Safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine and method of operating the textile machine

• US 5,323,513 A
• Filed: 04/01/1992
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG (Rieter Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG (Rieter Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gloor, Thomas, Hanselmann, Daniel, Kyburz, Martin, Aebli, Jost, Anderegg, Peter, Faas, Jurg, Binder, Rolf, Demuth, Robert, Schlepfer, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US07/861,996
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 241/36, 241/37.5, 241/101.7, 241/605, 241/30, 19/0.2, 19/0.21, 19/0.22, 19/0.23, 19/80 R, 19/81, 19/65 A, 19/97.5, 28/185, 28/186, 26/51.5, 364/470, 364/474.2, 364/184, 364/550, 364/424.02, 364/551.01, 340/556, 340/557, 340/367, 340/93, 340/540, 340/541
• US Class Current: 19/80.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D01G 31/00 Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop motions safety devices of general application F16P; indicating devices of general application G08B
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 1/02 Fixed screens or hoods
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/141 using sound propagation, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/605 Hay unbaler

Abstract

A bale opening machine is provided with a safety apparatus, by means of which there are produced safety barriers or fences parallel to lengthwise sides of a row of bales to be opened and/or substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bale opening machine. The safety apparatus moves in conjunction with the bale opening machine. The safety apparatus can comprise mechanical and/or sensory protective structure. The sensory protective structure comprises one or more electro-acoustical transducers arranged in a sonic chute together with one or more reference reflectors such that transmitted acoustical signals are split into a measuring signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is reflected at one of the reference reflectors, whereas the measuring signal is reflected at a deflection reflector into the monitored area and back again by an object located in the monitored area.

Claims

1. A method of operating a textile machine having a material processing means extending from a movable support, comprising the steps of:

processing a textile material with said processing means, said processing means having an exposed surface for contacting bales of fiber material and being movable in at least one direction;

monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means; and

said monitoring step further including a step of directing a sensing beam from at least any one of the movable support and the material processing means and directing a sensing beam from a side of said material processing means located opposite said movable support, said monitored area extending between said movable support, said exposed surface of said processing means and a profile of said textile material.

2. A method of operating a textile machine having a material processing means extending from a movable support, comprising the steps of:

processing a textile material with said processing means, said processing means having an exposed surface for contacting bales of fiber material and being movable in at least one direction;

monitoring an area in the vicinity of said material processing means; and

said monitoring step further including a step of directing a sensing beam at least in the direction of movement of the movable support, for recognizing an object outside of the textile material, said sensing beam being movable with the movable support.

3. The method of operating a textile machine according to claim 2, further including the step of:

directing a sensing beam from a side of said material processing means located opposite said movable support.

4. The method of operating a textile machine according to claim 2, further including the step of:

using ultrasonic energy for producing the sensing beam directed at least in the direction of movement of the movable support.

5. A method of operating a textile machine having a material processing means extending from a movable support, comprising the steps of:

processing a textile material with said processing means, said processing means having an exposed surface for contacting bales of fiber material and being movable in at least one direction;

monitoring an area in the vicinity of said material processing means;

said monitoring step further including a step of directing a sensing beam at least in the direction of movement of the movable support; and

providing protecting against entry of an object at a side of said material processing means located opposite said movable support.

6. A textile machine, comprising:

means for processing a textile material;

said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;

means for movably supporting said material processing means;

said supporting means being movable in a predetermined travel direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;

means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material; and

said monitoring means further including;

first sensing means for establishing a first detection path in the predetermined travel direction of the movable supporting means.

7. A textile machine, comprising:

means for processing a textile material;

said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;

means for movably supporting said material processing means;

said supporting means being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;

means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material;

said monitoring means further including;

a first sensing device for establishing a first detection path below said material processing means; and

at least one protective device for protecting against unwanted entry of objects into the area being monitored from a side of said material processing means located opposite said supporting means.

8. The textile machine according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one protective device includes a protective plate mounted to said material processing means.

9. An apparatus for opening bales of textile fibers, comprising:

a machine frame movable in a first direction;

an opening member extending from said machine frame;

said opening member having at least one rotatable roller for opening of the bales of textile fibers and being movably supported on said machine frame for movement in a second direction;

a surface of said opening member being exposed where said at least one rotatable roller contacts a fiber bale to be opened;

means for establishing an acoustic curtain about said exposed surface of said opening member;

said acoustic curtain establishing means further including;

at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted on said machine frame and at least one additional ultrasonic sensor mounted on said opening member;

each of said ultrasonic sensors providing a signal for deactivating operation of said opening member upon detecting penetration of an object into a portion of said acoustic curtain; and

a profile of said fiber bale being used to determine a boundary of said acoustic curtain.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

an acoustic curtain is established on a first side of said opening member using two ultrasonic sensors having substantially parallel beam paths; and

said acoustic curtain establishing means further includes a reflector mounted to said machine frame in a beam path of one of said two ultrasonic sensors to disperse said beam path in two directions.

