GB1026467A - Improvements in method and apparatus for forming pouches in circularly knitted fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

1,026,467. Knitting. TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS. July 7, 1964 [July 12, 1963], No. 27974/64. Headings D1C and D1K. The mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the stitch cams at each of the four feeding stations of the circular machine described the Specification 946, 955 has superimposed on it further mechanism which controls the stitch cams at each station independently of the others so as to enable the quality of the fabric not only to be varied throughout the whole circumferential extent during the knitting of the leg of a stocking but also to enable the quality of that portion of the tubular fabric knitted by continuous rotary knitting and which is to form the heel of the stocking to be further varied in a graduated form so as to accentuate that portion of the fabric and render it more suitable for a heel pocket. To this end the shaft 25 at each station controlling the movement of the needle cams has loosely mounted on its end a member 26 having a portion 27 against which screws 30 secured in a lever 31 attached to the shaft 25 are adapted to bear. A spring 32 maintains the screws 30 and portion 27 in contact such that as member 26 is pivoted by a lug 36 on a ring member 37 the screws 30 remain in contact under the influence of spring 32 to cause the lever 31 to rotate and with it the shaft 25 thereby adjusting the needle cams. The cams at each station are simultaneously operated in a similar manner when knitting the leg of a stocking to gradually reduce the tube diameter. At each station there is attached to one arm 60 of the lever 31 a cable 61, the cables from the four knitting stations being secured at their other ends to a corresponding one of a bank of levers 65. One arm of each lever is secured to a cable 61 and the other carries a follower 77 adapted to engage a cam 81 there being a cam 81 for each lever 65 and the cams being concentrically mounted but with their lobes 81 out of phase. The cams 81 are rotatably mounted on a pivoted arm 86 and adapted to be pivoted to bring the cams 81 gradually into and out of engagement with the levers 65 by a cam 96 mounted on the arm 86 and having a profile which engages a fixed roller 100. The cams 81 are driven by a chain and sprocket drive from a shaft 87 so as to rotate continuously. The driving shaft 87 carries a collar 135 having rollers which engage a lever 126 causing it to be pivoted and through a link 127 actuating a pawl and ratchet mechanism driving the cam 96. Consequently as cam 96 is rotated the cams 81 are brought closer to the levers 65 causing them to pull on the cables 61. The levers 65 operating in turn and to a varying extent as determined by the cam 96, the cables likewise operate the levers 31 to a varying extent each course causing the needle cams to be adjusted over part of the courses to effect additional variation in stitch length to create a heel pouch in the tubular fabric.