US2186023A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1940. K. HowlE KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 29, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QZC e w/e) wawa 7% Jan. 9, 1940. K. Hown: t

KNITTING MACHINE 4She ets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 29, 1936 Jan. 9, 1940. K. HowlE KNITTIG MACHINE 4 sneets-sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 29, 1936 nnei'h Jlo Jama, 1940. K HowlE- 4 2,186,o28

' KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 29, 1936 4 Shoets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED sTATEs I 2,188,023 Km'r'riNG mam Kenneth Howie, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Wildman Mfg. Co., Norristown, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application ,December 29, li, Serial No. 118,158 Renewed April 11, 1939 9 c1aims. (cl. 86-148) One object of the invention is to facilitate the transfer of tops or welts onto a flat hosiery knitting machine from a machine which knits the tops or welts only.

In carrying out the' invention, a transfer bar.

is removably mounted on a carrier associated with the top or welt forming machine, said carrier being operated automatically-to cause the transfer bar to take the top or Welt off from the needles of said top or Welt producing machine, whereupon said transfer bar may lbe removed from the machine and then used to transfer the top or welt onto the needles of the fiat hosiery machine. This will save the hand operation of an attendant usually performed in placing the Welt on the transfer bar.

A number of welts may be taken off from the Welt producingmachine onto the same transfer bar, and these welts then may be placed by the operator on any one of several machines, or; of course, if desired, upon the same machine, one 'after the other.

The transfer'bar, therefore, may be used,`-as it were, as armeans of st'oring a number of welts' ready to be transferred 'to the needles of the knitting machine, or machines, when called for.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying the invention, said machine being generally similar in some aspects to a machine of the Cotton type, lacking, for instance, fashioning mechanism.'

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. l looking from the left thereof.

Fig. 2a is a detail of part of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional view of part of the machine looking from the right of Fig. 1

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are views of certain parts associated with a cam shaft, carried by a pivotally mounted frame at the upper part of the machine, for Operating the welt transfer bar.

Figs. 8 to 16 inclusive are diagrammatic views of knitting elements and the welt transfer points in the different stages of the transfer operation.

The machine employed for carrying out myimproved system or method involves a row of needles mounted upon a needle bar operated to' produce the knitted fabric of the topl or welt in substantially the ordinary way as is well known to those skilled in the art of full fashioned hosiery. The yarn may be fed to the needles by means similarto the endless band 2 carrying the yarn guide as in letters patent of the United States granted to Howie and Krieble Dec; 4, 1934, No. 1,982,991, and suitable stop means may be -points and Operating means thereof.

to a narrowing frame of a full fashioned machine, .and illustrated in said applicationand patents,

employed' to arrest the band at the end of its stroke and this stop means may be similar to that disclosed in said patent except no automatic adjustmentvof said stop means 'will be .necessary because no fashioning is done of Welt fabric, but F5. the invention is not limited inthis respect.

A picot bar shown in Fig. 5 may be employed mounted similarly to that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me Jan,- uary 1, 1935, No. 1,986,577, the frame carrrying said bar being shown at. 5a and the shaft upon vwhich the frame is mounted being. shown at 5b.

If'onIy picot is to be formed inthe Welt, this picot vbar may be operated by mechanism like that shown in the 'patent above referedto No. '15 1,986,577, or if designs are to be produced inthe lwe1t,=the`picot bar will be operated'by any suit- .able lace tackle, well'known tolthose skilled in the art.

This picot bar When not in useisswungup- 20 wardly to its idie position as is disclosed in said Patent No. 1,986,577. Because nofashioning op- 'erations are. performed in producing' Welt, ,the

present `machine will be devoid of narrowing 4-25 A bar A having points a is used to take the top or welt off from the knitting needles, and this bar is removably mounted upon its carrier frame lso that it can be used as a transfer bar to transfer the Welt onto the knitting needles of the fiat .30

'hosiery machine, and, as above Vindicated, `this barl A may be employed to store and carry a number of tops or welts, taken off from the needles as they are successively produced thereon, up to the limit of the storage capacity of the points a I of `said transfer bar.

The transfer bar is carried by a frame comprising arms 1, mounted upon a shaft or rod 13 and controlled by a set ofv cams mounted on a cam shaft c in a manner similar to that of the ,40 instep transfer bar disclosed in application for patent of the United States filed by me December 14, 1935, Serial No. 54,469. I

"A pivotally mounted frame 41 corresponding carries the rod or shaft |3 by arms I l connected with said pivotally mounted frame 41. This frame 41 has a 'tie rod 8 extending between its sides on which are fixed arms 9 in which is rotatively mounted a shaft VIll, 'and the arms are mounted on this shaft. The' shaft IO is under tension of a spring 24 tending to press the arms H downwardly, an arm 22 on shaft IO, Figs. 1 and 7,, having an adju'stable stop pin 22a to bear on the shaft c, so that the transfer points may be adjusted accurately as to their relation vertically in respect to the needles. The transfer bar frame 'I may be swung upwardly to lidle position about the axis of the rod |3. When the transfer bar frame is swung downwardly to bring its transfer points into operativerelation to the needles, it is pressed rightward Fig. ,3 by spring I I, so that said frame will be brought into position to-be operated by the cams on cam shaft. c.

