US2116761A - Jacquard device controlled knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

May 10, 1938. H, KQRBER 2,116,761

- JACQUARD DEVICE CONTROLLED KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1937' 2 Sheets-Sheet l @f/if@ May 10; 1938. H. KORBER I I JACQUARD DEVICE CONTROLLED KNITTING MACHINE Fliled Feb. 8, 1937 2 SheetS-'Shee 2 Patented May 1:0, 1938 JACQUARD DEVICE coN'rRoiLED KNIT- TING MACHINE Hans Korber, Couvet, Switzerland,` assigner to the firm Edouard Dubied & Cie. Socit Anonyme, Neuchtel, Switzerland Application February 8, 1937, Serial No. `124,629

In Germany February 11, `1936 9 cmims. (ci. 66575) This invention relates to Jacquard devices for fiat knitting machines, pearl knitting machines or the like for producing a great number of pattern effects, and most particularly to machines having a plurality of needle lock slides cooperating with each other in collateral positions (double or triple cam slide machines or the like).

With known machines of this kind, the auxiliary needles selected by the Jacquard device 10 are pushed Within the range of operation of auxiliary lock slides and raised by the latter to such an extent that auxiliary heels on the corresponding needles project above the needle bed, so as to provide for the main needle lock slides to advance the needles. All of the needles selected for cooperation with a certain needle lock slide by the Jacquard device perform the same knitting movements, that is, equal advance and retracting movements through the needle guideways.

Those known machines in which the pushers selected by the Jacquard device raise the main and auxiliary needle jacks directly, for the purpose of moving the heels thereof within the range of operation of the needle lock slides, operate in like manner.

Other known machines are provided withJacquard sinkers that can be adjusted according to a pattern for directly moving during their ad- Vance movement the needle jacks or other knitting members into movement change-over position for being influenced by corresponding cam portions of the needle'lock slide, in order toprovide for retracting the needles in accordance with` the pattern in this manner. All of the needles selected for cooperating with a certain needle lock slide for being retracted in the same sense are, also in this arrangement, compelled to perform equal knitting movements.

40 There are further Jacquard arrangements known, particularly for combination with double cam slide machines, in which two relatively independent pushers are so distributed by the Jacquard device that any desired group of needles can be selected for cooperation with both lock cam systems, each selected group of needles being, however, compelled to perform the same knitting movements as determined by the correspondingly adjusted needle lock slide. Apart from the drawback inherent to all the known arrangements mentioned above that the needles selected for cooperation with any one` of the needle lock slides perform the same knitting movements, and can thus all be selected but once, 5` this arrangement has the further drawback that all theneedles, needle jacks and the like that remained in inoperative position must be readjusted by theneedle retracting cams anew in which way the risk of mesh breakage is involved.

According to" the present invention, all the 5 aforesaid drawbacks are eliminated by the knittingmembersviz., needles, needle jacks or the like occupying positions within the range of operation of a slide lock being so controlled, for

the 'purpose of selectively varying the lengths of 10 the needle movements, with the aid of auxiliary push means, which are selected for cooperation with an auxiliary slide lock and at least two of which are associated with an individual knitting member, through the medium of an intermediary 15 member, that projections or heels of said knitting members are causedto cooperate with correlated slide `lock cam portions.

In this manner is accomplished that the needles which are `correlated to one and the same lock 2d slide are adapted to knit conjointly either cardigan stitches,`long stitches, short stitches etc., as selected according toa pattern, without requiring depressible or stepped off cam portions to be provided in the lock slide. 25

Also, when applied to pearl knitting machines, the invention permits to control in accordance with a pattern the needle jacks or needles, as the case may be, which are correlated to an individual lock slide, so as to shift partly in any direction, 30

that is,` to the r'ear or front needle bed, partly to assume` cardigan stitch forming positions, and partly to shift for forming long or short stitches. In this way the greatest amount of dilferent patterning possibilities isprovided for. 35

In the accompanying drawings an embodiment oi the `Jacquard device, according to the invention, is `illustrated in combination with a fiat knitting machine,v only the parts necessary for a proper understanding of the invention being 4o shown.

