US1147987A - Web-holding mechanism for circular-knitting machines. - Google Patents

Description

H. SW!NGLEHURST.

WEB HOLDING'MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED OCTffi, 19H. 1 1%? &7, Patented July 2?, 1915.

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WEB HOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-5, 19H. 1 14?; j;

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WEB HOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0015. 1911.

Patented July 27, 1915;

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' HARRY swriieLnnuns'rfor nos'ron, imssnonusnr'rs, hssienon rocs'coigr I wrnnmns, Inc, on temmnnnrnra, PENNSYLVANIA, A ccnro'nariou 1o new JERSEY.

WEB-HQOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MA Cl IlIN ES."

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 2?,19152,

Application filed October 5, 1911.v Serial No. 853,002.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, HARRY SWINGLEHURST, yt citizen of the United States, and a resident a :of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and higher speeds are attained, inasmuch as less;

dle cylinder and a stationary m preferable to one having the ,reverse, .ar- 55 rangement of such parts, first, because State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Web-Holding Mechanism for Circular-Knitting Machines, of which, the following description, in connection with the'accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. i

This invention relates to web-holding, or, as sometimes named, sinker mechanism for circular knitting machines and more partieularly to means for operating independently movable web-holders or sinkers in connection with independently movable knitting needles.

In order that the principle ofmy invention may be better understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a circular knitting machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig, 8 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. at is a front elevation of the npper portion of a knitting machine embodying my new devices; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sinker or web-holder cam ring; and'Fig. 6 is a transverse;vertical section thereof.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to a circular knitting machine of t e general type-disclosed in the patent to George D. Mayo, No. 726,13}, dated April 21 1903, but in the particular achine illustrated the needle cylinder is rotatable and i the cam ring is relatively stationary, al

though the reverse construction, as in said patent; may be employed so far as certain features of the invention are concerned.

The knitting machine to which I have rep resented my invention as a lied is re vided with single stitch cam, it being understood that if the machine he a muiti feed machine, it will be provided with a single or other stitch cam for each yarn feed.

So far as certain features of the invention are concerned the character of the knitting cam mechanism may be widely varied within the-scope thereof t (A knitting machine having a rotary nee mass is in motion during the knitting, oper tion, and secondly, because in niuitiple ,feed' 5 machines or in machines where yarn changg;

must, when the needle cylinder is stationary and the cam ring is caused to rotate or recip rocate thereabout.

In knitting machines of the single knit i ting cam type, it is necessary, in'ordertokeep the yarn guide always in the leadof. '70

thestitch cam, that certain relative peation he maintained between saidguideand cam during the knitting operation/ There-,- a

fore, when the machine is reciprooatedasin,

narrowing and widening, the stitch cam .75

must change its relation to theyarnfeed on: each change in the direction of mwe'mentfoi the machine, so that said yarn feed may, always be in the lead of the stitch wcarn.

hen, as in the machine of the said Mayq Patent No. 726,178, the cam ring is the mot-,1 ing element, this is readily efi'ected'by pro:

gear ring and the. cam ring, so that oneacliv ,viding for lost motionbetweenthe driwing.

change in the direction of motion ,ot thei 135- driving gear ring, the cam ring will remain, stationary until the yarn gu de has, secured the proper lead with respect to the stitch;

cam. When, however, the machine has a the cam' ring is. normaliy stationary, this method of operation cannot be utilized,-

I -"In my co-pending application SerialNo;

628,055, filed May 18, 1911, (Letters Patent rotating or reciprocating needle cylinder and;

No. 1,087,698, February/'17, 1914) ,I have fully disclosed and claimed means whereby in the rotatable needle cylinder type of knit-;

ting machine, movement is imparted to the cam ring-on each'change in the direction of.

motion of the needle cylinder thereby .to-

shift thestitch cam with relation to the yarn guide, so asto preserve the proper lea-dict the yarn guide with respect to the stitch cam during an stagesof the knitting operation.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings,'t1ie' needle cyl nder is representedat 1,

the said cylinder being supported upon the bed plate 2 and having a flange by which retary motion is imparted thereto by a beveled gear upon the main drive shaft of the machine. Surrounding tlie needle cylinder is a cam ring 3' preferably mounted on a fixed ring on the bed plate 2 so as to be free to turn thereon.

