1. A method for enumeration by assigning a second number to a device of a plurality of devices, each device of the plurality of devices having a different unique first number, the method comprising:
comparing at least portions of the first numbers by successively comparing at least portions of first numbers of devices passing a preceding comparison until one device remains, wherein the second number is assigned to the one device that remains;
assigning the second number to one of the plurality of devices depending on the result of the comparison; and
counting a count of comparisons a device has not passed and assigning the second number based on the count.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein different portions of the first numbers are compared in subsequent comparisons.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first numbers comprise an order of binary digits and wherein, when successively comparing, different binary digits are compared according to the order.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating comparing and assigning for such devices to which the second number has not been assigned.
5. A method for enumeration by assigning a second number to a device of a plurality of devices, each device of the plurality of devices having a different unique first number, the method comprising:
comparing at least portions of the first numbers by providing signals indicative of the at least portions of the first numbers to a signal line and detecting the state of the signal line, wherein the signal line is capable of acquiring different states, the states comprising at least a first state and a second state, wherein the signal line comprises the first state when at least one signal provided to the signal line corresponds to the first state, and wherein the signal line comprises the second state when all signals provided to the signal line correspond to the second state; and
assigning the second number to one of the plurality of devices depending on the result of the comparison.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning the different unique first numbers to the devices of the plurality of devices.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the different unique first numbers comprise at least one of a device-specific number, a serial number, an identifier indicative of the type of the device, an identifier indicative of a manufacturer of the device, a wafer number, a position of the device on the wafer, a random number, a pseudo-random number andor a predetermined number.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second number is shorter than the first number.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second number comprises a minimum length required to enable different second numbers to be assigned to each of the devices of the plurality of devices.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a trigger signal or a power supply signal, wherein comparing at least portions of the first numbers is initiated upon receipt of the trigger signal or the power supply signal.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the comparing and assigning are performed by the plurality of devices.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the devices of the plurality of devices comprises an integrated circuit, a memory device or a memory circuit.
13. A method for enumeration by assigning a second number to a device having a different first number with respect to a further device, the method comprising:
providing at least one binary digit of the different first number to a signal line coupled to the device and, for each provided binary digit, detecting a state of the signal line, wherein the signal line is capable of acquiring different states, the states comprising at least a first state and a second state, wherein the signal line comprises the first state when at least one signal provided to the signal line corresponds to the first state, and wherein the signal line comprises the second state when all signals provided to the signal line correspond to the second state;
comparing the state of the signal line and the provided binary digit; and
assigning the second number to the device based on the result of the comparison of the state of the signal line and the provided binary digit.
14. A method for enumeration by assigning a second number to a device having a different first number with respect to a further device, the method comprising:
successively providing at least one binary digit of the first number to a signal line coupled to the device and, for each provided binary digit, successively detecting a state of the signal line when the device passes the preceding comparison until one device remains, wherein the signal line is capable of acquiring different states, the states comprising at least a first state and a second state, wherein the signal line comprises the first state when at least one signal provided to the signal line corresponds to the first state, and wherein the signal line comprises the second state when all signals provided to the signal line correspond to the second state;
successively comparing the state of the signal line and the provided binary digit when the device passes the preceding comparison until one device remains;
counting a count of comparisons a device has not passed; and
assigning the second number to the device based on the count and based on the result of the comparison of the state of the signal line and the provided binary digit when the device is the one device that remains coupled to the signal line.
15. A device for enumeration by assigning a second number to the device, the device comprising:
a first storage position storing a first number;
a second storage position storing the second number;
circuitry coupled to the first storage position and the second storage position, the circuitry comparing at least a portion of the first number with a portion of a different first number associated with another device and assigning a second number to the device based on a result of the comparison and comparing at least portions of first numbers of devices passing a preceding comparison until one device remains, and assigning the second number to the device, when the device is the one device that remains; and
a counter that determines a count of comparisons a device has not passed, wherein the circuitry assigns the second number based on the count.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry compares different portions of the first numbers in subsequent comparisons.
17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the circuitry is adapted such that comparing at least a portion of the first number with at least a portion of a different first number is repeated until the second number has been assigned to the device.
18. A device for enumeration by assigning a second number to the device, the device comprising:
a first storage position storing a first number;
a second storage position storing the second number;
circuitry coupled to the first storage position and the second storage position, the circuitry comparing at least a portion of the first number with a portion of a different first number associated with another device and assigning a second number to the device based on a result of the comparison; and
a driver circuit to be coupled to a signal line and to provide signals indicative of the portions of the first number to the signal line and to detect a state of the signal line for each provided portion of the first number, wherein the signal line is capable of acquiring different states, the states comprising at least a first state and a second state, wherein the signal line comprises the first state when at least one signal provided to the signal line corresponds to the first state, and wherein the signal line comprises the second state when all signals provided to the signal line correspond to the second state, and wherein the circuitry is adapted to compare the state of the signal line with at least the corresponding provided portion of the first number.
