US2120502A - Mold for parts of knitting machinery - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1938. J. MORTON MOLD FOR PARTS OF KNITTING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Jan. 8, 1936 June 14, 1938. J o fo MOLD FOR PARTS OF KNITTING MACHINERY Original Fil e'd Jan. 8, 1936 2 Sheetsshat 2 720 9752 07 azzzesw/zazz an assembly constituting a single unit.

Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLD FOR PARTS OF KNITTING MACHINERY England Original application January 8, 1936, Serial No.

58,176. Divided and this application Septemher 4, 1936, Serial No. 99,494. ain, January 19, 1935 '7 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of knitting-machine needle and like assemblies (or so-called sections) each consisting of a group of needles or the like secured in a support, such By the term needles or the like is meant knitting needles, hooked or otherwise, thread-guides (sometimes called pillar-fingers), sinkers, and like working parts of knitting machines -particularly those known as warp knitting machines.

Such needle or like assemblies areusually arranged side-by-side along some form of carrying bar (such as a guide bar, needle-bar or a sinkerbar) to which the supports are attached, the needles or the like extending in a closely spaced series. The said supports are usually molded of lead or a lead alloy, in which the needles or the like are embedded while the metal is molten but zinc alloys have also been proposed having a specific gravity as low as 4.6. The supports are removably attached to the carrying bars to facilitate replacement of any assembly having a broken needle or the like. It has heretofore been considered essential to employ metal, or a metallic alloy, for supporting the needles and the like on account of the necessity for securing them rigidly in precise co-relationship and maintaining such co-relationship throughout their life.

A disadvantage associated with the use of metallic supports is that their weight is a factor requiring to be taken into serious consideration when designing the machines and materially limits the speed of operation and consequently the output of the machines. Experiments made with knitting machinery, particularly with Warp knitting machinery, embodying various improvements directed towards the attainment of speeds of operation and outputs materially higher than heretofore, have indicated that owing to the considerable weight of the rapidly moving masses, stresses of such magnitude are set up in the machine as to neutralize the benefit of the improvements and prevent the realization of the high speeds and outputs forwhich the machinery was designed.

In order to overcome the aforesaid disadvantage, needle and like assemblies having supports made of various materials have been tried and I have now found, after careful selection and trial, that by using a light-weight organic molding material, or so-called plastic for example a resinoid material such as bakelite, in which the needles or the like are set or embedded by a molding operation under heat and pressure, supports with the needles or the like positively held In Great Brittherein in correct order and co-relationship can be produced, these supports being strong and hard and being capable of retaining their strength and hardness under normal working conditions and being also of such lightness as to enable them to be used effectively in machines designed to run at a high speed.

' The object of the present invention is to provide a mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts.

The mold may comprise an outer shell, a partsupporting structure which fits into said shell and presents an open space, means for locating a group of knitting-machine working parts sideby-side with portions thereof extending into said open space, which latter can be filled with lightweight molding material to surround said portions, and a closure adapted to fit into said shell to close said space and press upon said powder.

Means provided for locating and maintaining the needles or the like in correct order and @0- relationship preparatory to and during the molding operation, may consist of or include accurately spaced serrations or rack members or a light frame in, or adapted to fit in, the mold, in which serrations, members, or frame, the needles or the like are arranged, the plastic material being supplied in powder form to the mold interior so as closely to surround the shanks of the needles or the like and, when the material is set, to hold them permanently and securely in position. The said serrations or serrated members may be provided not only externally but also internally of the mold.

In the preferred construction, the mold is provided with serrations and at least one group of knitting needles or the like are accurately held in place thereby, molding powder in fine condition is charged into the mold and closely pressed round the shanks of the needles or the like, then the mold is closed and placed in a steam or electrically heated press and, finally, subjected to such heat and pressure as to convert the powder into a hard solid body constituting the support which, when removed from the mold, has the group of needles or the like securely-embedded therein ready to be utilized in a knitting machine.

