Assembly for measuring cord threads

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an assembly and a method for measuring a cord, in which the assembly for measuring a cord comprises: a transfer assembly configured to transfer the cord in a first mode and to pause a length of cord in a second mode; a trigger assembly configured to apply a trigger action to the length of cord in the second mode; and a sensor configured to sense a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of cord in response to the trigger action, and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the change in the physical parameter. The present disclosure also relates to a method of measuring a cord by an assembly for measuring a cord. In-line measurement of cords is achieved by the present disclosure, which enables the measurement of cords without damaging the cords and facilitates the determination of the performance of the cords.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of measurement or inspection of cords, and more particularly to an assembly and method for measuring cords in production. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the manufacturing process of cords, the formed cord product needs to be measured for various parameters and verified for its performance before being delivered to the end user. A cord or rope is typically made of two or more filaments or wires, e.g. twisted. During the twisting of the filaments, the cord can have manufacturing deviations in terms of filament uniformity, tightness, straightness, elasticity and stiffness, thereby affecting the performance of the cord.

[0003] Conventional cord measurement typically employs an off-line measurement method, i.e. a sample cord is cut from the cord, and the sample is then subjected to the required measurements and the properties or performance of the cord is determined. This results in damage to the continuously produced cord, as the sample cord cannot be used again and will be discarded. Furthermore, during the sampling process, human intervention can also be required. Thus, conventional cord off-line measurement reduces production automation, and increases labor cost, material cost and time cost, resulting in low overall production efficiency. SUMMARY

[0004] Different example embodiments of the present disclosure provide an assembly and method for measuring a cord, thereby facilitating determination of the performance of the cord.

[0005] In a first aspect, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide an assembly for measuring a cord. The assembly is for measuring a cord in a process of producing the cord. The assembly comprises a conveying assembly, a triggering assembly and a sensor. The conveying assembly is configured to convey the cord, e.g. in a production line of the cord. The conveying assembly can be configured to convey the cord in a first mode and to pause a length of the cord in a second mode. The triggering assembly can be configured to apply a triggering action to the length of the cord in the second mode. The sensor is configured to sense a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of the cord in response to the triggering action and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the change in the physical parameter, which can be used for online analysis.

[0006] With this arrangement, the cord can be measured on-line. In particular, the measuring assembly can be conveniently installed in a suitable position before the winding station of the cord, for example by using the available space already present in the production line. Therefore, using an on-line measuring assembly enables to measure the relevant parameters of the cord without damaging the cord. This avoids cutting and sampling of the cord, eliminating possible human interventions. Since the on-line measurement does not damage the cord, the measured cord can still continue to be wound on the spool for being supplied to the end user. Therefore, such on-line measurement increases the production automation, reduces labor, material and time costs, and leads to an overall production efficiency.

[0007] In some embodiments, the assembly for measuring the cord further comprises a processing device. The processing device is configured to determine a performance of the cord based on the measurement signal. With this arrangement, the processing device interacts with the sensor to make a real-time performance determination of the cord based on the measurement signal.

[0008] In some embodiments, the processing device is configured for collecting the measurement signal, converting the measurement signal into a digital signal, transforming the digital signal into physical parameter data, and analyzing the physical parameter data for determining the performance of the cord.

[0009] With this arrangement, not only the parameters of the cord can be measured in real-time, but also the performance of the cord can be determined in real-time. After the performance of the cord has been determined, the production line can quickly respond according to the performance, for example by confirming that the cord is acceptable and continuing to deliver the cord to the winding station, or by confirming that the cord is not acceptable and thus can be discarded. Therefore, the present disclosure integrates the measurement of the cord and the determination of the performance of the cord, greatly simplifying the manufacturing process. Moreover, as mentioned above, guidance for upstream process improvements can be judged based on the determination of the performance.

[0010] In some embodiments, the conveying assembly comprises two guide members, for example a first guide pulley and a second guide pulley. The guide members are configured for guiding the cord through the triggering assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the first guide pulley and the second guide pulley are spaced apart by a distance for guiding the cord during the conveying of the cord and positioning a certain length of the cord to be paused for the measurement. It should be appreciated that the number of guide members is not limited to two, and a higher number can be provided.

[0011] With this arrangement, during the on-line measurement, the guide members provide guidance to the cord and provide necessary support to the cord, thereby defining the certain length of the cord to be measured, facilitating the triggering assembly to exert the triggering action on the cord, and avoiding unnecessary displacement of the cord. The guide members can be, for example, guide wheels, guide rollers, guide grooves and guide rails, or other mechanisms suitable for conveying and guiding the cord.

[0012] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly is configured to apply a triggering action to cause the length of cord to vibrate. Accordingly, the sensor is configured to sense the vibration amplitude of the length of cord and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the vibration amplitude, which can be used for online analysis. During online analysis, the processing device is configured to collect the measurement signal of the vibration amplitude and to convert it into physical parameter data of the vibration amplitude, and to analyze the damping of the vibration amplitude based on the physical parameter data to determine the sleeving performance of the cord.

