US2224304A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1940. w. D. KELLOGG ETAL 2,224,304

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 s ATTORNEY! 1940- w. D. KELLOGG ET AL 43 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29 -19:59 3 Shets-$heet 2 IL INVN ATTORN EYS' W. D. KELLOGGET AL KNITTING MACHINE Dec. 10, 1940.

Filed Aug. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY? Patented Dec. 10, 1940 PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE William D. Kello Amsterdam, N. Y.,

and John Fradenburgh, assignors to Collins Loom Works, Inc., Amsterdam, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 29, 1939, Serial N0. 292,402

18 Claims. (01. 66-86) This invention relates to knitting machines and is concerned more particularly with a novel knitting machine of the warp type which is provided with means for balancing the operation of various parts which are given non-rotary movements during fabric production.

Warp knitting machines include knitting elements made up of needle-bar, sinker-bar, presserbar, and guide-bar assemblies which are driven by cams on a common driven shaft and receive rapid non-rotary movements therefrom. As the assemblies extend the full length of the machine, which may vary from six to flfteenfeet in ordinary practice, and have substantial mass, their non-rotary movements produce forces which cause each assembly to vibrate, and the combined vibrations cause the entire machine to shake and rock. Such vibrations may impair the quality of the cloth produced and, in any case, limit the speed at which the machine may be safely operated.

In order to produce knit fabrics on such machines at a high rate of production, attempts have been made to reduce the vibration of the machine by balancing the various parts which are required to perform rapid, non-rotary motions. In one prior method of balancing, each knitting element assembly incorporates balancing masses distributed along the length of the machine and equal in number to the number of points at which each non-rotary member is driven. Each balancing mass oscillates about the same axis as the mass it balances and it is arranged at the same effective radius as the mass it is to balance and given movements precisely similar in velocity, but in the opposite sense, so as to effect neutralization of the vibrational forces.

Such a system of balancing necessitates the incorporation of numerous balancing masses in each knitting assembly, and as there are four such assemblies in knitting machines of the type described, a great many balancing masses are required. The disadvantage in the use of a multiplicity of balancing masses for each assembly is that it complicates the design of the machine and greatly increases its cost of manufacture. Furthermore, in machines of this type, one or more guide bars may be required, depending on the pattern to be produced in the fabric, and each guide bar adds additional weight to the guide bar assembly and thus requires additional balancing masses. For example, if the machine is balanced for one guide bar and two bars are required to knit a particular pattern, additional balancing masses must be added to the assembly to secure smooth running of the machine. If the next pattern to be knitted requires only one guide bar, the additional masses must be removed. The

addition or subtraction of balancing masses, de-

pending on the number of guide bars used, further complicates the operation of the machine.

The present invention is, accordingly, directed to the provision of a novel mechanism for balancing knittingmachines which overcomes the objections to the prior apparatus above described, and is greatly superior thereto in that the new mechanism accomplishes the desired purpose without each knitting assembly being individually balanced. At the same time, the new mechanism may be employed on machines using one or more guide bars, and the change in the number of guide bars does not materially affect the resultant balance of the machine, so that the necessity of changing balance weights is avoided.

The new mechanism includes rotary balan'cing means arranged to rotate continuously and uniformly at a speed which is multiple of the cam shaft speed, and included in the rotary balancing means are suitable balancing masses. The

balancing masses are placed at suitable radial distances from their centers of rotation and in proper angular position with respect to each other so'that they produce, on rotation, forces which tend to neutralize certain components of the forces produced by the non-rotary motions of the knitting assemblies and thus substantially reduce the forces causing the machine to vibrate.

In the operation of warp knitting machine of the type described, the knitting assemblies opcrate at a fixed time relation to each other that cannot be materially changed and p1 oduce satisfactory fabrics. Because of the fixed relation, the various assemblies cannot be so timed in their phase relation to each other that the various mo- 4 as the speed is increased, the fourth and higher harmonics occur. The second harmonic is found to occur at one range of speeds desirable for high speed operation of the knitting machine, and at the next desirable range of speeds, the third harmonic occurs. We have found further that rotions of the knitting assemblies. In like manner,

rotating the balancing means at three times the cam shaft speed will substantially neutralize the third harmonic component. Under certain conditions, a combination of means for neutralizing the second and third harmonic may be desirable.

