US3667253A

US3667253A - Needle selector for circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3667253A
Application number: US17656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norbert Paul Bourgeois
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-03-10
Filing date: 1970-03-09
Publication date: 1972-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-06
Also published as: DE2011226B2; GB1248886A; FR2036304A5; DE2011226A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine adapted to select the needles or accessories by means of a removable rotary pattern drum whose periphery may be equipped with removable projecting elements arranged according to a predetermined knitting pattern and adapted to operate on the needles or accessories through an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern.

Description

United States Patent Bourgeois 1 June 6, 1972 54 NEEDLE SELECTOR FOR CIRCULAR 2,208,698 7/1940 Lawson et a1. ..66/50 B KNITTING MACHINES 3,310,965 3/1967 Mahler et al. ..66/50 B x [72] Inventor: Norbert Paul Bourgeois, 7, place des Char- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS treux, Troyes, France 565,722 ll 1944 Great Britain ..66/50 B Filed! Main 1970 6] 7,l74 2/l96l Italy ..66/50 B [21] Appl. No.: 17,656

Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney-Wolf, Greenfield & Hieken [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 10, 1969 France ..6906719 [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine adapted to select the needles or accessories by means of a removable rotary put- [58] Field of Search ..66/l4, 25, 50 R, 50 tem drum whose periphery may be equipped with removable projecting elements arranged according to a predetermined References Cited knitting pattern and adapted to operate on the needles or accessorles through an assembly of linking elements arranged in UNITED STATES PATENTS a Stepped P 2,040,946 5/1936 Marshall et al ..66/50 B 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED N 61912 3.667.253

SHEET 2 BF 4 FIG. 2

PATENTEU 5 SHEET 3 0F 4 FIG.

PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 4 [IF 4 FIG. 4

NEEDLE SELECTOR FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES This invention relates to a selector device for needles or needle accessories of circular knitting machines.

For the activation or deactivation of the needles or other knitting instruments of circular knitting machines particularly Jacquard" machines, it is known to employ selection devices referred to as multistage selectors, and comprising one or more pattern or design drums the periphery of which is faced with removable projecting control elements such as pegs or insertable tooth pattern jacks carried by the drum in varying numbers and pattern in accordance with a predetermined selection rule.

During the knitting operation, these drums progress in controlled intermittent rotation, their functional generatrixes being immobilized temporarily in alignment with superposed linking elements such as selector levers arranged in batteries, the projecting elements acting on levers at corresponding levels in such manner as to influence, through the levers, the needles or instruments to be selected.

The majority of the elements constituting each device, namely the pattern drum, battery of selector levers, actuating mechanisms, etc., is normally assembled on a common bearer with a principal platform of the machine carrying control elements, such as cams and co-ordinated mechanisms which control the knitting operation.

Each time it becomes necessary to change the selection rule, in the case of a change of pattern or knitting design it is necessary to provide a different distribution of the projecting elements on the different pattern drums of the machine.

One solution consists in performing this operation on the machine itself, drum by drum, by insertion or permutation of the projecting elements. This operation, which is relatively simple in the case of machines comprising a small number of knitting "stations and consequently of selector devices, becomes more tedious on modern multi-feed machines equipped with high capacity pattern drums and for which a modification of this nature may, frequently in difficult access conditions, require the retraction and insertion of more than a thousand pattern jacks or of several tens of thousands of removable pegs. This operation must be performed while the machine is stopped and consequently entails a considerable loss of production time.

On some known devices, this difficulty has been reduced by incorporating removable pattern drums which may be separated from their control mechanism, either to perform a modification in the arrangement of the projecting elements while disassembled, or to replace these by other drums preset in accordance with another selection pattern.

The practical application of this solution commonly requires the operator to undertake particular manipulations such as the withdrawal and repositioning of the elements fastening the drum to its actuating elements, without overlooking the need to break the contact between all the selector levers and the projecting elements corresponding to these, to ensure an adequate freedom of movement for the pattern drum enabling the same to be separated from its actuating mechanism. I

This set of operations is frequently onerous for the operator, in particular in the case in which it is intended to make changes in the pattern on automatic machines comprising knitting stations in close formation, in which the small spaces allotted to the selector elements and the bulk of the adjacent mechanisms occasionally imposes the need to withdraw the device as a complete assembly, with the attendant risks implied in a manipulation of this kind, particularly selection errors which could result from imprecise repositioning of the assembly.

