US2124104A - chatfield - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1938.

F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANKLIN CHATFIELD *wmcm/M A TToHNEYs Jul 19, 1938. F. CHATF1ELD 2,124,104

KNITTING MACHINE FiIed July so, 1934 5, Sheets-Shea 2 IN vENToR FHA N n {1.8: CHATFIELD J 6 (WWI ATTORNEV y 1938? FFCHATFIELD 2,

KNITTING MACHINE Filec}. July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR FRANK IN CHATFIELD ATTORNEYS July 19, 1938. F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRANKLIN CHATF'IELD am/J I ATTO Filed July 30, 1934 July 19, 1938. F. CHATFIELD KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m w 3 a 3 A 7 R9 6 9 w 5 B 5 I 3 a w 1 z n j M w a llv. 7 .9 mm m 7 m 9 6 w 8 0.4. R on Wm H WMM vH m NC T I A L w 1 m Patented July 19, 1938 m'rao STATES PATENT OFFICE nm'r'rmo MACHINE Chatfield, Minneapolis, Mimn, assignor,

by one assignments, to Munsingwear, .Inc., eapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application .iuly so, 1954, sci-n1 No. fiancee Z on.

diameters along its length, such as are commonlyknown as foundation garments, or girdles, which are shaped to substantially conform with, or fit the body of the wearer.

Garments which are shaped to conform with the body of the wearer usually have courses of elastic rubber thread inlaid with certain of the yarn courses, and to shape the garment, the tension of this elastic laying-in thread is varied.

When the tension of the laying-in threadis increased, the'diameter of the resultant garment becomes relatively smaller and, conversely, when the tension of the laying-in thread is decreased, the diameter oi the garment becomes relatively larger. This results because when the tension in the laying-in thread is increased, a correspondingly less amount of said thread is fed to the knitting machines needles per revolution of the needie cylinder, than when the tension thereof is decreased, it being understood that the rotative speed oi the needles is usually always constant.

Thus, the shape of the garment, diametrically,

may be controlled entirely by feeding the elastic laying=in thread to the needles under varying tension, or, in other words, in measured quantities.

I am aware that attempts have heretofore been made to provide apparatus for varying the tension in the laying-in thread delivered to the knitting machine needles, but these have been more or less complicated. and have not been positive in operation. The novel thread-feeding mechanism herein disclosed, presents the utmost in simplicity; is positive in operation; and may be quickly attached to an ordinary knitting machine in a comparatively short period of time.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a thread measuring mechanism 5 adapted to be attached toan ordinary knitting machine, whereby the elastic laying-in thread is automatically'fed to the knitting machine needles in constantly varying amounts, to thereby provide a garment having different and vary- 50 ing diameters along its length, whereby it will substantially conform with, or fit the body of the wearer. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism comprising complemental 55 cones cooperating to feed the laying-in thread to the knitting needles in measured quantities, and which have a guide for directing the thread thereto, which guide is actuated by a pattern mechanism operatively connected to the usual ratchet mechanism of the knitting machine; 5 A further object is to provide a thread feeding mechanism comprising two units, one including a pair of complemental cones adapted to feed an elastic rubber thread to the knitting needles, and

having a movable thread guide for directing the 10 thread thereto at different locations along the length of said cones, whereby the varying diameters thereof will constantly vary the feeding of the thread to the knitting machine needles, and