One of the arms of the transfer bar carrying frame is provided with an adiustable plate |1 having a projection IB, to bear on the periphery of a cam c3 on 'the cam shaft c, which is journalled in the lower extensions of arms 9. This projection |8 limits the movement of the transfer frame 1, 1, and thus the initial position of the transfer points a to the nedles is determined, the adjustment at 22a aiding in this initial setting of the transfer points.

The position of the transfer frame 1, 'I is as sumed while theipivoted frame 41 is in its uppermost position and can be attained desirably by a manual setting of the transfer frame. When' the welt is to be taken from the needles the pivoted frame 41, which, though minus narrowing points and operating mechanism therefor, is similar in its mounting to the narrowing frame of a full fashioned hosiery knitting' machine, is given (by a suitable cam) a dipping movement from the position shown in Fig. 8, through the postions Figs. 9 and 10 to the position of Fig. 12, at which time the points a of the transfer bar will have received the loops shed from the needles by the knock-over bits. Then. the transfer frame 1-1 is sprung to one side, or, in other words, it is given a slight movement in the direction of the needle row, as will be described later, so that the transfer points now carrying the top or welt fabric will register with the spaces between thev upper ends of the needles, and can readily pass between the needles due to` the narrow ends of the needles and points now being at the same level.

As soon s the transfer points havepassed between the needles towards the front of the mai it all the way, and then rises with the frame 41 to the position shown in Flg. 16, which as far's the relative positions of the knitting elements is concemed, is like that of Fig. 8. The carrier with the top or welt fabric on it is then swung up from position of Flg. 16- to idle position, where it is held by a hook such as is shown in said applica i tion above mentioned.

The transfer bar A may now be removerffrom its carrying frame 1-1 together'with the welt fabric hanging, on its points a, and this bar may then be carried to a fiat hosiery machine, and the loops held by itsvpoints may be transferred by the handl of the operator ontothe needles of the said machine for proceeding with thel knitting of the stocking.

Instead of removing the transfer barfrom the welt ng machineas soon' as one 'welt has been' taken by the points a of said vbar as above ``gdesci'ibed, the may be operated to produce a number of welts and each ,of these will be taken ofl' of the needles by the operation of the duced on one welt machine to supply a number of hosiery machines.

The lateral movement'of the said frame 1-1 to set the points opposite the spaces' between the needles, and for Operating the frame 1-1 for- `l wardly, is given by cams c3.

The operating means for the transfer frame 1-1 includes the following mechanism: An adi 'justing screw 2| projecting/from one of the lateral faces of- 'the cam 03 contacts with an upwardly inclined projection 20' of a plate |1a.v adjustably flxed 'on one of the arms of the carrier frame 1-1 of the transfer bar, and as a result said carrier or frame is given the slight lateral movement mentioned above, due to the spring of the metal, so that the points a will then register with the spaces between the needles and can move forwardly between said needles' as above de- .scribed to carry the fabric past the needles to the front of the machine. i

This forward movement takes place by contact of the periphery of cam c3 with the projection |8 of the plate l1 adiustably fixed-on the frame 1-1. The projection 20 is inclined upwardly and being carried by theadjustable plate |1a, provision is threby made for accurately adjusting the timing of the raciring movement of the transfer bar just described in relation to the associated movements of the. parts.V

For mounting the transfer barupon its frame any suitable, easily, and quickly operable means may be provided, such as notches in the bar and wing nutsa1 on the frame.

'The welt transfer bar will be as long as the needle row and will have points equal in number 'to the needles. The picot bar will be of a length to accord with the extent of the pattern which will be accommodated: thereby. If, for instance, the movement of the picot bar-to form the design is to be equal 'to say sixteen needle spaces, it would be that much longer than the needle bar,

' and would have additional points to correspond.

