EP0508009A1

EP0508009A1 - Apparatus for producing controlled displacement

Info

Publication number: EP0508009A1
Application number: EP91303140A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masaaki Takita
Original assignee: HARISA KOGYO also known as HARISA NEEDLE CO Ltd KK; Silk Giken Also Known As Silk Research & Development Co Ltd KK
Current assignee: HARISA KOGYO also known as HARISA NEEDLE CO Ltd KK; Silk Giken Also Known As Silk Research & Development Co Ltd KK
Priority date: 1989-12-22
Filing date: 1991-04-09
Publication date: 1992-10-14
Also published as: JPH03193957A

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling displacement in a warp knitting machine and the like has a frame (2), carriers (10a, 10b) slidable within the frame (2), an output shaft (8) which is connected to a guide bar or the like, and a device for transmitting a controlled amount of displacement to the output shaft (8). The device for transmitting the controlled amount of displacement to the output shaft (8) comprises support members (16) fixedly secured to the frame (2), a plurality of sliding members (18) carried at one end by the carriers (10a, 10b) and linked at the other end to pulleys (22, 24) mounted on coupling members (26), and a device for releasably connecting the support members (16) with the sliding members 18. The coupling members are linked to each other in a series by band members (28 30), so as to combine the displacements of the sliding members (18), to a final total displacement which is transmitted to the output shaft (8).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling displacement. This apparatus was originally developed as a displacement control apparatus for a guide bar in a warp knitting machine, and therefore is most suitable for this purpose. Although the description in this specification involves this particular application only, it should be understood that the apparatus is applicable to other purposes too.
In a warp knitting machine, knitting operation is carried out by moving all guide points or guide needles en masse in longitudinal and lateral directions in response to the movement of a guide bar. At present, a guide bar is moved either by using a pattern wheel or chain links.
According to a method using the pattern wheel, a pattern wheel or disc, which has a predetermined difference of elevation on its circumference, drives the guide bar to move in the lateral direction. In this method, however, the size of one pattern extending lengthwise is limited to the circumferential length of the pattern wheel so that a variety of knit patterns cannot be obtained. In addition, changing the pattern wheels is not easy.
According to a method using the chain links, a plurality of chain links are combined or connected in accordance with a predetermined pattern and are mounted on the circumference of a pattern drum. In this method, although there is no limit in the size of one pattern extending lengthwise, the chain links are very complicated, and their control apparatus is expensive. Changing the chain links is not easy.
US Patent No. 4,139,997 proposes a new method in which a ribbon steel plate is used. The steel plate is pressed against an eccentric roller and guide rollers for deformation of the steel plate. The degree of deformation of the steel plate defines amounts of movement of the guide bar. The apparatus of this U.S. patent is relatively simple in structure and inexpensive to produce, but the lengthy steel plate may be subject to deflection and inadvertent deformation, which makes exact amounts of displacement difficult to obtain.
With the foregoing in mind, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a displacement control apparatus which is relatively simple in structure and enables one to obtain precise amounts of displacement.
According to the present invention there is provided in a first aspect apparatus for producing controlled displacement comprising a frame, and an output member which is moveable relative to the frame, characterised in that there is provided a plurality of displacement members each of which is displaceable by movement relative to the frame between predetermined positions, the displacement members being coupled to the output member by a plurality of pulleys such that the displacements of the displacement members between the predetermined positions are combined and transferred to the output member. Preferably the arrangement of the pulleys is such that the displacements of different displacement members are combined in different proportions determined by the operation of the pulleys.
In one preferred arrangement the pulleys are mounted on coupling means which are moveable relative the frame and each displacement member is coupled to a line extending around a pulley on a coupling means, whereby displacement of a displacement member produces displacement of a coupling means, the coupling means being coupled to the output member. Conveniently each coupling means is coupled to a succeeding coupling means by a line, which passes around a pulley on the first mentioned coupling means, and is fixed to the said succeeding coupling means. Conveniently the last coupling means in a series of coupling means, is connected to the output member.
In a preferred form, there is provided a series of coupling means and displacement members interconnected serially by a series of pulleys, the last of the series of coupling means being coupled by a line to a pulley on an output coupling means to which the output member is connected. In accordance with a preferred feature, the coupling means, displacement members and pulleys, are of the same dimensions and layout, such that the displacement of each displacement member between the said predetermined positions contributes to the combined displacement of the output member in a proportion which increases towards the said final coupling means. Conveniently a second series of coupling means and displacement members is provided, the last of the second series of coupling means also being coupled to the said final coupling means to which the output member is connected.
In some preferred arrangement, the apparatus may include carrier means which is moveable relative to the frame for displacing the displacement members between the predetermined positions, and support means for releasably securing selected ones of the displacement members at one of the predetermined positions while others of the displacement members are returned to other predetermined positions.
In accordance with the invention in a further aspect, there may be provided an apparatus for controlling displacement for a warp knitting machine and the like having a frame, carriers slidable within the frame, an output shaft which is connected to a guide bar and the like, and means for transmitting the movement of the carriers to the output shaft, characterized in that said means for transmitting the movement of the carriers to the output shaft is able to transmit a controlled amount of displacement according to the movement of a plurality of sliding members each having pulleys.
Preferably, said means for transmitting the movement of the carriers to the output shaft comprises a plurality of support members fixedly secured to the frame, a plurality of sliding members carried at its one end by said carriers and having the pulleys and means for releasably connecting said support means with said sliding members.
Preferably, said sliding members each comprises pulleys, band members and linear members carried by said carriers, said sliding members being hauled by traction means and connected to one another between adjacent sections in a plurality of sections.
In accordance with the apparatus of the present invention, at least in preferred forms, a predetermined amount of displacement, which is controlled based on the principle of pulleys, can be transmitted to the output shaft by means of the movement of a plurality of sliding members each having pulleys.
The apparatus of the present invention is simple in structure and reliable in operation, thus being suitable as a displacement control apparatus for a guide bar in a warp knitting machine.
By way of example, an embodiment of the
present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanied drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an overall displacement control apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a sliding member.
Fig. 3 is a graph showing the relation between the movements of carriers 10a, 10b and A and B blocks.

