US2400525A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

May21,`1946. QAMIDON' I 2,400,525

KNITTING MACHINE m K i I q,

www.

May 21, 1946- R. c. AMlDoN 2,400,525

I KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3,y 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flay Cy. `Ain/donf7 awww- May 21, 1946- V R. c. AMIDON `2,400,525

f i l KNI'TING MACHINE l Filed Jan. 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 21, v1946- R. c. AMlDoN v 2,400,525

KNITTING MACHINE v Filed Jar-1. s, 1944 5 sheets-sheet 4 5 She-ts-Shet 5 R. c. AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jair. 3, 1944 ,12303 Amzoom i WHHHHM/W/ May 2l, 1946.

' Patented May 21, 1946 KNITTING MACHINE Roy C. Amidon, Reading, Pa., to Vanity Fair Mills, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application January 3, 1944, Serial No. 516,777 v 15 Claims. (Cl. Sii- 86) My invention relates to knitting machines, and particularly to machines of the tricot type.

More specifically, the present invention relates to mechanism for feeding or delivering the thread or yarn, used in the knitting process, from the warp beams to the needles. In the1 production of fabrics made upon the tricot or so-called fastwarp machines, or in any process using the warp principle, the density of th'e fabric or tightness of the stitches is largely determined by the feeding (portion of yarn allotted to each knitting cycle).

In warp knitting machines the thread or yarn is initially wound on one or more warp beams and is passed from the beams, through thread or yarn guides that are carried by the guide bars of the machine, to th'e needles.

In order to control the turning movement of the beams it has been found necessary to provide a brake or clutch system regulated by the movealso to take up the slack as released by the rotating warp beam during the time, in the knitting cycle, when no thread or yarn is being used by the guides and/orby the needles in the knockover process. The use of spring-loaded tension rods is not always uniform over the entire width of the machine at various speeds of the machine.

Any stopping orstarting of the machines heretofore in use, with which I am familiar produces an irregularity in the knitting operation, resulting in the formation of anl undesirable line or streak, called a stop-mark" in the fabric.

My invention, therefore, has for its general object to overcome the objectionable -Ieatures of the' machines above referred to.

MoreI specifically, my invention has for an object to provide an intermittent drive for each v warp beam to turn the beam in timed relation to -the thread or yarnconsumption during the knitting cycle and cause it to discharge or release the -thread or yarn in the correct proportion and atbeams .with a continuous drive; nevertheless the use of a tension device is necessary in this case Other objects of the `invention will in l'part bev obvious and in partbe pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and:

arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the followingndetailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a 'front elevational view illustrating my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of 4the same looking in the direction from left to right in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged .detail vertical section taken on the line I-l of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail end elevation looking from right lto left in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the main frame, drawn to the scale of Fig. l.

Fig. 'I is a front elevation of the sliding carriage, drawn on the scale of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view o f the same.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of th'e driving friction wheel carrier with the friction wheels in position.

Fig. 10 is 'a top plan view of the same. A

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section on .the line Ii--II of Fig. 2.,

Fig. 12, Fig. 13, Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 are diagrammatic views hereinafter specifically referred to.

Fig. 16 is a, detail top plan view of a. portion of my apparatus showing the variable speed mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a cross sectionv o n the line Il-I'I of Fig. 1.

,In the drawings, in which like vnumerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in al1 the figures, I' represents th'e main frame of the machine. top cross arm 5, the sub-frame |04, forming a part of the cross arm, and the slide-bearing member l. The member l has an opening 8, into the'knitting function prof which the gears Il project, and has vertical grooves l for the feath'ers 66 of a rack-bar' 65 later again referred to. The frame also includes a mounting` flange 2 through the medium of which. and cap screws or bolts. the frame is mounted on an end frame 1I of asknitting' ma- This frame includes the uprights 3,'the

` chine. The frame I has a slot 4 and shaft bear# ings 6, 6', and a recess`|0 to receive the hand wheel 46later again referred to.

