CA1056037A - Pattern dyeing of textile materials - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus for electronically controlling the application of dyestuffs and other liquids to moving textile materials to provide a printed pattern thereon. The system includes electroni circuitry for periodically receiving bits of pattern data and processing the information to operate a plurality of valves which control the flow of liquid onto the materials. Means are provided for dispensing equal amounts of liquid across a line of textile material to those areas of the material which are to receive the liquid. These equal amounts also may be uniformly varied lo change the amount of liquid applies to those areas. Furthermore, means are provided for applying additional amounts of liquid to only certain of those areas which are to receive liquid, thereby dispensing unequal amounts of liquid to such areas.

Description

Backqround of the In~ention This inventi~n relates to the application of dyestuf fsand other liquids to textile materials and, more particularly, to an electronic control system for the printing of textile fabrics haying relatively porous surfaces, such as pile carpets.

This is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 284,066 filed August 4, 19777 which is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 216,428 filed December 19, 1974.

lOS603'7 :

Textile fibers and fabric materials have long been colorea ~ith natural and synthetic dyes, and, in particular, printed ~y color decoration of the surface or surfaces of the materials in definite repeated forms and colors to provide a pattern. Such color printing of textile fabrics has been accomplished in various ways. Earlier forms of printing used carved blocks charged with colored paste pressed against the fabr;c. Subsequently, speed of printing was increased by devel~ pment of roller printing wherein moving ~abrics are sequent-ially contacted by engraved metal rollers each containing a ~
different color dye to ~orm the desired pattern thereon. Textile ~ -fabrics are also printed by sequential contact with screens each having a porous portic;~n o~ a pattern and carrying a particlllar color dyestuff.
More recently, it has been proposed to print textile fabrics, including pile carpets, by the progran~ned spraying c~r jetting of plural colored dyes onto the sur~ace of the moving fabric. Typical processes and apparatus are described in V.S.
Patents 3,443,878 issued May 13, 1969 and 3,570,275 issued March 16, 1971, both to Weber; and British Patent 978,452 issued ~ -December 23, 1964 to V.E.B. Thuringer. Generally, such apparatus consists of a plurality of `dye applicator bars c~r manifc~lds spaced along the airection of movement of the textile material and each containing multiple dye nozzles or jets extendir~g transversely across the moving material. Each jet may be act7 vatea by suitable electronic, pneumatic, or mechanical means to dispense dyes onto the n~oving material, and pattern-control to apply the dyes in a desired sequence may be accomplished by various conventional prc>granmling devices, such as mechanical cams and drums, coded 3D punch tapes, magnetic tapes, con~puters, and the like.
V.S. Patents 30443,878-and 3,~7D,275 disclc~se specific means for applying jets o~ dyes to print a fabric by use c>~
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continuously flowing dyestreams which are deflected by a stream of air or a mechanical deflector to permit impingement of the dyestream upon the fabric or recirculation to a dye supply reservoir. Control of such systems to form printed patterns may be accomplished by various o~ the aforementioned programming means.
S~mmary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention in one aspect there is provided an apparatus for dyeing and printing 1~ textile material to form a pattern thereon, comprising: a)means --for storing and periodically read out pattern data; b) means for applying dyestuff to a predetermined area of said material in accordance with said data; c) electronic c~ntrol means for receiving said pattern data and for routing said data to said means for applying and d) means for varying the time that said data is effective to control the application of dyestuff by said means for applying to vary the amount of dyestuff applied to said predetermined area, said varying means including means, having a first input which receives said data and a sec~nd input which recei~es a control signal of predetermined duration, for generating an output signal corresponding to said data, the duration of said output signal being dependent on the duration of said control signal, and means for generating said control signal of a predetermined duration.
In accordance with a further aspect of the ;
invention said control signal generating means includes a capacitor and means for varying the charge stored in said capacitor.
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~' ' , BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE_ DRA~ING
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of apparatus for the jet dyeing and printing of textile materials.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the jet dye applicator section of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing in -more detail the cooperative relation and operation of the conveyor with the jet gun bars and the pattern control components of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation ~iew of the jet dye applicator section seen in Fig. 2 and showing only a single jet gun bar of the applicator section and its operative connect-ion to the dyestuff supply system for the gun bar.
Fig. ~ is a more detailed perspective view of the jet gun bar seen in Fig, 3, and shows its operative connection to its dye supply system.
Fig. 5 is a bl~ck diagram of the electronic control system of the present invention.
Figs~ 6A and 6B show, respectively, the pattern data format for normal and split cycle operation. --~ -Figs. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of a demulti-plexer of the control panel of Fig. 5.
Figs. 8A, 8B, 8~ and 8D are schematic diagrams of a line aecoder for a distributor of Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the gun bar connection panel and solenoid valve card of Fig. 5.
Figs. lOA and lOB are schematic illustrations of ~ ~
cycle control circuitry. ~- -Detailed Description of the Drawin~ ~
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Referring mor~ specifically to the drawings~ Fig~

i -4-sh~ws a ~et printing apparatus for printing textile materials, such as pile carpets, tiles, and the liXe. As seen, the apparatus consists of a supply table 10 from which a plurality of carpet tiles 11 are laid manually, or by suitable mechanical means, not shown, onto the lower end of an inclined conveyor 12 of a jet applicator section 14, where the tiles are suitably printed by the programmed operation of a plurality of jet gun bars, generally indicated at 16, which dispense streams of dye or other liquid onto the tiles during their passage. The printed tiles leaving the applicator section are moved by conveyors 18, 20, which are driven by motors 22, 24, to a steam chamber 26 where the tiles are subjected to a steam atmosphere to fix the dyes on the textile material. The printed tiles leaving steam chamber 26 are conveyed through a w~ter washer 28 to remove excess unfixed dye from the tiles, and then pass through a hot air dryer 30 to a collection table 32 where the dried tiles are accumulated manually, or by suitable means, not shown, ~or subsequent use. ~ ~.
Details of the apparatus, which will ~e helpful in : .
unaerstanding the control system of the present invention, are ..
further shown by reference to Figs. 2-4. Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the ~at applicator section 14 of Fig. 1 and show the endless conveyor 12, the supporting chains and sprockets of which ~not shown~ are suitably supported for move-ment on rotatable shaft~ 34, 36 one of which.,36,is driven by .
motor means 38. For printing carpet tiles o~ rectangular or.
square.shape, the surface of conveyor 12 is provided with a series of separator bars or spacers 40 which accurately position -~:
the tiles in spaced relation to each other on the supporting- .
slats of the conveyor. During movement of the conveyor, the .~ -.
tiles pass se~uentiall~ adjacent and beneath substantially identical gun bars 16, spaceZ ~long the path o~ travel of the ~ :

