YARN TRAVELLING ]NEORMATION ACQU]R]NG DEV]CE AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OE THE ]NVENTION
1. Pield of the Invention
The present invention relates to a yarn travell-ing information
acguiring device and method for detecting a state of travelling yarn.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a yarn winding machine for wj-nding yarn, information relating
to a travellj-ng state of the yarn is sometimes necessary to control
the winding of the yarn, and the rike. such a yarn winding machine
thus incl-udes a yarn travelling information acquiring device for
acquirlng information relating to the travelling state of the yarn
(yarn traverring information) . The travelling state may incrude, for
example, a yarn travel_l_ing speed of the yarn.
An example of the yarn travell-ing information acquiring devj-ce
is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese patent pubrication No.
2072-0516'12. The yarn travelring information acquiring device
disclosed in the relevant document includes two yarn thickness
unevenness detecting sensors for detecting the yarn thickness
unevenness, and samples signals detected by the two yarn thickness
unevenness detecting sensors at a predetermined sampring period. The
yarn travell-ing information acquiring device compares the obtained
two yarn thickness unevenness signals with each other to detect the
yarn travelling speed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OE THE ]NVENTION
rn the yarn winding machine , for exampre, since a very long yarn
1s wound, even if the error in the detection of the yarn travelling
speed by the yarn travelling information acquiring device is very
30 smarr, the error in the length of the wound yarn becomes 1arge. A
10
15
20
25
2/67
10
yarn traverring information acquiring device capabre of acquiring
the traverling state of the yarn at a higher accuracy is desired.
rt is an object of the present invention to provi_de a yarn
travelling information acquiring device capable of acquiring the yarn
travell-ing state at a higher accuracy.
A yarn travelling information acquiring device comprises a
first detecting section adapted to detect a thickness unevenness of
a travelling yarn and to output a first yarn thickness unevenness
signa]; a second detecting secti-on arranged upstream in a yarn
travel-ling direction at a distance from the first detecting section,
and adapted to detect the thickness unevenness of the yarn and to
output a second yarn thickness unevenness signal; a similarity degree
evaluating secti-on adapted to determine a plurality of similarity
degrees of the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second
yarn thickness unevenness signal j-n accordance with the first yarn
thickness unevenness sj-gnar acquired within a first time range, and
the second yarn thickness unevenness signal acquired within a second
time range, the second time range being ronger than the first time
range; a weighting processing section adapted to perform a weighting
processing on each of the plurality of the simirarity degrees using
a weighting factor and to calculate a plurality of weighted simil-arity
degrees, the weighting factor being desj-gnated by a weighting curve
according to a reference delay amount of the fj-rst yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
and a speed ratio, the speed ratio being a ratio of the reference
delay amount and a calculated deray amount with respect to the
reference delay amount; and a travelling information acquiring
section adapted to carcurate a time delay between the first yarn
thickness unevenness si-gnal and the second yarn thickness unevenness
signal in accordance with a maxi-mum weighted similarity degree among
15
20
25
30
3/67
10
the prurality of the weighted similarity degrees, and to acquire
travel-l-ing information of the yarn in accordance with the distance
and the time de1ay.
A yarn processing device comprises the yarn travelring
information acquiring device; a yarn processi_ng section adapted to
perform a processing on the yarn; and a contror section adapted to
control the processing performed by the yarn processing section in
accordance with the traverring information of the yarn acguired by
the yarn travell_ing information acquiring device.
A method for acquiring yarn travel-ling information compri-ses
the steps of: detecting a thickness unevenness of a travelling yarn
and outputting a first yarn thickness unevenness signal havj-ng a first
detecting section; detecting the thickness unevenness of the yarn
and outputting a second yarn thickness unevenness signal usi_ng a
second detecting section arranged upstream i_n a yarn travelling
direction at a distance from the first detecting section; determining
a pJ-urality of simirarity degrees of the first yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
in accordance with the first yarn thickness unevenness signal acquired
within a fj-rst time range, and the second. yarn thickness unevenness
signal acqui-red within a second time range, the second time range
being longer than the first time range; performing a weighting
processing on each of the prurality of the similarity degrees using
a weighting factor and to calculate a plurality of weighted si-milarity
degrees, the weighti-ng factor being designated by a weighting curve
according to a reference delay amount of the first yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signaland
a speed ratio, the speed ratio being a ratio of the reference
delay amount and a calcul-ated delay amount with respect to the
reference delay amount; and cal-culating a time delay between the first
15
aa
25
30
4/61
10
yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness
unevenness sj-gnal in accordance with a maximum weighted similarity
degree among the plurality of the weighted simil_arity degrees, and
acquiring travelling information of the yarn in accordance with the
5 distance and the time deJ_ay.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OE THE DRAWINGS
EIG. 1 is a side view of a winder unit;
EIG. 2 ts a front view of the winder unit;
Frc. 3 is a block diagram i-lrustrating a configuration of a
clearer;
EIG. 4 is a graph illustrating data series accumulated in a ring
buf f er,'
FfG. 5 is a view describing a cal_culation frame;
FrG. 6 is a view describing bias component removar and
normali zat ion;
EIG. 7 is a graph il-lustratj-ng a case in which a plurality of
peaks of similarity degrees exist;
FIG. B is a graph in which only maximum points of the similarity
20 degrees are extracted,.
FrG. 9 is a flowchart of a yarn traverling speed acquiring
processing;
FrG. 10 is a flowchart of an adoption determination processing;
Erc. 11 is a view describing weighting by a weighting curve;
FIG. 12A and EIG. 1-2B are graphs illustrating an example in which
weighting is performed on the simil_arity degree;
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which a downstream
frame is moved;
EIG. 14A to FIG. 14C are views illustrating a calculation
30 procedure for car-cur-ating a history weighting curve;
s/61
t5
25
l0
FrG. 14D is a view irrustrating an example of the history
weighting curve;
FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are vlews illustrating a procedure for
cal-culating a sampring speed weighting curve; and FrG. 15c is a view
irrustrating an example of the sampJ-ing speed weighting curve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention wil_r be
descrj-bed below with reference to the drawings.
A winder unit (yarn processing device) 10 iIl-ustrated in EIG.
1 and FrG. 2 unwinds a spun yarn 20 from a yarn suppryj_ng bobbin 21
and winds the spun yarn 20 around a winding bobbj-n 22 whi; e traversing
the spun yarn 20 to form a package 30 of a prescribed length and a
prescribed form. An automatic winder of the present embodiment
includes a pJ-urality of winder units 10 arranged i_n a 1ine, and a
main contror device (not j-llustrated) arranged at one end in a
direction in which the winder units 10 are arranged.
Each of the winder units 10 includes a unit frame 11 (ErG. 1)
arranged on a l-eft or right side in front view, and a winding unit
main body 15 arranged at a side of the unit frame 11. The winding
unit main body (yarn processing section) 16 incl-udes a winding section
31. The winding unit main body 16 incrudes a magazine-type supprying
device 60 and a supprying bobbin hording section 71.
As irrustrated in ErG. 1, the magazine-type supprying device
60 includes a magazine holding sectj-on 61, which extends diagonally
toward the upper direction of the front surface from the lower part
of the winder unit 10, and a bobbin accommodating device 62, which
is attached to a distar end of the magazine hol-ding section 61. The
bobbin accommodating device 62 includes a magazine can 63 including
a plurality of accommodation holes to which a suppJ-y bobbin 70 can
1tr ]J
20
25
30
6/67
10
be respectively set. The magazine can 63 can be intermittently driven,
rotated, and fed by a motor (not irrustrated), and the magazine can
53 can drop the supply bobbin 70 one at a time to a bobbin supply
path (not irrustrated) of the magazine holding section 61 by the
intermittent drive and a control- val-ve (not illustrated) of the
magazine can 63. The supply bobbin 70 is introduced to the supplying
bobbin holding section 71.
rn place of the magazine-type supplying device 60 irrustrated
in FIG. 1, d transport conveyor (not illustrated) arranged at a lower
part of the automatic winder may be used to supply the yarn suppryj_ng
bobbin 2L from a yarn supplying bobbin supprying section (not
il-lustrated) to the supplying bobbin holding section 71 of each winder
unit 10.
The winding section 31 winds the spun yarn 20, which has been
unwound from the yarn supprying bobbin 21, around the winding bobbin
22 to form the package 30. Specifically, the winding section 31
inc1udes a cradle 23, which is configured to be able to grip the winding
bobbin 22, and a winding drum 24, which is adapted to traverse the
spun yarn 20 and to drive the winding bobbtn 22. The cradre 23 can
swing in a direction of approaching or separating with respect to
the winding drum 24. The package 3O is thus brought into contact with
or separated from the winding drum 24. As irlustrated in ErG. 2, a
spirar-shaped traverse groove 21 is formed on an outer peripheral
surface of the windj-ng drum 24, and the spun yarn 20 is traversed
by the traverse groove 2i.
The winding bobb:.n 22 is rotated by driving and rotating the
winding drum 24 arranqed facing the winding bobbin 22. The spun yarn
20 is wound around the rotating winding bobbin 22 while being traversed
by the traverse groove 21. As irrustrated in FrG. 2, t.;le windi_ng drum
24 is coupled to an output shaft of a drum drive motor 53. An operation
1/61,
15
20
25
30
10
of the drum drive motor 53 is control-Ied by a motor control- section
54 ' The motor control section 54 performs control to operate and stop
the drum drive motor 53 in response to a control signar from a unit
control section (control section) 50.
A rotation sensor 42 Ls attached to the winding drum 24. The
rotation sensor 42 is el-ectrically connected to an analyzer 52 or
the like arranged in a clearer 15, to be described later. The rotation
sensor 42 Ls configured as a rotary encoder, for example, and transmits
a pulse signal to the analyzer 52 every time the winding drum 24 rotates
by a prescribed ang1e. The pulse signal output by the rotation sensor
42 is referred to as a rotation pulse signal.
The wlnding unit main body 16 has a configuration in which an
unwinding assisting device L2, a tensi-on apprying device 13, a yarn
joining device 74, and a clearer head 49 of the crearer (yarn
travellj-ng j-nformation acquiring device) 15 are arranged in this order
from the yarn supplying bobbin 2r side on a yarn traverring path
between the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and the winding drum 24.
The unwinding assisting device 12 assists the unwinding of the
spun yarn 20 from the yarn supprying bobbin 2l by rowerlng a regulating
member 40 covering a core tube of the yarn supplying bobbin 21
accompanying unwinding of the spun yarn 20 from the yarn supplying
bobbin 21. The regulating member 40 makes contact with a balloon that
is formed at an upper part of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when the
spun yarn 2 0 unwound f rom the yarn supplying bobbin 2L ts swung around,
thus applylng an appropriate tension to the ba]loon and assisting
unwinding of the spun yarn 20.
The tension appJ-ying device 13 applies a tension on the
traverring spun yarn 20. The tension apprying device 13 applies
constant tension to the spun yarn 20, thereby improving qual_ity of
the package 30.
15
20
25
30
B/61
10
The crearer 15 detects defects by detecting thickness
unevenness of the spun yarn 20 by an appropriate sensor. Specificalry,
the clearer 15 includes the clearer head 49 and the analyzer 52 (FIG.
2) . Two yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 are arranged in
the clearer head 49. The yarn defect such as slub can be detected
by processing signals from the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43
and 44 by the analyzer 52. A cutter (not illustrated) for immediately
cutting the spun yarn 20 when the clearer 15 detects a yarn defect
is arranged in proximity to the clearer head 49.