[0013] With this arrangement, it is possible to provide measurement data of the cord and to determine the performance of the cord, for example the sleeving performance. Since the vibration decay process of the cord, i.e. the damped motion, can reflect the characteristics of the cord, it is possible to determine the cord performance, in particular the sleeving performance, from these measurement data that are of interest to the user. It is to be understood that the changes of different physical parameters of the cord can be measured simultaneously and that the measured data can be combined in a subsequent analysis to determine the performance of the cord. Further, it is conceivable that the triggering assembly can also trigger other forms of motion of the cord, for example a stretching or a bending of the cord. Accordingly, changes of physical parameters such as an angle, an angular displacement, a strain or a stress related to the cord can be measured and the measured data can be further analyzed to determine the performance of the cord.

[0014] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly comprises at least one movable member. The movable member is configured to be movable towards the length of cord. The movable member can have a robot arm or a mechanical arm, or other suitable movable mechanism. The movement of the movable member is realized by a corresponding drive device and a control device. The drive device can be, for example, an electric motor and its associated transmission. The control device can be, for example, a processor or a controller. Further, the movable member can be provided with a gripper. The robot arm is configured for gripping the length of cord, causing the gripped length of cord to move away and then releasing the gripped length of cord as a triggering action to make the length of cord vibrate. Alternatively, the movable member has a striking unit. The striking unit is configured to strike the length of cord as a triggering action to cause the length of cord to vibrate.

[0015] With this arrangement, the movable member is able to apply a stable force to a specific portion of the cord, avoiding operational instability in the measurement, in particular avoiding instability in the manual measurement operation in a conventional process. This ensures that the cord measurement is started under predetermined initial conditions, thereby providing reliability for the subsequent evaluation of the cord performance. Further, the movable member can be moved in precise alignment with the length of cord to be measured and further reliably contact the length of cord to provide the desired triggering action thereto.

[0016] In some embodiments, the processing device has a display. The display is for example placed in the vicinity of the conveying assembly so as to provide a real-time result display for the performance test of the cord in the production line. With this arrangement, the performance test result can be directly provided to the inspector, which facilitates the on-line judgment of whether the performance of the cord is qualified.

[0017] In some embodiments, the sensor can be a non-contact sensor or a contact sensor for distance detection. In an example embodiment, the sensor is a gyroscope. In another example embodiment, the sensor is selected from the group of eddy current sensors, laser sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall sensors, and photoelectric sensors. It should be understood that the triggering assembly and the sensor can be located at any position close to the length of cord to be sensed. For example, the position can be at the middle of the length of cord to be sensed, or can be at another appropriate position. Therefore, the orientation (e.g. direction of motion) of the triggering assembly and the sensor relative to the cord does not have to be strictly perpendicular to the conveying direction of the cord. Therefore, the triggering assembly can move towards a specific portion of the cord at other inclined angles, and the sensor can be positioned at an inclined angle relative to the sensed cord.

[0018] In a second aspect, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for measuring a cord. The method comprises conveying a cord via a conveying assembly and pausing a length of the cord; applying a triggering action to the length of the cord by a triggering assembly; in response to the triggering action, sensing a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of the cord and generating a measurement signal; collecting the measurement signal at a predetermined frequency and converting the measurement signal into physical parameter data; and analyzing the physical parameter data to determine a performance of the cord.

[0019] With this arrangement, the cord can be measured on-line and the performance of the cord can be determined on-line. As mentioned above, such on-line measurement and performance determination of the cord improves production automation and reduces labor, material and time costs, resulting in an increase in overall production efficiency. Furthermore, the measurement result and performance of the cord can be determined so as to determine whether the upstream production process needs to be improved or adjusted based on the determined performance.

[0020] In some embodiments, the applying of the triggering action causes the length of the cord to vibrate. In an example embodiment, the triggering action comprises clamping the length of the cord, moving the clamped length of the cord away, and then releasing the clamped length of the cord to cause the length of the cord to vibrate. In another example embodiment, the triggering action comprises hitting the length of the cord to cause the length of the cord to vibrate.

[0021] In some embodiments, the physical parameter data is vibration amplitude data, and a damping of the vibration amplitude is analyzed based on the physical parameter data to determine a splicing performance of the cord.

[0022] As mentioned above, the damping of the cord can reflect its characteristics, so that the cord performance, in particular the splicing performance, of interest to the user can be determined from the measured data. The measured data can be used for subsequent online analysis to determine the performance of the cord.

[0023] In some embodiments, the measurement signal is collected at a predetermined frequency (e.g. 1000 to 8000 Hz) less than 10000 Hz for a predetermined duration of 1 to 30 seconds (e.g. 1 to 5 seconds). In an example embodiment, the predetermined frequency is selected from a range of 3000 to 5000 Hz and the predetermined duration is selected to be 1 to 3 seconds.

[0024] In some embodiments, the length of the cord is selected from a range of 0.5 to 10 meters, for example 0.5 to 1.2 meters. In an example embodiment, the length of the cord is selected to be 1 meter.

[0025] According to the present application, preferably, the cord is a cord formed of two or more filaments for reinforcing a rubber article, such as a rubber tire or a conveyor belt, or a belt product such as a timing belt or a lifting belt. The filaments can be made of steel or a polymeric material such as polyester or nylon. The cord can be a steel cord composed of steel filaments or a hybrid cord composed of one or more steel filaments and synthetic filaments.

[0026] The method of the present disclosure provides online measurement and performance determination of the cord without destroying the cord, which improves production automation and reduces labor, material and time costs, thereby improving overall production efficiency.

