US2361526A - Warp knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31,1944. R. BASSIST I 2,361,526

WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1943 2 Shets-Sheet l TT J.

1 PATTERN 58 4Q 57 CAM SHAFT 9 WARP EAM l' v ELLIPTICAL lNPUT5 FROM REGULATORY MEANS GEARS L f v f t DlFFERENTIAL FROM c M N02 DIFFERENTIAL 129 A SHAFT OUTPUT 78 7 126 I OUTPUT I DIFFERENTIAL CHANGE SPEED umvmc MEMBER OF CONTROL ggg CHANGE SPEED DEVICE 2 L] Y FROM DEVICE 13 J26 PATTERN v 28 common. Q3 L SPEED INVENTOR 7REoucE Kadol okflassis DRWEN MEMBER OF WARP BEAM BY CHANGE SPEED DEVICE g 4 2 22 AT ORNEY v fla I44 R. BASSIST 2,361,526

WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1943 Oct; 31, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1 .5; INPUTS FROM q v REGULATORY MEANS FROM CAM DIFFERENTIAL INPuTs FROM REGULATORY MEANS J51 DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT ELLIPTICAL No. I

CHANGE sPEED OUTPUT CONTROL CHANGE 7 SPEED SPEED V DEVICE J REDucE'R I WARP BEAM I SPEED REDucER 24 3 WARP BEAM INPUTS FROM REGULATORY MEANS DIFFERENTIAL PATTERN No.2 CONTROL m FROM PAITERN OUTPUT SPEED R'EDUCER WARP BEAM CHANGE sPEED l CHANGE I CONTROL SPEED 24 DEVICE.

sPEED "REDUCER I WARP BEAM 23 INVENTOR I .BaSJZ BY ATTORN S ts-ma Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT WARP KNITTING MACHINE Rudolph Bassist, New York, N; Y., assignor of forty-five per cent to himself, ten per cent to Harold H. Stern, twenty-two and one-half per cent to Edith Abrams, and twenty-two and onehalf per cent to Edith April, New York, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 133,382

19 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to knitting machines and has particular reference to socalled warp knitting machines.

While certain phases of my invention are not necessarily restricted to their applicability to any operate in a predetermined intermittent manner to interengage the threads to produce a knitted fabric of the jersey? type. The yarn is directed to the needles by one or more guide bars through which the individual strands are threaded and by means oftvhich the threads are looped v around the needles or otherwise subjected to their operation, in a predetermined manner and sequence depending upon the particular pattern or style of knitted fabric which is to be produced.

In order that my invention may be better understood, 1 will preface this description by outlining, in a general way, the mode of operation 7 and cooperation of the main pairt's'of a warpknitting machine.

A main driving shaft (hereinafter referred to as a cam shaft) is associated with means for intermittently moving the needles through the knitting cycle.

ment is an up-and-down movement. Thread Generally speaking, this move-- For example, assuming that only one warp beam is employed, the guide-bar may be moved so as to loop a strand around one needle during one course, around an adjacent needle during the next course, then around the first-mentioned needle again during the third course, and 'so on Or, depending upon the fabric desired, the guidebar may loop a strand around one needle forgone course, then shift longitudinally and loop the strand around a needle at a distance from the first for the second course, and then shift again either in the same or reverse direction to loop the strand around a third selected needle for the third course, and so on. A-large number of dlfierent optional cycles are possible, depending upon, the results desired in the finished product.

In each case, however, the longitudinal movement. of the guide-bar requires that a certain amount of yarn be made available to it, the exact amount being dependent upon the extent of the longitudinal movement of the guide-bar; and

l during each forward-and-back or swinging movement of the guide-bar a relatively reduced amount of thread should be made available to it. The greater the-accuracy with which the yarn feed corresponds to the moment-to-moment fluctuatingyarn demands of the guide-bar, the more smoothly and efllciently will the machine operate.

