US1991563A - Fabric take-up mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1935, H MCADAMS 1,991,563

FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.-

INVENTOR.

Hal-P M Adams ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 1 9, 1935 1,991,563 FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM Harry McAdams, Reading, Pa., assignor to Nolde and Horst Company, tion Reading, Pa., a corpora- Application June 28, 1932, Serial No. 619,789

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fabric take-up mechanisms.

The primary-object of this invention is the provision of an automatic revolving fabric takeup device particularly well adapted for use upon knitting machines, by means of which the knitted fabric will be maintained under a uniform tension at all times.

A further object of this invention is the vision of an' automatic revolving take-up mechanism particularly well adapted to be used upon full automatic ribknitting machines such as set forth in my application Serial No. 558,798, filed August 22, 1931; the improved take-up device maintaining a uniform tension upon the knitted fabric at all times and compensating during oscillation of the knitting machine cylinder, such as occurs during knitting of the heel and toe of a; stocking, to relieve the tension upon the fabric supported upon the knitting machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved takeup mechanism, showing its mounting upon the legs of a knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the improved take-up mechanism showing more particularly the clutch thereof in its position for take-up of fabric.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view showing the take-up mechanism partly in section, this view showing the clutch thrown out of driving connection with the take-up gearing. A

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and showing more particularly the spring urged take-up roll.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose .of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved take-up device, which may include a stationary frame B' adapted for attachment to legs or framework C of a knitting machine. A driving gear means D is mounted on the frame 13, which is driven at all times at the same speed of revolution as the cylinder of the knitting machine, and upon which is mounted for similar rotation the take-up roller arrangeproment E;' the latter having an improved clutching construction F normally resiliently urged, by mounting details'of the roller arrangement E, into driving connection.

The stationary frame B of the improved takeup mechanism A is provided, as shown in Figure 3, has an annular depression wherein is rotatably mounted a ring gear 11 comprising part of the means D; the frame B having a circular opening therethrough with an upstanding vertical flange 15 adapted to seat within an annular groove 17 provided in the lower surface of the gear 11, as shown in Figure 3. The frame B is attached at 20 to a cross bar or rail 21; the latter being secured at 22 to the legs or other framework C of a knitting machine, such as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 558,798, above mentioned; it being understood that the take-up roller portion E is located directly below the rotating cylinder of such machine in order to receive the fabric as it is knitted.

In addition to the gear 11 the drive gearing means D, upon which the roller features E of the invention are mounted, includes an attaching ring 25, shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings, which is attached at 26 to the bottom of the gear 11; the attaching ring overlapping the undersurface of the bed of the frame Bin order to prevent vertical movement of the gear 11, yet 4 permitting its rotation. It will be noted that the annular flange 15 riding in the groove 17 prevents the teeth of the gear 11 from contacting the walls of the bed of the frame B in which it is seated.

v A drive shaft 30 has a bearing in a portion 31 of the frame B, as shown in the drawings, and is provided with a pinion 33 in meshing engagement with the teeth of the gear 11. The shaft 30 is driven off the cylinder driving mechanism of the knitting machine on which the takeup mechanism A is mounted, so that the gear 11 will be driven at the same linear speed as the cylinder of the knitting machine. Of course the gear 11 and ring 25 are provided with openings to permit the dropping therethrough of the knitted work after it is taken up through the roller means E to be subsequently described.

Referring to the take-up portion proper 'E of the device A, the same includes parallel side rails 35 and 36 connected at similar ends by a cross member 3'7. In plan view the framework comprising the rails 35, 36 and the cross piece 3'? is of U-shape, as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Take-up rollers 38 and 39 are rotatably supported in the rails 35 and 36, on axes at right 55 angles thereto. The roller 38 is rotatably mounted in the rails on a fixed axis. The spindle ends of the roller 39, however, are mounted in slidable blocks 40, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, which are spring urged at 41 in the usual manner, so that the roller 39 is peripherally adjacent to the roller 38; the fabric being fed between the rollers 38 and 39 to effect take-up, in a manner which is well understood in this art.

