Apparatus and method for detecting knife position on a tufting machine
US7831331B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD05C15/24
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting the position of a knife on a tufting machine. The apparatus includes a grounded needle, an electrically-insulated knife adapted to send a knife signal, a solenoid adapted to move the knife, and a programmable logic controller adapted to send a pattern signal to the solenoid, receive the knife signal from the knife, compare the knife signal to the pattern signal, and determine if the knife is in the position prescribed by the pattern signal. The method includes providing such an apparatus, inputting the pattern signal into the programmable logic controller, sending the pattern signal from the programmable logic controller to the solenoid, sending a knife signal from the electrically-insulated knife to the programmable logic controller, comparing the knife signal to the pattern signal, determining if the electrically-insulated knife is in the position prescribed by the pattern signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.