Mounted in bearing apertures and |02 in the main frame is a first vertical driving shaft 38. A second vertical driving shaft 40 is journaled in bearings |03 and 6' in that frame. The

` shafts 38 and 40 are operatively connected together to turn at the same speed by means of herringbone gears 45, best shown in Fig. 11. The

shafts 38 and 40 have uted portions 39 and 4|. l

respectively, on which the driving friction wheels are slidably held, as will later be more fully explained.

Mounted in suitable bearings |5 are parallel shafts I I and I2 respectively, which shafts are geared together by suitable gears -I3 and I4. 'I'he shaft II terminates at the right hand bearing,

I5 of the change-'speed device, while a short shaft II' extends coaxially from the1 end of the shaft ||`to a bearing I6. Theshaft I2 termi- 'mesh with the racks 26 that are carried by the uprights'24 of the carriage-engaging plates 23. .These plates 23 are secured to the carriage by cap screws 25. Y

The uprights 24 of the plates 23 on one side of thek frame are connected to those on the opposite side by blocks 24".

.project into the openings 8 in the bearing orguide 1 and engage the racks 66 of the bar The ,sliding carriage comprises the front plate I9 and back plate 20 between which spacing blocks 2| are secured'. A bearing block 22 is also secured between the plates I9 and 20 (see Figs. '7, 8 and 11). On the face of the plate I9 (and also on the plate if desired) are graduated scale plates 21, secured at 28 to cooperate with the adjacent graduations 35 on the slotted arms 29 ofthe friction wheel carrier.

-The friction wheel carrier is composed of the pairs of arms 29 connected by horizontal bars 33 and secured'at their lower ends to the base blocks The blocks 30 carry upstanding blocks 3| which are bored and tapped, as at 32, to receive the adjusting screws -49, the screws 49 being mounted in bearing apertures 5| in the block 22 and having gears 50 which mesh with a third gear 48 on a stub shaft 41 also journaled inthe block 22,l as best shown in Fig. 1l. Cap screws 34 pass through the slots of the arms 2,9 into the carriage.

Suspended rigidly from each upper base member 30, by bars 31, is a lower base member 36. The driving friction wheels 42, weardiscs 43 and spacers 44 are located between the upper and lower base members 30 and 35 respectively.

Mounted on a shaft 55, that is. journaled in bearings 6 and 12, is'a driven friction wheel.

The driven friction wheel may comprise two metal discs 52located between a resilient disc 53 (rubber for example) which tends to maintain good contact at all times between the friction wheels. Cross-connecting pins 54 may be provided to tie the discs 52 and 53 together. Collars 51 on the shaft 55 and a key 56 serve to secure the driven friction wheelto the shaft 51 (see Figs. 1 and 11). n A

'I'he beam shaft 6|.' and spool 6 I arecoupled, as at 62, to a shaft 58 which is mounted in a bearing 1| and is drivenI through herringbone gears 59 and 60 from theshaft 55.

The rack bar 65 carriesA a beam-contacting roller 63, mounted in a fork 64. It will be observed that the rack bar 65 moves up and down vertically along a radius of the beam and the axes ofthe several shafts 38, 40, 55, 58, and those of the beam and roller and also the rack bar all lie in the same vertical plane, ther ideal positions for accurate adjustments and lfunctioning of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. and 2, it will be seen that the shaft 38 is provided with a toothedv wheel 61 which meshes with an interrupted flange 11 on a hub 16 hav-1 ingv a clutch member 14 rotatably mounted on the cam shaft 13 (or any'other constantly movable suitable `shaft of the knitting machine).

The member 14 may be mounted to turn on the shaft 13, but not be slidable' thereon, by means of a pin and groove connection 15. rA

vbracket 68 is mounted on the end frame 10 and l is provided with a bearing 69 for the end of the v the rod 84 passes and latch the clutch in thenon-operative position.

