Patent GB-887270-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to product evaluating systems
IPC: G07C3/14
Filed: 1958-10-14
Abstract: 887,270. Recording-apparatus. INDUSTRIAL NUCLEONICS CORPORATION. Oct. 14, 1958 [Jan. 6, 1958], No. 32836/58. Class 106 (4). A product evaluation system for a production process having a plurality of product makers comprises a gauge G for each maker 1, 2, 3, 4, for continuously measuring the quality of the material being processed, a computer 50 for computing the variance about a specified value in the quality, a time-controlled selector switch 10 for sequentially connecting each gauge G to the computer 50 and a recorder 51 connected to the computer to record the variance for each maker. With the system in the state shown, a timing circuit 11 is timing a period of 5 sees. and the pen 57 is recording a central trace 55d. At the end of the period a relay 182 is energized to start a timer 21, stop the trace 55d and apply a signal to the recorder 51 by tapping a resistance 66 at a point selected by the switch 10 on bank 10A to mark a trace 55a identifying, by its length, the marker selected. After 5 sees., timed by the timer 21, a relay 184 is energized to start timer 31, complete the trace 55a and apply the selected gauging signal to the recorder 51 over line 18, amplifier 70 and line 20 to record the quality variation trace 55b, while simultaneously applying the gauging signal to the computer 50 to compute the variance over the statistically significant interval of say 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, timed by the timer 31, a relay 186 is energized to start timer 41, energize relays 190, 192, disconnect the computer 50 from its input line 20, connect it to its output line and apply the output, modified by a voltage divider 110, to the recorder 51 over amplifier 70 and line 20 to record the variance trace 55d, after relay 190 has blocked further gauging signals from line 18 and relay 192 has shifted the zero line to the left by tapping the resistance 65. In the case of cigarette-making machines, a particular maker will produce either king-size or regular size cigarettes and an appropriate factor for each maker will have to be applied by pre-setting two-pole switches 120, 122, 124, 126 to tap the computer output at 116 or 118. In order to give a visual signal at 52 and an audible alarm at 56 when a variance occurs which is excessive for the particular maker according to whether it is classed as a good, medium or poor maker, the computer output also passes through an amplifier 130 and is tapped at 142, 144 or 146 to apply a factor appropriate to its class as set on a corresponding 3-pole switch 150, 152, 154, 156. The lights 52 ignite and the alarm 56 is given if the voltage is more than a set limit. After 5 sees. timed by the timer 41, a relay 188 is energized to de-energize relay 186 which starts timer 11, steps on the selector switch 10, applies earth to the recorder 51 and de-energizes relay 192 to tap resistance 64, thus returning the zero point to the centre of the chart and causing the pen 57 to record the centre trace 55a indicative of the selection of the next maker. If a maker is productive when selected, the gauging signal passes over the wiper in bank 10E to ignite a corresponding lamp 53. Periodic energizing of the relay 186 causes stepping of the switch 10; those contacts of bank 10E not associated with a maker are ganged together to cause rapid stepping to home position. So long as each maker is productive when selected by switch 10 a thyratron 80 remains conducting to keep a relay 196 energized, but when the selected maker is non-productive the charge on a condenser 81 decays and cuts off the thyratron 80 to de-energize the relay 196, allowing timers 31, 41 to operate immediately and starting a timer 101. If all the makers are non-productive for the period to which the timer 101 is set the relay 194 is energized to cut out timer 11 and put the whole system on stand by. The frequency of monitoring thus depends on how many makers are productive, but if a switch 202 is closed to energize a relay 198 a recycle timer 200 is started and stepping of the switch 10 is prevented for the period to which the timer 200 is set. A suitable timing circuit is described, Fig. 5 (not shown). Specification 887,267 is referred to.