The machine may employ either one, two or three warp beams, possibly more. The simplest type of fabric is produced by the employment of only 'a single warp beam. A diflerent type of fabric would result from theemployment .of two warp beams, it being understood that there is is suitably looped around the needles while they I are in their upward positions, and when the needles move downwardly they perform a knitting operation, with the aid of'a presser bar, a

.sinker, and other suitable auxiliary parts which are well known per se. Each guide bar is provided with a corresponding number of needles through which the strands coming from the warp beam are threaded. Actuated by the cam shaft is a means for imparting a predetermined intermittent movement to the guide-bar, one comusually a separate guide-bar for each warp beam. Where a filler thread, or more accurately, an

unknitted warp thread, is to be associated with the fabric for the purpose of forming loops other ornamental effects, it is customary to employ one or two warp beams to produce the so" called ground fabric, and to employ a separate ponent of movement being in a. substantially forward-and-back direction, the other component of movement being longitudinal. These movements of the guide-bar are so timed and controlled, relative to the needle operation, that the .strands are suitably looped around or otherwise subjected to the action of the needles in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

warp beam for theadditional warp thread. In such case, the guide-bar through which the latter strands are threaded will have its movements so controlled that these strands are brought into proper relationship to the needles, 'and to the strands of the ground fabric, in a predetermined manner.

For the sake of simplicity, the features of the present invention will be described in connection with asingle warp beam and a single guide-bar,

1 although it will be understood, as hereinbefore pointed out, that'more than .one warp beam may be employed if necessary or desirable.

In the conventional type of warp knitting materim periods.

is produced in the fabric.

chine, one of the shortcomings has arisen from the fact that the threads are drawn from the warp beam by a pulling action initiated by the needles themselves and by the guide-bar which controls the disposition of the yarn with respect to the needles. The warp beam is generally provided with some sort of brake or equivalent clutch mechanism operated, by the pull of the yarn, whereby the warp beam is released for rotation whenever the knitting cycle calls for thread,and whereby-it is secured against rotation in the in- This arrangement has numerous disadvantages and imposes severe limitations upon the knitting operations. For example, the interdependence between yarn feed and f warp beam rotation restricts the types of fabric that maybe produced. Also, any stopping or starting of the machine as a whole produces an irregularity in the knittingoperation whereby an undesirable line or streak known as a stop-mark" The latter disadvan'- tage often causes material impairment of the commercial value of the fabric, and it manifests itself most frequently in the high-speed machines to which my invention has primary reference,

and in cases where the yam is of the relatively slippery character of rayon or the like. V

In my Patent No. 2,303,903, Idisclosed a means whereby these disadvantages, and others, are successfully overcome, one of the characterising features ofthe improved machine residing in the fact that the warp beam is continuously rotated in yarn-feeding direction in a predetermined timed relationship with respect to the knitting cycle, but independent of any pulling action upon or by the yarn itself.

' In my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 467,188 (now Patent No. 2,334,058), I described a 2,ae1,c2e

of time, to produce fabrics having widely different and unique patterns and designs, the thread feed being always accurately correlated with the varying moment-to-moment yarn requirements of the knitting instrumentalities.

Briefly, the present improvements reside in the provision of at least one differential interposed in'the driving transmission between the cam shaft and the warp beam, the output being in driving relation to the warp beam, the inputs of the differential being operatively connected to one or more regulatory'means for imposing the desired components of movement upon the warp further improvement and reflnementof this general type of machine, whereby there is imposed upon a continuously rotating warp beam a regular fluctuating component of movement intended to synchronize the thread feed with the fluctuating requirements of the needles and guide-bars. I disclosed the employment, in the warp beam transmission, of a mechanism (exemplified by a guide-bar demands, is subject to certain limita tions arising from the fact that any selected set of meshing non-circular gears, or other equivalent mechanism of this character, is restricted to a fluctuating output of too regular a charac ter.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide certain further improvements which permit an even wider range of adjustments to be effected in the timing of the'threa'd feed and its synchronization with the yarn requirements of the guide-bars and needles. As a result, a warp knitting machine incorporating the structural innovations of the present invention is capable of producing a wider variety of different knitted fabrics and patterns, many of which have not heretofore been capable of manufacture at all by means of 'a warp knitting machine. By

beam. a I a The machine preferably includes also an adjustalbe change-speed device of the character described and illsutrated in my aforementioned patent, this device being of the character which comprises rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof. This device, interposed in the transmission to the warp beam, afiords a further opportunity for controlling and adjusting the warp beam movements and permits the employment of a second differential whose output is operatively connected to the adjusting member so that various regulatory means may be 'operatively connected to permit manual or automatic adjustments in accordance with a predetermined plan.

Iachieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and I provide fortheembodiment of the foregoing features, and others, in a practical machine, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a warp knitting machine employing certain of the features of the present'invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of diagrammatic character of a pattern control such as that shownat the right end of Figure 1,'il1ustrating the mechanism which it may actuate in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing one type of regulatorymeans for Differential No. 1" shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 3 showing a modification; I V Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 5 showing another modification; and

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing further modifications, respectively, in which no change-speed device is employed.

Referring for the moment to Figure l, I have illustrated certain parts of a warp knitting machine of the character to which my present invention has primary reference. Mounted within the confines of a suitable framework 20 is a main driving shaft or cam shaft 2|. This shaftextends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the macht'ne as a whole, and it is driven by a motor or by any other suitable motive power (not shown) in well-known fashion.v It carries such mounted in any suitable manner for rotation which are now made available, a warp knitting machine'is capable of operating smoothly and about anaxis longitudinally arranged with respect to the machine. In the conventional machine. this warp beam (together with one or more efilciently, at high'speeds and for long perio s-16 a n l W rp beams) is mounted upon the in a predetermined mined magnitudes as the follower 51 is pushed to the left or right under the actions of the pattern wheel 55 and the spring 58. 4

' merely illustrative of menses framework it, usually in the upper region of the machine. In accordance with my present invention, however, it is possible to mount this warp beam in an independent support or framework (not shown) at the rear of the machine. This is l of great importance since much larger warp beams may be employed, and since the tremendous weight of the beams is thus removed from any possibility of impairing the smooth highspeed operation of the knitting machine with a.

minimum of vibration.

v in the appended claims, is intended to refer gen- In accordance with my invention, this warp beam is continuously rotated by-means of a transmission which ultimately derives its motive power from the camshaft 2!. This transmission may in greater detail.

Mounted in the machine in well-known manner is a needle-bar Q4. Projecting upwardly from it are needles by means of which the knitting operation is performed. This needle bar is intermittently operated by the cam shaft 2| to move the needles through the desired knitting'cycle which is well known per se. 'iAny suitable mechanism may be employed for accomplishing this purpose. as illustratively exemplified in Figure 3 of my aforementioned patent 2,334,058.

Mounted in proximity to the needles is a guidebar 42 which carries a plurality of downwardly assume various forms, hereinafter to be explained projecting teeth or equivalent elements which are adapted to move in a forward-and-back direction within the spaces between the needles of the needle bar. This component of movement of the guide-bar is under the control of the cam shaft 2!, by means of any suitable well-known mechanism illustratively exemplified in Figure 2 of my aforementioned patent 2,334,058.

The guide-bar is usually provided with brackets such as those shown at these brackets being articulated to hangers B0 in such a manner that the guide-bar 42 can also be subjected to longitudinal shifting movements. These movements are also under the control of the cam shaft 2|. through the intermediary of a suitable drive mechanism such as a worm 52 and a worm wheel 53.

in the form of a pattern wheel 55 mounted on the shaft 54 of the worm wheel 83, the pattern wheel being thus slowly and continuously rotated. The periphery of the pattern wheel 55 is provided with a predetermined series of raised and depressed portions, and the end of the guide-bar is provided with a follower 51 which is constantly pressed against the wheel in a yieldable manner by means of the spring 58 or the like. tudlnal movements are imparted to the guide-bar sequence and of predetere periphery of the pattern erally to an alterable pattern Wheel or chain or Q equivalent instrumentality of this general char- 1 actor.

The yarn from the warp beam is directed in suitable fashion to the guide-bar, each strand being threaded through one of the teeth of the guide-bar. The movements of the guide-bar,

both forward-and-back and longitudlnaLcontrol the disposition of this yarn with respect to the needles, looping it successively around predetermined needles, or otherwise bringing it into I the range of operation of the needles, or into association with strands emanating from other warp beams, all in accordance with apredetermined plan or pattern which manifests itself in the-operative-contour of the pattern wheel at. Simultaneously, the needles, operating in timed relationship with the guide-bar, perform the actualknitting operation, a knitted fabric being thus produced, course by course; and being wound up on a suitable roller '(not shown) at the for- .45 This drive mechanism actuates a suitable pattern control which I have chosen to illustrate wardportion of the machine.

It is obvious that this mode of operation imposes varying requirements upon the thread feed.