In use of such a mold the needles or the like are positively held in correct position and relationship by the serrations of the mold while the molding composition attaches itself to and sup ports them so that when the molding operation is finished the needles or the like are held very securely in place and project regularly and evenly from the support.

.of the die 2|.

Each support may be molded with two holes permitting it to be removably attached by screws, or otherwise, to its carrying bar or the like.

It is to be understood that the expression a light-weight organic molding material as used herein is intended to cover such moldable resinoi'd substances as the swnthetic resins and compositions thereof and, in particular, such resins;

or resinous compositions as are thermo-plastic and thermo-setting, for instance, the phenolic resinous material known as Bakelite, but it is not confined thereto as other well known organic substances or compositions which are thermo-plastic and of a specific gravity appreciably less than the aforesaid metallic alloys and which, when molded under heat and pressure Will be strong and set hard and will retain their strength and hardness under normal working conditions, can be used.

Of course as required for strength and lightness suitable lightweight fillers would be chosen for the molding compositions, a variety of such fillers. being obtainable.

The invention will now be described simply by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, as applied to needles and like working parts of warp knitting machines. On the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an assembly comprising a group of thread-guides and. their Bakelite support.

Fig. 2isa sectionon the line. ll-H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan of a mold with parts thereof removed to expose thread-guides embedded in Bakelite, and Fig. 4 is a corresponding sectional fragmentary. plan drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V--V of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 being drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective View, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing how the thread-guides are locatedin the mold.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, and were sectional perspective views of assemblies comprising groups of latch knitting-needles, sinkers, plush-needles (i. e. pileforming needles) and bearded knitting-needles, respectively, and their Bakelite supports.

Referring to Figs. land 2, the assembly therein shownconsists of a group of thread-guides l each formed with a thread-guiding eye or hole H and each including a stem 12, the guidesbeing arranged side-by-sid-e and being precisely equispaced. The support consists of a thin block l3 of Bakelite from one side of which the guides Hi all project to the same extent. The support I3 is formedwith a shoulder 14 and flange l having screw holes 16 and isthereby adapted for removable attachment in the usual manner to a guide-bar (not shown in this view) to which a number of sid-e-by-side guide-holding supports similar to the support l3 would be likewise attached.

In Figs. 3 to 6 a suitable form of mold has been shown which is adapted to mold at one operation Bakelite supports for two separate groups of thread-guides ill. The mold structure includes an outer shell 20; into which the mold' proper fits. ,The chief elements constituting-the mold proper are a lower die 2! and duplicate upper dies 22, theseelements being separable. Core pins 23' driven tightly into holes in the lower die: 24 andregistrable with holes in the upper dies 22- serve to form the screw-holes IS.

The thread-guides ID are spaced apart by series of; internal serrations 24- provided at both sides The thread-guides areadditionally supported by a plain external rest-face 25 and an external serrated rest 26 on each of two members 21 inserted into the die 2|. The members 2! are spaced apart by a distance-piece 28 held by a screw 29 to the die 2|. A pin 30 fitted neatly through the thread-guiding eyes ll of each group of thread guides and adapted to seat itself on the external serrations 26 serves to maintain the heads of said guides in precise alignment. The members 21 and distance-pieces 28 co-operate with an upper clamp 3| which holds the heads of the guides securely in place.

Theserrations are accurately made so as to ensure that the needles or the like shall be held in correct relationship during the molding operation.

In the use of the mold, the lower die 2| with the members 2'! and distance-piece 28 thereon are fitted into the shell 20. The thread-guides H) are arranged in two groups, with the pins 30 threaded through the eyes ll of the guides of the respective groups, the guides being accurately disposed between and laterally. supported by the serrations 24 and 2B and also supported by the faces 25. The Bakelite composition consisting of the required mixture of synthetic resin and suitable filler in finely powdered form is carefully packed upon both sides of the die, the thread-guides l0 thus becoming embedded inthe powder. The dies 22: and the clamp 3| are placed in position. The completely assembled mold is put into a known form of molding press, and

pressure and heat are applied'so as to convert the composition into a Bakelite body of the required hardness. After the Bakelite composition has been subjected to the required cooking, the mold is removed from the molding press and dismantled and the pins 23 are withdrawn from the thread-guides, whereupon the newly formed Bakelite supports l3, with the stems l2 of the thread-guides securely and permanently embedded therein, are removed.