Referring to Fig. 1, apparatus embodying the invention consists of upper and lower blocks each divided laterally into two parts by an intermediate frame 4 within a frame 2. For convenience's sake, the upper block is referred to as "A block" and the lower one "B block". Each of the A and B blocks has a pair of carrier sliding shafts 6 (6a and 6b; 6c and 6d) positioned one above the other, and there is provided an output shaft 8 positioned between the two blocks A and B. A guide bar (not shown) is moved by the displacement movement of the output shaft 8. The carrier sliding shafts 6 of the A and B blocks are each connected to by a carrier 10a, 10b. The carriers 10a, 10b are reciprocated by a knife (not shown) driven by the power from a power source (not shown) between a fixed support member 16 (described later) and the intermediate frame 4. The carrier 10a of the A block and the carrier 10b of the B block are designed to move in a direction opposite to each other by the movement of an oscillation lever 14, which is attached at its ends to the carriers 10a, 10b of the two blocks so that the lever 14 may oscillate around an oscillation center 12.
In this embodiment, both A and B blocks are composed of 8 sections, although the number need not be restricted to eight. Each section of the A block is named here A1, A2, A3... A8 from the top in sequence, and each section of the B block is named B1, B2, B3... B8 from the bottom in sequence. The two blocks A and B are symmetrical so the further description of the structure is mainly made with respect to the A block.
Fixed support members 16 are positioned at the left ends of the respective sections of the two blocks. Sliding members 18 adapted to reciprocate within the frame 4 are releasably secured to these support members 16. The support members 16 and the sliding members 18 in each section are essentially the same in construction with each other.
The support member 16 is designed to temporarily secure the end 20a of the sliding member 18, so it may have any shape and structure provided such an object can be met. The illustrated example shows that the sliding members 18 are caught by the corresponding support members 16 in the A block at the sections A3, A4 and A7, and in the B block at all the sections.
The left end 20a of each sliding member 18 may have any shape and structure if it can be temporarily secured to or released from the support member 16. Each carrier 10a, 10b includes a through-hole, through which the end 20a of the sliding member 18 may pass. The end 20a is carried by the through-hole of the carrier 10a, 10b substantially in a horizontal direction so that it will not sag down when released by the support member 16. The carrier 10a, 10b also serves as a stopper for preventing the left end 20a of the sliding member 18 from passing through the through-hole. This also allows the carrier 10a, 10b to bring the sliding member 18 back to the left side once the latter has been moved to the right side. (For convenience's sake, the output side is referred to as "right" and its opposite side as "left" in this specification.)
As coupling means for coupling the support member 16 and the end 20a of the sliding member 18, there may be employed mechanical means such as a hook or clutch, or electrical means such as an electromagnet. The illustrated example uses a hook.
The sliding member 18 slides along a sliding shaft 19 mounted horizontally in each section. The sliding member 18 comprises a linear member 20 having the left end 20a, a pair of pulleys (namely a first pulley 22 and a second pulley 24), a coupling member 26 for the pulleys, and first and second band members 28, 30 passing around the pulleys. The linear member 20, and the first and second band members 28, 30 are made of tough material such as stainless steel.
As shown in Fig.2, the pulleys 22, 24 and coupling member 26 are positioned between the adjacent sections so that the number of their rows is less than the member of sections by one.
The coupling member 26 is substantially of T-shape with a horizontal upper part 26a and a lower vertical part 26b. The upper part 26a is attached at its ends to each pulley 22, 24 in such a manner that the latter may rotatably be driven. The lower side 26b has a fixing member 26c for the bands 28, 30.
Between sections A1 and A2, the first band member 28 provides a connection between the right end of the linear member 20 in A1 and the right end of the linear member 20 in A2 via the pulley 24 positioned between A1 and A2. Between sections A2 and A3, a connection is established between the fixing member 26c of the coupling member 26 and the right end of the linear member 20 in A3 via the pulley 24 positioned between A2 and A3. A connection similar to the one between A2 and A3 is provided between A3 and A4, between A4 and A5, between A5 and A6, between A6 and A7, and between A7 and A8.