Thus, whenever the guide-bar is moving to loop the strands around the needles, or otherwise to bring the strands into the range of the knitting operation, yarn must be-made available; and during those interim periods during which the medles are knitting or otherwise incorporating the yarn into the fabric, the demand for thread feed is momentarily diminished. Similarly, whenever the guide-bar is moving longitudinally through relatively large distances (skipping for example, from one needle to another selected needle some distance away), the demand for yarn is correspondingly greater than during other longitudinal' movements of the guide-bar which are of lesser magnitude. In accordance with my present invention, it is possible to'conform the yarn feed with considerable accuracy to these varying requirements, notwithstanding the fact that the warp beam'is continuously .rotated quite independentiy of any clutch or brake mechanism de- Accordingly, certain longi- The projections and depressions of the pattern r wheel may be integral portions of the wheel or. 1

as is preferable, they may be provided for by means of suitable elements or links separably' mounted on the pattern wheel in predetermined A pattern wheelof.- this.

spaced relationships.

general character is well known per se, and'is a general type .of pattern control which may be employed for the purpose.

For example, a continuously moving chain, or

pending for'itso'peration upon any pulling eiiect of the yarn itself.

The general manner in which the desired synchronization of the yarnjeed and yarn requirements may be accomplished by means of the present'invention is indicated in a diagrammatic fashion in Figure 3. It will be observed that the warp beam 22 is driven by a transmission which includes a speed reducer 2t and several controllable or regulatory elements. one of these is the change-speed device 23 which may be of any vwell-known character, e. g., "Re'evesdrive? The details of such a drive are well known per se and are exemplified in Figure 5 of my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058. Brief-v .ly, the drive comprises a pulley member mounted .on the driving shaft 27, a pulley member mounted-on the driven shaft 28. and a rotatable cona conventional trolmember or shaft 10. The driving and driven members are. connected by a belt and comprise pulleys of suitable character whose effective diameters are relatively adjustable by means of regulator rotations of the control shaft it in" one direction or the other, whereby any d relationship (within the range which the device affords) may be brought about, depending upon requirements, during a continuous operation of the transmission. i

The output or driving shaft 28 of the changespeeddevice is operatively connected to the speed reducer. The input or driving shaft 21, is under the control of selected regulatory means, and the adjustment'shaft I9 is similarly under the control of selected regulatory means. In Figure 3, I have shown a preferred arrangement in which a difierential I25 has its output I26 operatively connected (e. g., by meshing bevelled gears I 21), to thedriving member 21 of the change-speed device, and in which a similar differential 15 has its output shaft 18 'operatively connected in a similar manner to the control shaft I of the change-speed device. In the :present drawings, the differential I25 is designated as Diflerential No. 1 while differential 1-6 is designated Differential No. 2.

Each of the differentials is of well-known character such as that which is commonly employed,.for example, in association with the rear axle of an automobile. Since the internal parts of the motive power of such a differential mechanism are well known, I have deemed it sufficient merely to indicate two input driving shafts in each case and a single'output shaft. Using the automobile analogy, theinput'shafts correspond to those which commonly extend respectively to the rear wheels of the automobile.

'whilethe'output shaft corresponds to the transmission shaft extending to the'engine. However, whereas the automobile difi'erential imposes the input power through the transmission shaft and derives the corresponding output in equal or varying degrees at the rear wheels, each of the present differential'mechanisms is employed in a reverse fashion. In the case of the differential I25, a regulatory motive power is applied to one or both of the input shafts I28 and I29 while the resultant eifect'is withdrawn from the output shaft I25 and transmitted tothechange-speed device. In'the case of the differential 15, a regulatory input is operatively connected to one or both of the input shafts 16 and 11, while the resultant output is derived from the'output shaft 18 which is operatively connected to the adjusting member III of the change-speed device.

The inputs to the shaft I6 and 11 of "Differential No. 2, maybe, for example, of the character illustrated and described in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058 whereby "the shaft I6 derives motive power from a reversible electrical motor or the like, whose operation is controlled by a suitable pattern control, while the shaft 11 derives motive power from a mechanism which is automaticallv adjusted to compensate for the diminishing diameter of the warp beam as thread is withdrawn therefrom. The motive power applied to the input shafts I28 and I29 of Differential No. 1 may be, for example, of the character illustrated most clearly inFigures 2 and 4. Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that I have shown the input shaft I28 operatively connected (e. g., by bevelled gears conventional accuses tuating character. The driving member of this mechanism is connected in any suitable fashion with the cam shaft of the knitting machine, as

indicated at I32. By properly designing and selecting the driving and driven members of this mechanism, such as the elliptical gears I 3I illustratively shown in Figure 4, a predetermined rotation of the cam shaft 2| of the knitting machine at uniform angular velocity can be caused to imposeupon the input shaft I28 of Differential N0. 1, and ultimately upon the driven warp beam 22, a fluctuating component of movement which conforms with certain basic fluctuating. demands of the needles and the guide-bar, thus "setting the tempo, as it 'were, of the yarn feed.