The crearer 15 may arso function as a yarn travelling
informatj-on acquiring device for acquiring travelling information
of the spun yarn 20. The travelling information of the spun yarn20
is information indicating a state of the traverring spun yarn 20.
The configuration of acquiring the travelting information of the spun
yarn 20 by the clearer 15 wiII be described Iater.
The yarn joining device 14 joins rower yarn from the yarn
supplying bobbin 2L and upper yarn from the package 30 after the
crearer 15 detects a yarn defect and cuts the spun yarn 20, after
yarn breakage during unwi-nding of the spun yarn 20 from the yarn
supprying bobbin 21, and the rike. The yarn joining device 14 may
be a mechanicar-type or a type that uses fruid such as compressed
air.
A lower yarn guidlng pipe 25 adapted to catch and guide the 1ower
yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and an upper yarn guiding
pipe 26 adapted to catch and guide the upper yarn from the package
30 are respectivery arranged on the lower side and the upper side
of the yarn joining devj-ce 14. A suction port 32 i_s formed at a tip
end of the lower yarn guiding.pi-pe 25. A suction mouth 34 is arranged
at a tip end of the upper yarn guiding pipe 26. The rower yarn guidi_ng
pipe 25 and the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 are respectivery connected
15
20
25
30
9/61
t0
to an appropriate negative pressure source (not irlustrated), and
a suction flow can be generated at the suction port 32 and the suction
mouth 34.
At the time of yarn cut or yarn breakage, the suction port 32
of the lower yarn guj-ding pipe 25 catches the lower yarn at a position
illustrated in FIG. 1 and EfG. 2, and. is thereafter swung upward around
a shaft 33 to guide the l-ower yarn to the yarn joining device L4.
Armost at the same time, the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 Ls swung upward
around a shaft 35 from the irrustrated position to catch, by the
suction mouth 34, the upper yarn unwound from the package 30.
subsequently, the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 is swung downward around
the shaft 35 to guide the upper yarn to the yarn joining devj_ce 14.
The yarn joining device 14 then performs the yarn joining operation
of the lower yarn and the upper yarn.
Next, the clearer 15 wj-]I be described 1n detail with reference
to FIG. 3.
The clearer head 4 9 includes the first yarn unevenness detecting
sensor (first detecting section) 43, the second yarn unevenness
detecting sensor ( second detecting section) 4 4 , and two A/D converters
45 and 46. The analyzer 52 is confj-gured by hardware such as a Central-
Processing unit (cPU) 41, a RandomAccess Memory (RAM) 48, and a Read
onry Memory (RoM) (not irrustrated), and software such as program
stored j-n the ROM. With the cooperative operation of the hardware
and the software, the cpu 4i can be configured to function as a
similarity degree evaluating section 65, a weighting processing
section 66, a travelring information acquiring section 6j, a yarn
quality measuring secti-on 68, a sampling speed acquiring section 72,
a measuri-ng section 73, and the rike. The purse signars from the
rotation sensor 42 are input to the analyzer 52.
The first yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43 and the second
15
25
30
70/67
10
yarn unevenness detecting sensor 44 are arranged side by side with
an appropriate distance in the yarn travelling direction, where the
first yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43 is arranged downstream and
the second yarn unevenness detectj-ng sensor 44 Ls arranged upstream.
In the present embodiment, the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43
and 44 are adapted to detect thickness unevenness of the spun yarn
20. Specificalry, the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44
are configured as opti-cal- sensors. Light Emitting Diodes (LED) 3d
and 37 are arranged as light sources on an opposite side of the yarn
unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 with a yarn path of the spun
yarn 20 therebetween. The yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and
44 respectively detect a light receiving amount from the LEDs 36 and
37 . Since the light receiving amount of the yarn unevenness detecting
sensors 43 and 44 changes when the thickness of the travelling spun
yarn 20 changes, the clearer 15 can detect the thickness unevenness
of the spun yarn 20. The output signals (yarn thickness unevenness
signals) from the yarn unevenness d.etecting sensors 43 and 44 are
converted from analog signars to digital signars (A/D converted),
and the digital signals are then output to the anaryzer 52.
The CPU 47 arranged in the analyzer 52 monitors the A/D converted
yarn thickness unevenness signal and measures the quality of the spun
yarn 20. For example, because the thickness of the spun yarn 20 is
found to be abnormar at an area where the quarity of the spun yarn
20 has a probrem, the defect of the spun yarn 20 can be detected by
detecting the abnormal-ity in the thickness of the spun yarn 20 by
the cPU 47. Since the quarity of the spun yarn 20 is measured by the
CPU 47, the CPU 47 thus can be referred to as the yarn quality measuring
section 68.
The yarn supplylng bobbin 21 normal-J_y has a
spinning machine. SIight thickness unevenness
yarn spun by a ring
may periodically
15
20
25
30
tt/61
10
15
/tt
25
occur in such a yarn. The cause of the periodic yarn thickness
unevenness may include core shift of a draft roller that drafts a
sliver in the ring spinning machine. The periodic thickness
unevenness in a spinning process causes moire to be generated in a
woven cloth in the subsequent weaving process. The cpu 47 serving
as the yarn quality measuring section 68 performs a Fast Eourier
Transform (FFT) calculation of the yarn thickness unevenness slgnal
to detect the periodic thickness unevenness of the spun yarn 20. rn
order to accurately perform the FET carculation, the number of
waveform data per unit rength of the spun yarn 20 is required to be
accurately made constant when sampling the yarn thickness unevenness
sj-gnal in the A/D converter.
The CPU 4"7 of the present embodiment acquires inf ormat j-on
relating to a traverling state of the spun yarn 20, and changes a
sampJ-ing period (cycle) of the second A/D converter 46 according to
the traverl-ing state. specificarly, the cpu 4l generates a purse
signal each time the spun yarn 20 travels a specific length (e.g.,
1 mm), and transmits the pulse signal to the second A/D converter
46. This pulse signal is referred to as a fixed yarn length purse
signal. rn accordance with this fixed yarn length purse signaJ_, the
second A/D converter 46 samples the anal-og signals from the first
yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43, and converts the anarog signars
into digitar signals. Accordingly, since the number of data per unit
Iength of the spun yarn 20 can be accurately maintained constant,
the FFT carcul-ation can be accurately performed in the cpu 47 and
the periodic thickness unevenness can be reriably detected. By
accurately maintaining the number of data per unit rength of the spun
yarn 20 constant, the cpu 47 can accuratery perform an evaruation
of the length of the thickness unevenness of the spun yarn 20 even
with a sporadic yarn defect without periodicj_ty, and 30 a detection
12/67
10
accuracy of the analyzer 52 can be improved. Since a fixed yarn Iength
pulse signal j-s information relating to the t.ravelling state of the
yarn 20, the fixed yarn rength pulse signal can be referred to as
one type of yarn travelling information. As described above, since
the cPU 47 acquires the yarn travelring information, the cpu 47 may
be referred to be functioning as the travel-l-ing information acquiring
section 67.
Next, the configuration of acquiring the fixed yarn length purse
signal will- be described.
The clearer 15 of the present embodiment incl-udes the first A/D
converter 45 apart from the second A/D converter 46.
The firsL A/D converter 45 is an A/D converter which performs
sampling of the yarn thickness unevenness signal in order to acquire
the fixed yarn rength purse signar by the cpu 4j. specificalry, the
first A/D converter 45 sampres the analog signars from the two yarn
unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44, and converts the analog
signals to digital signals. The obtained digitar signars are input
lnto the analyzer 52. The CPU 47 arranged in the analyzer 52 functlons
as the similarity degree evaluating section 65, the weighting
processing section 66, and/or the travelling information acquiring
section 6f, and the like to detect a traverling speed of the spun
yarn 20 using the input digitar signals. since the travelring speed
of the spun yarn 20 is also information relating to the travelling
state of the spun yarn 20, the travelrinq speed can be referred to
as one type of yarn trave]ling information. The CpU 47 may be referred
to be functioni-ng as the travelling information acquiring section
61 .
rf the travell-ing speed of the spun yarn 20 is obtained, the
traverred rength of the spun yarn 20 within a prescribed period of
time can be detected in accordance with the travelling speed. The
t3/67
15
20
25
30
10
cPU 47 generates and acquires the fj_xed yarn length purse signar j-n
accordance wj-th the travelling speed of the spun yarn 20, and transmits
the fixed yarn length pulse signal to the second. A/D converter 46.
The yarn thickness unevenness signal thus can be sampled for every
fixed yarn length of the spun yarn 20 in the second A/D converter
46.
Next, a method of acquiring the travell_ing speed (yarn
traverring informatj-on) of the spun yarn 20 by the cl_earer 15 wirl
be described in detail.
Fi-rst, in the first A/D converter 45, the anarog waveforms
output from the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 are sampled.
A sampring frequency fs1 at this time is changed as needed in
proportion to a rotati-on speed of the winding drum 24. When the signal
waveforms of the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 are
sampled by the first A/D converter 45, the number of data acquired
per unit length of the spun yarn 20 thus can be maintained
substantially constant. A cal-culation l-oad of the CpU 47 thus can
be reduced compared with when the sampring frequency is fixed.
As described above, the rotation sensor 42 outputs the rotation
pulse signal every time the winding drum 24 rotates a prescribed angle.
Therefore, the number of rotation pulse signals output per unit time
is proportional- to the rotation speed of the winding drum 24. The
CPU 47 of the anal-yzer 52 acquires the rotational informatj-on of the
winding drum 24 tn accordance with the rotatj-on pulse signal received
from the rotation sensor 42. The rotational information of the
winding drum 24 ts information relating to the rotation speed of the
wj-nding drum 24, and may be, for exampre, a peripheral speed of the
winding drum 24, an angurar speed of the winding drum 24, or the number
of rotation purse signals output per unit time. That is, the
information relating to the rotation speed of the winding drum 24
15
20
25
30
L4/67
10
15
20
25
just needs to be acquired j-n some form in accordance with the rotation
pulse signal_.
The CPU 47 obtains a sampling speed, which becomes a reference
of the traverling speed of the spun yarn 20, by murtiplying a
prescribed coefficient to the rotational- information of the winding
drum 24 obtained in the above manner. The CPU 47 obtains the sampling
frequency fs1 in accordance with the obtained sampring speed, and
sets the obtained sampling frequency fs1 to the first A/D converter
45. The sampring frequency is set such that sampling is performed
once each time the spun yarn 20 travels a unit rength. The sampring
frequency fs1 of the first A/D converter 45 may be changed as needed
in proportion to the rotation speed of the winding drum 24. since
the cPU 41 carcurates the sampling speed in accordance with the
rotational information of the winding drum, the CpU 4'l can be referred
to be functioning as the sampling speed acquiring section i2.
The analyzer 52 has a storage range configured as a ring buffer
(downstream ring buffer 55 and upstream ring buffer 56) on the RAM
4B to temporariry carry the waveform data input from the first A/D
converter 45. specificarry, data obtained by sampring the output
signal (first yarn thickness unevenness signal) from the first yarn
unevenness detecting sensor 43 is accumulated in the downstream ring
buffer 55. The data obtained by sampring the output signar (second
yarn thickness unevenness signal) from the second yarn unevenness
detecting sensor 44 is accumulated in the upstream ring buffer 56.
