GB2097824A

GB2097824A - Patterning device for circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: GB2097824A
Application number: GB8210680A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Elitex Zavody Textilniho; Elitex Koncern Textilniho Strojirenstvi
Current assignee: Elitex Zavody Textilniho; Elitex Koncern Textilniho Strojirenstvi
Priority date: 1981-04-15
Filing date: 1982-04-13
Publication date: 1982-11-10
Also published as: GB2097824B; CS223457B1; IT8220700A0; IT1190769B

Abstract

A patterning device for circular knitting machines has slides (3) for cooperation with butts of selector jacks in the tricks of the needle cylinder. Each slide (3) is operable by means of a cam (7) coupled to the needle cylinder. The movement of each slide (3) can be arrested by a pawl (13) actuated by an electromagnet (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Patterning device for circular knitting machines The present invention relates to a patterning device for circular knitting machines, particularly small diameter circular knitting machines.

Patterning devices are known, comprising levers and patterning drums with attached projections or butts. The disadvantage of such devices consists in that each pattern change must be performed by a mechanical change of cams or, by setting new pins for each row of butts, this being very lengthy and elaborate. Moreover, such devices are relatively complicated. Further devices are known, which comprise swingable levers, or possibly displaceable slides controlled by electromagnets, by means of which the butts of selector jacks are acted upon.

The disadvantage of the said device consists in the high demands put on the portative force of the controlling electromagnetc relative to the high mass to be controlled, thus limiting their operation at rather high speeds. A further disadvantage of the embodiment of slides or pressbutton slides, which are controlled directly by electromagnet or electropneumatic systems, consists in the possibility of a crash upon failure or a displacement of the electronic scanning of the needle cylinder position.

The mitigation of the said disadvantage and the achievement of a more reliable operation is the aim of the device according to the present invention, which comprises slides to engage the butts of selector jacks mounted below the needles in the tricks of the needle cylinder, a control cam in horizontal position for moving the slides, said control cam being coupled in its motion with the needle cylinder, while each slide is provided with a securing pawl operable by a control electromagnet.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a patterning device; Fig. 2 is a view of the device as represented in Fig. 1 in the direction from the centre of the needle cylinder; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified device; Fig. 4 is a view of the device as shown in Fig. 3 in the direction from the centre of the needle cylinder; and Figs. 5 and 6 show modified details of the device.

In Fig. 1 a needle cylinder 1 is shown with tricks in which are selector jacks having butts following a path 2, the selector jacks being intended for controlling the motion of knitting needles (not represented). Slide 3 is laterally guided by means of pins 4 and 5, and is moved in a direction away from the needle cylinder 1 by means of lever 6 and cam 7. Cam 7 is mounted on an independent drum and driven by a toothed belt 8 or another toothed transmission from the needle cylinder 1.

The slide 3 is urged towards the needle cylinder 1 by means of a compression spring 9, which bears against stationary part 10. Lever 6 is angularly displaced about pin 11 and pressed against the cam by spring 12. The securing of slide 3 in its extreme extended position is performed by means of lever 13, which engages by its tooth 14 recess 1 5 in the slide 3 by action of spring 19. This takes place when a pulse is not switched in the coil of electromagnet 1 6 and when cam 1 7 retracts, by its projection 17, slide 3 via projection 18, by means of lever 6 in a rotary motion around pin 11.

If during the time, in which slide 3 is withdrawn from the needle cylinder 1 by means of projection 18 by lever 6 and cam 7, an electric pulse is switched into the coil of electromagnet 16, then the magnet circuit passing through core 20 attracts by its force lever 1 3 against spring 1 9 into the position as shown in the drawing, by turning lever 13 around pin 21. In that manner is determined which slide is near needle cylinder 1 during operation; and which is retained inoperative at a position remote from needle cylinder 1, and thus out of range of butts 2 of the selector jacks.

Because slides 3 are mounted at short distances above each other, a further electromagnet 22 with core 23 and lever 25 controlled by spring 24 and rotatable about pin 26 can be mounted at the opposite side of the slide, with an analogous function to that of electromagnet 16, said slides being arranged in echelon. This echelon arrangement of the slides and the alternating arrangement of electromagnets 22 is shown in Fig. 2, in which lever 25 is controlled by core 23 and electromagnet 22, and secures slide 31. In Fig. 2, the device controlling cam 7 and lever 6 is not represented.

In Fig. 3, a second embodiment is represented, in which needle cylinder 1 with a circular path for butts 2 of the not represented selector jacks directly coupled with cam 41, said cam being provided with two projections 42, 43 at different heights, said projections acting upon control rods 44, 45 similarly at different heights. In that manner, the stroke of projections 42, 43 is transmitted by means of rockers 46, 49, which are pivotable about pivots 47,48 to slides 50, 51. The slides 50, 51 are guided laterally and at their respective heights in frame 52, in a similar manner to rods 44, 45. Pin 53 is coupled with the frame, a tension spring 54 being secured at one end to the pin 53 at the other end to slides 50, 51 at point 55.Slides 50, 51 are secured at the needle cylinder by means of lever 56, pivotable about 57 and pressed by spring 58 in such a manner that detent 59 of lever 56 engages recess 60 in slide 50, 51. In the case, that said slide 50, 51 should not be near cylinder 1 in the further half revolution, then the programming device admits an electric pulse into electromagnet 61, which forms a magnetic field in core 62, said magnetic field attracting lever 56 towards core 62 and thus releasing recess 60 and enabling slide 50, 51 to be retracted by spring 54 from the engagement with butts 2 of the selector jacks. In Fig. 4, an arrangement of slides 50, 51 and electromagnets 61 is represented in superposition, in accordance with Fig. 3. The fastening of cores 62 of electromagnet 61 by means of nut 70 in frame 52 is also represented.

In Fig. 5, an alternative arrangement using a directly movable core 75 of electromagnet 61 is shown, for securing slide 3 by engagement into a recess. The slide 3 is guided in frame 52 and urged towards needle cylinder (not represented), by means of a tension spring 54, which is secured with one end on pin 53, connected to frame 52, and with its other end 55 to slide 3.

In Fig. 6, an alternative securing of slide 3 by means of an elastic pawl 74, which is controlled by an electromagnet 61 with a stationary core 72, is represented. Thus, pawl 74 is withdrawn upon an electric pulse from recess 73 thus releasing slide 3 guided in frame 52. Slide 3 is drawn towards needle cylinder 1 by tension spring 54 with one end on pin 53, which is connected to frame 52, and with its other end to slide 3 at point 55.

Claims

1. A patterning device for circular knitting machines, particularly of the small diameter type, comprising slides to engage the butts of selector jacks mounted below the needles in the tricks of the needle cylinder, a control cam in horizontal position for moving the slides, said control cam being coupled in its motion with the needle cylinder, while each slide is provided with a securing pawl operable by a control electromagnet.

2. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the control cams are mounted below the needle cylinder and are directly connected therewith.

3. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the control cams are mounted on an independent drum extraaxially to the needle cylinder, said drum being coupled with the drive of needle cylinder by a toothed transmission.

4. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pawl is formed by an angularly displaceable lever operable by the electromagnet against the action of a spring.

5. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the paw is formed by a movable core of the electromagnet.

6. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pawl is a flat spring.

7. A patterning device for circular knitting machines, particularly of the small diameter type, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A patterning device for circular knitting machines, particularly of the small diameter type, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

.9. A patterning device as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 but modified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 or 6 of the accompanying drawings.