US3619576A

US3619576A - Apparatus and method for segregating the counts of service stops of individual operators and for preventing inaccurate counts

Info

Publication number: US3619576A
Application number: US877854A
Authority: US
Inventors: John V Cauthen; Fujio Abe
Original assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
Current assignee: BI/MS HOLDINGS I Inc A DE CORP
Priority date: 1969-11-18
Filing date: 1969-11-18
Publication date: 1971-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-09

Abstract

Apparatus and method for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of a counter and for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of associated textile machines. Upon the occurrence of a yarn break a time delay relay is energized after a predetermined time interval. This, in turn, activates a second relay which couples pushbuttons on each of the machines to respective counters wherein each operator is assigned to a specific pushbutton on each machine and wherein one counter is associated with each of a respective set of pushbuttons. Upon completion of the mending operation the operator''s pushbutton is depressed which records a count on the associated counter at the same time that the machine is restarted. Also, upon depression of the push button another time delay relay is activated after a predetermined time interval has passed from the depression of the pushbutton. This predetermined time interval is computed to be approximately equal to that time in which a yarn break cannot occur after starting the machine. During this time interval the depression of the pushbutton at the machine will not register a count on the counter. Thus, upon starting up the machine a predetermined time interval must pass before a yarn break can occur, and when a yarn break does occur, a second predetermined time interval must elapse, while the operator is repairing the break, before depression of the associated pushbutton on the machine will result in the recording of an additional count on a respective counter.

Description

Unite [72] Inventors John V. Cauthen Fayetteville; Fujio Abe, Greensboro, both of N.C.

[21] Appl. No. 877,854

[22] Filed Nov. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Burlington Industries, Inc.

Greensboro, N.C. Continuation of applimtion Ser. No. 484,622, Sept. 2, 1965.

[54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEGREGATING THE COUNTS OF SERVICE STOPS OF INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS AND FOR PREVENTING INACCURATE COUNTS 37 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 235/92 FP, 235/92 R [51] Int. CL G06m 3/12 [50] Field of Search 235/92 (27), 92 (27.1), 92 (31'), 29 FL [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,602 4/1957 Jeppson 235192 3,044,699 7/1962 Smith 235/92 3,124,316 3/1964 O'Brien et a1 235/92 (27.1)

2,906,298 9/1959 Burgiss 139/353 2,961,178 11/1960 Chambley 242/35.6

Primary ExaminerMaynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner.l0seph M. Thesz, Jr. AttorneyCushman, Darby & Cushman *CT: Apparatus and method for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of a counter and for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of associated textile machines. Upon the occurrence of a yarn break a time delay relay is energized after a predetermined time interval. This, in turn, activates a second relay which couples pushbuttons on each of the machines to respective counters wherein each operator is assigned to a specific pushbutton on each machine and wherein one counter is associated with each of a respective set of pushbuttons. Upon completion of the mending operation the operators pushbutton is depressed which records a count on the associated counter at the same time that the machine is restarted. Also, upon depression of the push button another time delay relay is activated after a predetermined time interval has passed from the depression of the pushbutton, This predetermined time interval is computed to be approximately equal to that time in which a yarn break cannot occur after starting the machine. During this time interval the depreion of the pushbutton at the machine will not register a count on the counter. Thus, upon starting up the machine a predetermined time interval must pass before a yarn break can occur, and when a yarn break does occur, a second predetennined time interval must elapse, while the operator is repairing the break, before depression of the associated pushbutton on the machine will result in the recording of an additional count on a respective counter.

PATENTEnunv s l97l 3. 6 1 9 576 saw 5 or 5 APIARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEGREGATKNG THE CGUNTS F SERVliCE STOPS 0F INDIVIDIJAL OPERATORS AND FOR PREVENTING INACCURATE CGUNTS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 484,622 filed Sept. 2, 1965.

This invention is related in general to warpers of textiles and devices employed to insure effective production of manufactured goods; and, in particular, the invention relates to devices which count the number of service or repair stops that individual operators perform in conjunction with production machines, such as warpers used in the textile industry. Further, this invention relates to a device for segregating the number of service or repair stops handled by any one operator when two or more operators are assigned to one or more machines, such as the warper.

In the past, several methods have been employed to provide a fair and equitable incentive pay program for warper operators and, at the same time, utilize the machines to full advantage whenever a plurality of operators have been assigned to one or more machines. In the first method, employed by the prior art, each operator was assigned to two specified adjacent machines. The operators, in this case, were responsible for yarn breaks which occurred only on their assigned machines. Frequently, one operator was burdened with a large number of service stops on his assigned warpers, while the operator assigned to the adjacent machines was confronted with relatively few service stops. This method of assigned operators to specified machines was undesirable from the standpoint of maximum machine utilization.

The second method employed by the prior art used a group incentive program and utilized the available machinery to full advantage. The operators were grouped in a team and were not assigned to particular machines as in the first method, but were free to service any of the six machines. Lacking an accurate method of providing individual operator performance data, the incentive pay of each operator was based on the yardage produced by each machine and upon the average number of stops for each particular style of yarn. Since there were no established methods to compile the yardage creditable to each operator, the operators pay was based on the overall performance of the group.

Although the second method maximized the utilization of the available machines and operators, the extremely variable nature of the stop frequencies for each style of yarn and the lack of operator performance data for each individual operator prevented this system from providing a fair and equitable basis for paying the individual operators.

Several manufacturers of electromechanic counting systems have provided totalizing machine stop counters as an accessory to the warper stop motion. These machine stop counters are basically a counter connected to a time-delay relay circuit where the counter is activated after a predetermined interval of time has elapsed after the machine stops, the predetermined interval of time being determined by the time-delay relay circuit. None of these manufacturers have provided a means for accumulating individum operator-performance data in multimachine applications where operator responsibilities overlap.

In all areas of textile manufacturing, an effective method of controlling the production of goods is desirable. Although the art of textile manufacturing has advanced to a relatively high degree of mechanization during the past decade, the production of goods in many areas is still dependent upon the performance of machine operators. An incentive-pay system is therefore employed in many areas of textile manufacturing to stimulate the employee to increase his efforts for additional monetary compensation.

A successful incentive program lowers the cost-per-unit production and contributes toward a satisfied group of em ployees. The merits of any incentive-pay program outlined above can be realized only under the condition that the operator is paid fairly and equitably for his performance. This is especially true when more than one operator is assigned to the same machine or machines. As discussed before, the methods of the prior art to secure a worthwhile incentive program on an individual basis was curtailed for lack of means for segregating the individual performances of the respective members of a group operating a plurality of machines.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to segregate the number of service stops one operator handles as opposed to the number of service stops another operator handles when they both intermittently start the same machine.

Another object of the invention is to accurately record and display at a central location the number of service stops attributable to the individual operators of a group servicing one or more machines.

Another object of the invention is to evaluate the performance of the individual operator by comparing his performance against those of his coworkers.

A further object of the invention is to totalize the number of stops on each machine and determine the frequency of breaks for each style of yarn.

A further object of the invention is to prevent and discourage extraneous stop counts which may intentionally or inadvertently arise.

A brief description of the invention for accomplishing the above objects is now given. Each warper machine is equipped with a color-coded start pushbutton switches. After completing a service stop, the operator depresses his assigned pushbutton switch to start the warper and to tally a count in his favor. In the event the operator decides to gain an additional count for a given service stop, anticheat or fraud prevention circuits are provided in the invention to discourage such attempts.