[0027] It should be understood that the Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Other features, details, and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, which are not intended to be to scale, several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be shown in:

[0029] Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram showing a cord production process;

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an assembly for measuring a cord according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which can be used Figure 1 in the inspection or measurement stage of the production process shown;

[0031] Figure 3is a schematic front view showing an assembly for measuring a cord according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart showing a method for measuring a cord according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to several example embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Although example embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings, it is understood that these embodiments are described merely for the purpose of better understanding and thereby implementing the present disclosure by those skilled in the art, and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

[0035] The terms “comprises” or “comprising” and variations thereof shall be interpreted as open terms, meaning “including, but not limited to.” The term “or” shall be interpreted as “and / or” unless otherwise indicated by context. The term “based on” shall be interpreted as “based, at least in part, on.” The term “operatively coupled” means a functional, action, movement or state that can be achieved by an operation caused by a user or an external agency. The terms “one embodiment” and “an embodiment” shall be understood to refer to at least one embodiment. The term “another embodiment” shall be understood to refer to at least one other embodiment. The terms “first,” “second,” etc. can refer to different or the same objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions can be included in the following description. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definition of the term is consistent throughout the specification.

[0036] As described above, in the conventional cord off-line measurement, production automation, labor cost, material cost, and time cost are not expected, resulting in low total production efficiency. In addition, since the sampling of the cord involves cutting the cord and gripping, moving, and placing the cut cord, this further affects the measurement result of the sampled cord, resulting in that the performance of the cord cannot be accurately determined.

[0037] To address the above problems in conventional off-line measurement of cords, the present disclosure provides an assembly and a method for on-line measurement of cords. The assembly according to the present disclosure comprises a conveying assembly, a triggering assembly and a sensor. The conveying assembly can convey a cord in a cord production line. The triggering assembly is configured in cooperation with the conveying assembly so as to exert a triggering action on the cord at a proper timing during the continuous conveying of the cord, thereby causing a change in a physical parameter associated with the cord. Accordingly, the sensor senses the change and generates corresponding measurement data for subsequent on-line analysis. In another aspect, the method according to the present disclosure implements an on-line measurement process: conveying, triggering and sensing the cord, collecting the sensed information of the cord and analyzing the sensed information. Thus, by directly integrating a proper triggering assembly and a sensor in the production line of the cord, the present disclosure is able to measure the relevant parameters of the cord without damaging the cord. This avoids cutting and sampling of the cord and simplifies the inspection operation, which in turn improves production automation and reduces labor, material and time costs, resulting in an overall increase in production efficiency. At the same time, the accuracy of the measurement results is also guaranteed.

[0038] Hereinafter, the principle of the present disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 4 , taking the most commonly used steel cord as an example. It should be understood that the present disclosure is equally applicable to cords or strands made of other materials, such as cords or strands formed of fibers made of organic materials or other metals.

[0039] In particular, a steel cord is a product formed of two or more filaments made of a steel material such as high-quality high-carbon steel. The surface of the steel cord can be coated with a coating such as copper, zinc, etc. See Figure 1 , which shows a cord production process as an example. The process flow of the steel cord production process can include a series of stages, i.e., stage 101 : preparation of wire rod or raw material; stage 102: various treatments and drawing, including pretreatment or dry drawing, intermediate heat treatment, intermediate drawing, another heat treatment, brass plating, wet drawing (filament drawing); stage 103: twisting or twisting the filaments into a cord or rope; stage 104: inspecting the cord; and stage 105: winding the cord on a reel (i.e., winding the cord on a reel) and packaging the reel in a warehouse.

[0040] Steel cords are commonly used as carcass material for rubber articles such as tires. The performance of the cord has a significant impact on the life and reliability of the rubber article. Therefore, during the production of steel cords, the finished cord needs to be measured and its performance determined at an inspection stage. One key property of the cord is the sleeving performance. Sleeving refers to the tightness of the cord or the quality of formation of the cord. Since the cord can be subjected to a calendering or steelastic stretching process in the subsequent product application by the user, the steel wires or filaments in the cord can exhibit jumping out or segregation during the process, i.e. the sleeving condition. Therefore, the sleeving performance is one of the key indicators of potential risks in the product application of the steel cord, and a high quality cord should have good sleeving performance and is less likely to cause the steel wires to jump out or segregate.

[0041] In a conventional cord measurement scheme, an off-line measurement method is usually adopted, i.e. a sample cord of a certain length (e.g. two meters) is cut from the formed cord, and then the sampled cord is subjected to relevant tests and the performance of the cord is determined. For example, the sleeving performance of the sampled cord is tested on a sleeving meter. However, such off-line operation will significantly interrupt the inspection of the cord, increase the inspection process, inspection time and complexity, and reduce the inspection accuracy. The sampled cord cannot be reused, which also leads to material waste. Therefore, there is a need for a new method to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the conventional solution.

[0042] In view of the above, the present disclosure proposes an improved assembly and method for measuring a parameter of a cord and determining the performance of the cord. The present disclosure is particularly suitable for the quality inspection of a cord or rope formed by two or more filaments, in particular the inspection of the sleeving performance.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an assembly for measuring a cord. The assembly comprises a conveying assembly configured to convey the cord in a first mode (i.e. a conveying mode) and to pause a length of the cord in a second mode (i.e. a pausing mode or a measuring mode). The assembly further comprises a triggering assembly configured to apply a triggering action to the length of the cord in the second mode. The assembly further comprises a sensor configured to sense a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of the cord in response to the triggering action and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the change in the physical parameter.

