US1826661A - Welt closing mechanism for full fashioned knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

L oct. ls, 193.1..

` WELT cLosING M'EcHANIsM Fon FULL FAsHroNED KNITTING MACHINES 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed-Feb. 24, 1930 Fll.

A W1 TNESSES TTORNEYS.

Oct. 6, 1931.

J; HAINES, JR

WELT CLOSING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING ACHINES ,Filed Feb. 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2l WELT CLOSING MECHANISM FOR FULL FAsHIoNED KNITTING MACHINES J. HAINES, JR, v

Filed Feb. 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www IN VI EN TOR.- Tosqz/JJZ' Hawes Jj.;

TToRNEY,

WITNESSES' W ct- 5, 193] J. HAlNErs, JR 1,826,661"- WELT CLOSING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb.. 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVlgNroR Joseph Hawes ,Jg

' l ATTORNEYS.

Patented oct. e, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE JOSEPH CHAINES; JR., F 'YMEADOWBBOKQ PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBJ T0 HAINES HOSIERY MILLS, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WELT CLOSING MECHAN'ISM FOR FULL FASHIONED- KNITTING MACHINES Application filed February24, 1930. Serial No. 430,566.

This invention relates to full fashionedr hosiery knitting machines, and has more especial reference to mechamsm useful 1n connection with such machines to close the manufacturing costs,

welts at the tops of stocking blanks.

As is well known to those conversant with this art, turning and closing of welts by hand on full fashioned hosiery knitting Inachines is a very tedious operation which necessitates the exercise of great skill and therefore employment of high salaried help. Notwithstanding, the operation is often attended by dropping of the fabric loops incident to transfer from the loop engaging instrumentalities of the welt bars back tothe knitting needles, and' in the formation of seconds which must be disposed of at a loss.- Another disadvantage is that it entails stoppage of the machines for protracted periods. with corresponding curtailment in production.

The chief aim of my invention is to overcome the above recited drawbacks with a view toward increasing the output of the machines and correspondingly minimizing simple means in the form of an attachment capable ofbeing readily adapted to standard machines, and of effecting closure of stocking welts automatically. A further aim of my invention isto enable employment of the narrowing nism of the machines to perform all lations of the welt closing operation.

Still further objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description following whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings; whereof Fig. I is a cross sectional view of a typical full fashioned hosiery knitmanipubars essential -to the welt ting machine conveniently embodying my` improved welt closing mechanism.

Fig. II is a fragmentary elevation of the front of the organization, or as viewed from the right of Fig. I, comprehending one of the double needle bar sections of the machine.

Fig. III is a detail view in front elevation, on a somewhat larger scale than the preceding illustrations, showing the means whereby the welt bars are removably attached through provision of a' mechavwelt bars ,tional view of the machine showing the knitting instrumentalities in the position which they ordinarily occupy while forming the fabric for a stocking welt, and featuring certain of the parts associated -with the present invention.

Figs. VI and VII are detail views showing the cooperation of the needles and sinkersof the machine with the loop engaging instrumentalities of the welt bars during the welt closing operation in accordance with my invention.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary'gcross sectional view of the machine, similar to Fig. I, show- A ing more particularly the means providedl for modifying the normal action of the narrowing mechanism of the machine for the purposes of automatic welt closure.

Fig. IX is a perspective view showing how the welt bars for each knitting section of the machine are mounted in laligned relation to a holder bar in pairs to facilitate their application to the narrowing mechanism; and,

Fig. is a perspective view of a special type of loop engaging instrumentality for the whichI prefer to employv in connection With my welt closing mechanism.

Referring first more especially to Figs. I

and II of these illustrations, the numeral 12 designates a needle bar whereof there is one associated with each knitting section of the machine as usual, said bar carrying, in alignedu'elation, two sets of needles 13ffor vknitting'as many separate stocking blanks at a time.' The needle bar l2 is moved up and down in the interval between the transverse frames 14, 14a of the machine relative to the horizontally cooperating sliding sinkers 15 and the rocking knock-over bits 16, by means of arms 17 on a horizontal rock shaft 18, said rock shaft being oscillated through suitable connections (not shown) -with the longitudinally extending cam shaft 19 of the machine.