The interrupted flange 11, meshing with the teeth of the toothed wheel 61, has a curved or worm portion 18 of a suitable pitchsay enough to move the toothed wheel one tooth for each revolution of the shaft 13. The flange 11 may also have another curved portion 19 which may terminate in a straight end 19 which lies in a plane offset from that of the uncurved part of the flange 11, or it may curve back and terminate in the same plane as the uncurved part of the flange, as shown, respectively in Figs. 13`

and 15 and hereinafter more fully explained.-

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 11, a sprocket 81 is mounted lon the shaft I2. A bracket 89 is sesinker and 99 a needle of the machine, while |00 indicates the thread or yarn. Figs, 12 to 15 are diagrammatic views soon again to be referred to.

Referring now to Figs.,1, 16 and 17, it will be seen that a suitable change-speed gearingis interposed between the shafts l, and l2, I2', a

Reeves type being-shown for purposes of illustration, but any other suitable type may be employed if desired., The shaft extends through the-bearings l5' only, while shaft is mounted in the bearings I6, |16'. As before stated, the shaft |2'extends through bearing I5 and into bearing II5 (se'e Fig. 16)'. The ,shaft I2 isl mgunte'd in both back bearings I5', Fig. 16, and in a bearing -l I 6. A variable speed shaft I Il is mounted in ings H5, in the frame lll. and is connected with bearshaft I2' by means of suitable gears III and H2, the shafts I2' and il being connected by the gears H2 and H3, as best shown in Fig. 17. Shiftable coned-discs HIS are carried by and tum with the shafts n and nu, while a belt |01 takes about these pairs of discs.` Rockably mounted levers |06 are provided for shifting the discs farther apart and closer together to obtain the changes of speed desired, the movement of the levers being accomplished by means of an adjusting Worm |08 and hand wheel lil. I'he adjustments are indicated on a dial |09 in the usual way.

f Operation Assume lthe parts lto be positioned as shown in Fig. 1. Each rotation of the shaft 13 will turn the toothed wheel il the distance of one tooth,

which, with the setting of the friction and changespeed gears as shown, will advance the beam the distance required to feed off enough thread or yarn as is required for one course of the knitting. Movement of the shaft 38 is transmitted to shaft 55 through the friction drive 42, 52-53 and from` shaft 55 to the'beam shaft through the. herringbone gears 59, 60. The change in the positions of the friction wheels 42 with respect to the frietion wheel 52-53 varies in proportion to the decrease in the diameter of the beam as the'thread .is taken off. If itis desired to lengthen or shorten the feed of the thread to thev needles for different knitting the clutch Bll is thrown out, thevcap screws 34 are loosened and the setting of the friction Wheels l2 on the friction wheel 52--53 is changed accordingly, after which the cap screws are again tightened. This setting is made with` reference to the scale 35 which has been calibrated for the purpose; This change in the setting of the friction drive without change in the lcontrol to the beam would not alone result in an needles by the thread guide or guides and on thedown strokes the needles draw the thread through previously formed and knocked-over loops, there being periods of dwell during which no thread is being drawn from the beam. Dependingon the way the thread guides are mounted, i. e., theway they move from front to back of the needles in laying the thread. the guides pull more or less of the thread in addition to the pull of the needles.V This makes it necessary, in knitting machines generally, to provide yieldable thread tensioning guides. My invention has been designed to do away with the resilient guides and provide a positive thread feed at all times. For example: if the thread guides 90 are so mounted as to swing the nange (see Fig. 13); if, however, the move- Y ment of the thread guide SI results in a pull and a slack on the thread, then the deflected portion l'terminates in the same plane as the dwell portion of the ange or as near thereto as necessary to reverse the beam movement to take up the on the wheel 52-53 and the proper compensation in the change-speed gearing is made by turning the hand wheel H4 so that as the roller I3 moves down with the lessening diameter of the beam a proper differential is maintained between the downward movement of the roller 63 and the downward `movement of the friction wheels 42 so as to feed always the same length of thread or yarn from the beam at each step of- Lrotational movement of the beam.

The use of herringbone gears 45,' 59 and SII, and the use of anti-friction bearings (not shown) wherever possible will prevent backlash or loose- Y' ness in the transmission between the shaft 3l and the beam, as well as prolong the life of the same.

