Optics: measuring and testing – By monitoring of webs or thread
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-20
2004-08-31
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
By monitoring of webs or thread
C356S432000, C356S445000, C068S012050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06784997
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices for determining type and dampness of textiles, appliances utilizing such devices, methods for detecting type and dampness of textiles, and methods for determining a filling level of a container. The device includes at least one sending element and one receiving element for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation and also an evaluation circuit connected to the receiving element. The radiation sent by the sending element and reflected and/or transmitted by the textile can be received by the receiving element and evaluated in the evaluation circuit.
German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 37 06 056 A1 discloses a method of generating and detecting optical spectra and also a switching and sensor system that are intended for sewing and textile automation. In the case of the prior-art method, a radiation device that includes at least two, preferably three, semiconductor emitters is used. These send an optical radiation of differing wavelength, which ranges from the ultraviolet range through the visible range into the infrared range, the radiation being modulated at a specific frequency. The radiation is directed onto a common surface or a single measuring point of a medium. Subsequently, the radiation reflected or allowed through by the medium is sensed by a correspondingly adapted receiver and fed to a downstream electronic evaluation device. With the known method, it is intended to detect differences in a material or medium in the radiation spectral range from ultraviolet to infrared using automatic machines or robots in the sewing and making-up of clothing, the textile industry and general production engineering. However, the document does not indicate how a switching and sensor system of this type with a sending element and a receiving element can be used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for determining type and dampness of textiles, appliances applying the device, a method for detecting type and dampness of textiles, and a method for determining a filling level of a container that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and treats textiles appropriately even when directions on how a textile is to be treated cannot be obtained.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device typically used in appliances such as washing machines, laundry dryers, spin dryers, machines for dry cleaning, and machines for dying textiles. The appliances include a drum. The device detects properties of textiles and includes a sending element, a receiving element, and an evaluation circuit. The sending element sends electromagnetic radiation to a textile. The receiving element receives electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted through and/or reflected from the textile. The evaluation circuit connects to the receiving element and evaluates the electromagnetic radiation received by the receiving element.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method of detecting properties of textiles in an appliance. The first step of the method is providing a container. The next step is irradiating a textile with electromagnetic radiation from a transmitting element. The next step is receiving electromagnetic radiation from the textile with a receiving element. The next step is evaluating the electromagnetic radiation received by the receiving element with an evaluation unit.
In other words, the method provides that at least one sending element irradiates the textile with electromagnetic radiation. Then, at least one receiving element receives radiation reflected and/or transmitted by the textile. Next, an evaluation circuit evaluates this radiation.
According to the invention, electromagnetic radiation, i.e. radiation in the UV, visible or IR range, is used to determine properties of a textile. In the treating appliance, the textile is treated in some way, for example wetted with a liquid medium, dried, spun, starched, ironed, mangled, portioned, cut, dry-cleaned, and/or are changed in some other way. The treating appliance is correspondingly a laundry treating appliance: e.g. a washing machine, a laundry dryer, a spin dryer, a smoothing iron, a laundry mangle, a machine for dry cleaning, or for dying textiles. When the term “garment” is used hereafter, it is always to be understood as meaning any type of textile medium.
For the purposes of the invention, a sending element is any emitter which emits electromagnetic radiation, that is for example an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury-vapor lamp, a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, a gas laser, and the like. Particularly suitable are emitters that emit a narrowband spectrum, or emitters that generate monochromatic light. Suitable are monochromatic or narrowband emitters in conjunction with one or more receivers. The receivers may receive across a broadband as long as they cover the bandwidth of the radiation emitted by the emitter or emitters. Alternatively, broadband emitters and assigned wavelength-selective receivers can be used. Instead of wavelength-selective receivers, broadband emitters and/or receivers can also be used, if either the emitters or the receivers are assigned narrowband filters. Preferably, a plurality of sending elements is also used. A plurality of sending elements generates either different spectra or monochromatic light of different wavelengths. In a corresponding way, the receiving elements are adapted to the sending elements. These receiving elements sense either a certain band within the sending radiation emitted by the sending element or the sending elements. Alternatively, they can sense precisely the wavelength that the sending element or the sending elements are emitting, if the sending elements are monochromatic light sources. Consequently, suitable receiving elements include photodiodes or phototransistors. If the sending element emits radiation in a number of wavelength ranges, a plurality of receiving elements are preferably used, in particular photodiodes, with an upstream filter or grating, or a photodiode array or CCDs (=charged coupled devices), which absorb light and generate corresponding electrical signals. The electrical signals are preferably amplified and fed to the evaluation circuit. The received light must be selected according to wavelengths. This optionally takes place by a filter, a prism, or a diffraction grating.
The light emitted by the sending element or the sending elements is partly absorbed, but partly reflected or transmitted, by the textiles, in particular the garment. In this case, the reflected light is primarily suitable for the detection, because the transmitted light makes up only a small fraction of the sending radiation and the proportion of the transmitted radiation greatly decreases with increasing thickness of the textiles.
Based on the spectra or wavelengths reflected by the textiles from a spectrum sent, the properties of the textiles can be concluded. This similarly applies to the transmission spectra. In this case, the spectra are either evaluated over a specific spectral range or only in respect of specific frequencies or wave numbers. For the purposes of the invention, properties of the textiles are to be understood as meaning both permanent properties of the textiles, i.e. their chemical composition of various fibers, for example cotton, wool, silk, synthetic fibers, or their type of fabric, and temporary properties, which result from the treatment with specific media. Particularly relevant here is the wetting by water or an organic solvent, by detergent solution or the treatment by starch or some other finishing agent.
The evaluation circuit obtains from the received signals a signal that either is directly of significance for the operator or is relevant for the further treatment of textiles. For example, a signal to warn the operator against incorrectly pro
Lorenz Tilmann
Reitmeier Willibald
Sams Walter
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
Font Frank G.
Mayback Gregory L.
Punnoose Roy M.
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