GB2043712A - An automatic needle selection mechanism for a knitting machine - Google Patents
An automatic needle selection mechanism for a knitting machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2043712A GB2043712A GB7935031A GB7935031A GB2043712A GB 2043712 A GB2043712 A GB 2043712A GB 7935031 A GB7935031 A GB 7935031A GB 7935031 A GB7935031 A GB 7935031A GB 2043712 A GB2043712 A GB 2043712A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- selector
- selectors
- bed
- electromagnets
- mounting plate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
- D04B15/66—Devices for determining or controlling patterns ; Programme-control arrangements
- D04B15/68—Devices for determining or controlling patterns ; Programme-control arrangements characterised by the knitting instruments used
- D04B15/78—Electrical devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Knitting Machines (AREA)
Abstract
An automatic needle selection mechanism for a knitting machine comprises one electromagnet (14a-d) for each of a plurality of needle selectors (4a-d), and a movable mounting plate (13) for the electromagnets, arranged to face a selector bed (1) which is reciprocable in the direction of the selectors. The mounting plate with the electromagnets is moved in timed relation towards and away from the selector bed. Each electromagnet is brought adjacent to its corresponding selector when the selector is in a first position and the mounting plate is appro. The electromagnets are selectively energized when adjacent the selector bed and the mounting plate is then moved away from the bed. The selectors which correspond to the energized electromagnets are thus moved to a position where they are disengaged from the selector bed, and subsequent movement of the bed, and subsequent movement of the selector bed in the longitudinal direction of the selectors thereby actuates the needles of the remaining selectors in order to form a desired knitting pattern. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
An automatic needle selection mechanism for a knitting machine
This invention relates to knitting machines, and particularly to knitting machines in which a number of knitting needles are actuated by a number of selectors.
In conventional manual knitting machines, and weft knitting machines, the setting up of the needle arrangement for each particular knitting pattern has heretofore been mechanically performed by means of punched cards. The manual preparation of these punched cards from drawings of the patterns has required great time and cost.
Recently, machines for preparing punched cards from video signals obtained by photoelectrically scanning a drawing of a pattern have become practically available, and improvements to accuracy and speed of work have been thereby attained. However, when the knitting pattern is to be changed, the whole card deck still has to be replaced, and, further, it is difficult partially to modify a pattern.
Recently, therefore, we have conceived the idea of eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages by using the video signals, directly or via a magnetic tape, to activate electromagnets for selecting certain selectors to provide a desired arrangement of knitting needles. However, there are certain difficulties to be overcome in order to make a practical machine.
First, as the width of the smallest practical electromagnet is far greater than the distance between selectors in a knitting machine-which is typically 1.5 to 2.0 mm -simply arranging the electromagnets in a row will not do, because there is not enought space for them.
Second, if the electromagnets are fixed, it is very difficult to attract only the desired selectors by activating selected electromagnets, and there is a likelihood ofthe neighboring selectors being attracted by magnetic leakage, resulting in misoperation.
Third, if it is conceived that the selectors which correspond to the needles which are to used are to be attracted by the electromagnets, then a large number of electromagnets must be energized.
Accordingly, power consumption will be formidable, especially if the electromagnets must be energized during the entire process of knitting the row.
It is one object of the present invention to provide an automatic needle selection mechanism which is free from one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided, for a knitting machine in which a plurality of knitting needles are actuated by a plurality of knitting needle selectors which are arranged side by side in parallel as slidably engaged in a selector bed which is movable to an fro in the longitudinal direction of said needle selectors to actuate said needles, each of said selectors being movable in its lateral direction between a first position in which it is engaged to said movement of said selector bed, and a second position in which it is disengaged from
said movement of said selector bed: an automatic
needle selection mechanism, comprising one elec
tromagnet for each of said selectors, and a movable
mounting plate, on which said electromagnets are
mounted, arranged facing said selector bed and
movable towards and away from said selector bed
so that each of said electromagnets may be brought
adjacent to its corresponding selector when said
selector is in its first position; whereby, when all said
selectors are in their first positions where they are
engaged to said movement of said selector bed, and
said mounting plate is first approached to said selec
tor bed, and then said electromagnets are selectively
energized, and then said mounting plate is moved
away from said selector bed, only those of said
selectors which correspond to those of said elec
tromagnets which are energized are moved from
their said first positions to their said second posi
tions where they are disengaged from said selector
bed, subsequent movement of said selector bed in said longitudinal direction of said needle selectors
thereby actuating only selected ones of said needles,
in order to form a desired knitting pattern.