Although the size of the downstream ring buffer 55 and the upstream
ring buffer 56 is not particularly limited, the downstream ring buffer
55 and the upstream ring buffer 56 can respectivery carry 128 data
sets in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating data series
series) accumulated in the ring buffers 55 and 56.
(waveform data
In the 30 graph of
75/67
10
ErG. 4, a vertical axis represents a signal l_evel indicated by the
waveform data, and a horizontal axis represents an index of the ring
buffer in which the waveform data is stored. Regarding the index of
the horizontar axis of FfG. 4, a smarrer varue is assigned to older
data in the ring buffer. In other words, the index in which the oldest
data is stored in the ring buffer is index [0], and the index in which
the most recent data is stored is index Ll2i). Therefore, the
hori-zontar axis of FrG. 4 may arso be considered as a time axis.
rf the tension appried on the spun yarn 20 is constant,
stretching of the spun yarn 20 at the measurement positions of the
first yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43 and the second yarn
unevenness detecting sensor 44 is to be the same, and thus the same
waveform is assumed to be observed in the two yarn unevenness detecting
sensors 43 and 44. Since the first yarn unevenness detecting sensor
43 is arranged downstream of the second yarn unevenness detecting
sensor 44 in the yarn travellj-ng direction, the waveform of the signal
output from the first yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43 (first yarn
thickness unevenness signal) has a time deray with respect to the
waveform of the signaJ- output from the second yarn unevenness
detecting sensor 44 (second yarn thickness unevenness signal) . This
delay causes the waveform data series stored in the upstream ring
buffer 56 to shift by AT in a past direction (Ieft direction of EIG.
4) on the time axis compared to the waveform data series stored in
the downstream ring buffer 55. provided that the time delay (shift)
is AT, and a distance between the detection positions of the two yarn
unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 is L, a yarn speed v can be
obtained by the following equation v--L/LT (1) . Therefore, the
anaryzer 52 can cal-culate the travelling speed of the spun yarn 20
by detecting the time delay (shift) AT of the waveform of the first
yarn thickness unevenness signal with respect to the waveform of the
l5
20
25
30
L6/61
10
15
20
second yarn thickness unevenness signal.
In the present embodiment, the CPU 47 compares the waveform of
the first yarn thickness unevenness signal- (waveform data series
accumulated in the downstream ring buffer 55) and the waveform of
the second yarn thickness unevenness signal (waveform data series
accumul-ated in the upstream ring buffer 56) to obtain the time delay
AT. Since a certain duration of time is assumed when the "waveform,,
is referred, only the single waveform data sampled at a certain instant
cannot be referred to as the "waveform,,. when referring to comparing
the waveforms of the signals, the data series continuousJ-y acquired
within a certain time range are compared as the specific processing.
The CPU 47 compares the waveform data series (first waveform
data series) continuously acquj-red wj-thin a first time range of the
downstream waveform data accumulated in the downstream ring buffer
55, and the waveform data series (second waveform data series)
continuously acquired within a second time range of the waveform data
accumul-ated in the upstream ring buffer 56.
As il-lustrated in FrG. 4, the first time range is a range from
index [64] to lndex 112'7) of the ring buffer in the present embodiment.
Therefore, the first waveform data series is configured by waveform
data of most recent 64 points among the waveform data accumulated
in the downstream ring buffer 55. The second time range is a range
from index 1.321 to index lr2i) of the ring buffer. Therefore, the
second waveform data series is configured by waveform data of most
recent 96 points among the waveform data accumulated in the upstream
ring buffer 56.
Next, the comparison of the waveforms carried out by the cpu
47 w1l-r be specifically described. The cpU 47 compares the first
waveform data series and the second waveform data series to obtain
a simiJ-arity degree of the waveform of the first yarn thickness
25
30
T't / 6l
10
unevenness signal and the waveform of the second yarn thickness
unevenness signal. The similarity degree is an indication indicating
to what extent the two waveforms overlap (to what extent the two
waveforms are similar) .
Various methods can be consid.ered as a method of calculating
the simil-arity degree. In the present embodiment, the similarity
degree is cal-cul-ated in the following manner. The two waveforms to
be compared are overlapped to acquire an area between the two waveform
graphs (portj-on hatched with diagonal lines in FIG. 6). If the two
waveforms are completely different, the two waveforms do not overJ-ap
at arl and the area becomes 2. rf the two waveforms completery
coincj-de, the area becomes 0. with the above area, the similarity
degree can be calculated by the following equatj_on (2).
Similarity degree=1- (area between two waveforms) =2 (2)
According to the definition of simirarity degree, the two
waveforms are more different as the similarity degree is closer to
0, and the two waveforms are more similar as the similarity degree
is closer to 1.
Sj-nce the second waveform data series is configured by waveform
data of 96 points and the first waveform data serj-es j-s confiqured
by waveform data of 64 points, the range of the second waveform data
series is set wider than the range of the first waveform data series.
rn other words, the second time range is set ronger than the fi-rst
time range in the present embodiment. fn order to cal-culate the
similarity degree, the lengths on the time axis of the two waveforms
(rengths of waveform data series) to be compared is required to be
equal. Thus, when comparing the first waveform data series and the
second waveform data serj-es, the CPU 47 extracts the waveform data
series having the same length as the first wavelength data series
from the second waveform data series, and obtains the similarity
15
20
25
30
L8/61
10
degree of the extracted waveform d.ata series and the first waveform
data series.
This wil-l be more specificarJ-y described berow. The cpu 4j
prepares an imaginary frame (downstream frame and upstream frame)
obtained by imaginarily retrieving the waveform data series acquired
within a prescribed time range from the waveform data of the ring
buffers 55 and 56. The cpU 47 evaluates the overrapping (similarity
degree) of the waveform data of the downstream frame (first imagj-nary
frame) and the waveform data of the upstream frame (second imaginary
frame).
The downstream frame (first imaginary frame) is an imaginary
frame for imaginarily retrieving the waveform data series (first.
waveform data series) continuously acquired in the first time range
from the waveform data accumulated in the downstream ring buffer 55.
Specifically, as ill-ustrated in EIG. 5, the downstream frame is set
to j-ncrude data of most recent 64 points (waveform data in a range
from index l54l to index lL2'71 of downstream ring buffer) among the
waveform data stored in the downstream ring buffer 55. rn the
following description,'the index of the ol-dest data of the waveform
data included in the imaginary frame is expressed as a head position
of the imaginary frame. fn the case of the downstream frame, the head
position is index 1641.
The upstream frame (second imaginary frame) j-s an imaginary
frame for imaginarily retrieving the waveform data series (waveform
data of 64 points ) in the time range of the same length as the first
time range from the waveform data series (second waveform data series)
of the upstream ring buffer 56 acquired in the second time range.
The upstream frame is set to store data of 64 continuous points among
the waveform data of the range from index t32l to ihdex lt2j) (second
time range) of the upstream ring buffer 56.
15
20
25
30
L9/6I
10
The range of the second waveform data series is wider than the
first waveform data series by the waveform data of 32 points towards
the past direction on the time axis. The head posi-tion of the upstream
frame thus can be set to a position shifted within 32 points in the
past direction than the head position of the downstream frame. The
difference in index between the head posj-tion of the downstream frame
and the head position of the upstream frame is referred to as ..frame
delay amount" or simply ..delay amount,,.
After the upstream frame is set as described above, the CpU 41
extracts the waveform data in accordance with the extracting condition
from the waveform data of 64 points in the set upstream frame, and
creates a new upstream frame in accordance with the extracted waveform
data. This reduces the number of waveform data included in the
upstream frame. The extracting condition incl-udes extracting every
other waveform data included in the upstream frame, extracting every
two waveform data, and the 1ike, for example. Similarly, the cpu 47
extracts the waveform data in accordance with the extracting condition
from the waveform data of 64 points in the set downstream frame, and
creates a new downstream frame in accordance with the extracted
waveform data. For example, the extracting conditj-on is changed when
the yarn traverl-ing speed (sampring speed) exceeds a prescribed yarn
travel-l-ing speed (prescribed sampling speed) . Si_nce the processing
time relating to the acquisition of the yarn travell-ing informatj-on
is substantially constant, the number of points to be sampled per
time in which the yarn traverring information is being acquired
j-ncreases when the sampling speed becomes fast. rn this case, the
ratio at which the yarn travelling information is acqulred with
respect to the number of points to be sampred lowers. Therefore, the
extracting conditj-on is set as folrows. rf the prescribed sampling
speed is smal-ler than a first threshold val-ue, reduction is not
15
20
25
30
20/67
10
performed. If the prescribed sampling speed is greater than or equal
to the first threshold value, reductj-on is performed for every other
waveform data. rf the prescribed sampring speed is greater than or
equal to a second threshold value, reduction is performed for every
two waveform data.
After the upstream frame and the downstream frame in which the
number of waveform data is reduced are set, the cpu 47 obtains the
simil-arity degree, which is the indication on what extent the waveform
included in the upstream frame and the waveform incl-uded in the
downstream frame are overlapping. The output signals of the yarn
unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 contain bias components.
Therefore, the two waveforms may not overlap satisfactorily with the
output signals as is due to variation in the sensiti-vity of the yarn
unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44. The Cpu 47 thus performs
processing of bias component removal and norma]ization on the waveform
data of the upstream frame and the downstream frame. As illustrated
in FrG. 6, the bias component removal- is a processing of searching
for a minimum valub of the data in the carcul_ation frame and
subtracting the minimum val-ue from the value of each data.
Normalization is a processing of dividing the value of each data with
a total- value of data in the calcul-at j-on f rame. The area of the graph
of the waveform in the cal-culation frame is thereby normal-ized to
1. Since the bias component removal- and the normal-izatj-on of the
waveform are carried out on the upstream waveform data and the
downstream waveform data respectively, variation in bj-as component
for each of the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44, as wellas
the difference in sensitivity of each of the yarn unevenness
detecting sensors 43 and 44 can be absorbed.
After the processing of bias component removal_ and
normalization are performed, the CPU 47 executes a similarity degree
15
20
25
30
27/67
10
eval-uation processing for obtaining the simil-arity degree between
the data series of the downstream frame (waveform of first yarn
thickness unevenness signal) and the data series of the upstream frame
(waveform of second yarn thickness unevenness signal) . Since the CpU
47 evaluates the simirarity degree of the two waveforms, the cpu 4j
may be referred to be functioning as the similarity degree evaluating
section 65.
The head position of the upstream frame thus can be set to a
position shifted within 32 points in the past direction than the head
position of the downstream frame. The frame delay amount (prescribed
delay amount) can be changed in the range from 0 to 32. The similarity
degree evaluating sectj-on 55 repeatedly execuLes the similarity
degree evaluation processing while changi-ng the frame delay amount
within the above range. The similarity degree evaluating section 65
sel-ects a prurality of positions on the time axis of the upstream
frame in the second time range, and. evaruates the simirarity degree
with respect to each of the prurarity of posj_tions. The simirarity
degree evaluating section 65 thereby acquires a plurarity of
similarity degrees. Thus, by setting the second time ranqe to be
longer than the first time range, the simllarity degree evaluation
can be carried out for a plurality of times while moving the upstream
frame within the second time range. The CPU 47 can therefore acqujre
a plurarity of similarity degrees. As a resurt of acquiring a
prurarity of similarity degrees corresponding to the frame deray
amount, the CPU 47 can obtain a relationship between the frame delay
amount and the similarity degree, as illustrated in ErG . 7 , f or example .
