US1822169A

US1822169A - Automatic control for stitch regulating mechanisms of flat knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US1822169A
Application number: US401090A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold F Paget
Original assignee: HAINES HOSIERY MILLS Inc
Current assignee: HAINES HOSIERY MILLS Inc
Priority date: 1929-10-21
Filing date: 1929-10-21
Publication date: 1931-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1948-09-08

Description

ACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR: HaroZdEPagez? A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1931. H. F. PAGET AUTOMATIC CONTR 0L FOR STITCH REGULATING MECHANISMS OF FLAT KNITTING M Filed Oct 21. 1929 WITNESSES Sept. 8, 1931. H. F. PAGET 1,322,169

- AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR STITCH. REGULATING MECHANISMS OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 21. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR: HaroZoZEPageZ WITNESSES A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1931. H. F. PAGET 1,322,169

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR STITCH REGULATING MECHANISMS OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 21. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: j-[aroZoZE Page? BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 193 1 HAROLD PAGET, OF PHILADELPHIA,

HOSIERY- MILLS INC., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01 PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOB- STITCH PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO HAIIINIES REGULATING MECHANISMS OF FLAT KNITTING MACHINES v I Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,090.

This invention relates to controls for stitch regulatingmechanisms of flat knitting machines, particularly flat knitting machines of the type employed in the manufacture of 5 full fashioned hosiei'y.

Knitting machines of the kind specificall referred to are ordinarily fitted with stitc regulating shafts carrying armswith rollers on them which are shiftable into and out of the planes o-f separate rotary cams on the cam shaft of the machine, whereby the needles are bodily shifted relative to the sinkers with which they cooperate for the purpose of producing on the one hand loose courses, and on the other hand, of producing larger fabric-loops in portions of individual courses where the fabric is to be reinforced by use of heavier yarns than the main or body yarn. Heretofore the shifting of the rollers to bring the loose course and split slack mechanisms into play was left to the manual control of the operatives. Forgetfulness on the part of the knitters to perform these functions at the proper time naturally resulted in the production of imperfect work on the machines with attendant economic losses.

The main object of my invention is to overcome the recited drawbacks through provision of means whereby the shifting of the rollers on the loose course and split slack levers into the planes of the actuating cams is controlled automatically without requiring any attention whatever onthe part of the operatives or necessitating stoppage of the machines. I

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description following in connection with the drawings, wherein Fig. I is a cross sectional view of a typical full fashioned hoi r siery machine, known,as the Reading machine, embodying my improved means for automatically controlling the operation of the loose course and split slack instrumentalities.

Fig. II is a fragmentary plan sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I. v V

Fig. III is a fragmentary, perspective view showing one of the needle bars or the machine, together with the loose course and split slack instrumentalities and certain elements of my improved means for controlling the functioning of said instrumentalities.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. I, showing other parts of my control means; and, i

Fig. V is a fragmentary elevation, viewed as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. IV.

With detailed reference first, more particularly, t Fig. I of these illustrations, one of the needle bars of the machine is indicated at 10, the'needles which it carries at 11, and the cooperating sinkers at 12, the latter being slidable horizontally in a head 13 fixed to the top of the machine frame 14 and reciprocated in the usual manner by the means comprehensively designated 15. The usual horizontally disposed cam shaft 16 is supported in suitable bearings afforded by the machine frame 14,

and carries the

conventional profile cams

17, 18 for actuating the

follower roller arms

19, 20 respectively. The first of these follower arms 19 is secured to and dependent from a shaft 21, and the other 20 similarly secured to a contiguou'sly mounted shaft 22, both shafts being supported by the-machine frame 14 at the top. The movement'of the follower arm 19 is translated, by means of a lever 23 reaching horizontally from the shaft 21, toinduce vertical reciprocation of the needle bar 10 relative to the sinkers '12 in forming the fabric courses in the known way. The follower arm 20 is coupled, by means of a link 24, with a clownward ar m 10a of the needle bar 10 so that the latter is swung about its pivotal connection 25 with the lever 23 to effect closure of the beards of the needles 11, incident to the formation of fabric loops or stitches, likewise in the known manner? P TENT O I E Furthermore, as usual, the machine is provided with a rockable stitch regulating shaft 26 which is j ournalled in bearings supported on the lower longitudinal bar 27 at the front of the machine frame 14. As shown in Fig. III, the shaft 26 has secured to it with capacity for adjustment, a roller follower arm 28 for cooperation with another profile cam. 29 on the shaft 16 for controlling the normal size of the fabric loops knit by the machine, through the medium of a detaining arm 30 on the shaft 26, which detaining arm determines the extent of inward movement of the roller on the follower arm 20a with resp ct to thecam 18 aforementioned for the indicated purpose. The shaft 26 furthermore carries a loose course lever 31 and a split slack lever 32. These