Theinput shaft I 29 of Differential No. i may derive a regulatory power by means of a mechanism such as shown most clearly in Figure 2. Mounted on a shaft I33 is a ratchet wheel I34 with which two driving pawls I35 are associated. Driving links I36 connect these pawls with a reciprocating member I3! which is constantly urged in one di'rectionby a spring I38 or the likeand which carries a follower I39 which rides upon a suitable pattern control I49 driven by the cam shaft 2I. This patterncontrol is of the same general character as that shown at 55 in Figure 1, and may in fact consist of this self-same instrumentality. I have shown for example how the .reciprocated member I31 .may be directly connected to a guide-bar I4I to control the longitudinal back-and-forth movements of the guide-bar as the follower I39 rides upon the projections and depressions, or equivalent convolutions, of the pattern control I40. During these movements ofthe reciprocating member I31, the ratchet wheel I34 is intermittently advanced in the direction-of the arrow shown in Figure 2, regardless of the direction of movement of the member I31. Thus when the follower I39 encounters a projection which moves the member I31 to theleft (as viewed in Figure 2) the lower pawl I35 advances the ratchet I34 while the upper pawl rides freely without effect upon the ratchet; and whenever the follower I39 encounters a depression which permits the spring I38 to move the member I31 to the right (as viewed in Figure 2) the upper pawl I35 becomes operative to give an impetus to the ratchet I34 while the lower shifting movements of "the guide-bar in predeter- I30 or the like) with a pair of meshing noncircular gears I3I. I have chosen to show these mined manner,-so that, for example, if the guidebar. moves for a relatively long distance, the ratchet I34 will move by a correspondingly reater amount, while if the guide-bar movesthrough a smaller distance the ratchet I34 will rotate through a correspondingly smaller amount.

It may also be desirable under certain circume stances to use two separate pattern controls but to arrange them on a single instrumentality. For example, a pattern control may be employed which actuatesthe guide-bar by means, of a fol lower riding on the periphery of a wheel such as that shown at 55 in Figurel or at I49 in Figure 2,

. while the actuation of the ratchet mechanism may simultaneously be controlled by a foliower which rides in a cam groove formed in the side cally to be knitted into the fabric.

asensae wall of the pattern wheel. The guide-bar movements, in such a case, would be responsive to the elevations and depressions on the periphery of the pattern wheel, a spring such as that shown at B in Figure 1 or at I38 in Figure 2 serving to yieldably hold the follower down against the pattern control. The ratchet movements, however, would require no such springy assistance and would be governed solely by the convolutions of the cam groove formed in the pattern wheel.

By operatively connecting the shaft I33 (through the intermediary of bevelled gears I42 or the like) with the input shaft I29 of Differ ential No. 1, as indicated in Figure 4, a fluctuate sion mechanism which leads ultimately to the warp beam.

As a specific example, let it be assumed that the fabric being knitted isone in 'which the major portion of the fabric consists of a simple uniform pattern, while a special design (requiring unusually extensive guide-bar movements) is periodi- During the knitting of the simple pattern, the elliptical gears I3I continuously impose upon the warp beam a fluctuating movement which feeds the yarn in synchronism with the course-by'course fluctuating demands of the guide-bar, and during this time, the rotative movement of the ratchet I34 is of uniform character since the guide-bar is moving back and forth through more or less uniform distances. When the time is reached when the guide-bar is moved through the unusually great distances to produce the special design or pattern, a correspondingly greater movement is imparted to the ratchet I34, and this added increment manifests itself in greater movement of the warp beam 22 by virtue of the fact that the increased movement of the ratchet I34 is superimposed through the differential I25, upon the normal fluctuations imposed by the elliptical gears. At all times, therefore, regardless of the special or unusual character of the design or pattern which is being knitted by the machine, the rotation of the warp beam 22 is accurately in synchronism with the moment-to-moment demands of the guide-bar for varying or fluctuating amounts of yarn.

