US2403310A - Yarn carrier with a replaceable yarn guide eyelet - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1946. .4, STAUB 2,403,310 I YARN CARRIER WITH REPLACEABLE YARN GUIDE EYELET Fil ed June 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

July 2, 1946.

H. STAUB YARN CARRIER WIT?! REPLACEABLE YARN GUIDE EYELET Filed June 28', 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: flerman Stank,

- A TBR EY.

Patented July 2, 1 946 YARN CARRIER WITHAREBLAGEABLE YARN GUIDE EYELET Herman smut, Wyomissing, Pa, assignor to 'Ixtile Machine Works, Wyomissing,

ration of Pennsylvania Application June 28, 1943, Serial No. 492,634

(01.- ss-ns) 21 Claims. 1 i.

The present invention relates in general to yarn guide means of either reciprocating or nonreciprocating type, and more particularly to improvements in reciprocating yarn carriers such as those employed in full-fashioned or other flat knitting machines, as well as to yarn guide members or eyelets associated with and forming apart of such yarn carriers.

It is a known fact, although essentially a surprising one, that ordinary textile yarns such as silk, cotton and rayon have a marked grooving or scoring action on the eyelets and like guide members through and over which they run and this in spite of the fact that such eyelets and other guide members for the yarn are made of polished hard materials. Due to such scoring or grooving in the guide element the yarn is damaged by the guide member and often broken, leading to expensive shutdowns of production machinery to permit rethreading and also for replacement of the yarn guide members. The delay due to the need of changing yarn guide members is especially serious in the case of full-fashioned or like knitting machines in which a number of yarn carrier rods of rectangular cross-section are mounted to reciprocate side by side with only a small clearance between adjacent rods. In such acase, the bolts or other attachment means for holding the main plates of the yarn carriers on the yarn carrier rods, except those for the top rod of a group, lie between two rods in such position that their removal is blocked and customarily it is necessary to take out the rod carrying an entire set of yarn carriers in order to change a yarn guide which has become too much worn for further use. When the worn guide is a part ofthe yarn carrier, then, before or after another carrier has been substituted for the original one, the remaining parts of the carrier need to be reassembled on the holder and the holder and parts must be adjusted to ensure that the yarn guide at the lower end of the carrier is in the correct position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a. yarn carrier having a yarn guide construction adapted to minimize the grooving action of the yarn in-the guide. member. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn carrier element, for a knitting machine, with a readily removable guide eyelet.

Another object is to provide a yarn carrier having an eyelet arrangement permitting the eyelet to rotate in use in response to the action of the machine and the yarn.

A further object is to provide a, yarn carrier Pa., a corpo- 2 arrangementfoi full-"fashioned or other flat knit ting machines in which all the yarn guide members may be renewed without disturbing the adjustment of any of the remaining parts.

A still additional object is to provide a yarn carrier arrangement for tull -fashioned or other flat knitting machines in which all the yarn guide Still another object is to provide a yarn guidemember, such as an eyelet, and supporting means therefor adapted to releasably hold the guide member in a sufficient number of different angu lar positions in use to permit the wear on the guide member to be distributed over substantially three hundred and sixty degrees of arc.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the yarn carrier means, comprising the new elements, method of manufacture, the novelfeatures of construction and arrangementof parts in cooperative relationship, as herein disclosed and hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure lis a view of a yarn carrier within,

the resent invention as viewed iii the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2 and showing in connection therewith portions of the yarn carrier rods, a-Lneedle bar and a sinlzer-h'ead of a Reading full-fashioned knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the yarn carrier shown in Fig. i.

and a portion of carrier rod 8 to which it is shown as attached; v i

Fig; 4 is a section taken on the line l-Li of Fig Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on the line 5'- 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the upper per tion of the yarn carrier shown in Figs. ii and 3 drawn to a still larger scale than Fig. 3 and taken means and method necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual} and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more, of the following publications:

l. Pamphlet entitled-Full-Fashioned Knitting Machines-published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsyl- Vania, in 1920.