According to another particular aspect of the pres
ent invention there is provided an automatic knitting
needle selection mechanism of the above sort,
wherein said electromagnets are mounted on said
mounting plate in a stepped arrangement relative to
one another.
According to another particular aspect of the pres
ent invention there is provided an automatic knitting
needle selection mechanism of either of the above
sorts, further comprising a pushing mechanism
which transmits pressure exerted by said mounting
plate as said mounting plate approaches said selec
tor bed so as to push each selector a small amount
towards its corresponding electromagnet.
An automatic needle selection mechanism accord
ing to the present invention will now be described,
by way of example, with reference to the accom
panying drawings, in which:
Fig. lisa partly broken away perspective view of
the knitting machine, showing the needle selection
mechanism;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the machine
shown in Fig. 1, taken parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the needle selectors, and perpendicular
to the mounting plate, showing the selectors in their
reset state;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the selec
tors in their extracted state;
Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the operation of
selection of the needles; and
Figs. 5 and 6 are views showing a modification of
the machine of Figs. 1-4, when the needles are in the
extracted state, and in the reset state, respectively.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs.
1-4, in Fig. 1 there is shown in perspective form a
partial view of a knitting machine. A number of slots
2 extending vertically and arranged side by side are
milled in an upper projecting rib on the front surface
of a vertically disposed selector bed 1, and on the
lower front surface of this selector bed is further
formed a laterally extending rib or step 3.
The reference numerals 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, denote selectors, each of which is in the form of an elongated bar extending vertically. On the front part of each selector, a projection 5a, 5b, 5c, or 5d is formed, facing forwards. These projections are at different heights on adjacent selectors, and, in the illustrated example of the present invention, the staggered pattern of the heights of the projections repeats every four selectors, as may be seen from the drawing.
The upper portion of each selector4 is slidably inserted in one of the slots 2 formed in the selector bed 1. On the lower part of the back surface of each selector4 a step 6 is formed. This step 6 is engaged with the selector bed 1 by freely resting on the step 3. Further, the bottom end of each selector is supported by a horizontal support 7, which does not move, and which runs below the lower edge of the selector bed 1.
To both sides of the selector bed 1 are attached the ends of arms 8 for vertically moving the selector bed 1, by pins on the bed and slots in the arms. The front end of each arm 8 is fixed to a laterally extending axle 9. On an appropriate place on the axle 9 is fixed a downwardly extending lever 10 which is biased in the forward direction by a spring 11. 12 denotes a stop for the lever 10.
A movable mounting plate 13 is arranged in front of the selector bed 1, generally parallel to it, and pivots 41 projecting from both the sides of the upper edge of the mounting plate are pivotally supported by the arms. On the rear surface of the movable mounting plate 13 are mounted a number of electromagnets 14, each facing a corresponding projection 5 of a selector 4, there being one electromagnet for each selector. The electromagnets are thus arranged at different heights, as 14a, 14b, 14c, and
14d, corresponding to the various heights of the projections 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. Thereby, although the electromagnets are thicker than the spacing between the selectors, it is possible to fit all the electromagnets into the space available on the movable mounting plate 13.
On the center of the front surface of the mounting plate 13, a lever 15 which extends forwards and then downwards is fixed, and a push rod 16 projects forward from the lower part of the front surface of the lever 15. The lever 15 is biased forwards by a tension spring 17.
19 denotes a connecting rod pivotally supported in the middle by a pivot 20, and it is biased in the clockwise direction as viewed from above in Fig. 1 by a tension spring 21, which has a greater restoring force than the spring 17.