. ment of said cam. Y

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the apparatus, as a whole; in the novel construction of 25 the cone unit, whereby it may be completely assembled as a unitary structure independently of the pattern mechanism, and driven independently thereof; in the construction of the pattern mechanism which may be readily connected to 30,

the usual ratchet mechanism of the knitting machine and driven thereby, and which comprises a plurality of interchangeable cams adapted to operate a. device having a driving connection with the movable guide of the cone unit; said pattern 35 mechanism also comprising a plurality of readily changeable gears whereby the rotative speed of the cam my be varied; and the interchangeability of said cams and also said gears making it possible to quickly readjust the knitting ma- 4() chine for different sizes and shapes of garments; and, in the novel construction of the driving connection between said units, which does not necessitate that the units be mounted upon the knitting machine in a certalndefinite relation, with respect to each other, thereby greatly simplifying the work of mounting the thread feeding or measuring mechanism upon a knitting machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view showing a portion of a conventional type knitting machine with my novel thread feeding and measuring mechanism mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, showing the flexible driving connection between the cone and pattern units;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cone unit, showing the driving connection between the cones thereof and the usual ring gear of the knitting machine cylinder, and further showing the travel of the movable guide for directing the thread to the tapered cones;

Figure 4 is a front view of the cone unit detached from the knitting machine;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan View on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the yieldable stop for the movable cone and the means provided for relatively adjusting the movable cone with respect to the fixed cone;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6|i of Figure 4, showing the micrometer adjustment provided for the movable cone;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the pattern mechanism showing the device which is operated by the pattern cam to automatically move the thread guide of the cone unit;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 88 of Figure '1, showing the general construction of the pattern unit and the preferred manner I of connecting it to the usual ratchet mechanism of the knitting machine;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8, showing the driving connection between the flexible shaft and the pattern cam; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the outline of the tubular knitted fabric produced by the knitting machine, as a result of the novel attachment herein disclosed.

Knitting machine In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated in Figure 1, for purposes of disclosure, a portion of a knitting machine comprising the usual lower base member or ring 2 supported upon suitable legs, not shown in the drawings. Side frame members 3 are shown secured to the base member 2 and support an upper annular member 4, commonly known as the head base. The cam ring 5 is supported upon the head base 4 and within this ring is mounted the usual cylinder 6, in which the vertically disposed knitting needles 1 are mounted, and the dial plate III which supports the horizontally disposed needles 20 as partially illustrated in Figure 3.

Cone Unit The cone unit is shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, and, as best shown in Figure 4, comprises a pair of cones 8 and 9 mounted in angular relation with respect to each other, whereby the gap provided between the peripheries thereof is substantially vertically disposed. The cone 9 is secured to a shaft rotatably supported in a suitable bearing l2 in a bracket I3, having a portion seated upon the head base or annular member 4 of the knitting machine and suitably secured thereto by bolts 14.

' avoid thread slippage.

The lower end of the shaft i has a bevel gear l5, which meshes with a complemental gear I! secured to a shaft [1 rotatably mounted in a bearing I8, shown provided at one end of a bell crank i9, adjustably secured to a depending extension 2| of the bracket I3 by suitable bolts 22 and 23. The bolt 23 passes through an enlarged aperture 20 in the extension 2 I, and is received in threaded engagement with the bell crank I9 at the opposite side of said extension 2|, whereby when the bolts 22 and 23 are loosened, the bell crank l9 may oscillate about the axis of the bolt 22 within the limits of the clearance provided between the walls of the bolt 23 and the aperture 20, to thereby relatively vertically adjust the position of the shaft i1.

A bevel gear 24 is detachably secured to the opposite end of the shaft H by a suitable set screw 25 and meshes with the usual ring gear 26, suitably secured to the knitting machine cylinder 6, as best shown in Figure 3.

As a result of the bell crank l9 being adiustably mounted upon the depending extension 2| of the bracket I3, the bevel pinion 24 may be conveniently adjusted with respect to the ring gear 28 to accurately aline it therewith. The pinions l5 and I6, which operatively connect the shaft II to the shaft l, are detachably secured to their respective shafts so that they may readily be removed therefrom and other gears substituted therefor to vary the speed of the cones 8 and 8. To prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft H, the latter is shown provided with an integral flange 21 adapted to engage one end of the bearing l8, and a collar 28 secured thereto by such means as a pin 29, which engages the opposite end of the bearing I8. By thus supporting the shaft H in the bearing l8, the bevel gears l5 and I6 may readily be removed from their respective shafts and other substituted therefor, without disturbing the position of the shaft I1.