The present invention provides a selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine adapted to select the needles or accessories by means of a removable rotary pattern drum whose periphery may be equipped with removable projecting elements arranged according to a predetermined knitting pattern and adapted to operate on the needles or accessories through an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern, wherein mounting means for the drum is displaceable between an active position in which the projecting elements are adapted to co-operate with the stepped linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the device is removed from the needles or accessories, the assembly of linking elements co-operating with fixed abutment means during displacement of the mounting means from the active to the inactive position, and abutment means being adapted to remove the linking elements from contact with the projecting elements to enable a pattern drum to be removed from the mounting means.

The invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial section through a conventional circular Jacquard knitting machine comprising rotary needle-carrying beds, and showing a selection device according to the invention in its active position;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, with the selection device being shown in its inactive position, away from the needles;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the machine showing the selector device in its inactive position and FIG. 4 is a fractional end view of the machine showing the I selector device.

Referring to the drawings, a cylinder 1 of the circular knitting machine is rotatably carried by an annular bearer 2 together with a driving ring (not illustrated) and the cylinder has on its periphery grooves 3 in which are slidably mounted independent needles 4 each associated with a pivoting needle selector jacks or lifter 5.

The needle jacks or lifters are provided in a conventional manner with selection catches 6a to 6: arranged in stepped pattern as illustrated in FIG. 4, and each needle jack is further provided with a an operative butt 7 which, by means of the selector device yet to be described, may either be drawn aside or caused to co-operate with a lifting cam 8 secured to a lower annular cam-box 9, which is itself carried by a stationary principal platform 10.

A second annular cam-box 11 carrying needle control cams l2, 13, is attached to the lower cam-box by means of spacing posts 14 and 15 (FIG. 3).

The selector device, comprises a pattern drum, linking elements, actuating mechanism, etc. assembled on a common supporting tie or bearer 16 adapted to slide between two lateral guides l7, l8 fastened to the lower cam carrier by means of screws 19, and each comprising a stepped part 20 for insertion into grooves 21 of the sliding plate 16, in such manner that the latter can only move in the radial direction.

The pattern drumcomprises a cylindrical socket 22 adapted to turn freely around a spindle 23 fastened to the sliding plate 16, while being held longitudinally by means of a screw 24 and lock-washer 25.

The base of the socket 22 is formed as a ratchet wheel 26, intermittent rotation of which is controlled by a pawl 27 carried by a slider 28, displacement of which is controlled by a cam 29 carried by the rotary bearer 2, and acted upon by a return spring 30.

A removable cylindrical sleeve 31 is fitted over the outside of the socket 22 to which it is rotationally locked by means of a key 122; on the periphery, of sleeve 22 are provided a series of axial grooves forming the functional generatrixes of the drum, and intended to receive removable selection elements 32 equipped with prefragmentable projecting teeth 32a to 32i, distributed in varying number and pattern according to the requirements of a knitting pattern.

The selection elements 32 are provided with flanges 33 which ensure their longitudinal positioning, the relative heights of the socket and sleeve, being such that the flanges bear on the upper surface of the socket 22.

i The selection elements are held laterally at their lower and upper extremities, respectively, by engagement behind a retention collar 34, and by a removable cover 35 covering the upper portion of the removable sleeve 31.

A battery of superposed linking elements 36a to 36i pivotally arranged around a common spindle 37 secured to the sliding plate 16, is arranged in stepped relationship with the prefragmentable teeth 32a to 321' of the selection elements. Each linking element of the battery has an active control part 38 intended to exert a selective influence on the stepped butts of the needle jacks, and a sensor projection 39 permanently kept in contact with the selection elements 32 under the action of a return spring 40 when in the active position. Moreover, each linking element in the area of its active part comprises a notch whereof one of the edges 41 penetrates into the corresponding groove 42 of a common guide 43. On the spindle 37, spacing rings or washers 44 ensure a correct stepped distribution of the different linking levers or elements. A bolt 45 pivotally arranged on a fixed pin 46 in a recess 47 in the base of the bearing 16, has an overhanging portion whose extremity 48 is chamfered to facilitate its manipulation, and comprises an undercut part 49 intended to be applied, under the thrust exerted by a compression spring 50 bearing against the base of the lower cam-box, against the step 51 of an abutment 52 attached to the stationary platform by means of screws 53 in such manner that the selector device as a whole is held locked in its active position as shown in FIG. 1.