A slot 22 formed in the left end of the connecting
rod 19 is engaged with a pin 23 projecting from the front upper surface of the push rod 16, and a similar
slot 24 formed in the right hand end of the connect
ing rod 19 is engaged with a pin 26 projecting from the middle upper surface of a push rod 25 extending forward and backward in front of the lower end of
the lever 10 for elevating the selector bed 1. A hori
zontal roller 27, pivotally attached to the front end of
the push rod 25, is in contact with a cam 28 rotating
horizontally in front of the roller 27.
In the mechanism explained above, when the rol
ler 27 is located in the deepest recess of the cam 28, as shown in Fig. 1, the push rod 25 and the lever 10 are removed from one another, and the selector bed 1 assumes its lower position, as shown in Fig. 2.
Further, the movable mounting plate 13 is moved backwards, against the restoring force of the spring 17, as the push rod 16 is pushed by the connecting rod 19, and every one of the electromagnets 14 is in a position adjacent to its corresponding projection 15 of its corresponding selector4.
Then those electromagnets adjacent to the selectors for unnecessary knitting needles, which are not required for the knitting process, are selectively energized in accordance with video signals obtained5 by photoelectrically scanning a pattern drawing, and attract their selectors. In the drawings, the electromagnets 14c are shown as energized and attract ing the selectors 4c, but of course any combination may be selected, according to the desired knitting pattern.
As the cam 28 rotates, the push rod 25, as shown in Fig. 3, moves, pressed by the cam 28, until it begins pushing the lower end of the lever 10, and simultaneously the mounting plate 13, engaged with the push rod 25 via the connecting rod 19, tilts forwards, away from the selectors, about the pivot pin 41.
As a result, those selectors which are attracted to the electromagnets which are energized (electromagnets 14c in the drawings) are extracted from the selector bed 1, and their steps 6 on their lower parts are disengaged from the step 3 along the bottom edge of the selector bed 1. Then the electromagnets are de-activated.
As the cam 28 further rotates, and the roller 27 goes over a crest of the cam 28, the push rod 25 further pushes the lever 10 so that the selector bed 1 is elevated along with the rest of the selectors which have not been attracted by their electromagnets, for disposing the knitting needles (which are not shown in the drawings, but are located above the selectors) in a ready-for-knitting position. This is shown in Fig.
4.
As the cam 28 further rotates, until the roller 27 again comes down to the recess of the cam 28, the movable mounting plate 13 moves backwards simultaneously as the selector bed 1 is lowered, and the displaced selectors are returned to their original positions in the selector bed 1, pushed by their electromagnets 14, eventually resuming their original positions, as shown in Fig. 2.
As a modification of the above described structure, if, instead of the support 7, a pivoted plate 31 as shown in Fig. 5 is provided, which has a L-shaped section, said plate 31 being pivoted to the machine frame (which is not shown) by a horizontal pin 32, with the lower ends of the selectors 4 being freely supported by the horizontally extending piece 33 of the plate 31, and with an inverted V-shaped sheet spring 34 being attaced to the front edge of the horizontal piece 33 and a pressure piece 35 being
appended from the lower edge of the mounting plate
13 in a manner to push the sheet spring 34 down
ward as the mounting plate 32 travels backwards, so
as to incline the pivoted plate 31 clockwise in the
diagram, and thus to move the vertical piece 36 of the pivoted plate 31 forwards so as to push all the selectors slightly forwards towards the electromagnets, then the contact between the selectors and the electromagnets will become much more certain.
Thus, according to the present invention, the electromagnets are, as described above, laterally disposed as staggered relative to one another, so that as many electromagnets as selectors may be mounted on a single mounting plate, even though the electromagnets are much thicker than the distance between the selectors.
Further, bythe device of moving the mounting plate of the electromagnets towards and away from the selector bed, the electromagnets only need attract selectors when they are very close to them, and so small electromagnets may be used, which improves needle selection, as there is no risk of leakage of magnetic flux attracting neighboring selectors.
