US1608989A - Circular-knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30 1926.

J. A. MILLS CIRCULARKNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept.

Nov. 30 1926.

J. A. MILLS CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed sept. 12, 1924 s sheets-sheet z Nov. 30

J. A. MILLS CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. Yl2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wl. F

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STAT-ES -Pnjillit'i OFFC..

dessus-.Kissesline MACHINE.

Application inea september 1e, 1924, sensi No. 737,323, and in Great innata september 1 9, ieee.

rlhis invention relates to improvements inl circular knitting; machines in Which latch needles are employed, and its object is to produce on such machines,v seamless garments or tubular 'fabrics Which are fashioned by increasing; or diminishing the number of needles which are inaction from time to time, and thus actually increasing or diminishing` the number of verticaly Wales at dill rent points in the length of the Work, as 1s necessary in order to produce properly fashioned goods.

The invention may however in some cases be applied to circular weh machines 'solely tor the purpose of providing in one and the same machine, Nfacilities ltor producing tubular fabrics ot varying dimensions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a sectional elevation, and

Fig', 2 a plan oi a circular knitting machine to which my invention is applied.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the cam ring lor actuating the fashioninjg needles and the instruments cooperating` with the same.

Fig. 4 .is a plan, and

Fig. 5 an elevation showing the needle jack operating` mechanism detached.

Fig. S is a view showing' a complete set ot e achs disposed one behind the 'other'.

. T is a vertical section, and

S a plan ofi a. segment ol the machine.

9 and lO are corresponding views Filis.

to Figs, and 8.

Figs. T to l0 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. l. t0 '6.,

Lilie letters .indicate like parte throughout the drawings. y

In a circular knitting machine tor producin gr plain 'fashioned tubular ja'bric constructedaccordingg to my invention (see Figs. l and 2) part of the needles ik are disposed in tricks in a vertical needle 'cylinder C, Whilst the remainder B, hereinafter termed the tashioning needles, are disposed in the upper iace of an annular bed D Which surrounds thevneedle cylinder C, which tace is located a little higher than the upper endv ot the cylinder and in a plane at right anto the airis ot the cylinder. v

The needles A in the cylinder C are disposed at regular 'intervals all round the latter, and are operated inthe usual 'manner by cams ina cam-ring E (see Fig. l) engaging with butts A at their lower ende.

rilhe 'i'asliioninig needles B vwhich are disposed in radial tricks or recesses provided cr them in the upper tace of the annular bed D, are 'arranged with ytheir hooked ends on the inner and their 'butted ends on the outer side of the said bed, and they are thus disposed so as to draw their loops outwards, that is, in the same direction the lcylinder needles A, and as a result a plain fabric is produced. l

ln the preferred arrangement, one fash` lening` need-le B is einpiioyed to every three cylinder needles A, and they are arranged in the annular bed D at regular internals, that is, three cylinder needles apart. The arrangement oill the needles B may however he varied to suit dilierent requirements.

The tashioning` needles B are moved inby means o v'l jacks G into the range or cn ns in cani rii i?, which latter is dis-` posed a'bcve the bed D, and is connected to the cam ring); EE by a post E (see Fig. 2). The needles B are then actuated by said came so as to knit the coii1se,a'iid are subsequently delivered clear of the lcams again. If the needles B 'are to knit every course, they must -therefore be moved in every time by the jacks G. The cams in the ring F act on the butts B at 'the outer ends of vthe needles, and the inner ends oi? the latter Work through between two cylinder needles passing "from the outer to the inner side in order to 'cl their loops and take the thread 'from 'the feeder '.'for the nent course, 'and are entirely n."ithdra'ivn from :the cylinder needle when knocking over the loops and completa course.

The fashioning needles B 'thus each ivorl; between tivo cylinder needles hut no extra space is lleft het-neen the latter, and as `'the loops on the liashioning` needles B are drawn through in 'the same direction as vthose on the cylinder needles A, a plain ei'lec't isal- Ways produced by them as previously descrihed, Whilst the fabric is fashioned by putting' more or of the ashioning needles 'i3 into orout ot action as the Work `proceeds.

When a. tashioning` needle B is for instance in action7 it `lrnits a vertical Wale Bti which is d isposed between the two wales produced by the two neighbouring cylinder nee* dles A between which the fashioning needle B works, whilst on the other. hand, when a fashioning needle B is put out of action, the wale produced by it is suppressed, and the two cylinder needles a on either side of it, knit vertical wales which are now the correct distance apart.

A seamless garment or fabric can thus be fashioned by starting for example to knit on all the cylinderl needles A and all the fashioning needles B, and gradually reducing the number of the latter needles B in ac tion, thereby narrowing the work at it proceeds.

ln one arrangement for example, the fashioning needles B are subdivided into four groups, each of which is disposed in a different segment of the machine, and one or more of the corresponding needle or needles in each group is or are put out of action simultaneously as hereinafter described, so that each narrowing will occur at four or more points in the circumference of the work, and will be uniformly distributed round the tubular fabric, which may for example be a stocking leg.

lVhen a fashioning needle B is put out of action, it is necessary, in order to avoid a fault, for that needle to deliver its loop on to the cylinder needle A on the right or left of it, means are therefore necessary to effect this result, and such means will be hereinafter referred to, after describing the arrangement for operating and controlling the fashioning needles B.

