GB2024876A - Mechanism for racking spindles in bobbin machine for making lace - Google Patents

Abstract

In a bobbin machine a spindle racking mechanism is provided wherein an upper component, which is the part actually racking the spindles, presents, besides a revolving plate and a tapered spider pinion, an intermediate disk acting as a cam and having two diametrically opposed indentations and a rim, curved in this case; while a second component, a carrier of tapered satellite pinions, is formed by a hollow body, having the outer stop housings in a cross design, and divided into two fitted parts holding a support, with arms also in a cross shape, for the inner pinions, a third component being formed by a driving cylindrical gear, not only provided with the last tapered satellite pinion, but also with an eccentric cam in the opposite side, working together with a connecting rod connected to the coupling and driving system of a bushing rotatable parallel to the stationary shaft running through the three basic components above named, the rotatable bushing carrying the pallet fork with two arms at different levels controlling the movements of the entire mechanism in the detention and racking of the bobbins, a locking and driving system being provided with a ratchet device which can be operated either electrically or mechanically by remote control, in the first case by means of an electronic circuit plugged into a programmer- computer; and in the second case, by means of a Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin machine by conventional means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanism for racking spindles in bobbin machines The present invention patent is for a driving mechanism for racking spindles in bobbin machines.

The advantages of this mechanism with respect to the present state of the art are several and important, since inthe proposed design, the driving unit of the spindle rail can work securely without jamming or causing failure of parts, as these will operate under optimal conditions. All inconveniences, both constructive and functional found in other known designs, are now overcome, owing to the perfect transmission gearing of all movements that are to give place to the detention and travel phases of said spindle rail in the lacemaking operation.

According to the invention there is provided a spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, wherein an upper component, which is the part actually racking the spindles, presents, besides a revolving plate and a tapered spider pinion, an intermediate disk acting as a cam and having two diametrically opposed indentations and a rim, curved in this case; while a second component, a carrier of tapered satelite pinions, is formed by a hollow body, having the outer stop housings in a cross design, and divided into two fitted parts holding a support, with arms also in a cross shape, for the inner pinions, a third component being formed by a driving cylindrical gear, not only provided with the last tapered satel!ite pinion, but also with an eccentric cam in the opposite side, working together with a connecting rod connected to the coupling and driving system of a bushing rotatable parallel to the stationary shaft running through the three basic components above named, the rotatable bushing carrying the pallet fork with two arms at different levels controlling the movements of the entire mechanism in the detention and racking of the bobbins, a locking and driving system being provided with a ratchet device which can be operated either electrically or mechanically by remote control, in the first case by means of an electronic circuit plugged into a programmer-computer; and in the second case, by means of a Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin machine by conventional means.

The upper revolving plate is mainly formed by two overlaying flat pieces, both with an inner cavity housing the faceted head of a retaining screw, which thread into the extreme threaded hole of the stationary shaft traversing the whole cogged system of the mechanism, extending from this head a rod, which projects upon said plates.

The shaft presents moreover a ring stop as a seat for a coaxial bearing combined with another similar bearing and other two needle bearings, assuring the operation of assembly without any flexural effects.

The diametrically opposed indentations in the disk, which is located in the first component between the bobbin racking plate and the corresponding tapered spider pinion, have curved tracks coinciding with an equivalent curve existing at the end of the corresponding upper arm of the driving fork.

The intermediate component, defined by the hollow body of the tapered satellite pinions, is formed by two overlying adjusted pieces, the upper one housing the stops, normally four, for the corresponding upper arm of the adjacent driving fork, the crossed arms of the support of such satellite pinions being held between the two pieces of said component.

The coupling and release system for the pallet fork is formed by a small strip solidly linked to the fork oscillating, revolving bushing, this strip having an indentation in its lower plane to receive a locking ratchet hinged to a second strip attached to the first and acting with the connecting rod driven by the eccentric cam of the driving pinion of the mechanism. A stop and a return spring are fitted to the small strip attached to the pallet fork bushing. In the small strip combined with the connecting rod there is a notch coinciding with the ratchet and adapted to receive some driving means which could be the moving core of an electrical coil or the end of a sliding wire running inside its protection sleeve.