19. The device according to claim 15, further comprising further circuitry to assign the first number to the device.
20. The device according to claim 15, wherein the first number comprises at least one of a device-specific number, a serial number, an identifier indicative of the type of the device, an identifier indicative of a manufacturer of the device, a wafer number, a position of the device on the wafer, a random number, a pseudo-random number, a predetermined number andor a unique number.
21. The device according to claim 15, wherein the second number is shorter than the first number.
22. The device according to claim 15, wherein the second number comprises a minimum length required to enable different second numbers to be assigned to each of the other devices.
23. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device receives a trigger signal andor a power supply signal, wherein the circuitry initiates comparing at least a portion of the first number with at least a portion of a different first number associated with another device upon receipt of the trigger signal or the power supply signal.
24. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device comprises an integrated circuit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. An apparatus for cleaning a stopped weaving machine having a reed with warp yarns passing therethrough, said warp yarns forming a warp yarn sheet on said machine, said apparatus comprising a motive means for moving said apparatus along said reed, a cleaning means for removing debris from said reed, and a yarn-deflecting means for deflecting the warp yarn sheet and allowing said cleaning means to act on said reed as said apparatus moves along said reed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weaving machine is an air jet weaving machine having a series of auxiliary air nozzles, and wherein said cleaning means simultaneously removes debris from both said reed and said series of auxiliary air nozzles as said apparatus moves along said reed.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises an integrated clamping means for securing said apparatus in an operative position on said reed as said apparatus moves along said reed.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said clamping means is comprised of a clamping air cylinder and a clamping roller mount that is cooperatively positioned with respect to said clamping air cylinder.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises a directional switch for actuating said clamping means by directing air into said clamping air cylinder.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said motive means is comprised of a pneumatic drive motor, a winder drum associated with said drive motor, and a length of drive cable having a first end attached to said winder drum and a second end attached to a locking block.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said motive means further comprises securing means associated with said locking block for securing said second end of said drive cable to said reed, thereby allowing said apparatus to be pulled along said reed as said length of drive cable is wound around said winder drum.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said yarn-deflecting means is comprised of a pair of yarn deflector bars extending along the length of said apparatus, each yarn deflector bar having a plurality of yarn deflector wheels attached thereto, said wheels being positioned to engage said warp yarns.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cleaning means is comprised of a plurality of rotating brushes.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cleaning means is comprised of at least one front rotating brush, attached to a front brush shaft and operably associated with a front brush motor, and at least one rear rotating brush, attached to a rear brush shaft and operably associated with a rear brush motor.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said front brush motor and said rear brush motor are pneumatic motors, and wherein said front brush shaft and said rear brush shaft counter-rotate in relation to one another.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said front brush motor and said rear brush motor turn said front brush shaft and said rear brush shaft, respectively, at a rotational speed in the range of 300 to 1100 revolutions per minute.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said apparatus has more than two brush shafts.
14. A method for cleaning a weaving machine having a reed, said method comprising the steps of mounting on said reed a self-propelled device having brush means and allowing said mounted device to move along said reed while said brush means is activated, thereby removing debris accumulations from said reed as said device moves along said reed.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said weaving machine contains a sheet of warp yarns passing through said reed, and wherein said method comprises the additional step of downwardly deflecting individual yarns comprising said yarn sheet as said device moves along said reed, thereby making said reed accessible for cleaning.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said weaving machine is an air jet weaving machine having a series of auxiliary air nozzles, and wherein said method comprises the additional step of simultaneously cleaning said reed and said series of auxiliary air nozzles with said activated brush means.
17. A method for cleaning debris from a stopped weaving machine having a reed and harnesses by using a pneumatically-actuated, self-propelled cleaning device, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning said reed and harnesses of said weaving machine to provide for passage of said device between said reed and harnesses;
(b) positioning said device on one end of said reed;
(c) supplying pressurized air within a prescribed range to said device;
(d) clamping said device to said reed after said device is positioned on said reed;
(e) initiating a motive means for moving said device across said reed;
(f) applying cleaning solution to said reed;
(g) brushing debris accumulations from said reed by means of rotating brushes attached to said moving device;
(h) stopping said motive means when said device has traversed said reed; and
(t) removing said device from said weaving machine.
18. The method of claim 17 that further includes the step of blowing said debris away from said reed after said device is removed from said weaving machine.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein said harnesses of said weaving machine are positioned in an all-down position.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein said harnesses of said weaving machine are positioned in an all-level position.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the reed of said stopped weaving machine is positioned in the range of 280 to 295 in relation to the operating cycle of said weaving machine.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein said prescribed range of pressurized air being supplied by said main air supply conduit is in the range of 15 to 150 pounds per square inch (gauge).