v In the drawings- Fig, 1 shows a cross section through the needle bed and the Jacquard device with the intermediary member and the correlated needle jack in 45 lowered positions (inoperative position);

Fig. 2 shows a similar section on the line II-II extending through Figs. 3 and 4, but with the intermediary member and the needle jack in raised positions (operative position); 50

Fig. 3 is a View of the auxiliary slide lock as seen in the direction of arrow A in Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the needle slide lock as seen in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 1, the two views 3 and 4 as combined `side by side represent- 55 ing a development of the same into the picture plane.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but for a triple cam slide machine;

Fig. 6 is a section through a needle bed guiding knitting members that are constituted by knitting needles arranged to pivot about their tips.

Fig. 7 is an end View of a pearl knitting machine to which the invention is applied;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a flat knitting machine according to the invention, and

Fig. 9 is a larger scale cross section of the needle beds of the machine shown in Fig. 7.

By I the needle bed is designated and by 2 the .needles guided thereby. 3 refers to needle jacks pivotally connected to the needles, and 4 to the main needle lock face platejprovioled with cam portions 5, 6 and I as Well as 8,;jg andl IQ for controlling the needles 2, by means of projections as snugs or heels 2', and the needle-jacks 3 assuming their raised positions respectively by means of projections or snugs 3'. II indicates intermediary members for controlling the needle jacks 3 to assume their raised positions, said members being guided by an auxiliary bed I2, rigid with the main needle bed* I, and the numerals I3, I4, I5 and I6 indicate auxiliary push means or pushers which are guided by the intermediary members I I, and locked thereto in their operative and inoperative positions. By I'I that Jacquard pattern card is denoted, which cooperates at the time being with the pushers, and by I6 the auxiliary lock face plate provided with the stationary cam portions I9, 23, 2|, 22 and 23 as well aS. With cam portions 24, 25, 26 and 2I that are depressibly arranged for alternate control at either end of the machine, in a known manner, and with triangular knock over cams 28, 29, 3|) and 3| that are also adapted to be moved into or out of operative position by alternate control at either machine end. By 32 locking members on the needle bed I are referred to which by engagement With rests 33, such as kerfs, stops or the like on needle push members, as the jacks 3, secure the latter in their inoperative positions, as well as in their operative positions.

The auxiliary bed I2 is provided in the bed as Well as in the yoke portion with a plurality of parallel slots extending in the vertical direction as regards Figs. 1 and 2. The intermediary members II and II are guided bythe slots i'n the bed portion by means of pin and slot connections 43 (Fig. 5). The auxiliary pushers I3 to I6 and 34 to 39 are guided, with their front portions, by the intermediary members II and I I respectively between two opposite projections 40. On the other hand, the auxiliary pushers are guided with their rear portions in the slots of the yoke portion of the bed I2 between pins 42, which pass through the webs left between the slots in the bed portion of the auxiliary bed I2 throughout the width of the latter the same as the pins 43 in the bed portion, In this way passages providing cross bores are formed in the bed and yoke portions in which the auxiliary pushers are positively guided longitudinally and transversely. The projections or noses may at the same time serve as locking members for securing the pushers in their operative and inoperative positions by engagement', for example, with notches 4I, as shown.

The various possibilities of selecting and moving active parts as intended according to the invention are the following.

During the traverse of the needle lock slide in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4:

The knock over triangular cams 28 and 23 are rendered inactive by the change-over mechanism, so that the auxiliary pushers I3 or I4 respectively that are advanced at a time by a Jacquard card, in a known manner, can enter the cam slot of the auxiliary slide lock unhindered (position as indicated by line I-I in Figs. 3 and 4).

1st patterning possibility-All the auxiliary pushers assume their inoperative positions by which is meant that they are not advanced (for example pusher I4 in Fig. 1). During the slide passing by the auxiliary pushers the tips thereof (e. g. I4) are not gripped by the auxiliary lock cam portions 22, 23 and are thus not raised. Consequently the corresponding intermediary members II together with the needle jacks 3 held thereby retain their low positions shown in Fig. 1 (inoperative position), and are secured therein b-y the locking members 32 interengaging with the kerfs 33. The heels 2 of the needles 2 enter the slots between the main lock cam portions 5, 6 and 5, l respectively thereby to be guided rectilinearly during the whole traverse of the slide. Therefore, the needles 2 are not moved and remain in their positions of alignment.

`2114i patterning possibility.-'Il1e upper auxiliary pushers I3 are in action, i. e. advanced by the Jacquard patterning card I'I, whereas the lower auxiliary pushers I4 are inactive. 'Ihe auxiliary lock cam portions I9 and 22 grip the tips I3 and heels I3" of the pushersy I3 thereby to align the heels (line I-L Figs. 3 and 4). The auxiliary lock cam portion 24 which is moved into operative position by the change-over mechanism raises the auxiliary pusher I3 and thereby the intermediary member I I as well as the needle jacks 3, so that the heels 3 of the latter project out of the needle bed I (line II-II in Figs. 3

and 4, and Fig. 2). During this raising movement of the needle jacks 3 the needles 2 are maintained in aligned positions by the needle lock cam portions 5, 6 with the aid of their heels 2. The tips I3 of the auxiliary pushers I3 continue to slide rectilinearly along on the auxiliary lock cam portions 24 and 22 up to a position as indicated by line X--X in Fig. 3 during which movement the heels I3 pass freely through the slot formed by the U-shaped lock cam portion 20 (lines VII- VII and VIII-VIII in Fig. 3). During this movement the heels 3 of the needle jacks 3 follow the contours of the needle lock cam portion 8 up to its apex (line VIII-VIII in Figs. 3 and 4) in which way the needles 2 are advanced completely thereby to produce stitches, While the heels 2 of the needles 2 follow the contours of the needle lock cam portion 6 (from line VIII- VIII to line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) in which way the needles 2 are retracted. During this complexity of movements (from line III-III to line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) each group of needles and needle jacks coupled together by means of the heels 2 and 3 remains at all times safely guided on both sides between the needle lock cam portions 6, 8, so that jumping is avoided. In the position as indicated by line X--X in Fig. 3, the heels I4 of the auxiliary pushers I4 not having been moved into operative position enter into engagement with the inclined plane of the needle lock cam portion 21 having been moved into operative position by the change-over mechanism and are thus shifted downwardly. In this way the needle jacks 3 are 'again depressed in the needle bed I, into their inoperative positions in which they are secured by the locking members 32, through the interventionof the intermediary members I I, the heels 3 of the needle jacks thus disengaging from the corresponding needle lock cam portions.` Theneedle heels 2 then continue to slide rectilinearly on needle lock cam portion 6, whereas the needles 2 remain in positions of alignment and have thus formed short stitches. On passing out of the auxiliary lock cam slot the operative auxiliary pushers i3 are moved back into their initial positions again by means of the triangular knock over cams 30.

3rd patterningI possibility-Lower auxiliary pushers I4 are operative, that is, are advanced by the Jacquard pattern card II, whereas upper auxiliary pushers I3 remain inactive and the tips I4 are gripped by auxiliary lock cam portion l23, thereby being raised. The heels 3 of the needle jacks 3 thus emerge from the needle bed I. The tips I4' then keep on sliding rectilinearly on auxiliary lock cam portion 23 and the heels 3' follow the contours of the needle `lock cam portion 8 up to the position as indicated by line V-V in the Figs. 3 and 4. The needles 2 `are advanced halfway, thereby forming cardigan loops. The heels I3 of the inoperative auxiliary pushers I3 enter into engagement with the inclined plane of the auxiliary lock cam portion 20 and are thus shifted downwardly. Consequently the heels 3 of the needle jacks are depressed again in the needle bed I and are therefore disengaged fromthe needle lock cam portion 8 beyond line V-V (Figs. 3 and 4). During this working incidence the needle heels 2 remain guided in the cam slot between needle lock cam portions 6 and l at both of their opposite guide edges. The tips I4 oi `the operative pushers I4 are then raised again by auxiliary lock cam portion 23 and the heels 3 of the needle jacks 3 project out of the needle bed I again, the needle 2 being retained anew in the cam slot between cam portions 6 and I (line X--X Figs. 3 and 4). 'Ihe tips I4 of the auxiliary pushers I4 now keep on sliding rectilinearly on the auxiliary lock cam portion 23 duringwhich movement the heels I4" pass freely through the passage formed by the U-shaped auxiliary lock cam portion 21 (line X--X up to line XIII-XIII in Fig. 3). The needle heels 2' are retracted by the needle lock cam portion 6 during which movement the contour of the needle lock cam portion 8 serves as a guide for the heels 3 of the needle jacks which these heels follow (line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) Thereupon, the heels 3 oi the needle jacks are gripped and completely retracted by the needle lock cam portion Ill, which at the beginning of the traverse of the slide was moved into` operative position, in a known manner, by conjoint movement with needle lock cam portion 9, so that the heels 2 of the needles enter the corresponding recess in the needle lock cam portion 5. Consequently, the needles 2 form long stitches. Afterwards the needle lock cam portion 5 retracts the heels 2' of the needles again intotheir positions of alignment, whereas auxiliary lock cam portion ZI shifts downwardly and aligns the heels i3" of the auxiliary pushers I3 not occupying their operative positions by means of which also the corresponding needle jacks are depressed again in the needle bed I tobe locked in their inoperative positions by the locking members 32. The triangular knock over cam 3I finally drives the auxiliary pushers I4 back into initial position.`

4th patterning possibility-Both, auxiliary pushers I3 and I4 are in action. The sequence of working operations is the same as .previously explained, viz., complete advancement of the needles (up to line VIII- VIII in Figs. 3 and 4)` for forming loops; complete retraction (up to line XIII-XIII in Figs..3 and 4) therefore long loops are formed.

Duefto the construction of the locks being symmetrical all movementsdescribed above are carried out during the opposite traverse ofthe slide in exactly the same manner. i

In double cam slide machines havingtwo collateral main needle locks (Fig.` 4), an auxiliary lock exactly like that described above with reference to the lower part of Fig. 3 is arranged in the transverse middle axis of the` upper main needle lock shown in the upper part of Fig. 4;

In this case, the auxiliary lock correlated to the lower main needle lock, which `may be `called the second needle lock, is raised to a higher level than that of the first auxiliarylock as thisis indicated in Fig. 3 by the set-back above the knock over cams 3D, 3|. The corresponding two auxiliarypushers I5 and I6 are guided by the same intermediary member I I as the auxiliary pushers I3 and I4 (Figs. 1 and 2) and are selected by one .and the same Jacquard patterning card` I'I which to this end is provided with four rows of punchings.

For triple cam slide machines accordingly a third auxiliary lock and two further auxiliary pushers are provided. Referring to Fig. 3, this third auxiliary lock of a similar construction as previously described would join with the lower margin of this figure by being again stepped up tothe left, due to the fact that this lock is arranged in the topmost portion `of the cam face plate I8. Accordingly the two auxiliary pushers 34 and 35 are shown in Fig. 5 to be accommodated in an upwardly extended intermediary member II above the auxiliary pushers 3E, 3'! and 33, 39 respectively which cooperate with the second and first main needle locks respectively.

For effecting more additional knitting movements than previously described by way of example,` according to the invention, more than two auxiliary pushers may be used for cooperation with an individual needle, the additional auxiliary pushers being actuated by corresponding auxiliary lock cam portions. Thus, for example, the auxiliary bed shown in Fig. 5 may be associated with a double cam slide machine in which with the individual needles three auxiliary pushers cooperate, the auxiliary pushers accommodated in the lower half of the auxiliary bed cooperating with the rst main needle lock and the three auxiliary pushers accommodated in the upper half of the auxiliary bed cooperating With the second main needle lock of the knitting machine.

