US2283554A - Knitting method and machine - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1942. H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTING METHOD- AND MACHINE- 4 Sheets-Shea?I l Filed Nov. l 1Q 1940 May 19, 942- H, RHQUSEMAN 2,2335@ KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *W2k f6 May-19,1942 I H. E. HousEMAN 2,283,554

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 3 May 19, i942. A H. E. HQUSEMAN 2,283,554

KNI'TTINGAMETHOD AND MACHINE ,Filed NOV. l; 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 19, 1942 UNlrE sus PATENT Aori-ica KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Harold Houseman, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott and Williams, Incorporated, Laconia,

a corporation of Massachusetts application November 1,1940, serai No. 363,822

(ci. ca -135) 19 Claims This invention relates to a knitting method and machine, and particularly to a knittingl said Getaz application, wrapping on one or more.,

needles is effected by the selective raising of needles to take a wrap yarn as the yarn is projeoted outwardly and temporarily restrained from free movement with the needles by means of a relatively stationary engaging element. If the mechanism such as described in the Getaz patent is not adjusted to a high degree of accuracy, the wrapping may not be properly eected for several reasons. First, the needles which pass at the low non-wrapping level are likely to engage the wrap yarn if that yarn happens to vhave a relatively slight amount of slack: Secondly, the wrap yarn under the same circumstances may possibly engage the raised needles below their latches, whereby it would not be knit. Third, if the wrap yarn is accidentally located too low on the raised needles, it is likely to be pushed outwardly to such extent that it may drop in front of the needles in nonwrapping positions as the needles are brought together for the conventional knitting wave, and it may accidentally be knit thereby.

These difficulties in the way of panel wrapping have been solved in ordinary single cylinder machines by having inside the needle cylinder an arcuate wrap yarn supporting arm which, in the case of a rotating cylinder machine, will remain stationary. When the wrap yarn is swung outwardly, it is swung over this arm, which insures that it remains so high as to be definitely above the latch of any needle whichisto be wrapped as well as above the level of the hooks of any needles which are not to be wrapped, and also insures its being well up in the hook of the needle,

so that as the wrap needles join the unwrapped needles, the warn will lie inside the unwrapped needles so as not to be taken thereby. This supporting element or arm terminates prior to the point where the wrap yarns are drawn into loops along with the main yarn. By carefully locating the end of the supporting element with respect to the knitting point, the take-ups on the wrap yarns will have time to absorb most of the excess yarn formed into a loop by the supporting element. It is generally best to have the take-up fail to eliminate all of the loop, as a. little slack in the wrap yarn as it is drawn over the sinkersy causes it to lie loosely on the loops of mainyarn to plate better by providing vbetter coverage. Varying the tension of a take-up spring will cause the take-up to act faster or slower. Thus the supporting element also plays a part in se` curing the most satisfactory plating by the wrap yarn. l

The use of such an element in wrapping is disclosed in the patent to Taggart 2,025,913, dated December 3l, 1935.

In a machine of single cyl'nder type, as diclosed in the Taggart patent, the mounting of g this supporting arm or element is a simple matter, because it can be carried by the latch ring through the medium of a bridging element extending across the circle of needles.

In the case of a superposed cylinder type of machine, such mounting of the supporting element is impossible, inasmuch as the upper and lower cylinders, together with the needles which move across their approaching ends, form a rotating cage into which no stationary elements may extend. The mountings and operation of the wrap fingers, furthermore, preclude yextending downwardly through the upper cylinder any stationary means for the purpose of mounting the wrap yarn supporting element.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for the mounting of such wrap yarn supporting element, which may be conveniently referred to as a horn, since in the superposed cylinder type of machine it most desirably assumes such a form consistent with assembly with other elements. 'I'he operation of the horn reiuires that it be at least substantially stationary (in a rotating cylinder machine) at a time following the projection of a wrap yarn over it, and according to the present invention, such relatively stationary condition oi the horn issecured in either of two alternative fashions. In one case, it normally partakes of the rotation of the i cylinders,v but is caused to be temporarily stationary, or substantially so, at the time it is cooperating with a wrap yarn. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is actually maintained stationary at all times by the use of an epicyclic gear train arrangement which transfers through rotating elements to the horn the stationary status of an elementl which may be f located above the upper cylinder without interference with the rotating parts of the mechanism. The general object indicated above, as well as specific objects relating to details of accomplishment of the main object, will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section taken through certain parts of a superposed cylinder type of machine to illustrate the fashion in which a wrap yarn engaging horn functions to eiect proper wrapping; p