When it is desired to insert a new beam in place of an empty one. the clutch Bois thrown out and the wheel 9| is turned to lift the beam-engaging roller out of the way. After the beam has been replaced`with the full beam, the wheel 9| is reversed until roller 83 again rests on therv thread |00.

It should be understood that when more than one beam is used in a knitting machine, my apparatus will be duplicated accordingly, i. e., one device will be provided for each warp beam.

Attention is called to the fact that the expansible friction wheel 52--53 gives a flexible contact with the driving wheels 42 and prevents slippage. Further, the outer surfaces of the discs 52 may be roughened or milled .to aid in preventing slip- Page.

With my invention in use; a formula may be set up which will produce the saine degree of tightness or density of stitches at all times in any given width of fabric, for the reason` that the back and forth and rack .the thread about the needle without a backlash of the thread, then I provide a flange 'Il with a deflection 'Il sufllcient to move the beam just far enough to allow the thread guides $8 to function while keeping the thread taut or under a constant tension, the end of the deflected portion 'I9 terminating to Yone side of the general lplane of the dwell portion of which I am familiar the beam is driven withaoutput of warp thread or yarn is positive and is delivered to the guides and needles of the knitting machine in the same amounts as are used by the guides and needles while performing their knitting cycles; the output of warp thread is not dependent-upon any cam or spring action -between v the warp beam and the needles during the knitting process.

In the manufacture of knitted fabrics, when more than one warp beam is used, the rate of the discharge of the threads or. yarns f rom the several beams, in relation one to another, is very important, as fabrics of different degrees of density orelasticity are in demand for diii'erent purposes By'the use of my invention.' changes may bev made by simple adjustments of the several warp beam operating units whereby positivealterations may be made to change the degree of density or elasticity of the knitted fabric. as may be desired.

As heretofore intimated, I am aware that attempts have been made' to provide means vfor positi'vely driving the beam. In the. attempt withcontinuous motion from a constantly rotating shaft, a change-speed gearing being provided for adjusting the spesa at wmcntne thread is ad- 4 I i .vanced. Such means obviously requires theuse 1 of a yieldable thread guide between the beam and the needles in order to take up the slack while casting the thread about the needles or the slack will prevent knitting the courses evenly. In the apparatus-just referred to, an attempt has' also f been made to actuate the changespeed gearing l automatically by connecting a lever device with the adjusting element of the change-speed gearingl and letting the free end of the lever rest on the periphery of the roll of thread on the beam. This' method, however, will not result in. an ac' curate or uniformI feed vof the thread from the Y vices are overcome in my apparatus.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operationand advantages of my apparatus will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

WhatIclaim is:

1 l. In a knitting machine having thread guides and knitting needles:

the combination with a thread-carrying beam, of means for turning the beam in two separate steps with a dwell in between, one step being Aa forward and backward turning to maintain tension on the threads als' they are "wrapped, around the needles and the other step being a forward turning to feed threads for the sttchdrawing lmovement of the needles.

2. In `a knitting machine having knitting nee- 1 dles, thread guides for laying thread about they needles and a vconstantly rotating shaft: a threadcarrying beam; and means operatively connectedwith said shaft for intermittently turning said beam in two separate steps with a dwell in bey tween to deliver` a predetermined constant length -of thread to the thread guides for casting purposes, and thereafter delivering additional thread tov the guides and `needles according'to therequirements of the needles.

3. In a knitting machine having knittingneedles, thread guides for laying .thread about the l needles anda constantly rotating shaft a threadcarrying beam; and means operatively connected with said shaft for turning -said beam vin two separate steps with a dwell in between to deliver a predetermined constant length of thread to the thread guides for casting purposes, and thereafter delivering vadditional thread tothe guides and needles according t the requirements of the' needles.

