Claims
- 1. An apparatus for determining the instantaneous thickness of fiber material, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for infeeding a mass of fiber material and defining a nipping zone;
- said nipping zone having a predeterminate substantially constant size which is invariable during determination of the instantaneous thickness of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone; and
- means cooperating with said fiber infeed means for deriving from passage of the infed mass of fiber material through the nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size, at least one signal representative of the instantaneous thickness of at lease a predeterminate part of the infed mass of fiber material passing through the nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially size.
- 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein:
- said fiber infeed means comprise fiber feed elements which are essentially immovable in relation to one another during operation of the fiber infeed means; and
- said feed elements which are essentially immovable in relation to one another, defining said nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size which is invariable during determination of the instantaneous thickness of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone.
- 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- said fiber feed elements which are essentially immovable in relation to one another comprise a rotatable but spatially immobile feed roll and a feed plate which is stationary during the determination of the instantaneous thickness of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size.
- 4. An apparatus for determining the instantaneous thickness of fiber material, comprising:
- fiber processing means possessing a fiber throughpass zone for a mass of fiber material;
- said fiber throughpass zone having a predeterminate substantially constant size which is invariable during determination of the instantaneous thickness of the mass of fiber material passing through said fiber throughpass zone; and
- means cooperating with said fiber processing means for deriving from the throughpassage of the mass of fiber material through the fiber throughpass zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size, at least one signal indicative of the instantaneous thickness of at least a predeterminate part of the throughpassing mass of fiber material passing through the fiber throughpass zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size.
- 5. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for infeeding a mass of fiber material and possessing a nipping zone;
- said nipping zone having a predeterminate substantially constant size which is invariable during detection of the thickness variations of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone; and
- means cooperating with said fiber infeed means for generating signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size.
- 6. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the received mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element a nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- said nipping zone having a predeterminate substantially constant size which is invariable during detection of the thickness variations of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone; and
- means selectively coacting with either one of (i) said at least one driven fiber feed roll element or (ii) said at least one fiber infeed element for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the received mass of fiber material passing through the nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size.
- 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including:
- means defining a stationary abutment against which one of said elements is moved into and is held in contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means and during detection of thickness variations of the mass of fiber material.
- 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:
- said one element which is moved into and is held in contact with said stationary abutment comprises a feed plate defining the at least one fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means.
- 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:
- said one element which is moved into and is held in contact with said stationary abutment comprises said driven fiber feed roll element.
- 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:
- said means defining said stationary abutment comprises adjustable stop means.
- 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:
- said fiber infeed element comprises a fiber feed plate;
- means for pivotably mounting said fiber feed plate for pivotal motion about a pivot axis; and
- said means defining said stationary abutment comprises at least one adjustable stop means at which bears the fiber feed plate during operation of the fiber infeed means in order to bound at one of its sides the nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size during detection of the thickness variations of the received mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone.
- 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein:
- said at least one adjustable stop means comprises adjustable screw means.
- 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein:
- said fiber infeed means comprises at least one feed plate defining said at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one feed plate being stationary at least during detection of thickness variations of the received mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size; and
- said driven fiber feed roll element comprises a movable feed roll which can be moved from a starting position into an operating position during operation of the fiber infeed means for forming said nipping zone of said predeterminate substantially constant size during detection of the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material.
- 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, further including:
- adjustable stop means against which there is moved the movable feed roll when placed in its operating position.
