GB2036096A - Improved Double Cylinder Circular Hose Knitting Machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A double cylinder circular knitting machine is provided, which has plural yarn finger controlling devices and control members for yarn cutting and gripping which are all arranged in side-by-side relationship along a direction parallel to the main control drum (8) in the rear central portion of the machine within a box-like housing, The yarn finger controlling devices are actuated by pegs provided on a portion of the width of a programming chain (6). The machine has elements for switching from continuous rotary motion to reciprocatory motion and vice versa which are arranged within the box-like housing beside the group of yarn finger controlling devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved Double Cylinder Circular Hose Knitting Machine This invention relates to an improved double cylinder circular hose knitting machine.

The construction of such a machine is well known to the experts. Also known is that such a machine is an extremely complex one, on account of the large number of components that go into its construction, this complexity increasing with the machine capabilities, i.e. with the types of knitworks which can be produced on it, such as Jacquard pattern, two or more color knitworks and/or links-links knitworks and/or floating linkslinks knitworks and/or other knitwork types.

The constructional complexity of the machine results, on one side, in a comparatively large size, both lengthwise and in depth and height, and on the other side, in an increased adjustment difficulty. Moreover, servicing problems are encountered in the event of a malfunction, owing to the poor accessibility of a large number of component parts, particularly at the area around the needle cylinders.

Still further drawbacks or limitations are to be experienced with conventional machines; for example, in most cases it is not possible to selectively switch from one knitting yarn to another, since it is only possible to alternate the yarns for knitting in accordance with a preset program, and always such as to have one yarn only at work at a given time at each feed.

This invention sets out to provide a double cylinder circular hose knitting machine which, for a given output with respect to conventional machines, has reduced dimensions in all directions, a simplified construction, and improved accessibility to the various component parts, such as to be easier to operate, adjust and service, as well as more economical.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an improved double cylinder circular hose knitting machine comprising two needle cylinders and related needles, sliders and jacks, at least one yarn feed with at least two yarn fingers, yarn finger selecting and controlling devices, means for cutting and gripping the yarns at the yarn feed(s), at least one selecting device for selecting said jacks, stationary and movable cams for controlling the movement of said sliders and jacks, a programming drum for controlling the knitting process in accordance with a knitting program, a programming chain, means for advancing said programming drum either intermittently or continuously, and means for selectively imparting to said needle cylinders a continuous rotary motion and reciprocating motion, said machine being characterized in that it comprises in combination the following features:: a) between the machine bed and needle cylinders there is arranged a substantially parallelepipedal box-like housing: b) the control devices of all the yarn fingers and of the cutting and gripping members of all the yarn feeds, being each to the same design as described in U.K. Patent Application No.

41429/78 filed by this same Applicant, are arranged in side-by-side relationship along a parallel direction to the axis of the programming drum in a portion of the box-like housing opposite to the programming drum; c) the control devices of all the yarn fingers are dependent on yarn finger selecting devices comprising a programming chain passed around a sprocket coaxial with the programming drum and provided with respective pegs for each yarn finger control device; d) the means for driving the needle cylinders with continuous or reciprocating motion, being to the same design as described in U.K. Patent Application No. 7908921 (Seriai No. 2017161) filed by this same Applicant, are accommodated in said box-like housing beside said control devices of the yarn fingers at one side of said boxlike housing.

Further details and features of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given herein by way of example only and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematical view of the machine front, wherein some parts have been shown in a simplified form or omitted because foreign to this invention; Figure 2 is a view of the right-hand side of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of the left-hand side of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged scale detail view of the inside of the box-like housing, as viewed from the machine left-hand side; Figure 6 is an enlarged scale detail view of the inside of the box-like housing, as viewed from the machine rear;; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the single needle-raising and needle-lowering picker of the machine according to this invention; and Figure 8 is an enlarged scale detail view of the yarn feeding area of the machine.

With reference to the drawing figures, a machine according to this invention comprises a bed or supporting base 1 of box-like construction, having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

The bed 1 is closed on its front by a door 2 which protrudes from the front surface of the bed 1 and contains on the inside the electronic equipment 3 for the machine control. The top portion of the door 2 accommodates a panel 4 with the machine controls and monitoring devices for the convenience of an operator.

