Method and device for detecting impurities in a longitudinally moving thread-like product

• US 20030107729A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uster Technologies AG (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Uster Technologies AG (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Furter, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/238.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8915 non-woven textile material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/365 filiform textiles, e.g. yarns for measuring diameter G01B

Abstract

A first parameter is detected on a fast moving strip or yarn with a wave field, and a first signal indicating potentially present contaminants or impurities is generated. This first parameter preferably detects reflection properties that can be detected on the surface of the product. A further parameter is detected on the strip or yarn in a field, and a second signal is generated which also indicates contaminants or impurities. This second parameter preferably detects properties such as mass or diameter of the yarn or strip. Evaluations of the first signal and the second signal that occur at the same location on the product are considered together, and labeled to indicate the specific type of impurity or contaminant that they represent. Using empirical analysis, evaluation specifications can be selected to identify a group of impurities which are most likely to include a specific impurity of interest, e.g. non-vegetable contaminants.

Claims

1. A method for detecting impurities in a longitudinally moving thread-like product made of textile fibers, comprising the following steps:

detecting a first parameter on the product in a wave field, and generating a first signal indicating potentially present impurities;

detecting a further parameter on the product in a field, and generating a second signal indicating potentially present impurities;

allocating separate evaluation specifications to the first signal and second signal for the evaluation thereof; and

identifying a class of impurities containing a specific type of impurity from the evaluated first and second signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is selected from a group of variables comprising the mass and the diameter of a portion of the product.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the variables of said group are detected capacitively.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first parameter is detected by measuring shadowing and the reflection of the wave field on the product to produce two signals, and combining said two signals to generate the first signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are stored over a time period, and wherein the two stored signals are evaluated, relative to an evaluation specification, and the type of impurity is determined from the evaluation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation specifications are selected to provide a class of primarily vegetable impurities.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation specifications preset a limit for at least one of the two signals, to indicate a class containing primarily one type of impurity.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wave field comprises visible light.

9. A device for detecting impurities in a longitudinally moving thread-like products, comprising a first sensor operating with a wave field, a second sensor operating with a field, a processor connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, a memory for time-limited storage of signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, and a software program for the processor that contains evaluation specifications for the first and second signals and generates a third signal from the first signal and the second signal that indicates a class of impurities in the product containing a specific type of impurity.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein limits are preset for the signals as evaluation specifications.

11. A method for classifying impurities in a longitudinally moving thread-like product made of textile fibers, comprising the following steps:

detecting a first parameter on the product in a wave field, and generating a first signal indicating potentially present impurities;

detecting a further parameter on the product in a field, and generating a second signal indicating potentially present impurities;

recording two-dimensional data points respectively corresponding to instances where at least one of said first and second signals indicates a potentially present impurity, where said dimensions respectively correspond to said parameters;

labeling data points which are associated with at least one predetermined type of impurity; and

establishing a limit which identifies a class of impurities in which impurities of said predetermined type are primarily contained.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein substantially all of the impurities of said predetermined type are contained in the class identified by said limit.

13. The method of claim 11, further including the step of controlling a yarn clearer in accordance with said limit to clear impurities that are contained within said class while leaving intact impurities outside of said class.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second parameter is selected from a group of variables comprising the mass and the diameter of a portion of the product.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the variables of said group are detected capacitively.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first parameter is detected by measuring shadowing and the reflection of the wave field on the product to produce two signals, and combining said two signals to generate the first signal.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wave field comprises visible light.