Of the two mentioned adjoining strips, the upper one is attached to the bushing carrying the oscillating pallet fork causing the stopping and release of the driving strip of the spindle rail driving flat sinker, while the lower one is linked to the connecting rod combined at its turn with the eccentric cam of the cogged gear driving the entire assembly. The first strip is hollow inside to receive the jointed ratchet, now designed with a certain profile having in its back a stop and this back ending in an inclined plane over which rests and oscillates a flat radial strip linked to another small strip, connected to the mentioned connecting rod, becoming both strips locked and thus transferring the movement from the driving gear to the pallet fork, when the flat radial strip comes caught in the ratchet stop.This ratchet stop, in the following stage (when the fork changes position), releasing the flat radial strip and falls by its own natural weight. But this fall is further helped (in case the said ratchet should become jammed) by the flat radial strip hitting against the end of the ratchet inclined plane.

The engaging phase of the flat radial strip with the jointed ratchet stop coincides with the racking movement of the spindle rail, when the said ratchet is forced up by the action of the involved driving mechanism, either the electrical coil with a moving core or the remote control wire, the first mechanism dependent on the corresponding electronic circuit acting from the attached programmer-computer and the second operating by the impulse coming from the Jacquard mach'ine coupled to the bobbin machine. The ratchet release phase and its free fall coincides with the detention phase of the spindle rail.

The opening between the oscillating flat radial strip (continuously moved by the connecting rod driven by the eccentric cam of the gear driving the assembly) and the upper stop of the jointed ratchet, is effected by the spring leaning against each pair of adjoining upper small strips linked to the fork-holders, its tension being overcome when, owing to the triggering of the electrical or mechanical pulse forcing the ratchet up, the desired hook up between the flat radial strip and the stop takes place and the pallet fork changes position thus causing, through the differential-type gears rotating around the shaft parallel to the forkholders, the detention and racking stages of the bobbin, conventionally placed on the standard strip which rotates 1 800 in order to twine the threads for knitting the lace.

The electrical coil driving the ratchet which engages and releases the pallet fork bushing, is protected against atmospheric aggression by means of an adequate elastic hood assuring the proper operation of the moving core. Said core is a part of the electronic circuit, also formed by an input transformer-reductor, one rectifier and as many coil pairs of said type as mechanism pairs are in the machine and one setup for each pair consisting of one transistor and a group of diodes, as weli as at least two microswitches, operable by means of a lever, making it possible to connect and disconnect them according to the preset working sequence of the machine. This electronic circuit is connected to the appropriate programmer-computer which emits signals to the bobbins at the same opening and closing intervals as the microswitches.

The installation of a mechanical system to drive the ratchet engaging and releasing the oscillating pallet fork involves as many wires as mechanisms.

These wires help in the movement of the ratchet at one of their ends, while the other ends are terminated in the Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin machine, where they are kept tensed by an adequate return spring and where they are lined up with the holes opened in the pattern card, which, in this case, slides on a prismatic drum moved at the correct time by a set of levers through the usual eccentric system from the gear transmission driven by the very bobbin machine itself.

The parallel position of the stationary shaft (where the three basic elements are free mounted) relative to the moving bushing (carrying the oscillating fork and the lower small strip acting together with the coupling and releasing ratchet,) permits the arms of said fork to act with the two opposite indentations of the spindle racking component and with the four cross stops housing component, having the satellite pinions, in order to achieve the bobbins detention and racking stages (or phases), the pulse received by such fork being dependent on the pulse received by its bushing through its lower small strip from the other small strip constantly driven by the connecting rod which in its turn is moved by the eccentric cam of the driving gear, acting in such drive the ratchet located in between both strips.This ratchet being electrically or mechanically activated, thus assuring the automatic return of the pallet fork to the position required for its upper arm to stop the member racking the spindles, by means of the spring mounted on the small strip locked with such fork.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the components of the main part of the first setup of the mechanism; Figs. 2 and 3 show details of two of the part in the assembly shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows the driving end of a driving unit for the ratchet electrically driven in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows the view of the mechanism mounted in the machine.The components are shown in cross section for clarity; Figs. 6 and 7 are cross section details of the ratchet applied to said mechanism; Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 1 but now representing a second setup of the mechanism, much improved from the first; Fig. 9 is the same as Fig. 5, but representing the improved setup; Fig. 10 is a plan view of two mechanisms of this kind installed side by side in the same machine; Figs. 11 and 12 are similar views to that shown in Fig.9, the first in partial section and the second in elevation, both showing the movements transferred to such mechanism; Fig. 13 is a view similar to the previous ones, but showing in this case a mechanically driven ratchet; Figs. 14 and 15 show in plan view the movements of two mechanisms mounted side by side; Fig. 16 shows perspective of the connecting rod system;; Fig. 1 7 is a detailed plan view (in partial section) of the member being driven by the connecting rod mentioned above; Figs. 18 and 1 9 are details of the ratchet, respectively driven electrically and mechanically; Fig. 20 shows the electronic circuitry automatically driving all ratchets of the type shown in Fig. 18; Figs. 21 through 24 are details of an eccentric cam specifically designed for a particular section of the above electronic circuitry', according to the required action of such cam; Figs. 25 and 26 are a plan and schematic diagram of the bobbin machine fitted, in the first case, with an electronic unit, and in the second case, with a mechanical unit driving in both cases the above mentioned ratchets; ; Figs. 27 and 28 are plan and elevation views, respectively, of a purely mechanical rigging which can substitute the electronic circuitry' mentioned above; and Figs. 29 and 30 are larger scale details of part of the previous figures.