[0044] With this arrangement, the cord can be measured on-line. In particular, the measuring assembly can be conveniently installed at a suitable location before the coiling phase of the cord production (for example by exploiting the space already available in the production line), so that the inspection phase can be conveniently integrated into the production process of the cord. Therefore, using the on-line measuring assembly it is possible to measure the relevant parameters of the cord without damaging it. This avoids cutting and sampling the cord, eliminating unnecessary manual interventions, in particular direct manual handling or mechanical treatment of the cord, and therefore ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results. The measured cord can still continue to be wound and packaged for delivery to the end user. Therefore, this on-line measurement increases the production automation, reduces the labor, material and time costs, and leads to an increase in the overall production efficiency. Thus, the performance of the cord is accurately determined while guaranteeing the measurement results, and further, it is judged whether the upstream production process (for example, pre-treatment, heat treatment and drawing) needs to be improved or adjusted according to the determined performance.

[0045] As will be described in detail in the following paragraphs, the above concept can be implemented in various ways.

[0046] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 The assembly 100 for measuring the cord 10 is provided in an inspection section of the production line. The assembly 100 generally comprises a conveying assembly 20, a triggering assembly 30 and a sensor 40. The conveying assembly 20 is configured to convey the cord 10 in the production line of the cord. The triggering assembly 30 is configured to exert a triggering action (as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 ) on a length of the cord 10. The sensor 40 is configured to sense a variation of a physical parameter associated with the length of the cord 10 in response to the triggering action, and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the variation of the physical parameter, which can be used for on-line analysis.

[0047] The conveying assembly 20 comprises at least two guide members, for example a first guide pulley 21 and a second guide pulley 22, for conveying the cord 10 and cooperating with the triggering assembly 30 and the sensor 40 for measuring the cord 10. It should be understood that the number of guide members is not limited to two, and more guide members can be provided depending on, for example, the length of the cord to be measured and other aspects claimed by the present application. In an exemplary embodiment, these guide members (for example, one or more guide pulleys 23) can receive the shaped cord 10 from an upstream production process, for example a cord formed by a twisting process performed by a production machine (i.e. a so-called cabling or beaming machine). Further guide pulleys 24 and 25 can be configured to pass the inspected and qualified cord to a downstream production process for subsequent handling, for example winding, packaging or delivery to a consumer. In an exemplary embodiment, the cord 10 is delivered to a winding spool 26 provided on a winding platform 60.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly 100 can be mounted on a support plate or frame 27. The support plate 27 can be configured as a vertical plate to be arranged on a flat surface, such as a floor or ground. The support plate 27 can also comprise a plurality of, for example two, support feet 28 for standing on a flat surface. The guide pulleys of the conveying assembly 20 are mounted on the support plate 27 by their respective central pins or shafts. The triggering assembly 30 and the sensor 40 can each be mounted to the vertical support plate 28 via a respective horizontal support plate 29 (only one is shown schematically). It should be understood that any form of suitable structure of the support assembly 100 is possible and should not be limited to the embodiments shown in the present disclosure.

[0049] In one embodiment, in a first guiding mode, the conveying assembly 20 is configured to convey the cord 10 from the first guide pulley 21 to the second guide pulley 22 so as to guide the cord 10 past the triggering assembly 30. In a second measuring mode, the conveying assembly 20 can pause the conveying and fix the cord 10 at the location to be measured via the first guide pulley 21 and the second guide pulley 22.

[0050] In some embodiments, the guide members are embodied as guide pulleys 21, 22. It should be understood that the guide members can also be other mechanisms suitable for conveying and guiding the cord, such as guide rollers, guide grooves and guide rails.

[0051] According to the need to measure the cord, the first guide pulley 21 and the second guide pulley 22 are spaced apart from each other along the conveying direction by a distance, such as a distance of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, more specifically a distance of 0.5 to 1.2 meters, such as 1 meter. The “distance” is the distance between the central axes of the two guide pulleys. The “conveying direction” is the direction of advancement of the steel cord between the two guide pulleys. Thus, the first guide pulley 21 and the second guide pulley 22 define a length of the cord 10 between them, which corresponds to the distance to be measured subsequently.

[0052] With this arrangement, the guide pulleys 21, 22 can on the one hand guide the conveying of the cord 10 in the guiding mode and on the other hand provide the necessary support for the cord 10 during the in-line measurement, thereby defining a section or length of the cord to be measured between the two guide pulleys. This arrangement of the guide pulleys 21, 22 relative to the cord 10 also facilitates the exertion of the triggering action by the triggering assembly 30 on the cord 10 and avoids unnecessary displacement of the cord 10. In one embodiment, the conveying assembly 20 can comprise three or more guide pulleys 23, 24 and 25, thereby defining multiple sections or portions of the cord as candidate lengths to be measured. Thus, it is possible to measure multiple different portions of the same cord according to the need of the measurement or performance evaluation, thereby further reducing the analysis error of the measurement data and increasing the accuracy of the performance evaluation.