. Three catalogs entitled--The Reading Full- Fashioned Knitting Machine PartsCatalogpublished and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935 and 1940, respectively.

. Booklet entitled-The Reading High-Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machinewhich forms a supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, and which booklet is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, and was copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

. Pamphlet entitled-Knitting Machine Lectures-published by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in

' A yarn carrier apparatus within this invention involves means for releasably holding a yarn guide member at the point the yarn enters the carrier apparatuswhereby a guide member may for another in any yarn 'bers so compactly arranged that any yarn carrier rod of a group such as are found in fullfashionedknitting machines may be used with any other rod of the group without, interference while the yarn guide members are, at the same time, readily renewable by replacement and, preferably, rotatable. Also yarn carrier apparatus within this invention includes a yarn guide member so formed and mounted as to distribute the wear on the guide member over as much of the surface thereof as possible and thereby to minimize the groov-v ing action of the yarn. In machines utilizing reciprocating yarn carriers, it is preferred that the yarn guide member be a ring type eyelet and the mounting means therefor adapted to permit the eyelet to rotate and thereby distribute the wear around the entire inner circumference of the ring. Preferably, the eyelet according to this invention. is made of steel or a metal alloy and is symmetrical both with respect to a central axis generally parallel to the course of the thread through the eyelet and with respect to a plane at right angles to said central axis. It is thereby possible to readily and economically machine the eyelet to the desired shape and then to heat treat the eyelet to harden it to a high degree without distortion. The resulting eyelet type of yarn guide member is readily manufactured in quantity at low cost and is sufficiently hard so that, especially when mounted for use in a yarn carrier or like supporting means permitting it to rotate or to be shifted by hand to different angular positions, it gives long service. The yarn carrier can be readily and economically manufactured to per-,-

atlls within this invention mit the yarnguide eyelet member not only to rotate but to permit it to be easily inserted into shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Said group of rods are cate in a sinker-head structure including a base parts of the standard Reading type footer, legger or single unit knitting machine and are mounted to reciprocate in slots in brackets, one

of which is shown at 9 in Fig. 2, bars such as 9A being provided, one bar for each bracket to hold the rods in the slots in the brackets. Rods I to 8 serve as parts of the means for delivering yarn to the knitting elements of such a machine, said elements including a row of needles I0 mounted on a needle bar II and cooperating 'sinkers I2 and dividers I3 for measuring yarn laid to the needles and for dividing it, the sinkers and dividers arranged alternately. The sinkers and dividers are shown as mounted to recipro- I4 and a cap I5, said structure mounted on a centre bed, a portion of which appears at I6.-

Mounted on the cap I5 is a verge plate "for limiting the motion of the sinkers and in the direction toward the needles I0. As the machine is operated, a fabric I8 is formed onneedles ID by the cooperative action of the needles, sinkers, dividers and other cooperating knit ting elements not shown, from yarn laid to the,

reciprocation of one needles coincident with the v The means for operor more yarn carrier rods.

ating the elements previously mentioned are not shownherein and need not be further mentioned since, as above indicated, they are wellknown- Shown as fixed to yarn carrier rod 8 by bolts I9 01' other suitable means (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) 'is a yarn carrier according to the present inven tion designated generally as 20, each rod in group I to 8 being understoodto have a set of yarn carriers thereon, one for each knitting section. Carrier 20 may be of somewhat the same general type as that shown in the patent to Gastrich, No. 2,092,619, of September 7, 1937, and is shown as comprising a supporting plate or holder 2| directly bolted to rod 8 and a finger portion 22 adjustably connected, to the under side of plate 2! by bolts 23' or other suitable means. Also ad-' justably connected to plate 2I by bolts 23 is a renewable or replaceable when the carriers are in position for use but each carrier or carriers next adjacent thereto without hindrance when in use; so that the operators choice of a rod is not limited bypossible'intrference. lent elements, are reciprocated in use,.although often only one at a time and usually not morethan three at once.. In the well-known: fulldividers carriers are so formed, and