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lOS6037 conveyor and extending across its full width. Though five gun bars, 42, 4~, 46, 48 and 50 are sh~wn in this drawing, any number of gun bars ~ay be used. In fact, the electronic control system of the present invention will be described in connection with eight gun ~ars.
As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 which show only the single gun bar 42, for sake of clàrity, each gun bar contains a plurality of individual jet orifices 52 disposed along the bar and pusitioned to direct dyes in narrow streams toward the sur face of the pile carpet tiles as they pass thereby. Each gun bar includes a dye supply manifold 54 (Fig. 4~ communicating with the jet orifices 52 and supplied with liquid dye from a separate dye reservoir tank 56. Pump means 58 supplies liquid dye from the reservoir tank 56 under pressure to manifold 54 and the jet orifices 52. During operation, liquia dye is expelled continuously in small streams or jets from the ori~ices 52 toward the material t~ be printed in accordance with pattern information as will ~e described. - -Positi~nea adjacent and at a right angle to the ~utlet of each jet orifice 52 is an outlet 60 of an air supply tube 62 (Fig 4), each of which communicates with a separate solenoid valve 64 (Fig. 4). ~he solenoid valves, which are of the electric to f~uidic interface type, such as LIF 180D3A12 made by The Lee Company of Westbrook, Connecticut are suitably supported in the ~
jet dye applicator section 14 and are supplied with air from an ~-air compressor 66 (Fig. 4). Although the valves for each gun bar are : shown in Figs~ 2 and 3 as a single valve symb~1 64, for clarity, it is to be understooa that a solenoid valve ana individual air supply tube are provided for each jet orifice of each gun bar suc~
that individual streams of dye can be individually controllea, as shuwn in Fig. 4. ,~

The valves are c~ntrolled by a pattern control device ~'~

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1(~5~iO37 or electronic control system 68 o the present invention to normally provide streams of air to impinge against the continuously flowing dyestreams and deflect the same into a catch basin or trough 70 from which the dye is recirculated to the dye reservoir tank 56. The control system 68 for operating the solenoid valves receives pattern data stored in a conventional storage device such as the magnetic tape of a computer 69 which is provided with a repeating sequence of information that is transmitted to the solenoid valves un-til a desired number o~ tiles has bëen printed. For example,a series of 10 tiles may be placed-in spaced relation to each other on the conveyor belt 12 and the control system 68 is periodically activated to request the data as the tiles present themselves beneath the gun ~ars 16. The pattern data is processed by the control system 68 to turn the solen~id valves off and on to sequentially print the tiles with the desired pattern as they pass beneath the sets of the gun bars. -~
In the operation of the presently disclosed apparatus with the electronic control system 6~ processing no pattern data, dye under pressure is continuously supplied in a stream from each jet orifice 52 toward the textile material to be~ -~
printed. Every solenoid val~e is normally open to supply streams of air to impinge against the continuously flowing dye streams and deflect them all into the trough of the gun bars for recirculation. As the first of the series of tiles to ~e printed passes beneath the ~irst gun bar and the electronic control system 68 is actuated, cèrtain of the normally open solenoid air valves are closed so that the corresponding dye streams are not deflected, but impinge directly upon the textile material. Thus, by opening and closing the solenoid air valves in a desired sequence, a printed pattern of dye is placed on the textile material during its passage.

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Dxestu~f must ~e pl~ced on t~e ti~le material at the precise locat;on desired ~or gOoa pattern def~n~t~on and registra-tion. This is accomplished ~y per~odically activating t~e electontic control system 68 to request pattern data when the tile material has moved a predetermined incremental amount on the conveyor 12. The apparatus for enabling the electronic control system 68 to request data is shown in Figs. 2-4 and comprises a synchronization switch 70, a transducer 72, and an electronic registration system 74. Switch 70 is periodically engaged by a mechanical trip finger 76 attached to the edge of the conveyor 12, while transducer 72 is operatively connected to the shaft 36 via gears 78 to convert mechanical movement of conveyor 12 to an -electrical signal.
A detailed description of the apparatus for enabling the electronic control means 68 is disclosed in Canadian Patent Application No. 215,459, filed December 19, 1974 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As taught therein, the trans-ducer 72 and registration system 74 function to generate an enabling pulse every 1~10" of travel of the conveyor 12, which -pulse is transmitted to control system 68. Consequently, system 68 is enabled to re~uest and then receive pattern data for dispen-sing ayestuff each 1/10" movement of the conveyor 12. The synchroni-zation switch 70 is activated by the trip finger 76 just as the first carpet tile of a series of tiles comprising the desired pattern reaches the first gun bar 42 to reset the registration system 74. Synchronization switch 70 is activated by finger 76 each time the first tile of a new series ~f tiles embodying the pattern appears below gun bar 42.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the electronic control system 68 of the present invention. A main control panel 80 has an input connected, respectively, to ~he computer 69, electronic registration system 74 ana a machine panel 82 throug~ lines 84, 86 " .
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10'~6037 and 88 respectiyel~r and ~n output o~e~ line ~0 to the computer 69. Control panel 80 has e~ght addit~onal outputs coupled, respectively, over conductors 92 to eight distributors 94. Eight gun bars, such as gun bar 42, are connected, respectively, to the aistributors 94 over lines 96 and each inclu~es a gun bar connection panel 98 coupled to a solenoid valve card 100 over conductor 102.
In the specific embodiment, each of the eight gun bars 42 includes 1560 nozzles 52, each separated by 1/10" and indi~`~ually controlled by 1560 solenoid valves. As will be more fully described, the pattern data from computer 69 comprises 8 x 1568 bits ana clock pulses with each of the first 1560 bits t~ansmitted to a distributor 94 c~ntr~lling a respecti~e sole~oid val~e and thereby the jet stream of dyestuff from the nozzles 52.
When the conveyor 12 has moved l/10U, electronic registration system 74 sends aD enabling pulse to control ~anel 80 which then requests over line 90 pattern data from the computer 69. The computer then provides an output serial bit stream of pattern data, including clock pulses, which is fed via ~20 line 84 to the control panel 80. Alternatively, main control panel 80 may generate test pattern data. Registration system 74 may be disabled and a switch Inot shown) closed in the machine - panel 82 to enable the test pattern data to be transmitted to the distribut~rs 94. Such test pattern data has the same format as the data from computer 69 and is used to test the system components.
Fig. 6A shows the serial data format from computer 69 ;
for normal cycle operation. Fig. 6B illustrate~ the data forma~
for split cycle operation which will he discussed after the normal cycle is ~escribed. The control panel 80 demultiplexes the data and cloc~ pulses into eight groups of 1568 bits w~th each gr~up being transmitted to one of the eight distributors 9~.

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The first 1560 bits of each group provide pattern inform~tion ~ -_9_ ' for each of the 1560 ~ozzles 52 i`n a gun bar ~fiile the last :
eight bits or byte are not used in t~e normal cycle m~de. :~
Figs. 7A and 7B disclose schematically the circuitry :
- of control panel 8~ for demultiplexing the pattern data and clock. Control panel 80 includes a pair of d~fferential line ....
receivers lD4, 106 ~hich receive, respec~ively, pattern data :
and cloc~ pulses f.rom the computer 69. Control panel 80 may also generate test pattern data ana clock pulses t~ ~e transmitted .
to the dist~ibutors 94 over lines 112 and 114 respec~ively.
Clock pulses from either differential line receiver 106 ; .
or line 114 are fed via a first logic circuitry 116 to a first .
decoder 118. Logic circuitry 116 includes two AND gates 120, 122 .
whose outputs are coupled over lines 121, 1~3 to a NOR gate 124 ..
which in turn is connected over path 125 to the decoder 118. AND .
gate 120 receives via line 127 one input frQm different~al line .
receiver 106 and another input from a line selector 126. A~D .
gate 122 has ~ne input connected to line 114 for receiving clock : . -,...... pulses generated by panel 80 and a second input connected to the line selector 126 through an inverter 128. :
~20 Pattern data from cQmputer 69 or test pattern data ~.
over line 112 is -transmitted throug~ second logic circuitry 130 `:
including two AND gates 132, 134 and-a NOR gate -136 to a second . ~:
decoder ~38. AND gate 132 has-one--~nput coupled over wi-re ~33 -to-the output of dif~erential-line receiver 104 and a second input connected-to the line selector 126. Gate 134 has one input connected to line 1~2 for receiYing data generated by . ::
panel.80 and a-second input-coupled-to-the-output-of-inverter 128 :~
Yia pa~h l35~ The. output--of each gate 132~ 1~4-is coupled over -~ines 137,-139-to gate 136. -30 -- Each of ~he decoders 118, 138-rece~ves aadress in~or- .
matif~n from an address counter 140 o~er lines 142, 1~4 respec- :

tively, and routes the received bits to the eight respecti~e distributors over lines 146, 148 in accordance with such address .

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lOS6037 information. Address counter 140 will ~ncrement its count by one aftex a predetermined number of clock pulses is recei~ed by the panel 80 to identify one o~ the lines 146, 148 and thereby switch a number of data bits and clock pulses to those one lines. To increment the address coun~er 140, the output of gate 124 is also - connected o~er conductor 1~0 to a one-shot multivibrator 152 whose positive output pulse over line 154 is fed to counters 156, 158 and 160 shown in ~ig. 7B. Counters 156, 158 and 160 are coupled respectively to comparators 162, 164, 166 via lines 168, 170 and 172, which compare the count to a fixed count hard wired in the comparators. In a manner which would be well-known, when -counters 156, 158, 16~ have coun~ed the fixed count, an output -pulse fram comparator 166 is transmitted over line 174 to a NAND
gate 176 (Fig. 7A) whose other input is connected to multivibrator ~-1~2 via line 178. The output of gate 176 is delivered over wire 180 to the counting input of address counter 140 to increment it by one.
When no further clock pulses are received frQm the computer 69 (or generated by panel 80~, thereby indicating that all the pattern data has been supplied until the next 1/10"
movement of the conveyor 12, address counter 140 is reset. To : .
reset counter 14~, the output of gate 124 is also coupled to a retriggerable multivibrator 182 over line 183, the output of which is connected to a master reset input of counter 14~~via path 184.
Multivibrator 182 continually retriggers and-th-ere~fore, provides -~
no negative going output signal as long as clock pulses are received at its inpu~. Furthermore, counters 156, 158 and 160 are reset after they have counted to the fixed count wired in ~ ~
the comparators 162, 164, 166. ~o reset these counters, the output of gate 176 is also fed over line 186 to a one shot multi-vibrator 188~ The output of o~ shot multivi~rator 188 is then transmitted over line 190 to a N~R gate 192 which receives as a second input via line 184 the output from retr~ggerable multivibra-tor 182. The output of gate 192 is fed to the master reset inputs of countecs~ 156, 158 and 160 via wire 196. The reason for the second input via line 184 t~ gate 192 is to maintain counter 156, 158 and i60-reset when the printing and dyeing machine is not being used.` At this time, multivibrator 152 holds a hard reset for such c~unters as well as counter 140. This prevents these counters from counting a signal due, for example, to noise, which count is undesirable at the start of machine operation.
The operation of the control panel 8~ will now be described. Since in this specific embodiment there are eight .
gun bars, the control panel 8~ will receive a block of serial data .:
from the c~mputer 69 or will generate test data for demultiplexing into the eight group format shown in Fig. 6A to form part of the .~
desired pattern. . :
Assuming that actual rather than test pattern data ..
is to be used, each time the control panel 80 is enabled by ~he ;~;
electronic registration system 74, the panel 80 will request and .~ ~ .
receive from the computer 69 a serial stream of data including :
.~ 20 clock pulses of 8 ~ 1568 bits. Furthermore, a~ machine panel : .~
82 the switch is opened to disable test pattern data. . :.
The pattern data is received over differential line :~
;~ receiver 104~and fed-to gate 132 whose-other-input is the enabling signal fro~ line selector 126. AND gate 132 is thereby enabled .
to transmit the serial pattern data to gate 136 and then to :~
decoder 138. :
. Decoder.138 routes the received data to t`he various outputs 148 ~or transmission to the appropriate distributors 94.
As can be appreciated from th~ data format of Fig. 6A, the first 30- 1568 bits of the serial bit stream may be switched to the first distributor;- the second 1568 bits to the second distributor, and so on until all eight distributors receive pattern aata. Decoder . ,.