The catch bar 2O for the sinkers 15 is likewise actuated by a cam (not illustrated) on. the shaft '19, through a roller'arm partly shown at 21 in Fig.` I, which roller arm is secured to a horizontal rock shaft 22 at the back 'of the machine. Another arm 23 on the rock shaft 22 is directlyIconnected, by means of a link 24, with the catch barv20. VThe narrowing mechanism of the machine, comprehensively designated 25, has the usual curved arms 26 which reach upward and forwardly from another rock shaft 27 at the back of the upper portion of the machine, and supporta rod 28between them directly over the knitting instrumentalities 13, 15 and 16. Shiftable endwiseinpendant brackets 29 on the rod 28 are the horizontal slide bars 30, 31 whereto are respectively secured the narrowing combs 32, 33 which-are instrumental in shaping the stocking blanks after a well known manner.

. Dipping motion is imparted to the arms 26 and their appendages through a downward link 34 having pivotal connection at its upper end with the rod 28 and `at its 'lower end, with a lever 35.A This lever 35 is rockable about a stud 36 on the transverse frame l14, and, as shown, carries, intermediate its ends, a roller 37, which, during ordinary narrowing, 1s

adapted to be iniuenced by the narrowing cam 38 on the cam vshaft 19. The means whereby the narrowing mechanism 251 may be lifted manually for retainment in idle position when required, includes a crank handle 39 which is fulcrumed at 39a on the frame 14a and coordinated, by means of a rod 40, with a f lever 41 on still another rock shaft 42 that extends longitudinally of the lower rear part of the machine, see Figs. I, II and VIII. On this shaft 42 is secured a stop arm 43 with a roller 43a, which, lwhen the crank handle 39 is moved outward from the position shown in Fig. I, .is swung beneath the free end of the lever 35, thereby to hold the narrowing mechanism 25 raised as aforesaid with the roller 37 on said lever clear of the narrowing cam 38.

In carrying out my invention, I permanentlysecure the two welt bars 45 associated with each knitting section of the machine in aligned relation to a holder bar 46, see Figs.

`V and IX. As shown, the holderI bar 46 is of angular cross section, and provided in that flange 46a thereof whereto the welt bars 45 are directly secured, with gage holes 47. and in the complemental lateral flange 465 at corresponding points with quadrangular apertures 48 for a purpose later on explained. During knitting of the stocking'welts, the

I holder bar 46 is sustained by slideways 49 (Figs. I and V) Xed cross'wise of the top longitudinal channel rail 50 at the front of the machine frame. At the rear, the holder Y v bar 46 is equipped at suitable intervals, with Y apertured lugs 51-to receive theV hooks of the draw straps 52 on the take-np roll indicated at 53 in Fig. I, said take-up roll extending between brackets 54 that reach horizontally outward from the channel rail 50 in the planes of the transverse frames 14, 14a'of the machine. The loop engaging instrumentalities 55 which I employ in the. welt bars 45, it will be noted from Figs/VI, VII and X, are of the latch hook variety; their latches 56 having considerable extent beyond` the hook ends to facilitate their ready opening simultaneously` in preparation for engaging the loops L (Figs. VI and VII) of the first course of the welt fabric F in starting new'stocking blanks. For this operation, a latch.. opening means comprehensively designated 57 in Fig.- I is provided. This latch opening means 57 is fully disclosed in a separate patent application, Serial No. 421,547 filed by Harold F.

-Paget on January 17,1930, and need not shown in Figs. VI and VII, and as described in greater detail'later on. After a predetermined length of. fabric F has beenl knit for the welts of the stockings, the holder bar 46 with its welt bars 45 is applied to the narrowing mechanism 25 as shown in Figs. I, II and III, that is to say, the tapered ange tween the two narrowing comb bars 30, 31 and lts gageholes 47 registered with corresponding allocated gage studs or pins 60, (Figs. III and IV) on the narrowing comb bar 31. To lock the holder bar 46 against displacement when so applied, I provide at the rear of the narorwing comb bars 30, 31, a pair of v461) of said bar is inserted in the interval belatches 61 to engage the apertures 48 in the flange 465 of said holder bar, see Figs. II, HI and IV. As shown, these latches 61 are vertically' slidable in guide pieces 6 2 secured to the rod 28 of the narrowing mechanism.