carrier can pass the- The yarn carrier rods I to 8, or equiva-- fashioned. knitting machine, they are reciprocatedbetween end stops when in use and are driven "by friction boxes on a reciprocating fric tiOn-jbOX rod through arms which may each be connected with and disconnected from a given rod of a group as desired. The yarn carrier rods shown generally reciprocate between end stops whichlimit the. lengths of their paths when laying yarn, .bll't the stops may be moved out of the paths of the rods to permit the rodsto pass them and to thereby be laid out by hand, some on one side of the knitting field and some on the other, when not in .use. When so laid .out, the yarn carriers on the'carrier rods laid out on a given side of the knitting field lie one above anotherand so may prevent ready access to the yarn guide members of those yarn carriers in the lower carriers ofthose laid out on one or the other side of the knitting field. However, when the machine is stationary, any given rod having a yarn carrier thereon including a yarn guide member needing to be changed may easily bemoved out so that the yarn carriers thereon lie in theknitting fields, in which location all yarn guide members in carriers on the rod are readily accessible. It will be seen that carrier 20 extends downwardly and forwardly from the rod 8-to a point near the needles and sinkers. In the arrangement shown, four yarn guide members are included in the yarn carrier 20. bers,25, is at the upper end of plate 2| and there-v foreis at a higher level than the rod; a second, 26, at the upper end of plate 24; a third, 21, at the lower end of plate 24; and a fourth, 28, at the lower end of finger 22. Guide members 25, 26 and 21 are shown as eyelets of the improved construction, while member 28 is a replaceable yarn tube of known form not related to th present invention In use, yarn 29 from a yarn source not shown is threaded down through members 25, 3 and 28pand its lower end held fastuntil after the yarn has been formed into one or more courses of knitted loops, when it can be released. Guide members 25, 26 and 21 are shown as substantially identical and are all mounted so as to rotate in use. i

llach guide member 25, 26 and 21 is generally annular in form, beingof ring or eyelet shape having a generally cylindrical aperture 30 therethrough, as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, and symmetrical with respect to the longitudinalaxis of aperture 30. Aperture 3D is, however, flared outwardly somewhat at its ends as shown at 3| to providea, smooth bevelled inlet and thus avoid too sharp an edge which would scrape or abrade the yarn 29, especially as the yarn enters the eyelet 25'and leaves the eyelet 21, at which points anoticeable angle is formed in the yarn. Each eyelet, however, is symmetrical with respect to its central 1 plane transverse. to the central axis of its aperture, so that it isimmaterialwhich end of any eyelet is used as inlet and which as. outlet for the yarn. Also, each eyelet 25, 26 and 27 has a circumferential-groove 32 in its said central transverseplane in which the supporting means for an eyeletis seated when the eyelet is in use.

