GB975806A - Equipment for circular knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

975,806. Knitting-machines. N. CORAH (ST. MARGARET) Ltd, J. A. SHARH, and D. L. JINKS. March 1, 1963 [March 16, 1962], No. 10076/62. Heading D1G. Socks knitted as stringwork on a circular machine by reciprocatory knitting are coupled by loose courses formed from an alginate thread, the socks being separated from each other by a severing device 8 positioned immediately after the takedown rollers 3 cutting through the fabric where the loose courses occur. The severing device is actuated under the control of a photo-electric device 39, 41 which senses the position of the loose courses and thereby initiates the operation of the severing device. The severing device 8 comprises a pivoted blade 15 co-operating with a fixed blade 12 and between which the fabric normally passes. A tensioning plate 23 coupled to the blade 15 serves to hold the work beneath the blade 12 when the blade 15 is operated. The severing device 8 is mounted on a frame 13 bolted to the plate 5 supporting the take-down rollers 3. The plate 5 is reciprocatorily driven in timed relation with the knitting machine so that the take-down rollers and severing device are similarly reciprocated. An arm 21 is secured to blade 15 and a spring 26 serves to hold the blade in an inoperative position. When the fabric is to be severed a stop 30 is lowered into the path of the reciprocating severing device so that the end 25 of the arm 21 engages the stop 30 and deflects the arm 15 to cause it to wipe across the top of the blade 12 and cut the fabric. The stop 30 is secured to one end of a pivoted arm 31 which is normally held raised by a spring 33 in an inoperative position. When the photo-electric cell device senses the loose courses to be positioned just below the blade 12 it causes a solenoid 36 to be engaged to cause a link 35 to pull the arm 31 down and the stop 30 into the path of the arm 21. Links 44 on a pattern chain 42 control the supply to the projector 39 of the photo-electric cell device such that the supply is only available for the period during which the loose courses are likely to be passing within the vicinity of the device, thereby avoiding accidental operation of the severing device. Instead of cutters a hot wire which is movable in such a way as to sever by fusion material of a thermoplastic nature may be provided.