- 15. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said at least one fiber infeed element comprising a counter roll cooperating with said driven fiber feed roll element;
- means for pivotably mounting said counter roll for pivotal motion about a pivot axis; and
- adjustable stop means limiting the pivotal motion of the counter roll for setting a predeterminate size of the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 16. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said fiber infeed element comprising a fiber feed plate;
- means for pivotably mounting said fiber feed plate for pivotal motion about a pivot axis;
- means defining an abutment at which bears the fiber feed plate during operation of the fiber infeed means in order to bound the essentially invariable size nipping zone at one side thereof;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprise two strain gauge means;
- each of said strain gauge means being mounted at a predetermined part of said means for pivotably mounting said fiber feed plate;
- said two strain gauge means being arranged in spaced relationship with respect to one another; and
- said two strain gauge means detecting shear forces arising at said means for pivotably mounting the feed plate by virtue of the action of the mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone upon the fiber feed plate and delivering as said measuring signals electrical signals representatives of the thickness variations of the mass of fiber material passing through the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 17. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprising at least one force measuring unit;
- said at least one force measuring unit comprising at least one force measuring cell operatively coacting with said means defining said abutment and determining forces generated in the essentially invariable size nipping zone by the action of the mass of fiber material therein; and
- said determined forces being delivered to said means defining said abutment and thereby to said at least one force measuring cell for generating as said measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further including:
- means defining an abutment against which said counter roll is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprises at least one force measuring unit;
- said at least one force measuring unit comprising at least one force measuring cell operatively coacting with said means defining said abutment and determining forces generated in the essentially invariable size nipping zone by the action of the mass of fiber material therein; and
- said determined forces being delivered to said means defining said abutment and thereby to said at least one force measuring cell for generating as said measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 19. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said one element which moves into contact with said abutment comprising a feed plate defining the fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprising at least one force measuring unit;
- said feed plate comprising groove means;
- said at least one force measuring unit being mounted essentially free of play in said groove means; and
- the mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone producing forces which are transmitted in a substantially predeterminate amount to the force measuring unit which thus produces as the measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 20. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one feed plate defining said at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one feed plate being stationary at least during detection of thickness variations of the mass of fiber material located in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said driven fiber feed roll element comprising a movable feed roll which can be moved from a starting position into an operating position during operation of the fiber infeed means for detecting the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprising at least one force measuring unit;
- said feed plate comprising groove means;
- said at least one force measuring unit being mounted essentially free of play in said groove means; and
- the mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone producing forces which are transmitted in a substantially predeterminate amount to the force measuring unit which thus produces as the measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 21. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprising at least two force measuring units;
- said one element which moves into contact with said abutment comprises a feed plate of the fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means;
- said feed plate comprising groove means having a base and opening into the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said at least two force measuring units bearing against the base of the groove means;
- force transmission beam means covering the at least two force measuring units;
- said force transmission beam means having a surface directed towards the essentially invariable size nipping zone and constituting a part of a surface of the feed plate forming the essentially invariable size nipping zone; and
- forces transmitted by the force transmission beam means to the at least two force measuring force units producing as the measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the mass of fiber material moving through the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 22. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said one element which moves into contact with said abutment comprising a feed plate defining the fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means;
- said feed plate having a predeterminate length;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprising a membrane essentially extending over said predeterminate length of the feed plate and integrated into a surface thereof bounding the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals further comprising a pressure converter at which there are transmitted forces by the action of fluid means and which forces are applied to the membrane by the action of the mass of fiber material moving through the essentially invariable size nipping zone; and
- said membrane generating as the measuring signals electrical signals representative of the thickness variations of the mass of fiber material moving through the essentially invariable size nipping zone.
- 23. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said one element which moves into contact with said abutment comprising a feed plate defining the fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means;
- said feed plate comprising groove means;
- said feed plate having a predeterminate length;
- said groove means opening into said essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- pivot shaft means for pivotably supporting said feed plate;
- said groove means extending substantially over the predeterminate length of the feed plate and substantially parallel to said pivot shaft means pivotably supporting said feed plate;
- pressure converter means operatively associated with said groove means;
- said groove means having a groove wall confronting said pivot shaft means;
- said groove wall enclosing with a surface of the feed plate bounding the essentially invariable size nipping zone an angle which does not exceed 30.degree.; and
- said pressure converter means delivering as said measuring signals signals which are governed by the pressure prevailing in the groove means.
- 24. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- means defining an abutment against which one of said elements is moved into contacting relationship during operation of the fiber infeed means to detect thickness variations of the mass of fiber material;
- said one element which moves into contact with said abutment comprises a feed plate defining the fiber infeed element of the fiber infeed means;
- pivot means for pivotably mounting said feed plate;
- said feed plate having a predeterminate length;
- said means for delivering said measuring signals comprises groove means provided in the feed plate;
- said groove means bounding the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said groove means extending over a predetermined portion of said predeterminate length of the feed plate;
- a pressure converter operatively associated with said groove means;
- a compressed air source operatively associated with said grooves means;
- said compressed air source delivering a supply of compressed air at essentially constant pressure;
- said groove means having a groove wall directed towards said pivot means for said feed plate;
- said groove wall enclosing together with a surface of the feed plate bounding the essentially invariable size nipping zone an angle of at most 30.degree.; and
- said pressure converter delivering as said measuring signals signals essentially corresponding to the pressure exerted by the mass of fiber material at the groove means.