The CPU 47 extracts only the maximum point (similarity degree maximum
point) at which the similarly degree becomes maxj-mum from the obtained
relati-onship between the frame delay amount and the similarity degree,
and obtains a relatj-onship between the frame delay amount and the
15
20
25
30
22/6t
10
similarity degree at each extracted maximum point as illustrated in
ErG. 8. The processing of extracting onry the maxj_mum point is
performed to suppress error from occurring when weighting is performed
on the simil-arity degree. The details of weighting will be described
in detail- l-ater. The maximum point is where only the maximum portion
of the similarity degree is extracted and represents the similarity
degree.
The effects of obtainj-ng the similarity degree by reducing the
waveform data in the upstream frame and the downstream frame will
be described. The resolution of the travellj-ng speed of the spun yarn
20 to be ca.l-cul-ated becomes higher by sampling the output signars
from the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and 44 at a fixed yarn
length accordj-ng to the sampJ-ing frequency obtained based on the
rotationar information of the winding drum 24. Eor example, assuming
that the distance between the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43
and 44 is 10 mm and the sampJ-ing is performed every time the spun
yarn 20 moves 1 mm based on the sampling speed, the resol-ution becomes
1/10 times the sampling speed rike 5/10, 6/70, j/70, B/to, At
this time, if the range to obtain the simirarity degree ts 20 mm (worth
20 indices), the evaluation processing of the simllarity degree is
carried out with respect to the waveform data of 20 points. rf the
sampring is performed every tlme the spun yarn 20 moves 0.5 mm, the
resolution becomes l/20 tj_mes the sampling speed, but the evaluation
processing of the similarity degree needs to be performed with respect
to the waveform data of 40 points. Therefore, the resolution and the
processing time are in a trade-off relationship. The processing time
for the similarity degree evaluation can be shortened by reducing
the waveform data in the upstream frame and the downstream frame while
enhancing the resolution of the traverring speed of the spun yarn
20 by shortening the sampling interval as in the present embodiment.
15
20
25
30
23/67
10
When the similarity degree becomes maximum, the waveform of the
upstream frame and the waveform of the downstream frame are most
satisfactorily overlapped. fn other words, the time delay AT has been
reso1ved between the waveform data series of the upstream ring buffer
56 and the waveform data series of the downsLream rj-ng buffer 55.
Therefore, the frame delay amount when the similarity degree becomes
maximum is assumed to correspond to the time delay AT of the waveform
of the upstream ring buffer 56 and the waveform of the downstream
ring buffer 55. rn other words, the time deray AT of the waveforms
can be calculated based on the frame delay amount when the similarity
degree becomes maximum. The cal-culation of the deray AT wil-l_ be
specifically descrj_bed later.
The clearer 15 can calculate the travelling speed of the spun
yarn 20 by substituting obtained AT in the equation (1). rn this
manner, the crearer 15 can obtain the traverling speed of the spun
yarn 20 in accordance with the simj-larity degree of two waveforms.
However, the cl-earer 15 of the present embodiment does not calculate
the travelring speed of the spun yarn 20 using the similarity degree
as described above, and calcurates the travelring speed of the spun
yarn 20 using the weighted simil-arity degree, as herej_nafter
described.
rn the present embodiment, a plurality of simil_arity degrees
are obtained by moving the upstream frame on the time axis as described
above, but instead, the downstream frame may be moved on the time
axis. However, if the upstream frame is moved on the time axis as
in the present embodiment, the downstream frame can have the position
on the time axis fixed so as to include the most recent waveform data
among the waveform data lncluded in the downstream ring buffer 55
(in ErG. 5, downstream frame can be fixed at a rightmost position).
15
20
25
24/67
10
The clearer 15 thus can calcul-ate the time del-ay Af using the most
recent yarn thickness unevenness signal on the downstream side, and
can obtain the travel-l-ing speed of the spun yarn 20 in rear time.
Since a similar state may continue in the thickness unevenness
of the travelling spun yarn 20, a similar waveform may also continue
in the signals output from the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43
and 44. In this case, since the upstream waveform and the downstream
waveform overlap at a plurality of positions, as ill-ustrated in FIG.
7, a plurality of frame delay amounts indicating a peak (maxj-mumpoint)
having a large similarity degree exist within the movement range of
the upstream frame. rf a prurality of peaks having a rarge similarity
degree exist within the movement range of the upstream frame, the
frame delay amount of which peak is to be used for the calculation
of the time delay AT of the waveforms becomes confusing and the yarn
traverling speed may be carcurated using a wrong frame deray amount.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, weighting is performed
on the simil-arity degree to resolve the confusion of the peaks of
the similarity degree. The yarn travelling speed acquiring
processing executed by the CPU 41 to the present embodiment wiII be
described below with reference to FIG. g.
The cPU 47 executes the yarn traverring speed acquiring
processing j-llustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 9 every time new data
is sampled in the first A/D converter 45 and the new waveform data
is added to the ring buffers 55 and 56. When the yarn travell-ing speed
acquiring processing starts, the CPU 47 reduces the waveform data
in the downstream frame, and performs bias component removal and
normalization of the waveform (step S101).
The CPU 4'l then performs initialization of the frame delay
amount (initiarization of the position of the upstream frame) (step
s102). fn the present embodiment, the frame deray amount is
15
20
25
30
25 / 61.
10
initialized to 32. The upstream frame is thus sel to a position
shifted to the past corresponding to the waveform data of 32 points
from the downstream frame. Therefore, the upstream frame incl-udes
the waveform data in the range from index L32l to index t95l of the
upstream ring buffer 55 (see EIG. 5).
After the position of the upstream frame is determined, the CpU
47 reduces the waveform in the upstream frame, and performs the bias
component removal and the normalization of the waveform as described
above (step S103).
Next, the cpu 47 performs the similarity degree evaluation
processing for obtaj-ning the similarity degree on the waveform data
in the upstream frame and the waveform data in the downstream frame
(step s104). After the similarity degree is cal_cu1ated, the cpu 47
saves the frame deray amount (see FrG. B) of each maximum poj_nt of
the similarity degrees (step S105).
The CPU 47 then determines whether or not the movement range
of the upstream frame is finished (step s106). rn the present
embodiment, the upstream frame is moved in the range in which the
frame deray amount is from 32 to 0 (i.e., range j-n which the upstream
frame fits within the second time range). rf the movement range is
not finished (step s106: No), the frame delay amount is reduced by
one in step 5107 (upstream frame is shifted by one toward right in
ErG. 5), and the process returns to step s103. rf the movement range
is finished (step s106: yES), the process proceeds to step s10g.
According to the above loop processing, the steps S103 to s107
are repeatedly carried out whlle shifting the position on the time
axis of the upstream frame. Accordingry, since the simirarity degree
evaluation processing and the weighting processing are performed for
a plurality of times in the movement range of the upstream frame (range
in which the frame deJ-ay amount is from 0 to 32) , the cpu 47 can acquire
15
ZU
25
30
26/67
10
a pl-urality of similarity degrees. The data stored in step s105 is
reset every time a new yarn travel-ring speed acquiring processing
is started.
The CPU 47 then performs an adoption determination processing
(step S10B) of determining a maximum point that is adopted to calcul-ate
the time delay AT of the waveform data of the upstream ring buffer
56 and the waveform data of the downstream ring buffer 55 for a
plurality of obtained maximum points.
The contents of the adoption determination processing wiII be
specifically descrj-bed bel-ow with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
10. After starting the adoptj-on det,ermination processing, the cpu
47 performs the weighti-ng processing on each maximum point shown in
FrG. 8, and performs the weighting processing for carcurating the
weighted maximum point (step s201) . Since the weighting processing
is carri-ed out in this manner, the cpu 4'l may be referred to be
functioning as the weightj-ng processing section 66. In the following
description, the maximum point before the weighting is sometimes
referred to as "raw maximum point", in particular if there is a need
to be distinguished from the weighted maximum point. The above
weighting processing is performed by multiplying a weighting factor
to the varue of the raw maximum point. rn other words, assuming that
the raw maximum poj-nt is sc_index when the frame deray amount is
c_index, and the weighting factor with respect to the frame delay
amount c_index is wc_index, the weighted maximum point s'c i_ndex can
be obtained with the following equation (3).
S'c_index=Sc_indexxWc_index (3)
The value of the weighting factor Wc_index for a certain frame
delay amount c_index is det.ermined by a weighting curve that specifies
the rel-ationship between the frame delay amount and the weightlng
factor. An example of the weighting curve is illustrated in an upper
15
20
25
30
2'7 / 6t
10
graph of ErG. 11. As irrustrated in FrG. lr, the weighting curve j_s
set so that the weighting factor has one maximum value that becomes
a peak at the posi-tion of a prescribed frame delay amount c_index,
and the value of the weighting factor is set so as to gradually decrease
as the weighting curve becomes distant from the peak. Therefore, by
performing the weighting on the maxj_mum poj_nt using the weighting
factor specified wlth the wei-ghting curve, the maximum point near
the peak of the weighting curve is emphasized and the other maximum
points are suppressed. As a resurt, the emphasis (simil_arity degree)
of the unnecessary maximum points among the plurarity of maximum
points can be suppressed, as shown j-n the lower graph of FrG. 11.
The effects of performing the weighting processing on the
maximum point wil-r be described. For example, when performing
weighting using the weighting curve with respect to the raw sj-milarity
degree, which is not subjected to weighting, as shown in the upper
graph of ErG. l2A, the maximum point of the weighted simirarity degree,
which is the similarity degree after the weighting, may shift from
the position (frame deray amount) of the maximum point of the raw
sj-mirarity degree, as shown in the rower graph of FrG. t2A. Eor
exampre, when performing weighting using the weighting curve with
respect to the raw similarity degree, which is not subjected to
weighting, as shown in the upper graph of FrG. L2B, the number of
maximum points of the weighted similarity degree may increase, as
shown in the lower graph of EfG. L28.
As il-Iustrated in EIG.7!, occurrence of shift in the position
of the maximum point and/or increase in the number of maximum points
can be suppressed by performing weighting with respect to the maximum
point in the present embodi-ment. Therefore, the weighting processing
can be more accurately performed in the present embodiment.
fn the present embodiment, a history weighting curve and a
15
20
25
30
28/61
10
sampling speed weighting curve are used as the weighting curve. rn
step 5201, the CPU 47 performs the processing of weighting the maximum
point using the history weighting curve and the processing of
weighting the maximum point using the sampling speed weighting curve.
The history weighting curve is set so that the weighting factor
becomes large in proximity to the frame delay amount (reference delay
amount) of when the weighted maximum point became maximum in the
previous yarn travelring speed acquiring processing. since the yarn
traverJ-ing speed continuously changes, the yarn traverring speed
(calculated delay amount) acquired in the current yarn travelling
speed acquiring processing is assumed to be not significantry
different from the yarn travelring speed (reference deray amount)
acquired in the previous yarn travel-ring speed acquiring processing.
Therefore, the frame deray amount (carculated deray amount) of when
the maximum point becomes maximum in the current yarn travel-ling speed
acquiring processing has a high probabirity of being proximate to
the frame delay amount (reference delay amount) when the maximum point
became maximum in the previous yarn traverring speed acquiring
processing. fn other words, the raw maximum point that appears at
the position away from the frame delay amount when the maximum point
became maximum in the previous yarn traverring speed acquiring
processing has a high possibility of being a fal-se maximum point that
does not correspond to the yarn traverling speed. Thus, the weighting
factor is preferably reduced to lower degree of import.ance with
respect to the raw maxj-mum point at the position away from the frame
delay amount when the maximum point became maximum in the previous
yarn travel-l-ing speed acquiring processing. The history weighting
curve will be described in detail later.