Between sections A1 and A2, the second band member 30 provides a connection between the right end of the linear member 20 in A1 and the right end of the linear member 20 in A2 via the pulley 22 positioned between A1 and A2. Between sections A2 and A3, a connection is provided between the fixing member 26c of the coupling member and the right end of the linear member 20 in A3 via the pulley 22 positioned between A2 and A3. A connection similar to the one between A2 and A3 is provided between A3 and A4, between A4 and A5, between A5 and A6, between A6 and A7, and between A7 and A8.
As shown in Fig. 1, on the output shaft 8 located between the blocks A and B, there is mounted a sliding member 18, which is connected between the sliding member 18 in the final section (A8) in the A block and the sliding member 18 in the uppermost section (B8) in the B block. The total amount of displacement accomplished by the A and B blocks will be transmitted to the output shaft 8.
Since the sliding member 18 is always biased in the right direction by a traction means such as an extension spring 32, the sliding member 18 moves instantly in the right direction upon the movement of the carrier 10a, 10b in the right direction and the release from the support member 16 of the left end 20a of the sliding member 18. The interconnection by the band members between the pulleys 22, 24 in each section, however, prevents the sliding member 18 from reaching the right end of the frame 2, as will be described later.
Fig. 3 is a graph showing the relation between the movements of the carriers 10a, 10b and the amount of displacement of the two blocks. As aforementioned, the carrier 10a in the A block moves in a direction opposite to the carrier 10b in the B block.
When the carrier 10a in A block is placed in the left end and the carrier 10b in the right end with all the sliding members 18 in the B block being secured stationary to the corresponding support members 16, the amount of displacement of the output shaft is zero (at a point a).
When the carrier 10a in the A block is placed in the right end and the carrier 10b in the B block in the left end, with all the sliding members 18 in the A block being released from the corresponding support members 16, the amount of displacement of the output shaft 8 is the maximum (at a point b).
When the carrier 10a in the A block is placed in the left end and the carrier 10b in the B block in the right end, with a part of the sliding members 18 being released from the corresponding support members 16, the amount of displacement of the output shaft 8 is intermediate (at a point c).
When the carrier 10a in the A block is placed in the right end and the carrier 10b in the B block in the left end with a part of the sliding members 18 being fixed to the corresponding support members 16, the amount of displacement of the output shaft 8 is also intermediate (at a point d).
When the carrier 10a in the A block is placed in the right end and the carrier 10b in the B block in the left end with all the sliding members 18 being released from the corresponding support members 16, the amount of displacement of the output shaft 8 is maximum (at a point e).
In the above description, such expressions as "a part" of the sliding members 18 being "fixed" or "released" are used for simplicity. To obtain fine-adjustment of the output amount of displacement, however, it is necessary to determine which section of the respective blocks is secured to or released from the support member 16.
According to the principle of pulleys, the amounts of displacement in each section are 1/2 for the sections closest to the output shaft (A8 and B8), 1/4 for the next sections (A7 and B7), 1/8 for the next sections (A6 and B6), 1/16 for the next sections (A5 and B5), 1/32 for the next sections (A4 and B4), 1/64 for the next sections (A3 and B3), 1/128 for the next sections (A2 and B2), and 1/256 for the remotest sections (A1 and B1).
In Fig.1, for example, since the sections A1, A2, A5, A6 and A8 are released, the amount of displacement in the A block is 0.69921875 (from 1/2 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/128 + 1/256). In the B block, since all the sections are fixed, the amount of displacement is zero. The amount of displacement of the output shaft 8, which is obtained by adding the amounts of displacement of the two blocks and dividing the total value by two, is 0.349609375.
In order to obtain a precise amount of displacement of the output shaft required by a warp knitting machine, it is necessary to determine by calculation which section's sliding member is fixed and which section's sliding member is released, and quickly sends the resultant data to the apparatus of this invention. Such a calculating and data transmitting mechanism per se is known.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, other variations may be made utilizing the inventive concepts herein disclosed. It is intended that all such variations be considered as within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the A and B blocks are arranged in one row so as to be appropriate for a displacement apparatus for a warp knitting machine. If necessary, however, the apparatus may be made compact by arranging the respective blocks separately in two rows or putting the pulleys in a lateral direction.