The right side of the bed 1, which is essentially closed, carries sprockets 5 for the programming chain 6, which chain is also passed around a sprocket 7 coaxial with the main drum 8 of the machine, as explained hereinafter. At the rear portion of the right-hand side, there are located two motors 9 and 10 for rotatively driving the rotary parts of the machine, the motors being intended, in a conventional manner, one for driving the cylinders at their lower speed, and one for driving them at their higher speed. Both motors rotatively drive, through respective belts 11 and 12, a common pulley 13 rigid with the main drive-shaft 14 of the machine, whereto a crank lever 1 5 can be coupled.

The rear of the bed 1 is prevailingly open, and a fan 1 6 can be observed therethrough in Figure 3 for drawing the knitwork, a valve 1 7 alternately connecting the suction tube to the fan and to the surrounding atmosphere.

On the left side of the bed 1, a compartment 18 is provided, which can be closed with a panel and contains members for pneumatically controlling the fabric draught, as will be explained hereinafter, and for suppiying pressurized air blows to the yarn feeding and cutting area of the machine in order to ensure correct yarn changing operations. More specifically, in the compartment 18, there are accommodated a pressure switch 19, pressure gauge 20, and solenoid valve 21 controlled by the machine program to operate the blow at the required knitting stages. The compressed air is supplied by a source not shown, through pipes 22 and delivered to the utilization areas through pipes 23. Advantageously, a unit 24 may be provided for recycling the lubricating oil, said unit comprising essentially a pump and filter.

Between the bed 1 and the needle cylinders, indicated at 25 and 26, a box-like housing 27 is provided which has a substantially rectangular cross-section and transversal dimensions substantially similar to those of the bed 1.

The box-like housing 27 is open on the front and carries the programming drum 8 thereat. The drum is provided, in a manner known per se, with projections 28 having different lengths, for actuating rocker arms 29 which are journalled to a bar 30 extending parallel to the axis of the drum 8 and carried, like the drum itself, by the side plates of the box-like housing 27. The rocker arms 29, in turn, actuate through Bowden cables 31, respective cams or other movable members of the machine, the operation whereof is required for preset durations during the knitting process. It should be noted that the Bowden cables 31 are concentrated along a single block 32, whereat all the cable adjustments are also provided.

The drum 8 is advanced by means of a pawl system 33 comprising, advantageously, a main pawl and four secondary pawls acting on respective rows of teeth on a ratchet wheel 34, in a manner which is fully described in U.K. Patent Application No. 7912955 (Serial No.2021157) filed by this same Applicant. The pawls are moved forward in succession through corresponding angled levers 35 actuated by cams 36 which are rotated by the main driveshaft 14 of the machine through a set of gears 37, 38 and 39 (Figure 5).

The pawls 33 are selectively raisable from the wheel 34 through projections 40 which are arranged in accordance with the knitting program, as described in the last-mentioned patent application. Depending on whether several pawls are caused to act consecutively on the wheel 34, or just one pawl, the drum is driven with either continuous or intermittent forward motion. The four pawl arrangement provided affords a considerable reduction of the forward strokes performed by the drum. The start of each forward movement is controlled by the main pawl, as described in the patent application just cited.

The chain 6, which is passed around a sprocket 7 coaxial with the drum 8, which reflects in an appreciable economy of space for a given length of the chain, is advantageously a single wide track chain, with one portion (the left-hand one in Figure 1) which is arranged to selectively control the yarn fingers 41, as described in U.K. Patent Application No. 41429/78 (Serial No. 2007728) filed by this same Applicant, and another portion (the right-hand one in Figure 1) which is arranged to control the cut-in point of the main pawl onto the wheel 34.

For selectively controlling the yarn fingers, the chain 6 is provided with corresponding pegs (not shown in the drawing) which are arranged in as many rows as there are yarn fingers, in a programmed manner. The pegs are followed by corresponding tilting levers 42 acting on Bowden cables 43 which reach the machine rear where the yarn finger control means are located. The latter are of the same type as described in the cited Application No. 41429/78 (Serial No.

2007728) by the same Applicant. In essence, a tension applied on a respective Bowden cable 43 momentarily engages a coupling member 44 with a shaft 45 extending parallel to the axis of the drum 8 and constantly rotating with the main driveshaft 14. That momentary coupling produces a half-revolution of an actuating member 46 mounted idly on a shaft 47 and carrying two camming disks 48, 49, one for controlling the yarn fingers 41, and one for controlling the yarn cutting scissors of the cutting and gripping units 50. The disks 48, 49 are followed by respective control or actuating levers 51, 52 which are partially rotated by the cams of such disks, thereby pulling or releasing respective Bowden Cables 53, 54 which terminate at respective yarn fingers 41 or at respective scissors, as described in the cited Application No.41429/78 (Serial No.