[0053] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly 30 is arranged in a suitable position close to the length of cord 10 to be measured, for example in the middle between the two pulleys 21, 22. The triggering assembly 30 can be moved to be arranged in the desired position. The triggering assembly 30 can comprise at least one movable member 32, such as Figure 3 is schematically shown. The movable member 32 is configured to move in the second pause mode towards the section of cord 10 between the two guide pulleys 21, 22 in order to exert a triggering action on the section of cord. During the measurement of the cord, the movable member 32 of the triggering assembly 30 can exert a steady force on a specific length of cord 10. In one embodiment, one of the movable members 32 of the triggering assembly 30 exerts a force on the middle portion of the cord 10 defined between the two guide pulleys 21, 22.

[0054] The operation of the triggering assembly 30 can be preset or preprogrammed by the controller or processor, thereby enabling an automatic measurement of the cord, avoiding unstable operations in manual measurements. This ensures that the cord measurement is started under predetermined initial conditions, providing reliability for the subsequent evaluation of the cord performance.

[0055] In some embodiments, the triggering assembly 30 can be configured to exert a triggering action to induce a vibration of the section of cord 10. Accordingly, the sensor 40 is configured to sense the vibration amplitude of the section of cord 10 and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the vibration amplitude, which can be used for online analysis. For example, in such a measurement mode, the triggering assembly 30 can be configured to stretch the length of cord to be measured in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the cord 10, such that the section of cord is offset by a distance with respect to the conveying direction of the cord 10, as indicated by the dashed line in Figure 3 The offset distance can be predetermined, for example 15-25 mm, and can be specifically set depending on parameters such as the length, strength and diameter of the cord 10 and the working range of the sensor 40. Typically, the offset distance can be set such that the cord is in a tensioned state. After reaching the predetermined offset distance, the triggering assembly 30 releases the stretched portion of the cord, thereby causing the length of cord between the two guide pulleys 21, 22 to vibrate. Accordingly, the sensor 40 senses the variation of the physical parameter related to the vibration process of the cord 10, for example the vibration amplitude of the cord over time, and provides a measurement signal to the processing device 50 accordingly to determine the performance of the cord.

[0056] In some embodiments, the sensor 40 is, for example, a non-contact sensor or a contact sensor for distance detection. In an example embodiment, the sensor 40 is a gyroscope. In another example embodiment, the sensor is selected from the group of eddy current sensors, laser sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall sensors, and photoelectric sensors. Depending on the type of sensor, the measurement signal generated by the sensor 40 is in the form of a voltage or a current. It should be understood that the triggering assembly 30 and the sensor 40 can be located at any position close to the section of cord to be sensed. For example, the position can be at the middle of the section of cord to be sensed, or can be at another suitable position. Thus, the orientation (e.g., direction of movement) of the triggering assembly 30 and the sensor 40 relative to the cord 10 does not have to be strictly perpendicular to the conveying direction of the cord. Thus, the triggering assembly 30 can be moved at other inclined angles towards the specific portion of the cord 10, and the sensor 40 can be positioned at an inclined angle relative to the cord 10 being sensed.

[0057] In other embodiments, one or more moveable members of the triggering assembly 30 can exert a force to the section of cord 10 at one or more desired positions between the two guide pulleys 21, 22 to generate, for example, a pulling or bending triggering action. It should be understood that different combinations of the above-mentioned triggering actions are possible, depending on the requirements of the cord measurement and performance evaluation.

[0058] In some embodiments, one or more moveable members 32 of the triggering assembly 30 can have a robotic arm or a mechanical arm, or other forms of moveable mechanisms. The movement of the moveable members 32 is achieved by corresponding driving devices and control devices. The driving devices can be, for example, electric motors and their associated transmission devices. The control devices can be, for example, processors or controllers.

[0059] In an example embodiment, the moveable members 32 are provided with clamps for holding or clamping the section of cord 10 between the pulleys 21, 22. Thus, in triggering the cord, as discussed above with respect to pulling apart or deflecting the cord, the moveable members 32 are configured to clamp the section of cord 10, causing the clamped section of cord to move away from the conveying direction, and then release the section of cord as a triggering action to cause the section of cord to vibrate.

[0060] In another example embodiment, the moveable members 32 have a striking unit. The striking unit can be implemented as a push lock, a pull rod, a striking block, or the like. In triggering the cord, the striking unit is configured to strike the section of cord as a triggering action to cause the section of cord to vibrate. The striking unit can have a striking block with a vertical groove parallel or aligned with the section of cord 10 between the pulleys 21, 22. The vertical groove is adapted to closely contact the cord and thus exert a striking force thereon as a triggering action.

[0061] It will be appreciated that within the scope of the present disclosure, other devices suitable for contacting the cord segment 10 and applying a force to the cord segment 10 can be implemented. With such an arrangement, the movable member can be moved precisely towards the cord segment 10 to be measured and further reliably contact the cord segment 10 to provide the desired triggering action thereto.

[0062] With such an arrangement, the measurement signal of the cord can be accurately provided and the performance of the cord accurately determined based on the measurement signal. Since the vibration decay process (i.e. the damped motion) of the cord can reflect the characteristics of the cord, the performance of the cord, in particular the splicing performance, of interest to the user can be determined from these measurement data (i.e. the vibration damping rate).

[0063] In embodiments where the triggering assembly 30 is configured to vibrate the cord 10, the sensor 40 senses the vibration of the cord after the triggering assembly 30 triggers or excites the cord. Thus, the sensor 40 provides a measurement signal indicative of the free decay (i.e. the damped vibration) of the cord over a predetermined duration in response to the triggering or excitation, including the change in vibration amplitude and the corresponding vibration duration. The sensor 40 transmits the measurement signal related to the vibration to the processing device 50 for further data analysis.

