US1716691A - Circular-knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1929. 1 T. s. GRn-:VE 1,716,691

' CIRCULAR KNVITTING' MACHINE A Filed June 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1l, 1929.

UNETED S'lA'lhlS PATENT GFFICE.

CRCULAR-KNITTING MACHNE. l

Application filed .Tune 3, 1326, Serial No. 113,386, and in Great Eritan .Tune 25, 1925.

rl`his invention relates to circular knitting machines and concerns those of the double` needle-cylinder cnd-to-end type. The invention is applicable to such machines hav-l ing either rotary or stationary needle cylinders when equipped with what are known as inside sinlrers.

ln knitting` machines of this kind difficulty is experienced when it becomes necessary to have access to the sinlrers such for example as for renewal or replacement in the event of breakages.l The sinlrers are usually mounted in the bottom cylinder i. e. in a ring or brass fitted into the upper end of said cylinder and in order to get at said sinlre-rs it is necessary to dismantle and remove adjacent portions of the upper parts of the machine which involves trouble and time.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement which will facilitate access to and removal of the sinkers when necessary.

rlhe main object of the invention is achieved by the provision of means and an improved construction which enables separationof the cylinders to be effected in a ready manner whereby sufficient space for the desired purpose is provided between them.

In the preferred arrangement the top needle cylinder and its cam box are arranged as a complete assembly 'adapted .for bodily upward movement or removal and the sinker cam in the bottoni cylinder is adapted for displacement to enable the sinkers to be removed.

lt is a .feature of the inifention that the top needle cylinder and its cam box are carried by a member which is common to both and is supported by the machine frame in such a manner that it can be raised when necessary to lift the needle cylinder and cam box from the operative position to provide the desired space thereunder for access to and removal of the sinlers.

ln conjunction with the above-mentioned feature the upper portion of the sinlrer cam in the bottom needle cylinderis constructed and arranged so that it can be raised to permit removal of the sinlrers.

In the further following description reference will be hereinafter made to the accompanying drawing wherein an arrangement constituting a practical example of the invention is shown applied to a knitting machine of' the before mentioned type havine rotary needle cylinders. t)

ligure 1 is la sectional elevation, and l* igure 2 is a plan of the arrangement, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fieure 2. m Referring to the drawings the top cylinder 1 and its cam box 2 are carried by an annular member 3 fitted into a corresponding opening in the top plate l of the machine frame. The cylinder is attached to a bearer 5 mounted upon ball bearings 6 and 7 in said member and keyed on a pin 8 which is screwed into the upper race 9 of the bearings 6 in order to support the carrier. The race 9 may be locked in position by a nut 10 and each of these parts may be provided with tommy holes. The cam boX 2 is attached to the underside of the member 3 by screws 11. The said member may be fastened in the top plate 4lin any suitable manner. Conveniently it is formed with a flange and is normally held down by clamps 12 fixed on the top plate by means of screws 18. Preferably each clamp `is provided with a slot 141 so as to enable it to be moved radially to free the member 3, without removing the screw.

lVhen it is desired to have access to the sinker 15 in the bottom cylinder 16 the annular member is unfastened and raised, by hand or other means, in the top plate the opening in which acts as a bearing. Means are furnished to hold the member in the raised position, and, conveniently said means consist of two (or more) pins 17 in the top plate which are normally engaged by notches 18 (or slots or holes) in the flange of the annular member when the latter occupies its lower position and which theeby serve as positioning pins for said member. The pins 17' are of such a length that when the annular member is raised and given a slight turning movement in the top plate so as to bring its flange over the pins, they will constitute support to hold the top cylinder at a. suitable heio'ht above the bottom cylinder for the intended purpose. At a suitable point the flange of the member 3 may be provided with a notch 19 or slotted to engage with a pin 2O longer than the pins 17 for the purpose of limiting the turning movement of said member. This pin may have a head to limit upward movement of the member.

