Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of strand-like material

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling variation and a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material comprising: a. means for fluidically monitoring the characteristic of the strand-like material passing therethrough; b. a fluidic bridge responsive to said monitoring means for producing a first pressure signal from a first output when the monitored characteristic of the strand-like material deviates beyond a first predetermined value in a first direction; c. a first pressure sensitive electrical switch fluidically coupled to said first output of said fluidic bridge and being actuated only in response to and for the duration of said first pressure signal; d. drive means engaging the strand-like material; and e. means responsive to the actuation of said first switch for causing said drive means to vary the characteristic of the strand-like material in a direction opposite to that of the first direction until the characteristic of the material no longer deviates beyond the first predetermined value, whereby said first pressure signal ceases, causing said first switch to become deactivated and said drive means to cease varying the characteristic of the material, said responsive means including: i. a motor having a shaft output drive, said shaft turning in a first rotational direction in response to actuation of said first switch; ii. speed control means coupled to and controlling the speed of said drive means; and iii. electrical means mechanically coupled to said shaft for varying the operation of said speed control means.

Claim 3

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 1 wherein said motor includes a field winding in series with said first switch.

Claim 4

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 2 further including a limit switch in series with said winding and said first switch.

Claim 5

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 3, wherein said electrical means includes a potentiometer having an input shaft mechanically coupled to said motor shaft.

Claim 6

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 4 further including: a. a disc mechanically coupled to the movement of said motor shaft, said disc having a mechanical stop positioned thereon to engage and deactivate said limit switch and thereby deactivate said motor to prevent said motor shaft from turning said potentiometer shaft beyond a point determined by the position of said mechanical stop so as to prevent destruction of said potentiometer.

Claim 7

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material comprising: a. means for fluidically monitoring the characteristic of the strand-like material passing therethrough; b. a fluidic bridge responsive to said monitoring means for producing a first pressure signal from a first output when the monitored characteristic of the strand-like material deviates beyond a first predetermined value in a first direction, and for producing a second pressure signal from a second output when the monitored characteristic of the strand-like material deviates beyond a seconD predetermined value in a second direction; c. a first pressure sensitive electrical switch fluidically coupled to said first output of said fluidic bridge and being actuated only in response to and for the duration of said first pressure signal; d. a second pressure sensitive electrical switch fluidically coupled to said second output of said fluidic bridge and being actuated only in response to and for the duration of said second pressure signal; e. drive means engaging the strand-like material; and f. means responsive to the actuation of said first switch for causing said drive means to vary the characteristic of the strand-like material in a direction opposite to that of the first direction until the characteristic of the material no longer deviates beyond the first predetermined value, and responsive to the actuation of said second switch for causing said drive means to vary the characteristic of the material in a direction opposite to that of said second direction until the characteristic of the material no longer deviates beyond the second predetermined value, whereby said first and second switch responsive means operate to confine the variation in the characteristic of the material between said first and second predetermined values, said first and second switch responsive means including: i. a bi-directional stepping motor having a shaft output drive, said shaft turning in a first rotational direction in response to actuation of said first switch and in a second rotational direction in response to actuation of said second switch; ii. speed control means coupled to and controlling the speed of said drive means; and iii. means mechanically coupled to said shaft for varying the operation of said speed control means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material comprising: a. means for fluidically monitoring the characteristic of the strand-like material passing therethrough; b. a fluidic bridge responsive to said monitoring means for producing a first pressure signal from a first output when the monitored characteristic of the strand-like material deviates beyond a first predetermined value in a first direction, and for producing a second pressure signal from a second output when the monitored characteristic of the strand-like material deviates beyond a seconD predetermined value in a second direction; c. a first pressure sensitive electrical switch fluidically coupled to said first output of said fluidic bridge and being actuated only in response to and for the duration of said first pressure signal; d. a second pressure sensitive electrical switch fluidically coupled to said second output of said fluidic bridge and being actuated only in response to and for the duration of said second pressure signal; e. drive means engaging the strand-like material; and f. means responsive to the actuation of said first switch for causing said drive means to vary the characteristic of the strand-like material in a direction opposite to that of the first direction until the characteristic of the material no longer deviates beyond the first predetermined value, and responsive to the actuation of said second switch for causing said drive means to vary the characteristic of the material in a direction opposite to that of said second direction until the characteristic of the material no longer deviates beyond the second predetermined value, whereby said first and second switch responsive means operate to confine the variation in the characteristic of the material between said first and second predetermined values, said first and second switch responsive means including: i. a bi-directional stepping motor having a shaft output drive, said shaft turning in a first rotational direction in response to actuation of said first switch and in a second rotational direction in response to actuation of said second switch; ii. speed control means coupled to and controlling the speed of said drive means; and iii. means mechanically coupled to said shaft for varying the operation of said speed control means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 6, wherein said motor includes a first winding in series with said first switch and a second winding in series with said second switch.

Claim 10

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 7 further including a first limit switch in series with said first winding and said first pressure sensitive switch, and a second limit switch in series with said second winding and said second pressure sensitive switch.

Claim 11

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 8 further including a timer operated switch in series with said first and second windings, said timer operated switch sequentially opening and closing to allow said motor shaft to rotate for an incremental step when said timer operated switch closes and for an additinal incremental step when said timer operated switch opens whenever either of said first pressure sensitive switch and limit switch or said second pressure sensitive switch and limit switch are actuated.

Claim 12

Apparatus for controlling variation in a characteristic of continuously moving strand-like material according to claim 8, wherein said mechanically coupled means includes a potentiometer having an input shaft mechanically coupled to said motor shaft, and a disc mounted on said potentiometer shaft, said disc having a first and a second mechanical stop positioned thereon to engage and deactuate said first and second respective limit switches and thereby deactuate said motor to prevent said motor shaft from turning said potentiometer shaft beyond the points determined by the positions of said first and second mechanical stops so as to prevent the destruction of said potentiometer.