US2215253A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

ept. 17 0' W. RI TER KNITTING NE 3 shQets heet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1938 INV OR Sept. 17. 1940. w. RICHTER ,2

' KNITTING MACHINE FiledNov. 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE- KNITTING MACHINE William Richter, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery Co., corporation of Illinois Chicago, 111., a

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,219

7 Claims. (Cl. 66.144)

This invention relates to circular knitting machines and more particularly to a mechanism for delivering to the needles of a knitting machine, a continuous single thread formed of separate lengths of threads oi. diiferent weight, kind or color or combinations thereof for the purpose of forming zones of fabric in 'the knitted article of diiiering composition, or color. In particular it relates to such a mechanism comprising means to select from a plurality of yarn sources any desired yarn, and means to tie said selected yarn to any of the remaining yarns which is then being fed to the knitting station.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that will accommodate a larger number of different kinds or colors of yarn than has heretofore been possible.

Another object is to provide a mechanism that can be adapted from those presently employed with a minimum of reconstruction.

Still a further object is to provide such a mechanism including means to prevent entanglement of the substantially larger number ofthreads accommodated while they are being fed to the selecting means.

Another aim is the provision of means included in such mechanism to select anyone of the several yarns accommodated without danger of breakageof the parts thereof by mis-timing of the mechanism.

The device constituting the present invention is an improvement in the thread selecting device disclosed in United States Letters Patent granted to Walter Larkin No. 1,624,792 of April 12, 1927, No. 1,726,396 of August 27, 1929, No. 1,841,249 of January 12, 1932 and No. 1,949,314 of February 27, 1934. Those patents describe thread selecting and knotting devices of the general class referred to above and capable of selecting any one of four differently colored threads being fed from in the extreme, perhaps five. However, for cer-' tain classes of work it is desirable to select as many as eight yarns or more in which cases the construction of Larkin cannot be employed for reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

-In the following description I do not intend to limit myself to the selection of differently colored yarns for forming horizontal stripes in stockings, but may employ threads of different weight or kind. Nor do I intend to limit myself to any particular type of knitting machine, as for example the ribber of Larkin for forming stringwork, but may adapt my invention to other types of machines, as for example, those for forming plain knit fabric in stringwork, for forming complete stockings having'a heel and toepockets and combining both plain and rib knitting, or to fiat machines. Nor do I intend to confine myself to the combination of my invention with the particular knotting mechanism disclosed here or in Larkin since it will appear that my selecting means is capable of being associated with other types of knotting or thread joining instrumentalities.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knitting machine including the present improvement;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is a detail on somewhat enlarged scale showing the yarn gathering arm'operatin g mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detail in side elevation of the yarn guiding fingers and someassociated parts;

Figure5 is a partial plan view of the yarn selecting fingers and mechanism associated therewith, and

Figure 6 is a detail in plan view of the auxiliary yarn guiding mechanism.

In these drawings I have, for clarity, omitted or broken away inconsequential portions.

Now referring to Figure 1, numeral l0 indicates generally the knitting head of the machine comprising the needles, either cylinder or cylinder and dial, the cylinder or cylinder and dial therefor, the cam box as well as other mechanism conventionally employed in knitting a stocking or part thereof. Attached by an arm II to the bedplate l2 ofthe machine is the thread selecting and knotting mechanism generally referred to as l3, to which detailed reference will now be made. 1 Mounted in the bracket II is a post It on which is attached a box-like frame l5. Passing carriedonasprocketil. sprocketilisstepped along intermittently to move the chain 23 past the roller 21 by a ratcliet and pawl, not shown,

but standard on substantially every machine to loyarns Carried on chain 23 are lugs 32:: to 32k inclusive of different heights relative to the center of sprocket 23 so that as each lug passes under the roller 21 the arm 23 is rocked over variousangles depending upon the height of the then functioning lug.

It will be understood that these lugs need not necessarilybespacedasshownbut maybear- ,ranged differing distances apart or in any particular order of sequence, the sequence determining the stage in the knitting of the article at which a'particular one of the yarns istc be introduced, and the height'of the lug the particular yarn to be then selected. Lugs 32a, etc. are removable from the chain and may be assembled in any desired sequence or spacing on the chain.

The other arm 33 of lever I1 is connected at 33 to a rod 33 whose downwardly bent extremity 33 enters with a sliding fit a hole 33 in cylinder '31, whereby upon rocking of lever I1. the member 33 and cylinder 31 act together as a dashpot to absorb shock and overtravel to facilitate rapid and frequent positioning of lever I1. Cylinder 31 is pivoted at 33 to allow for the various angular podtionstakenbyrodfl. Aspringfl between arm 33 and the frame of the machine urges lever I1 in a clockwise-direction and its associated rocker 2l'counter-clockwise to maintgin roller 21 in contact with chain 23 and lugs 3 etc.