The rollers 38 and 39 are geared together by means of pinions 43 which have relatively long teeth in meshing engagement; these pinions being in geared connection at all times notwithstanding the axial play of the roller 39 away from the roller 38. The said rollers 38 and 39 are longitudinally fluted or grooved to prevent the fabric from slipping over the gripping surfaces of said rollers.

Posts 50, 51 and 52 are vertically mounted upon the rotary gear 11, being fixed at their lower ends in said gear and upstanding in right angular relation from the plane of the gear and in relative parallelism. The cross portion 37 of the roller frame is provided with extension pieces 55 apertured for slidably receiving the post 50 therethrough. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings the free ends of the rails 35 and 36 are similarly provided with extension pieces 57 and 58 which are apertured for respectively slidably receiving the posts 51 and 52 therethrough. This three-point slidable mounting, of the roller frame insures that the same will have a truly vertical rectilinear movement. Each of the posts 50, 51 and 52 above the portions of the roller frame slidable thereon is provided with an adjustable sleeve 60 and a,

spring 61 under compression between the sleeve 60 and the portion of the roller frame connected upon the posts, to normally urge'the roller frame downwardly. This action, as will be subsequently described, normally tends to maintain the clutch mechanism F in driving association with the roller driving means.

Referring to the driving connection F, a. ringshaped gear is connected at 81 upon the top of the frame B; the same being an internally toothed" gear and the diametrical pitch of the teeth being considerably greater than the diametrical pitch of the teeth of the gear 11, so that the latter, except for the ring 25, may be lifted through the gear 80. The gear 11 is pro- 'vided with a shaft 82 rotatably. bearing-thereon,

' as shown in Figure 2, upon which is mounted a pinion 83 immediately above the gear 11 and in meshing relation with the teeth of the stationary ring gear 80. A vertical stationary post is mounted in the gear 11, as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, about the lower end of which is rotatably mounted a pinion 91 in meshing engagement with the pinion 83 above mentioned. The pinion 91 is non-rising, and is permanently in mesh with the pinion 83. A worm 94 is rotatably mounted on the post 90 for vertical sliding thereon; the worm94 being retained in definite non axial movable relation with the frame of the roller means E by means of upper and lower bracket arms 96 and 97 respectively, which are 78 the female clutch portion 91 which consists of attached to theframe rail 36, as shown in Flg ures 2 and 4 of the drawings. The spindle end of 'the roller 38' is provided with a worm gear 100 "in mesh with the worm 94.

' The clutch feature of the invention includes opposed male extensions 102 on the lower hub end of the worm 94 adapted to cooperate with the opposed radial recesses 103, as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

In operation, the shaft 30 will rotatably drive the gear 11 at the same speed of rotation as the cylinder. With the clutching parts in the position shown in Figure 2 it is quite apparent that the worm and worm gear will drive the rollers 38 and 39 for a take-up of the fabric as it is knitted upon the machine. They will main-v tain the fabric under a definite and uniform tension at all times. If the tension upon the fabric exceeds the predetermined amount there will of course be a lifting action upon the rollers 38 and 39 and the frame work upon which said rollers are mounted, which will bodily lift said frame portion against compressive action of the springs 61. This will pull the clutch teeth 102 out of engagement with the recesses 103, throwing out the clutch and preventing rotation of the,

' rollers 38 and 39, so far as take-up of the fabric is concerned. As soon as the tension upon the fabric is released to the proper degree the springs 61 will again urge the worm 94 downwardly to clutch the extensions 102 in. the recesses 103 and again rotate the rollers 38 and 39 for a takeeup of the fabric. 7

Various changes in. the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a, fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a stationary supporting frame including a gear fixed against rotation, a rotary frame, means for rotating said frame, a take-up device including a frame having take-up rollers therethe roller frame so as to place said clutch parts v in engagement. v

