no signal is present at said output 4) or is detected by the circuit 95, which stops the operation of the textile machine. It will now be assumed that the yarn 8 is put into movement. In this situation it moves within the region 7, varying its shape and/or position and assuming the positions indicated by 8A, 8B and 8C in Figure 1. This yarn movement results in a movement of the shadow 17 on the surface 9 of their receiver 1. Because of this, the signals I1 and I2 generated by the receiver vary in amplitude with time in accordance with the different position with time in accordance with the different position of the shadow 17 on the surface 9. These mutually variable signals are applied across the ends of respective capacitors 26 and 35, which on the basis of these variations each sense variable potential differences between their plates. These differences result in the generation of signals V D and V E by the capacitors 26 and 35 respectively. The signals V D reaches the input 27A of the amplifier 27 and the signal V E reaches the node 36 where it combines with signals V F and V G originating from the branches 40 and 42. Specifically, the signal V F acts as a threshold or reference signal generated by the receiver 41 which operates as a polarization receiver; it acts on a signal V H which reaches the branch 40 from the branch 51 via the node 60 and the branches 52 and 51. The signal V G is fed back to the amplifier by the resistor 43 acting on a signal V L reaching the branch 42 substantially from the output of the operational amplifier 27. The resistor 43 establishes the amplification of the operational amplifier. The resistor 44 however defines the amplification limit (adjustable) and participates in defining the gain of the amplifier 48. From the node 36 the three signals V E , V F and V G (acting substantially as reference signals) reach the input 27B of the amplifier 27 and are compared therein, in known manner, with the signal V D . The operational amplifier, hence acting as a comparator, generates an output signal V M equal substantially to the difference between the amplified signals V D and V E . This signal is fed via the variable resistor 44 to the inverting input 48A of the amplifier 48, to the non-inverting input 48B of which there is applied a signal V O generated from the signal V A via the voltage divider defined by the resistors 53 and 58. The amplifier 48, acting as a comparator in known manner, generates at its output a sinusoidal signal V P of gain defined by the ratio of the resistors 72 and 44. The thus amplified signal is rectified and incremented (for example doubled) in known manner by the circuit part 77. This then generates a signal V U applied to the base 90 of the transistor 91, which becomes saturated. In this manner the output 4 is put into contact with the earth connected to the emitter 92 of said transistor, and an output signal is available for use in the circuit 95 or for interrupting the operation of the indicator 94 or for allowing the operation in known manner of the textile machine to which said output 4 is directly connected. If the yarn 8 should stop, the transistor is again inhibited and there is no longer a signal present at the output 4. The previously described condition is hence re-established. The use of a PSD sensor has been described by way of example. However this can be replaced by another known photo-sensitive element or the like able to generate a signal based on the shape or position of any object (in the case under examination the yarn 8); by way of example, a known image sensor of CCD (charge coupled device) type or the like can be used. In this case, the use of the emitter 2 can be avoided and the control circuit can be formed in known manner but completely different from that described in relation to Figure 2, such as advantageously a microprocessor (logic) circuit dedicated to application with such an image sensor (for example the TCD104D of Toshiba Corporation, described on page 100 of the 1989 manual entitled "CCD Linear Image Sensor"). Such a sensor can be of linear or area type. Another and more simple embodiment of the device for sensing on an image sensor an "image variation" corresponding to the variation in shape and/or position of a yarn fed to a textile machine as a function of the state of this yarn, comprises the use of a photosensitive element 100, for example of the type shown in Figure 3 in which parts corresponding to those of the previous described figures are indicated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a diaphragm 101 of suitable shape (for example triangular) is placed on the receiver 1 to restrict its photosensitive surface 9. In this manner, based on the area of the surface 9 obscured, the circuit 3, formed for example identical to that described, is able to sense the movement or non-movement of the yarn. In this respect, if the area of the obscured surface does not change, the yarn is at rest. If however this area varies, the circuit 3 senses the movement of the yarn and hence the fact that it is being fed to the textile machine. It should be noted that the emitter member, if present, can be of any type, either of visible or invisible light, and that the control circuit can be formed with other components different from those described. Various embodiments of the invention have been described, in which the receiver 1 comprises two anodes 11 and 12 from which corresponding currents emerge, their relative variation being used by the circuit 3 to determine the movement of the yarn. 8. However, in a more simple and general form, the receiver 1 (or similar optical sensor) can be connected to the circuit 3 via a single anode or output (such as that indicated by 11). By this means, when the yarn 8 moves, a variable current flows as a consequence of this movement. This variation, measured by the circuit 3 by means, for example, of the corresponding capacitor 26, results in the generation of a variable signal (for example V D ) which is compared with a fixed reference (for example a signal which is a function of V G and V F ) within the comparator and amplifier 27. Hence in this embodiment, the capacitor 35, the branch 34, the anode 12 and the anode 31 shown in Figure 2 are not present. The circuit 3 operates on the single variable signal (for example V D ) in the same manner as described in relation to Figure 2. The said fixed reference, or reference signal, is a constant signal corresponding to an unchanged yarn state, or a signal corresponding to the yarn state condition immediately prior to the determined condition, or its current state.