The j aclis G 'in connection with the fashioning needles B are disposed in the same tricks or recesses as their needles, and are adapted to engage with the outer end of the latter and move them inwards. The needles B are thus brought into action when the jacks push them inwards, and as previously stated this action must take place every time they are required to knit. The inner end portions of the jacks G are arranged under the outer end portions of the fashioning needles B, and work horizontally and parallel to them.

These jaclrs G project on the eXterior of the bed D in which they are located and their outer ends are stepped as shown in Fig. 6, so that the whole or any required number of them can be acted vupon by a cam plate H, by adjusting the height of the latter. As shown in Fig. 6 eight jacks are shown, and their outer ends are cut so that they go out of action one after the other as the cam H is lowered step by step.

'lhese jacks G may be distributed in any required order in the respective groups of needles B according to the order it is desired to put the said needles out of action.

Referring new to Fig. 3, which is an inverted plan of the cam ring F for actuating the fashioning needles B, a is the point where the needles B are pushed in by the jacks G and their butts are then delivered into the cam groove 7), they clear their loopsI and take the new thread at c, whilst d is the knitting cam which after knitting the course delivers the needles with their buttsl in line with the space e, that is, clear or' the cam groove 7).

The butts B of those needles B which are not pushed in by their jacks G so as to enter the groove b, run into the outer space e and are moved in by the earn y" far enough to cast oil their loops, but nel far enough to talre the thread from the feeder, and they therefore automaticallyrv ro out of action under these circumstances.

rl`he blank space g in the cam ring` is provided for removing damaged needles` and may be lled-in by means of a readily removable part if desired The cam plate H which revolves with the cam ring B, acts on the outer ends of the jacks G and pushes them in in succession. This plate H (see Figs. l-t and 5) is carried by a sleeve J which slides vertically on a hollow vertical pillar J carried on the cam ring E, and it is lowered step by step, by means of a stepped face cam lwliich is mounted en a vertical axle li. also carried on the cam ring E. The sleeve ll is provided with an arm J2 which rests on the top of the cam K, and the latter intermittently advanced by the following er rangement in order to raise and lower thc cam plate H.

Attached to the underside of the face cam K, is a toothed wheel L which ge red to a pinion M on an axle lvl (see l? il carried by the cam ring E.

Mounted on the same axle lvl" as the piu-- ion M, is a lever N provided with a par-:l N which engages with the teeth of tlul pinion M.

frs the whole arrangement moves rounffl with the cam ring E, a stud which is verrically adjustable is raised into the path cf the free end of the lever N as required, and the latter is then actuated and advA lis the wheel li and cam l. rllhe lever N is rcturned to its original position by means of a spring (i), which is connected to an arm' on the axle M to which the lever is also connected. N3 is a. pivoted springactuated check-pawl or check-lever provided with a projection which engages with the teeth of the wheel L, and which forms a resistance which prevents accidental and undesirable movements of the said wheel.

ln order to bring all the jacks G into action simultaneously whenever it is required, a supplementary cam plate P which is pivoted on a` part P secured to the cam ring F, is moved into its operative posilll-3 tion by means vof anincline Q (see 5) on the upper end of a pin Q which worlrs in the interior of the hollow pillar J, and this pin is provided with an arm Q2 Fig. l) and a downward extension Q3 which bears on a cam K2 in the interior of the stepped cani l.

The cam l it will be understood is providing,` for putting the fashioning needles B out of action in succession, whilst the cam K2 is used to bring,` all the fashioning needles into action again simultaneously at the proper time, after putting the whole or a portion of th-em out of action in order to fashion the leg of a hose or other garment.

lt will also be understood, that by controlling` the rising movements of the stud which engages with the lever N by means of pattern chain mechanism for example, full automatic control is provided.

ln order to insure that the fashioning needles B will under the peculiar circumstances under which they work, draw the saine length of loop as the cylinder needles A, a. result which is absolutely necessary in order to produce perfect work, a cam actuated instrument or jack Bv is provided in connection with each of said needles B, and these instruments are moved up and hold the work directly under each fashioning needle B as it drawing` its loop. The loops are therefore each drawn over an instrument, the position of each of which relatively to its needle during,- the knitting); of a course, is controlled by cams, which latter can be adapted to actuate the instruments as is required to give perfect results.

rQhese instruments R, shown more clearly in F lgs. to l0, are each disposed in a trick or recess provided for itat the side of its correspending` needle B, but in a sunk portion on the inner side of the needle bed F, and said jacks are formed with nebs R which engage in and are actuated by a cani groove /L (see Fig. 3) in the same cani ring- F that carries the fashioning needle knitting cams. The inner ends of these jacks R are each provided with a part R2 which is disposed parallel to the needle bed F, and is situated on the underside of its needle, and this part is formed with a forked or hollowed out extremity adapted to engage with and hold the work. The said parts ,R2 are also each provided with a needle stop R3.

lllhen a fashioning needle B is put out of action, its loop must for the reason pref viously mentioned be delivered on to the cylinder needle A on the right or left of it, and this is effect-ed in the following manner. The fashioning needle B is held back owing to its butt being` located in the cam space e (see Fig. 3) and at the same time its inner end is sprung sideways as shown in Fig. 10 in order to bringits loop directly over the cylinder needle A on its right, which latter can then through the loop on the fashioning needle B. The latter is then subsequently moved in by the cam f previously referred to, so as to cast od or clear its loop and leave it solely on the cylinder needle A..