The provision of the serrations 24 results in the formation of an open slot 32 in each support I3, said slotexposing a short portion ofeach stem I2. The effect however of this slot is negligible as regards the security and rigidity with which the thread-guides are held in place.

If desired, serrations similar to the serrations 24 might also be provided in the faces 25.

If desired, a series of double molds, each similar to the mold proper above described, may be provided so that several assemblies may be produced at one molding operation.

If desired,- instead of forming serrations integral with the elements of the mold as in the construction illustrated, light frame members in which the thread-guides are located may be inserted-into the mold and embedded along with the thread-guides in the Bakelite.

If desired, reinforcing'material may be incorporated in the Bakelite support. For example, such reinforcing material may comprise a strip of fabric or a thin metallic or other rod-if desired, serrated-arranged across the shanks and inengagement therewith.

Bakelite molding powders of the quick-flowing type, containing, for instance, wood flour as the filler, can be advantageously employed, al-

though other fillers, such as asbestos fibre or same warp-knitting machine to work in combina-" tionwith the thread-guides;

Fig. 7 shows members of a group of latch knitting-needles 40 whose shanks 4| are securely embedded in a Bakelite support 42 removably attachable to aneedle-bar (notshown in this view) to which other similar supports would also be attached side-by-side.

Fig. 8 shows members of a group of sinkers 50 which in the construction shown are embedded at opposite ends in a main Bakelite support 5| and an auxiliary Bakelite support 52. This auxiliary support may, if desired, be dispensed with. These sinkers 59 pass between the knitting needles to control the loops formed in the threads being knitted and hold down the fabric in the usual manner. The main Bakelite support 5| is removably attachable, side-by-side with other similar supports, to a sinker-bar (not shown).

Fig. 9 shows members of a group of plush needles 60. -Such needles can be provided in warp knitting machines adapted to form. pile loops in the fabrics knitted by them, these pile loops extending from the knitted chains produced by the individual knitting needles. The stems 6| of these plush-needles are embedded in .a Bakelite support 82 securable to a plush-bar (not shown) corresponding to the needle-bar 43.

Referring to Fig. 10, the knitting-needles 10 therein shown are bearded needles. Such needles constitute a well known alternative to the latch needles shown in Fig. 7.

The working parts above described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10 are all assembled as groups in their Bakelite supports in substantially the same manner as already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, the molds employed being modified in so far as necessary to suit the dimensional and other differences between the different parts. In the case of the knitting needles 4!] and Ill, a positioning pin corresponding to the pin 30 can be threaded through the hooks 40 and Mi of each group of needles; and in the case of the sinkers 50, a positioning pin may be placed in the recesses 51! in the sinkers of each group.

The invention is suitable for application to the manufacture of needle and like assemblies including groups of needles and the like of standard form, as heretofore used in knitting machines; but, if desired, the shanks of the needles or the like may be formed with overturned end projections which would help to lock the shanks in the plastic composition.

As an example of a suitable light Weight material the phenolic resinous material (trade name Bakelite) has been specially referred to but other examples may, however, be given; for instance, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate and rubber derivatives such as ebonite.

Bakelite powder incorporating a light weight filler as aforesaid has a substantially lower specific gravity than the metallic alloys before mentioned and it has been found a most suitable material for the needle and the like assemblies; but other light weight materials such as above mentioned have also been found to give good results.

This application is a division of my co -pending application Serial No. 58,176, filed January 8, 1936.