[0064] In some embodiments, the measurement signal is collected at a predetermined frequency (e.g. 1000 to 8000 Hz) less than 10000 Hz over a predetermined duration of 1 to 30 seconds (e.g. 1 to 5 seconds). In example embodiments, the predetermined frequency is selected in the range from 3000 to 5000 Hz and the predetermined duration is selected to be 3 seconds. It will be appreciated that the frequency of the signal collection can be determined according to the structure of the cord. It will also be appreciated that the predetermined duration can be the time period from the start of the vibration to the end of the vibration (i.e. the cord is at rest) or can be a fraction of this time period.

[0065] In other embodiments, the triggering assembly can also trigger or stimulate other forms of motion or deformation of the cord, such as bending of the cord. Thus, the sensor 40 senses the change in physical parameters related to the cord, such as the angle, angular displacement, strain or stress of the cord. The sensor 40 generates a corresponding measurement signal and transmits the measurement signal to the processing device 50 for further analysis to determine the performance of the cord online.

[0066] It will be appreciated that in various embodiments, the change in different physical parameters of the cord can be measured simultaneously and the measured signals can be combined in subsequent analysis to determine the performance of the cord.

[0067] In some embodiments, the assembly 100 can further comprise a processing device 50 for analyzing the measurement signals online, in particular for determining the performance of the cord based on the measurement signals. With such an arrangement, the processing device interacts with the sensor to perform real-time performance determination of the cord based on the measurement signals.

[0068] In some exemplary embodiments, the processing device 50 is mounted in the vicinity of the sensor 40. The processing device 50 is configured to determine the performance of the cord section based on the measurement signals. The processing device 50 can be a computer or a device such as a mobile terminal having data processing and analysis capabilities. The processing device 50 can comprise a processor 52, a memory 54 and a communication module 56.

[0069] In some embodiments, the processor 52 can form all or part of a processing module, which can be, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, any other suitable processing device. The memory 54 can form all or part of a memory module, which can be integrated to the processing module or operably coupled to the processing module, and provides storage media for data and software executable by the processing device 50, which is used to implement the functions of the processing device 50 and control the operation of data analysis. The memory 54 can be any one or more of various types of internal and / or external storage media of various types of internal and / or external storage media, such as, but not limited to, RAM, ROM, one or more EPROMs, one or more EEPROMs, FLASH, etc., which provide storage registers, i.e. machine-readable media, for data storage, for example, in the form of internal storage areas of a computer, and can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory. The communication module 56 can provide communication between the processing device 50 and other components of the assembly 100 or other external devices through the Internet, cellular, wifi, wired telephone line or any other suitable means. For example, but not limited to, the communication module 56 can facilitate communication with various sensors such as the sensor 40. The communication module 56 can also facilitate communication with external devices. For example, without limitation, the communication module 56 can facilitate communication, directly or via a network, with devices such as a phone, a tablet, a computer or other devices locally or remotely. The communication facilitated by the communication module 56 can allow the processing device 50 to send data and / or receive data from components or devices in communication therewith. It can be appreciated that the processor 52, the memory 54 and the communication module 56 can be integrated within the processing device 50, or alternatively, separate from each other as individual components.

[0070] As such, the above-described examples of the described subject matter can be implemented in any of a variety of ways. For example, some aspects can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices or computers.

[0071] In one exemplary embodiment, the processing device 50 is configured to receive one or more measurement signals output from one or more sensors (e.g., sensor 40) related to the performance of the cord, convert the measurement signals to digital signals, transform the digital signals to physical parameter data, and analyze the physical parameter data for determining the performance of the cord (e.g., splicing performance) to provide an online analysis result.

[0072] In some embodiments, the processing device 50 also has an input / output arrangement 58, such as a man-machine interface (MMI), for setting various parameters used by the assembly 100 and for displaying and outputting information and data to a user such as an inspector or technician. The input / output device 58 can include one or more of a display, electromechanical buttons, a touch screen, or any other suitable arrangement that provides input to or output from the processing device 50 and is included in / on the support plate 27 or separate therefrom and in wireless communication (e.g., via Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, or other suitable arrangement) with the processing device 50.

[0073] In some embodiments, the processing device 50 determines the performance of the cord according to different cord application requirements and with reference to different performance criteria. The memory 54 of the processing device 50 is configured with software or code for analyzing the performance of the cord. Thus, the processing of the measurement data, analysis, calculations, etc. by the processing device 50 can be preprogrammed according to different application requirements, and the corresponding software or code is stored in the memory. For example, the memory 54 stores software code for performing data collection, software code for converting the measurement data to, for example, amplitude data, and software code for analyzing the converted data.

[0074] ​The performance of the cord typically includes, for example, uniformity, tightness, and splicing characteristics of the cord. Typically, one of the criteria for evaluating the performance is the response time or duration of the cord from the initial trigger or stimulus (e.g., causing vibration) to return to the initial state (e.g., a stationary state). Generally, the shorter the response time of the cord (e.g., the faster the decay of vibration), i.e., the faster the cord returns to the initial state, the better the performance of the cord. To evaluate the performance, different performance evaluation parameters can typically be pre-stored in a lookup table according to the specific application of the cord, and then when determining the performance according to the measured data, the processing device 50 determines the performance of the cord by retrieving the corresponding values in the lookup table. Alternatively, the processing device 50 can execute a pre-programmed evaluation algorithm on the measured data to determine the performance of the cord.