By reducing the component of the forces pro-- ducing the second and third harmonics, theresultant forces cause very little vibration in the machine and its smoothness in operation is greatly increased. In some cases, the introduction of a harmonic couple, comprising balance weights mounted 180 degrees out ofphase with each other and rotated at a multiple of the cam shaft speed, in combination with separate rotary balancing means rotating'at a multiple of the cam shaft speed, will materially reduce the vibrational forces causing the machine to vibrate. To make clear the principles (of the invention, an embodiment will be illustrated in the form of a two bar knitting machine including rotary balance weights producing forces that substantially neutralize the second harmonic component produced by the non-rotary motions of the knitting assemblies, together with a harmonic couple, the combination substantially reducing the forces causing the machine to vibrate.

Referring now .to the. drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in transversesection, of a warp knitting machine embodying the present invention and showing the locations of the knitting elements and of the rotary balancing devices;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the knitting assemblies with certain parts omitted Figure 3 is a' front view in elevation of a portion of the machine showing the location of the balancing masses; and v t Figure 4 is a detail view. showing a modifica ion.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the machine as there illustrated comprises a frame ID, the upper portion of which supports two warp beams i I and l2. Warp threads l4 and II are drawn from the beams II and i2 and pass over tension-bars I. and I! to thread guides l8 and I! carried by uide bars 28 and 2|, the guides directing the threads to the needles 22 carried on needle bar 23. The threads are knitted into a fabric by the interaction of the two rows of guides l3 and I9, needles 22, sinkers 24' carried on bar 25, and presser 23 carried on bar 21, and the fabric 23 proceeds fromthe needles 22 to a take-up device 2!.

The guide bars and 2| extend the whole length of the machine and, as shown. are secured by suitable connections to a shaft supported by the framework of the machine. The guide bar assembly is caused to pass through its knitting cycle by the oscillation of shaft 30, which is driven by one or more cam levers 3| free to oscillate on a shaft 32 supported by the framework of the machine. Oscillatory motion requisite for knitting is imparted to levers 3| by cam rollers 33 and 34 mounted thereon and riding on the surfaces of cams 35 fast on cam shaft 38 supported bythe framework of the machine.

There is a cam on shaft 33 for each cam roller in the guide bar drive and in the drives for the other knitting element assemblies but one of the cams has been .omitted in each case for clearness in illustration.

The needle bar 23 extends the whole length of the machine and is supported at various points by arms 31 fast on shaft 32. Oscillatory motion requisite for knitting is imparted to arms 31 and needle bar 23 by cam rollers 38 and 39 mounted on the arms and riding on the surfaces of cams 43 fast on cam shaft 36. The sinker bar 25 also extends the whole length of the machine and is supported at various points by arms 4| fast on shaft 4| supported by the framework of the machine. Oscillatory motion requisite for knitting is imparted to the sinker bar by arms 42 fast on shaft 4|, the arms carrying cam rollers 43 and 44 riding on the surfaces of cams 45 fast on cam shaft 36. The presser bar 26 likewise extends the whole length of the machine and is supported at various points by connections fast on shaft 48 supported by the. framework of the machine. Oscillatory motion requi-' site for knitting is imparted to the presser bar by arms 48' fast on the shaft 46 and can'ying 'cam rollers 41 and 43 riding on the surfaces of result of these vibrational forces, the framework of the machine is caused to rock and shake and the smoothness of the operation of the machine is thereby seriously aii'ected. Such vibration varies with the speed of operation and places a limit on the machine output.-

In one embodiment of the invention as applied to a two bar machine operating at speeds which cause the second harmonic to occur, the cam shaft 30 is given a continuous and uniform rotary motion from any suitable driving means, suchas an electric motor I0 supportedby the framework of the machine. A pulley ii on the motor shaft is connected by belt 52 to a pulley 53 fast on a hand wheel shaft 84 supported by suitable bearings on the framework of the machine. Fast on the shaft '4 is a sprocket 55 connected by a chain II to a sprocket 51 fast on the cam shaft 33'. In applying the principles of the invention to eliminate the second harmonic, the driving means for shaft 54 is such that the shaft is driven at twice the cam shaft speed and .at suitable pointson theshaft 54 are mounted discs I3 carrying balance weights 5:.

'Hand'wheel 30 fast on the shaft .54 serves as a convenient means for rotating the cam shaft and the associated knitting assemblies by hand.

The preferred form of the harmonic couple;

' 34 to a sprocket ll fast on the cam shaft 33.