l(~S6037 138 receives address inol~tion fro~ t~e address counter 140 which there~ore must incremen~ its count by one every 1568 bits to provide a new address that identi~ies a new line 148. When the first bit of the pattern data is received at the input to the decoder 138, address counter 140 will provide address information identifying the decoder output leading to distributor #1. After 1568 pattern bits are received, address counter 140 i~
will increment its count by one to pro~ide aadress information identifying the output of decoder 138 leading to distributor #2, and so on.
Address counter 140 is incremented by one every 1568 bits in ~he following manner. Clock pulses, synchronized with -each of the data bits, are received over differential line receiver 106 and fed to one input of AND gate 120. Since an enabling signal from line selec~r 126 is also fed to the o~her input of ~ AND gate 120, the clocX pulses are fed throug~ gate 124 o~er line ; `150 to one shot multivihrator 1~2 which is enabled at the negative transition of the clock pulses. One s~ot multivi~rator 152 then provides an output pulse for each clock pulse over line 154 to the coun~ers 156, 158, 160. As each counter receives ~he clock pulses, its count is fed o~er lines 168, 170, 172 respectively to the comparators 162, 164, 166. Comparators 162, 164 and 166 are hard wired for a count of 1568.
: When 1568 clock pulses haYe ~een counted and cQmpared, comparat~r 166 pr~vides an-output pulse over line-174 to the gate 17k. The ~ther input to gate 176 is a synchronization signal from the one shot~multiYibrator 152 which enables the gate 176.
~ ~ This synchronization signal--is the negative-of the sign~lon line ! 154 and is generated when the latter is not emitted. It is used -30 to pass- the pulse over line 17~ at the pro~er time and to avoid problems with any noise signals that may appear on the line and improperly ena~le g~te 176. The output of gate 176 is then fed ~
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lOS603'7 via line 180 to the address counter 14D to increment it by one.
During the time the counters 1~6, 158, 160 are countil~y clock pulses, pattern data is switched by the decoder 138 from its input to the output line 148 connected to distributor ~1. After 1568 pulses are counted and hence 1568 data bits fed to distributor ~1, decoder 138 receives new a~dress information to route the next group of 1568 data bits to the disbributor #2, and so on until all eigh~ distributors receive a group of 1568 bits of pattern data.
Counters, 156, 158, 160 are reset after counting to 1568 as follows. The output pulse of gate 176 is also fed over line 186 to one shot multivibrator 188 w~ich is triggered at the negative transition of this pulse. Multivibrator 188 then generates an output pulse over line 190 ~hrough gate 192, the output of which is then fed via wire 196 to the master reset inputs of counters 156, 158, 160 to reset them.
The clock pulses received over d~fferential line ;
receiver 106 are also fed from gate 124 to decoder 118 for demultiplexing into eight groups o~ 1568 pulses, there being one -group for each ~f the eight distributors. In the same manner as with decoder 138, decoder 118 receives address information over line 142 which is ~he s~me address information received by decoder 138, to address each of its eight outputs every 1568 bits.
Test pattern data and clock pulses also may be demulti-' ~ plexed by the decoders 118, 138. In this alternative mode, the I switch on the machine panel 82 may be closed to proviae a logic l - signal over line selector 126 for disabling gates 120, 132 and i enabling gates 122, 13~. This l~gic signa`l is~then fed via inverter 128 to the gates 122, 134, ~he other inputs of which are, respectively, clock and test pattern data. The respective outputs 1 of AND gates 122 and 134 are then fed tc gates 124, 136 and then ~3 -~
to decoaers 118, 138. I~ the same manner that pattern data and lOS6037 clock pulses frQm t~e cQmputer 69 are aemultiplexed, the test :
pattern data and clock pulses ~enerated by control panel 80 are .
demultiplexed by dec~ders 118, 138. .
As noted ab~ve after 8 ~ 1568 ~ata ~its and clock pulses are recei~ed and demultiplexed, the address counter 140 is :
reset in anticipation of the nex~ block of da~a. To reset co~nter 140, after 8 x 1568 clock pulses are received, multi-vibrator 182 is not retriggered and, therefore, provides an - output pulse whose negative going transition indicates that no more information will be received. ~his output pulse is delivered over line 184 to the master reset input of address counter 140 t~ reset it at such transition. .
The pattern data and clock pulses having been demultiplexed into eight groups of 1568 bits, it is the function .
of each distributor 94 to distribute each received group into thirteen subgroups of 120 bits ~er su~group. As noted previously, . .
since the nozzles 52 are separated by 1/10", and there is one bit per nozzle, each subgroup of 120 bits corresponds to 12" or one . .
foot of nozzles across the width of the conveyor 12. ~:
Figs. 8A-8D disclose the schematic of a line decoder ~:
for one of the-distribu~ors 94 ~or deco~ing a group of 1568 bits-. As will be appreciated, the manner in w~ich this group of 1568 bits is decoded intothirteen. subgroups is similar to ~he manner in which control panel 80 dem~ltiplexes its received pattern data and ~lock p~lses~ :
Fig. 8A shows a differential line receiver 198 ~or ~ :
. receiving clock pulses from one o~ the output lines 146 of decoder-118. A second differential-line--receiver--20~:receives : :
:, pattexn data from one of the output lines 148 of decoder 138. -~:
~lle pattern data is fed from line receiver 204 over line 210--to a ~lecoder 212 :wh~le~: the- clock ~?ulses are- transmit~ç~d from line receiver 198 over l~r~e 214 to a s~cond decoder 216 . Each decoder -: - . -, ~- -., , : , . ~ . . . . .

10'~6037 212, 216 recei~es address in~rm~ti~n ~ver lines 218, 220, re~ectively, frQm a~ addre.ss counter 222 and switches the rece.jved bits ~o fourteen output lines 224, 226, respectively. .
The output of line receiver 198 is also connected via wire 228 to a one shot multivibrator 230 having a positive clock output at line 232 and a negative output at li~e ~34. The ~.
positive output of multiYibrator 230 is connected t~ the counting :
inputs of two counters 236, 238 over circuit path 232. The .
negative output of multivibrator 230 is coupled to a ~AND gate .
240 whose output is connected to a multivibrator 242 over line 244. Multivibrator 242 has one output over conductor 246 connected to the counting input of address counter 222 and a second output over line 248 connected to the input ~f a NOR .
gate 250, the output of which is coupled to an inverter 252 :
and then to the master reset inputs of counters 236, 238 over line 254.
C~unters 236, 238 have their outputs coupled to comparators 256, 258, respectively, thro~gh lines 260, 262, :
which have a fixed count hard wired in. When the fixed count is counted by the counters 236, 238, an output signal i~ provided ~y comparator 258 over line 264 t~ the second input of gate 240.
~` The output of receiver 198 is als~ delivered over circuit path 266 to the input of a retriggerable ~ne shot multivibrator 268 which is used to reset the counters 222, 236, .
` 238. The outputof multiv~brator 268 is coupled via line 270 .
to the second input of NOR gate 250 over line 272 and to ~he 1 master reset input of address counter 222 over line 274. Such :
output of the multivibrator 268 is also coupled over line 276 to a nfiring" or "activating" one shot multivibrator 2~8 having ~.. -.:
a capacitor 280 charged through a resistor 282 ~i~ line 284.
The output of multi~ibrator 278 is fed over line 286 to a firing circuit as will be describea. The clock output of receiver 198 Ij~