Briefly, the means for discouraging attempts to gain additional counts comprises means for preventing the actuation of the counting device until a predetermined time interval has elapsed after the machine stops due to the necessity for servicing. This time interval is determined by the minimum amount of time an operator can perform the repair operation and get the warper machinery back into production.

Further means are provided in the anticheat circuit to prevent actuation of the counting device for a predetermined time interval after the machine is put back in operation. This time interval is determined by the minimum amount of time that can elapse after the machinery has restarted until a failure can occur to stop the machine.

In order to understand more fully the invention, a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be given with reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical warper, with which the invention may be used;

FIGS. 20 and b illustrate a block diagram of six warpers and three operators;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the total system in which the invention operates;

FIG. 4 illustrates the chronological sequence events during the warping operation;

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention, where FIG. 5b is a continuation of FIG. 5a.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention will be described in relation to a multiwarper operation as typically employed by the textile industry. However, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to all applications that require one or more operators to service one or more machines and/or where fraud prevention means are desirable.

Referring now to FIG. I, a description of a typical warper used in textile manufacturing will now be presented. The warper, shown generally at reference numeral 10, winds yarn 12 in a sheet upon a section beam I4 in preparation for a sizing operation. The warper consists of a V-shaped creel 16 onto which a large number of skewers, combs or bobbins 18 are mounted. A winding head 20 draws sheets of yarn from the creel 16 onto the section beam 14.

A machine drop motion is provided to stop the warper at the instant a length of yarn breaks. The stop motion is constructed so that the individual ends of the yarn are threaded into eyelets attached to, but not making, electrical contact with a horizontal electrode bar 22. These individual drop eyelets or eyes are suspended above the bar as long as the yarn remains under tension. At the instant a string of the yarn breaks, the drop eyelet falls across the horizontal electrode bar 22 actuating a circuit to stop the warper. The detailed operation of the relationship between the drop eyelet and the circuitry to stop the warper will be discussed in more detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. a and 5b.

Whenever a yarn break occurs, the operator assigned to or nearest to the warper locates and splices the broken ends of yarn. After repairing the fault, the operator starts the warper and proceeds to repair similar yarn breaks on the next warper.

Referring now to FIG. 2(a), which illustrates a block diagram of six warpers, 24 through 34, and three operators, 36 through 40, it can readily be seen how inefficiencies quickly arise when operator 36 is restricted to

warpers

24 and 26, while operator 38 is restricted to warpers 28 and 30, since

warpers

24 and 26 may require relatively few service stops whereas warpers 28 and 30 may require a large number of service stops. This arrangement would, obviously, result in operator 36 sitting around with not much to do, while operator 38 would be heavily burdened. This would also prevent the maximum amount of yarn to be warped by warpers 28 and 30, since operator 38 was not available to help out in the servicing of warpers 28 and 30.

FIG. 2(b) overcomes the problems introduced by the arrangement of FIG. 2(a) by allowing all operators to service all machines; however, in the arrangement of FIG. 2(b) as utilized in prior art arrangements, there was no way to determine the individual performances of the respective operators 36 through 40.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 3, which briefly illustrates the overall solution to the problem of obtaining individual incentive-performance data, in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 2(b). The main control cabinet 42 houses the heart of the system, which shall be described in more detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 4, 5a and Sb. However, FIG. 3 does illustrate generally how the problem introduced by FIG. 2(b) has been overcome by the invention. Each of the six warpers 2% through 34 is provided with a Il -position start pushbutton switch or switch means 44 through 54. Each pushbutton switch is color-coded for identification and is assigned to a specific operator. Of course, there is no restriction on the number of warpers or the number of operators in the group servicing the warpers. The choice of six warpers and three operators to service these six warpers is for illustrative purposes only.

Whenever a machine stop occurs necessitating servicing of the machine, the operator depresses his assigned

pushbutton start switch

37, 39 or 41 to restart the warper. Each of the start buttons have letters added to the numerals to indicate that the same operator has the same button assigned to him at each warper; that is, operator 36 would be assigned buttons 37, 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d and 37e, for instance. When an operator pushes his start button on any of the warpers, the count is registered on one of the

counters

43, 45 or 47 at the main control panel 42. The counters at the control panel 32 are each assigned to one of the operators.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 4 which illustrates generally the sequence of events during the warper operation. At 56 is shown the point in time where the warper starts or is restarted after a service stop has been completed. At 58 is indicated a delay period during which the counter cannot be activated if the operator inadvertently or fraudulently pushes his start button in order to obtain a false count. The length of this delay period, known as the warper start delay period, is determined by the minimum amount of time the warper can run before a yarn breakage occurs. Once the machine has been running for a period longer than the warper start delay period,

it is possible to record a count after a repair operation has been completed. For instance, at point in time 60, a machine stop occurs due to a yarn breakage. Note that the total time that the warper has run extends from point 56 to point 60. As soon as the machine stops, the operator commences servicing the machine. The service period takes place while the cycle is at point 60. The length of the service stop is variable and a function of the operators speed. As soon as the servicing of the warper has been completed, the operator pushes his start pushbutton to restart the machine.

The warper stop delay period is indicated at 62. During this period, it is impossible to actuate the counter. The length of this period is determined by the minimum amount of time that a service operation can be performed. This delay is used to discourage the operator from deliberately stopping and starting the machine. Further, it is used to discourage the operator from stopping the machine immediately following a startup.

Reference should now be made to FIGS. 5a and 5b, where 5b is a continuation of FIG. 5a and where both of the figures illustrate the schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention for segregating the incentive-performance data of each individual operator. FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate schematically the control circuits and fraud prevention circuits respectively corresponding to two warpers and three operators, where all three operators are available to service both of the machines. Since the control circuits and fraud prevention circuits are the same for each warper, the description will generally be restricted to one warper, where unprimed numerals correspond to one warper and primed numerals correspond to the other. All relays are shown with their contacts in a deenergized position.

To initiate the warper operation, power switch 64 must be closed and then pushbutton start switch 66 must be closed. Upon closure of these two switches, the run coil 68 is activated from first and second power supply lines 88 and 94. Run coil 68 controls the DC motor drive circuit of the warper and, therefore, when the coil 68 is energized, the warper commences to operate. Run coil 68 is energized from the power supply line 88, through normally open start pushbutton switch 66, normally closed stop pushbutton switch 74 and the normally closed contacts 76 of warper-stop relay 78 to the other line 943 of the power supply. The power supply is preferably 115 volts AC, 60 cycle. The start pushbutton 66 and the stop pushbutton 74 are preferably located at the winding head 20 shown in FIG. I. Once the run coil 68 is energized through the depression of start pushbutton 66, it transfers the normally open contact 80 to the closed position and thereby remains energized when start pushbutton 66 is released since the contact 84) is in parallel with the terminals of start pushbutton 66. To deenergize run coil 68, it is necessary to either depress normally closed pushbutton switch 74 or to have the warperstop relay 78 be energized due to a yarn breakage and thereby open normally closed contacts 76. This will be described in more detail hereinafter. Pushbutton switches 66 and 74 are normally under the control of supervisors and maintenance personnel not assigned to the incentive group servicing the warpers.

