Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for determining the periodicity of a changeable characteristic of a textile fabric. The method includes the steps of sensing a property related to the characteristic at pairs of positions which are spaced apart by a distance, S, along a length of the fabric and generating signals representative of the magnitude of the property at the positions. The generated signal values are stored and the products of the signals generated at each pair of positions are summed in accordance with the formula: .SIGMA.X.sub.(y) .multidot.X.sub.(y+s) from y=O to y=Y where the parameters are defined in the specification. These steps are repeated for different dimensions, S. The value of S at which the summation of the signals is a maximum is determined and used to generate an output signal representing the value of the periodicity. The method provides information useful for controlling fabric treatment processes such as stentering or compacting, and in particular, for counting the courses of a fabric.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim