US2080353A - Loop forming mechanism for straight knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1937.- AIBAY ET AL 2,080,353

LOOP FORMING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Adolfi gi By flux/1.5 mug May 11, 1937. A. BAY ET A 2,030,353

LOOP F ORMINGMECI IANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla-,7; F112- .51.

0 3 1:0 .5 a 6 1 g s o -e "4 /fi 3 2W 1 I i; In. 15 mlmmmw 15 IUl"I"Mmummnullhi" Z N I n Z9 32 '15 56 J5 Fl 5- E r u%////-/////A 3 4 -52 555% T Ado/$2955 i BY M Sabina Patented May 11, 1937 LOOP FORMING MECHANISM Fort STRAIGHT KNITTING memes Adolf Bay, Lincoln Park, and Paul Schmidt,

Wyomissing, Pa., assignors to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a, corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 2, 1935, Serial No. 19,340

13 Claims. (Cl. 66110) This invention relates to full fashioned knitnovel structure for controlling the forward moveting machines and more particularly to a new ment of the slnkers and dividers by'means suband improved verge plate. for use with the loopstantially unaffected by constant use thereby forming mechanism. or sinker-head assembly of preventing the usual variations in the loop strucmachines of this type. ture of the fabric due to uneven wear in the d It is well known that the sinkers, dividers and sinker and divider control mechanism.

needles of a full fashioned knitting machine It is also an object of the invention to render function cooperatively to form the loop strucu device Simple and durable in oonstlilotlon, ture of the fabric knitted thereon. Also that the economical to manufacture and effective in its uniformity of the loop lengths and in turn the ope at on. evenness of the finished fabric depends largely With these and other objects in view, which upon the operation of the sinkers which sink the w e ome appar t from the following detailed desired length of yarn between alternate pairs of description of the illustrative embodiment of the needles, invention shown in the accompanying drawings,

5 To each sinker head of full fashioned knit- .theinvention resides in the novelelements, feal5 ting machines is secured a verge plate or folding res f con on n per i n f p r as bar for terminating the forward travel of the hereinafter more pa tic P d o t in the sinkers and the dividers on the same horizontal claims. line for the .purpose of effecting loops of equal In the drawings:

length across the desired extent of the knitting Figure 1 is a plan View o a Sinker d of a 9 field. In the operation of the knitting machine u fashioned knitting e, w the invenwith the ordinary verge plate, the impact of the tion opcratively positioned t e on; sinkers upon such plate causes the mechanism to Fig? is a op P an ew f a Verge P ate 01 vibrate, whereupon the sinkerstend to rebound uoted in accordance e invention; or fly back, and this inexpedient action fre- Fig. 3 is asectional view ta en substantially on quently results in the breaking of needles and the the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

production of imperfect fabric. The usual verge Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fi 2 of a modified plate, being of solid metallic construction, transrm of the n e t mits the impact of the sinkers thereon directly to 5 S a tto P a ew of the device shown the sinker head and thus further enhances the in Fi 0 rebound of the sinkers, which are slidably' Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional w of a Portion 3 mounted in thesinker head. The incessant of a sinker head having the verge plate shown in pounding of the sinkers on the usual non-resili- Flgs- 4 nd 5 Secured the eto;

"ent verge plate of the sinker head unit slowly' F1817 is a sectional view of certainof the loop forms grooves therein, and since said wear is forming mechanism of a u fashioned tt 5 notuniform the loops in certain wales become m ne of w h e invention o s an i length'ened, subsequently forming sinker lines grol P which in turn affect the appearance and decrease 8 8 and 9 e ews slmllal'to Fig! Showthe value of the finished product, ing successive steps in the operation of the loop 4 An object of the invention is to produce a novel for i g mechanism; 40

verge. plate construction for the sinker head Fie- 10 is an ge e ta y V w. P units of full fashioned knitting machines and one tially in section; of ce tain o e members P which has been especially designed to overcome tioned as illustrated in Fig. a the rbjections set forth above. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating A further object is to provide a metallic verge another modified form of the invention. plate for the sinker head units of full fashioned The figures disclose various parts of a Readknitting machines constructed so as to confine ing" full fashioned knitting machine embodying the effect of sinker-shocks. the mechanism and elements of the invention. A still further object is toprovide a perforated For the sake of clearness only those parts of the verge plate including a non-metallic sinker-abut- -various mechanisms have been illustrated which 50 ting edge for cushioning the'impact of thesinkare necessary for an understanding of the in ers thereon. vention; the various other parts and mechanisms Still another object is to improve the loop formand their manner of operation are well known in --ing mechanism of full fashioned knitting mathe art, and are shown and described in detail chines, and more particularly by providing a in the Reading Full'Fashioned Knitting Ma- 55 =50 tween adjacent pairs 'of needles.

chine Catalogue (copyright 1929) published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania.