2007728).

According to one aspect of this invention, the control or actuating means for all the yarn fingers and all the cutting and gripping members are arranged side-by-side in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum 8, regardless of the feed whereto the yarn fingers belong. It will be appreciated that in this manner the selection and control means which normally occupy a portion of the surface 55 of the machine are eliminated, whilst a selection-even a simultaneous one-is afforded of any number of yarn fingers 41. It should be noted that the arrangement just described advantageously allows the machine space, at the level of the drum 8 and behind the latter, to be utiiized. That arrangement further affords the possibility of appreciably reducing the depth dimension of the machine, and accordingly the size of the pawls 33 and respective control levers 35.On the shaft 46, the control for the so-called "split" (strengthening of the stocking foot) and the control for adjusting the length of the stitch can be also advantageously mounted.

The levers 51,52 are journalled to a stationary shaft 56 which is supported on the side plates 57 of a supporting structure 58 attached to the sides of the housing 27. On that same structure, there are located the adjusters 59 for the Bowden cables 53, 54. The optimum accessibility to the whole control for the selection of the yarn fingers will be evident and should be noted.

According to a further aspect of the invention, within the housing 27, there are also accommodated the mean 60 for driving the needle cylinders continuously or reciprocatingly, which means are to the same design as described in the cited U.K. Patent Application No. 7908921 (Serial No. 2017161) filed by this same Applicant and located beside the control devices of the yarn fingers 41 on the right-hand side of the machine, whereat the main shaft 14 of the machine is located.In essence, they comprise a shaft 61 carrying a coupling member 62, which is rigid with the shaft for rotation therewith and can be alternately engaged with the ratchet wheel 38 mounted idly on the shaft 61 and rotated constantly by the main shaft 14 or reciprocated by a pinion gear 63, also mounted idly on the shaft 61 and meshing with an oscillating sector 64, in turn oscillated in a conventional manner through a connecting rod 65 which derives its movement from a crank lever, not shown. The displacement of the coupling member 62 in either direction, which results in the cylinder movement changing from continuous to reciprocating, or vice versa, is controlled by a tilting lever 66 journalled centrally to the machine frame and displaced by means of a cam disk 67 coaxial with the disks 48, 49 and rotated through short invervals, as described in the cited Application No.

7908921 (Serial No. 2017161). Advantageously, the oscillatory sector 64 is located substantially underneath the tilting lever 66. The reference numeral 68 denotes a bevel gear meshing with a mating bevel gear rigid with the lower needle cylinder 25.

It will be appreciated that the cylinder actuating device is also easily accessible through the rear of the machine as well as the left-hand side thereof, which in Figure 4 is shown open at the level of the housing 27, although it may be closed with a panel. It can also be seen from Figure 4 how the entire housing 27 is largely unencumbered. The actuation of the various rotary members is in fact obtained with very few gears, contrary to conventional machines, wherein the various rotary elements are rather scattered and require each a gear drive of their own. The numeral 69 denotes the terminating portion of the lower cylinder, which is preferably constructed as explained in U.K. Patent Application No.29717/78 (Serial No.2001112) filed by this same Applicant.

The needle cylinders 25, 26 are respectively carried by the cover plate 55 of the housing 27 and by a plate 70 supported by three uprights 71, in turn attached to the plate 55. A shaft 72 driving the upper cylinder 26, whilst deriving its motion in a conventional manner from the lower cylinder 25, extends parallel to the uprights 71.

Advantageously, the shaft 72 is supported adjustably in the radial direction with respect to the cylinders, for the purpose of adjusting the cylinder clearances.

The numeral 73 denotes a patterning drum of the machine, which is constructed and controlled as described in Application No. 7910320 by this same Applicant. Specifically, it is carried rotatively in a support 74, whilst at 75, there is indicated an assembly for advancing the pattern drum 73 intermittently, of the type described in the patent application just mentioned. Advantageously, a supporting surface 76 is provided for the triangularjack raising cams, which is spaced apart from the plate 55, such as to allow room for auxiliary jacks and their respective cams, which enable the carrying out of additional knitting operations without the need for changing the selection of the pattern drum(s).Advantageously, the levers 77 actuated by the pattern drum 73 are moved radially with respect to the cylinder 25, by pushing on the butts of the jacks, as explained in the patent application just mentioned.

The cam boxes 78, 79 for the movements of the jacks at the top portions thereof, as well as of the sliders of the lower and upper cylinder and of the sinkers are only shown very schematically.

