CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING RANDOM-LIKE EFFECTS ON TEXTILE MATERIALS

摘要

A novel circuit, having a number of novel subcombinations thereof, for producing alternate on and off signals which can be used to control one or more clutches which, when activated, produce a slub on a yarn or thread or a space between slubs or for controlling any other suitable circuitry or equipment. This circuit produces an extremely long pseudo-random pattern of effect dispersion to give a true random-like appearance in cloth which is woven from such slub yarns or threads. The minimum length of the spaces and slubs can be independently set on switches which are manually accessible from the exterior of the device and also the ratio between minimum and maximum slub and space widths can be also set on other switches. The circuitry automatically causes the length of the slubs and spaces produced to vary within this range defined between the minimum and maximum values, choosing in a pseudo-random manner successive ones of a fixed number of divisions within that range. In the embodiment described below, that fixed number is 14 divisions between the minimum and maximum length of the slubs and spaces. The circuitry can further be caused to operate in a mode whereby the space or slub length remains constant and another mode in which each of the possible separations in the pseudo-random pattern is produced in succession but not necessarily in order. Similarly, the circuitry can be caused, by manual operation of a switch on the exterior of the device, to produce a slub or space of maximum or minimum length. This divisional application is particularly directed toward a counting circuit comprising a unique subcombination circuit with a first programable counter providing an output upon receipt of a given number of input signals, second and third programable counters receiving the output of the first counter, a flip-flop which shifts its output responsive to the outputs of the second and third counters and circuit logic responsive to the flip-flop for varying the program for the first counter to provide flexibility and permit production of slubs or spaces having a relatively long minimum length but relatively short maximum to maximum ratio.