Claims: A method for determining and monitoring the state of movement or stoppage of a yarn (8) fed to a textile machine by using an optical sensor (S), said yarn (8) moving between a light emitter (2) and a light receiver member (1) having a photo-sensitive surface (9), characterized by arranging a sensitive region or area (7) directly generated by the light emitter (2) having a wide emission angle and within which area said sensor (S) detects movement, feeding the yarn to said textile machine through said sensitive region (7) such that the yarn (8) is freely movable through said region (7), determining a variation in shape and/or position of the moving yarn (8) relative to the sensitive surface (9) of the receiver member (1), generating at least one variable electrical signal (I1, I2) on the basis of the variation of shape and/or position of the yarn (8), operating an operating member (94, 95) of the textile machine on the basis of a varation of said electrical signal (I1, I2) relative to a reference signal, said operating member (94, 95) being an indicator (94) for indicating the state of movement or stoppage of the yarn, or a machine control circuit (95) or other members per se known. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that on the basis of the variation of the shape and/or position of the yarn (8), a first electrical signal (I1) and a second electrical signal (I2) are generated, the operating member (94, 95) of the machine being operated on the basis of a relative variation of said first and second electrical signals (I1, I2). A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the comparison between the electrical signal (I1, I2) and the reference signal resulting in an output signal (V u ) operates switch means (91), the opening or closure of which enabling the operating of the operating member (94, 95) of the textile machine. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reference signal is a constant signal corresponding to an unchanged yarn state. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reference signal is a signal corresponding to the yarn state condition immediately prior to the current condition. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by restricting the sensitive surface (9) of the sensor (S) and sensing the variation or movement of the area of said surface (9) obscured by the yarn (8) present at said surface. A device for determining the state of movement or stoppage of a yarn (8) fed to a textile machine according to the method as claimed in claim 1, said device comprising optical sensor means (S) having light emitter means (2) and receiver means (1) comprising a photo-sensitive surface (9), characterized in that the light emitter means (2) is an emitting member (2) generating a light signal of wide emission angle which is directly received by the sensitive surface (9) of the receiver means (1), between the latter and said emitter means (2) being thus created a sensitive region or area (7) within which the yarn (8) freely moves, the receiver means (1) generating at least a variable electrical signal (I1, I2) in accordance with a variation of the position and/or shape of the yarn (8) relative to said sensor means (S) as the yarn (8) passes through said sensitive region (7), comparator means (27, 48) being provided for comparing such a variable electrical signal (I1, I2) with a reference signal and for generating at least one electrical output signal indicative of the state of movement or stoppage of the yarn (8). A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the receiver means (1) generates a first and a second electrical signal (I1, I2) in accordance with the varation of the position and/or shape of the yarn (8) relative to said sensor means (7) as the yarn (8) passes through said sensitive region (9), the comparator means (27, 48) being arranged to compare said first electrical signal (I1) and said second electrical signal (I2) for generating an output signal indicative of the state of movement or stoppage of the yarn on the basis of a relative variation of said first and second electrical signal. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the output signal operates switch means (91) arranged to interrupt or not interrupt the feed of an electrical signal to an output (4). A device as claimed in claimed 7, characterized in that the sensor means (S) are an optical position sensor or a PSD sensor. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the sensor means (S) are an image sensor such as, advantageously, a CCD sensor or the like. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the sensor means (S) are a photo-sensitive element (100) having a partly screened sensitive surface (9). A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the light emitter means (2) generates a cone-shaped light signal in which the receiver means (1) is completely contained, within said cone there being defined the sensitive region (7) within which the yarn (8) freely moves during its feed to the textile machine. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the comparator means are an at least partly logic circuit arranged to operate advantageously with image sensors. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the output signal of the comparator means is fed to usual means for feeding the textile machine. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the output signal of the comparator means is fed to usual indicator means (94). A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the output signal of the comparator means is fed to a control and operating circuit (95) for the textile machine. A device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the switch means are a static switch (91).

Inventors: BAREA TIZIANO, BAREA, TIZIANO
Applicants: BTSR INT SPA, B.T.S.R. INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H63
IPC codes: B65H63, G01B11