As has been discussed before, it is necessary that the warper run a first predetermined minimum amount of time before the counter can be actuated. The circuitry for determining this warper start delay period (indicated as 58 in FIG. 4) will now be described. Time-delay relay or first time-delay means 82 is connected in parallel with run coil 68; and, therefore, is energized when the warper is running. Time-delay relay 82 may be a synchronous motor-driven delay relay where contact 84 is not transferred leftwardly in FIG. 5b until the motor has been actuated for a predetermined interval of time. The motor driving relay 82 is not shown, these types of relays being wellknown in the art. At the end of the delay period, delay relay 82 transfers its contact 84 leftwardly thereby closing a circuit for energizing actuating relay or first relay means 86. Relay 86 is energized from power supply line 88 through the contact 84, which is now in its leftward position, through relay 86 and through the normally closed contacts 90 of relay 92 to the opposite side of the power supply line 94. The relay 92 is deenergized at this time and, therefore, the contacts 90 are in their deenergized position, as shown.

Upon energization of relay 86, the

contacts

96 and 98 of relay 36 are transferred to respective closed positions. The relay 86 remains energized once holding contact 98 is closed, in spite of the rightward movement of control 84 upon the subsequent deenergization of delay relay 82 since the terminals of contact 98 parallel the left terminals of contact 84. Time delay relay 82 will become deenergized whenever the warper stops since it is connected in parallel with the warper run coil 68, as described before. However, relay 86 will remain energized through holding contacts 98 and, therefore, relay 86 remains energized during the idle periods of the warper. Because relay 86 is energized, it is now possible to energize other relays of the fraud prevention circuitry, which will enable the counter to register a count after a second minimum predetermined time interval has elapsed from the point in time when the warper stops. Note, however, that a first minimum interval of time must elapse (as determined by time delay relay 82) before relay 86 can be energized. This first predetermined time interval corresponds to the minimum amount of time that elapses after the warper starts until a yarn breakage can possibly occur, as has been stated before. This first predetermined time interval is generally about 5 seconds.

As has been stated before, the machine or warper will stop whenever yarn breakage occurs in the warper. A more detailed description of the mechanism which stops the warper upon yarn breakage will now be given. Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown the individual strands of yarn from each spool 18. These strands are grouped in sheets and are passed through horizontal electrode bars 22. One of the bars is grounded to the frame and the other is connected to the warper-stop relay 78. Each drop eyelet eye (schematically indicated at 100 in FIG. 5a) is threaded with a strand of yarn and suspended over the parallel bars 22, which comprise, respectively, the lower horizontal bar 102 and the upper horizontal bar 104 shown in FIG. 5a, by the tension in the yarn. In the event of yarn breakage, the drop eye attached to the broken yarn falls across the parallel electrode bars 22 energizing the warper-stop relay 78 shown in the schematic diagram of P16. 50.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 5a. When one of the contacts 100 closes, contact is made from the lower horizontal bar 102 which is shown grounded and which is connected to the frame of the warper to the upper horizontal bar 104 which is connected to the warper stop relay 78 through a low voltage transformer 106 which supplies energizing power for the relay 78. Transformer 106 preferably has its primary winding connected to the IIS volt supply and its secondary winding connected to deliver 12 volts AC to the relay 78 when the warper stops.

When relay 78 is energized as described above, normally closed contacts 76 are open, thereby deenergizing run coil 68 and stopping the warper or machine. Since time delay relay 82 is connected in parallel with run coil 6%, relay 82 will also be deenergized thereby transferring its contact 84 to its normal rightward position in FIG. 5b. Such transfer of contact 84 initiates the second predetermined minimum time interval which must elapse before the counter can register a count.

The circuitry for determining the second predetermined time interval will now be described. After contact 34 is transferred rightwardly, time-delay relay or second time-delay means 112 is energized through deenergized contact 84 and contact 96 of relay 86 (which remains energized through holding contact 98) from power supply line 88 to line 94. The second time delay means 112 is the same type of time delay relay that has been described for first time delay means 82; that is, a synchronous motor-driven relay, the contacts of which are not transferred until the motor has been activated for a second predetermined minimum interval of time. This second time interval is determined by the minimum amount of time that an operator can repair or tie a broken strand and restart the warper. Generally, this time is approximately 15 seconds. It is, therefore, one of the objectives of this invention to stimulate the operators to reduce the service period and accumulate credit for the maximum number of service stops possible in a given period.

After the second time interval has elapsed, time-delay means 112 will transfer its contact 114. The transfer of contact 114 closes the energization circuit for relay 116, the energization circuit being from power supply line 88 through contact 98, relay 86, through relay 116, contact 114, and time delay means 112 to the opposite side 94 of the power supply. The energization of relay 116 closes contacts 118, 120 and 122, which are connected respectively to operator pushbutton 124, 126 and 128. These two sets of start buttons are associated with the same warper. One set of the switches being on one side of the warper and the other set of the switches being on the other side of the warper, thereby facilitating quick restarts upon completing servicing operation. Switches 124, 126, and 123 may correspond respectively to

switches

37, 39, and 41 shown in FIG. 3.

Before going into the details of how the count is registered after the service operation by the operator has been completed, a brief summary of the steps that must be satisfied before relay 116 can be energized (thereby connecting the terminals of the operator pushbutton switches to the terminals of the respective counters for the operators) will now be given:

1. time delay means 82 must be energized for a first predetermined minimum period of time and contact 841 must be transferred leftwardly in FIG. 5b to energize relay 86;

2. relay 86 must be energized thereby closing its

contacts

116 and 98;

3. the warper must have stopped thereby deenergizing time delay means 82 and returning contact 84 to its normally closed rightward position; and

4. time delay means 112 must transfer its contacts to the normally closed position after the second predetermined time interval has elapsed.

Relay 116 remains energized as long as the warper remains idle. The counter is now ready to record a service count. For the sake of illustration, assume that operator A is assigned to pushbutton switch 128. Of course, this means he is also assigned to switches 134, 128' and 134'. All pushbutton operator switches are shown in the normally open position with the contacts against the upper terminals. After the operator has completed his service operation (and assuming that sufficient time has elapsed to satisfy the second predetermined time interval requirement mentioned above) he pushes his start button to register his count and to restart the warper machinery. The depression of operator As start button 128 will also energize circuitry which will reset relay means 86 and 116 and time delay means 82. The circuitry for restarting the warper and for resetting the fraud-preventing

means comprising relays

86 and 116, and time delay means 112 will be described in more detail hereinafter. At this time, a detailed description of the circuitry for registering the count of the operator's service operation will now be given.

When operator A depresses pushbutton switch 128, a circuit is closed which actuates the counter which registers the number of operator As service stops. This energization circuit starts from power supply line 88 through the rectifying and smoothing network 135 comprising resistor 136, rectifying diode 138, resistor M1 and smoothing condenser 142. The energization circuit continues from condenser 142 through conductor 1 .4, through pushbutton switch 128, through contact 122, through diode 146, through surge resistor 152, through relay or third relay means 158 and through the normally closed contacts 164 of thermal time-delay relay means 166 to the opposite side 94 of the power supply. Upon energization of relay 158, contacts 176 and 178 close immediately. The transfer of contact 178 closes the actuating circuit for counter 188 from the secondary winding of transformer or counter actuating means 194. The secondary winding is connected to deliver preferably 12.6 volts to actuate the counter. The counters 188, we and 192 are mounted on the central control panel 42 and correspond to the

counters

43, 45 and 47 as shown in FIG. 3 and are of the key-reset type. At any time, the totalized service stops creditable to each operator are displayed by the counter.

indicator lights 196, 198 and 200 are connected in parallel respectively with

counters

188, 190 and 192. Therefore, when counter 188 registers the service stop of operator A, indicator light 196 is also energized. The indicator lights are preferably mounted on a subpanel in view of the individual operators. The indicator light gives the operator assurance that the count was recorded for each service stop. These indicator lights also serve as a malfunction indicator in the event of an electrical or component failure.