At suitable points on the shaft 3l are mounted discs 33 carrying balance weights 66- and 31.

The sizes of the sprockets are such that the shaft I is driven at twice the speed of the cam shaft 36 and thus produces vibrational forces of the second period. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the weights 66 and 61 are mounted 180 degrees apart to produce a 5 couple.

mount the weights in phase and spaced apart to produce the vibrational forces required.

By properly selecting the pairs of balance weights 59 on the shaft 54 and of weights 66 and 61 on the shaft 6| with respect to size, radial distance from their centers of rotation, angular relation to each other, and distance apart, neutralizing forces are produced, which may be illustrated graphically in the form of two second period harmonic curves of an amplitude, corresponding to the masses of the weight, superimposed onthe complex harmonic curve of the tion, their angular relation to one another, and 30 their distances apart will vary, depending on the details of construction of the particular machine in which they are employed. By way of example, we may point out that in one warp knitting machine, the desired reduction in vibration 35 was obtained by mounting two three pound balance weights on the hand .wheel shaft designated 54 in-Fig. 3. These weights were spaced 87 apart, were in phase, and weremounted to rotate on a 3.5 radius. A harmonic couple was 40 used, consisting of two weights of 13.5 ounces each mounted 180 apart on a shaft corresponding to that designated Bl.

,When the machine wasoperated with the cam 5 shaft turning at about 400 R. P. and the balance weights revolving at twice the cam shaft speed, the vibrational forces produced were such as to effect substantial reduction of the vibrations produced by the non-rotary motions of the 50 knitting assemblies. As a result, the machine operated smoothly and efficiently.

In the machine illustrated, the driving means of the machine shown is a motor belted to the hand wheel shaft,-but it is: to be understoodthat 55 any othersuitable means may be.used. For example, the camshaft may be driven directly fromthe driving means and the hand wheel shaft driven at the proper speed from the cam shaft.

- Also, as in the modification of the invention illuso trated in Figure. 4, the rotary balancing means may take the form of one or morediscs 68 free .to rotate on the cam shaft 36 and carrying balance weights 69. The motor 5!! drives the hand wheel shaft 54 by any convenient means, as, for 65 example, by sprockets or pulleys-5|, 53 and belt or chain 52 and-sprocket I0 fast on the hand wheel shaft is connected bya chain H to a sprocket 72 fast to the disc-68. The ratio of' the sprockets 10 and 12 is such that the disc 70 68 may be driven at a multiple of the cam shaft speed to cause the balance weights 69 to produce forces that will substantially reduce the component of double frequency produced by the nonrotary movements of the knitting assemblies.

75 If an operating speed is desired'in therange In some cases, it may be desirable to These weights rotated on a radius of 2%," and were spaced apart 10.5". 1

of the third harmonic, a rotary balancing mechanism including suitable balance 'weight's and driven at three times the camshaft speed may be incorporated in the machine. These weights may be adjusted in angular relation to each 5 other and at suitable distances from their centers of rotationto produce forces tending to neutralize the component of the third harmonic resulting from the increased speed of'the machine.

The apparatus of the invention thus affords an easy and practical way of producing vibrational forces that substantially neutralize the vibrations set up by the nonrotary motions of the knitting assemblies at-high speeds. The new 15 balancing devices may be applied to any fiat warp knitting machine more advantageously and ata lower cost of installation, than the prior devices and the use of the invention affords the further advantage that one or more guide bars maybe employed in the knittingmachine without the necessity of changing the balance weights every time the number" of bars is changed in accordance with the requirements of the pattern.

We claim: I

1. In aknitting machine, the combination of Y knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft," cams mounted on the shaft'and imparting-non rotary knitting movements-to the respective knitting elements, drive means for rotating the cam shaft,

I rotary balancing means operable to apply vibrational'forces to' the machine tending'to neutralize the vibrational forces producedb'y the nonrotary-movements of the knitting elements, and

means for rotating-the balancing means'at a knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mountedon the shaft and imparting non-rotary knitting m'ovements'to the respective knitting 40 elements, drive means for rotating the cam shaft, rotary balancing means'operable to applyvibrational forces to the machine tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced-by thev non=rotary movements of the knitting elements,

said balancing means including balancing weights, and means for operating the balancing'means. Y