Further, by the movement of the mounting plate, only electromagnets which correspond to unused selectors need be energized, ratherthan those which correspond to selectors which are to actuate needles which are to be employed for knitting. Thus the number of electromagnets which have to be energized is considerably reduced. Further, they do not have to be energized during the entire process of knitting the row, but only while displacing the selectors which are not to be used, so that they are not in engagement with the selector bed 1.
In other embodiments of the present invention, of course the mechanism composed of the cam 28, etc., for moving the mounting plate and the selector bed could be different. Further, the exact details of the arrangement of the projections of the selectors and of the electromagnets are not important, as long as the electromagnets are staggered with respect to one another, so that they can be fitted on the mounting plate in the space available, which cannot be done if they are all mounted in a row.
Claims (6)
1. For a knitting machine in which a plurality of knitting needles are actuated by a plurality of knitting needle selectors which are arranged side by side in parallel as slidably engaged in a selector bed which is movable to and fro in the longitudinal direction of said needle selectors to actuate said needles, each of said selectors being movable in its lateral direction between a first position in which it is engaged to said movement of said selector bed, and a second position in which it is disengaged from said movement of said selector bed::
an automatic needle selection mechanism, comprising one electromagnet for each of said selectors, and a movable mounting plate, on which said electromagnets are mounted, arranged facing said selector bed and movable towards and away from said selector bed so that each of said electromagnets
may be brought adjacent to its corresponding selector when said selector is in its first position; whereby, when all said selectors are in their first pos
itions where they are engaged to said movement of said selector bed, and said mounting plate is first approached to said selector bed, and then said electromagnets are selectively energized, and then said mounting plate is moved away from said selector bed, only those of said selectors which correspond to those of said electromagnets which are energized are moved from their said first positions to their said second positions where they are disengaged from said selector bed, subsequent movement of said selector bed in said longitudinal direction of said needle selectors thereby actuating only selected ones of said needles, in order to form a desired knitting pattern.
2. An automatic needle selection mechanism as in claim 1, wherein said electromagnets are mounted on said mounting plate in a stepped arrangement relative to one another.
3. An automatic needle selection mechanism as in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a pushing mechanism which transmits pressure exerted by said mounting plate as said mounting plate approaches said selector bed so as to push each selector a small amount towards its corresponding electromagnet.
4. An automatic needle selection mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to
Figs. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. An automatic needle selection mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-4 as modified by Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The features as herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2863879A JPS6052227B2 (en) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-03-14 | Automatic pattern selection device for knitting machines, etc. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2043712A true GB2043712A (en) | 1980-10-08 |
GB2043712B GB2043712B (en) | 1983-03-16 |
Family
ID=12254063
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB7935031A Expired GB2043712B (en) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-10-09 | Automatic needle selection mechanism for a knitting machine |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
JP (1) | JPS6052227B2 (en) |
CH (1) | CH638574A5 (en) |
DD (1) | DD149552A5 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2451411A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2043712B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS62174040U (en) * | 1986-04-25 | 1987-11-05 |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1932876B2 (en) * | 1969-06-28 | 1973-04-05 | Flad, Karl, 7411 Undingen | KNITTING MACHINE WITH A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE BUMPER |
GB1368697A (en) * | 1973-05-10 | 1974-10-02 | St Clair Langham T F | Circular knitting machine with patterning mechanism |
CS186486B1 (en) * | 1976-08-13 | 1978-12-29 | Jaroslav Maxa | Electromechanical needle selecting apparatus for circular knitting machines |
-
1979
- 1979-03-14 JP JP2863879A patent/JPS6052227B2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-10-09 GB GB7935031A patent/GB2043712B/en not_active Expired
-
1980
- 1980-01-23 CH CH54880A patent/CH638574A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-03-12 FR FR8005513A patent/FR2451411A1/en active Granted
- 1980-03-12 DD DD21961480A patent/DD149552A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS6052227B2 (en) | 1985-11-18 |
FR2451411B1 (en) | 1983-04-22 |
DD149552A5 (en) | 1981-07-15 |
GB2043712B (en) | 1983-03-16 |
CH638574A5 (en) | 1983-09-30 |
FR2451411A1 (en) | 1980-10-10 |
JPS55122058A (en) | 1980-09-19 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |