Sw Industries, Inc.

Thomas E Pitts

Edward L Maddox

James O Gallant

Disclosed is a remotely-controlled adjustable-curvature roll of the present invention which includes a hollow, cylindrical axle in which two rods are inserted. Each of the rods is securely fastened to an endplate at one end of the axle, and the opposite end of each rod is threaded within one of two oppositely rotating intermeshed gears. An air-impact motor is connected to one of the meshed gears to rotate the gear to which it is connected. The rotation of the gears in one direction causes an increase in the compression applied to one of the rods while at the same time exerting an increased tension on the other rod which is connected to the oppositely rotating gear. This combination of tension and compression causes the curvature of the roll to change. A remote control unit regulates the flow of air from an air supply to the air-impact motor. The remote control unit includes a filter for filtering the air supply and an oil mist lubricator for adding a lubricant to the air supply. An indicator included in the remote control unit provides a reading of the amount of bow in the roll. The axle may be surrounded by an outer sleeve which rotates, through the aid of ball bearings, around the axle.

Remote control for adjustable-curvature roll

An optical sensing system that detects the angular orientation of weft threads in a moving web of a textile has a sensor array that receives light transmitted through the web from a light source. The sensor array is preferably a single monolithic chip that includes a radial pattern of photosensitive areas that each generate an electrical signal proportional to the total intensity of the light incident on the area. The areas are elongated and narrow so the moving shadow of a weft thread passing over the area will modulate the output signal. The modulation is strongest when the thread is generally aligned with the area. Electronic circuitry generates a DC signal associated with each area that is proportional both of the magnitude and frequency of the modulation of the signal. The circuitry also compares these signals, selects the largest one, and generates an analog output voltage characteristic of the area associated with the largest signal. The circuitry optionally further includes a feedback circuit responsive to the selected maximum signal which controls a variable power supply for the light source and a switched gain amplifier responsive to extremes of light source voltage level. The light source and the sensor array are arranged so as to provide a fixed angle of incidence of the light beam on the web. This fixed angle is set at between 15.degree. and 35.degree. and is preferably about 23.degree..

Optical sensing system for determining the orientation of weft threads

An optical sensing system that detects the angular orientation of weft threads in a moving web of a textile has a sensor array that receives light transmitted through the web from a light source. The sensor array is preferably a single monolithic chip that includes a radial pattern of photosensitive areas that each generate an electrical signal proportional to the total intensity of the light incident on the area. The areas are elongated and narrow so the moving shadow of a weft thread passing over the area will modulate the output signal. The modulation is strongest when the thread is generally aligned with the area. Electronic circuitry generates a DC signal associated with each area that is proportional both to the magnitude and frequency of the modulation of the signal. The circuitry also compares these signals, selects the largest one, and generates an analog output voltage characteristic of the area associated with the largest signal. The circuitry optionally further includes a feedback circuit responsive to the selected maximum signal which controls a variable power supply for the light source and a switched gain amplifier responsive to extremes of light source voltage level. A mounting system provides a coordinated rotation of the light source and the sensor array to vary the angle of incidence of the light beam on the web.

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Warren, RI, United States of America

Thomas E Pitts