Affixedtothe lower endofarmllisanarcuate segmentahselector cam 33 (Figures 1 and 5) wider at its at point of attachment and narrowing to its extremity as shown. In en- Easement with said cam is the follower l3 mounted in a rod 33 (Figure 5) s ded by and slidable laterally in the sides of the frame 13. Fixed to the rod 33 by a screw clamp joint 33 and serving to maintain the same from rotating about its axis, is the arm 31, the other U-shaped end of which substantially embraces an annular recess 33 ofahubflformingpartofayarnguidefinger selecting cam 32. Spring 33 attached to the frame and to rod 33 constantly urges follower 43 into contact with its cam 33.

Arrangedsidebysideon ashaftflfixedin the sides of the frame I3 and adapted to rock thereon is a plurality of yarn guide fingers 33a,

3317, etc., each comprised of a support 33 on which .is carried the extended portion 33 curved upwardlyasshowntoreceivetheyarn a m. Rotatableonsplndle I3isa gear 12 (Fisure 3) to-which is connected thelink "by means of a pivot 13. At its lower extremity the link .1; is pivoted at 13-to rocker 16 adapted to reciprocate about spindle 33. A pawl 11 pivoted at 13onrocker13isurgedagainstsurface32by a spring 33. Surface 32 is part of a controller 7 spring I33 constantly urging stud I33 and hence 33. Lever 35 is pivotally connected at 33 to link 31 extending from arm 33 of bell crank lever I'I. Mounted on constantly rotating shaft 32 is an eccentric 33 whose yoke 34 is fastened to con- 3 necting rod 33. Said rod 35 at its other end is pivoted on rocker 33 rotatable on spindle 33. At its lower end rocker 93 is provided with a lug 31 and at itsupper end with a portion 33 adapted to bear against an adjustable stop screw I32 carried in an arm IIl3 of rocker 13.

Afilxed in bevel gear 12 is a lateral rod II2 passing through a hole I I3 in cam 32 and having a sliding fit therewith so that while cam 32 is free to be positioned atany point longitudinally of rod I I2, it can still be rotated on its shaft I3 simultaneously with rotation of gear 12.

A spindle I22 is affixed at I23 to the frame I3 and rotatably carries a bushing I23 to the inner end of which is attached the bevel pinio'n- I23 in mesh with gear 12. Rotatably mounted on bushing I23 is another bushing I23 carrying at its outer end a yarn gathering member I21. A screw I23 taking into spindle I 22' maintains the several parts in operative relation axially while permitting them to rotate freely. Inserted in bushing I23 is a stud I32 and in bushing I23 a stud I33 between which studs extends a coil bushing I23 with its member I21 against a stop I23 forming part of the frame. Normally, i. e. when bevel gear 12 is at rest, stud I32 is againstedge I35 of a rectangular slot I33 in the inner edge of bushing I23. Stud I32 is-substantially smaller in diameter 'than the circumferential width of slot I33 for a purpose to be presently described.

Yarn gathering member I21 cooperates with a knotting mechanism indicated generally by I32, which, although part of the present invention, is 49 not claimed per se and will be described by reference to the aforementioned Larkin patents which disclose details thereof and the relation- J ship with those portions of the machine forming the principal subject matter of the. present invenion.

Mounted on a convenient support I32 held by the frame of the knitting machine are the yarn bobbins Ilia to in inclusive, from each of which are fed the yarns a, b, 0, etc. Said yarns .pass upwardlythrough eyelets I33 in a support shape, each arm of which carries a plurality of eyelets I31 'and I33. Forming part of the support I 33 and on the side nearest the yarn sources is an aligning member I32 comprised of alternat-' ing substantially semicircular channels In as clearly shown in Figure 2, one for each yarn. Disposed between the arms of member I33 is a rod I33 bearing a plurality of pairs of friction discs I35 of a common type, one pair for each yarn, and-spaced freely from each other on the a rod I33 by springs I33.v Springs I31 and I33 re strained by fixed collar I12 and adjustable collar I13 mflntaindiscs I33 in lateral position in alignment with eyelets I31 and I33.

Yarns a, b, 0, etc., afterleaving the bobbins 1 are guided and aligned by channels I33 into eyelets I31; between discs I33, through eyelets I33.

' to pass through eyelets 33 from whence all but one are gathered in a group and Jointly held in clamping forming part of knotting mech- 7 anism I42. It will be noted that the one excepted yarn, as for example, c, is at a given moment being fed to the needles of the machine.

Operation of the apparatus as detailed will now be described. It will be assumed that a yarn c is being fed to the needles of the machine and that it is desired to introduceto the knitting station one of the other yarns to be selected from a, b,. d, e, f. g and h. For convenience let I be the one to be introduced.

At the time such new: selection is to be made the lug 32! on chain 28 is brought beneath the follower 26 by rotation of sprocket 29 whereupon lever 24 is rocked clockwise and through link 22 rocks crank I1 counter-clockwise. Accordingly cam 43 permits its follower 44 through spring 53,

rod and yoke 41, to slide selector cam 52 laterally.

It will be remembered that lugs 32a, etc., are of difierentheights so that the motion transmitted to move cam 43 will rotate the same to a position whereat cam 52 is positioned directly over the yarn finger 63), carrying yarn f.

