US1727171A - Attachment for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3,. 1929. E. c. mH EAD 1,727,171

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1928 s Sheet-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. l'llm er 01110 ch head,

p 1929. E. c. LOCHHEAD 1,727,171

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Elmer (iLo/zheaz],

-1TTORNEY.

Sept. 3, 1929. E. c. LOCHHEAD ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet v 3 Filed June 16, 1928 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

connection shown in Figure 7.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER C. LOCHHEAD, OF MOBERLY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE -ASSIGNMENTS, TO SCOTT 8t WILLIAMS, INCORPORATED, 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to an attachment for knitting machines and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a means for connection with the detector of a circular knitting machine. whereby the machine may be automatically stopped when any trouble arises within the needle line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment as aforesaid, including means for rendering the same inoperative as a stop mechanism, coincidental with the withdrawal of the detector by the usual mechanism connected with the pattern chain,

' during yarn changes and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment as aforesaid, which is simple in construction, positive in operation, entirely free from delicate adjustment, and which may be readily attached to circular knitting machines now in common use.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a knitting machine showing an embodiment of my invention operatively connected therewith,

Figure 2- is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure rt is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of connection between the detector and actuating bar for the bell crank lever.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan of the upper Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the vertical rod shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 1, I illustrate conventionally a knitting machine including a bed plate 1, and a pivoted detector 2 having its tip 3 normally riding inside the needle line. The detector is adapted for operative connection with a pattern control mechanism for with- 1928. Serial No. 285,851.

drawing the detector from its operative position inside the needle line during certain predetermined periods for yarn changes and the like. 7 may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,282,958 issued to .lt. \V. Scott November 25), 1918, and includes a rod 1 secured to the detector and a spring 5 mounted on the rod 1. The pattern control mechanism may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,152,851) issued to R. V. Scott September 17, 1915 and includes a rack wheel 6, and a pawl controlling member 7 having a portion 8 thereof in contact with a lugged pattern chain 9.

In the operation of the pattern control mechanism whereby the detector is withdrawn at certain periods as aforesaid, a rocking movement is imparted to the pawl control member 7.

My invention consists of suitable mechanism operatively connecting the detector 2 with the trip arm 10 for a set of clutch pulleys 11 or other stop motion mechanism, whereby any interference with the detector by trouble of any nature arising within the needle line, causes the immediate actuation of the trip arm to stop the machine. My invention further consists of means operatively connected with the pattern control mechanism whereby the operation of the latter during the periods of yarn changes and the like, breaks the operative connection between the detector and trip arm, thereby permitting the detector to be withdrawn during such periods without the motion thereto being transmitted to the trip arm.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 12 designates a rod pivotally connected at one end to the detector 2, and having its opposite end extending through a standard 13 and projecting beyond the edge of the frame 14 of the machine, in proximity to the clutch pulleys 11.

Pivoted to the standard 13, as shown at 15, is a bell crank lever 16, one arm 17 of which is recessed as shown at 18 to provide a relatively small shoulder for engagement with the trip arm 10. The trip arm 10 is pivoted to the frame, as shown at 19, and is normally maintained with its free end seated in the recess 18 of the arm 17, by means of a relatively strong coiled spring 20.

Carried by the free end of the rod 12 is t u buch operative connecting means an upright member 21, which .is formed with an internally threaded boss 22 to receive therethrough a set screw 23. The inner surfaceof the head of the set screw 23 is formed with a groove to provide a seat for the rod 12. Pivotally connectedto the upright member 21, as shown at 24, is a push bar 25, the free end of which is formed 1n its lower surface with a right angular notch 26, thehorizontal wall 27 of which rests on the upper surface of the arm 28 of the bell crank lever 16, and the vertical wall of whlch is adapted for engagement with the rearward edge of said arm. The upright member 21 is further supported by means of a guide rod 29, one end of which is secured as at.

