Nondestructive, Continuous Rapid Measurement and Control of Flock Density

A nondestructive technique for rapidly and continuously measuring the density of flocked fabric was developed and used to continuously monitor an experimental flocking range. A sensing device measured the capacitance of a capacitor when the fabric with adhesive passed through it. This value was saved and compared with the value read when the flocked substrate passed through a second transducer downstream. A process monitoring computer received these signals and output a signal to a strip chart recorder proportional to the mass of flock on the substrate. The recorded signal could then be used to control the uniformity of flock deposition on the substrate.