Figure 2 is a fragmentary axial section through the same machine illustrating the operating means for the horn;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section showing the Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view showingA in plan the means for maintaining the horn stationary and for securing its ne adjustment; and Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the lower portion of Figure 6 illustrating the verge and the internal gear associated therewith. Referring first to the embodiment of Figures l to 5, inclusive, this illustrates the device for temporarily securing a substantially stationary condition of a wrap yarn supporting horn which is generally moving with the needle cylinders. The lower and upper cylinders of the machine are illustrated respectively at 2 and 4 and are provided with slots in the usual fashion for -the reception of the double ended needles`6 which are controlled by .lacks 8 slidable in the lower cylinder and which cooperate with conventional. sinkers I0. The knitting mechanism is conventionaiand reference may be made to the above mentioned Getaz application for thereof.

Within the upper cylinder, and arranged to rotate with it, is located a verge I2, provided with openings I4 through which are adapted to project the wrap yarn carrying fingers I6 to project their wrap yarns I8 into position to be taken by selectively raised needles. The wrap yarn is projected sufficiently far outwardly to engage a relatively stationary member 20, which retards its movement and thereby effects its seizure by the hooks of the selectively raised needles. All of the elements so far described operate as fully set forth in said Getaz application.

preferred detalls the plunger 44 will engage cam 58,

' In accordance with the present invention, however, 'the wrap yarns are projected over a horn 22, which serves to determine the level of the wrap yarn and provide slack therein for the purposes set forth in the introduction. 'I'he fashion in which the yarn is moved is illustrated most clearly in Figure v5, in which it will be noted that at the time the yarn is being retarded or spread to engage the hooks of the needles, it extends about the horn 22. Shortly after its engagement with the-needles is completed, however, it should, be released by the horn. If the horn was stationary as the cylinders revolved, it would be obvious that this would occur by the slipping of the wrap yarn oil' the right hand end of the horn as viewed in Figure 5. Y

To effect such relative retardation of the horn with respect to the cylinders, the horn is carried by.a slide 26 mounted by means of screws 30 passing through elongated slots 28`so as to have an oscillatory motion about the axis of the cyllnders. Engaging an opening 32 in the slide 26 is the end 34 of a lever 36 pivoted at 38 on the verge and urged in a counter-clockwise direction, as Y viewed in Figure 3, by a spring40. The lever 36 carries a sloping cam 42 which is arranged to be engaged by a push rod or plunger 44 mounted in slots -in the lower and upper wrap linger guide members 46 and'48, respectively, held in position by spring bands 50 and 52. and normally urged l been lowered belowthe horn, across the portion 24 of the verge., so that the horn will move outbackwards.

upwardly to a position limited by a stop 56 by means of a tension spring 64. The various elements just described are supplied for each of the horns, one of which is located at each .of the positions Where wrapping is to take place. Two of such positions are illustrated in the drawings.

Arranged to cooperate with the plungers 44 is a cam 68 carried by a lever 60 mounted in a bracket forming a portion of the frame I1. The lever 60 is preferably carried by a shaft 62 so that the cam 58 may be moved into and out of operativeposition by connections from the main cam drum of the machine. The cam is desirably out of operative position during the periods in which no wrapping is taking place.

The operation of this arrangement will be apparent from the foregoing description. Normally, each horn 22 occupies a position such as illustrated in Figure 5, i. e., projecting completely across the opening through which the wrap yarn I carrying iinger or fingers are projected. (In general, a plurality of these fingers carrying different color yarns will be provided, though only one is illustrated at each wrap position in the drawings.) 'I'he wrap yarn normally extends from the lastloop in which it is knit about the outer edge of the verge and over the rounded portion 24 lof the verge directly beneath the horn 22 to its carrying` finger I6. When the position is approached for the projection of the wrap yarnto engage it with the selectively raised needles, the wrap yarn finger I6 moves outwardly, drawing theyarn over the horn 22 into position to be engaged by the arresting member 20, whereby it is spread to be engaged by the needles. Up to this time, the horn 22 occupies its original position, but soon after the spreading is completed, thereby being forced downwardly and, by the action upon the cam 42, causing the lever 36 and the corresponding slide 26 to move rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the cylinders. As are-` sult of this, the horn moves sharply to the left as viewed in Figure 5 relative to the needle cylinders and so clears, the wrap yarn, being moved by the action just described to a sufficient extent to insure complete clearance of the wrap yarn, irrespective of the extent of the wrapping which has taken place. As soon as the cam 58 is cleared,

the spring 40 may snap the slide 26 and horn 22 drawn, the yarn will extend directly from the last needle it engaged, which will by this time have side it. The end of the horn is preferably provided with a rounded point as illustrated to insure that it will pass outside the yarn.