Operation of the separate mechanisms of a full 5 fashioned knittirig machine of conventional type is effected through means of a series of cam elements carried by a central rotating cam shaft. The motion of each cam is transmitted to its respective mechanism through means of a cam follower element and associated linkage. The cam shaft is axially shiftable for the purpose of moving one set of cams out of operative engagement with the respective camfollower elements coincident with the operative positioning of a second series whereby the cycle of operations of the separate mechanisms may be changed as for instance is necessary when changing from plain knitting to fashioning and vice versa.

Included in the loop-forming mechanisms of machines of the type set forth, are, a needle Ill,

a sinker head l2, Fig. 1, and a jack bed l3 which are operatively positioned as illustrated inFigs. 7, 8 and 9, and which function unitedly in well known manner to, effect the desired loop forma-' tion. The sinker head l2 and the jack bed [3 are secured to a center bed l4 which extends "across the length of the machine. A needle bar ii, to which the needles ID are secured in spaced parallel relationship, by aclamp member 16, is

operated in well known manner to move the needles it) through their loop-forming cycle. Sinkers l1 and dividers l6 which are slidably mounted in suitable grooves formed in the base I! and top 20 of the sinker head |2,in'turn spacedly positioned relative to each other by spacer elements 22. coact with the needles to eifect the desired loop formation. Although the pitch of the sinker head grooves is identical to that of the needle positioning grooves, the sinker head 12 is so positioned on the center bed l4 as to guide-the sinkers and dividers between the I needles Ill, and support them in a plane substantially perpendicular to that of the needles in manner well known in the art.

' cam 21 which is operated by the couliering mechanism (not shown) in well known manner. The jacks 26 are pivotally supported upon an axle 28 carried by a seriesof spacer members or jack combs 29 which are clamped to the jack bed I3 by a clamp bar and which function to hold the jacks 26 in the same pitch relationship as the sinkers l1, and thereby ensure alignment between said members. Theforward movement of the Jacks 26 is terminated by the sinkers II when the latter abut the verge plate 30, whereas the rearward movement is controlled by an upper comb guide 33, Fig. 7. Replacement of jacks may be effected upon removal of the stop bar 34.

A series of spring elements 35, respectively aligned with the jacks 26, areheld by a clamp 36 in clamped relationship with a slotted spring bed 31 which is pivotally supported by suitable bearings 38, extending from the jack bed H, which cooperate with trunnions extending from opposite i ends of the spring bed 31, Fig. 8. The springs 35 Following the feeding of yarn to the needles I 0 exercise a biasing action upon the jacks 26, in the manner illustrated, to prevent inoperative movements thereof. A bracket 3| secured to the spring bed 31 and operable through means of a control rod 39 provides means for controlling the operation of the spring bed 31.

Following the sinking of the yarn between adjacent pairs of needles across the entire knitting field, all of the dividers II are advanced as a unit by a catch bar 40 to the position'shown in Fig. 9, thereby sinking the yarn between the remaining needles. Coincident with the subsequent downward travel of the needles III, the sinkers l1 and the dividers l8 are retracted as one group by the catch bar 40 while the newly formed stitches are interlooped with the loops or stitches of the last previously knitted course. Prior to the upward travel of the needles, the sinkers and dividers are simultaneously advanced to hold the newly formed loops thereunder in preparation for the couliering of another course of loops. ever, before the yarn is again fed to the needles, the sinkers and dividers are again simultaneously retracted to the position shown in Fig. '7, when the catch bar 40'is raised out of operative engagement with the sinkers ll substantially as illus- How-' trated therein, whereupon the knitting of the fabric is continued in themanner set forth.

The verge plates have heretofore customarily been made of solid metal, consequently when the sinkers were previously slurred into engagement therewith by the slur cam 21, the abutting of metal upon metal invariably resulted in the rebounding. of the sinkers and the subsequent irregular formation of loops regardless of the biasing action of the jack springs 35 on the jacks 26; for although the spring 35 eventually forced the sinkers I'I, through means of the intermediate jacks 26, into contact with the verge plate, nevertheless the correct positioning thereof was heretofore accomplished only following a rebounding and vibratory movement of the sinkers I! which consequently effected a variation in the lengths of the loops and resulted in the production of fabric of imperfect texture.

The incessant pounding of the sinkers against the metallic edge of the verge plate likewise resulted in the wearing away of the contacting surfaces of the sinkers and of the verge plate, with most wear being centered on the verge plate which is ordinarily of a softer metal. The impact of the sinkers on the verge plate is likewise ordinarily transmitted to the sinker head l2 to whichit is anchored, thereby vibrating the center bed l4 and finally distributing the shock to the entire knitting machine.

