GB1064242A - Improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

In a knitting machine, a row of individually slidable instruments, e.g. beard presser, elements or loop transfer points, is controlled by a row of corresponding electro-mechanical devices which when energized or de-energized govern displacements of the instruments and means for energizing and de-energizing the electromagnetic devices selectively. As shown, sliders 1 with butts 1a, 1b, which operate as disclosed in Specification 933,072 to press or leave unpressed needle beards primarily for tuck patterning, are operated by droppers 2 slidable in a support 3 with a locating stop 3a for the butts 1b of sliders 1. Each dropper 2 has butts 2a and 2c and an edge 2d engaging a shaft 5 which carries a mounting for leaf springs 4 engaging slots 3c in support 3 and for a common lifting bar 7 under the droppers. Solenoids 8 with core parts 8a are associated with top butts 2a and are selected by a programming device, e.g. of the punched card control kind. When a dropper 2 is held raised by a part 8a, its butt 2c rides over the associated slider whereas the remaining droppers 2 lowered by the leaf springs 4 engage the rear butts 1a of the associated sliders. Shaft 5 is advanced, e.g. as described in Specification 933,072, and the lowered droppers advance their associated sliders to press the associated needles. Mounting (6) is then raised e.g. as described in Specification 1,057,111 so that bar 7 raises the lowered droppers until the bottom butts 2c are clear of slider butts 1a and top butts 2a are substantially opposite parts 8a. Shaft 5 retracts carrying droppers 2 with it so that sliders 1 are retracted by the part 3a of support 3. Top butts 2a of droppers 2 which have been held raised by parts 8a now return parts 2 to inoperative position. The lifting bar then raises droppers 2 to an upper level with top butts 2c clear of solenoid parts 8a and ready to repeat the cycle of operations with a fresh selection of solenoids operated. The arrangement is used in a normal straight-bar knitting machine, Figs. 4, 5, 5a (not shown) and the sliders have edges (26) for pressing the needle beards (11) and are mounted on sinker bar (22) between sinkers (21). Shaft (5) is mounted to be operated through a linkage by a cam on the main shaft (9). The solenoids 8 are clamped between bars (39), (40) Fig. 6 (not shown) and the cores are slidably guided in a guide bar (43). The transfer points may be operated similarly.