Contact 176 of relay 158, which is also closed upon the energization of relay 158, closes an energization path for thermal time delay relay 166. Relay 158 remains energized through contact 176, diode 197, resistor 199, and contacts 164 until the thermal delay relay contacts 164 open. The delay period selected for this holding period is approximately 5 seconds, and it corresponds to the minimum time that an operator can service an adjacent machine before restarting another warper.

Diodes

146, 148 and 150 are inserted in the connections from the pushbutton switches to insure isolation and to prevent interaction between adjacent warper control circuits. Surge resistors 152, 154 and 156 limit the surge of the current flowing through

conductors

202, 204 or 206 when a pushbutton switch is closed.

The warper controls for one of the group of warpers are shown generally at208 and 210. From an inspection of the connections between the warper control and fraud-preventing circuits for the two warpers shown in FIGS. 5a and 517, it would be evident to one skilled in the art as to how to incorporate the necessary connections to handle more warpers than two.

Also, the circuitry of FIGS. 5a and 5b has been described in relation to three operators servicing two warpers. However, once again, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art as to the necessary pushbutton switch connections and counter connections that must be made in order to segregate the counts of more than three operators servicing the two warpers. Hence, there has been described circuitry which will segregate the individual service counts of a group of operators servicing a plurality of warpers. In the illustrated embodiment, three operators are provided for two warpers.

Counters

188, 190 and 192 are respectively provided for each of the operators along with indicating lights 196, 1% and 201). Relays 158, 160 and 162, respectively,

control contacts

176 and 178, 180 and 182, and 184 and 186 and thermal time delay relays 166, 170 and 174, respectively,

control contacts

164, 168 and 172. 7

As has been stated before, the depression of pushbutton switch 123 by operator A not only actuates counter 188 but also provides for the restarting of the warper machinery and the resetting of the fraud-preventing circuitry. The manner of restarting the warper machinery will now be described. The momentary depression of contact 128 energizes relay or fourth relay means 92 from power supply line 88, through rectifying and smoothing network 135, conductor 144, switch 128, diode 2 14, limiting resistor 218, and relay 92 to the opposite side 94 of the power supply. Contacts 220 of relay 92 are closed upon the energization of relay 92 thereby closing an energizing path for run coil 68 which controls the warper drive motor, as described before.

The method for resetting the fraudpreventing circuitry will now be described. The contact 91), upon energization of relay 92, will transfer and open the energization circuit for relay 86. When relay 86 is deenergized, holding contact 98 will open and contact 96 will open. When contact 96 opens, time delay relay 112 is deenergized, and its contact 116 opens but already relay 116 is deenergized upon the deenergization of relay 86 by the opening of contact 90. Therefore, immediately after the start button is pushed restarting the warper, relays 86 and 112 of the fraud-prevention circuitry are deenergized while relay 82 is energized, as described before. As soon as the start pushbutton switch 128 is released by operator A, relay means 92 is deenergized, thereby opening contact 220 and reclosing contact 20 so that contact is once again in posi tion to permit energization of relay 86 after the required time interval has elapsed to transfer contact 84 to the left position required for energizing relay 86.

Thus, broadly speaking, there have been described means for segregating the service stops attributable to individual members of a group servicing at least one machine and anticheat or fraud-prevention means for preventing and discouraging operators from attempting to register false counts.

More specifically, the means for segregating the counts of the individual operators comprises a plurality of switch means on each warper respectively assigned to the plurality of operators servicing the machine, means (transformer 194) for actuating the counters and a plurality of counters normally disconnected from the said actuating means for registering the segregated counts. The operation of the switch means respectively causes connection of the actuating means to the counter after a series of events have occurred in the fraud-prevention circuitry.

Basically, the fraud-prevention circuitry comprises first time-delay relay means (time-delay relay 82) for energizing a first relay means (relay 86) only after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops or starting or restarting of the machine. Until the first predetermined time interval has elapsed, the first time delay means prevents the switch means from causing said actuation of the counter. The energization of the first relay means enables a second time-delay relay means (time delay relay 112) to be operated when the said machine stops for the next service. The energization of second time-delay means 112 for a time in excess of a second predetermined minimum time interval (which following the initiation of that next service stop immediately causes second relay means 116 to be energized thereby enabling the switch means to cause said actuation of the counters when said switch means is operated. Third relay means (relays 158, 160, and 162) are also provided to establish the actual connection of said actuating means to said counter upon operation of said switch means. Further, fourth relay means 92 are provided for simultaneously restarting said machine and resetting said anticheat means upon depression of the stan switching means on the warpers.

Means are also provided for automatically stopping the warper drive motor upon breakage of any strand of yarn. These means include a pair of horizontal insulated parallel conducting bars 102 and 104 which are brought into electrical connection upon breakage of a strand of yarn in the warper. The means for bringing the bars 102 and 104 into electrical connection upon yarn breakage includes a drop eye which is placed above the horizontal bars 102 and 104 and remains for as long as tension is maintained in the particular strand threaded through the particular eye. However, when the yarn breaks, the tension is removed, thereby permitting the drop eye to fall across the parallel bars 102 and 104 and establishing the said electrical connection. Further relay means are provided for opening the energizing circuit for the warper drive motor upon the establishment of the said electrical connection between bars 102 and 1614.

There has now been described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. There is no intention to restrict the invention to the above-described illustrative embodiment. instead, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims.

1. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counter means which is actuated by an energizing source external to said device and which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, said device comprising:

first switching means normally coupled to said energizing source;

first time-delay means for causing the actuation of said first switching means by said energizing source only when the termination of a first predetermined machine starting time interval equal to the delay of said first time delay means occurs from the completion of one of said service stops;

second switching means in operative circuit relationship with said countermeans for enabling said actuation of said countermeans; and

second time-delay means operated by and first switching means after said actuation thereof and by said first time delay means upon initiation of the next service stop for energizing said second switching means and thereby permitting said counterrneans enabling only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed from said completion of said one service stop and also a subsequent second predetermined service stop time interval equal to the delay of said second time delay means has elapsed from the initiation of said next service stop immediately following a stop of said machine.

2. A device as in claim 1 where said first switching means comprises a first relay having first and second contacts and said first time delay means comprises a first time-delay relay having a contact which transfers after energization of said first time-delay relay for a time interval substantially equal to said first predetermined time interval;

said first relay being energized upon said transfer of and through said first time-delay relay contact from said energizing source, said first relay being held in its energized state through said first contact of said first relay by said energizing source until the next machine restart.