3. In a knitting machine, the combination" of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and imparting non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, drive meansfor rotating the cam shaft, rotary balancing means operable to apply vibrational forces to the machine tending to neutralize the .vibrationalforc'es produced by the nonrotary movements of the knitting elements, said balancing means including weights mounted for revolution about'an axis, and means for revolving the Weights. I

.4. In a knitting machine,'the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on theshaft and imparting non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knittingele- .rnents, drive'means for rotating the cam shaft,

rotarybalancing meansoperable to apply vibrational forces to the'machine tending to neutralize the vibrationalforcesproduced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, said balancing means including a shaftand weights mounted thereon, and means for rotating the shaft of the balancing means. i

' 5. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotarycam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, a pair of balancing devices, each including weights mounted for revolution, the devices tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, and means for driving the balancing devices.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, arotary cam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, 9. pair of balancing devices, each including weights mounted for revolution, the devices tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, and means for driving the balancing devices, the weights of one device being revolved at a multiple of the speed of said cam shaft.

'7. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, means for rotating the cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, a rotary balancing device including balance weights revoluble about .an axis, and means for driving said device and causing said weights to produce second period vibrational forces tending to neutralize the second period component of the vibrational forces produced by the nonrotary motions of the knitting elements.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on said shaft and imparting non-rotary knitting movements to the respective elements,

- driving means for rotating the cam shaft including a hand wheel shaft, and a balancing device driven from the hand wheel shaft,'said device 40 including revoluble weights and being effective to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on said'shaft and imparting non-rotary knitting movements to the respectiveelements, driving means for rotating the cam shaft including a hand wheel shaft, balance weights on the hand wheel shaft, an auxiliary rotary balancing means, and driving means for actuating the auxiliary balancing means, the weights and auxiliary balancing means producing vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements.

10. In a knitting-machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on said shaft and imparting non-rotary knitting movements to the respective elements,

driving means for rotating the cam shaft including a hand wheel shaft, balance weights on the hand wheel shaft, an auxiliary rotary balancing device including revoluble weights, and means for operating the auxiliary rotary balancing device,

the balance weights and device producing vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements.

11. me knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on said shaft and imparting non-rotary movements to the knitting elements, driving means for the cam shaft, balancing means oper- 75 able to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, said balancing means including weights mounted on the cam shaft for free revolution relative thereto, and means for driving the balancing 5 means.

12. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on said shaft and imparting non-rotary movements to the knitting elements, driving means for the cam shaft, balancing means operable to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the nonrotary movements of the'knitting elements, said balancing means including a shaft and weights' thereon, and means for rotating the shaft of the balancing means at a speed which is a multiple of that of the cam shaft.

' 13. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting elements, including thread guides and a bar supporting the guides, means for imparting non-rotary movements to the knitting elements, said means including a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted thereon, a rock shaft driven from the cam shaft, and connections between the rock shaft and the thread guide supporting bar, a balancing device including a shaft mounted for ro-' tation in proximity to said rock shaft and weights Vmounted thereon, said device being operable to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces resulting from the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, and means for rotatin the shaft of the balancing de vice. l

14. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements andmeans for rotating the cam shaft, the combination of a balancing device including weights mounted for revolution and operable to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, and means for driving the balancing device.

15. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, and means for rotating the cam shaft, the. combination of a pair of balancing devices operable to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, 'thedevices including weights mounted for revolution, and means for causing the weights of the devices to revolve.

16. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements. and means for rotating the cam shaft, the combination of abalancing device including a shaft and weights thereon; the device being operable to produce vibrational forces tending to neutralize the vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary movements of the knitting elements, and means for rotating the shaft of the balancing device.

1'7. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and operating to impart non-rotary knitting movements to the respective knitting elements, and means for rotating the cam shaft, the combination of a pair of balancing devices oper- 75 able to produce vibrational forces produced by elements, drive means for rotating the cam shaft,

the non-rotary movements of the knitting eleand means for applying tothe machine as a ments, each device including a shaft mounted Whole vibrational forces tending to neutralize the for rotation and weights securedto the shaft, vibrational forces produced by the non-rotary and means for rotating the shafts of the balancmovements of the knitting elements, said means 5 ing devices. including rotary elements rotated at a speed dif- 18. In a knitting machine, the combination of ferent from that of the cam shaft.

knitting elements, a rotary cam shaft, cams mounted on the shaft and imparting non-rotary WILLIAM D. KELLOGG.

10 knitting movements to the respective knitting JOHN FRADENBURGH. 10

Images