GB1014623A - Improved method and apparatus for applying tension to work-pieces produced on a flatbed fully-fashioned rib knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,014,623. Knitting-machines. S. A. MONK (SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD) Ltd and B. A. MONK. Aug. 27, 1964 [Sept. 6, 1963], No. 35318/63. Heading D1C. Fabric take-down mechanism for a flat parallel bed machine comprises feeding a wire 52 to a position adjacent the needles after the needles of both beds have drawn the first course, and then causing hooks 20 which have been projected up between the needle beds to be lowered so that they grip the wire and draw it downwards into engagement with the loop structure so as to impose a tension on the first and subsequent courses as they are knitted. The machine may be a multidivision full fashioning machine and the wire 52 for each division is held magnetically by arms 50 coupled to a linkwork 48 which after the needles have drawn the initial course are operated to position the wire adjacent the needles, Fig. 2(a). In the meantime a series of hooks 20 mounted in a bar 19 attached by lugs 18.to brackets 27 are raised to pass between the beds so that the hooks are in a position to engage the wire. The hooks are raised by the brackets being coupled through a cable 17 to a drum 16 through an electro-magnetically operated clutch 24 from a shaft 10. The clutch is operated to cause the hooks to rise and fall to engage the wire, the control of the clutch being such that as the knitting progresses and the width of the fabric varies the tension imposed also is varied. After a predetermined length of fabric has been produced a number of levers 29 pivoted on a shaft 26, secured to the end brackets 27, engage by means of a weighted roller 30, on one arm of the lever, a camming member 33 whereby the lever is tilted and its other arm carrying a friction pad 31 is withdrawn from contact with a bar 25 also secured to end bracket 27. A pedal operated link 45 is then actuated to pivot an arm 35 and cause an upstanding rod thereon to deflect a latch 28 securing lug 18 to bracket 27 at each end of each division of the machine. The clutch 24 is then energized to cause the bracket 27 to rise with the bar 25, shaft 26 and levers 29 such that the fabric which continues to be tensioned by the hooks 20 and bar 19 extends down between the lever 29 and bar 25. If further tensioning is required, the clutch 24 is de-energized and the brackets allowed to descend whereupon the levers 29 under the influence of their weight rollers 30 cause the friction pads 31 to press the fabric against the bar 25 thereby gripping the fabric therebetween. The brackets 27, levers 29 and bar 25 proceed to descend under the control of the magnetic clutch 24 whereby the fabric tension can be varied in like manner to that when the fabric was being withdrawn under the influence of hooks 20. In a multidivision machine there is one clutch 24 for each division, the clutches being collectively operated but capable of individual adjustment.