The mechanism in question is formed in its simpler version (Figs. 1 to 7) by three main elements 1, 2 and 3. The first consists of a tubular body divided at the stepped plate 4 into a disk-like cam 5 with diametrically opposite indentations having a curved track 6 and into an extension 7 with a tapered spider pinion 8. The plate 4 works together with the biconvex small plates 9 (Figs. 25 and 26) carrying the spindles or bobbins 10, engaged in the standard arched recesses 11 in the plate 4. The entire part is bored through its axis 12 to permit it to rotate around a stationary shaft 1 3 resting on the machine bracket 14 (Fig. 5). The part is fastened to the stationary shaft by means of a terminal screw 14' driven into the end thread of the shaft.

The component 2 is formed by a hollow body consisting of two parts 15 and 15' and having a cavity 1 5" where the cylindrical extension 7 is housed and revolves, and is also fitted with a cross-shaped area with four stop and escapement housings 16. Within the same piece (15-15') two tapered satellite pinions 1 7 rotate around shafts resting on the body walls 2 and retained between its two halves 1 5 and 15'; these pinions revolve on a central cross-shaped support 18 with a hole 19 (see detail, Fig. 2) where the main shaft 13 traverses it. This support 1 8 has shafts 19' which are retained, as are stems, 1 9" between 1 5 and 15'.

The other component 3 is formed by a tapered spider pinion 20 attached to a larger cylindrical pinion 21 carrying in the opposite face (Fig. 3) an eccentric cam 22. The assembly is bored axially to allow passage of the general supporting shaft 1 3.

Another stationary shaft 24 is placed parallel to the main shaft 13 on which a bushing 25 rotatesoscillates. This bushing is fitted with a pallet fork 26 with two arms 27 and 28 at a different level in order to act, respectively with the disk 5 and with the cross-shaped housing area 1 6 of part 1 5, as indicated by the coupling arrows in Fig. 1. An elastic pad 27' is built into the end of arm 27 to absorb the shock of said arm when hitting the corresponding indentation 6 of disk 5.

The bushing 25 is fitted in its lower end with a small strip 29 with a stem 30 going through it, which stem acts as a stop and at the same time as a hitch post for a helical spring 31. The lower face of this strip 29 has a notch or cavity 30' (Fig. 5) with the purpose described further below.

Another small strip 32 is located just under this strip 29. The second small strip 32 is drilled 33 to allow passage of an angular ratchet 34 jointed at 33', this strip 32 having also a perforation 35 for the shaft 24 and a joint link 36 for a connecting rod 36 which is connected through its ringed head 38 to an eccentric cam 22 that can be seen in the lower face of the pinion 21 (see Fig. 5).

The driving mechanism of the ratchet 34 is arranged in line with the ratchet. This mechanism is formed by a dowel 39 solidly linked either to the moving core of an electrical coil 40 (Fig. 1 and 6) or to the end 41 of a flexible driving wire sliding inside its sleeve 42 which is fastened to bracket 14 (Fig. 7) with the aid of a threaded tensor assembly 43. In the first case, the driving system is electrical, and in the second, mechanical, and either can be chosen at will. These arrangements are shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7.

The stationary shaft 24 is also supported (Fig.

5) on the upper piatform pf the machine while all the described components are mounted between the machine and the lower bracket 14, as clearly seen in the figure above mentioned.

In the improved setup shown in Figs. 8 to 19, the following variations have been introduced: The upper plate is now formed by two parts 4 and 4', with a cavity 45 to house a faceted head 46 of a retaining screw engaged in the threaded hole 47 of the stationary shaft 13, which presents a ring stop 48 acting as seat for a coaxial bearing 49 paired with another similar bearing 50 and complete with other two needle bearings 51 (Figs.