They may be of conventional design, but are preferably of the type described in U.K. Patent Applications Nos. 15745/78; 15746/78 (Serial Nos. both pending); and 7916746 (Serial No.

20211 58) filed by this same Applicant.

The machine illustrated has a single pattern drum, but is equipped with two yarn feeds, as is evidenced by the two sets of yarn fingers indicated at 41. The machine is adapted for twocolor Jacquard knitting with a single patterning drum, when equipped with cams and jacks similar to the ones described in the cited Application No.

7916746 (Serial No. 2021158). The yarn fingers are only shown very schematically. These are of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 3605444 issued to this same Applicant. Their actuation is effected by simply pulling and releasing a respective Bowden cable 53.

Associated with the yarn fingers are yarn cutting and gripping members 50, constructed, for example, as explained in U.S. Patent No.

4099392 issued to this same Applicant.

As may be observed in the drawings, the area surrounding the needle cylinders is appreciably free of ancillary members. This is not only the outcome of a simplified design, but also and to a large measure of the fact that a major amount of conventional control or actuation members such as linkages, etc., have been eliminated thanks to the simplified cams, as is apparent from the cited patent applications, and on account of the machine comprising but one needle-raising and needle-lowering picker, indicated at 80 and constructed as described in Patent Application No.7911269 (Serial No.2018306) filed by this same Applicant. This single picker 80, which is located at an easily reached location, serves the dual function of reducing the number of needles during cast off steps and increasing it during the increasing steps.Conversion of the picker from needle-raising to needle-lowering and vice-versa is effected through a linkage 81 controlled by the machine program.

Advantageously, the uprights 71 may be hollow, such that some Bowden cables for controlling various members and/or certain compressed air supply pipes can be led through the uprights, without obstructing the area around the cylinders.

The reference numeral 82 denotes a digital display for displaying failures at given parts of the machine, such failures being identified by a digital code.

The numeral 83 denotes the elastic yarn feeder, of conventional construction.

The numeral 84 denotes the fabric tensioning assembly, which is constructed as explained in U.K. Patent Application No. 29717/78 (Serial No.

2001112) filed by this same Applicant, and more specifically in the last-mentioned patent application. However, it should be emphasized herein how the height dimension of the tensioning assembly has been reduced, which affords the possibility of knitting stockings of a length which is twice as long as the assembly of Figure 1 is high. The actuation of the tensioning or pulling assembly is effected through an actuating or control lever 85 positioned externally to the assembly, which produces the releasing of the tensioning element proper, as described in the patent applications just mentioned, through a Bowden cable 86 advantageously led through one of the uprights 71 and placed under the control of the machine main drum 8. Similarly, the tube or pipe 87 for the compressed air powering the tensioning assembly can be led through one of the uprights 71.Obviously, the cylinder portions at the knitting area are also configurated to fit the tensioning system described in the aforementioned patent applications, which provides for the initial portion of the fabric to be withheld and the tensioning element to constantly rest onto the mid-portion of the fabric length, as the fabric itself is being knitted.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description and illustration that the machine according to this invention exhibits dimensions which are substantially smaller than those of conventional machines, and is by far more easily accessed to by reason of the combined features introduced therein. It will be apparent, therefore, how the machine servicing operations and its use have been considerably simplified.

It is understood that many modifications and variations may be adopted in the machine just described. Thus, for example, the machine could be equipped with two pattern drums and an additional feed. In fact, as may be noted, the available space on the right-hand side in Figure 6 is quite suitable for the accommodation of further yarn finger control devices therein, whilst the space around the lower cylinder is also made available in a sufficient measure to accommodate said additional pattern drum.

It will be further appreciated that not all of the elements described are required to conform to the types indicated in the patent applications mentioned hereinabove, and some of them may be of conventional design. However, it is evident that the best results will be obtained indead with a combination of all these features, as explained hereinabove and as provided by the various cited patent applications.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. An improved double cylinder circular hose knitting machine comprising two needle cylinders and related needles, sliders and jacks, at least one yarn feed with at least two yarn fingers, yarn finger selecting and controlling devices, means for cutting and gripping the yarns at the yarn feed(s), at least one selecting device for selecting said jacks, stationary and movable cams for controlling the movement of the sliders and jacks, a programming drum for controlling the knitting process in accordance with a knitting program, a programming chain, means for advancing said programming drum either intermittently or continuously, and means for selectively imparting to said needle cylinders a continuous rotary motion and reciprocating motion, said machine being characterized in that it comprises in combination the following features:: a) between the machine bed and needle cylinders there is arranged a substantially parallelepipedal box-like housing; b) the control devices of all the yarn fingers and of the cutting and gripping members of all the yarn feeds, being each to the same design as described in U.K. Patent Application No.