By preference, the cam ring is positively moved to the desired extent on each change in the direction of movement of the needle cylinder. For this purpose, I, have herein represented at 1-14 the shaft carrying the quadrant whereby to and fro movements are imparted to the driving shaft of the machine, preferably by means of a connecting rod 142 and a rotating drive wheel, and at 92 a shaft controlling the operation of the reinforcing mechanism of the yarn supply of the machine, and to which a rockingmotion about its vertical axis is imparted whenever the machine changes from rotary to reciprocal knitting, or vice versa, said parts having similar numbers to those applied to the corrresponding parts as shown in the Mayo patent above referred to and operating in the same manner as the corresponding parts in the machine of said patent.

Upon the shaft 14d are mounted, so as to be free to swing, two levers 5, 6, the lever 5 being connected by a link to the said connecting rod, whereby the latter, which is constantly acting to impart rocking movement to the toothed quadrant of the machine, also imparts constant rocking movement to said lever The hub of the lever 5 is slotted as indicated at 7 for the reception of a key 8 carried by a pin 9 free to slide longitudinally in a bored out portion of the shaft 144, the latter also receiving a coiled spring 10 acting upon a shoulder on said pin to project the same.

The lever 6 is provided with a bushing free to turn upon the hub of the lever 5 and having slots 11 for the reception of said key 8 when the latter has been moved into line therewith and then inwardly, said key being free from said slots when moved outward as'shown in Fig. 2. The position of said key therefore determines whether the lever 6 is clutched to the lever 5 or is free from operative connection therewith. The end por tion of the shaft 14% may be slotted, the slots in said shaft and the bushing of the lever 5 being of such width as to permit free play of the key 8 therein. A washer secured to the end of the shaft 144 serves toa'etain the parts in proper position upon the latter.

The shaft 92 is provided at a point in line with the pin 9 with a projecting pin 13. When the machine is knitting round and round, said shaft 92 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, said pin 13 being at right angles to the pin 9 and free from contact therewith, so as to permit the spring 10 to .provide means such as shown in my applicaproject the pin 9 to its full extent. when, however, the parts are operated so as to' change the machinefrom rotary to recipro: cal movement, rocking movement is imparted to the shaft 92 and the pin 13 thereof is moved so as to strike the end of the pin 9 and move it inwardly or toward the left. viewing Fig. 2, this action taking place at a time when the key 8 is in line with the slots in the hub-of the lever 6, so as to cause said 7 key to enter said slots, thereby clutching the lever (i to the lever 5 and causing said levers to oscillate together. The outer end of the lever 6 is provided with a. cam 14, with which engages an anti-friction roller or projection 15 upon an arm 16 secured to an upright shaft 17 journaled in suitable brackets 18 xedly secured to the framing of the machine. Fast upon the upper end of the shaft 17 is an arm 19 connected by link 20-to the flange of the cam ring 3, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

hen the machine is knitting round and round, the parts occupy such relation to one another that the stitch cam of the cam ring 3 occupies the proper position in the rear of the yarn guide. As soon as the ma-; chine changes from rotary to reciprocal knitting, motion of shaft 17 causes the cam ring to mo je with the needle cylinder until the stitchcam occupies a position at the other side of the yarn guide, the needles then continuing to move past the cam, and when the driving movement of the machine is again changed for the production of the second course of reciprocal knitting or for cl mging back to round and round knitting, a reverse movement of the stitch cam is effected, thereby positioning the same in proper relation to the thread guide.

Any other suitable means may be provided positively to move the cam ring with respect to the yarn guide, so as to permit the latter to have the proper lead, and if desired I may tion above referred to, to lock the cam ring in either position.

Within the scope of my invention, I may shift tlre cam ring at the indicated intervals otherwise than in a positive manner, and if desired as indicated in said application.

The machine herein disclosed is provided with suitable picker mechanism to act upon individual needles in narrowing and widening. said mechanism being of. any suitable type and such for example as disclosed in my LettersPatent No. 1,057,782, dated April 1, 1913.

In order to elevate the instep needles prior to the commencement of narrowing "and widening. and also when desired to elevate all the needles to permit removal of the needle cylinder or for other purpose, I mav provide a switch can. ll having means operatively connected to a moving part of the 1 arenas?" depressed position with respect fto the neelg'lles. Eriaid switch cam is so constructed "and mounted as to be capable of manual movement from its elevated to its depressed position. ll do not herein claim the switchcam" or its operating means.