As in ordinary practice, the welt would be started by using a welt bar to catch the first course of loops. Then the knitting of the inside layer of the .welt'would be proceeded with, and after this hali' is finished, a line of picot is formed, afid then 'the outside layer of the welt is Vlrnit, and if this is to be in some fancy design, a lace tackle as in ordinary practice will be-employed to operate the picot bar.- After this second wall portion for the outside of the welt is knit, the machine Stopa. and the welt is turned by the operator as in ordinary practice, or with the aid of the welt .turning appllances disclosed in Letters Patent Of the United States granted tO me 31, 1936, No. 2,036,143. v

If desired, the "shadow" welt, i. e., a single wall extension of the welt, mayA now be knit with suitable design therein derived from the operation of the picot bar. This single wall extension would vary in length from say 1" to 3, and might be plain or embody a design as just stated.

After the welt is produced, either with or without the single wall extension, the picot bar would be thrown up out of use and the transfer bar would be lowered to operative position, and then the operation of taking the last row-of. loops oil? from the knitting esonto the points of would now be lowered and a new welt started.

The welt transfer bar may be removed to transfer the welt to a fiat hosiery machine when either one or a number of welts have been stored thereon by lthe operation above described.

The invention can be used in making rubber welts or welts with rubber in top, or plain welts.

'The transfer cam shaft c is operated from a cam 46 on the main cam shaft ax, which when shogged axialiy by' suitable pattern control means, as is common in this art, into line with a roller 46a, Figs. 1 and 2, on arm 461), will operate a 'rock shaft 48x, arm 50, flexible band 5|, which passes over an idlerpulley 52 to a drum 53, to which it i attached at 54, see Fig. 2. This drum turns loosely on the main tie rod 8 of the pivoted frame 41, which is similar in arrangement to the fashionin'g or narrowing frame of the patents and application above referred to. The drum 53 is turned in clockwise direction by a` suitable spring 54a. It carries a pawl 55 pivoted at 56 to a wing 51 extending from the drum. The pawl is adapted to engage a ratchet 58 hav- .ing four teeth 90 apart, said ratchet being loose on tie rod 8. vThe pawl is pressed by a spring 60 into engagement with the ratchet, `when permitted to do so, by a shield 6|, vFigs. 2 and 2a. The ratchet has pinned to it a gear wheel 62, which meshes with the pinion 63 .fixed' on the transfer cam shaft c. This pawl and ratchet mechanism turns the said cam shaft c when the loops of the 'welt fabric are to be removed by the transfer bar from the needles of the vwelt forming machine. At each action of the pawl, the ratchet is tumed one quarter of a revolution. tween the pinion and the gear whee1,'so that the cam sh'aft is given a one half revolution for each action of the ratchet wheel. The transfer cam shaft c` is called into action by pattern 'mechanism of any suitable form when action of the pivoted frame 41 takes placel in coordination with the welt transfer bar, and the latter is'to perform'its function. Therefore, means are provided whereby this transfer cam shaft c is allowed to remain at rest at other' times. This means includes the shield 5| on the peripheral ege of which the pawl 55 is adaptedv to ride. By

' automatically setting this shield, the pawl 55 is permitted to engage the ratchet, or' is prevented from having such engagement. This shield is adjusted automatically by a rod 64 from a lever 65 pivoted at 66 to the machine frame, and having its free end riding upon a cam 81 provided with notches 68. When this cam 61 turns so that the end of the leverifails into one of the notches, the shield,'under the action of the spring 89, will move to the right, Figs. 2 and 2a, and expose the tooth of the ratchet tothe action o f the pawl, whereas, when' the .lever 85 rides onthe periphery of the cam, 61,-the shield .will be pulled by the rod leftward, Fig. 2, and will shield the ratchet tooth from engagement by the pawl and the transfer cam shaft lc will not be operated.

" Thecam 61 is mountedfion a shaftv b, similar to ,a-'shaft of the patertd organization above mentioned.

It willbe noticed that the band which operates,

There is a two to one ratio bethe cam shaft c extenus over the pulley 52 at a point in line with the axis of the pivot 54x of the pivotallymounted frame 41, so that said ban/d will not be aifected in any way by the swinging movement of this frame. This frame is given its dipping movement by links 46 operated from a rock shaft 49 through arms 48 by a cam 49x, and roller 49a, Fig. 1, as in Patent 1,982,991.

It will be seen from Fig. 14 that the transfer points pass down between the knockover bits, so that the fabric rests on top of thesaid bits. 'This action determines the level that the fabric loops will Aoccupy relative to the lower ends of the points to insure their maintenance thereon.

I claim: i

1. In combination with mechanisrn for, knitting tops or welts including 'a row -of needles,

a transfer bar havinglpoints to take off from 'adapted to transfer the'said loops tovthe needles of a fiat hosiery machine, the said relative movement of the supplementall frame being downward and upward and substantially horizontally forward and backward in respect to the needles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the supplemental frame receives its upward and I downward movement from the main frame (similar to a regular narrowing frame) and forward and .backward movements from' its Operating means independently of the main frame. reiative to the needles, substantially as'described.