Simultaneously with the positioning of cam 52, crank I1 actuates link 81 and thereby itsassociated controller cam 84 to permit the pawl 11, then idling on surface 82, to drop into position to be actuated by lug 91. At this time the link 95 is moving to the right, as seen in Figure 1 by means of eccentric 93 and thereupon upon movement to the left the lug 91 engages pawl 11 to thereby operate rocker 16 clockwise and its link 13 upward.

Upon such upward movement of link 13 bevel gear 12 is, through the pivot, 14, rotated clock! wise to rock the rod H2 and its associated cam 52 in the same direction. Cam 52 then operates the finger 63f downward to bring yarn f into the path of yarn gathering member I21 (Figure 1).

Simultaneously with rotation of gear 12 pinion I25 and its associatedbushing I24 also rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. Accordingly pin I32 also rotates until it engages the upper edge of slot I36 whereupon further rotation of said pin carries with it sleeve I26 and yarn gathering member I21 in the same direction of rotation. Consequently when mem ber I21 approaches yarn f it is carried into the knotter mechanism I42, tied to the) then feeding yarn c and thence to the knitting station, all as explained in the aforementioned Larkin patents.

In prior mechanisms the member I21 was made integral with pinion I25 so that immediately upon rotation of gear 12, cam 52 and pinion I25,

the member I21"likewise began to rotate. Ac-

cordingly, there was little, if any, time delay between actuation oi a finger 63a, etc.; and its associated yarn into the path of member, I21 and the movement of said member to gather said yarn. As a result, the number of yarn fingers 63a, 'etc.; and hence selectable yarns was limited to four or five; otherwise the member I21 reached yarn gathering position at almost the same time as the yarn was brought into position to be gathered. In such cases misfunctioning by failure of the member I21 to pick up the yarn intended to be selected, or entanglement fromimproper pickup of the yarn occurred. For proper operation the yarn should ;be located in the path of member I21 well before the latter reaches gathering position.

This desired relationship or timingis obtained by the improvement of this invention. By the cooperation of the pin I32 and slot I36 the pin.

. 3 the width of the slot and the diameter of the pin before member ,I21 is actuated and it is this Although I have illustrated the invention as applied to amachine wherein yarn selection is primarily'controlled through a pattern chain it will be appreciated that such selection may-be attained by a pattern drum having cam surfaces of certain contour or any equivalent selecting means. g

The yarn guiding means shown particularly in Figure 6 acts to segregate each'yarn from its neighbor by the channels I63, which function as partitions between the yarns to prevent entanglement prior to their reaching the position guiding eyelets I51. It will be appreciated that in practice bobbins II5a, etc., are disposed at random on the support I52 so that the yarns feeding therefrom may cross each other in their transit to eyelets I61. Depending upon the relationship of the yarn bobbins with respect to eyelets I51, the grooves I63 may be arranged fanwise, i. .e. divergent at the ends -at which the yarns enter and converging towardsthe eyelets I51, so as'to subject the several yarns to a natural guiding movement as they run from a number of widely spaced bobbins into the relatively narrow grouping of eyelets I51.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a series of knitting instrumentalities, a group of yarn sources, pattern controlling mechanism, means controlled by said mechanism to select one of said yarns; means to join one of said yarns intransit to the knitting position to another yarn selected from the group including means to sever said fed yarn after joining; a gathering member to carry said newly selected yarn into joining position and timing means associated with said gathering member to delay the action thereof -.beyond the actuation of the yarn selecting means.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said timing means comprises a member operated simultaneously with saidyarn selecting means and having a projection adapted to engage a slot in said gathering member, said projection being smaller than said slot. I

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said tim ing means comprises a member operated simultaneously with said yarn selecting means and having a projection adapted to engage a slot insaid gathering member, said projection being smaller than said slot and tension means to urge said gathering member to a normally inactive position. I

4. The structure of claim -1in which said timing means comprises a member operating simultaneously with said yarn selecting means and having an element adapted to engage a co-acting element in said gathering member, the member first mentioned and the gathering member adapted to rotate with respect toeach other on a common axis, and the said elements being separated a predetermined angular distance with respect to saidaxis.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said timing means comprises a member operating simul- 76 taneously with said yarn selecting means and having an element adapted to engage a co-acting element in said gathering member after a predetermined time interval.

6. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities,. a group of yarn sources, means to select at least one of said yarns for introduction into knitting position, meansto ,join said yarn or yarns to the yarn or yarns then in transit to knitting position, a gathering member to carry said newly selected yarn or yarns into joining position and timing means to delay the action of the gathering member beyond the actuation of the yarn selecting means.

'1. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumen talities. agroupoiyarnsourcmmeanstoselect any of said yarns for presentation to knitting position, mechanism to join said selected yarn to a yarn then in transit to knitting position, means for directing said selected yarn to said joining mechanism, said first and second means beingactuatediromacommonsource,andtim-.

lecting means.

' WILLIAM RICHTER

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