levers

31, 32 are respectively fitted with rollers 33,34 (Figs. II and III) which are axially slidable independently into and out of the planes of loose course and split

slack cams

35, 36 on the cam shaft 16, by means of spring pulled

handles

37, 38 on said levers. The cam 35 is single lobed to determine formation of loose fabric loops throughout single courses of the knitting; while the cam 36 is double lobed to determine formation of larger loops in portions of single courses of the fabric to enable use of heavier yarns in knitting the reinforced high heel areas of stockings, for example.

To automatically control the functioning of the loose course and split slack instrumentalie ties just described, I provide means which includes a pair of levers 40, 41 (Figs. I, II and III) fulcrumed intermediate their ends for .independent horizontal swinging movement on supplemental bearing brackets 42, 43 which are secured to the rear longitudinal rail 44 of the machine frame 14. As shown,

the longer extremities 40a, 41a of the levers 41 reach to the

handles

37, 38 on the loose course and split

slack levers

31, 32, while their shorter extremities 40b, 416 are fitted with rollers 45 46 to cooperate with separate cams 47 48 on an auxiliary cam shaft 49.

This auxiliary shaft 49 extends horizontally along the back of the machine where it is supported in bearings 50 which are secured, with capacity for both vertical and horizontal adjustment, to the machine frame 14. From Figs. I, II and IV, it will be observed that the cams 47, 48 are formed adjacent their peripheries with lateral offsets 47a, 4812 which are influential in swinging the

levers

40,41 to the extent required for actuating the

handles

37, 38 on the loose course and split

slack levers

31, 32 to shift the

rollers

33, 34 into the planes of the coordinated

cams

35, 36 on the cam shaft 16. The cams 47, 48

are of course set in different angular positions on the auxiliary shaft 49 so as to be Any suitable means may be employed to rotate the auxiliary shaft 49, but I prefer to effect its operation under governance of the measuring chain of the machine which is indicated at 5.1 in Figs. IV and V. To this end I equip the measuring chain with a series of special buttons 52 adapted to 'underride a roller 53 on an arm 54, the latter being secured to one end of a shaft 55 which extends transversely of the machine frame 14 through

supplemental bearings

56, 57 respectively bolted to the longitudinals 27, 44. At the rear end, the shaft 55 has secured to ita lever 58 which is coupled by means of a link 59, with a pawl guard 60, of bell crank configuration, mounted for independent swinging motion on the auxiliary cam shaft 49. The function of this pawl guard 60 is to determine the activity of a pawl 61 relative to a ratchet wheel 62 secured to the auxiliary cam shaft, said pawl being pivoted to an arm 63, which, like the pawl guard 60, is independently swingable 011 said shaft. The pawl 61 is constantly oscillated by means of an eccentric 64 on the cam shaft 16 having a rod connection 65 with the pawl arm 63, said eccentric being split, as shown, .so as to be mountable. on the shaft 16 without necessitating removal of the latter from the machine.

Incident to the operation of the machine, each time that a button 52 on the measuring chain 51 passes beneath the roller arm 54 on the shaft.55 the pawl guard 60 is retracted sufliciently to permit picking of one tooth of the ratchet wheel 62 by the pawl 61. Through attendant stepping about of the auxiliary shaft-49, the side projection 47a of the cam 47 thereon is eventually brought into position to engage the roller 45 on the lever 40, thereby causing the latter to be swung on its pivot in the direction of the arrow in Fig. II with resultant shifting of the roller 33 on the arm 31 into the .path of the loose course cam 35, on the main shaft 16, through throwing of the handle 37 by said lever 40. As a consequence, the plane of the needles 11 is shifted slightly toward the sinkers 12, by the mechanism hereinbefore described, to determine larger fabric loops for a loose course,

for example, at the very beginning of a stocking to facilitate subsequent closure of the welt. -Obviously, the cam 47 may be provided with more than one side projection 47a to pre'determine knitting of loose courses in other parts of a stocking. In asimilar manner, the'cam 48 causes swinging of the lever 41 to move the handle 38 on the split slack lever 32and thus effect shifting of the roller 34 on the arm 32 into the plane of the double lobed split slack cam 36, on the cam shaft 16 of the machine, with resultant shifting of the plane of needles 11 relative to the sinkers 12 as before, but only 'during portions of single courses of the fabric to permit the use of reinforcing yarns in knittingsuch fabric portions as already explained.