The cone 8 is shown provided with an axial bore 3| provided. at its ends with suitable bushings 32 and 33, bored to rotatably receive a spindle 34 suitably secured to a hub 35 provided upon an arm 36. The arm 36 is adjustably secured to a complemental arm 31 mounted for pivotal movement upon an upright stud 38 secured to the bracket |3, as best shown in Figure 3. A suitable cap screw 39 secures one end of the arm 36 to the arm 31, and the opposite end of the arm 38 is adjustably secured to a lateral'extension 4| of the arm 31 by a suitable cap screw 42. This cap screw, as best shown in Figure 6, passes through an enlarged aperture 43 in the lateral extension 4| of the 'arm 31, and is received in threaded engagement with the terminal of the arm 33, whereby when the set screw is loosened, the arm 33 may be relatively adjusted with respect to the lateral extension 4|, within the limits of the clearance provided between the walls of the aperture 43 and the periphery of the,cap screw 42.

It is essential that the gap or contacting portions of the peripheries of the cones 8 and 8 be disposed in-parallel relation, as shown in Figure 4, so that the gripping action of the peripheries uniform the full lengths of the cones to thereby The peripheries of the cones are preferably knurled or slightly roughened, as indicated in Figure 4 to provide better gripping surfaces for the thread.

. of said cones upon the thread will be substantially by a suitable lock nut 45.

end of the lateral extension 4| of the arm 31 and has its inner terminal engaging the set screw 42, as best shown in Figure 6. The outer end of the adjusting screw 44 may be slotted, as shown, to receive a suitable instrument for rotating it, and said screw is normally locked in adjusted position The adjusting screw 44 provides, in efl'ect, a micrometer adjustment for the cone 8, whereby when the cap screws. 38 and 42 are slightly loosened, the angular position of the cone 8 with respect to the cone '8 may be accurately adjusted by rotation of the adjusting screw 44, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6.

Means is provided for varying the gap between the peripheries of the cones 8 and 8 to suit the diameter of the thread to be fed by said cones and, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. may consist of a 'U-shaped bracket 46 suitably secured to the supporting bracket i8 and having its spaced legs positioned'at opposite sides of the arm S'I. An abutment screw 41 is adjustabiy secured in one leg of the U-shaped bracket 46 and has its terminal engaging the arm 31 to thereby limit movement thereof in a direction towards the cone 8. A suitable lock nut 48 secures the abutment screw 41- in adjusted position.

The arm 31 is yieldably held against the abutment screw 41 by a suitable compression spring 48 having one end engaging the arm 81 and its opposite end seated in the bottom of a socket received in an adjusting screw i, provided in a U-shaped bracket 46. A suitable lock nut '52 secures the spring-retainingscrew 48 in position in the bracket 46. By thus supporting the arm 81, the cone 8 is normally retained in a definite fixed relation with respect to the driving cone 8, whereby the thread-receiving gap between said cones is maintained substantially constant.

Should the thread being fed between the cones,

however, contain a knot, slug, or some other defect, whereby it might be slightly larger in diameter, then when. such defect engages the periphcries of the cones 8 and 8, the cone 8 will yield against the compression of the spring 48, and thus permit the defective portion of the thread to pass between the cones 8 and 8 without danger of the thread being broken by the feeding action thereof.

The cone 8. as hereinbefore stated, is fixedly secured to the shaft Ii and is positively driven thereby when the knitting machine is operating. The yieldable cone 8 is driven from the cone 8 by suitable gears 53 and 54, suitably secured to the cones 8 and 8, respectively, as shown in Figure 4. The teeth of the gears 58 and 54 are of a suitable depth to permit relative movement of the cone 8 towards or away from the cone 8, without interfering with the driving connection between said gears.