3. A fraud prevention device for use with a counter which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, and which is actuated by an energizing source, said device comprising:

first switching means normally coupled to said energizing source;

first time-delay means for enabling the energization of said first switching means by said energizing source only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the completion of one of said service stops, said first time-delay means determining said first predetermined time interval during which time no count can be recorded on said counter;

second switching means for enabling the actuation of said counter only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after the commencement of a service stop immediately following said one service stop; and

second time delay means in operative relationship which said second switching means for determining said second predetermined time interval;

where said first switching means comprises a first relay having first and second contacts and said first time-delay means comprises a first time-delay relay having a contact which transfers after energization of said first time-delay relay for a time interval in excess of said first predetermined time interval;

said first relay being energized upon said transfer of said first time-delay relay contact and through said contact from said energizing source, said first relay being held in its energized state through said first contact of said first relay by said energizing source;

where said second switching means comprises a second relay controlling at least one contact, said second relay contact enabling said counting of the service stop upon ill the energization of said second relay and where said second time-delay means comprises a second time-delay relay having a contact which is transferred after a time interval greater than said first and second predetermined time intervals has elapsed;

said second time-delay relay being energized after said first time-delay relay is deenergized, said energization of said second time-delay relay taking place through said first time-delay relay contact and said second contact of said first relay from said energizing source;

said second relay being energized after said second predetermined time interval has elapsed so that said second timexlelay relay contact transfers, the energization of said second relay being through said first contact of said first relay, said first relay, said second time-delay relay contact, and said second time-delay relay from said energizing source.

4. The device of claim 3 for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing the same plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device further comprising:

a plurality of switching means on each of said machines and respectively corresponding to said operators;

a plurality of counter-actuating means; and

a plurality of countermeans normally disconnected from said actuating means and respectively associated with said switching means, said countermeans normally being respectively connected to said counter-actuating means upon operation of said switching means.

5. A device for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group of N operators wherein the operators service the same plurality of machines, comprising:

a plurality of groups of N switching means, there being at least one of said switching means groups at each of the said plurality of machines, said switching means at each of said machines being respectively assigned to said operators;

N relay means respectively and selectively connected to said switching means at each of said machines;

an energizing source;

N counting means for registering service stop counts normally disconnected from said energizing source and respectively coupled to said relay means;

each one of said N-relay means being connected to cause ener'gization from said source of said respective counting means in response to the operation of said respective switching means at any stopped machine after the machine has been stopped for a predetermined servicing delay period, including thermal time delay means respectively operatively coupled with said N-relay means and with said energizing source for maintaining energization of said counting means from said energizing source for a predetermined interval of time, said N-relay means controlling the initial energization of said time-delay relay means.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 further including:

means for each machine for connecting said energizing source to one of said counting means only after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops and said predetermined servicing delay period has elapsed from the stopping of the machine and initiation of the next service stop so that when the switching means corresponding to one of said operators is operated, a count of said next service stop will be segregated and registered.

7. A device for segregating counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group of N operators servicing a plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device comprismg:

a plurality of groups of N-switching means, there being at last one of said switching means groups at each of said machines, the switches in each group being respectively assigned to said operators;

counter-actuating means;

N countermeans normally disconnected from said counteractuating means, said countermeans being connectable to said counter-actuating means upon operation of said respective switching means;

first means for each machine for preventing actuation of the countermeans upon operation of said switching means at the respective machine until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops; and

second means for each machine for respectively enabling the switching means at the respective machine to cause actuation of the counters only after said first time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined servicing time interval has elapsed from the stopping of the respective machine and initiation of the next service stop.

8. A device as in claim 7 including third means for establishing connection of said counter-actuating means to said countermeans after said first and second time intervals have elapsed.

9. A device as in claim 9 where said third means includes relay means for causing said respective connections of said counters to said counter-actuating means, one of said relay means being actuated after said first and second time intervals have elapsed in response to said operation of said switching means.

10. A device for segregating counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing a plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device comprising:

a plurality of switching means on each of said machines respectively corresponding to said operators; counter-actuating means;

a plurality of countermeans normally disconnected from said counter-actuating means, said countermeans normally being respectively connected to said counter-actutating means upon operation of said switching means;

first means for preventing actuation of said countermeans upon operation of said switching means until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops;

second means for respectively enabling said switching means to cause the said actuation of said countermeans only after said first time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed from the initiation of the service stop immediately following said one service stop;

third means for establishing connection of said counter-actuating means to said countermeans after said first and second time intervals have elapsed,

where said third means includes relay means for causing said respective connections of said counters to said counter-actuating means, one of said relay means being actuated after said first and second time intervals have elapsed in response to said operation of said switching means; and

means for causing said relay means to be maintained in the energized state for a third predetermined time interval after said switching operation comprising thermal time delay relay means, respectively associated with said relay means, said thermal time delay relay means associated with said one relay means being energized upon the energization of said relay means and causing the deenergization of said relay means after said third time interval has elapsed.

11. A device as in claim 7 including fourth means for simultaneously restarting said machine and resetting said first and second means upon operation of said switching means.

12. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising:

means for automatically stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on said material is required from said operator;

means operable by said operator for activating said counting means;

first time-delay means for permitting said activating of said counting means by said operator only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the starting of said machine and;

means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine for enabling the activation of said counting means by said operator upon operation thereby of said activating means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval, which corresponds to preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein said activating means includes:

at least one manually operable switching means for said operator at said machine for causing upon operation by said operator, the said activation only if said first and second time intervals have elapsed.

M. A device as in claim 13 further including:

first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; and

power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval.

15. A device as in claim 14 wherein said enabling means includes second time-delay means and second relay means,

said second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means, said manually operable switching means and said second time-delay means for enabling the actuation of said countermeans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops.

16. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising:

means for automatically stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a said material is required from said operator;

means operable by said operator for activating said counting means;

first time-delay means for permitting said activating of said counting means by said operator only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the starting of said machine;

means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine for enabling the activation of said counting means by said operator via said activating means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval; which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops;

said means for activating said counting means including at least one manually operable switching means for said operator at said machine for causing upon operation by said operator, the said activation only if said first and second time intervals have elapsed;

first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to aid first relay means after said first predetermined time interval;

wherein said means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine includes second timedelay means and second relay means, said second relay means being in circuit relationship with said first relay means, said manually operable switching means and said second time-delay means for enabling the actuation of said counter means only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops;

coil means in parallel circuit relationship with said first time-delay means for controlling operation of said machine;

third relay means in circuit relationship with said second relay means and said power supply for enabling the energization of said counting means; and

rectifier means in circuit relationship between said second relay means and respective ones of said third relay means.

17. A device as in claim 16 further including:

thermal time-delay relay mans respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said respective third relay means after a third time interval.

18. A device as in claim 17 further including indicating means respectively coupled in circuit relationship with said counting means.

19. A device as in claim 13 further including:

transformer means in circuit relationship between said power supply means and said counting means.

20. Apparatus including a plurality of devices each as in claim 12 for respective use with a corresponding plurality of said machines served by a plurality of said operators;

said counting means including in said apparatus a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators;

said activating means including a plurality of manually operable switch means;

there being at each said machine at least one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to said operators; and

means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at one of the machines 21. Apparatus as in claim 21) wherein each of said devices includes:

22. Apparatus as in claim Zll wherein each of said devices further includes:

second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and with said manually operable switching means for enabling the actuation of said countermeans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time-interval has elapsed after said machine stops.