Thus through my invention, the loose course and split slack instrumentalities of the knitting machine are controlled automatical- 1y with elimination of the possibility of errors attendant u on manual manipulation of the roller'shifting handles 37, 38 on the loose mode of operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination 1n a flat knltting machine embodying a measuring chain; a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles,

a cam shaft and coordinated means to reciprocate the needle bar, and stitch regulating means including a rock shaft with a loose course lever, a roller on the levershiftable into and out of the plane of a cam on the shaft for varying the position of the needle bar relative to the sinkers for the purpose of knitting loose courses; of automatic means for controlling shifting of the roller aforesaid comprising'a lever, an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for actuating said lever, and means governed by the measuring chain of the machine for rotating the auxiliary shaft.

2. The combination in a fiat knitting machine embodying a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles, a cam shaft and coordinated means to reciprocate the needle bar, and stitch regulating means including a rock shaft with a split slack lever,'a roller on the lever shiftable into and out of the plane of a double lobed cam on said cam shaft for varying the position of the needle bar relative to the sinkers incident to knitting of portions of single courses of the knitting; of automatic means for controlling shifting of the roller aforesaid comprising a lever, and an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for actuating said lever.

3. The combination in a flat knitting machine embodying a measuring chain, a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles, a cam shaft and coordinated means for reciprocating the needle bar, and split slack regulating means including a rock shaft carrying a split slack lever with a roller thereon shiftable into and out of the plane of a double lobed cam on the cam shaft aforesaid for varying the position of the needle bar relative to the sinkers incident to the knitting of portions of single courses of the knitting; of automatic means governed by the measuring chain of the machine to control shifting of the roller aforesaid.

4. The combination in a flat knitting machine embodying a measuring chain, a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles, a cam shaft and coordinated means to reciprocate the needle bar, and stitch regulating means including a rock shaft with a split slack lever thereon, and aroller on the lever shiftable into and out of the plane of a doublelobed cam on the cam shaft for varying the position of the needle bar relative to the sinkers incident to knitting of ortions of single courses of the knitting; 0 automatic means for controlling shifting-of the roller aforesaid comprising a lever, an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for actuating said lever, and means governed by the measuring chain of'the machine for rotating the auxiliary shaft.

5. The combination in a flat knitting machine embodying a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles, a cam shaft and coordinated means to reciprocate the needle bar, and stitch-regulating means including a rock shaft with a loose course lever and a split slack lever thereon, a roller on the loose course lever shiftable into and out of the plane of a single lobed'loose course cam on the cam shaft, and a similar roller independently shiftable on the other lever into and out of the plane of a separate double lobed split slack cam on the cam shaft; of automatic means for controlling such shifting of the rollers aforesaid including individually associated levers, and an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for independently 100 actuating the levers.

6. The combination in a flat knitting machine embodying a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles, a cam shaft with coordinated means to reciprocate the-needle bar, and stitch regulating means including a rock shaft with a loose course lever and a split slack lever thereon, a roller on the loose course lever shiftable into and out of a single lobed loose course cam on the cam shaft, and 110 a similar roller independently shiftableon the other lever into and out of the path of a separate double lobed split slack cam on th cam shaft; of automatic means 'for contrdlling such shifting of the rollers afore- 115 said including individually associated levers, an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for independently actuating the levers, and means governed by the measuringv chain of the machine for rotating the auxiliary shaft,

7. The combination in a flat knitting machine embodying a measuring chain, a needle bar and sinkers to cooperate with the needles,

a cam shaft and coordinated means to reciprocate the needle bar, and stitch regulating 125 means including a rock shaft with a loose course'lever and a split slack lever thereon,

roller independently shiftable on the other lever into and out of the plane of a separate double lobed split slack cam on the cam shaft; of automatic means forcontrollingsuch shifting of the rollers aforesaid including indi- Vi ually associated levers, an auxiliary shaft with means thereon for independently actu- I ating the levers, a ratchet Wheel on the auxiliary shaft, and pawling means for the ratchet wheel governed by the measuring chain of the machine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 17 day of October, 1929.

HAROLD F. PAGET.