11. A textile machine, comprising:

means for processing a textile material;

said processing means being movable in at least a first direction;

means for movably supporting said material processing means;

said supporting means being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

said processing means extending from a side of said supporting means;

means for monitoring an area in a vicinity of said material processing means which extends from below said material processing means in a direction toward the textile material;

said monitoring means further including;

first sensing means for establishing a first detection path below said material processing means; and

at least one additional sensing means for establishing a second detection path from a side of said material processing means located opposite said supporting means.

12. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

the first sensing means is located on said movable supporting means and establishes a first detection path from a portion of said movable supporting means located below said material processing means.

13. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring means comprises a plurality of ultrasonic detectors.

14. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring means includes an array of transmitters and receivers selectively mounted on at least any one of (i) said movable supporting means and (ii) said material processing means.

15. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring means includes an array of transmitters and receivers; and

at least some of said receivers being mounted separately from said textile machine in an area around the vicinity of the textile machine.

16. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring means includes a plurality of active sensors delivering outputs; and

means for continuously comparing the outputs of said active sensors with one another.

17. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitoring means includes a plurality of passive sensors delivering outputs; and

means for continuously comparing the outputs of said passive sensors with one another.

18. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said first sensing means includes at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means in said first direction and at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in said direction movement of said supporting means which is substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

19. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

the first sensing means comprises at least one electro-acoustical transducer;

the at least one electro-acoustical transducer transmitting an acoustical signal;

means for receiving an acoustical signal reflected by an object located in the area to be monitored;

means for splitting the transmitted acoustical signal into an acoustical measuring signal which is directed towards the area to be monitored and an acoustical reference signal;

a reference reflector towards which there is directed the acoustical reference signal;

the reference reflector being located at a predeterminable spacing from the electro-acoustical transducer; and

the reference reflector being located above the electro-acoustical transducer.

20. The textile machine according to claim 19, wherein:

the means which receives the acoustical signal reflected by an object located in the area to be monitored comprises the at least one electro-acoustical transducer.

21. The textile machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said first sensing means includes at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in a lateral direction of movement of said processing means in said first direction.

22. The textile machine according to claim 21, wherein:

said at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means includes first and second sensor arrays;

each of said sensor arrays including a plurality of sensors having beam paths; and

the beam paths of sensors in said first sensor array being substantially perpendicular to the beam paths of sensors in said second sensor array.

23. The textile machine according to claim 22, wherein:

sensors of said first sensor array are mounted on said movable supporting means; and

said sensors of said second sensor array are mounted on said material processing means.

24. The textile machine according to claim 22, wherein:

sensors of each of said first sensor and second arrays are spaced less than 10 cm. apart from one another.

25. The textile machine according to claim 21, wherein:

said at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means includes sensors mounted to said movable supporting means; and

each of said sensors having a beam path with a predetermined dispersion.

26. The textile machine according to claim 25, wherein:

at least one of said sensors mounted to said movable supporting means provides a beam path which intersects beam paths of remaining sensors.

27. The textile machine according to claim 21, wherein:

said at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means includes at least two sensors mounted to said movable supporting means and which have substantially parallel beam paths; and

a reflector for altering the beam path of one of said sensors.

28. The textile machine according to claim 21, wherein:

said at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means includes at least two sensors mounted on said movable supporting means.

29. The textile machine according to claim 21, wherein:

said at least one sensing device for establishing a detection path in the lateral direction of movement of said processing means includes at least two sensors mounted on said material processing means.

30. A safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine, comprising:

monitoring means which monitor at least a part of a danger zone such that an object located in the danger zone stops the traveling unit of the textile machine;

the monitoring means comprising at least one electro-acoustical transducer;

the at least one electro-acoustical transducer transmitting an acoustical signal;

means for receiving an acoustical signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone;

means for splitting the transmitted acoustical signal into an acoustical measuring signal which is directed towards the danger zone to be monitored and an acoustical reference signal;

a reference reflector towards which there is directed the acoustical reference signal;

the reference reflector being located at a predeterminable spacing from the electro-acoustical transducer; and

the reference reflector being located above the electro-acoustical transducer.

31. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, wherein:

the means which receives the acoustical signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone comprises the at least one electro-acoustical transducer.

32. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, further including:

sonic chute means having oppositely situated end regions and an opening for passage therethrough of at least part of a beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer defining the acoustical measuring signal;

the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector being operatively associated with the sonic chute means;

the electro-acoustical transducer being located at the vicinity of one of the oppositely situated end regions of the sonic chute means;

the reference reflector being located at the vicinity of the other one of the oppositely situated end regions of the sonic chute means;

deflection means located intermediate the oppositely situated end regions of the sonic chute means; and

the deflection means passing part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means.

33. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 32, further including:

an additional reflector arranged externally of the sonic chute means for fanning apart the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer and defining a bundled beam.

34. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, further including:

sonic chute means having oppositely situated ends and an opening for passage therethrough of at least part of a beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer defining the acoustical measuring signal;

the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector being operatively associated with the sonic chute means;

the opening being located at the vicinity of one of the oppositely situated ends of the sonic chute means;

a pair of deflection means;

said pair of deflection means and said electro-acoustical transducer being located intermediate the oppositely situated ends of the sonic chute means;

one of the deflection means passing part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means; and

the other one of the deflection means passing at least part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer defining the acoustical signal through the opening of the sonic chute means and returning at least part of the acoustical signal reflected by the object back to the electro-acoustical transducer.

35. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 34, further including:

an additional reflector arranged externally of the sonic chute means for fanning apart the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer and defining a bundled beam.

36. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, further including:

control means provided for the at least one electro-acoustical transducer.

37. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, wherein:

the electro-acoustical transducer comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

38. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 37, wherein:

the ultrasonic transducer comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver.

39. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, further including:

means for changing the spacing between the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector.

40. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 39, wherein:

the means for changing the spacing between the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector alters the position of the reference reflector.

41. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 30, combination with:

a bale opening machine defining the textile machine;

the bale opening machine including a machine frame provided with a bale opening member defining the traveling unit;

rail means upon which reciprocatingly moves the bale opening machine;

the bale opening member being equipped with a bale opening roller arranged for up and down movement at the machine frame for extracting fiber flocks from bales arranged in a row during opening of the bales;

the monitoring means monitoring at least a part of a danger zone located around the bale opening roller such that an object located in the monitored danger zone stops the bale opening machine.

42. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the bale opening member has an end located remote from the machine frame; and

the electro-acoustical transducer being arranged at the end of the bale opening member located remote from the machine frame.

43. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, further including:

sonic chute means having oppositely situated end regions and an opening for passage therethrough of at least part of a beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer defining the acoustical measuring signal;

the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector being operatively associated with the sonic chute means;

deflection means located intermediate the oppositely situated end regions of the sonic chute means;

the sonic chute means being arranged such that the deflection means passes part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means and receiving therethrough at least part of the acoustic signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone; and

the part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means and the at least part of the acoustic signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone and received by the deflection means extending substantially parallel to the row of bales.

44. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the bale opening roller has an axis of rotation;

sonic chute means having oppositely situated end regions and an opening for passage therethrough of at least part of a beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer defining the acoustical measuring signal;

the electro-acoustical transducer and the reference reflector being operatively associated with the sonic chute means;

deflection means located intermediate the oppositely situated end regions of the sonic chute means;

the sonic chute means being arranged such that the deflection means passes part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means and receiving therethrough at least part of the acoustic signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone; and

the part of the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer through the opening of the sonic chute means and the at least part of the acoustic signal reflected by an object located in the danger zone and received by the deflection means extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the bale opening member.

45. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the bale opening member has a front;

an additional reflector arranged externally of the sonic chute means for fanning apart the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer and defining a bundled beam; and

the sonic chute means and the additional reflector being arranged at the front of the bale opening member.

46. The safety apparatus or a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the bale opening member has a side;

an additional reflector arranged externally of the sonic chute means for fanning apart the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer and defining a bundled beam; and

the sonic chute means and the additional reflector being arranged at the side of the bale opening member.

47. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

an additional reflector arranged externally of the sonic chute means for fanning apart the beam emitted by the electro-acoustical transducer and defining a bundled beam; and

the sonic chute means and the additional reflector being arranged at the machine frame.

48. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the bale opening machine is movable in at least two different directions;

a respective at least one electro-acoustical transducer provided for each direction of movement of the bale opening machine; and

electronic control means for activating only the at least one electro-acoustical transducer provided for that direction of movement through which momentarily travels the bale opening machine,

49. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, further including:

drive means for driving the bale opening machine;

electronic control means for controlling operation of the drive means such that upon occurrence of a predetermined recognition signal there is selectively accomplished an interruption or movement reversal of the bale opening machine.

50. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 41, wherein:

the monitoring means further includes light barrier means extending substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocatory movement of the bale opening machine; and

said light barrier means providing a light barrier extending at least throughout the entire path of reciprocatory movement of the bale opening machine corresponding at least to a maximum number of bales to be opened by the bale opening machine and bounding the danger zone.

51. The safety apparatus for a traveling unit of a textile machine according to claim 50, wherein:

the bale opening machine moves along a floor; and

the light barrier means having a spacing from the floor in a range of between 20 cm. and 100 cm.