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is also transnitted over pa~ch 288 to an overspeed detection circuit as will be more fully descril~ed.
~ - The circuit of Fig. 8A decodes the received pat~ern data and clock pulses in the following manner. The pattern a-ata is received by differential line receiver 204 and ~ed in serial l~it stream to decoder 212. In a similar manner, clock pulses are received by the differential line receiver 198 and then transmitted in serial bit stream to the input of decoder :
216. ~en the pattern data and clock pulses are first received :~
by the aecoders 212, 216, address information frc~m c~unter 222 .
identifies the first of fourteen output lines 224, 226 of the decoders 212, 216, thereby switching the data and clock to such lines. After the first 120 bits o~ data and clock are received, address counter 222 is incremented by 1 to generate ~adress :
information defining the next output of the fourteel~ lines 224, :
226 of decoders 212, 216. Consequently, the next 120 bits of data and clock are switched to the second of the :Eourteen output :
lines, and so on until thirteen groups of 120 ~its each are routed to the thirteen output lines of each decoder 212, 216.
;~ 20 As will be appreciated, the first thirteen output lines will transmit 13 x 120 = 1560 bits. The last 8 ~its of data and clock of the group of 1568 bits received by one distributor are switched ::~
~~.... . . :
to the fourteenth output line 224, 226 of each decoaer 212, 216 ~, but are not used in normal cycle operation. l:
~ . . , To increlT~ent the address counter 222, the clock pulses from receiver 198 are fed over line 228 to one shot multivibrator ,, 230 which provides an output pulse over line 232 at the ~egative transition ~f each clock pul~ie. These output pulses are trans-mitted via conduc~ive path 232 to the counting inputs--of counters 30 236, 238 which count each received pulse in a well known manner.

Ihe count in the co~nters 236, 238 is coupled over lines-260, 262, :
to co~parators 256, 258 which ha~Je wired in a count equal to 120 , : -17- ::~
:~.

lOtj6037 When ~his count of 120 is reached, comparator 258 provides an olltput_pulse over line 264 to gate 240 which also receives an en~bling synchronization signal from the ~utput of multivibrator ~30 over line 234 similar to the synchroniza~ion signal from multivi~rat~r 152. When gate 24~ is enabled, multivibrator 242 is triggered by the negative transition of the output of gate 240 and provides an output pulse over line 246 to the counting input of address counter 222 to increment the count by one. After the pulse from multivibrator 242 is completed, a reset signal is generated over line 248 thro~gh gate 250 and inverter 252 to the master reset inputs of counters 236, 23~ to rese~ these counters for the next 120 pulses.
Address counter 222 is reset, after 1568 aata and clock bits are received, with the clock output of receiver 198 which is fed via line 266 to retriggerable multivibrator 268 which is constantly retriggered and proYi~es no output, i.e., no negative going signal, unless no clock pulses are recei~ed. This multivibrator 268 is retriggered at ~he negative transition of each clock pulse, but after 1~68 pulses are received, no further pulses are received and, hence, an output is proviaed o~er lines 270, 274 to the master reset input of address counter 222 to reset it. The output of multivibrator 268 is also fed over -lines 270, 272 to the second input of ~ate 250 and then to ~~ inverter 2~2 for resetting the counters 236, 238.
With the pattern data and clock pulses now grouped nto thirteen groups of 120 ~its per group, the distributor stores these bits in a series of thriteen groups of shif~ regis-ters.Each register in a group is capable of storing four bits of pattern data and, therefore, the data on any one line 224 of decoaer 212 is shifted into thirty registers comprising one 1~0 bit shift register. ~
As shown in F~g. 8D, ~here is one group of thi~ty , 105603~

shift registers for stor~ng the 120 h;~ts of pattern data, only ~- two of which, registers 288, 290, are specifically illustrated.
: The first shift register 2%8 receives pattern da~a over line 224 which is clocked in by clock pulses recei~ed over one line 226 and inverter 292, the ~utput of which is fed to each of the shift registers over line 294. Each of the thirty shift registers has four output lines 296 for each of the four stored ~its conn- ¦
ected as one input to four respective operational amplifiers 2~8.
The fourth state of the first shift register 288 is connected to the input of the second shift register, as is true with the second and third shift registers and so on in order to enable the 120 bits to be shifted down into the 30 registers, Each of the operational amplifiers 298 has its second input coupled to a strobe line 302, having a voltage which is used to operate, ~ia amplifier output line 304, the various solenoid valves for a -predetermined and variable firing time in accordance with the pa~tern information stored in the reg~sters.
There are se~eral important aspects of the stro~e line ~oltage which will now be described. The four bits stored, I
for example, in s~ift register 288 represent a logic 0 or 1 and ~ ~ may correspond to ~ voltage and ~5 vol~age levels. As is known, 1~ the output of each of the-operational ampli~iers ~98 will depend .: : :
upon whether the voltage level on the line 296 is higher or lower tha~ the vol~age level on the strobe line 302. In the present-specific embodiment, only if the voltage of the data ~it ;
exceeds the strobe line voltage, will the output of an amplifier ~
.
~é~such as to acti~ate a sDlenoid Yalve and-allow dyestuff to - -flow thr~ugh-a corresponding nozzle onto the carpét tileO- Also, the length of actiYation~or firing time ~hat the strobe line 30-- voltage is applied will control the amount of--~ye~tuff applied ~ -to the carpet time. Furthermore, auring loading of the bits into the shift registers none of th~ ~olenoia valves shoula be contr~

,~
" -19~

..

\

led by the p~ttern data; theref~re, aurl~ng t~i~s load~ng period a sufficiently high strobe line voltage level ~s prov~ded to prevent amplifiers 298 from changing state and energ~zing the solenoid valves.
Figs. 8B and 8C illustra~e the circuitry for providing suitable strobe line voltages to carr~ out t~e above features.
Fig. 8B shows thirteen identical disa~lers 306 for the solenoid valves, one for each of the thirteen groups of 120 ~its stored in a distributor 94 (Fig. 5). Each disabler 306 includes an operational amplifier 308 whose outpu~ is connec~ed to a manual switch 310 having contacts 310a, 310b and 310c. One input of each of the amplifiers 308 is connected to a ~3 volt source 312 ~ver line 314. The voltage source 312 includes a series connection of five diodes 316, each havin~ a Yoltage drop of .6 volts and connected between a source of ~ volts and ground.
The other input of each of the ampl~f~ers 308 is coupled via li~e - 318 to the output of a NAND gate 320 w~ose one input is connected ', to a gun bar turn-off relay 322 over conductive pat~ 324 and whDse other input is coupled to ~he output of firing or activating 20 multivibrator 278 ~Fig. sa) over line 286. Each of ~he disablers 30S also has an input connected to a ~15 volt source over line -~
~;~ 3~6. The output of each o~ the disa~lers 306 is the strobe line ~ ~ voltage on line 302 which is fed to ~he operational amplifiers i~ 298 of a corresponding one of the thirteen groups of 120 bits.
; ~ Fig. 8C shows the circuitry for Yarying the length of time by which the strobe line voltage is applied to the amplifiers ~, 298. This circuitry is capable of providing one of ten tLme -; periods for the application of the strobe line voltage and for .
--~ varying such periods with a fine acti~ation time adjustment means.
... :. .
The circuitry includes, connected in parallèl, ten series connect- -ions of a variable resistor326 an~ pus~ putton 328, each cou~led - -between a ~5 volt source and output line 284 ~nd with the pus~ - -- s;;~