8 and 9), all of which assure a perfect rotation with the shaft 1 3, experiencing no flexural effects.

A rod 46', is extended from this faceted head 46, which projects upon said plate 4.

The bushing 25 becomes in this case solidly locked with the small flat plate 29' which shape is clearly visible in Fig. 17. It can be seen that a box 52 is open downwards in this piece, and the ratchet 34' is contained within the box. This ratchet shows in its back or upper part a stop 53 and one end in theform of an inclined-plane 54.

This ratchet is jointed on its corresponding pin, fastened to the same box 52 in the part 29' and a driving flat radial strip 55 is placed between 53 and 54 which is a part of a disk 56 attached to the second plate, also affecting a disk-like shape 57.

This small plate 29' is connected to the bushing 25 by means of orifice 58 (Fig. 8) while the 56-57 assembly can move'frnely, owing to its shake hole 59, around the inner stationary shaft 24. The small plate 57 has a side indentation 60 (Fig. 1 7), where a pin 36 is inserted, connecting the end of connecting rod 37, which is linked by its head 38 with the eccentric cam 22 of the driving gear 21.

The two small plates 29' and 56-57 are closely touching each other, the first one carrying the outer stop 30 to retain spring 31. The way this spring is mounted can be seen in Figs. 14 and 1 5.

In the described setup the moving core 39 of the electrical coil 40 is protected against dust intrusion by means of an elastic hood 61 (Figs. 8 and 18).

When the mechanism being described is to be electronically operated (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 18) it is connected to the circuit shown in Fig.

20 consisting of the following: a power input 62 with a shielded transformer reductor 63, grounded and followed by a rectifier 64. This circuit is protected by an adequate fuse across the line and by virtue of the mentioned transformer the voltage available at the rectifier terminals is a iow one (for example, 24 V). The supply can be the standard 220 V power.

Two leads 65 and 66 originate at the rectifier 64. The first one branches out into two separate leads 67 and 68 fitted with inserted microswitches 69 ("even function") and 70 ("uneven function"). These same leads 67 and 68 are also connected to a conventional programmercomputer (not shown) through leads 71. This electronic circuitry is also provided with other devices 72, with one transistor 73, several diodes 74 connected to the coils. Leads 75 originating at the transistor base 73 are also plugged to the programmer-computer. The diodes 74 circuit is closed through leads 76 and 77 ending at leads 67 and 68, respectively.

The microswitches 69 and 70 are activated (open and close) by a revolving cam 78 (Figs. 21 through 24) of adequate design with a low track (A) and a high track (B), linked by transition ramps (C). The levers 69' and 70' triggering roulettes are mounted on the edge of this cam 78 for activating their respective microswitches 69 and 70.

Two cams can be used instead of one cam 78, one for each microswitch 69 and 70.

By studying Figs. 21 through 24, it will be noted that the operating sequence of said lever is as follows: Fig. 21-Microswitch 69 closed; microswitch 70 open.

Fig. 22-Microswitch 69 open; microswitch 70 open.

Fig. 23-Microswitch 69 open; microswitch 70 closed.

Fig. 24-Microswitch 69 open; microswitch 70 open.

Figs. 25 and 26 show a plan view of the bobbin machine when fitted, in the first figure, with the described electronic unit, and in the second, with the substituted mechanical device. In the first setup there is no direct liaison with the Jacquard machine 70 while in the second setup, the activation of the pulse transmitting wires are originated in such machine, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 27 through 30.

For the mechanical operation lastly mentioned, the Jacquard machine is fitted with a prismatic drum 71 rotating rhythmically by a lever-trigger action 72, simultaneous with the action of lugs 73, while outer levers exert upon the drum a toand-fro motion, these levers moved by connecting rods 75, moved at their turn by eccentric cams 76 connected to the shaft 77 rotating by the action of a conical gear 78 receiving power through a driving shaft 79 from the same bobbin machine.

The driving wires 41 are surrounded by coil springs 80 with the purpose of drawing back the probe ends 81 of these wires, which ends may or may not coincide with the holes 82 punched (Fig.

30) in the card determining the pattern of the lace or fabric, which moves as the drum 71 rotates. It is evident that in this fashion some wires will be mechanically driven and some others will not, just in the order planned by the holes punched in the pattern card.