The sampling speed weighting curve is set such that the
weighting factor becomes large in proximity to the frame delay amount
15
20
25
30
29/6t
10
corresponding to the sampling speed calculated in accordance with
the rotatlonal information of the winding drum 24. rn other words,
the yarn travelling speed changes around the sampling speed, and is
assumed to not significantly differ from the sampling speed.
Therefore, the time del-ay Ar of the waveform data of the upstream
ring buffer 56 with respect to the waveform data of the downstream
ring buffer 55 is assumed to change in proxi-mity to a frame deray
correspondi-ng to the sampling speed. rn other words, the raw maximum
point that appears at the position away from the frame delay amount
corresponding to the sampring speed has a high possibirity of being
a fal-se maximum point that does not correspond to the yarn travelling
speed. Thus, the weighting factor is preferably reduced to l_ower
degree of importance with respect to the raw maximum point at the
position away from the frame delay amount corresponding to the
sampling speed. The sampling speed weighting curve wil-I be described
in detail- Iater.
Returning back to ErG. 10, the cpu 47 carcurates a plurarity
of weighted maximum points using the history weighti-ng curve and the
sampling speed weighting curve, and then extracts the weighted maximum
poj-nt havj-ng the largest similarity degree (similarity degree after
weighting) (step s202). The cpu 4i determines whether or not a
plurali-ty of weighted maximum points having the largest similarity
degree is extracted (step s203) . rf onry one weighted maximum point
having the rargest similarity degree is extracted (step s203: No),
the cPU 47 adopts the maximum point extracted in step s202 as the
maxj-mum point (target weighted simil-arity degree) for cal_culating
the time delay AT of the waveform data.
rf a plurality of weighted maximum points having the rargest
simirarity degree are extracted (step s203: yES), the cpU 4T compares
the similarity degrees before weighting for the extracted weighted
15
20
25
30
30 / 61.
10
maximum points. The CPU 47 extracts the weighted maximum point having
the rargest similarity degree before weighting as a resurt of the
comparison (step S2O4). The CpU 4j determlnes whether or not a
prurarity of maximum points having the largest sj_milarj-ty degree
before weighting is extracted (step s205). rf onJ_y one weighted
maximum point having the largest similarity degree before weighting
is extracted (step s205: No), the cpu 47 adopts the maximum poinL
extracted in step s204 as the maximum point (target weighted
similarity degree) for calcul-ating the time del-ay AT of the waveform
data.
rf a prurality of weighted maximum poi-nts having the rargest
similarity degree before weighting are extracted (step s205: yES),
the CPU 47 first extracts the maxj-mum point having a frame delay amount
cl-osest to the frame delay amount of when the maximum point becomes
maximum in the previous yarn travel-ring speed acquiring processing
among the extracted weighted maximum points. The cpu 47 adopts the
extracted weighted maximum point as the maximum point (target weighted
similarity degree) for calcul-ating the time delay AT of the waveform
data (step 5206). Since the CPU 47 extracts the maximum point for
calculating the delay AT from the plurality of weighted maximum points,
the cPU 4-l may be referred to be functioning as the traverring
informatj-on acquiring section 67 adapted to extract the maximum point
for calculating the delay AT.
Next, the processing carried out after the adoption
determination processing is terminated wilI be described. After the
execution of the adoption determination processj-ng is termj-nated,
the cPU 47 returns to the flow of FrG. 9 and proceeds to step s109.
In step S109, the CPU 47 calculates the travelling speed of the
spun yarn 20 based on the frame deray amount of the maximum point
adopted in the adoption determination processing of step s108. rn
15
20
25
30
3L / 61.
10
the following description, the frame delay amount of the maximum point
adopted i-n step S108 is referred to as "currently adopted maximum
varue correspondence delay amount". The currentry adopted maximum
va1ue correspondence deJ-ay amount is assumed to correspond to the
time delay AT between the waveform data of the upstream ring buffer
56 and the waveform data of the downstream ring buffer 55. The
currently adopted maxj-mum value correspondence delay amount is the
frame delay amount until the waveform of the upstream ring buffer
56 and the waveform of the downstream ring buffer 55 match when the
downstream frame ill-ustrated in PIG. 13 is moved in the past direction
from the most recent position on the ti-me axis of the upstream frame.
FIG. 13 j-llustrates an example of a case in which the waveform data
of the upstream ring buffer 56 and the waveform data of the downst.ream
ring buffer 55 match (i.e., case in which the frame delay amount is
eight) when the downstream frame is shifted by eight indices from
index tL211 to index 11191.
Therefore, in the exampre of FrG. 13, the time duration from
index 17211 to index t1191 corresponds to the time deray AT of the
waveform data of the upstream ring buffer 56 and the waveform data
of the downstream ring buffer 55.
The cPU 47 measures the sampring time j_ntervar when sampling
the yarn thickness unevenness signal for every sampring intervar.
Since the cPU 47 measures the time interval- of sampling, the cpu 47
functions as the measuring section 73. The CPU 47 integrates each
sampling time interval from index 17211 to index t1191 . In other word.s,
the cPU 47 integrates the sampring time intervar from index Ll2ll
to index 1126), the sampring time intervar from index t1r26l to index
tl25l and the sampling time interval from index tl2}) to index
t1191. The integration resurt becomes the time deray AT of the
waveforms.
15
20
25
30
32/67
10
The effects of calculating the time delay At of the waveforms
by integrating the sampring time intervar wilr be described. For
exampJ-e, the sampling time interval becomes constant if the travelJ-ing
speed of the spun yarn 20 is constant, and hence the time deray AT
of the waveforms is obtained by multiplying the sampling time interval
and the frame deray amount (number of indices). rf the average
travelling speed of the spun yarn 20 is in acceleration, the sampling
time interval gradually becomes shorter, and hence the time delay
AT of the waveforms becomes longer than the tj-me obtained by
multiplying the most recent sampling time interval and the frame delay
amount (number of indices). rf the average travelling speed of the
spun yarn 20 is in decel-eration, the time delay AT of the waveforms
becomes shorter. By integrating the sampling time interval_s to
carcurate the time delay AT of the waveforms as in the present
embodi-ment, the deray AT can be accurately calcurated even if the
spun yarn 20 j_s in acceleration or in decel_eration.
The cPU 47 carcul-ates the travel-l-ing speed of the spun yarn 20
by substituting AT obtained as described above to the equation (1)
(step s109). By carcurating the traverring speed of the spun yarn
20 in accordance with the wei-ghted maximum point, t.he cpu 41 can
accuratery carcurate the travelring speed of the spun yarn 20 even
if the rawmaximumpoint exists in plurals. In the present embodiment,
as described above, the adoption determination processing is
performed for preventing the maximum point having low reliability
from being adopted. The CPU 47 thus can obtain the yarn travelling
speed of high rellability.
The cPU 47 changes the sampring period (cycre) of the second
A/D converter 46 in accordance with the yarn travell-ing speed obtained
as described above. Specifically, the CPU 47 generates the fixed yarn
length pulse signal at a frequency proportional to the yarn travelling
15
20
25
30
33/61
10
speed, and transmits the generated fixed yarn J_ength pulse signal
to the second A/D converter 46. The yarn traverling speed is an
accurate yarn travellj-ng speed obtained in accordance with the
weighted maximum point. Therefore, by sampling the yarn thickness
unevenness signals by the second A/D converter 46 in accordance with
the fixed yarn rength puJ-se signar based on the yarn travell_ing speed,
the number of data per unit length of the spun yarn 2O can be accurately
made constant.
The yarn traverling speed obtained as described above is
transmitted to the unit control section 50. The unit control section
50 transmits the control- .signal to the motor control sectj-on 54
according to the travelling speed of the spun yarn 20 transmitted
from the clearer 15, and controls the rotation of the winding drum
24. The wj-nder unit 10 thus can perform the winding of the package
30 according to the accurate travel]ing speed of the spun yarn 20.
The unit control section 50 can calcu.l-ate a total length of the spun
yarn 20 wound into the package 30 by integrating the travelling speed
of the spun yarn 20 by time. Therefore, for exampre, when the winding
of the spun yarn 20 of a prescribed length is finished, the winder
unit 10 can terminate the winding of the spun yarn 20 and have a
fulry-wound the package 30. The wi-nder unit 10 thus can make the
length of the spun yarn 20 to be wound to the respective package 30
to be uniform, and the packages 30 of uniform rength can be produced.
In the above descriptj-on, although the CPU 47 has been described
to carculate the travelling speed of the spun yarn 20, the yarn
travel-ling information is not necessarily acquired in the form of
speed. For exampre, if the spun yarn 20 moved 2 cm in one second and
3 cm in the next second, the cpu 4'l merery needs to acquire the
information "moved total- of 5 cm in two seconds,,, and may not
necessarily need to acquire information in the form of speed such
15
20
25
30
34/61
10
as "2.5 cm per second". The j-nformation of ..rength the spun yarn 20
moved per unit time" is al-so information relating to the traveJ_1ing
state of the spun yarn 20, and hence is one type of yarn traverring
information.
Next, the method of determining the weighting curve wil_r be
described. rn the present embodiment, the weighting curve incl-udes
a history weighting curve and the sampring speed weighting curve.
First, the history weighting curve wil_r be described. The
hlstory weighting curve is set so that the weighting factor becomes
Iarge in proxj-mity to the frame delay amount at which the weighted
maximum point became maximum in the previous yarn travel_ling speed
acquiring processing, as described above. rn other words, the
maximum point of the history weighting curve is set j-n accordance
with the previously calculated frame delay amount. The history
weighting curve becomes a weighting curve corresponding to the speed
ratio based on the frame deray amount (prescribed deray amount) of
the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn
thickness unevenness signal.
The weighting curve corresponding to the speed ratio wi_1r be
hereinafter described using specific examples. Assume that the first
A/D converter 45 samples the yarn thickness unevenness signal every
tj-me the spun yarn 20 travers 1 mm. rn this case, if the traverring
speed of the spun yarn 20 calculated in accordance with the rotational
information of the winding drum 24 is 1000 mm/sec., the sampling time
lnterval- is 1 msec. fn this case, assuming the spacing of the first
yarn unevenness detecting sensor 43 and the second yarn unevenness
detecting sensor 44 is 10 mm and the actual- travelling speed of the
spun yarn 20 is 1000 mm/sec., the value of the frame delay amount
of the maxj-mum point adopted in step slo8 of FrG. 9 becomes Len.
However, if there j-s error in the sampling frequency and the rike,
15
20
25
30
35/67
10
and the cal-culated frame delay amount is nine, the actual- travellj-ng
speed of the spun yarn 20 becomes l-000 x (r0/9) mm/sec. Similarry,
if the calcul-ated frame delay amount is 71, the actual travelling
speed of the spun yarn 20 is 1000 x (LO/11) mm/sec. Thus, the speed
ratio differs even if the frame delay amount is one. Therefore, the
weight corresponding to the speed rati-o based on the frame delay amount
needs to be determined and not the weight based on the frame delay
amount.