The means for guiding or directing the thread between the cones 8 and 8 is best shown in Figures 3 and 4, and comprises a rack bar 55 mounted in suitable guides 68 and 81 provided in a small bracket 58 suitably secured to the main supporting bracket I8. The rack 65 is provided at its upper end with a head 68 having a. groove '88 therein adapted to receive the thread, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The rack bar 58 meshes with a pinion 8! provided at oneend of a stub shaft 82 rotatably mounted in a bearing 68, adjustably secured to the. main supporting bracket l3 by a suitable cap screw 64. The cap screw 64 provides means.

whereby the bearing bracket 83 may be relatively adjusted to properly position the pinion 6i with respect to the rack 55, as clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 4. A suitable guide 85 may be secured to the head 58, as shown in Figure 3, to. guide the thread 86 into the groove 68 in the head 68. A suitable guide 61 is also provided upon the cam ring adjacent to the knitting machine needles to guide thethread from the cones to the -needles, as best shown in Figure 2.

Pattern unit The pattern unit is shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, and, as best shown in Figures 7 and 8, comprises a pattern cam 68 whose periphery is engaged by the lower end of a rack bar 68, slidably supported in a head 'II and meshing witha pinion I2 provided at one end of a short shaft I3. One end of a flexible shaft 74 is connected to the shaft I3 by means of a suitable fitting I8, shown provided with a set screw I6 for securing it to said shaft.

Means is provided for constantly holding the lower end of the rack bar 89 in operative engageable weight 11, removably supported upon the upper end of the rack bar, whereby the latter is constantly urged in a downward direction into engagement with the cam 68. It is to be understood, of course, that other means, such as a spring may be used for holding the rack bar in engagement with the cam. A weight, however, has been found preferable,.for the reason that the downward force then exerted upon the rack bar is always maintained constant, regardless of the position of the rack bar in the head 1! The cam 68 is shown mounted upon a hub,

generally indicated by the numeral I8, and is minal 84 of a rod 88, which rod constitutes a portion of the usual ratchet mechanism of the knitting machine, generally indicated by the numeral 88 in Figure 1. The hub I8 is retained on the sleeve 82 by a washer 81 and a-nut 88 received. inthreaded engagement with the threaded terminal of the reduced extension 84 of the rod 88. The rod 85 is supported in the brackets 88 and 8| of the ratchet mechanism 88,- which brackets are secured to one of the side frame members 8 of the knitting machine, in the usual manner, as best shown in Figure 1.

A gear wheel 82 is detachably secured to the hub I8 by bolts 88, and is shown meshing with an intermediate or idler gear 84 carried by an arm 85 having a hub 88 adjustably secured to a sleeve 87, fixedly mounted in the lower end of the bar 88. The hub 88 of the arm 88 is preferably split, as indicated at 98 in Figure 7, and has a lock screw 88 for securing the hub in ad- I iusted position upon the sleeve 6?.

The gear '82 on the hub I8 is driven from the usual shaft iii! of the ratchet mechanism 86, by means of a pinion I88 secured to the tercam member I01 secured to the rotatable plate I08 of the lower portion of the knitting machine, as best shown in Figurel. mechanism constitutes a part of the usual ratchet mechanism 88 of the knitting machine, and itis therefore thought unnecessary to describe the same in detail, any more than to show the operative connection between the rotatable plate I08 of the knitting machine and the shaft IOI.

Operation The novel mechanism herein disclosed is particularly adapted for feeding an elastic thread,

commonly known as the laying-in thread, to the knitting machine needles. The thread is received from the usual source of supply, such as a bobbin, not shown, suitably placed adjacent to the machine, from whence it may pass directly to the guide 65, and through the groove in the head 59 of the cone unit, as shown in full lines in Figure 3. From the groove 60, the thread passes between the cones 8 and 8 and through the eye or guide 81 to the knitting needles I The cones 8 and 9 function to measure the thread delivered to the knitting needles, by constantly varying the tension therein, whereby the knitted tube is constantly varying in diameter along its length, as shown in Figure 10. The narrower portions shown at I08 provide the waist line of the garment, and the relatively wider portion shown at III provides the hip portion of the garment.