30 to the frame 14, and which extends through the standard 13 beyond the member 21 and is returned to form a loop 31, being vertically offset adjacent the standard 13, as

, shown at 32, and terminating in a horizontal lation to the lower portion of the loop 31.

portion 33, which is disposed in parallel re- The space between the upper and lower portions of the loop 31 is substantially equal to the diameter of the set screw 23, wh ch extends through the space to maintain the member 21 and the guide -rod 29 in snug connection.

Secured to the pawl control member 7, by a suitable holdfast device 34, is a rod 35 which extends through a vertical bore 36 formed in the frame 14 adjacent one corner thereof, and terminates in a horizontal portion 37 which passes under the push rod 25 ad acent the lower edge thereof, and extends between the portion 33 and the upper portion of the loop 31 of the guide rod 29.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, the connecting means between the detector 38 and pushbar 39 is particularly adaptable for use in connection with machines in which the bed plate 40 is spaced a substantial distance above the horizontal plane of the frame 41. In this form the bed plate 40 is formed with a vertical bore 42, through which a vertical rod 43 loosely extends, the lower end of the rod 43 preferably resting on the base plate 44 for the bed plate 40. Adjacent the upper end thereof, the rod 43 is provided with a horizontally extending arm 45 which is formed with a transverse horizontal bore 46. Pivotally connected to the detector 38 is a relatively short rod 47, the free end of which extends through the bore 46 and is secured in position by means of a collar 48 loosely fitting the rod 47 and provided with a set screw 49.

Adjacent the lower end of the vertical rod 43, an arm 50 extends horizontally therefrom, which is in the same vertical plane as the arm 45. Adjacent the free end thereof, the arm 50 is formed with a vertical bore 51, and spaced slightly from the bore 51, the arm 50 is'formed with a similar bore 52.

Pivotally connected with the arm-50, through the bore 52, is a horizontally extending rod 53, the rearward end of' which is connected with the push bar 39 in the same manner as the rod 12 is connected with the push bar 25 as hercinbefore described inconnection with bore 51, the other-end of the s ring 54 being connected to the mounting or the guide rod 55. The guide rod 55 is of the same construction as the guide rod 29 hereinbefore described 'in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5.

In the operation of my attachment, actuation of the detector 2 about its pivot exerts a longitudinal pull on the'rod 12 toward the head of the machine. Thelongitudinal motion of the rod 12 actuates the push bar 25 and causes the same to bear againstthe rearward edge of the arm 28 'of the bell crank lever 16, causing the bell crank lever to be swung on its pivot and removing its arm 17 from engagement with the trip arm 10. When the end of the trip arm 10 is ates the. mechanism for the clutch pulleys 11 to stop the machine. When the detector 2 is swung about its pivot, due to the intermediate mechanism connecting the detector with the pawl control member 7, the rod 35 is moved in a vertical direction by the pawl control member 7 and lifts the push ar 25 out of engagement with the arm 28 of the bell crank lever 16, as clearly shown in Figure 4 by dotted lines. With the push bar 25 in raised position, the bell crank lever 16 is unaffected by any longitudinal-pull on the rod-12, thereby permitting a free movement to the detector 2 for yarn changes and the like without danger of stopping the machine.

As soon asthe change in the machine has been completed and the detector 2 and pawl control member 7 returned to their normal positions, the rod 35 is actuated downwardly by the pawl control member 7, and the push bar 25 is permitted to fall by gravity into its normal position engaging the arm 28 of the bell crank lever 16.

In the operation of the connecting means between the detector 38 and push bar 39,

free to pass the shoulder formed by the I notch 18 in the arm .17, the spring 20 swings. the trip arm 10 about its pivot which operof the arm 45, thereby partially rotating I the vertical rod 43 about its vertical axis. The collar 48 is preferably adjusted on the rod 47 to permit the arm 45 to hear thereagainst and with said arm 45 disposed at a slight rearward angle, thereby permitting the arm 45 to move through a position at right angles tothe rod 47 during the forward movement of said arm.-- Asithe'jverhcal rod 43 is rotated about its axis, the arm 50 is caused to move therewith, and describes the same are as the arm 45. The movement of the arm 50 exerts a forward pull on the horizontal rod 53, by means of which the push bar 39 is actuated. When the detector is returned to normal position over the needle line, the rod 47 slides through the bore 46 in the arm without impart-mg anv movement to the vertical rod 43. In order to return the vertical rod 43 to the position in which the arm 45 bears against the collar 48, the spring 54 is connected with the arm and guide rod 55 as hereinbefore described. Simultaneously with the return of the detector 38 to its normal position over the needle line and the rearward movement of the rod 47, the vertical rod 43 is actuated by the spring 54 and arm 50 to maintain the arm 45 with its rearward face bearing against the collar 48.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various'changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

IVhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and detector for a knitting machine, a rod having operative connection With the detector, a bell crank lever engaging the trip arm, a supporting member carried by the rod, a push bar pivoted to the supporting member and formed with a notch, one wall of which normally rests on one arm of the bell crank lever, and means for removing the push bar from engagement with the bell crank lever at predetermined periods.

2. In combination with a clutch pulley trip arm and detector for a knitting machine, a bell crank lever engaging the trip arm, a push bar engaging the bell crank lever, means operatively connecting the push bar and detector whereby the former is actuated by the latter, and means for removing the push bar from engagement with the bell crank lever at predetermined periods, said operatively connecting means including a pair of horizontal rods connected respectively with the push bar and detector, a vertical rod disposed therebetween, and a pair of horizontal arms provided on said vertical rod and connected respectively with said horizontal rods.

3. In combination with a clutch pulley means for removing the push bar from engagement with the lever at predetermined eriods, said operatively connected means including a vertical rod supported by the machine and formed with a pair of horizontal arms, a horizontal rod connecting one of said arms with the detector for partial rotation of said vertical rod, a second horizontal rod connecting the other of said horizontal arms with said push bar, and a spring secured to one of said horizontal arms to reeiist'said partial rotation of the vertical Ino 4. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for a knitting machine, a lever for releasing the trip arm, a push bar in engagement with the lever for actuating the latter, means operatively connecting the detector and push bar to provide for the actuation of the latter to stop the machine, and means for removing the push bar from engagement with the lever at predetermined periods in the operation of the machine.

5. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for a knitting machine, means having operative connection with the detector and trip arm to stop the machine by the actuation of the detector, and pattern controlled means for breaking said operative connection during predetermined periods in the knitting operation to prevent stopping of the machine upon the actuation of the detector during such periods.

6. In combination with a stop motion trip arm and a detector for a knitting machine, a rod connected with the detector for longitudinal movement of the rod by the actuation of the detector, means operatively connecting the rod with the trip arm to provide for the actuation of the latter to stop the machine upon longitudinal movement of the rod, and pattern controlled means for preventing the actuation of the trip arm by the longitudinal movement of the rod during predetermined periods in the operation of the machine.

7. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a pattern control mechanism operatively connected therewith to Withdraw it at predetermined periods, a stop motion trip arm, means having operative connection with the detector and trip arm to provide for the operation of the latter to stop the machine, and means for operative connection with the pattern control mechanism to disconnect said operative connecting means between the detector and trip arm during said predetermined periods.

8. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a pattern control mechanism operatively connected therewith to withdraw it at predetermined periods,

a stop motion trip arm, a lever for operating the tri arm, a push bar in engagement with the ever for actuating the latter, means having operative connection with the detector and push bar whereby the latter is actuated by the detector, and means for operative connection with the pattern control mechanism for removing the push bar from engagement withthe lever during said predetermined periods.

9. In a knitting machine of that type including a detector and a pattern control mechanism operatively connected therewith to withdraw it at predetermined periods, a stop motion trip arm, a rod connected with the detector for longitudinal movement of the rod by the actuation of the detector, means operatively connecting the rod with the trip arm to provide for the actuation of the latter to stop the machine upon longitudinal movement of the rod, and means for operative connection with the pattern control mechanism for rendering said connecting means between the rod and erative connection between the detector and the stop motion, in combination with a pattern chain, lugs on said pattern chain, and means actuated by said lugs to disconnect the means connecting the detector and stop motlon.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ELMER C. LOCHHEAD.

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