23. Apparatus including a plurality of devices for respective use with a corresponding plurality of machines each of which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said machines being served by a plurality of operators.

each said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of a said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine and comprising:

means operable by said operator for activating said counting means;

first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval;

second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and with said manually operable switching means for enabling the actuation of said counterrneans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops;

coil means in parallel circuit relationship with said first time-delay means for controlling operation of a respective one of said machines;

rectifier means in circuit relationship between said second relay means and respective ones of said third relay means; said apparatus including as said counting means a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators;

said activating means including a plurality of manually operable switch means;

there being at each said machine at least one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to each one of said operators; and means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at one of the machines.

24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said counting means includes:

thermal time delay relay means respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said respective third relay means after a third time interval.

25. Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said counting means further includes indicating means respectively coupled in circuit relationship with said counting means.

26. Apparatus as in claim 25 further including transformer means in circuit relationship between said power supply means and said counting means.

27. Apparatus for use with machines which process textiles and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means, which registers the number of service stops a machine operator performs to repair textile breakage, comprising:

a plurality of switching means adjacent at least one of said machines and respectively assigned to a plurality of operators;

coil means in circuit relationship with said switching means and operative to run said one machine;

first time-delay means in circuit relationship with said run coil means for preventing actuation of said counting means before a first predetermined amount of time equal to the delay of said first time-delay means wherein said first time-delay means includes at least one contact and wherein said first predetermined time corresponds to the minimum time it takes for said textile breakage to occur after starting of said one machine;

first relay means in circuit relationship with said contact and including at least two contacts;

power supply means in circuit relationship with said first delay means for selectively energizing said first relay means;

second time-delay means in circuit relationship with a contact of said first time-delay means, with at least one of said contacts of said first relay means, and with said power supply means wherein said second time-delay means includes at least one contact;

second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and in operative relationship with said counting means to enable the registration of service stops by the operator; and

reset relay means in circuit with said switching means for deenergizing said first and second relay means and said second time delay means and energizing said coil means and first time-delay means upon the operation of one of said switching means by said operator.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27 further including:

actuating means in circuit relationship with said counting means; and

third relay means in selective circuit relationship with said second relay means, said power supply means and said counting means for enabling the energization of said counting means by said actuating means.

29. Apparatus as in claim 28 further including:

thermal time'dclay relay means respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said third relay means after a third time interval.

30. Apparatus as in claim 29 further including indicating means, respectively coupled in circuit relationship with said counting means.

31. Apparatus for use with machines which process textiles and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of countermeans which is actuated by an energizing source external to said device and which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, comprising:

first relay means;

first time-delay means for actuating said first relay means only after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops;

second relay means for enabling said actuation of said countermeans;

second timedelay means for energizing said second relay means and thereby permitting said enabling only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed from the initiation of the service stop immediately following said one service stop;

a plurality of groups of switching means respectively at said plurality of machines, each of said switching means in each group at each of said machines being respectively assigned to a different operator;

third relay means respectively in circuit with said switching means at each of said machines;

an energizing source;

said countermeans including a plurality of counting means respectively assigned to said different operators for registering counts and being normally disconnected from said energizing source and respectively coupled to said third relay means; and

one of said third relay means causing energization of the respective counting means in response to the operation of the corresponding one of said switching means to energize said third relay means from said energizing source.

32. An arrangement comprising a plurality of devices for respective use with a corresponding plurality of machines served by a plurality of operators, which machines process materials subject to requiring service during processing, and counting means including a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators for registering the number of service stops, said devices being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said counting means, each of said devices comprising:

means for preventing said actuation of the counting means until a first predetermined time interval has passed from the starting of a respective machine;

means operative upon the stopping of said respective machine for enabling the actuation of said counting means by said operator only if the respective machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after the respective machine stops;

means including a plurality of manually operable switch means for actuating said counters;

there being at each said machine at least one different one of said switch means respectively assigned to each of said operators; and

means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any one of the said machines following the performance of his required service at said one of the machines.

33. An arrangement as in claim 32 wherein said preventing means prevents counter actuation by an operator during said first time interval even if the respective machine stops and each said device includes further means in selective circuit with said enabling means for preventing counter actuation by an operator during the time period from the end of said first time interval until the respective machine stops and said second predetermined time interval has elapsed.

34. A device for use with at leat one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising:

switch means coupled to said counting means and operable to first and second positions;

means for stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a material is required;

means operable when said machine stops for actuating said switch means to the first of said positions after a predetermined period of delay; counter-updating means coupled to said switch means and operable at the end of a service stop to update said counting means when said switch means is in said first position;

means included in said actuating means for preventing said counter updating by said updating means during said delay period;

means operable by the operation of said counter-updating means at the end of said delay period to restart said machine, change said switch means to its second position, and initiate a second delay period; and

means for preventing actuation of said switch means back to said first position during said second delay period even if said machine stops during tat second period to prevent said updating then and for preventing said updating thereafter by said updating means until said material again needs servicing and the machine stops therefor.

35. A device as in claim 34 for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing a plurality of machines further comprising:

fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means which registers the number of service stops a machine operator performs wherein each of said devices includes:

means for preventing said registering until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the starting of said machine; and

means for enabling the actuation of said counting means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval, which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops;

said apparatus being for use with a corresponding plurality of machines served by a plurality of said operators;

said enabling means including a plurality of manually operable switch means;

there being at each said machine at last one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to said operators; and

means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counting means in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counter means, so that any given countermeans to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at said one of the machines.

37. A method for determining the number of stops serviced by each operator of a group of operators assigned to service the textile material being processed by a plurality of textile machines each of which has associated with it at least one counter-actuating switch for each of said operators, there being a plurality of counters respectively for said operators to record the machine stops during which the respective operator services the textile material, comprising the steps of:

initiating a first delay period following the stopping of a machine for operator servicing of the textile material being processed by that machine;

preventing operator updating of said counters during said first delay period by any of the counter-actuating switches associated with the stopped machine;

servicing the textile material of the stopped machine by any one of said operators;

terminating said first delay period after a time corresponding to about the minimum time that said servicing can be performed;

operating by said one operator after completion of his servicing of the textile material and after said first delay period, a counter-actuating switch which is associated with the stopped machine and assigned to said one operator for updating his assigned counter;

restarting said stopped machine concurrently with said counter updating; and

initiating from the start of said restarted machine a second delay period during which no service stop for the restarted machine can be recorded by any of said operators on any of said counters even if the restarted machine stops again during that second delay period.

Claims

1. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subjecT to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counter means which is actuated by an energizing source external to said device and which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, said device comprising: first switching means normally coupled to said energizing source; first time-delay means for causing the actuation of said first switching means by said energizing source only when the termination of a first predetermined machine starting time interval equal to the delay of said first time delay means occurs from the completion of one of said service stops; second switching means in operative circuit relationship with said countermeans for enabling said actuation of said countermeans; and second time-delay means operated by said first switching means after said actuation thereof and by said first time delay means upon initiation of the next service stop for energizing said second switching means and thereby permitting said countermeans enabling only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed from said completion of said one service stop and also a subsequent second predetermined service stop time interval equal to the delay of said second time delay means has elapsed from the initiation of said next service stop immediately following a stop of said machine.

2. A device as in claim 1 where said first switching means comprises a first relay having first and second contacts and said first time delay means comprises a first time-delay relay having a contact which transfers after energization of said first time-delay relay for a time interval substantially equal to said first predetermined time interval; said first relay being energized upon said transfer of and through said first time-delay relay contact from said energizing source, said first relay being held in its energized state through said first contact of said first relay by said energizing source until the next machine restart.