While the momentary stationary condition 4oi' Athe horn has been referred to, it will be evident that this is merely a relative condition and that the horn need not have imparted to it a retarding motion relative to the needle cylinder equal to the forward rate of movement of the cylinder,

so that it would appear to an outside observer momentarily stationary. `Tosuch observer it may well appear to move continuously forwardly but momentarily at a somewhat slower rate than the needle cylinder, or even momentarily All that is important is .to have it release the warp yarn at the proper time and then be restored to its original position by the adjusted by the screws spring All after the wrap finger' retarding element and the needles have so moved that the yarn will be in a position for the horn to move over and outside it. Where,- therefore, reference is made to a temporary relatively stationary condition of the horn, it is to be understood that there is meant only a ,retardation of its forward movement in such fashion as to secure the aforementioned results. Further it will be evident that the invention is applicable to a stationary cylinder type of machine, in-which case the horn will have a momentary reciprocation, being normally stationary with the cylinders.

In the modification of Figures 6, 7 and 8, a horn is actually maintained in stationary position so that its action is substantially identically that of the wrap yarn supporting element described in the Taggert patent. In this modification, the upper needle cylinder is illustrated at 10, a double ended needle at l2 and a sinker at 11i, the two latter elements being supported in the lower needle cylinder, which is not illustrated. A verge 16 is carried by a spindle 'I9 'and rotates with the upper needle cylinder. The

verge in this case is provided with an arm 82 and otherwise is of more or less skeleton form, provided with upwardly extending lugs 88 provided with steps on which rests the internal gear 86 carrying the horn 81. Above the internal gear 86, and holding it in position, is a ring 0, secured to the verge by means of as indicated at 38 to the cylinder 1li.

A pinion 9D meshes with the gear 8E and is carried by an upright shaft 92 mounted in the arm 82 and a bearing lug 9% carried by the plate 9S, which is secured by screws 98 to the upper ring gear IBD, which is in turn secured to the upper cylinder by screws |012. At its upper end, the shaft 92 carries a pinion |06, which meshes with the internal teeth of a plate IM held concentric, and in iiatwise engagement, with the plate 96 by keying members |08. The plate |66 is provided with a leg Il@ adjustable between clamping screws H2 threaded through lugs in the machine frame. By this arrangement, as will be evident hereafter, a fine adjustment may be imparted to the plate |08 and in turn transferred to the horn $1.

The lower wrap finger supporting disc Il is secured to a sleeve ||6 and provided with a slot ||8, through which the shaft 92 normally passes,

which slot is suiiiciently large to clear the bearing 94 and the upper pinion |04 when the sleeve |||S is raised to lift the wrap yarn fingers I8 to threading position, as described application. The pin |2D normally locks the member ||4 to the verge.

It will be evident from the description of this modification that the horn 81 occupies a stationary position during the rotation of the cylinders and the elements carried thereby, since the pitch diameters of the internal gears and NB are theI same, as are also the pitch diameters of the pin-` ions 90 and |04. As the cylinders rotate, the

pinions and their shaft 92 rotate.bodily with them, but the rotation of the shaft 92 is so related automatically to the rotation of the cylinders that the gear 8S remains stationary. The horn 81 is located at the wrapping position in such fashion as to have the wrap yarns laid thereover and then clear its end at lthe proper time, so that it functions the sameas the wrap yarn supporting or guiding element of said Taggart patent. The position of the horn 81 may-be- ||2, since it will be evi- 75 screws and keyed in said (Sietaz Y3 dent that any adjustment imparted to the plate |05 will be precisely reproduced in the gear 86.

The mounting and operation of element 20,

which forms no part of the 'present invention, is indicated in Figures 3 and 6. It is mounted upon a pivot |3| and is provided with a pin |30v engaged in a slot in an arm |29 carried by a vertical rod |28,'which is pulled downwardly by a spring |32 into engagement with a cam (not shown) on the cam drum of the machine. At

its upper end, the rod |28 carries an arm |26,

provided with a cam-following pin |33.urged into engagement with cams i3d on plate 6% by means of a spring |25. An abutment screw |21 limits the outward movement of the arm |26 under the actionof the spring.