As shown in FrG. 14A, the cpu 4't obtains the speed ratio in
accordance with the frame delay amount to be the reference and the
cal-cul-ated frame delay amount. In EIG. 14A, the numerator represents
the frame delay amount to be the reference, and the denominator
represents the calculated frame delay amount. The frame delay amount
to be the reference is the frame delay amount corresponding to the
sampring speed, and is ten herein. This speed ratio is obtained by
having the frame delay amount ten to be the reference as the numerator
and changing the frame delay amount of the denominator by one. As
shown in FIG- 14B, the CPU 47 then obtains a first history correction
speed ratio that takes into consideration the frame delay amount
(reference delay amount) previously calculated with respect to the
obtained speed ratio. For exampre, tf the previously cal-curated
frame deray amount is 13, the first history correction speed ratio
is calculated using the speed ratio (10/13) in a frame A illustrated
in Frc. 14A. specificarry, when obtaining the first history
correction speed ratio in the frame c irrustrated in FrG. !48, the
cPU 47 divides the speed ratio (Lo/11) of a frame B by the speed ratio
(10/13) of the frame A to calculate the first history correction speed
ratio (13/11) in a frame C. Similarly, the first history correcti-on
speed ratio in a frame D can be obtained by dividing the speed ratio
of the frame A by the speed ratio of the frame A.
15
20
25
30
J6/b1
10
As irrustrated in prG. LAc, the cpu 47 then obtains a second
history correction speed ratio. The second history correction speed
ratio is obtained, such that the first history correction speed ratio
(speed ratio 73/73 of frame D) corresponding to the previously
carcurated frame deray amount takes a largest varue, by correcting
the first history correction speed ratio exceeding such va1ue.
Specifically, the second history correction speed ratio is calculated
by interchanging the denominator and the numerator of each val-ue of
"73/'7", "L3/8", "73/12" in which the first history correction
speed ratio exceeds 73/73. The first history correction speed ratio
that does not exceed L3/13 is used as is as the second hi_story
correction speed ratio.
The CPU 47 obtains the history weighting curve using the second
hi-story correction speed ratio. specificalry, the history weighting
curve is defined with the folrowing equation (4) in which the
relationship of a history weighting factor Wp that forms the history
weighting curve and a second history correction speed ratio N is
designated.
wP = exp (- ( 1-N1 '? Tysy (4 )
W is a constant that can be set by the user.
EIG. 14D ilIustrates an example of the history weighting curve
calcul-ated using eguation (4). The history weighting curve having
the previous frame detay amount 13 as maximum is irrustrated.
rn the example described above, an example of car_cul-ating the
history weighting curve when the previously ca1cul-ated frame delay
amount is 13 is described, but the history weighting curve of when
the previously calculated frame delay amount takes other val-ues is
al-so cal-cul-ated in advance. when weighting the maxi_mum point using
the history weighting curve, the CPU 47 can select and use the history
15
20
25
31/61
10
weighting curve corresponding to the previous frame delay amount.
Next, the sampring speed weighting curve wirr be described. The
sampling speed weighting curve is set such that the weighting factor
becomes large in proximity to the frame delay amount corresponding
to the sampling speed calculated in accordance with the rotational
information of the winding drum 24, as descrj-bed above. The maximum
point of the sampling speed weighting curve is set in accordance with
the frame delay amount when the spun yarn zo travelled under the
sampring speed. slmirar to the history weighting curve, the weight
of the sampling speed weighting curve j-s not determined based on the
frame delay amount, but rather the weight corresponding to the speed
ratio based on the frame delay amount needs to be determined in the
sampring speed weighting curve. Therefore, the sampring speed
weighting curve becomes a weighting curve corresponding to the speed
ratio based on the frame deray amount (prescribed deray amount) of
the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn
thickness unevenness signal.
As shown in FrG. 15A, the cpu 47 obtains the speed ratio j_n
accordance with the frame delay amount to be the reference and the
calculated frame delay amount. In FIG. 15A, the numerator represents
the frame delay amount to be the reference, and the denominator
represents the calcul-ated frame delay amount. The frame delay amount
to be the reference is the frame delay amount corresponding to the
sampring speed, and is ten herein. This speed ratio is obtained by
having the frame delay amount ten to be the reference as the numerator
and changing the frame delay amount of the denominator by one.
The cPU 47 then obtains the sampling speed correction speed
ratio, as illustrated in FrG. 158. The sampling speed correction
speed ratio j-s obtained, such that the speed ratio (speed ratio IO/lO
of frame E) corresponding to the frame deray amount when the spun
15
20
25
30
38/67
10
yarn 20 travelled with the sampling speed assumes the largest value,
by correcting the speed ratio exceeding such va1ue. specificarry,
the sampling speed correction speed ratio is ca.l_culated by
interchanging the denominator and the numerator of each value of
"70/"7", "70/8", and "lo/9" in which the speed ratio exceeds Lo/lto.
The correction speed ratio not exceeding IO/LO is used as it is as
the sampling speed correction speed ratio.
The cPU 47 uses the sampling speed correction speed ratio to
obtain the sampring speed weighting curve. specifi_ca1ry, the
sampling speed weighting curve is defined with the foll-owing equation
(5) in which a rel-ationship of a sampring speed weightj_ng factor wA
that forms the sampring speed weighting curve and a sampling speed
correction speed ratio N is desj_gnated.
= exp (- (1-N) '? /W) (5)
is a constant that can be set by the user.
Frc. 15C illustrates an exampre of a sampring speed weighting
curve cal-culated using equation (5) . An exampre il-l_ustrated in FrG.
15C is a sampling speed weighting curve in which the frame delay amount
(10) when the spun yarn 20 travell-ed under the sampring speed is
maximum.
The above-described example i-s an example of cal-cul-ating the
sampling speed weighting curve of the frame deray amount when the
spun yarn 20 travel-red under the sampring speed j-s ten. However, since
the sampring speed varies, the sampring speed weighting curve is
carculated in advance for every sampring speed. when wej_ghting the
maximum point using the sampling speed weighting curve, the cpu 47
can serect and use the sampring weighting curve of the frame deray
amount corresponding to the sampling speed.
The cPU 4'7 can correct the history weighting factor wp of the
WA
15 W
20
25
39/67
10
history weighting curve and the sampring speed weighting factor wA
of the Sampling speed weighting curve in accordance with the weighted
similarity degree when the weighted maximum point becomes maximum
in the previ-ous yarn traverring speed acquiring processing.
specifically, assuming the weighted similarity degree when the
weighted maximum point became maximum in the previous yarn travelling
speed acquiring processing is sp, the corrected history weighting
factor WP' and the corrected sampling speed weighting factor WA' are
defined with the following equations (G) and (7).
WP':SPxWP ( 6)
WA':(2Sr-Sp)WA (j)
S' is a stabl-e simj-larity factor, and aminimumvalue of the similarity
degree, and the like, for example, can be set.
The correction of the hj-story weighting factor and the sampling
speed weighting factor emphasizes the infl-uence of the history
weighting factor Vilp when the similarity degree sp is large and
emphasizes the influence of the sampling speed weighting factor when
the simirarity degree sp is small-. This is based on the fact that
i-f the previous similarity degree sp is 1arge, the history weighting
curve is assumed to have hi-gher reliabirity than the sampring speed
weighting curve. Therefore, the maximum point of high reriabirity
can be sel-ected by performing the correction. since the cpu 4j
corrects the history weighting factor and the sampling speed weighting
factor in accordance wj-th the previous simirarity degree, the cpu
47 thus also functions as the travelling information acquiring section
67 for correcting the history weighting factor and the sampling speed
weighting factor.
The present embodiment is configured as described above, and
the weighting processing section 66 performs the weighting processing
on each of a pJ-urality of maximum points using the weighting curve
15
20
25
30
40/61
10
(history weighting curve and sampling speed weighting curve)
corresponding to the speed ratio in accordance wi-th the frame delay
amount of the first yarn thickness unevenness sj-gnal and the second
yarn thickness unevenness signar. The weight can be appropriately
set for every frame detay amount by using the weighting curve
corresponding to the speed ratio based on the frame delay amount.
Therefore, by using the weighting curve corresponding t.o the speed
ratio based on the frame detay amount, the weighting processing can
be more accurately performed, and the travelling state of the spun
yarn 20 can be more accurately acquired.
The weighting curve has one maximum val_ue. The weighting can
be appropriately performed on the plurality of maximum points of the
similarity degree by using such weighting curve.
The weighting processing section 65 performs the weighting on
the maximum point usi-ng the history weighting curve that takes into
consideration the frame delay amount calculated in the past and the
sampJ-ing speed weighting curve that takes into consideration the
sampling speed. The appropriate target weighted simirarity degree
that takes into consideration the frame delay amount calculated in
the past and the sampling speed thus can be extracted, and more
accurate yarn travel-ring information can be acquired.
The travelling information acquiring section 67 corrects the
history weighting curve and the sampri-ng speed weighting curve in
accordance with the target weighted similarity degree calculated in
the past. The history weighting curve and the sampring speed
weighting curve that take into consideration the target weighted
similarity degree carcurated in the past thus can be obtained, and
the weighting can be more appropriatery performed. The travelring
information acquiring section 67 is adapted to increase a val-ue of
the welghting factor designated by the history weighti_ng curve
15
ZU
25
30
47/67
10
accompanying an increase in the target weighted simirarity degree
calculated in the past, and to j-ncrease a value of the weighting factor
designated by the sampling speed weighting curve accompanying a
decrease in the target weighted similarity degree cal-culated in the
past. If the target weighted sj-milarity degree calculated in the past
is large, j-t can be assumed that the history weighting curve has higher
rel-iabillty than the sampring speed weighting curve. By increasing
the weighti-ng factor designated by the history weighting curve
accompanying an increase in the target weighted simil_arity degree
carculated in the past, the history weighti-ng curve and the sampring
speed weighting curve can be appropriatery corrected according to
the actua.l- situation.
The traverring information acquiring section 6i can more
appropriately extract the maximum point for cal-culating the time delay
AT of the waveform data by performing the adoption determination
processing even if a prurality of weighted maximum points are
obtained.
The si-miJ-arity degree evaluating section 65 calcul-ates in
plurals only the maximum points of the cal-culated similarity degrees.
In this case, the weighting processing is performed only on the maximum
poj-nt of the similarity degree. Thus, only the value of the similarity
degree can be raised and l-owered (perform weighting) with respect
to the maximum points without changing the position of the delay amount,
and the weighting can be more accurately performed.
when calculating the time deray Ar of the waveform data, by
integrating the sampling time intervals, for example, even if the
spun yarn 20 is in accereration or in decereration, the time (J_ength
of time) of when the spun yarn 20 travelled by the frame deJ-ay amount
can be more accurately obtained.
Since the winder unit 10 includes the clearer 15 capable of
42/51
15
20
25
30
t_0
15
20
25
calculating the yarn travell-ing speed as described above, each section
can be controlled using the highly accurate travelJ-ing information
of the spun yarn 20 acquired by the clearer 15.
One embodiment of the present invention has been described above,
but the present invention is not Iimited to the above embodj-ment.
Eor example. in the above-descrj-bed embodiment, the spun yarn 20 is
traversed on the surface of the package 30 while the package 30 is
rotated by the rotating winding drum 24. However, the configuration
of the present invention can be appli-ed even to a yarn winding machine
having a configuration in which the driving of the package and the
traversing are independent. Such a yarn winding machine includes an
automatic winder provided wi-th an arm-type traverse device that
traverses the spun yarn 20 wj-th a swinging arm, or a belt-type traverse
device that traverses the spun yarn 20 with a yarn hooking member
that reciprocates to the left and the right by a belt.