[0075] By using the assembly for measuring the cord according to the present disclosure, online measurement and performance evaluation of the cord characteristics can be achieved, and stable and accurate test results and consistent performance evaluation can be obtained. In some embodiments, different configurations of cords are measured and evaluated using the cord measurement assembly of the present disclosure. The configuration of the formed cord can be any of the steel cord configurations known in the art.

[0076] In one example, the present disclosure measures a cord having a cord construction of 0.17 + 5 x 0.215 + 10 x 0.235 ST (16C ST) and determines the performance of the cord online by the assembly for measuring a cord according to the present disclosure. The results of the above example measurements of different samples according to the present disclosure are shown in Table 1 below. The measurement results of the conventional 2m splicing measurement method are also shown in Table 1. Specifically, the conventional offline performance measurements and the online measurements according to the present disclosure are performed on 12 batches of samples respectively, followed by the calendering test. For example, for the first batch of samples, the data obtained using the conventional offline 2m splicing measurement method shows a splicing performance of 1.00 mm. For the same first batch of samples, online measurements of the vibration decay rate (i.e., the vibration decay rate of a certain length of cord within a certain period of time (e.g., 2s)) are performed, for example, according to the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure, and the resulting data of this measurement is 1.22 seconds at 1m length of cord and 3000Hz of collection frequency. The calendering results show that the first batch of samples is good (“OK”). Similarly, for the samples from the second to fifth batches, both the conventional test method and the test method of the present disclosure show good splicing performance and calendering results for the same batch of samples. In contrast, for the samples from the sixth to eighth batches, both the conventional test method and the test method of the present disclosure show that the samples from the same batch have acceptable splicing performance and calendering results (“acceptable”). For the samples of the ninth to twelfth batches, both the conventional test method and the test method of the present disclosure show that the samples from the same batch have unsatisfactory splicing performance and calendering results (“NOK”). It can be seen that the present disclosure provides a simpler and more effective method to test the cord splicing performance. Based on the measurements and performance evaluations provided by the present disclosure, the processes of the corresponding upstream equipment of the cord production line can be adjusted to improve the performance of the formed cord accordingly.

[0077] Table 1

[0078]

[0079] In some embodiments, the measurement assembly 100 of the present disclosure can be directly integrated in the appropriate location in the inspection section of the cord production line. The processing device 50 associated with the measurement assembly 100 can also be integrated accordingly with the measurement assembly 100. For example, the available space in the existing cord conveying equipment can be used to install the measurement assembly 100 of the present disclosure, and the inspection is completed before the formed cord is finally wound and packaged, thereby saving additional installation space. In addition, since the measurement assembly of the present disclosure is capable of measuring and evaluating the cord online without damaging the cord, the formed cord can be continuously measured in the production line, avoiding the waste of cord material, and significantly improving the inspection efficiency and the overall production efficiency of the cord.

[0080] In addition to the measuring assembly 100, the present disclosure can be implemented as a method or a computer program product with any possible technical detail of integration. As mentioned above, the computer program product can include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions stored therein (or thereon) for causing a processor to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

[0081] In some embodiments, the present disclosure further provides a method for measuring a cord. As Figure 4 As shown in the flowchart, the method 400 of measuring a cord of the present disclosure can include the following steps. In step 402, a length of cord 10 is conveyed via the conveying assembly 20. In step 404, the conveying of the length of cord 10 is paused via the conveying assembly 20. In step 406, a triggering action is applied to the length of cord 10 by the triggering assembly 30. In step 408, in response to the triggering action, the sensor 40 senses a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of cord 10, and the sensor 40 generates a measurement signal indicative of the change in the physical parameter. Thus, the measurement process is completed. Further, in step 410, the processing device 50 collects the measurement signal at a predetermined frequency and transforms it into physical parameter data. In step 412, the processing device 50 analyzes the physical parameter data to determine the performance of the cord.

[0082] More specifically, in step 402, the manufactured cord is continuously conveyed in a production line of the cord. For example, after the cord has been formed in an upstream production machine (not shown), it is continuously conveyed to a winding section (e.g., a spool 26 disposed on a winding platform 60). The present disclosure utilizes the existing space available during the conveying process, in which the measurement and inspection phase of the cord is integrated. In one embodiment, one guide pulley (e.g., guide pulley 23) of the conveying assembly 20 receives the cord 10 from the upstream production machine. Then, the guide pulley successively conveys the cord 10, thereby conveying the cord 10 past the triggering assembly 30 and the sensor 40 located between two guide pulleys (e.g., first guide pulley 21 and second guide pulley 22) for further measurement and inspection of the performance of the cord 10.

[0083] In step 404, the transport of the cord 10 is paused for the next measurement operation via the transport assembly 20, since the measurement of the cord 10 requires that the cord is first in a stationary initial state. The duration of the pause can be predetermined in advance depending on the type of cord in combination with empirical data. During the pause of the transport, the transport assembly 20 can first fix the cord 10 at the position to be measured, for example via the first guide pulley 21 and the second guide pulley 22, and then wait for the trigger action to be exerted on the cord 10 by the trigger assembly 30. The spacing between the two guide pulleys 21, 22 can be adjusted, for example in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, to adapt to different measurement lengths of the cord as required. More specifically, the length of the cord is in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 meters, for example 1 meter.