The operation of the entire assembly is, in broad lines, as follows: The cylindrical pinion 21 engages another (not shown) pinion, driven by the main motor of the machine. The rotation of this pinion 21 causes, through its eccentric 22, the connecting rod 37 to oscillate to-and-fro and, as a consequence, the toand-fro gyration of the small plate 32 (Figs. 1 to 7) or the small plate 57 (Figs. 8 to 19) around the shaft 24. These plates 32 and 57 do not become locked with the adjacent plates 29 and 29' until the first and the second do not hook up by means of the ratchet 34 and 34' which can be driven either electrically (through the aid of coil 40) or mechanically (through wire 41).Figs. 6 and 7 of the first version of this mechanism clearly show that the transfer of the driving pulse to the bushing 25 and, therefore, to the pallet fork 26, depends on the position the mentioned ratchet 34 is in, since when it is out of its housing 30' owing to the withdrawn position of its driving element 39 connected to the moving core of the coil 40 or to the end of the wire 41, the small plate 32 moves without entraining the upper small plate 29 while the opposite occurs if said ratchet 34 is in its advancing mode whether by virtue of the activated bobbin 40 or by the wire 41 which is mechanically made to advance as will be seen further on.

In the improved setup shown in Figs. 8 to 19, small plate 57 becomes solidly locked with small plate 29' when, with the help of the coil 40 or of the wire 41 the shaped ratchet 34' is raised and the flat radial strip 55 linked with the oscillating member 57 hits the stop 53, thus 29' becoming engaged and pulled. The return of the flat radial strip 55 assures, by hitting the end 54 that the ratchet 34' falls, in case this should have been jammed.

The electrical operation of the mechanism, when fitted with coils 40 for plates 32 and 29, and 57 and 29' to become coupled and then freed in order to move the pallet fork 26 for the purpose later described, is easily understood examining Figs. 20 to 24. As noted in the schematic diagram of Fig. 20, the device 72 is arranged in between each pair of coils 40 and a lead 75 originating there runs up to the programmer-computer. This receives a number of such leads 75 equal to half the amount of spindles in the machine.

The microswitches 69 ("even function") and 70 ("uneven function") are activated by a cam 78 revolving at the same speed as the machine, the connecting and disconnecting times of the microswitches varying with the speed of the machine.

Each time the circuit is closed by means of either microswitch 69 or 70, as per the sequence shown in Figs. 21 to 24 (closing of 69 and opening of 70; opening of 69 and of 70; opening of 69 and closing of 70; opening of 69 and of 70), the computer is fed a signal through leads 71 and answers instantly with a series through leads 75 to the devices 72. If, per instance, microswitch 69 is closed, all even coils 40 have voltage in their (+). Some such even coils 40, besides, also have voltage in their (-) through a signal given by the computer. These are the coils which are to receive the signal in accordance with the working programme of the machine.Coils having voltage are the ones connected, and thus, acting to effect the engagement between 32 and 29 in Figs. 1 to 7 and between 57 and 29' in Figs. 8 to 19, during the time the microswitch 69 is closed, corresponding to the stage shown in Fig. 21.

What has been said with respect to the "even" microswitch 69 is also true for "uneven" microswitch 70, being then the circuit closed stage the one shown in Fig. 23.

In this way, the alternating connection of even and uneven coils 40 is achieved, as directed by the signals sent by the programmer-computer.

When the machine is going slow, the cam 78 activating the said microswitches 69 and 70 rotates slowly and their connecting time (circuit close) (position shown in Fig. 21 for 69 and in Fig.

23 for 70) and, therefore, the connected time of the coils 40 is longer, thus allowing enough time for the ratchet system 34 and 34' to operate effectively to couple 32 with 29 and 57 with 29' to cause the pallet fork 26 to oscillate. When the machine is running fast, said coils 40 are connected for a short time only since the cam 78 rotates at a great speed causing the mentioned ratchet 34 and 34' not to effect the hook up of 32 with 29 or of 57 with 29', thus making the fork 26 to remain inactive.

It is understood that all the above produces a perfect synchronisation, since it is possible to make the machine rotate manually (by means of a crank) while the computer controls the pattern automatically.

The computer emits a series of "even" signals when the microswitch 69 (Fig. .21) becomes closed, which are kept until the microswitch opens (Figs. 22, 23 and 24). Next, the microswitch 70 sends a series of "uneven" signals when it becomes closed (Fig. 23), which are kept until it opens (Figs. 22 and 24) and so on.