3. A knitting machine having a row of needles with means for Operating the same to produce tops or welts, a transfer bar for removing tops`or welts from the needles for transfer onto the needles of a fiat hosiery machine, a carrier for the top or welt transfer bar with which said bar is removably connected for transfer by hand to a fiat hosiery machine, a movable main frame operating the carrier upwardly relatively to the needles to carrythe points of the bar to racking position, i. e., to a height above the level of the eyes of the needles, cam means mounted on said main frame for pressing said carrier laterally a half needle space to align the transfer points with the'spaces between the needles, then moving the carrier forwardly to` move the transfer points to the back of the needles, thenmoving the carrierv frame laterally a half needle space into alignment with 'needles the top or welt' fabric, a main frame having up and down movement. a supplemental frame carrying the transfer bar and movably mounted on the frame flrst mentioned to have .movement relative thereto and to the needles, 'and means for Operating the said main and supplemental frames to cause the transfer points to remove the top or welt fabric from the needles, 'said transfer bar being removable from the supplemental frame, together with the top oriwelt. hanging thereon, said transfer bar being adapted to transfer the said loops to the needles of a fiat hosiery machine, the means forpperating the supplemental frame including "1 a .cam shaft mounted-on the up and down moying main (narrowing) frame, cams on said shaft, and means for Operating the cam shaft, substantially as described.

5. In combination with mechanism for 'knitting tops or welts including a row of needles, a transfer bar havingpoints to take oif from said needles the top or Welt fabric, a main frame having up and down movement, a supplemental framecarrying the transfer bar and movably mounted on the frame first mentioned to have movement relative thereto and to the needles, and means for operating the said main and supplemental frames to cause the transfer points to` remove the top or Welt fabric from l'the needles, said transfer bar' being removable from the supplemental frame, together with the top or welt,

hanging thereon, said transfer bar being adapted to transfer the said loops to the needles of a flat hosiery machine, the means for operating the supplemental frame including a..`-'cam shaft mounted on the up and down moving main (narrowing) frame, cams on said shaft,I and :means for Operating the cam shaft, said supplementall frame being movable to idle position'away from the needles, or to operative position at the needles, and when moved to operative position'reia'` tive to the needles being thereby positioned'rela- `tive to said cams to be operated thereby, submovements of said main frame, and means forv giving said carrier frame movements relative to the main frame and to the needles in a direction transverse to and lengthwise of the needle row, said carrier frame being pivotally mounted at its upper portion and the transfer bar being carried w needle row being mounted on the main osoillati at its lower end, an arm extending substantially horizontally and connected to the main'oscillating frame to which arm the carrier frame is pivotally-mounted at its said upper portion, said 4means for giving saidcarrier frame movements relative to the main frame and to the needles in a direction transverse to and lengthwise of the ing frame, suhstantially as described.

' aieaoas 7. A knitting machine having a row of needles with means for Operating the same to produce welts or tops,'a transfer bar for removing the welts or tops from the needles for transfer onto needles of a fiat hosiery machine, a carrier frame on which the transfer bar is removably mounted, a main frame having up and down oscillating movement on which said carrier hframe is mounted, to partake of the up and down movements of said main frame, and means for giving said carrier frame movements relative to the main frame and to the needles in a direction transverse to and lengthwise of the needle row, said carrier frame being pivotally mounted at its upper portion and the transfer bar being carried at its lower end, an arm extending substantially horizontally and connected to the main o scillating frame to which arm the carrier frame is pivotally mounted at its said upper portion, said means for giving said carrier frame movements relative to the main frame and to the needles in a direction transverse to and lengthwise of the needle row being mounted on the main oscillating frame, said horizontal arm being pivotally.

mounted on said main oscillatory frame, and means for adjusting said arm in a Vertical plane to set the transfer points in relation to the needle row.

8. In combination with mechanism for knitting tops or welts, including a row of needles, a transfer bar having points to take oif from the 'needles the top or welt fabric, a frame carrying the transfer |bar. removably, amain dipping `frame on which the carrying frame is pivotally mounted, and means for Operating thesaid car-'- rying frame downwardly and upwardly. to take the fabric from the needles, then forwardly to carry the points with the fabric hanging thereon to the rear side of the needles and downwardly between the knockover bits to determine the level of the fabric loops on said points, and then upvwardly to a position for the removal. of the transfer bar, substantiaily as described. i

9. In a knitting machine having a row of needles and means cooperating therewith to produce from the needles and to then rise, and means 'for actuating the carrier relative to the main frame to move the points to a position on the beardless side of the needles beyond the ends of the sinkers.

KENNETH HOWIE.

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