Claims

Apparatus for producing controlled displacement comprising a frame (2), and an output member (8) which is moveable relative to the frame (2), characterised in that there is provided a plurality of displacement members (18) each of which is displaceable by movement relative to the frame (2) between predetermined positions, the displacement members (18) being coupled to the output member (8) by a plurality of pulleys (22, 24) such that the displacements of the displacement members (18) between the predetermined positions are combined and transferred to the output member (8).
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the arrangement of the pulleys (22, 24) is such that the displacements of different displacement members (18) are combined in different proportions determined by the operation of the pulleys (22, 24).
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the pulleys (22, 24) are mounted on coupling means (26) which are moveable relative the frame (2), and each displacement member (18) is coupled to a line (28, 30) extending around a pulley (22, 24) on a coupling means (26), whereby displacement of a displacement member (18) produces displacement of a coupling means (26), the coupling means (26) being coupled to the output member (8).
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which each coupling means (26) is coupled to a succeeding coupling means (26) by a line (28, 30), which passes around a pulley (22, 24) on the first mentioned coupling means (26), and is fixed to the said succeeding coupling means (26).
Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the last coupling means (26) in a series of coupling means (26), is connected to the output member (8).
Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which there is provided a series of coupling means (26) and displacement members (18) interconnected serially by a series of pulleys (22, 24), the last of the series of coupling means (26) being coupled by a line (28, 30) to a pulley (22, 24) on an output coupling means (26) to which the output member (8) is connected.
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the coupling means (26), displacement members (18) and pulleys (22, 24), are of the same dimensions and layout, such that the displacement of each displacement member (18) between the said predetermined positions contributes to the combined displacement of the output member (8) in a proportion which increases towards the said final coupling means (26).
Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 in which a second series of coupling means (26) and displacement members (18) is provided, the last of the second series of coupling means (26) also being coupled to the said final coupling means (26) to which the output member (8) is connected.
Apparatus according to any preceding claim including carrier means (10a) which is moveable relative to the frame (2) for displacing the displacement members (18) between the predetermined positions, and support means (16) for releasably securing selected ones of the displacement members (18) at one of the predetermined positions while others of the displacement members (8) are returned to other predetermined positions.
An apparatus for controlling displacement in a warp knitting machine and the like having a frame, carriers slidable within the frame, an output shaft which is connected to a guide bar of the warp knitting machine and the like, and means for transmitting the movement of the carriers to the output shaft, characterized in that said means for transmitting the movement of the carriers to the output shaft is able to transmit a controlled amount of displacement according to the movement of a plurality of sliding members each having pulleys.