However, in accordance with the present invention, substantially all of the shock heretofore occasioned is now absorbed by "the verge plate, and is isolated from the sinker head and the remainder of the machine through means of the novel construction shown. In the improved verge plate 25 and 30, I provide .a multiplicity of longitudinal slots 43 arranged in overlapping relationship to each other and in spaced parallel relationship to the'sinker abutting edge 46, Figs.

,' 2 and 4. The slots 43 preferably extend through the plates 25 and 30, see Fig.3, thereby effecting ashock-absorbing structur' which will reduce the impact of the sinkers on the verge plate and correspondingly reduce the vibrating of the sinker ting structure 42 and the slots 43, is spaced above the supporting bar 20 for the purpose of preventing the transmission of sinker shock to the sinker head l2, which latter condition exists where the shock-absorbing zone is held in contact with the top 20 of the sinker head i2. The elevating of the shock-absorbing zone above the sinker head top 20 and out of contact therewith through means of a clearance area 48, permits absorption of the sinker shock by the slots 43 before any part thereof is transmitted to the sinker head, inasmuch as the shock-absorbing zone is spacedly positioned thereabove, Fig. 6, whereas the heavy portion of the verge plate is held in clamped relationship with the top 20 by means of the screws 41. Thus, it will readily be understood that all vibratory movements of the verge plate 25, as produced by the abutting of the sinkers and dividers thereagainst, will be confined to-and absorbed by that portion of the plate adjacent the clearance area 48 before reaching the portion of the plate in contact with'the top piece 20.

It follows that in a verge plate or folding bar, constructed in accordance with my invention, substantially all shock and vibratory influences arising upon abutment of the'sinkers upon the verge plate will be transmitted through the bar to the barrier structure or shock-absorbing zone composed of the perforated portions 43, and will there be absorbed and terminated in the manner necessary to isolate said shock and vibratory influences from the sinker head and the remainder of the knitting machine. means of this structure the'shock and vibratory actions of the sinkers and-dividers are appreciably reduced and a fabric of substantially uniform loop structure results.

In the verge plates 25, 30 and 52, it will be observed that a cushioning element 42, preferably of a fibrous phenol condensate composition, forms the sinker abutting edge. The strip element 42 through its inherent resiliency, in addition to reducing the force of impact of the sinkers on the verge plate, supplements the cushioning action of the barrierstructure 43 and is likewise more durable inasmuch as it is not as susceptible to wear as the metallic edge verge plates. Although the removable edge 42 may be formed of numerous materials while still effecting the desired results and remaining within the scope of my invention, it has been found that a fibrous phenol condensate composition is particularly adapted for use in connection with a verge plate.

In effecting the novel edge construction for verge plates and the like, a tongue 44 of the preformed strip 42 is preferably secured in a 1on gitudinal groove 45, formed in a longitudinal edge of the verge plates 25, 30 and 52, by pressing an open end of the groove 45 upon the strip 42 after the latter has been positioned as shown,

in Fig. 10. Following the insertion of the preformed edge into the verge plate, the face 46 is machined to a straight surface and bevelled to the desired angle in the manner necessary to coact with the sinker backs 2|, in the manner shown in Fig. 10, for limiting the forward movement of all of the sinkers H to the same extent of travel thereby producing loops of uniform length across the entire knitting field. This Likewise, through combination, of a detachable non-metallic edge member with a metallic supporting bar, prevents warping of the detachable member and permits the use of materials, such for instance as phenol condensate compositions, which are ordinarily unusable in verge plates and the like because of the difficulty in maintaining a straight edge structure.

It will be readily understood that the cushioning action and the barrier structure effected by the slots 43 and the clearance structure 48 makes it particularly desirable for use in the sinker head construction of a full fashioned knitting machine; whereas the supplemental cushioning action and durability of a preformed insert 42, of the type disclosed, coupled with the resilient and shock absorbing features thereof, appreciably lengthens the life of a verge plate, effects a smoother operation of the loop forming elements and in turn aids in the production of a knitted fabric of substantially uniform texture, thereby making a device of this construction particularly desirable for use in connection with a full fashioned knitting machine. J

In the verge plate 52 secured to the sinker head top 20 by the screws 41, Fig. 11, the desired shock absorbing action is effected by means of a corrugated section, comprising a series of Iongitudinal grooves 53 and 54 respectively formed in the under and upper surfaces thereof in parallel relationship with the edge structure 42; whereas, isolation of shock fromthe sinker head top 20 is attained by providing a clearance area 48 intermediate the edge structure and the sinker head top 20 substantially as indicated in Fig. 11.