4. In a knitting'machine having thread guides.

` knitting needles, a cam shaft for operating the needles landy guides, and a warp beam: power transmitting mechanism between the cam shaft and the vbeam for turning the -beam accordingly as the knitting process continues, 'said lmechanism including a mem-ber on the camshaft havoperating the needles and thread guides, and

needles and guides, and a warp beam; power transmitting mechanism between the cam shaft l and thebeam for turning the beam accordingly asthe knitting process continues, said mechanism including a member o n the cam shaft having a flange, a drive shaft having a toothed wheel meshing with said flange, power 'transmission gearing between said drive shaft and said beam,

said flange having a straightway portion and havinga curved portion for turning the wheel one tooth for each revolution of the cam shaft, and

having a second curved portion for turning the wheel a lesser-distance than the first mentioned curved portion for purposes described.y

6. In a knitting machine having arcam shaft,

knitting needles and thread guidesfoperated from v the cani shaft, and havinga warp beam: va sta-V tionary frame mounted on the knitting machine; a driving shaft carried by said frame; a. driven shaft carried by` said frame; a gear connection between said driven shaft and the warp beam; a

friction wheel on the driving shaft and a .fric' tion wheel o n the driven shaft engaged by the first mentioned friction wheel; a carriage for.'

said'rst mentioned friction wheel; and means governed by the reduction in the ,diameter of the roll of thread on lthe beam for effecting the lowering of said carriage in proportion thereto,A thereby governing the distance the beam is' turned during each revolution of the crank shaft.

7. In a knitting machine wherein are provided knitting needles, thread guides,- a cam shaft for operating the needles and thread guides, and wherein is provideda warp beam: a stationary frame mounted onfthe-machine; a driven pair of vertical inter-geared shafts mounted in bearings y on said carriage and operatively connected with said cam shaft; friction drive wheels vertically slidably mounted on said shafts; a.' driven shaft journaled in bearings on said frame; -a friction driven wheel on sai'd last-named driven shaft with both sides of which said first mentioned friction wheels engage; gear connections between said last-named driven shaft and said warp beam; a carriage for'said friction drive wheels slidably mounted in said frame and continuously tending to move inone direction to shift said friction drive wheels ony said friction driven wheel; and means governed by the beam for controlling vthe i movement of said carriagefor purposes described.` y 8. In a knitting machine wherein are provided knitting needles, thread guides, a. cam-shaftfor wherein is provideda warp beam: a stationary frame mounted on the machine; a driven pair ofv vertical inter-geared shafts'mounted in bearings on said carriage and operatively connected with said cam shaft; friction drive wheels vertically slidably mounted on saidshafts; a driven shaft journaled in bearings on said frame; a friction driven wheel on said last-named driven shaft with both sides of which said first mentioned fricing a flange, adrive shaft having a toothed wheel meshing with saidV flange, power transmission searing between said drive shaft and said beam, Xigflange' having' a straightway portion and havin`g`acrved portion for turning the wheel said frame and `having a pinion to engage said one tooth for .each revolution of the cam` shaft.

5. In'a knitting machinehaving thread guides,=

knitting needles, a cam shaft for opel'ting the tion Vfriction wheels engage; gear connections between said last-nameddriven` shaft and said warp beam; a carriage forvv said friction drive wheels slidably mounted in said frame and continuously tending to move -in one directionV to shift said friction drive wheels'on said friction driven wheel; at least one rack carried bysaid carriage; at least one shaft rotatably mounted on rack; a rack bar carryin'gamember engaging' vthe beam thread and continuously tending to move toward the axis of the beam'; and anI oper;

vertical inter-geared shafts mounted in bearings on said carriage and operatively connected with said cam shaft; friction drive wheelsvertically slidably mounted on said shafts; a driven shaft journaled in bearings on said frame; a friction driven wheel on said last-named driven shaft with both sides of which said first mentioned friction wheels engage; gear connections between said last-named driven shaft andl said Warp beam; a carriage for said friction drive wheels slidably mounted in said frame and continuously tending to move in one direction to Ishift saidvfriction drive wheels on said friction driven wheel; at least one rack carried bysaid carriage; at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and having a pinion to engage said rack; a rack bar carryingv a member engaging the beam thread and continuously tending to move toward the axis of the beam; and an operative connection between said one shaft and said rack bar,b said connection including another shaft having a pinion engaging the rack bar, and a speed changing gear connection between said one shaft and said another shaft. I

10. In a knitting machine wherein are provided knitting needles, thread guides, a cam shaft for operating the needles and thread guides, and wherein is provided a warp beam: a stationary frame mounted on the machine; a driven pair of vertical inter-geared shafts mounted in bearings on said carriage and operatively connected withY said cam shaft; friction drive wheels vertically slidably mounted on said shafts; a driven shaft journaled in bearings on said frame; a friction driven wheel on said last-named driven shaft with both sides of which said first mentioned friction wheels engage; gear connections between said last-named` driven shaft and said warp beam; a carriage for said friction drive wheels slidably mounted in said frame and continuously tending to move in one direction to shift said friction drive wheels on said friction driven wheel; atleast one rack carried by said carriage; at least onel shaft 'rotatably mounted onsaid frame and having a pinion to engage said rack; a rack bar carrying a member engaging the beam thread and continuously tending to move toward the axis of the beam along a radius of the beam; and an opera-- and said wheels engage; gear connectionsl between saidA last-named driven shaft and said warp beam; a

carriage for said friction drive wheels slidably' mounted in said frame and continuously tending to move in one direction to shift said frictionl drive wheels on said friction driven wheel; at least one rack carried by said carriage; at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and having a pinion to engage said rack; a rack bar l carrying, a member engaging the beam thread and continuously tending to move toward the axis of the beam; an operative connection between said one shaft and said rack bar, said connection including another shaft having a pinion engaging Vthe rack bar, and a speed changing gear connection between said one shaft and said another shaft; and means for changing the gear ratio between said friction gears and that of said speed changing gear connection for purposes described.

12. In apparatus of the class described: the combination with the beam of a knitting machine 'and a continuously rotating 'shaft of the same;

of a stationary frame having slideways; a carriage slidably mounted on said carriage; at least one friction wheel carried by said carrier; a driv-A ing shaft operatively connected with said continuously rotating shaft by means of which said driving shaft is turned a predetermined distance for each revolution of said continuously rotatable shaft, said friction wheel being slidably mounted on said driving shaft; at least one rack carried by said carriage; at least one shaft' having a pinion meshing with said rack and being mounted in bearings on said frame; said frame having a slide-bearingvmember projected over said beam; a beam-thread contacting member slidably mounted in said slide-bearing member; another shaft operatively connected with said beam-thread Acontacting member and with said one shaft; a driven shaft; a friction Wheel on said driven shaft to be engaged by said Yiirst mentioned friction wheels; gear connections `between said driven shaft and said beam; by-virte of all .of which as the thread is unwound from the beam the beam will be turned progressively farther in proportion to the reduction of the diameter of the roll of thread on the beam.

13. The machine of claim 5 wherein said flange has a third curved portion-for turning the wheel backward a predetermined distance.

14. In a` knitting machine let-off, wherein is provided a warp beam rotatable toz let off warp means for positively rotating the warp beam intermittently in one directionV to let oif warp, means controlled by the diameter of the warp on the warp beam for varying the extent of each` rotative let-off movement of the warp beam, auf? means for rotating the warpbeam inthe other direction to maintain the warp under even and uniform tension, the improvement which includes, as a part of said warp-beam-rotating means, a driving shaft having a fiange and a driven shaft having a toothed wheel meshing with said ange, said flange having a straightway portion and having a curved portion for turning the toothed wheel one tooth for each revolution of said driv ing shaft, said flange having a second curved portion for turning said toothed wheel a lesser distance than the rst mentioned curved portion, and having a third curved portion for returning the toothed wheel a lesser distance than the distancey between two teeth of the toothed wheel for termittently 'in one direction to let on warp, means controlled by the diameter of the warp on the warp beam `for varying the extent of each rotative let-off movement of the warp beam, and

. having a curved portion forturning the toothed wheel one tooth for each revolution .of said driving shaft, saidflange having ,a second curved -portion for turning. said toothed wheel a lesser distance than the rst mentioned curved portion, and having a third, reversely curved, Vportion for returning the toothed wheel to the point from which it was advanced by said second curved portion for purposes described.

ROY C. AMIDON.

Images