'Ihemounting,holding or supporting means for the guide member 25-is such thatnot only can the member. rotate in use, but it can be readily pressed into positionin .the holding means and removed. therefrom whenever it is desired to changeone eyelet or guide member for another. Said supportingimeanscomprises'a "pair of spaced arms 33-33 which are of light enough cross section andilong enough to have a certain One of said memfingers 34 which fingers 40 tions from twistflarms' 33to further increase the distance between .the'fingers 34. Fingers 34 of arms 33 are shown as bent at substantially right angles to theEIplateJZI, however, the invention is not limited toza particular angle. Therefore, a yarn guide member such as eyelet can be quickly and conveniently assembled in its supporting means .by taking the eyelet between the thumb and .forefinger. or .by gripping it with pliers a d pressing it between fingers 34, which yield to receive it. To facilitate thus inserting the eyelet, the tips of fingers 34 are rounded at 35-35 as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The distance between the inner faces of rounded portions 35 is normally somewhatless than the minimum outer diameter of the eyelet 25 at the groove 32. Just inside the rounded portions 35, fingers 34 are cut out to form recesses bounded by circular arcuate surfaces '31 which conform to the outside diameter of the eyelet at the groove 32. Preferably, the diametric -distance between the arcuate inner surfaces of the fingers greater than the normal .minimum outer diameter-of the eyelet at the groove 32 so that there is a clearance between them as shown in Fig. 5and the eyelet is free to revolve in the normally support it. i The, supporting means shown for eyelets 26 and 2'! are of the same type as'that for eyelet 2 5 and areshown one at each end of the washer plate 24!.v The supporting means for the eyelets 26 and 21comprise arms 38-36 and 39-39, respectively, and fingers 40-40 and 4|-4|, respectively, the fingers in each case being set substantially at right angles to the arms. Also, arms 38 and 39 are integral with the plate 24 and and 4| are integral with the arms. Further, although the means for supporting eyelets, 26 and 2'! are of slightly difierent proporthat for supporting eyelet 25, they will not be further described, except to say that the eyelets 26 and 2'! are readily releasable from and insertable in their supports and are preferably rotatable .therei It will be understandable from the foregoing.

that any yarn guide member-or eyelet 25, at the upper end or intermediate'portion of a holder 2| of a yarn carrier arrangement within this invention, can be removed and replaced by another without disturbing. the holder and therefore without which the holder is fixed be removed from the brackets. Similarly any eyelet 2 6 or 21 can be removed-and replaced without disturbing the adjustment of the plate 24 from ported. Further, the holder means on each holder 2| and on each washer plate 24 for however, slightly requiring that the yarn carrier rod to which it is sup- 25, 2s and 21' or the delivery tube 28, the yarn carrier wilLin general, be one in use, so that "it 'wil'l'either come time to. form angles in 7 to r'est' at the end er. a yarn laying: stroke in a position'in which allsthe yarn guide members are. readily. accessible to the machine operator or. else 'itcan be-readily moved into such a position thatall of' such guide members will be so accessible by turning over the machine a portion of'arevolution either. bythe motor or by hand. Suchcarrier rods as arenot in use and therefore are laid out at one side or the other. of the knitting field, insofar. as may be necessary, may be moved by hand-when the machine has been stoppedzso thatztany yarn carrier on which it is desired tochangea'yarn guide memberor eyelet may-be readily accessible for this purpose. :In operation, yarn 29 is threaded through eyelets 25,126 anal? and tube 28, the yarncarrier--rod.8 and/or such' other rods or rods as may be in use is or are reciprocated rapidly by the known couliering means or its equivalent so that yarn is drawn from'a source (not shown) and laid along the needle "row as'will be clear from" Figs. 1 and 2. Owing to the inertia of theyarn, .it swings back" and forth during operationof the machine, thereby turning with it the eyelets 25, 26'andf21. 'Also, the jars given the carrier rodsito v8 during operation, and especially duringstopping and reversing them, cause the'rotatably mounted eyelets 25, 26 and 21 to jump, slip or skip .with respect to the yarn and thereby turn the point of contact between the yarn and eyelet through a complete revolution at frequent intervals in use. Such rotation of the eyelet in use-in response to the action of the yarn .and/onthe machine .distributes the wear over the entire inner surface of the eyelet, thereby greatly:lengthening its useful life and diminishing yarn damage. However, in case it is preferred not to permit the'eyelets or other yarn guides to rotatein use, this is readily providedforwithin this invention by reducing the spacing between the opposed arcuate surfaces of the=fingers 35 to eliminate the clearance between them andthe eyelet suchsas '25. Nevertheless, owing ."to the ease with which the eyelets canbe snapped into'and out-of their supports, they can be taken out and turned by hand from time to time: to distribute the wear of the yarn on the eyelets. As shown, the arms 33, 38 and 39 are integral withthe plate 2|, but the invention isv not limited to this.