' of the sinkers, anchorage means for securing the plate to the sinker head, and a series of perforated sections in said platearranged in spaced overlapping relationship intermediate the rearward edge and said anchorage means for cushioning the impact of the sinkers on said plate and isolating the impact from. the sinker head.

2. A sinker head assembly for straight knitting machines comprising, a series of reciprocable sinkers, a verge plate for limiting the forward travel of said sinkers, means for anchoring the verge plate to the sinker head; said verge plate having a resilient straight edge construction for receiving and cushioning the impact of said sinkers, and a plurality of parallel perforated areas arranged in staggered relationship intermediate the edge construction and anchorage means for supplementing the cushioning action of said edge construction and preventing the shock occasioned by the impact of the sinkers on the verge plate from being transmitted to the sinker head.

3. A verge plate for knitting machines comprising an elongated plate, a detachable operat-. ing edge thereon, and said plate having a series of perforated overlapping shock absorbing areas adjacent to and parallel with said operating edge.

4. In a straight knitting machine, loop-forming mechanism comprising a series of reciprocable elements, a plate having a detachable edge adapted to engage said reciprocable elements to limit the loop-forming travel thereof, and means including a series of adjacent spaced openings extending through the plate and arranged in over-- lapping relationship sorbing area.

5. Loop-formingmechanisrn for straight knitting machines comprising in combination, a sinker head, a series of loop-forming elements reciproto constitute a shock ab- .cably mounted therein, a verge plate having a detachable straight edge portion for terminating the forward travel of said loop-forming elements,

and a plurality of longitudinal perforated areas sinker head, a series of needles, a series of re-' ciprocable members in said sinker head for coact ing with said needles for forming loops, a plate carried by the sinker head including a straight edge portion for terminating the forward travel of the reciprocable members, a series of overlapping perforated areas in said plate, spaced in parallel relationship with'said edge portion, said edge portion comprising a detachable strip member for receiving the impact of the reciprocable members.

'7. A sinker head for full fashioned knitting machines, comprising in combination, a series of reciprocable loop-forming elements, a plate secured to the sinker head for terminating the forward travel of the reciprocable elements, said plate including a preformed rearward'edge for controlling the forward travel of said loop-forming elements, and a series of perforated areas in said plate, parallel to and spaced in overlapping relationship to said rearward edge, for cushioning the impact'of the-reciprocable loop-forming elements.

8. In a sinker head assembly for straight knitting machines, a series of reciprocable sinkers, averge plate for limiting the forward travel of the sinkers, means for securing the verge plate to said sinker head, a longitudinal preformed edge construction on said verge plate for receiving and cushioning the impact of the sinkers, and

a series of overlapping perforated areas in said verge plate spaced in parallel relationship with said edge construction between said edge and said 5 securing means for supplementing. the cushioning action of said preformed edge and preventing the transmission of said impact to the sinker head.

.9. A verge plate for knitting machines comprising an elongated plate, an operating edge thereon, said plate having a series of perforated overlapping shock absorbing areas adjacent to and parallel with said operating edge and having a relieved portion in its bottom surface extending from said shock absorbing areas to said operating edge.

10. The combination in a full fashioned knitting machine comprising a sinker head, a series of sinkers reciprocably mounted in said sinker head, a plate member of substantially uniform thickness throughout having a rearward edge for limiting the forward travel of the sinkers, and anchorage means for securing the plate to the sinker head, of a perforated area in said plate spaced from the sinker head intermediate the rearward edge and said anchorage means for ab sorbing the impact of the sinkers on said plate and isolating said impact from the sinker head.

11. A sinker head for full fashioned knitting machines comprising the combination of a series of sinkers'reciprocably mounted in said sinker head, a plate member of substantially uniform thickness throughout having a forward portion anchored to said sinker head and a rearward portion spaced from the sinker head in overlapping relationship thereto, said rearward portion comprising a sinker-abutting edge and a perforated area adjacent thereto for absorbing the impact of the sinkers on said edge and isolating said impact from the sinker head.

12. A verge plate for knitting machines comprising an elongated plate, an anchorage portion adjacent one longitudinal edge, an abutting surface adjacent the other longitudinal edge, said plate having a series of longitudinally extending slots arranged in overlapping relationship adjacent said abutting surface and having a relieved portion in its bottom surface adjacent said abutting surface and said slots.

13. A"sinker head for full fashioned knitting machines comprising the com ation of a series of sinkers reciprocably moun d in said sinker head, aplate member having a forward portion anchored to said sinker head and a rearward portion spaced from the sinker head in parallel overlapping relationship to the upper surface thereof, said rearward portion comprising a sinker-abut- .ting edge, and a corrugated area adjacent thereto for absorbing the impact of the sinkers on said edge; e

ADOLF BAY.

PAUL scrmmir.

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