In the operation of the machine, when the element 2t is not operating, i. e'., when wrapping is not taking place, the plunger |2 -isI raised by a drum cam so that the follower pin |33 is not engaged by the earns |34. Under such circumstances, therefore, the element 23 is withdrawn from the vicinity of the needle circle. On the other hand, when wrapping is taking place, lthe plunger |28 is released for downward movement under the action of spring |32, and upon the approach of each of the wrap ngers or groups thereof to the location of the element 20 cams |34 vwill act upon the pin 533, serving to move the elementA inwardly to engage the wrap yarn and properly present the same to the needles. The

' cams lili are so designed as toimpart to the element 2o the necessary inward movements to insure entry of th'e yarns into the hooks of the elevated needles which are to take them.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference to panel wrapping, it will be evidentthat the invention is equally applicable to individual needle wrapping in which there is never any wrapping of more than one v needle by a single yarn finger in any one course. In such case, the horn has the useful function of insuring that the yarn is maintained at a quite definite height on the needle to be wrapped so as to wrap it properly and avoid engagement with any adjacent needle. y l

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding m'eans, an element arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means for eecting relative movement between said element vand the needle cylinders at least at the time o the wrapping operation.

2. A circular knitting 'machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means for effecting relative movement between said element and the needle cylinders at least at the time of the wrapping operation, the last named means comprising elements located within, and rotating with, the upper cylinder. f

3.l A circular knitting machine of the superthe rotating I posed cylinder type comprising rotatingupper vcircumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means for maintaining said element substantially stationary during at least a portion of the rotation of the needle cylinders.

4. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrap lyarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means for imparting to said element .motion'relative to said needle cylinders during their rotation.

5. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in `said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an ele- -ment arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means forimparting to said element a backward and then a forward movement relative to said needle cylinders during their rotation.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising a `circular rotating series of needles, wrap yarn feeding means,` an element inside the needle circle arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means for effecting general circumferential movement of said element through complete revolutions with the needles but for e'ecting movement relative to the needles at predetermined times.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular Aseries of needles, wrap yarn feeding' means, an element inside the needle circle arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, an abutment for engaging the yarn between thewrap yarn feeding means and said element, and means for withdrawing said element circumferentially from yarn position before-the drawing of loops.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular rotating series of needles, wrap yarn feeding means, an element inside the needle circle arrangedV to -support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means for causing said element to revolve with needles while wrapping is taking place and for subsequently arresting said movement to free the wrap yarn.

9. A circular knitting machine comprising a circular rotating series of needles, wrap yarn feeding means. an element inside the needle circle arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, and means for both rotating saidl element and for oscillating it circumferentially with respect to the needles during each revolution of the needles.

l0. The method of wrapping a` yarn about selected needles which comprises-passing'the yarn' V over a supporting element inside the needle circle and about the needles at a-time when there is no relative movement between said supporting element and the needles and subsequently moving the supporting element with respect to the needles to free the wrap yarn from said element.

11. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper` and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumsupporting ferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means for effecting relative movement between said element and the needle cylinders at least at the time of the wrapping operation, the

last named means comprising an epicyclic gear train extending within the upper cylinder.

12. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support wrap yarn in the wrapping last named means comprising a plunger extendinhwithin the upper cylinder and rotating therewi 13. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, an element arranged to support vwrap yarn in the wrapping operation, said element extending in a circumferential direction inside the circle of needles, and means within the upper cylinder for effecting relative movement between said element and the needle cylinders at least at the time of the wrapping operation.

1 4. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylindersneedles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and an element inside the needle circle for supporting wrap yarn.

15. A circular knitting machine of 'the super-- posed cylinder type comprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and

-a substantially stationary element inside the needle circle for supporting wrap yarn.

16. Ajcircular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising rotating upper and lower cylinders, needl'es arranged to slide in said cylinders, 4wrap yarn feeding means arranged to project wrap yarn across the needle circle, and an element arranged to engage a wrap yarn between the point at which it was last knit and the part thereof to be engaged by a needle to control the position of the portion ment inside the needle circle for supporting wrap yarn prior' to drawing loops thereof into the fabric. l

19. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising rotating upperand lower cylinders. needles arranged to slide in said cylinders, wrap yarn feeding means, and a substantially stationary element inside the needie circle for supporting wrap yarn prior to drawing loops thereof in to the fabric.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.

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