[0084] In step 406, the trigger assembly 30 can be moved into a position adjacent to the transport assembly 20 before the trigger action is exerted on the cord. As previously described, the trigger assembly 30 can have a movable member 32, for example a robot or a mechanical arm, mounted thereon, which is directed towards the section of the cord during the exertion of the trigger action, in turn exerting a stable force on the cord. Subsequently, when the section of the cord to which the force is exerted reaches a predetermined state, for example stretched by a predetermined offset distance from the direction of transport or a predetermined tension is exerted, the trigger assembly 30 releases the cord to return freely to the initial state.

[0085] As previously described, the trigger assembly 30 can cause a length of the cord 10 to vibrate, or otherwise excite the cord. In an exemplary embodiment, the trigger action comprises clamping the section of the cord 10, moving the clamped section of the cord 10 away, and then releasing the clamped section of the cord 10 to cause the section of the cord to vibrate. In another exemplary embodiment, the trigger action comprises hitting the section of the cord 10 to cause the same vibration.

[0086] In step 408, as described above, for example after the trigger assembly 30 releases the cord, the sensor 40 can start to sense the change in the physical parameter, for example the amplitude, associated with the section of the cord 10 until the cord returns to its initial state. At the same time, the sensor 40 generates a measurement signal accordingly. The sensor 40 can then transmit the measurement signal in the form of a current or a voltage in real time to the processing device 50 for online analysis of the measurement signal. Thus, after the processing device 50 receives the measurement signal from the sensor 40 in step 410, the processing device 50 can process the measurement signal in step 412, as described above, by converting it into a digital signal, transforming the digital signal into physical parameter data, and analyzing the data using, for example, a lookup table or a preprogrammed algorithm, in order to determine the splicing performance of the measured cord, thereby enabling online evaluation thereof.

[0087] After completing the measurement of the cord 10, the method of the present disclosure resumes the conveying of the cord, e.g. continues to convey the cord, thereby continuously conveying the cord to the winding portion, e.g. the spool 26, without breaking the cord 10. Thus, the method of the present disclosure enables online measurement and online performance determination of the cord.

[0088] In some embodiments, the method of the present disclosure can be implemented by a computer or other suitable controller or processor. The computer, controller or processor has a storage device. The storage device is configured to store a computer readable medium. When the computer readable medium is executed by the computer, controller or processor, the computer readable medium can cause the computer, controller or processor to implement the method according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the method of the present disclosure can be applied to inspecting any type of cord, rope, strand in the production process thereof. As mentioned above, the cord measurement method of the present disclosure enables online measurement of the cord and online determination of the performance of the cord, which enables lossless and efficient cord measurement and improves production efficiency.

[0089] While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated, it is understood that the various changes, modifications and / or enhancements can be made by persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure relates, and such changes, modifications and / or enhancements are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is / are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that other embodiments may fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The inventive embodiments lie in the novel combinations, permutations, sub-combinations, and / or the application of process steps, materials, components, and / or configuration arrangements not specifically recited herein but which are within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An assembly (100) for measuring a cord (10), comprising: a conveying assembly (20) configured to convey the cord (10) in a first mode and to pause a length of cord in a second mode; a triggering assembly (30) configured to apply a triggering action to the length of cord (10) in the second mode; and a sensor (40) configured to sense a change in a physical parameter associated with the length of cord (10) in response to the triggering action and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the change in the physical parameter.

2. The assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein The assembly further comprises a processing device (50) configured to determine a property of the cord (10) based on the measurement signal.

3. The assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The processing device (50) is configured to collect the measurement signal, convert the measurement signal to a digital signal, transform the digital signal to physical parameter data, and analyze the physical parameter data to determine the property of the cord (10).

4. The assembly (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The conveying assembly (20) comprises a first guide pulley (21) and a second guide pulley (22) spaced apart a distance to guide the cord (10) during cord conveying and to position the length of cord (10) paused for measurement.

5. The assembly (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The triggering assembly (30) is configured to apply a triggering action to cause the length of cord (10) to vibrate; and The sensor (40) is configured to sense a vibration amplitude of the length of cord (10) and to generate a measurement signal indicative of the vibration amplitude, and The processing device (50) is configured to collect the measurement signal of the vibration amplitude and transform the measurement signal of the vibration amplitude to physical parameter data of the vibration amplitude, and to analyze the vibration amplitude based on the physical parameter data for determining a splicing property of the cord (10).

6. The assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The triggering assembly (30) comprises at least one movable member (32) configured to move towards the length of cord (10), the movable member (32) having a robot arm equipped with a clamp configured to grip the length of cord (10), causing the gripped length of cord (10) to move away and then release the gripped length of cord (10) as a triggering action to cause the length of cord (10) to vibrate.

7. The assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The triggering assembly (30) comprises at least one movable member (32) configured to move towards the length of cord (10), the movable member (32) having a striking unit configured to strike the length of cord (10) as a triggering action to cause the length of cord (10) to vibrate.

8. The assembly (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The processing device (50) has a display.

9. The assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The sensor (40) is a non-contact distance detecting sensor selected from the group of eddy current sensors, laser sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall sensors and photoelectric sensors. The sensor (40) is a non-contact distance detecting sensor selected from the group of eddy current sensors, laser sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall sensors and photoelectric sensors.

Images