Moreover, it is possible without any other further provisions to increase, according `to the length of the invention, the individual needles of flat knitting machines to which the` invention is applied (Fig. 8) and to transmit the raising and lowering movements of the intermediary members I I to the needles 2 (Fig. 6) which in thiscase are adapted to swing about their tips.

In pearl knitting machines to which the invention is applied (Fig. 7), the needle jacks 3, as such may be adapted to carry out the swinging movementsv or else auxiliary needle jacks 3 may be employed that are pivoted to the needle jacks 3 (Fig. 9) for actuating the needles 2".

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number or arrangement of parts as shown and described, all of .which may be varied Without going beyond the scope of my invention-as shown, described and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a. pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bed combinedwith said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled push means associated at least two in number with the individual knitting members and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising knitting member actuating and push means actuating cam portions for engaging said knitting members by their correlated cam portions by means of said push means, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said knitting members with said auxiliary push means, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said push means for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said knitting members in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

2. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern eiects, a needle bed, knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two in number with the individual needles and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating and pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needle jacks by their correlated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needle jacks with said auxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said needles in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

3. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern eiects, a needle bed, pivotal knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed, complementary locking means intercalated between said knitting members and said needle bed for securing said members to said bed in their inoperative positions pivotally depressed therein, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled push means associated at least two in number with the individual knitting members and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising knitting member actuating and aligning cam portions as Well as push means actuating cam portions for engaging for operation, by means of said push means,and holding said knitting members aligned respectively during said members swinging out of inoperative into operative position, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said knitting members with said auxiliary push means, and a pat tern-card combined with said Jacquard device lfor 'selecting said push means -for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying' the length of movement of said knitting members.

4. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined With said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two in number with the individual needles and. guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating and aligning cam portions as well as pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needle jacks for operation, by means of said pushers, and holding said needles aligned respectively during said needle jacks swinging out of inoperative into operative position, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needle jacks with said auxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device `for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said needles, in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

5. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed, in angular disposition thereto, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled push means associated at least two in number with the individual knitting members and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising knitting member actuating and push means actuating cam portions for engaging said knitting members by their correlated cam portions by means of said push means, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said knitting members with said auxiliary push means that extend through said members, for cooperation with said push means actuating cam portions When selected by said Jacquard device, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said push means for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said knitting members in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

6. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed, at right angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquard controlled pushers associated at least two in number with the individual needles and Aguided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating and pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needle jacks by their correlated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needle jacks with said auxiliary pushers extending through said members for cooperation with said pusher actuating cam portions when selected by said Jacquard device, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said needles in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

7. In a flat knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting needles guided in said needle bed for swinging movement about their tips, an auxiliary bed connected tosaid needle bed substantially at right angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two in number with the individual knitting needle and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle actuating and pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needles by their correlated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needles with said auxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their `correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said swingable needles in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

8. In a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed, knitting needles movably arranged in said needle bed, needle jacks for said needles, auxiliary needle jacks pivotally connected to said needle jacks, an auxiliary bed connected to said needle bed sublstantially at right angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two in number with the individual knitting needle and guided by means of said auxillnumber of pattern effects, a bed portion iary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle actuating and pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needles by their correlated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said auxiliary needle jacks with said auxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of said knitting needles in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

9. In an auxiliary bed for a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine for producing a great and a yoke portion of the auxiliary bed firmly engaging each other with said yoke portion spanning said bed portion rearwardly of the latter, auxiliary push means cooperating with the Jacquard device and intermediary motion transmitting members for said push means guided conjointly in guide slots situated in parallel planes angularly disposed to said bed portion and being devoid of a bottom, stops extending pairwise transversely through said guide slots in said yoke portion to straddle the rear end portion of each of said push means, and stops provided pairwise on each of said intermediary members to straddle the front l end portion of each of said push means, said former and said latter pairs of stops forming passages providing cross bores for said rear end portions, and said front end portions of said push means respectively.

HANS KORBER.

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