I claim:-

1. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts each having a recess, said mold comprising an outer shell, a part-supporting structure which fits into said shell and presents an open space, means for locating a group of said working parts side-byside with the recesses thereof in alignment and with portions thereof extending into said open space, which latter can be packed with lightweight plastic material in powder form to surround said portions, said locating means including serrations provided on said structure externally of the open space, seatings in said serrations, a rigid positioningmember adapted for threading through said recesses and to rest in said seatings, and a closure adapted to fit into said shell to close said space and press upon said powder.

2. A mold for use in the manufacture of .an assembly of knitting-machine working parts consisting of head portions and stem portions, said mold comprising an outer shell, a part-supporting structure which fits into said shell and presents an open space, means for locating a group of said working parts side-by-side with the stem portions thereof extending into said open spade, and with the head portions external to said space, which latter can be packed with lightweight plastic material in powder form to surround said stem portions, said locating means including serrations on said part-supporting structure and a clamp to hold the head portions securely in said serrations, and a closure adapted to fit alongside of said clamp into said shell to close said space and press upon said powder.

3. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts consisting of head portions and stem portions, said mold comprising an outer shell, a part-supporting structure which fits into said shell and presents an open space, means for locating a group of said working parts side-by-side with the stem portions thereof extending into said open space, and with the head portions external to said space, which latter is adapted to receive an organic molding material to surround said stem portions, said 10- eating means comprising rigid spacers on said part-supporting structure internally of said open space to support the stem portions, rigid spacers on said structure externally of said open space to support the head portions and a clamp to hold the head portions securely in said spacers and a closure .adapted to fit alongside of said clamp into said shell to close said space and press upon said material.

4. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts consisting of head portions and stem portions, said mold comprising a part-supporting structure presenting an open space, rigid means for locating a group of said working parts in precise side-by-side co-relationship, with the stem portions thereof extending into said open space, and with the head portions external to said space, which latter is adapted to receive an organic molding material to surround said stem portions, said locating means comprising rigid spacers on said part-supporting structure internally of said open space to support the stem portions, rigid spacers on said structure externally of said open space to support the head portions and a clamp to hold the head portions securely in said external spacers, and closure means to close said space and press upon said material.

5. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts consisting of head portions and stem portions, said mold comprising a part-supporting structure presenting an open space, rigid means for locating a group of said working parts spaced apart in precise side-by-side co-relationship, with the stem portions thereof extending into said open space and with the head portions external to said space, which latter is adapted to receive an organic molding material to surround said stem portions, said rigid locating means comprising serrated spacers on said part-supporting structure to support the stem portions, said spacers projecting into the interior of the open space so as to be embedded along with the stem portions in the molding material, and serrated spacers on said structure externally of said open space to support the head portions, and a closure means to close said space and press upon said material.

6. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts each having a recess, said mold comprising a partsupporting structure presenting an open space, rigid means externally of said space for locating a group of said working parts in precise sideby-side co-relationship, with the recesses thereof in alignment and with portions thereof extending into said open space, which latter is adapted to receive an organic molding material to surround said portions, seatings in said locating means, a rigid positioning member adapted for threading through said recesses and to rest in said seatings, and closure means to close said space and press upon said material.

7. A mold for use in the manufacture of an assembly of knitting-machine working parts each comprising a stem and a portion with a recess, said mold comprising a part-supporting structure presenting an open space, rigid means for locating a group of said working parts in precise side-by-side co-relationship, with the recesses thereof in alignment and with the recessed portions thereof extending into said open space, which latter is adapted to receive an organic molding material to surround said portions, said locating means comprising serrations provided on said structure internally of the open space to receive the stems of the group of said working part and serrations provided on said structure externally of the open space to receive the recessed portions, seatings in the last-mentioned serrations, a rigid positioning member adapted for threading through said recesses and to rest in said seatings, and closure means to close said space and press upon said material.

JAMES MORTON.

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