3. A fraud prevention device for use with a counter which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, and which is actuated by an energizing source, said device comprising: first switching means normally coupled to said energizing source; first time-delay means for enabling the energization of said first switching means by said energizing source only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the completion of one of said service stops, said first time-delay means determining said first predetermined time interval during which time no count can be recorded on said counter; second switching means for enabling the actuation of said counter only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after the commencement of a service stop immediately following said one service stop; and second time delay means in operative relationship which said second switching means for determining said second predetermined time interval; where said first switching means comprises a first relay having first and second contacts and said first time-delay means comprises a first time-delay relay having a contact which transfers after energization of said first time-delay relay for a time interval in excess of said first predetermined time interval; said first relay being energized upon said transfer of said first time-delay relay contact and through said contact from said energizing source, said first relay being held in its energized state through said first contact of said first relay by said energizing source; where said second switching means comprises a second relay controlling at least one contact, said second relay contact enabling said counting of the service stop upon the energization of said second relay and where said second time-delay means comprises a Second time-delay relay having a contact which is transferred after a time interval greater than said first and second predetermined time intervals has elapsed; said second time-delay relay being energized after said first time-delay relay is deenergized, said energization of said second time-delay relay taking place through said first time-delay relay contact and said second contact of said first relay from said energizing source; said second relay being energized after said second predetermined time interval has elapsed so that said second time-delay relay contact transfers, the energization of said second relay being through said first contact of said first relay, said first relay, said second time-delay relay contact, and said second time-delay relay from said energizing source.

4. The device of claim 3 for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing the same plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device further comprising: a plurality of switching means on each of said machines and respectively corresponding to said operators; a plurality of counter-actuating means; and a plurality of countermeans normally disconnected from said actuating means and respectively associated with said switching means, said countermeans normally being respectively connected to said counter-actuating means upon operation of said switching means.

5. A device for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group of N operators wherein the operators service the same plurality of machines, comprising: a plurality of groups of N switching means, there being at least one of said switching means groups at each of the said plurality of machines, said switching means at each of said machines being respectively assigned to said operators; N relay means respectively and selectively connected to said switching means at each of said machines; an energizing source; N counting means for registering service stop counts normally disconnected from said energizing source and respectively coupled to said relay means; each one of said N-relay means being connected to cause energization from said source of said respective counting means in response to the operation of said respective switching means at any stopped machine after the machine has been stopped for a predetermined servicing delay period, including thermal time delay means respectively operatively coupled with said N-relay means and with said energizing source for maintaining energization of said counting means from said energizing source for a predetermined interval of time, said N-relay means controlling the initial energization of said time-delay relay means.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 further including: means for each machine for connecting said energizing source to one of said counting means only after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops and said predetermined servicing delay period has elapsed from the stopping of the machine and initiation of the next service stop so that when the switching means corresponding to one of said operators is operated, a count of said next service stop will be segregated and registered.

7. A device for segregating counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group of N operators servicing a plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device comprising: a plurality of groups of N-switching means, there being at last one of said switching means groups at each of said machines, the switches in each group being respectively assigned to said operators; counter-actuating means; N countermeans normally disconnected from said counter-actuating means, said countermeans being connectable to said counter-actuatiNg means upon operation of said respective switching means; first means for each machine for preventing actuation of the countermeans upon operation of said switching means at the respective machine until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops; and second means for each machine for respectively enabling the switching means at the respective machine to cause actuation of the counters only after said first time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined servicing time interval has elapsed from the stopping of the respective machine and initiation of the next service stop.

10. A device for segregating counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing a plurality of machines and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent attempts to register said counts, said device comprising: a plurality of switching means on each of said machines and respectively corresponding to said operators; counter-actuating means; a plurality of countermeans normally disconnected from said counter-actuating means, said countermeans normally being respectively connected to said counter-actutating means upon operation of said switching means; first means for preventing actuation of said countermeans upon operation of said switching means until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops; second means for respectively enabling said switching means to cause the said actuation of said countermeans only after said first time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed from the initiation of the service stop immediately following said one service stop; third means for establishing connection of said counter-actuating means to said countermeans after said first and second time intervals have elapsed, where said third means includes relay means for causing said respective connections of said counters to said counter-actuating means, one of said relay means being actuated after said first and second time intervals have elapsed in response to said operation of said switching means; and means for causing said relay means to be maintained in the energized state for a third predetermined time interval after said switching operation comprising thermal time delay relay means, respectively associated with said relay means, said thermal time delay relay means associated with said one relay means being energized upon the energization of said relay means and causing the deenergization of said relay means after said third time interval has elapsed.

12. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising: means for automatically stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a said material is required from said operator; means operable by said operator for activating said counting means; first time-delay means for permitting said activating of said counting means by said operator only when the termination of a first predetermined Time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the starting of said machine and; means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine for enabling the activation of said counting means by said operator upon operation thereby of said activating means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval, which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein said activating means includes: at least one manually operable switching means for said operator at said machine for causing upon operation by said operator, the said activation only if said first and second time intervals have elapsed.

14. A device as in claim 13 further including: first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; and power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval.

15. A device as in claim 14 wherein said enabling means includes second time-delay means and second relay means, said second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means, said manually operable switching means and said second time-delay means for enabling the actuation of said countermeans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops.

16. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising: means for automatically stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a said material is required from said operator; means operable by said operator for activating said counting means; first time-delay means for permitting said activating of said counting means by said operator only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the starting of said machine; means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine for enabling the activation of said counting means by said operator via said activating means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval; which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops; said means for activating said counting means including at least one manually operable switching means for said operator at said machine for causing upon operation by said operator, the said activation only if said first and second time intervals have elapsed; first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval; wherein said means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine includes second time-delay means and second relay means, said second relay means being in circuit relationship with said first relay means, said manually operable switching means and said second time-delay means for enabling the actuation of said counter means only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops; coil means in parallel circuit relationship with said first time-delay means for controlling operation of said machine; third relay means in circuit relationship with said second relay meAns and said power supply for enabling the energization of said counting means; and rectifier means in circuit relationship between said second relay means and respective ones of said third relay means.

17. A device as in claim 16 further including: thermal time-delay relay means respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said respective third relay means after a third time interval.

19. A device as in claim 18 further including: transformer means in circuit relationship between said power supply means and said counting means.

20. Apparatus including a plurality of devices each as in claim 12 for respective use with a corresponding plurality of said machines served by a plurality of said operators; said counting means including in said apparatus a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators; said activating means including a plurality of manually operable switch means; there being at each said machine at least one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to said operators; and means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at one of the machines.

21. Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein each of said devices includes: first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; and power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval.

22. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein each of said devices further includes: second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and with said manually operable switching means for enabling the actuation of said countermeans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time-interval has elapsed after said machine stops.