If for some reason one of these microswitches 69 or 70 should become closed two times in a row, the computer is set not to send two repeated series of "even" or "uneven" sigals, that is, it only emits alternating signals. In other words, if the computer receives a signal from microswitch 69, it will respond with a series of signals to the even coils 40, but then, if by a failure of the uneven microswitch 70, it should receive a second signal from the same microswitch 69, the computer is programmed not to respond with a series of signals to the coils 40 so preventing the pattern being woven to become jumbled.

It is worth noting that the said computer, besides the described basic function, performs other tasks, as counting the hours of operation and the long and analogue torques of the machine proper. The same computer also has a safety function should the machine become jammed, in which case, due to the temporary inactivity of the microswitches 69 and 70, it will receive their signal at a frequency lower than the one that has been preset and then the computer is programmed to shut down the machine motor. The value of the minimum frequency at which the computer will shut down the motor is adjustable at will through the computer programme.

The results electronically obtained with the circuit and other elements described can also be obtained with the mechanical device which parts are shown in Figs. 4, 7, 13, 19, 26 and 30. In this case, the action on the hook up ratchet 34 and 34' in order to engage 32 with 29 and 57 with 29', thus making fork 26 rotate to-and-fro, is effected by means of a remote control wire 41 mounted with its driving end in the same position as the moving core of coil 40 as can be clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 19.These wires 41 run from each bobbin driving mechanism to the Jacquard machine (Fig. 26) and are powered by this in the fashion shown in Figs. 27 through 30, where it is observed that the terminals 81 of such wires received rhythmic advance pulses (their return being achieved by the springs 80) as they match the holes 82 arranged in the pattern card moving on the prismatic body 71 of the same Jacquard machine, receiving power by means of a conventional transmission 79, 78, 76, 74 and 72 (Fig.

28).

As can be drawn from the above description, the results are the same, whether with the electric or the mechanical driving in order to effect the desired hook up to drive the pallet fork 26.

Insofar as the behaviour of the remaining components of the mechanism, it can be summarised as follows: Stage in which spindles are not racked. In this phase (Fig. 11), by virtue of the driving unit (electrical or mechanical) not being activated and thus, not driving the ratchet 34 and 34' to hook up the small plates 32 and 29 or57 and 29' as they rotate, the pallet fork 26, under pressure from the spring 31 (and additionally, in the case shown in Figs. 1 through 7, by the pressure exerted by the small lower plate 32 against the lower extension of the stem 30, united with the upper one 29), is in.such position that the arm 27, by being pressed against the disk rim 5 is forced to enter into any of the two indentations or blunted housings 6 and, acting as a stop, keeps immobilised the entire upper section 1, that is, small plates 9 (Figs. 25 and 26), carrying the spindles or bobbins 10, remain in the same unaltered position.

The continuous rotation of the driving gear 21 is naturally transferred to its spider pinion 20 which, engaging the satellite pinions 17 which are locked by the other spider pinion 8 makes, by differential effect, the entire intermediate section 2 to rotate in the same direction as said pinion 21.

The rotation of this section 2 is unhampered by the lower arm 28 of the fork 26, since such arm, due to the bushing 25 position as forced by the spring 31, is kept away from the stop housing 16, that is, a smooth and free peripheral sliding is originated.

As the pinion moves 21 its cam 22 is also moved and this, through the connecting rod 37, activates small plates 32 and 57 which have not entrained small plates 29 and 29' in a direction contrary to that of the spring 31 owing to the fact that, in this stage, ratchet 34 or 34' is not activated either by the coil 40 nor by the wire 41.

Stage in which spindles are racked. In this phase (Fig. 13), due to the fact that a pulse has been sent to ratchet 34 or 34' either from the electronic circuit (Fig. 20) or from the Jacquard machine 70 (Figs. 26 to 30), through the coil 40 or through the wire 41, raising the ratchet 34 or 34' (Figs. 6, 7, 18 and 19) and causing small plate 32 to hook up with small plate 29 and small plate 57 with small plate 29', overcoming the pressure from spring 31, the bushing 25 rotates automatically with which the fork 26 arm 27 disengages the indentation 6 where it was housed and remains in free friction with only the disk 5 rim.Contrarily, the other arm 28 of the same pallet fork 26 has advanced and introduced itself in any of the two housings in the cross 16, becoming engaged and thus also stopping the entire section 2. The transmission of force from the spider pinion 20 to satellite pinions 17 is kept, but as these cannot move owing to their support 2 being locked, make rotate the single plate 4 and the double plate 4--4' by means of its corresponding spider pinion 8 and, by differential effect, this rotation is in the opposite direction as that of the main gear 21. The result is a change of position, a racking, of the small plates 9 (Figs. 25 and 26) which move to a diametrically contrary position, as desired for crossing the threads in the lace-making operation.