arranged in Figure 5 and in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058) has certain disadvantages and limitations. In accordance with my present invention, these limitations may be avoided by supplanting the elliptical gears of Figure 5 with the mechanism shown in Figure 2. This results in an arrangement of parts as shown in Figure 6. In this figure, the shaft I33 of the mechanism of Figure2 is connected directly to the driving member 21 of the change-speed device 23. The other elements shown in Figure 6 are the same as in Figures 3 and 5 and the same reference numerals have therefore been applied. In the arrange- In Figures 5-and 6 I haveillustrated two possible modifications of the transmission in which Differential No. 1" has been completely omitted. In

Figure 5, for example, the transmission is the same as in Figure 3 except that the elliptical gears I3I (or equivalent mechanism) are con-- nected directly to the driving shaft 21 of the change-speed device 23. In other respects the elements of Figure 5 are the same as those shown in Figure 3, and the same reference numerals have therefore been applied. This arrangement of parts is identical with one of the embodiments illustrated in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,- 058 and is shown in the present drawings merely for comparative purposes.

The regularity of the fluctuating component of movement imposed by the elliptical gears (as ment of Figure 6, the fluctuating movements imposed upon the driving member 21 are more accurately in synchronism with the fluctuating demands of the guide-bar regardless of the varying nature or complexity of the guide-bar movements.

The use of Differential No. 1" as shown in Fig ures 3 and 4 is a preferable arrangement, because it simultaneously affords the advantages of the elliptical gears or equivalent mechanism (as described more fully in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058), and'the mechanism of Figure 2 of the present drawings which responds so completely to the desired pattern control. This latter mechanism however, has certain advantages'which may be independently resorted to, as indicated in Figure 6, and the arrangement of Figure 6 is therefore illustrated to show the possibility, under certain circumstances, of employing the mechanism of Figure 2 without necessarily employing either a differential or any elliptical gears or equivalent mechanism.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have illustrated'several modifications in which the change-speed device is dispensed with. The use of this device is highly desirable, since it affords an additional opportunity for imposing various selected regula-' tions to the yarn feed. However, under certain circumstances, the transmission may be employed without the change-speed device.

In Figure 7, for example, I have shown "Diflerential No. 1" connected directly to the speed re-. ducer 24 through the intermediary of meshing gears I42 or the like. In this case, the inputs of the differential may be connected to any desired regulatory means such as those shown, by way of example, in Figure 4.

In Figure 8, I have shown the manner in which the mechanism of Figure 2 may be operatively connected directly to the speed reducer 24 by means of meshing gears I43. This is the simplest arrangement under which the variations of a pattern control may be caused to bring about a corresponding pattern of movement of the warp beam.

It will thus be observed that I have provided various means whereby selected regulating devices may be employed for the purpose of achieving the basic objective. Where a change-speed device is included in the transmission, and where two differentials are employed, as shown most clearly in Figure 3, an opportunity is afforded for controlling the warp beam movements with great accuracy and in accordance with any of a large number of different predetermined patterns. It will be understood, of course, that the difierential may in each case comprise more than two input shafts, and that any suitable regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more of might under certain circumstances be operatively connected to one of the inputs of Diiierential No. 1. Or, one of the inputs of one or the other of the difierentials might be operatively connected to a manual control by means of which certain added increments of movement could be manu ally contributed to the resultant movements-of the warp beam to compensate for possible extra requirements of certain special circumstances or periods of operation, as for example in the initial starting of the machine from a period of complete rest.

It desired, it might prove useful under certain circumstances to arrange two or more difierentials in series relationship, the ultimate objective being in each case to achieve a resultant fluctuating movement of the warp beam which is as accurately as possible responsive to the moment-tomoment fluctuating requirements of the guidebar.

It will also be understood that the mechanically-operated ratchet mechanismshown in Figure 2. is offered merely by way of example and that any ratchet mechanism or equivalent instrumentality might be empioyed for the same purpose, whether driven or controlled electrically, electronically, electromagnetically, by hydraulic means, or otherwise.