2. In a fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a stationary frame, a rotatable frame mounted in the stationary frame, posts vertically' carried in fixed relation upon the rotatableframe, a roller take-up frame mounted for sliding along said posts for movement toward and away from the rotary frame and rotatable therewith, and driving means between the rotatable frame and rollers of the roller frame ineluding clutch parts in engagement normally and out of engagement as the roller. frame moves away from the first mentioned rotary frame 3. ma fabric take-up mechanism thecomhi- V nation of a stationary'framaa rotatableframe mounted in the stationary frame, posts carried upon the rotatable frame, a roller takeup frame slidably mounted upo said posts for movement toward and away mm the frame and rotatable therewith! driving means" tween the rotatable frame and rgllers of'the roller frame including clutch parts in engagement normally and out of-engagement as the roller frame moves away from the first mentionedJ-otary frame, and spring the roller frame to place said clutch parts in engagement.

4. In a fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a stationary frame, a rotary gear mounted on the stationary frame against axial movement, drive means meshing with the rotary gear for driving the same, a roller take-up frame carried by the rotary gear for rotation therewith and mounted for vertical movement towards and f away from said rotary gear, a stationary gear,

a pinion rotatable on the rotary gear on a fixed axis in mesh with the stationary gear, a second gear rotatable ona fixed axis upon the rotatable gear. first mentioned and in mesh with the first mentioned pinion for drive thereby, a worm gear keyed with a'take-up roller of said roller frame, a worm in mesh with the worm gear and bodily -movable with the roller frame, and a clutch including a part upon said worm and a second part upon said second mentioned pinion, said clutch parts being in engagement when the roller frame is in close relation to the rotary gear first mentioned'and out of engagement when the roller frame is moved away from said rotary gear.

5. .In a fabric take-up mechanism for knitting machines and the like the combination of a stationary frame including a stationary gear, a non-axially movable rotary frame on the stations ary frame, means for rotation of said rotary frame, a roller fabric take-up frame mounted upon the rotary frame for rotation therewith and for rectilinear movement axially away therefrom, a worm and worm gear drive for the roller portion of said roller frame including a clutch part fixed with said worm, and a second clutch part rotatably geared with the stationary gear and adapted to mesh with the clutch part of said worm when the roller frame is in position of its movement closest to said rotary frame.

6. In a fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a stationary support, a rotary frame support mounted upon the stationary support, a

roller take-up frame, means mounting the roller take-up frame for movement towards and away from the rotary frame support, means for driving the take-up rollers of the roller frame including rotary clutch parts upon the rotary frame and the roller take-up frame, and spring means urging the roller take-up frame towards the ro- I tary frame support to normally maintain said including clutch parts in engagement normally and out of engagement as the roller frame moves away from the rotary frame, and spring means upon said posts acting against the roller take-up frame to urge it in the direction of said rotary frame and normally holding said clutch parts in operating engagement.

8. In a fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a stationary frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the stationary frame, upright posts carried upon the'rotatable frame and fixed therewith, a roller take-up frame slidably mounted upon said posts for movement towards and away from the rotary frame and connecting the said roller take-up frame for rotation with the rotary frame, means between the rotatable frame and rollers of the roller take-up frame including clutch parts in engagement normally and out of engagement as the roller frame moves away from the rotary frame, springs upon said posts, and adjustable collars connected upon eachof the posts and holding the springs under compression for urging the clutch parts into operating engagement. I

'9. In a fabric take-up mechanism the combination of a rotary' supporting frame, a rotary clutch 'part thereon, a second frame mounted upon the rotary frame for movement towards and away from the rotary frame, take-up rollers rotatably bearing in said second frame and geared together, drive gearing upon said second frame including a gear having a clutch part adapted to interengage with'the clutch part first mentioned,

and spring means normally urging the second frame .to interengage said clutch parts.

' HARRY McADAMS.

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