`` 105~037 button connected in common as shown. The activa~ion time range Eor e~ch of the series connections may be from a low range of

4.5-12~milliseconds to 4-5-~7 milliseconds. Each of the resistors 326 will have a variable resistance to provide an activation tim~ within one of the respective ranges.
As noted previously, the solenoid valves should be energized d~ring loading of the data bits into the thirteen groups -ofthirty shift registers, but only after all ~he bits have been stor~d and no further pattern data is to be reoeived by a distri-butor 94 frQm ~he control panel 80. Consequently, during loadingthe strobe line 302 provides a voltage of + 15 volts to the one input of each of the amplifiers 298. Since the data ~its in each of the shift registers correspon~ to either 0 or +5 ~olts the ;~
amplifier 298 will not change state to provide a voltage suffici-ent to energi~e a solenoid valve.
During loading, retriggerable multivibrator 268 ;
(Fig. 8A) is constantly retriggered by the clock pulses from , receiver 198. Accordingly, firing or activating multivibrator 278 is not triggered, thereby not pr~viding an output pulse over line 286. NAND gate 320, shown in Fig. 8B, will therefore not ~`
be enabled and the input over-line 318 to-the respecti~e~--ampli~iers 308 will be ~5 volts. Since this ~ input v~ltage is---greater than the +3 volts at the other input-of ~he amplifiers ~-~
: 308, the output of these-amplifiers-will not change state;- i.e., . :: .
they will be at 1 15 volts. Accordingly, ~15 volts are applied .
through to output Iine 302 ~hrough contacts 310a, 310c to one of the inputs of ampli~iers 298. Since the vol-tage of---the data -~its w~ not exceed--~5 v~l-t~, operational am~lifiers- 298 cannct-_-- -.
chang~ state to-enabla the ~olenoid valves during loading.
Furthermore, the rel~ti~ely high +15 strobe line-yoltage will also prevent noise in th~ circu-it from causing amplifiers- 298 to switch--auri-ng loading~ Manu~l s~itch 310 may~have its contacts 310~

,.

._, .

and 310b closea to di~sahle a sh~ft xe~stel and t~erefore one fG~t of a gun bar ~y means of t~e +15 volts on line 326.
`- After loading, no more clock pulses are received by ~-etriggerable multivibrator 268 t~erefore, an output signal is provided over line 276 to fire multivibrator 278 at the negative transition of the such signal. Multivibrator 278 then generates a firing pulse over line 286, the duration of which is proportional to the charge stored on capacitor 280 which is obtained through the circuitry shown in Fig. 8C. With one of the 10 buttons 328 closed, and with a corresponding resistor 326 adjusted .
to a predetermined resistance, the charge will be stored on the capacitor 280 through such resistor 326, push button 328, line 284, and resistor 282. This output signal is then fed as one :::
input to gate 320 (Fig. 8B) which, with the gun bar turn-off relay 322 closea, will be enabled to provide an output..pulse on line 318 proportional to the duratlon of the signal on line 286.
The output.pulse from gate 320 will have a voltage of 0 vDlts ~ which is applied to one of the inputs of amplifier 3Q8. Since ~ this voltage is less than the ~3 volts supplied by source 312, ~. .
20 amplifier 30~ will change state to generate ~2 volts. Conseguent~
ly, a l2.volt strobe signal is applied over line 302 to one input of each of the amplifiers 298 ~Fig. 8D~. Since the o~her input .
to each of the amplifiers 298 will be 0 or ~ volts corresponding ~s to the pattern data stored-in the shift-regîsters, amplifiers 298 will switch states in dependence on this data. To further .
.
~:: ensure that the no~zles 52 of a gun bar 42 are not controlled in ;
acoordance with pattern aata until all the shift registers of - .
~hat gun bar are fully loaded, the output of retriggerable ~ ~ ~.
multivibrator 268 is in duration, after no clock pulses are ~ ~ .
30 received~ approxima$ely 25 microseconds to delay triggering of .
multivibrator 278. '~ .

Fig. 9 discloses the schematic of the gun ~ar connection panel 28 and soleno~d ~alye card lOa. Tfie ~un bar connection panel 98 includes a series of NPN trans~stors 330, each connected to the output of one amplifier 298 through a resistor 332. The base and emitter of each transist~r 330 are coupled by a diode 334 while ~he emitter o~ each transistor 330 is coupled to a power source 336. The collector of each transistor 330 is connected to one end of a solenoid 338 whose other ena is coupled to the power source 336. A diode 340 and Zener diode 342 are connected in series across both ends of each solenoid 338.
, If it is assumed that a da~a ~it stored in the shift register 288 and applied to a corresponding amplifier 298 is a logic 1, then +5 volts is applied to this amplifier. Con-seguently, since the voltage on strobe line 302 is ~2 volts, amplifier 298 will change state and provide a p~sitive output to turn on the associated transistor 330 for a period of time ~ ~-corresponding to the duration of the strobe line Yoltage. When -this transistor 330, is on, current is drawn from the power source 336 thr~ugh solenoid 338, transistor 330 and then back through ~20 the power source 336 to complete the circuit. This current, -therefore, energizes the solenoid 338 causing it to close the corresponding-valve-64-,-preventing air from deflecting the dye-~ stuff flowing from nozzle 52 and dispensing a predetermined ; amount on the carpet tile.- - - -~ If the data bit stored in the shift register 288 is a logic D, then a 0 voltage is appliea as one input to ithe ~amplifier 298 which will not switch states. ~Accordingly, a -~ negative voltage is generated preventing transistor 330 from `~ being turned on.--Solenoid 338 is not energized,- valve 64 is-open and the air stream deflects the dyestu~f from being appliedto the carpet tile. The cperation of the solenoid 338 occurs in a similar manner throu ~ out all the other thirteen groups of . ~
-23-~