23. Apparatus including a plurality of devices for respective use with a corresponding plurality of machines each of which processes materials subject to requiring service during machine processing, said machines being served by a plurality of operators, each said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of a said machine of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine and comprising: means for automatically stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a said material is required from said operator; means operable by said operator for activating said counting means; first time-delay means for permitting said activating of said counting means by said operator only when the termination of a first predetermined time interval equal to the delay of said first time-delay means occurs from the starting of said machine; means automatically responsive to the said automatic stopping of said machine for enabling the activation of said counting means by said operator via said activating means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval; which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops; first relay means operatively coupled to a contact of said first time-delay means; power supply means in circuit relationship with said first time-delay means and selectively coupled to said first relay means after said first predetermined time interval; second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and with said manually operable switching means for enabling the actuation of said countermeans only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after said machine stops; coil means in parallel circuit relationship with said first time-delay means for controlling operation of a respective one of said machines; third relay means in circuit relationship with said second relay means and said power supply for enabling the energization of said counting means; and rectifier means in circuit relationship between said second relay means and respective ones of said third relay means; said apparatus including as said counting means a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators; said activating means including a plurality of manually operable switch means; there being at each said machine at least one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to each one of said operators; and means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at one of the machines.

24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said counting means includes: thermal time delay relay means respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said respective third relay means after a third time interval.

27. Apparatus for use with machines which process textiles and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means, which registers the number of service stops a machine operator performs to repair textile breakage, comprising: a plurality of switching means adjacent at least one of said machines and respectively assigned to a plurality of operators; coil means in circuit relationship with said switching means and operative to run said one machine; first time-delay means in circuit relationship with said run coil means for preventing actuation of said counting means before a first predetermined amount of time equal to the delay of said first time-delay means wherein said first time-delay means includes at least one contact and wherein said first predetermined time corresponds to the minimum time it takes for said textile breakage to occur after starting of said one machine; first relay means in circuit relationship with said contact and including at least two contacts; power supply means in circuit relationship with said first delay means for selectively energizing said first relay means; second time-delay means in circuit relationship with a contact of said first time-delay means, with at least one of said contacts of said first relay means, and with said power supply means wherein said second time-delay means includes at least one contact; second relay means in circuit relationship with said first relay means and in operative relationship with said counting means to enable the registration of service stops by the operator; and reset relay means in circuit with said switching means for deenergizing said first and second relay means and said second time delay means and energizing said coil means and first time-dElay means upon the operation of one of said switching means by said operator.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27 further including: actuating means in circuit relationship with said counting means; and third relay means in selective circuit relationship with said second relay means, said power supply means and said counting means for enabling the energization of said counting means by said actuating means.

29. Apparatus as in claim 28 further including: thermal time-delay relay means respectively associated with said third relay means for enabling the deenergization of said third relay means after a third time interval.

31. Apparatus for use with machines which process textiles and for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of countermeans which is actuated by an energizing source external to said device and which registers the number of service stops performed by a machine operator, comprising: first relay means; first time-delay means for actuating said first relay means only after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the completion of one of said service stops; second relay means for enabling said actuation of said countermeans; second time-delay means for energizing said second relay means and thereby permitting said enabling only after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed from the initiation of the service stop immediately following said one service stop; a plurality of groups of switching means respectively at said plurality of machines, each of said switching means in each group at each of said machines being respectively assigned to a different operator; third relay means respectively in circuit with said switching means at each of said machines; an energizing source; said countermeans including a plurality of counting means respectively assigned to said different operators for registering counts and being normally disconnected from said energizing source and respectively coupled to said third relay means; and one of said third relay means causing energization of the respective counting means in response to the operation of the corresponding one of said switching means to energize said third relay means from said energizing source.

32. An arrangement comprising a plurality of devices for respective use with a corresponding plurality of machines served by a plurality of operators, which machines process materials subject to requiring service during processing, and counting means including a plurality of counters respectively assigned to said operators for registering the number of service stops, said devices being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation by an operator of said counting means, each of said devices comprising: means for preventing said actuation of the counting means until a first predetermined time interval has passed from the starting of a respective machine; means operative upon the stopping of said respective machine for enabling the actuation of said counting means by said operator only if the respective machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval has elapsed after the respective machine stops; means including a plurality of manually operable switch means for actuating said counters; there being at each said machine at least one different one of said switch means respectively assigned to each of said operators; and means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to said counters in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counters, so that any given counter to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as Aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any one of the said machines following the performance of his required service at said one of the machines.

34. A device for use with at least one machine which processes materials subject to requiring service, said device being capable of preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means which registers the number of service stops effected by the machine, comprising: switch means coupled to said counting means and operable to first and second positions; means for stopping said machine when the aforesaid service on a material is required; means operable when said machine stops for actuating said switch means to the first of said positions after a predetermined period of delay; counter-updating means coupled to said switch means and operable at the end of a service stop to update said counting means when said switch means is in said first position; means included in said actuating means for preventing said counter updating by said updating means during said delay period; means operable by the operation of said counter-updating means at the end of said delay period to restart said machine, change said switch means to its second position, and initiate a second delay period; and means for preventing actuation of said switch means back to said first position during said second delay period even if said machine stops during that second period to prevent said updating then and for preventing said updating thereafter by said updating means until said material again needs servicing and the machine stops therefor.

35. A device as in claim 34 for segregating the counts of service stops attributable to individual operators of a group servicing a plurality of machines further comprising: a plurality of the said counter-updating means at each of said machines, the updating means at each machine being respectively assigned to said operators; counter-actuating means in circuit with an energy source; and said counting means including a plurality of countermeans normally disconnected from said actuating means and respectively associated with said updating means, said countermeans normally being respectively connected to said counter-actuating means upon operation of said updating means following the first-mentioned delay period for the respective machine.

36. Apparatus including a plurality of devices for preventing fraudulent or inadvertent actuation of counting means which registers the number of service stops a machine operator performs wherein each of said devices includes: means for preventing said registering until a first predetermined time interval has elapsed from the starting of said machine; and means for enabling the actuation of said counting means only if said machine stops after said first predetermined time interval has elapsed and a second predetermined time interval, which corresponds to a preset desired minimum time for a service stop, has elapsed after said machine stops; said apparatus being for use with a corresponding plurality of machines served by a plurality of said operators; said enabling means including a plurality of manually operable switch means; there being at each said machine at last one different one of the said switch means respectively assigned to said operators; and means for each of said devices for coupling the said switch means from each said machine via the said enabling means of the respective device to sAid counting means in correspondence with the operator assignments to said switch means and counter means, so that any given countermeans to which any given operator is assigned becomes actuated only as aforesaid after that given operator operates his assigned switch means at any of the said machines following the performance of his required service at said one of the machines.

37. A method for determining the number of stops serviced by each operator of a group of operators assigned to service the textile material being processed by a plurality of textile machines each of which has associated with it at least one counter-actuating switch for each of said operators, there being a plurality of counters respectively for said operators to record the machine stops during which the respective operator services the textile material, comprising the steps of: initiating a first delay period following the stopping of a machine for operator servicing of the textile material being processed by that machine; preventing operator updating of said counters during said first delay period by any of the counter-actuating switches associated with the stopped machine; servicing the textile material of the stopped machine by any one of said operators; terminating said first delay period after a time corresponding to about the minimum time that said servicing can be performed; operating by said one operator after completion of his servicing of the textile material and after said first delay period, a counter-actuating switch which is associated with the stopped machine and assigned to said one operator for updating his assigned counter; restarting said stopped machine concurrently with said counter updating; and initiating from the start of said restarted machine a second delay period during which no service stop for the restarted machine can be recorded by any of said operators on any of said counters even if the restarted machine stops again during that second delay period.