The ends of the fashioning needles B are moved sideways as to bring them in the correct relation relatively to the cylinder needles A in the act of transferring the loops as previously described, by means of pins S disposed in holes in the fashioning needle bed l). 'l'hese pins S are provided with flats which are disposed close up to the sides of the needles B, and by movingv these pins S angularly, the flats act on and spring the needles sideways as previously described.. The stops R3 on the aolrs R are provided to limit the bending action of the needles B.

The pins S described are provided with arms S on the underside of the bed l), and the arm or arms S in connection with the needle or needles which are to transfer their loops, are as the bed nieves round, engaged by the inner end of a sli-de T see 9 and l0) which latter is moved in at the proper time to effect the required result.

The slide T described inoved in as required by ine-ans of a lever V (eee Fig. 2) which is pivoted at V to the lined slide carrying bracket T and is engaged by vertical pin l 72 on a second lever lill which is pivoted at W to the cam plate l-l previously described, so that it descends with the latter.

When the cain plate H is moved down one step, the outer ends of the iacksG which are not in consequence moved inward by said plate, come in contact with the free end of the lever W, thereby actuating` the latter and imparting` the required inward movement to the slide T to effect the transf-er of the loops on each of the fashioning` needles in turn as they are put out of action.

The jacks G cannot be pushed in by the lever W owing to the butts B on the corresponding needles B engaging;- at this time with and being held back by the rib y' (see Fig. 3) between the cain lgroove and outer space c in the cam ring;` F. vWidenings may be effected by reversing the operation described, that is, by gradually increasing` the number of fashioning needles which are in action, but the. formation of eyelet holes where the said needles come into action cannot be entirely avoided without transferring` loops from the cylinder needles, and this presents considerable difficulties.

The defect referred to may however be minimized to a considerable extent by adoptingthe following course. ViThen a fashioning needle is brought into action, its end is bent over by the means hereinbefore described, so that it lirst takes the thread a cylinder needle space to the right or left lili of its normal position and subsequently returns to and continues to knit in its proper position.

In this case two small eyelet holes are forn'ied instead of one large one.

ln circular web machines for making` seamless 'tubular fabrics, in which no fash- .ci'iing or sinipinpl is required, part of the invention described may be adopted for the purpose of providing in such machines fa cilities for makingfabrics of varying` Widths.

F or example a machine such as described may be provided with half as many faslr Mining, needles as there are cylinder needles, and provision is made for bringing, more or less of the former into action according to the dimensions of the tubular fabric required from time to time.

rihe invention is also applicable to circular rib machines as the use of the fashion ingi needles described is not affected by the presence of rib needles.

`What l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters `Patent is l. in a circular lmittingmachine,the com bination with a cylinder provided with cylinder needles, and a needle bed provided with ilfashioning needles which Work cross- `vise of the cylinder needles, and draw their loops in the same direction as the latter; of cam actuated instruments provided with end portions arranged under and substantially parallel to the fashioningl needles and which eo-operate with the said needles and hold the work and permit each fashioning` needle to draw its proper length of loop.

2. A combination of parts as set forth in claim l, a single cam being provided to operate the said fashioning needles and also the said instruments, the latter beingprovvided with projections which engage with `the said cam.

3. A combination of parts as set forth in claim l, the said instruments being,` provided With stops arranged to one side of the inner end portions of the fashioningneedles and which operate to limit their movements when sprung laterally out of their normal positions.

4;. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a cylinder provided with cylinder needles, and a needle bed provided with fashioningneedles Which Work cross- Wise of the cylinder needles and draw their loops in the same direction as the latter; of cam actuated instruments provided with end portions arranged under and substarn tially parallel to the fashioning needles, and means for springing the inner end portions of the said fasliioniim,l needles laterally when they are put out of action, so as to transfer the loops from the fashioning needles to the cylinder needles.

A. combination of parts as set forth in claim el, the said fashioning needles being; provided with controlling` jacks, and the said means for springing the fashioning needles beingl actuated by the said controlling jacks.

(l. A. combination of parte as set forti in claim 1l, the said fashioning needles beingl provided with controlling jacks, and 'the said means for springing the fashionine; needles con'iprising` oscillatory pins provided with surfaces for engaging with the fashioning needles, arms secured to the said pins, a Islide carried by lthe said needle bed, and a pivoted lever operated by the said controlling jacks so as to press the said slide inwardly against the said arms and thereby move the said pins axially to spring the fashioning needles.

In witness "whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH ALFRED MILLS.

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