12~ solen~ds ~n a gun b~r 42 to ~pply ~fie ayestuf~ across a wi ffl ~ of thirteen feet o~ carpet tile ~n accordance with the pa~t~rn data stored in the computer 69.
After the predetermined amount of d~estuff is - applied to the carpet tile, as determined by t~e activation time ;~
or the duration of the firing pulse on line 286, ~15 volts is again applied over the strobe line 302 to ~he ampli~iers 298.
This will cause de-energization of all the solenoids 338. To .
increase machine speed operation and to avoid applying dyestuff :
to an area of the carpet tile which is not desired, it is important to de-energize the solenoids 338 as quickly as possible, : :
and this is accom~lished through the use of the Zener diode 342.
When the stro~e line voltage goes to ~15 volts, the transistors . .. .
330 are turned off and the magnetic field in solenoids 338 collapses and tries to drive the one end of the solenoid connected . --to the collector more positive than ~he other end coupled to the .
power source 336. Though the one end îs driven more positive, ;
~ the Z~ner diode lLmits it to, for example ~25 volts with respect ~:
: to ground, assuming the other end connected to the power source ;20 is at +15 volts. Thus, the one end oan be driven more positive :~
~nly by ten volts. This causes an induetive feedback through the .
- coil 338 causing the magnetic field-to collapse rapidly and :; resulting in the associated valve 64 closing more quickly.
. If the conveyor belt is moving relatively fast, .
- . .
it is possible for the control panel 80 to request new pattern .
data from the computer 69 while a distributor 94 is cauSing dyestuff to be applied to the càrpet tile in accordance with --pattern data from the previous data requested. This condition : is known as overspeed and may occur when a relatively long -activation or firing time is set. That is, the con~eyor 12 - :
: may ha~e moYed 1/10~ to cause the electronic registration system .
74 to generate an enabling pulse for the control panel 80 to --24- : ~:

, ~ . .,. .. . . . . . . - . . ........... .. .. ~

10561:~37 ' re~uest the ne~ pattern ~ata w~le t~e f~r~ng multi~ibrator 278 is gene~ating an activation pulse of a relati~ely long period of time over line 286. This undesirable condition can be detected by the overspeed protection circuitry shown in Fig. 8B and may ~ -~
be corrected by either slowing down the speed of the conveyor belt or decreasing the activation time.
The overspeed detection circuitry irlcludes a one shot multivibrator 344 ha~ing an input connected o~er path 348 to the output of NAND gate 346 and an output-coupled via line 1~ 350 to a warning circuit 352. Gate 346 receives a clock input over line 288 from the output of receiver 198 shown in Fig. 8A
and a second input which is the activation or firing pulse ~rom ~;~
multivibrator 278 over line 286.
If both clock and the firing pulses are received by the gate 346, it is an indication that the gun bar is firing at the same time that the distributor is recei~ing new pattern data. Under this condition, gate 346 will be ena~led to pro~ide an output pulse whose negative transition will trigger multivibrator 344. The output of multivibrator 344 then will be fed to the warning ~ircuit 352 comprising first and second transistors 354, 356 whose collector~ and base, respectively, are connected as shown. Transistor 354 will ~e turned off by the pulse from ;
multivibrator 344 and in turn will turn on transistor 356 to energize a warning device such as a lamp 358. When an operat~r sees this light 358 turned on, he may then decrease-the activation time or lower the speed of the conveyor belt.
The above discussion has related to normal cycle ¦~operation. In such operation, when a line of carpet tile is benea~h a gun bar, a predetermined amount of dyestuff is applied 30 through the nozzles 52 in accordance with the pattern data stored '`
in the computer. As already indicated, a uniform amount of dyestuf h will be applied ~o thi~ line ~ carpet tile. ~owever, in ~he ;~ ' `1 lOS~;i03~7 :

design pattern, it may he necessary to ~pply different dye concentrations on a given line o~ carpet tile to achieve the desired conf~guration. For example, the outer portions of the design on a given line may require a light green color whereas the inner portions may need a darker green. This difference in shade is accomplished with the split cycle operation of the present invention.
Figs. lOA and lOB sho~, schematically, the cycle control circuitry for providing either normal or split cycle operation. This circuitry is re~uired only for distributor #l shown in Fig. 5. Fig. lOA sho~s a J-K flip-flop 360 having the J and K inputs connected to one of the lines 224 o~ decoder 212 (Fig. 8A~ for receiving data bits and the T or trigger input connected to one of the lines 226 of decoder 216 (Fig. 8A~ for receiving clock pulses. The specific lines 224, 226 shown in Fig. lOA transmit, respectively, the 8 extra or synchronization bits (i.e., the byte) sho~n in Figs. 6A, 6B. The output of flip-~lop 360 is fed via line 362 to a one shot multivibrator 364 which provides an output pulse over line 366. For reasons which . .
~20 will be described belo~, the duration or width of the output pulse of multivibrator 364 is equal to the maximum activation time of any one distributor 94 and is obtained by chargoeng the capacitor 368 through a resistor 370 in a similar manner that capacitor 280 of multivibrator 278 is charged.
The output of multivibrator 364 is fed to another one shot multivibrator 370 ~hich is activated at the nPgative transition of the signal on line 366. The output of multivibrator 370 is fed over line 372 to a differential line driver 373, including tw~ NAND gates 373a, 373b and an inverter 373c, which is actually located in the main control panel 80 to reguest more pattern data for each of the eight distributors. The output of ~-line driver 373 is fed to a differential line receiver (not shown~ -, ~ , . . . , - ~ .

in the computer 69 similar to receivers 198, 204. The signal from suc~ former receiver i5 transmit~ed to one input of an OR
gate (not shown) in the computer whose output is used to enable the computer to output the pattern data. In this connection, a second line driver ident~cal to driver 373 is located in the panel 80 to receive the enabling pulse from registration system 74 and to then send a signal to a second differential line receiver in the computer 69 whose output is fed to the second input of the OR gate to provide pattern data.
Fig. 10B discloses the circuitry for charging the capacitor 368 in accordance with the desired maximum activation time of any single distributor 94 and includes a split cycle time selector of ten relays 374, only two of which are shown schematically. EaEh relay 374 includes a coil 376 which, when energized, closes the aontacts 378a, 378b. One end of each of the coils 376 is connected in common to a ~5 volt source while the other end is coupled to one contact of a push button 380.
The other ¢ontact of each of the buttons 380 is connected in common to ground.
~20 Contacts 378a are connected in common over line 382 to resistor 370 shown in Fig. 10A. The other contacts 378b are connected in common-to a +5 volt source through variable resistors 384. Each of these resistors 384 may be varied to set the charge on capacitor-368 in accordance ~ith the maximum activation time of any one of the distributors 94.
During normal cycle operation, the eight synchro-nization bits for each of the eight groups of 1568 bits are all logic 0, as shown in Fig. 6A. After being line decoded by decoder 212, these eight bits are fed via a line 224 to flip-flop 360. Since these bits are all 0'~, the flip-flop 360 does not change state and no output is provided to activate multivibrator 364. Accordingly, multivi~rator 370 ~5 not triggered and no ~eq~e~t ~056037 for further pattern data is made until the next 1/1~" travel of the conveyor 12, at ~hich time registration system 74 wî.ll gener-~8~ its ena~ling pulse. Conse~uently, a given line of carpet tile ~ill receive a uniform amount of dyestuff.
In split cycle operation, as shown in Fig. 6B, the data format includes odd and even cycles in which the odd cycle ~ill have at least one and preferably all of the eight synchron-ization bits as a logic 1. The eight synchronization bits of the even cycle will all ~e 0.