The yarn travelling information acquiring device of the present
invention is not l-imited to the automatic winder, and may be appried
to other yarn processing devices such as a fine spinning machine,
and the like, for example.
rn the above embodiment, the change in the right receiving
amount is monitored by the yarn unevenness detecting sensors 43 and
44, but for example, a yarn unevenness detecting sensor of a type
that detects the change in el-ectrostatic capacitance of the travelling
spun yarn 20 may be adopted. with such a configuration, the change
in mass per unit length of the spun yarn 20 can be detected. rn other
words, the yarn unevenness detecting sensor is sufficient to be
configured to detect the thickness unevenness of the spun yarn 20
by some kind of method.
The weighting curve does not need to be in a form of exponential
function as described in the embodiment, and merely needs to 30 be able
43/67
10
to perform weighting in some form.
In the embodiment described above, the weighting curve (history
weighting curve and sampling speed weighting curve) is defined as
the exponential function (exp function), but the present invention
is not limited thereto, and any function can be used for the definition
of the weighting curve as long as the function has one maximum val-ue.
A description has been made that the cl-earer 15 acquires the
yarn travelling information such as the fixed yarn Iength pulse signal
and the yarn traverring speed, but lnstead, other yarn traverring
information may be acquired. Eor example, the total length of the
traveled spun yarn 20 may be obtained by integrating the obtained
yarn travel_l_ing speed by time in the cl-earer 15.
rn the crearer 15, for exampre, onry the time delay aT of the
waveforms may be obtained without calculating the yarn travelling
speed. Since the time deJ-ay AT of the waveforms generates when the
spun yarn 20 travels, the time delay AT can be referred to as the
traverring information of the spun yarn20. rn this case, the time
delay At of the waveforms obtained by the crearer 15 is output to
the unit control section 50, and calcul-ation of the yarn travelling
speed using AT can be carried out in the unit control section 50.
rn the above embodiment, the yarn travelring speed carcul_ated
by the clearer 15 is output to the unit contror section 50, but the
yarn travelring speed may be output as numericar data or may be output
in other forms. For exampre, the fixed yarn length purse signal
described above may be output to the unit control_ section 50.
Since the second A/D converte r 46 arranged in the cl_earer 15
is provided for performing PFT calculation, the second. A/D converter
46 may be omitted if the FFT carcul_ation is not carried out.
rn the above embodiment, the sampring speed is acquired in
accordance with the rotation pulse signal- from the rotation sensor
15
20
25
30
44 / 61,
42
not
configured as the rotary encoder, but the present invention is
Iimited thereto.
rn the above embodiment, an exampre in which the history
weighting curve and the sampling speed weighting curve are used as
the weighting curve has been described, but only either one of the
weighting curves may be used.
rn the above embodiment, the head posj-tion of the downstream
frame is fixed, and the sj-milarity degree is obtained while shifting
the head position of the upstream frame. rn prace of this
configuration, the head position of the upstream frame may be fixed,
and the simil-arity degree may be obtained while shifting the head
position of the downstream frame. The slmirarity degree may be
obtained whil-e shifting both the downstream frame and the upstream
frame. However, if the downstream frame is fixed at a position
including the most recent data of the waveform data included in the
downstream ring buffer, the simirarity degree can be car_cur_ated in
real time whire arways using the most recent data.
In the above embodiment, the functions of the similarity degree
evaluating section 65, the weighting processing section 66, the
travelring information acquiring section 6J, the yarn quality
measuring section 58, the sampring speed acquiring section TZ, the
measuring section 73, and the like are rearized by hardware and
software, but some or arr of these functions may be realized with
a dedicated hardware.
A yarn travelling information acquiring device of the present
invention includes a first detecting section, a second detecting
secti-on, a similari-ty degree evaluating section, a weighting
processing section, and a travelling information acquiring section.
The first detecting section is adapted to detect thickness unevenness
of a travelling yarn and to output a first yarn thickness unevenness
10
15
20
25
30
4s/67
10
signal. The second detecting section is arranged upstream i-n a yarn
travell-ing direction at a distance from the first detecting section
and adapted to detect the thickness unevenness of the yarn and to
output a second yarn thickness unevenness signal. The similarity
degree evaluating section is adapted to determine a plurality of
similarity degrees of the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and
the second yarn thickness unevenness signal- in accordance with the
first yarn thickness unevenness signal acquired wj-thin a first time
range, and the second yarn thickness unevenness sj-gnal acquired withj_n
a second time range, the second time range being longer than the first
time range. The weighting processing section is adaptel to perform
a weighting processing on each of the plurality of the similarity
degrees using a weighting factor and to carcurate a prurali_ty of
weighted simirarity degrees, the weighting factor being designated
by a weighting curve according to a reference deray amount of the
first yarn thj-ckness unevenness signal- and the second yarn thickness
unevenness signal and a speed ratio, the speed ratio being a ratio
of the reference delay amount and a calculated reference delay amount
with respect to the reference deray amount. The traverring
information acguiring section is adapted to calculate a time delay
between the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second
yarn thickness unevenness signal j-n accordance with a maximum weighted
simil-arity degree among the prurality of the weighted simirarity
degrees, and to acquire travelling information of the yarn in
accordance with the distance and the time delay.
The yarn travelling information acquiring device performs the
weighting processing on each of the prurarity of similarity degrees
using the weighting factor designated by the weighting curve
corresponding to the speed ratio in accordance with the del-ay amount
of the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn
t5
20
25
30
46/67
10
15
20
thickness unevenness signar. The weight can be appropriatery set for
every delay amount by using the weighting curve corresponding to the
speed ratio in accordance with the delay amount. By using the
weighting curve corresponding to the speed ratio in accordance with
the deray amount, the weighting processing can be more accuratery
performed and the yarn travelling state of the yarn can be more
accurately acquired.
The weighting factor is preferabry designated by the weighting
curve having one maximum val-ue. rn this case, the weighting can be
appropriatery performed on the similarity degree by the weighting
curve having one maxj-mum va1ue.
The maximum value of the weighting curve is preferably set in
accordance with the delay amount cal-culated in past by the travelling
information acquiring section. rn this case, an appropriate
weighting curve can be set in view of the delay amount calculated
j-n the past, and more accurate traverring information of the yarn
can be acquired.
The yarn travelling information acquiring device further
incrudes a sampling speed acquiring section adapted to acguire a
sampling speed of the yarn. The maximum value of the weighting curve
is preferabJ-y set j-n accordance with the del-ay amount of when the
yarn traverl-ed under the sampling speed. fn this case, an appropriate
weighting curve can be set in view of the sampring speed, and more
accurate travell-ing information of the yarn can be acquired.
The yarn travelling information acquiring device further
includes a sampring speed acquiring section adapted to acquire a
sampring speed of.the yarn. The wei-ghting curve incrudes a history
weighting curve and a sampring speed weighting curve, the history
weighting curve being a curve in which the maximum value is set in
accordance with the traveJ-1ing information acquired in past by the
25
30
4'7 / 67
10
traverring information acqui-ring section, and the sampling speed
weighting curve being a curve in which the maximum va]ue is set in
accordance with the travelling information of when the yarn travel-Ied
under the sampring speed. The weighting processing section is
adapted to perform the weighting processing using the history
weighting curve and the weighting processing usi_ng the sampring speed
weighting curve. The travelling information acquiring section i-s
preferably adapted to extract as a target weighted simil-arity degree,
the weighted similarity degree satisfying an extracting condition,
from the plurality of the wei-ghted similarity degrees on which the
weighti-ng processlng has been performed using the history weighting
curve and the plurality of the weighted similarity degrees on which
the weighting processing has been performed using the sampling speed
weighting curve, and to acquire travelring information of the yarn
in accordance with the target weighted simirarity degree. rn this
case, an appropriate history weighting curve can be set in view of
the delay amount carcurated in past An appropriate sampring speed
weighting curve can be set in view of the sampring speed. The target
weighted similarity degree can be extracted j-n accordance with the
weighted similarity degree weighted using the history weighting curve
and the sampring speed weighting curve. An appropriate target
weighted slmilarity degree that takes into consideration the delay
amount calculated in past and the sampling speed thus can be extracted,
and more accurate yarn traverrj-ng informatj_on can be acquired.
The travelring information acquiring section is preferabry
adapted to correct the weighting factor designated by the history
weighting curve and the weighting factor designated by the sampring
speed weighting curve in accordance with the target weighted
similarity degree cal-cul-ated in past. rn this case, the history
weighting curve and the sampling speed weighting curve that take into
15
20
25
30
48/67
10
consi-deration the target weighted simirarity degree
past can be obtained, and the weighting can be more
performed.
cal-cul-ated in
appropriately
The travelling information acquiring section is preferably
adapted to increase a varue of the weighting factor designated by
the history weighting curve accompanying an increase in the target
weighted similarity degree calculated in past, and to increase a val-ue
of the weighting factor designated by the sampling speed weighting
curve accompanying a decrease in the target weighted similarity degree
calculated in past. rf the ta.rget weighted simitarity degree
carcurated in past is ]arge, it can be assumed that the history
weighting curve has higher reriabilj-ty than the sampling speed
weighting curve. The history weighting curve and the sampring speed
weighting curve can be appropriately corrected according to the actual
situation by increasing the weighting factor designated by the history
weighting curve accompanying an increase in the target weighted
similarity degree calculated in past.
The traverring information acquiring section is adapted to
extract as the target weighted similarity degree, the weighted
similarity degree having a maximum similarity degree value among the
prurarity of the weighted similarity degrees. when the travelling
information acquiring sectlon fails in the extraction, the travelling
information acquiring section is adapted to extract as the target
weighted simil-arity degree, a weighted simirarity degree on whj_ch
the weighting processing has been performed on a simirarity degree
having a maximum value among the plurality of the similarity degrees
carculated by the simirarity degree evaluating section. when the
travelling information acquiring section fails in saj-d extraction,
the travelling information acguiring section is adapted to extract
from the prurality of the weighted simil_arity degrees as the target
15
20
Z5
30
49/6t
10
weighted simil-arity degree, the weighted simirarity degree having
a value closest to the deJ-ay amount calculated in past when the delay
amount is carculated for each of the prurarity of the weighted
simj-larity degrees. rn this case, even if a plurality of the weighted
simirarity degrees exist.to be extracted as the target weighted
simirarity degree, a more appropriate weighted similarity degree can
be extracted as the t.arget weighted simirarity degree.
The si-milarity degree evaruating section i_s adapted to
calculate a plurality of similarity-degree maximum points which are
respectively maximum points of the plurality of the similarity degrees.
The weighting processing section is preferabry adapted to perform
the weighting processing on the similarity-degree maximum points and
to carcul-ate the weighted similarity degrees. rn this case, the
weighting processing is performed onry on the maximum point of the
similarity degree. OnIy the value of the simj-Iarity degree thus can
be raised and lowered (perform weighti-ng) with respect to the maximum
points without changing the position of the delay amount, and the
welghting can be more accurately performed.
The first yarn thickness unevenness signa] and the second yarn
thickness unevenness signal are sampled at a sampling time interval.
The yarn travel1ing information acguiring device further incl-udes
a measuring section adapted to measure the sampling time interval-.
The travelling information acquiring section is preferably adapted
to cal-curate the time delay j-n accordance with the sampJ_ing time
interval- measured by the measuring section. fn this case, the time
deray, which is the time when the yarn travel_1ed by the delay amount,
can be obtained i-n accordance with the sampling time interval. The
time delay thus can be more accurately obtained even if the yarn is
accelerated or decelerated, for example.