- 25. An apparatus for detecting thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber infeed element an essentially invariable size nipping zone through which passes the mass of fiber material;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals representative of thickness variations of the throughpassing mass of fiber material in the essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- said fiber infeed element comprising a feed plate;
- pivot means for pivotably mounting said feed plate about a pivot axis;
- said feed plate having a predeterminate length;
- said means delivering said measuring signals comprises a first groove means and a second groove means;
- each of said first and second groove means being arranged in said feed plate;
- each of said first and second groove means opening into said essentially invariable size nipping zone;
- each of said first and second groove means extending essentially over a predetermined portion of the predeterminate length of the feed plate and substantially parallel to said pivot axis of the feed plate;
- said first groove means comprising a blow-in groove means;
- said second groove means comprising an air venting groove means;
- each of said first and second groove means having a wall confronting the pivot axis;
- the groove walls of both of said first and second groove means each enclosing with a surface of the essentially invariable size nipping zone of the feed plate an angle which does not exceed 30.degree.;
- said first groove means being spaced at a predetermined distance from said second groove means;
- a source of compressed air provided for the first groove means and delivering an essentially constant quantity of air;
- a pressure converter operatively associated with said source of compressed air;
- said pressure converter delivering as the measuring signals signals essentially corresponding to the pressure of the fiber mass exerted thereat; and
- said second means venting to atmosphere.
- 26. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein:
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element has an axis of rotation;
- said at least one fiber infeed element comprises a feed plate;
- means for pivotably mounting said feed plate about a predeterminate pivot axis; and
- means cooperating with said pivotably mounting means for the feed plate for allowing the predeterminate pivot axis of the feed plate to pivot throughout a predetermined region about the axis of rotation of the driven fiber feed roll element and to be fixed in a selected pivot position with respect to the axis of rotation of the driven fiber feed roll element.
- 27. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, especially for evening out the detecting thickness variations of the mass of fiber material, further including:
- drive means for driving the driven fiber feed roll element; and
- control means for receiving the measuring signals and producing control signals for controlling operation of the drive means for controlling the driving of the driven fiber feed roll element.
- 28. An apparatus for detecting and substantially evening out thickness variations of a mass of fiber material at the infeed of a textile machine, comprising:
- fiber infeed means for receiving a mass of fiber material whose thickness variations are to be detected;
- said fiber infeed means comprising at least one rotatably driven fiber feed roll element for feeding the mass of fiber material to a textile machine;
- drive means for controlling the rotation of said at least one rotatably driven fiber feed roll element;
- said fiber infeed means further comprising at least one fiber infeed element;
- said at least one rotatably driven fiber feed roll element forming in conjunction with said at least one fiber feed element a nipping zone through which passes the infed mass of fiber material;
- said at least one driven fiber feed roll element and said at least one fiber feed element assuming predeterminate stationary positions in space and being immovable relative to each other during detection and evening-out of the thickness variations of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone, in order to define, as said nipping zone, a nipping zone having a predetermined substantially constant size during said detection and evening-out of the thickness variations of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone;
- means coacting with one of said elements for delivering measuring signals correlatable to thickness variations of the infed mass of fiber material passing through said nipping zone having said predeterminate substantially constant size; and
- means for processing the delivered measuring signals and for controlling the drive means controlling the rotation of said at least one rotatably driven fiber feed roll element.
Priority Claims (1)
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04950868 |
Dec 1986 |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of the commonly assigned, copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/132,204, filed Dec. 10, 1987, entitled "METHOD FOR DETECTING THE DENSITY OR THICKNESS AND VARIATIONS THEREOF OF FIBER MATERIAL AT THE INFEED OF A TEXTILE MACHINE AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR EVENING THE DENSITY OR THICKNESS VARIATIONS OF FIBER MATERIAL AT THE INFEED OF A TEXTILE MACHINE" now U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,406, granted Aug. 29, 1989. This application also is related to our commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/132,274, filed Dec. 10, 1987, and entitled "METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY COMPENSATING DENSITY OR THICKNESS VARIATIONS OF FIBER MATERIAL AT TEXTILE MACHINES, SUCH AS CARDS, DRAW FRAMES, AND THE LIKE" now U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,011, granted Aug. 8, 1989.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
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0956146 |
Apr 1964 |
GBX |
Divisions (1)
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132204 |
Dec 1987 |
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