CII

The top cylinder is driven from the usual vertical shaft 2l by means of a driving pinion 22 and a gear 23, the latter being keyed on the pin 8. The pinion 22 is et such width that the Ojear still meshes therewith when the top cylinder is raised, thereby obviating relative mo\fement between the two cylinders. The annular member has a gap 24@ formed in it so as to enable it to clear the pinion 22 when raised and rotated.

ln conjunction with the arrangement olf the top cylinder and cam box just described, the upper portion otthe sinker cam 25 is attached to a shouldered sleeve 26 capable oil" einlwise n'iovement up and down in the bottom cylinder 16. The cam sleeve has attached to it a longer sleeve 27 which extends below the bottom olf the bottom cylinder and at its lower end may be knurled or have a knnrled flange or be otherwise adapted for rotation by hand or by a suitable tool. rfhe two sleeves are screwed together i. e. one screws into or upon the other.

rlhe shouldered sleeve 26 ts in a corresponding opening in a sleeve 28 to which the lower part of the sinker cam 25 is attached, and in normal working position is held down by the sleeve 27 which is tightened against a shoulder 29 in the sleeve 2S and thus serves as a nut. 'When the sleeve 26 is to be raised the sleeve 27 is unscrewed by rotation down the cam sleeve and then pushed up thereby pushing the said sleeve upwards.

lllhen as in the example just described the needle cylinders are rotary, the sleeve 28 in which the cam sleeve 26 is mounted is, el course, normally stationary within the liiottom cylinder.

fr cover may be lined on the top plate 4l by screws 3l, said covering being provided with openings 32 in order to clear the clamps i2 which may therefore serve as locating means for the cover.

il-,That l claim then is Y l. ln a circular knitting machine of the type hei ein described, a construction wherein the top needle cylinder and its cam boi; are carried by a llangcd annular member litted into an opening in the top plate of the machine said member being movable vertically and also rotatably to lift and hold the needle cylinder clear of the opposing bottom needle cylinder whereby space is provided between said cylinders lor access to the sinkers.

2. ln a circular knitting machine of the type herein described, a construction wherein the top needle cylinder and cam box are carried by a flanged annular member fitted into an opening in the top plate of the machine and normally held down by clamps, said top plate having pins which are normally engaged by slots in the flange of the annular member, said flange alter being lifted and turned, rest-ing upon said pins to hold the needle cylinder in a raised position to provide access between it and the opposing needle cylinder tor access to the sinkers in the bottom needle cylinder.

3. In a. circular knit-ting machine of the type herein described, a construction wherein the top needle cylinder and its cam box are carried by a flanged annular member fitted into an opening in the top plate of the machine and normally held down by clamps, said top plate having pins which are normally engaged by slots in the flange oit the annular member, the latter being movable vertically and also rotatably whereby its flange may be rested upon the pins to hold the to-p cylinder raised from the opposing bottom cylinder to provide space between said cylinders for access to the sinkers in the bottom needle cylinder, and a pin longer than said supporting pins is provided tor engagement by a notch in the annular member to limit the turning movement ot the lat-ter.

4. ln a circular knitting machine of the type herein described, a construction wherein the top needle cylinder is adapted to be raised vtrom the operative position to provide space between the opposing cylinders tor access to the sinkers, the upper portion of the sinker cam in the bottom needle cylinder, and a sinker cam which is adapted to be raised to permit removal of t-he sinkers, said cam portion being attached to a shouldered sleeve capable of endwise movement up and down in the cylinder and having screwed upon it a longer sleeve which extends below the bottom ot' the bott-om cylinder and is adapted for rotation, sa-id sleeve being in the normal position tightened against a shoulder in a sleeve in which the cam sleeve lits.

In a circular knitting machine ot the type herein described, a bottom needle cylinder carrying inside sinkers and a sinker cam and provided with means for raising said cam to permit removal of the sinkers, said means comprising a vertically movale sleeve supporting the cam, and a sleeve engaging therewith and extending below the cylinder.

ln testimony whereol:` l atlix my signature.

THOMAS SCOTT GRIEVE.

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