During the odd or first cycle of the split cycle, the eight sync bits of data and clock are line decoded by data decoder 212 and clock decoder 216 and fed via one of the lines 224, 226:to flip-flop 360. When a 1 data bit appears at the J-K
terminals, flip-flop 360 is triggered at the T terminal by the clock, thereby causing the flip-flop to change state and generate an output signal which will trigger multivibrator 364. Multivibra-to~-~ 364 then generates a signal whose duration is equal to the maximum activation time of any one distributor 94 as provided by capacitor 368. This signal as its negative going transitinn, then triggers multivibrator 370, which provides an enabling pulse for -_ requesting pattern data for the even cycle for all the dlstributors 94.
Computer 69 will then output additional pattern ~
data which ~ill be demultiplexed by the control panel 80 ana.1ine :
decoder by the various distributors 94 to control the nozzles 52.
Since this even cycle of data has synchronization bits which are all 0, the state of flip-flop 360 ~ill be such that no output ..
pulse is provided to multivibrator 364 and, hence, no enabling ~ulse will be.generated by multivibrator 370 to request pattern data... Only untll the conveyor has move~ 1/10" and the registra-~ r, system 74 has enabled the control panel 80, will the gun bars 42 receive additional pattern information from computer 69.

-28- .

To obtain an output pulse ~rom multiYlbxator 364 equal to the maximum activation or ~iring time of any one distri-butor, one of the push buttons 380 shown in Fig. 10B will be closed to complete a circuit through the ~5 volt source, coil 376, the push button 380 and ground there~y energizing coil 376 and closing contacts 378a, 378b. As a result, a circuit is closed through a ~5 volt source, variable resistor 384, contacts 378a, 378b, line 382, resistor.3J0~-iand~ pa~itor:-368-:~to-chai~e the latter. As can be appreciated, the particular push button 380 which is closed ~ill correspond to that relay 374 and resistor 384 which will provtde the re~uired activation time. During normal cycle operation the particular push button 380 is opened, coil 376 is de-energized and other contacts (not shown) are closed to complete a circuit which maintains flip-flop 360 set.
In split cycle operation, the odd cycle of pattern . data provides inf;ormation to dispense a predetermined amount of dyestuff to a line of carpet tile. During the even cycle, the .
pattern data provides information to apply additional dyestuff .
to required areas of such line of carpet tile, thereby increasing "' -.
` 20 the concentration in those :areas and providing various shades ~ . .
of a particular color. .~ ~ .
In split cycle operation, the even cycle data .
should not be requested while any one of the distributors 94 is firi~g in accordan¢e with the odd cycle data stored in the shift .
registers. Otherwise, even cycle pattern data will be shifted .:
into the registers before the data from the odd cycle is used to apply the desired amount of dyestuff~ To prevent this, as noted above, the output pulse from multivibrator 364 has a width equal .
to the maximum activa~i~n time of any one distributor and advan-tage is taken of:the fact.that there is app~oximately a 1 milli-,............................................ :
second delay or loading of the data into one of the eight.dis- :

tributors 94.

llD56037 More specifîc~lly, the information demultiplexed by control panel 80 is first loaded ~nto distri~utor #1 and takes approximately 1 millisecond. Then, the demultiplexed data is loaded into distributor #2 and this takes another millisecond, there being, therefore, a two millisecond delay between the time data is first loaded in di~tributor #l and then loaded in distri-butor #2. This continues so that there ~ill be approximately an eight millisecond delay between the time distributors #1 and #8 are loaded. If, for example, the maximum activation time of a distributor 94 is 10 milliseconds and is set for distributor #3, then no even cycle data will be received by this distributor #3 before it has completed firing. When distributor #l receives the odd cycle d~ta, mult~vibrator ~6~ genera~6~an~iou~pu~:pulse having a duration of 10 milliseconds. After 2 milliseconds of firing by distributor #1, distributor #3 is loaded and commences firing for 10 millis~conds. After 6 more milliseconds distr~
r ~1 may be ready for loading even cycle date (if its acti- -~ vation time is only 8 milliseconds); however, ther-e are still 2 - mi}liseconds of pulse duration remaining from multivibrator 364 (and 4 milliseconds of firing time left in distributor #3). Then, after 2 more millisecon~s multivibrator 370 is triggered and even .
cycle data is requested, with distributor #3 having only 2 milli-secpmds of firing time left. Finally, after 2 more milliseconds even cycle data will be shifted into the registers of distributor #3 just as it has completed firing the odd cycle data. With this ~--split cycle operation and in view of the time delay in storing pattern data in the registers of the eight distributors 94, even cycle data can ~e requested while the distributors are still fi~ing the odd cycle data~ This will enable the desired pattern to-be resolved to a very high degree since the conveyor will have moved an almost infinitesimal distance before more dyestuff is applied - -~
to increase the concentration along certain areas of a given line of carpet tile.

. .
Normal cxcle patterns ~i~ll fixe once each machine cycle; i.e., each 1/10" travel of the conveyor 12, for the amount ~-; of activation time selected However, split cycle patterns fire twice within a machine cycle for the amount of time selected.
Conse~uently, valve activation time is doubled for any selected - firing time and, therefore, the speed of the conveyo~ should be reduced in dependence on the maximum activation time and conveyor speed during normal cycle operation.
Each of the gun bars 94 is continuously operating and may be separated by, for example, ten inches. Conse~uently, the pattern data in the computer 69 must be spaced on the magnetic tape a distance equal to the time it takes a line of carpet tile to move the 10 inches from one gun bar to the next. Thus, if gun bar ~1 applies red dyestuff and gun bar ~2 dispenses green dyestuf~, and two adjacent areas on the line of carpet tile are to receive red and green dyestuff, respectively, then the data stored in the computer will be spaced such that when those areas ~ are under gun bar ~1, red dyestuff will be applied to one area -~ and after that line of tile travels 10 inches, green dyestuff will be applied to the other area.
.~ . .
. ~, ~, . .

, ~, . . . . -t . . , . _ .

, :

. .

; : ' ~ : . .

-31-;
, . ~.'

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for dyeing and printing textile material to form a pattern thereon, comprising:
a) means for storing and periodically read out pattern data;
b) means for applying dyestuff to a predetermined area of said material in accordance with said data;
c) electronic control means for receiving said pattern data and for routing said data to said means for applying; and d) means for varying the time that said data is effective to control the application of dyestuff by said means for applying to vary the amount of dyestuff applied to said predetermined area, said varying means including means, having a first input which receives said data and a second input which receives a control signal of predetermined duration, for generating an output signal corresponding to said data, the duration of said output signal being dependent on the duration of said control signal, and means for generating said control signal of a predetermined duration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control signal generating means includes a capacitor and means for varying the charge stored in said capacitor.