The tube is severed transversely along the lines aa and b-b, whereby each severed portion will provide a garment, itbeing understood that the severed edge portions thereof are suitably flnished to prevent the material from raveling.

The size and shape of the garment is controlled by the shape of the pattern cam 88, and also by the speed of the cones 8 and 8. The length of the garment between the lines a-a and b-b may be varied by changing the size of the fear 8!, shown in Figures 7 and 8. This gear s readily detachable whereby a larger or a smallpon the size of the garment. The cones 8 and rotate continually, when the cylinder of the knitting machine operates, because of being directly connected therewith, as shown in Figure 3. The pattern cam 88 operates intermit- Er gear may be substituted therefor, depending tently, as a result of the ratchet mechanism 88, shown in Figure 1.

When the high point of the cam is engaged with the rack bar 88, the guide 88 of the cones will be in the dotted line position, shown in Figure 3, whereby the thread is fed between the cones at their larger diameters, resulting in more thread being fed to the knitting needles per revolution of the knitting machine cylinder. When more thread is thus fed to the knitting needles for each revolution of the cylinder, there is less tension in the laying-in thread, which results in the relatively larger diameter of the knitted tube, as shown at III in Figure 10.

As the cam 88 rotates, and the low point of the periphery of the cam approaches the rack bar 89, the guide 80 of the cones. will gradually move upwardly until the lowermost point of the cam engages the rack 89, at which time the guide The above described 80 will be in the full line position, shown in Figure 3, whereby less thread is fed to the knitting machine needles. By thus retarding the feeding of the laying-in thread to the needles, said thread is delivered to the needlesunder tension, whereby the knitted tube is contracted, as shown at I08 in Figure 10. It will thus be seen that the shape of the garment is controlled entirely by varying the tension in the laying-in thread, as it is delivered to the knitting machine needles, as will readily be understood from the above.

The thread measuring mechanism herein disclosed, is very simple and inexpensive in construction, and may readily be attached to a conventional knitting machine of the cylinder type, without materially altering the construction thereof. The mechanism, as hereinbefore stated, comprises two individual units or mechanisms, which are operatively connected together by the flexible shaft ll, best shown in Figure 2. By thus constructing the two units, they may be completely assembled, independently of each other, and mounted upon the knitting machine, as shown in Figure 2. A suitable guide H2, is

preferably provided to support the flexible shaft I4, provided between the two units, as shown in Figure 2.

In the drawings I have shown a mechanism capable of producing a garment shaped to substantially fit the lower portion of the wearer's body, such as the hips and waist line, but it is to be understood that by varying the shape or the cam 88 and changing'the gear ratios of the mechanism, that a garment may be produced which will substantially fit the contour of the entire length of the wearer's body, including the breast, waist line and hips.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. The combination with a. knitting machine comprising a frame, a rotary needle cylinder provided with a ring gear having a driving connection with a source of power, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, of a thread feeding unit for feeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measured quantities, said unit comprising complemental cones tapered in the same direction and suitably geared together for positive operation in opposite directions, a gear drive for the -unit, including a pinion meshing with the cylinder ring gear, a guide for directing the thread 'to the cones, a pattern mechanism remote from said cones and operatively connected to said ratchet mechanism, and a flexible member connecting said pattern mechanism to the thread guide, whereby operation of the pattern mechanism will relatively move said guide to thereby feed the thread between said cones at diflerent locations along their length, whereby the thread is delivered to the cylinder in measured quantities, and said thread guide having a rack engaging a pinion on said flexible member, whereby a positive movement is imparted to the guide.

2. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a frame, a rotatable needle cylinder, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, of an apparatus for feeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measured quantities, said mechanism comprising a cone unit secured to said frame and having a pair of similarly tapered cones suitably geared together for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions, means for positively driving said cones, a rack bar mounted for movement lengthwise of the cones and having a thread guidesecured thereto for directing the thread to the cones, a patternmechanism remote from said cones and having an operative connection with said ratchet mechanism, and a flexible shaft connecting said pattern mechanism to said thread guide, whereby operation of said pattern mechanism will relativelymove said guide to thereby deliver the thread between said cones at different locations along their length, whereby the thread is delivered to the cylinder in measured quantities.

3. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a frame, a rotary needle cylinder, and an automatic ratchet mechanism, ofan apparatus for feeding an elastic thread to the cylinder in measured quantities, said mechanism comprising a unit secured to the machine frame and having cooperating cones for feeding the thread to the cylinder, means for positively driving said cones, a guide for directing the thread to the cones, a detachable pattern cam -connected to and driven by said ratchet mechanism, a rack bar having one end engaging the periphcry of said cam and meshing with a pinion, and a flexible shaft connecting said pinion to said guide, whereby when the cam'is rotated, said shaft will be operated to actuate said guide and thereby deliver the thread to said cones at different locations along their length, whereby the thread is delivered to the cylinder at varying speeds.

4. In a thread feeding mechanism for a knitting machine, a pair of tapered cones having a driving connection with the knitting machine, a guide movable lengthwise of said cones to direct the thread therebetween, a rack bar for said guide, a pattern mechanism comprising a cam suitably driven from the knitting machine, a rackbar mounted for longitudinal movement and having one end engaging the periphery of said cam. and a driving connection between said rack bars, whereby when the cam is rotated, said guide will be moved with respect to the cones to thereby deliver the thread therebetween along their varying diameters. v

5. In a thread feeding mechanism for a knitting machine, a pair of cones having a positive driving connection with -the knitting machine a guide for directing the thread between said cones, a rack bar for supporting said guide, a pinion meshing therewith, a pattern mechanism for controlling the operation of the guide comprising a rotary cam driven in timed relation to' the knitting machine, a rack bar engaging the periphery of said cam and movable thereby, a pinion meshing with said rack bar, and a flexible shaft connecting together saidpinions, whereby operation of said pattern mechanism will control the movement of said guide. with respect to the cones.

\ 6. A. mechanism for feeding an elastic thread to a knitting machine in measured quantities, said mechanism comprising a thread feeding unit adapted to be completely assembled before attachment to the knitting machine and comprising cooperating thread feeding cones geared together for positive and simultaneous operation and having a drive for operatively connecting; them to the usual ring gear of the knitting machine cylinder, and a guide for feeding the thread between said cones along the lengththereof, and a second unit for operating said guide, said second unit being mounted on the knitting machine independently of said first mentioned unit and comprising a cam-having a driving connection with the knitting machine, and a rack bar havingone end engaging the periphery ofthe cam, and a pinion meshing ,with said rack and having a driving connection by when the rack bar is actuated by said cam, said guide will be moved along said cones, therewith the guide on the thread feeding unit, whereby to control the feeding of the thread thereto,

and the driving connection between said units being such that the units may be mounted remotely from one another on the knitting machine frame, and at varying angles with respect to one another without interfering with the operation of saiddriving connection.

7. A mechanism for feeding an elastic thread to a knitting machine in measured quantities, said mechanism comprising a thread feeding unit adapted to be completely assembled before attachment to'the knitting machine and comprising cooperating thread feeding cones geared together for positive and simultaneous operation and having a drive for operatively connecting them to the usual ring gear of the knitting machine cylinder, and a guide for feeding the thread between said cones along the length thereof comprising a rack and pinion, and a second unit for operating said guide, said second unit being mounted" on the knitting machine independently of said first mentioned unit and comprising a cam having a driving connection with the knitting machine, and a rack bar havin eration of said driving member.

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