GB917530A - Improvements in linking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

917,530. Sewing-machines. PRESTIGE Inc. May 19, 1959, No. 16977/59. Class 112. The invention relates to a method of and a machine for automatically loading knitted fabrics on to the point dial of a linking machine. In one embodiment (see Figs. 1 and 4) the loading arrangement comprises a rotatable loading dial 30 driven from the linking-machine and including a ring 66 to which loading points are clamped, in radial grooves therein, by a ring 72 having a depending flange 73 which secures the dependent ends 74 of the loading-point shanks. A guard 76 is provided on the dial 30 to cover the driving rack 64. The loading points are spaced around the periphery of the dial in groups A, B, C, D &c., each group comprising a leading end set 32, a trailing end set 34 and intermediate, shorter, sets 36, 37, 38. The points of the end sets are long enough to extend over and into grooves in the points 14 on the linking- machine dial when these points are opposite each other. The distance from the leading- point of set 32 to the trailing point of set 34 is greater than the distance between the vertical edges of the fabric when that fabric is unstretched, so that the operator stretches the fabric to align the three or four end stitches of the leading margin with, and then impale them on, the points of set 32 of any group, and then align the end stitches of the trailing margin with, and impales them on, the points of set 34 of the same group. Intermediate portions of the fabric are then indiscriminately impaled upon the sets 36, 37, 38 of short points. As the loading dial rotates and points 32 approach the points 14 the fabric is transferred on to the latter by the oscillation of fingers 84 carried on the arm 86 of a lever oscillated by a link 92 connected with the needle cam 96 of the linking machine. The linking machine is provided with a brush 20, a work-trimming knife 18 and a guide 16. In a second embodiment (Fig. 8) each group of loading points is carried on a clip 114 which moves along a track 115 and is supported by pins extending upwards from a chain passing around sprockets 110 journalled below a bed-plate 100. The clips are propelled past the linking points by gears 116, 118 which engage racks 108 attached to the clips. The finger 84<1> transferring fabric from the loading points on the clips to the linking points 141 of the dial 121 is oscillated about its pivot-pin 158 by a link 921 and is reciprocated along the pin 158 by the action of a cam 164 on the extension 160 of the lever, a spring 166 effecting return motion. This arrangement may also be used in the embodiment of Fig. 1. A guide 144 is provided to prevent the ravel margins of the fabric interfering with the impalement of the fabric stitches on the linking machine points.