The bolt 45 further includes a transverse notch 54 intended to receive the step or shoulder 51, to lock the selector device as a whole in an inactive retracted position, separated from the needles, as shown in FIG. 2. I

To ensure a correct axial positioning of the removable sleeve 31, a thrust element formed by a metal ball 55 held under the action of a spring 57 within a recess in a supporting element 56 secured to the upper annular cam-box ll, exerts a constant thrust against the cover 35 when the selector device is in its active position.

When it is necessary to replace or insert new selection elements on the pattern drum, it is sufficient to apply a light upward pressure on the extremity 48 of the pivoting bolt 45 to free the notched or stepped part 49 from contact with the shoulder 51, then to perform a simple radial displacement of the sliding bearer 16 while releasing the bolt until the transverse notch 54 engages the step 51 to immobilize the device as awhole in its inactive position.

During displacement of the device, the surface 58 of the notched part or indented part of each linking element 36a to 36: comes into abutment on one of the spacing posts or butting means 14 supporting the upper cam carrier 11, thus drawing the set of sensor projections 39 away from the corresponding prefragmentable teeth of the selector elements 32.

The operator may then free the removable sleeve 31 from the assembly of its actuating mechanisms and may proceed either with permutation or insertion of new elements, or with replacement of sleeve 31 with another sleeve equipped with elements arranged according to a different selection pattern.

Thedevice is shown in its inactive position in FIG. 2, the removable sleeve carrying selection elements being illustrated dash-dotted, separated from its actuating mechanism.

Due to the difierence in level between the upper surface of the removable sleeve 31 and that of the socket 22, only this last surface acts as a support for the flanges 33 of the selection elements.

Although the device described and illustrated relates more specifically to a circular knitting machine having one or more rotary needle-carrying needle beds, the invention is equally applicable to circular machines having stationary needle beds.

It is evident that, in the case of machines comprising two needle-carrying needle beds, the selector device of the invention can ensure the selection of the needles or accessories of one or the other of the two needle beds, or of both at the same time.

It is possible to incorporate moreover, for one and the same knitting station, a device comprising several pattern drums, intended to exert a simultaneous or consecutive action on the needles oraccessories to be selected, for example to form fabrics requiring the activation of needles at different levels, the possibility also being available to group the pattern drum or drums allocated to several consecutive knitting stations on a common sliding bearer plate.

What is claimed is:

1. A selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine comprising:

a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern;

an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories;

a bemer movable in relation tothe needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements;

means for rotating the pattern drum;

said bearer being displaceable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories;

fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting elements; and

an abutment and locking means cooperating with the abutmerit to secure said bearer in the active position.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 comprising a base plate having a slideway, said bearer including a bearer plate carried in the slideway enabling linear movement of the bearer plate between the active and inactive positions.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking means may also cooperate with said abutment to secure said bearer in the inactive position. I

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 comprising resilient thrust means for axially holding the pattern drum in alignment with the linking elements when the bearer is in its active position.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pattern drum includes a rotary cylindrical socket surrounded by a removable cylindrical sleeve, the periphery of which is provided with a series of axial grooves to receive said removable selection elements with the said selection elements each having a radially inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the top of the socket.

6. A selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine comprising:

an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking provided with a series of axial grooves to receive removable selection elements with the said selection elements each having a radially, inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the top of the socket.

9. A device as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising an abutment and locking means cooperating with the abutment to secure said bearer in the active position.

Claims

1. A selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine comprising: a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern; an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements; means for rotating the pattern drum; said bearer being displaceable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories; fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting elements; and an abutment and locking means cooperating with the abutment to secure said bearer in the active position.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking means may also cooperate with said abutment to secure said bearer in the inactive position.

6. A selector device for needles or needle accessories oF a circular knitting machine comprising: a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern; an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements; means for rotating the pattern drum; said bearer being displacable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories; fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position, to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting teeth; and a fixed thrust element for axially holding the pattern drum on the bearer in the active position of the bearer.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pattern drum has on its periphery a series of radial grooves for receiving the selection elements, said thrust element also for maintaining said selection elements on the pattern drum.

8. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pattern drum of the bearer includes a rotary cylindrical socket surrounded by a removable cylindrical sleeve, the periphery of which is provided with a series of axial grooves to receive removable selection elements with the said selection elements each having a radially, inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the top of the socket.