Theneedle cylinder is provided with a sinker rin to receive the sinkers. lhe ring and sinlrers and the cam mechanism therefor may hegenerallv similar to those shown in the-said'lvlayo' Fatent, No. 726,178. I, however, provide certain adjustments to control the throw of the sinkers, and particularly to 3.5 prevent over movement of the sinkers radie' ival-d. i j

T eferrinr; to Figs. 5 and 6, l have therein reg'ireeenteo a sinker cam ring 28 having thereon. a draw-out cam 49 and two push-in 1 s 50 pivoted at 51 upon the sinker ring out they may be adjusted as desired. To

effect such adjustment 1 provide said cams with set screws 52 taking into slots 53 in the cam ring, thereby permitting adjustment of said push cams in and out. The draw-out cam 49 is stationary and, inasmuch as adjustment of the push-in came 50 may result in over movement of the sinkers and also to control at all times the movement of thesinkers, l provide adjustable cams 5% pivoted at 55 and priividedwith set screws 56 taking into slots in the sinker cam ring to secure them in adjustable position. As shown in 5, the ends of the stationary I draw-out cam are of reduced thickness as indicated at 57', to receive said adjustable cams The-outer edges of the adjustable camsbel form substantial continuations of the draw-out cam 49 in either direction of rotation.

Qonseouent upon the change from the construction specifically illustrated in said Mayo patent, in which the cam ring and cams were the actuated elements, the sinker cam ring, in order that the butts of the Web holding sinkersnow moving with the needle cyliw r he actuated, is in my improved dew held relatively stationary with reto the now stationary .lrnitting Wave.

59 Means for this purpose, as in said patent, may comprise lugs 11? on said sinker cam ring, and adjustable stop screws 116 to take on either side 01 a post erected on the support l. for this cam-ring which post may he shown in said patent, one of the supports for the latch ring and yarn feed guide,

To cooperate with my new device for positive y adinsting the position of the needle ith respect to the remainder of" the relatively stationary devices, comprislog. the yum-guide and the sinker-cams, I providethe sinker cam ring l8 with drawin cams 50 at a proper distance-apart, as shown in F 1g. 5 to cooperate respectively w with the cams in the needle cam-rmg 3 when said cam ringis in' eitherex't'reme of its movement during reciprocal-knitting. 'As

ell understood ,in the art, the cams 50 push;

the Web-holders or sinkers in to prevent the i forming fabric from rising by. friction With 7? needles rising trom'the retracted loop-drawing position reached when the apex of the stitch cam is in contact with their operating,

loutts. The rising phase of the knitting ,Wave is shifted at each reciprocal stroke by the device for moving the ring 3, to bring it i I under the sinker-s in Contact with the respec-z tive sinker-cam 50.

Having thus described one illustrative embodimentof my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific termsf are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense=and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set "forth in the following claims.

- Claims:

1. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a draw-out cam, two pivoted adjustable push-in cams at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of adjustable cams, the outer edges thereof forming substantialcontinuations of the guiding edge of said draw-out cam.

2. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a draw-out cam, adjustable push-in cams at opposite sides thereof, and a pivoted adjustable cam at each end of said draw-out cam,

3. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a stationary draw-out cam having ends of reduced thickness, adjustable push-in cam mechanism acting with both said draw-out cams, and adjustable cams superposed upon the reduccd ends of said draw-out c: L

4. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a stationary draw'out cam, adjustable push-in cam mechanism co-acting with botl ends of said draw-out cam and adjustable came at the ends of and forming substantial continuations of said draw-out cam and between which and said adjustable push-in cam mechanism the sinkers are ,g, uided.'

5L Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a draw-out cam and an adjustable push-in cam co-acting therewith'and between which and said draw-out cam the sinkers are guided, and an adjustable cam at the end of and forming a substantial.continuation of said drawout cam.

6. a knitting machine a needle cylinder, means to rotate and oscillate said cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam, means to oscillate the cam ring to adjust the posh," tion of the knitting cam and means to hold said cam ring fixed in its adjusted position, web-holding sinprs associated with said cylinder, and a reh ively fixed cam ring for actuating said sinkers having cams adapted to cooperate with the knitting cam in either of its adjusted positions.

"7. In a knitting machine a needle cylinder, means to rotate and to oscillate said cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam, means to oscillate the cam ring to adjust the position of the knitting cam, and means to hold said cam ring fixed in its adjusted position, Web-holding sinkers associated with said "ylinder, and a relatively fixed cam ring for actuating said sinkers having cams including independently adjustable draw-out cams adapted to cooperate with the knitting cam in either of its adjusted positions.

8. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, means to rotate and to oscillate said cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam thereon, means to oscillate the cam ring to adjust the position of the knitting ca-in, and means to hold said cam ring fixed l1'f i t$ adjusted position, Web-holding, sinkers 'associated with said cylinder,-'a sinker c amr1ng V for actuating said sinkers and =m eansto hold said sinker cam ring relatively fixed during movement of said needle cylinder said sinker cam ring having thereon cams" respectively adapted to cooperate with the;

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