25, andare coordinated for simultaneous operation by a horizontal cross beam or connector 63, which, at its center, has a longitudinal slot 64 adapted to be engaged by the crank pin 65 of a manipulating handle 66.

A yoked bracketl 67 secured to the rod 28, see Figs. II and III, afords the axis, 68 of the manipulating handle 66 fulcrum support; and means in the form of a spring pressed ball 69 to engage with circumferential notches 70. 71vin4 the boss of the yoke bracket 67 is relied upon to hold the manipulating handle- 66 yieldingly, either in the on position of Fig. II, or the oi.position of Fig. III. A

Incidentto ordinary narrowing, the mecl1a-v nism 25 is caused .to dip twice, first to take the loops L from the needles 13and again Y after shifting of the transfer comb bars 30, Y

31 to placesuch loops on adjacentneedles. In order to modify the action of the narrow- 1ts end rounded as at 72a lo 7 ing mechanism. for the purposes of my invention I provide means for eliminating one of the two dips above referred to. This means includes as shown in Figs. I, II and VIII, an arm 72, which, for convenience, isshown as being mounted forfree swinging movement on the loop regulating shaft `73 at the front of the machine, said arm havlng to engage a collar 4 on the rod 40 that extends between the handle 39 and the lever 41 associated with the roller arm 43 on the rock shaft 42. In order that the stop or roller arm 43 may be actuated independently of the handle 39, the rod 40 is slidingly engaged in a swivel stud 75 in a lug 39bof said handle. Beyond the swivel stud 75 the rod 40 is vfitted with a sec- 0nd collar 76 to cooperate with said swivel incident to manual actuation ofthe roller arm 43 by the handle 39. From the arm 72 prujects laterally a stud 77 whereon is slidingly mounted a roller 78 which is shiftable by means of a hand lever 79 into the plane of a supplemental rotary cam 80 on the cam shaft` 19 of the machine. From Fig. VIII it will be noted that when the roller 78 rides the high fabric F (Figs.V V,

portion 80a of the supplemental cam 80, the

.roller arm 43 is pulled forward into active position to intercept the lever 35 and to holdl the narrowing mechanism 25 raised while the low portion 38a of the narrowing cam 38 passes beneath the roller 37 on the lever 35. thereby preventing narrowing mechanism. When however, the high portion 80a of the supplemental cam 80 passesbeyond the range of the roller.7 8 on the 'arm 72, the lever l35 is released in timey to be actuated by the second low portion 385 of the narrowing cam 38 so'that the narrow- 'ing mechanism 25 is permitted to perform'the one vdip necessary to welt closure'in the manner presently explained.

The method of welt turning and closing with the mechanism of my invention isas follows: Assumin'gthat the proper length of Vl and VII) has been knit on each set of the machine has been automatically Vstopped inthe usual way bythe means provided for thatp'urpose in readiness for the' straps 52 of the take-up roller 53 are un hooked from the holder bar 46. The holder -l bar 46 is then lifted from'oif its guides 49 (Figs. I and V) andmounted on the narrowing mechanism 25. Incident to this step, the

tapered iange 465 ofthe holder bar 46 is inserted in the interval between the two .ver-4 tically-spaced narrowing comb bars 30. 31

of the mechanism 25 as hereinbetore ex-A plained, care being taken to register theholes 47 in the-flange 46al with the studs 60 on the comb bar 31, whereupon the manipulating handle 66 is swung from the position of Fig. III to the position of with the .to sheath the the* usual first dip of said l the needles 13, and thatv welt turning,v

Fig. vII to. thrust the latches 61 down into'the apertures 48 of theA .cam shaft 19. itis to be understood, that, un-

der the influence of the supplemental cam 80, the roller arm 43 is caused to intercept the lever 35, 'thereby to prevent the iirst dip of the narrowing mechanism 25, also as previously explained. However, when the high portion 80a of the supplemental cam 8O has cleared the roller 78', the roller arm 43 is moved from beneath the lever 35 permitting the roller 37 to Contact with the narrowing cam 38 during the final half revolution of the latter, to the end that the mechanism 25 welt bars is moved downward. The hook instrumentalities of the welt bars 45 are thereby lowered to the position shown in F igfVI to meet the needles 13 and beards 13a of said needles within the flutings 57 of their shanks.- Such contact as between the needles 13 and thefinstrumentalities 55 is brought about while the sinkers 15 are retracted as in Fig. VI so that the loops L of the initialcourse of the fabric on said instrumentalities are impaled upon the needles 13 in a manner simulative of loop transfer incident to ordinary narrowing. Then with the needles 13 and the instrumentalities 55 still in the position of Fig. VI, i