41429/78 (Serial No. 2007728) filed by this same Applicant, are arranged in side-by-side relationship along a parallel direction to the axis of the programming drum in a portion of the boxlike housing opposite to the programming drum; c) the control devices of all the yarn fingers are dependent on yarn finger selecting devices comprising a programming chain passed around a sprocket coaxial with the programming drum and provided with respective pegs for each yarn finger control device; d) the means for driving the needle cylinders with continuous or reciprocating motion, being to the same design as described in U.K. Patent Application No.7908921 (Serial No.2017161) filed by this same Applicant, are accommodated in said box-like housing beside said control devices of the yarn fingers at one side of said boxlike housing.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that with said yarn finger control devices there are associated means for bringing to work a reinforcing yarn and control means for adjusting the stitch length.

3. A machine according to either Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said yarn finger control devices extend over a portion of said box-like housing width, and that the remaining portion of said width is occupied by said needle cylinder motion-imparting means including a tilting lever for switching the machine between continuous and reciprocating motion, said tilting lever being located in the top portion of said box-like housing, and an oscillating sector located substantially beneath said tilting lever.

4. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single programming chain configurated, over part of its width, to selectively control said yarn finger control devices and over another part of its width to control the forward movement of the programming drum.

5. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the side of said machine bed opposite to the side wherewith the machine drive means are associated there is formed a compartment for accommodating means for controllably delivering a pressurized fluid to a fabric tensioning assembly and to the yarn feed area.

6. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a hydraulic unit for recycling the lubricating medium, said hydraulic unit including substantially a pump and a filter.

7. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper needle cylinder is supported by means of hollow uprights accommodating at least in part Bowden cables and delivey pipes therein for the delivery of pressurized fluid to actuate movable members of the machine.

8. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive shaft operative to transmit the motion from the lower needle cylinder to the upper needle cylinder is arranged for adjustment in a radial direction to the needle cylinders.

9. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electronic digital display adapted for displaying failures at given points of the machine, the failures being identified by means of a digital code system.

10. A machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, located at the front of said machine bed, a door the inside whereof accommodates the machine control electronic equipment.

11. A double cylinder circular hose knitting machine comprising two needle cylinders and related needles, sliders and jacks, at least one yarn feed with at least two yarn fingers, yarn finger selecting and controlling devices, means for cutting and gripping the yarns at the yarn feed(s), at least one selecting device for selecting said jacks, stationary and movable cams for controlling the movement of the sliders and jacks, a programming drum for controlling the knitting process in accordance with a knitting program, a programming chain, means for advancing said programming drum either intermittently or continuously, and means for selectively imparting to said needle cylinders a continuous rotary motion and reciprocating motion, said machine comprising the following features:: a) between the machine bed and needle cylinders there is arranged a substantially parallelepipedal box-like housing; b) the control devices of all the yarn fingers and of the cutting and gripping members of all the yarn feeds comprise respective cam disks mounted rotatably freely but axially nondisplaceably on a common shaft and selectively caused to advance rotatively as required by the machine knitting program by respective actuator elements arranged on a drive shaft rotating at a rotational speed bearing a predetermined speed ratio to the rotational speed of the needle cylinders, said control devices being arranged in side-by-side relationship along a direction parallel to the axis of the programming drum in a portion of the box-like housing opposite to the programming drum;; c) the control devices of all the yarn fingers are dependent on yarn finger selecting devices comprising a programming chain passed around a sprocket coaxial with the programming drum and provided with respective pegs for each yarn finger control device; d) the means for imparting said motions to the needle cylinders are accommodated in said boxlike housing beside said control devices of the yarn fingers at one side of said box-like housing, and have means for switching from the continuous rotary motion to the reciprocating motion and vice versa comprising a pair of pinion gears mounted idly on a shaft operatively connected to the machine needle cylinders and respectively meshing with a gear wheel driven with continuous rotary motion and with a gear segment caused to oscillate continuously, and a coupling member being rotatively fixed to but axially displaceable along said shaft between said pinion gears for alternative engagement therewith, control means for said engagement comprising a control lever operated by a rotary cam control device arranged to be driven at the same rotational speed as the needle cylinders, said control means being selectively disengageable from its drive.

12. An improved double cylinder circular hose knitting machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.