In general, it will be understood that the 'details herein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore 1 intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles throughthe knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlline the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles; a driving transmission from the cam shaft to said warp beam; mechanism in said transmission ior imposing a regular fluctuating component or movement upon the warp beam; an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft;

and means in said transmission actuated by said a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with re-.

spect to the needles; a driving transmission from the cam shaft to said warp beam; mechanism in said transmission for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon the warp beam; an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; means in said transmission actuated by said pattern control for imposing a supplemental fluctuating component of movement upon the warp beam; and means also actuated by said pattern control for intermittently moving said guide-bar in cooperative relation to the needle movements. v

5. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1, said transmission including a differential whose output is in driving relation to the warp beam, one input of the differential being operatively connected to said mechanism, another input of the differential being operatively connected to said means which is actuated by the pattern control. 7

6. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1, said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and a differential, said device comprising rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof, the driven member beingin driving relation to. the warp beam, the driving member being operatively connected to the out- I put of said diflerential, one input of the dinerential being operatively connected to said mechanism, another input of the differential being operatively connected to said means which is rotation are governed by rotation of an adjusting member, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam, the driving member being operatively connected to the output of said diflerential, one input of the diflerential being operatively connected to said mechanism, an-

- other, input 01 the differential being operatively said mechanism being of the character which comprises rotating driving and driven members wherein a fluctuating angular velocity is imparted to the driven member relative to that of the driving member; an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; and means in said transmission actuated by said pattern control for imposing a supplemental fluctuating component of movement upon the warp beam.

3. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 2, said mechanism comprising a pair or meshing non-circular gears.

4. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto,

connected to said means which is actuated by the pattern-control; and means for'automatically rotating said adjusting member in accordance with a predetermined plan during continuous operationoi said transmission.

8. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1, said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and a diiferential, said device comprising rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are governed by rotation of an ad-, lusting member, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam, the driving als a accuse needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the camshaft; and means actuated by said pattern control for imposing upon the warp beam a fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuating demands for yarn of said guide-bar; said means comprising a ratchet operatively connected in driving relation to the warp beam, and a, driving pawl actuated by said pattern control.

10. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with re spect tothe needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; means actuated by said pattern control for intermittently moving said guide-bar in cooperative relation to the needle movements; and means also actuatedby said 'pattem control for imposing upon the warp beam as fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuating demands for yarn of said guide-bar.

11. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; an adjustable change-speed device comprising rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam; and means actuated by said pattern control for imposing upon the driving member of said change-speed device a fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuating demands for yarn of said guidebar.

12. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto,,a I

cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; an adJustable change-speed device comprising rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beams; means actuated by said pattern con- I trol for intermittently moving said guide-bar in cooperative relation to the needle movements; and means also actuated by said pattern control for imposing upon the driving member 01 said change-speed device a, fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuating demands for yarn 'of said guide-bar.

13. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; a differential whose output is in driving relation to the warp beam; and means actuated by said pattern control for imposing a 9. In a warp knitting machine including fluctuating component of movement upon one input of said 'diiferential; whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one a cam shaft fcrmoving the needles through the or more other inputs of said differential.

14. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a

cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaft to the Warp beam; said transmission including a differential whose output is in driving relation to the warp beam; and a mechanism driven i by the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon one input of said differential; whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more other inputs of said differential.

15. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaft to the warp beam; said transmission including a differential whose output is in driving relation to the warp beam; and a mechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon one input of said'diiferential, said mechanism being of the character which comprises rotating driving and driven members wherein a fluctuating angular velocity is imparted to the driven member relativeto that of the driving member; whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively con nected to one or more other inputs of said differential.

16. In a'warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 15, said mechanism comprising a pair of meshing non-circular gears.

17. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto,

knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: a driving transmission, from the cam shaft to said warp beam, said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and a differential, said device comprising rotating drlving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam, the driving member being operatively connected to the output of said differential; and a mechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon one input of said dilTerential; whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more other inputs of said differential.

18. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishing yarn thereto,

a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respect to the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaft to said warp beam, said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and a differential, said. device comprising rotating driving members whose relative speeds of rotation are governed by rotation of an adjusting member, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam, the driving 'member being operatively connected to the output of said differential; a mechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing upon one input of said diiferential, whereby se lected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more other inputs oi said differential; and means iorautomatically rotating said adjusting member in accordance with a predetermined plan during continuous operation oisaid transmission.

19. In a warp knitting machine including I a regular fluctuating component .of -movement member, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam, the driving member being operatively connected to the output 0! said differential; a mechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon on input of said differential, whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more other inputs of said differential; and means for automatically rotating said adjusting member in accordance with a predetermined plan during continuous operation of said transmission, said last-named means comprising a second diflerential whose output is operatively connected to said adjusting member, whereby selected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more of th inputs of said second differential. I

RUDOLPH BASSIST.

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