When the electric or mechanical pulse occurs, the return to the next stage (previous position: locking of plates 4 and 4 4') is mainly due to the spring 31, aided in the version shown in Figs. 1 to 7 by small plate 32 hitting against the projection of the stem 30 solid with the upper small plate 29.

Figs. 10 and 1 6 represent the operation of two adjacent mechanisms, of which, the one occupying the lower position in the figure is in the spindle immobilised phase (arm 27 presses against indentation 6 due to the traction of spring 31) while the mechanism above in the figure is in the spindle racking phase (arm 28 is into 1 6 overcoming the tension of the spring 31 which leans on the stem 30). The changes of position of the revolving fork 26 are easily observed in Figs. 10, 14 and 1 5.

It is shown in two adjacent mechanisms to illustrate the two phases above described, both depending on the action of the lower cam 22 connecting rod 37 assembly with the coupling assembly 32 and 29, 57 and 29'. Fig. 14 shows the detention phase and Fig.15, the spindle racking phase. As to Fig. 10, it clearly shows the position of the forks in two mechanisms placed side by side, as well as the operation of the ratchet 34' (in dotted lines) and of the springs 31.

The driving gear 21 rotates at a speed double than that of section 2 so, as the rotating plate 4 or 44' and the driving gear 21 revolve 1800, the satellite pinion carrier assembly 2 revolves only 900 and this is the reason why such assembly has the stop housings in a crosslike shape 1 6.

The electrical operation, when this driving source has been adopted, can be easily understood by studying Figs. 20 to 24; relating them to all those illustrating the coil 40 driving the ratchet 34 and 34' and to everything that has been previously described about the signal output from the programmer-computer to such coils according to the sequence originated from the cam 79 activating microswitches 69 and 70. In this version, the bobbin machine presents the setup shown in fig. 25.

Insofar as the mechanical operation, which can be easily substituted for the electrical, it suffices to examine Figs. 26 to 30, referring them to all those illustrating the driving wire 41, in order to understand how this latter acts upon the ratchet 34 and/or 34'. It is enough to say that these wires 41 run to-and-fro inside their sleeves at the rhythm marked on them by their ends 81 matching the holes 82 punched in the pattern card revolving as usual by effect of the standard machine transmission which, in this version, adopts the setup shown in Fig. 26.

Claims (14)

1. A spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, wherein an upper component, which is the part actually racking the spindles, presents, besides a revolving plate and a tapered spider pinion, an intermediate disk acting as a cam and having two diametrically opposed indentations and a rim, curved in this case; while a second component, a carrier of tapered satellite pinions, is formed by a hollow body, having the outer stop housings in a cross design, and divided into two fitted parts holding a support, with arms also in a cross shape, for the inner pinions, a third component being formed by a driving cylindrical gear, not only provided with the last tapered satellite pinion, but also with an eccentric cam in the opposite side, working together with a connecting rod connected to the coupling and driving system of a bushing rotatable parallel to the stationary shaft running through the three basic components above named, the rotatable bushing carrying the pallet fork with two arms at different levels controlling the movements of the entire mechanism in the detention and racking of the bobbins, a locking and driving system being provided with a ratchet device which can be operated either electrically or mechanically by remote control, in the first case by means of an electronic circuit plugged into a programmercomputer and in the second case, by means of a Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin machine by conventional means.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the upper revolving plate is mainly formed by two overlaying flat pieces, both having an inner cavity to house a faceted head of a retaining screw engaged in the threaded end hole of the stationary shaft traversing the whole cogged system of the mechanism, extending from this head a road, which projects upon said plates, presenting moreover the shaft a ring stop as a seat for a coaxial bearing combined with another similar bearing and other two needle bearings assuring the operation of assembly without any flexural effects.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the diametrically opposed indentations in the disk, located in the first component between the spindle racking plate and the corresponding spider pinion, have curved tracks coinciding with an equivalent curve existing at the end of the upper arm of the respective driving fork.

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate component, formed by a bored body carrying the tapered satellite pinions, and by two overlaying fitted parts, of which the upper has the housings, normally four, for stopping the upper arm of the adjacent driving pallet fork, the cross arms of the same satellite pinions support being held between those two pieces.

5. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the system locking and releasing the pallet fork is constituted by a small strip solid with the oscillating-revolving bushing of the fork, which strip is fitted with a recess in'its lower plane to receive a blocking ratchet jointed to a second small strip side by side with the first and working together with a connecting rod driven by the eccentric cam of the mechanism driving gear, in the strip attached to the fork bushing, there existing a stop and a return spring and in the other strip (the one combined with the connecting rod) and indentation existing coinciding with the ratchet and fitted with a ratchet driving element, which can be either the moving core of an electrical coil or the end of a wire sliding inside a protection sleeve.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein in the two mentioned side-by-side small plates or strips (of which the upper is united to the bushing carrying the oscillating fork stopping and releasing the plate racking the spindle rail, while the lower one is connected to the connecting rod being moved by the cam of the pinion driving the assembly) are designed as follows: the first one is hollow to receive inside the jointed ratchet now formed in a certain profile showing in its back a stop and ending in an inclined plane over which oscillates a flat radial strip linked to another small plate moved by the connecting rod, these two members, the flat radial strip and the small plate, becoming locked, thus transferring the movement from the driving gear to the fork, when the flat radial strip engages the ratchet stop, the ratchet releasing the flat radial strip in the following stage, when the fork changes position and it falls by its own weight, this fall being aided, should the ratchet become jammed, by the flat radial strip hitting against the inclined plane ending of the ratchet.

7. A mechanism according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the hook up of the oscillating flat radial strip and the stop in the jointed ratchet is the stage in which the spindle rail is racked, when the ratchet is forced up by the driving system selected either an electrical coil with a moving core or a remote controlled wire; the first receiving pulses through the relevant electronic circuitry from a programmer-computer, and the second by means of pulses from the Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin machine, the stage when the ratchet becomes released and falls free coinciding with the detention of the spindle rail.

8. A mechanism according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the clearance between the oscillating flat radial strip (constantly driven by the connecting rod, moved in turn by the cam of the gear driving the mechanism) and the upper stop of the jointed ratchet is assured by the spring held in between each pair of adjacent upper small plates joined to the spindle rails, the force of such spring being overcome at the poirit when the ratchet is forced up either by electrical or mechanical means, causing the flat radial strip to engage the stop with the effect of the fork changing position and so taking place, by means of the differential-type cogged pieces rotating around the shaft parallel to the same fork holder, the detention and racking phases of the spindle conventionally mounted on the standard plate revolving 1800 in order to twine the threads as required in the lace pattern.

9. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrical coil driving the ratchet locking and releasing the fork bushing, is protected against atmospheric aggression by an adequate elastic hood, assuring the correct operation of the coil moving core, this coil being a part of the electronic circuitry consisting of one input transformer-reducer, one rectifier and as many coil pairs as mechanism pairs are mounted in the machine and one device for each pair formed each by one transistor and several diodes, plus two microswitches activated by at least one cam, making it possible to open and close such microswitches in accordance with a preset working sequence for the machine, such electronic circuitry being connected to an appropriate programmer-computer prepared to send signals to the coils at the same rhythm the mentioned microswitches open and close.

10. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the adoption of a mechanical system to drive the ratchet engaging and releasing the oscillating fork involves as many wires as mechanisms are installed, one end of each wfre acting to move the ratchet while the other end is connected to the Jacquard machine attached to the bobbin m'achine,the$e wire ends being kept tensed by means of an adequate return spring and being lined up with holes punched in the pattern card which in this case revolves on a prismatic drum moved rhythmically by an appropriate set of levers using, through a normal cam system, the power from the bobbin machine transmission.

11. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the parallel position between the stationary shaft (carrying freemounted the three basic components) and the moving bushing (carrying the oscillating pallet fork and the lower small plate, working together with the locking and releasing ratchet) permits the fork arms to act with the two diametrically opposed indentations of the spindle racking component and with the four cross-shaped stop housings of the component having the satellite pinions to achieve the spindle stopping and racking stages, the movement of such fork depending on that received by its bushing, through its lower small plate, from the other strip constantly driven by the connecting rod, which in its turn is driven by the cam in the main driving gear, the ratchet placed between those two plates or strips being responsible for such driving pulse, it being activated either electrically or mechanically, and the automatic return of the pallet fork to the position where its upper arm stops the spindle rail racking member being assured by the spring mounted in the small plate locked with the very same fork.

12. A spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 and Figs. 20 to 25 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs, 1 to 7 and Figs. 26 to 30 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8 to 25 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A spindle racking mechanism in a bobbin machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8 to 19 and Figs. 26,to 30 of the accompanying drawings.