the' sinkers 15 are advanced, through movement of the catch bar 20 (as during an ordinary loops L as in Fig. VII, whereupon as the narrowing mechanism 25 is lifted in completing its dip, the hook instrumentalities 55 of the welt bars 45 are withdrawn from said loops L, the latches 56 of said instrumentalities closing automatically after the manner of ordinary loops L are thus retained by the needles 13 and the welt closed over the course of loops L" last knit. After having passed through a singlev narrowing cycle as just explained, the machine is caused to resume its normal mode of operation vautomatically to continue knitting the legportions of the stockings.4

narrowing cycle), into position over the 61 by a return swing of' the manipulating handle 66 in readiness tol latched knitting needles. The l A lbe used for the next set of stocking blanks.

T hev hand lever 7 9 is at the same time shifted to its normal position so that the roller 78' is kept out of the way of the supplementall lil cam 80 during theA narrowing periods which follow the welt Aclosing operation incident to completion of the stocking blanks on the machine. Y v

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple means by which the operation of welt closing is performed automatically, said mechanism being in the form ofan attachment readily adaptable to standard `knitting machines. The time interval required to carry out the only hand A operation involved, namely, that of placing needles, narrowing mechanism,

in g mechanism; of welt closing mechanism including a welt bar fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities and adapted to be removably attached to the narrowingmechanism for utilization of the dipping motion of the latter to effect transfer of theinitial course of fabric loops on the welt bar instrumentalities back to the needles of the machine, gage means for determining the position of the welt bar on the narrowing mechanismtolpre'- i assure accurate registryof the loop engaglng instrumentalities withlthe needles, and latch means for securing the welt bar against displacement on'the narrowing mechanism'.

' 2. The combination in a full fashioned knitting machine embodying a series ofneedles, narrowing mechanism, and means for imparting dipping motion to the narrowing '.`mechan1sm; of welt closing mechanism including a welt bar fittedwith loop engaging. instrumentalities and adapted to be removably attached to the ynarrowing mechanism for utilization of the dipping motion 'of the latter to eiect transfer of the initial course Aof the fabric loops on the welt bar `instrumentalities back to the needles of the knitting machine, and means securing the welt-bar against Adisplacer'nent on the narrowing mechanism comprising a number of latches for engaging said bar at intervals, and means for, simultaneously actuating said latches.

3. The combination ina full fashionedY knitting machine embodying va series of needles, narrowing mechanism, and means. for lmpartmg dlppmg motlon to the narrowing mechanism; of welt closing mechanism -including a welt bar fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities and adapted to be temporarily attached tothe narrowing mechanism for utilization-of the dipping motion of thelatter to effect transfer of the initialcourse chine section,

of the 'fabric loops4 on the welt bar instrumentalitiesback to the needles of the machine, a

number of sliding latches .for engaging the.

welt bar at intervals to secure it against displacement on the narrowing mechanism, a common connector for the latches, and an actuating handle with an eccentric pinto engage a longitudinal slot in'said connector. 4. The combination in a full fashioned knitting machine embodying a series of needles, narrowing mechanism with vertically.

spaced longitudinal slide bars carrying narrowmg combs; of weltA closing mechanism mcluding awelt bar fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities and adapted to be removably attached tothe narrowing mechanism for ntilization of the dipping motion of the latter 4to effectl transfer of the initial course of the fabric loops on the welt barinstrumentalities back to the needles of the machine, said welt bar having a perpendicularly projecting lateral flange capable of engaging in the interval between the two slide bars aforementioned of the narrowing mechanism, and

latch meansto securethe welt barY against I displacement on the narrowing mechanism.