A yarn processing device preferabry includes the yarn
15
20
25
30
s0/67
10
traverl-i-ng information acquiring device described above, a yarn
processing section adapted to perform a processing on the yarn, and
a control section adapted to control the processing performed by the
yarn processing section in accordance with the travelling information
of the yarn acquired by the yarn travel-ring information acquiring
device. rn this case, the yarn processing section can be controlled
using accurate traverring information of the yarn acquired by the
yarn travelling j-nformation acquiring device.
According to the present invention, the travelling state of the
yarn can be more accurately acquired.
s7/61
10
WE CLAIM
1. A yarn travell-ing information acquiring device comprising:
a fi-rst detecting section adapted to detect a thickness
unevenness of a travelling yarn and to output a first yarn thickness
unevenness signal_;
a second detecting section arranged upstream in a yarn
travelling direction at a distance from the first detecting section,
and adapted to detect the thickness unevenness of the yarn and to
output a second yarn thickness unevenness signal;
a similarity degree evaluatinq section adapted to determine a
plurality of similarity degrees of the first yarn thickness unevenness
signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal in accordance
with the first yarn thickness unevenness signal acguired within a
first time range, and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
acquired within a second time range, the second time range being ronger
than the first time range;
a weighting processing section adapted to perform a weighting
processing on each of the prurarity of the simirarity degrees using
a weighting factor and to calculate a plurality of weighted similarity
degrees, the wei-ghting factor being designated by a weighting curve
according to a reference delay amount of the first yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
and a speed ratio, the speed ratio being a ratlo of the reference
deray amount and a calcul-ated delay amount with respect to the
reference delay amount; and
a travell-ing information acquiring section adapted to calculate
a time delay between the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and
the second yarn thickness unevenness signal in accordance wit.h a
maximum weighted similarity degree among the plurality of the weighted
simil-arity degrees, and to acquire travelling information of the yarn
l5
20
25
30
52/6L
10
in accordance with the distance and the time delay
2. The yarn travel-ling information acquiring device according
to claim 1, wherein the weighting factor is designatedby the weighting
curve having one maximum value.
3. The yarn travelling information acquiring device according
to craim 2, wherein the maximum va1ue of the weighting curve is set
in accordance wi-th the travelling information acquired in the past
by the travel-Iing information acquiring section.
4. The yarn travel-1ing information acquiring device according
to craim 2, further comprislng a sampling speed acquiring section
adapted to acquire a sampling speed of the yarn,
wherein the maximum value of the weighting curve is set in
accordance with the travelling information when the yarn travelled
with the sampling speed.
5. The yarn travelling information acquiring devj-ce accordi-ng
to claim 2, further comprising a sampring speed acquiring section
adapted to acquire a sampling speed of the yarn,
wherein the weighting curve inc1udes a history weighting curve
and a sampling speed weighting curve, the history weighting curve
being a curve in which the maximum value is set in accordance with
the traverling information acquired in the past by the travelling
information acquiring section, and the sampling speed weighting curve
bei-ng a curve in which the maximum value is set in accordance with
the travelling information when the yarn travelled under the sampling
speed,
the weighting processing section is adapted to perform the
s3/61
15
20
,tr
30
10
weighting processing using the history weighting curve and the
weighting processing using the samprj-ng speed weighting curve, and
the travelring information acquiring section is adapted to
extract as a target weighted similarity degree, the weighted
similarity degree satisfying an extractinq condition, from the
plurality of the weighted simil-arity degrees on which the weighting
processing has been performed using the history weighting curve and
the prurality of the weighted similarity degrees on which the
weighting processing has been performed using the sampring speed
weighting curve, and to acquire new travel_ring information of the
yarn in accordance with the target weighted simirarity degree.
6. The yarn travel-ling i-nformation acquiring device according
to claim 5, wherein the travelling j-nformatj-on acquiring section is
adapted to correct the weighti-ng factor designated by the history
weightlng curve and the weighting factor designated by the sampling
speed weighting curve in accordance with the target weighted
similarity degree cal-cul-ated in the past.
1. The yarn travelling information acquiring device according
to claim 6, wherein the travelling information acquiring section j-s
adapted to increase a val-ue of the weighting factor designated by
the history weighting curve accompanying an increase in the target
weighted simirarity degree calcurated in the past, and to increase
a val-ue of the weighting factor designated by the sampling speed
weighting curve accompanying a decrease in the target weighted
similarity degree calculated in the past.
B. The yarn travelling information acquiring device according
to any one of ciaim 5 through craim J, wherein the traverring
15
20
25
30
54/61
10
j-nformati-on acguiring section is adapted to extract as the target
weighted simirarity degree, the weighted simirarity degree having
a maximum simil-arity degree val-ue among the plurality of the weighted
similarity degrees,
when the travelling information acquiring section fails in said
extraction, the travel-ling information acquiring section is adapted
to extract as the target weighted simirarity degree, a weighted
similarity degree on which the weighting processing has been performed
on a simirarity degree having a maximu* ,ril-rr. among the prurarlty
of the similarity degrees calcul-ated by the simirarity degree
evaluating section, and
when the travelling information acqulring section fails in said
extraction, the travel1ing information acquiring section is adapted
to extract from the plurality of the weighted similarity degrees as
the target weighted simirarity degree, the weighted simirarity degree
having a value closest to the weighted similarj-ty degree of when the
travel-Iing information was acquired in the past.
9. The yarn traveling information acquiring devj-ce according
to any one of claim 1 through claj_m B, wherein the simirarity degree
evaluati-ng section is adapted to calcul-ate a plurarity of
simirarity-degree maximum points which are respectively maximum
points of the plurarity of the simirarity degrees, and
the weighting processing section is adapted to perform the
weighting processing on the similarity-degree maximum points and to
calculate the weighted simil-arity degrees.
10. The yarn traverJ-ing information acquiring device
according to any one of claim 1 through claim 9, further comprising
a measuring section adapted to measure a sampling time intervar, the
15
20
25
30
55/67
10
samplj-ng time interval being a time interval in which each of the
first yarn thickness unevenness signal- and the second yarn thickness
unevenness signal is sampled.
wherein the travelling information acquiring section is adapted
to cal-curate the time deray in accordance with the sampring ti_me
interval measured by the measuring section.
. 11. A yarn processing device comprising:
the yarn travel-ling informatj-on acquiring device according to
any one of claim 1 through claim 10;
a yarn processing section adapted to perform a processing on
the yarn; and
a contror section adapted to contror the processing performed
by the yarn processing section in accordance with the travelling
information of the yarn acquired by the yarn traverr_ing information
acquiring device.
12. A method for acquiring yarn travelling information
comprising the steps of:
detecting a thickness unevenness of a travelring yarn and
outputting a first yarn thickness unevenness signal having a first
detecting section;
detecting the thi-ckness unevenness of the yarn and outputting
a second yarn thickness unevenness signal usj-ng a second detecting
section arranged upstream in a yarn travelling direction at a distance
from the first detecting section;
determining a plurality of similarity degrees of the first yarn
thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness
signal in accordance with the first yarn thickness unevenness signal
acquired within a first time range, and the second yarn thickness
15
20
25
30
56/61
10
unevenness signar acquired within a second time range, the second
time range bej-ng longer than the first time range;
performing a weighting processing on each of the plurarity of
the similarity degrees using a weighting factor and to calcul-ate a
prurarity of weighted simirarity degrees, the weighting factor being
designated by a weighting curve accordj-ng to a reference delay amount
of the first yarn thickness unevenness signal and the second yarn
thickness unevenness signal- and a speed ratio, the speed ratio being
a ratio of the reference delay amount and a calculated delay amount
with respect to the reference deJ-ay amount; and
calcurating a time delay between the first yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
in accordance with a maximum weighted simirarity degree among the
prurarity of the weighted si-mirarity degrees, and acquiring
travelling information of the yarn in accordance with the distance
and the time delay.
13. The method according to cJ-aim 12, wherein the weighting
factor is designated using the weighting curve having one maxi_mum
value.
74. The method according to claim 13, wherein the maximum value
of the weighting curve is set in accordance with the travelling
information acguired in the past.
15. The method according to clai-m 13, further comprising the
step of acquiring a sampling speed of the yarn,
wherein the maximum val-ue of the weighting curve is set in
accordance with the travelli-ng information when the yarn travelled
with the sampling speed.
15
20
25
30
51/at
10
L6
step of:
The method according to craim 13, further comprisi_ng the
acquiring a sampling speed of the yarn,
wherein the weighting curve incl-udes a history weightj-ng curve
and a sampling speed weighting curve, wherein the history weighting
curve is a curve in which the maximum value is set in accordance with
the traverling information acquired in the past, and. the sampling
speed weighting curve is a curve in which the maximum value is set
in accordance with the travelling j-nformation when the yarn travel-Ied
under the sampling speed,
wherein the method further comprising the steps of:
performing the weighting processing using the history weighting
curve and the weighting processing using the sampring speed weighting
curve, and
extracting as a target weighted sj_mirarity degree, the weighted
simirarity degree satisfying an extracting condition, from the
plurality of the weighted similarity degrees on which the weighting
processing has been performed using the history weighting curve and
the plurality of the weighted simirarity degrees on which the
weighting processing has been performed using the sampling speed
weighting curve, and acquiring new travelling information of the yarn
in accordance with the target weighted similarity degree.
1"7. The method according to claim 16, further comprisi_ng the
step of correctj-ng the weighting factor designated by the history
weighting curve and the weighting factor designated by the sampling
speed welghting curve in accordance wi_th the target weighted
similarity degree calculated in the past.
15
20
25
30
58/67
10
18. The method according to craim 17, further comprising the
step of increasing a value of the weighting factor designated by the
history weighting curve accompanying an increase in the target
weighted similarity degree cal-culated in the past, and increasing
a varue of the weighting factor designated by the sampling speed
weighting curve accompanying a decrease in the target weighted
similarity degree calcul-ated in the past.
19. The method according to any one of cl-aim 16 through claim
18, further comprising the steps of:
extracting as the target weighted similarity degree, the
weighted simil-arity degree having a maximum similarity degree val-ue
among the plurality of the weighted simirarity degrees,
when fairing in said extraction, extracting as the target
weighted simirarity degree, a weighted simirarj_ty degree on which
the weighting processing has been performed on a simil_arity degree
having a maximum value among the prurality of the carcul_ated
similarity degrees, and
when failing in said extraction, extracting from the plurality
of the weighted similarity degrees as the target weighted similarity
degree, the weighted similarity degree having a value closest to the
weighted similarity degree of when the travelling informatj-on was
acquired in the past.
15
20
25 20. The method according to
79, further comprising the steps
calcul-ating a plurality of
which are respectively maximum
simil-arity degrees,. and
any one of claim 12 through claim
of:
similarity-degree maximum points
points of the plurality of the
30 performing the weighting processing the similarity-degree
59/67
I5
maximum points and carculating the weighted similarity degrees.
21,. The method according to any one of c.l_aim 12 through cl_aim
20, further comprisi_ng the steps of :
measuring a sampling time interval-, the sampling time interval
being a time interval in which each of the first yarn thickness
unevenness signal and the second yarn thickness unevenness signal
is sampled; and
calculating the time del-ay in accordance with the measured
10 sampling time interval.