' 5; The combination in a full'l fashioned knitting -machine embodying a Iseries of needles, narrowing mechanism' with' vertically :spaced longitudinal slides carrying narrowing combs; of welt closing mechanism including a welt barV fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities andadapted to be removably attached Y.to the narrowing mechanism for utilization of the dipping motion of the latter to effect transfer of the initial course of the loo fabric loops on the welt bar instrumentalities back to thenee'dles of the machine, said welt bar having a` perpendicularly projecting lateral ange capable of engaging in the interval between the two slide bars aforementioned of the narrowing mechanism, a number of latches disposed behind the slide bars to engage apertures arranged at intervals along the ange of the welt bar to hold said bar against displacement on the narrowing mechanism, and means to actuate the latches.

6. The combination in a full fashioned Eknitting machine 'embodylng a number of knitting sections'each with a pluralityof sets of needles' in longitudinal alignment, a narrowing mechanism individual to each section and means for imparting dipping motion to such narrowing mechanism; of welt closing mechanism including holder members with rmanentlyattached welt'bars correspondy ber of needle banks in each masaid WeltV bars being arranged in aligned relation on the: holder membersand ing to the n each fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities, and latchingmeans whereby said holder members are detachably secured to the narrowing mechanism for utilization of the dipping motlon of the latter to effect transfer of v the initial courses of the'several fabric sections on the welt bar instrumentalities back to the needles-of the machine incident to automatic welt closing.

7. The combination in a full fashioned knitting machine embodying a series of needles, narrowing mechanism, and cam actuated means determining a double` dlp `of said narrowing mechanism during the ordinary narrowing phases of the knitting; of

welt closing mechanism including a welt bar fitted lwith loop engaging instrumentalities v and adapted to be removably latched to the purposes of automatic welt closure, the actionI narrowing mechanism, and supplemental mechanism operative to intercept the cam actuated mechanism aforesaid whereby, for the ties back to the needles of the machine.

8. The combination inl a full fashioned 'knitting machine embodying a series of ble stop arm capable of intercepting the lever and withholding it from the influence of theA cam; of welt closingmechanism includingA a welt bar fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities and adapted to be removably attached to the narrowing mechanism; means whereby, f or the purposes of automatic welt closure, the

-stop arm aforementioned is automatically operated independently of its manual actuation, means to temporarily restrain the lever from the influence of the cam with impartation of but a single dip to the narrowing mechanism and the attached welt bar to effect transfer o'f the initial course of the fabric loops on the welt bar instrumentalities back to the needles of the machine.

11. The combination in a -full fashioned knitting machine embodying a series of needles, narrowing mechanism, a rotary cam with low points to determine, through cooperation with a lever, a double dip of said narrowing mechanism during the 4ordinary narrowing phases of the knitting, and a stop arm needles, narrowing mechanism, and a rotary wapable of being'moved into the path of said cam with low points to determine a double dip of the narrowing mechanism during the ordinary narrowing phases of the knitting; of welt closing mechanism including a welt bar fitted with loop engaging instrumentalities and adaptedto be removably attached to the narrowing mechanism, and means where# by, for the purposes of automatic welt closure, the effect of one of the low points of the rotary cam aforesaid is nullified with imp artation of but a single dip to the welt. bar

and with incidental transfer of theinitial course of fabric loops on the weltbarinstrumentalities back to the needles'of the machine.

9; The combination in a full fashioned f knitting machine embodying a series of needles, narrowing mechanism, and'a rotary cam with low points determining, by cooperation with a lever, a double dip of said narrowing mechanism during the ordinary narrowing phases of the knitting; of welt clos- Y ing mechanism including a welt bar fitted Aso with loop engaging instrumentalities and adapted to be removably attached to the narrowingmechanism, and means whereby, for

the purposes of automatic welt closure, the lever aforesaid is temporarily withheld from the influence of the cam with impartation of but a single dip to the narrowing mechanism and the' attached welt bar to effect transfer of the initial course of the fabric loops on the the needles of the machine.

T11 testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 20th day of February, 1930.

J OSEPH HAINES, JR.

welt bar instrumentalities back to the needles of the machine. n

10. The combination in a full fashioned knitting machine, embodying a series of needles, narrowing mechanism, a rotary cam with low points to determine, by cooperationA with a lever, a double dip of said narrowing mechanism during the ordinary narrowing phases of the knitting, and a manually opera-

Images