In the manufacture of an, eyelet supporting means on a plate such as 2| or 24; the plate preferablyis substantially plane at first and in this condition'portions are-struck out to form the arms '33 or 38' and 39' and the socket or sockets for. the eyelet,or .;other yarn guide member or membersibounded by arcuate surfaces 31. The arms 33,1 38 and 39 are thereby formed integral with plate 2| or plate 24, but they may be welded, brazed or arms 33, 38 and'39 are bent to form fingers 34,40 and 41,; respectively; thereon having the sockets for, the guide members therein'and'. at the same the arms but-preferably near the outer ends :of the arms. As shown, the fingers-are set at angles .to the arms, but this also is optional. :Thejben'ding of the'arms-to set the iingers at angles thereto is done after the arms have been formed in the plates when the arms-are integral with the plates. Otherwise the bending maybe done at any time. The main portionio'f plate. 2| maybe bent as shown'in Fig. 4

otherwise aflixed to the plates. 'The' at the time'oifbendingth'e fingers but preferably 7 this is done ,at'the timefof striking out material temperature I'he improvements specifically shown and describedby which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without thereto, each of said carriers includingmeans including arms spaced. and offset at their free ends andfixed to the carrier at their other ends for replaceably holding a yarn guide member at a point removed from its yarn delivery end and a yarn guide member releasably held in said means. 2. In a flat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members having 'yarn carriers fixed thereto, each of said carriers including means including arms spaced and ofiset at their free ends and fixed to the carrier at their other ends for replaceably holding yarn guide members at points along its length, and yarn guide members releasably held in saidmeans, each of said carriers passing any other in use. 3. In a flat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members'having yarn carriers fixed thereto, each of said carriers having means for rotatably and replaceably holding a yarn guide member at a point removed from its delivery end, said means extendingin part at an angle to the part of the yarn carrier on which the means is carried, each of said carriers passing any other in use. i

4. A yarn carrier comprising a member pro vided with supporting means including bifurcated arms projecting somewhat transversely of the general plane of the carrier and adapted to re-' leasably hold an eyelet in position to guide yarn in the direction of the length of the carrier, and

an eyelet rotatably mounted in said supporting means and having a groove into which said arms project.-

5. In a yarn carrier having a reciprocating action and subject to jars in use, an eyelet receiving yarn and directing the yarn lengthwise of the carrier and rotatably mounted thereon by means extending somewhat transversely of the general plane of the carrier, said jarring of the carrier assisting rotation of said eyelet.

6. In a flat knittin machine, in combination,

a reciprocating yarn carrier, an eyelet on the carrier thru which the yarn passes, and transversely extendingbifurcate supporting means on the carrier in which the eyelet is releasably and rotatably mounted.

'7. In a hat knitting machine, in combination,

a reciprocating yarn carrier comprising a mem ber provided with transverse bifurcate supports adapted 'to releasably holdeyelets in position to guide yarn in the direction of the length of the carrier, and'eyelets rotatably mounted in said sup r x 8.,In a flat knitting machine, in combination, a yarn carrier reciprocating'withrespect' to its yarn s'upply and subject to jars from the machine in use, an eyelet, and a'transverse mamas eyelet supporting means on the carrier and havingwsnap action with respect to said eyelet so that the eyelet may bereadily: forced into operative position in the supporting meansand releasably heldin said operative position, the eyeletrotatingin its supportingmeans in use'inresponse to jars from the machine and the action oftheyarn. f. I

.,.91-;A.supn0r 1ns mq n iqr a yarn snid m ber including a plate having a pair of spaced arms fixed thereon and bent to form an angle relatively near their outer end's'and having opposed arcuate recesses, the faces of which are adapted to hold an eyelet in use, and to permit the ready release and replacement" of the eyelet by a combined spreading and twisting action of the arms.

10. A yarn carrier comprising a plate to be directly fixed to one of a group of reciprocatory carrier rods and having a finger fastened to one end and a means including arms spaced and offset at their free ends and fixed to the carrier at their other ends for releasably holding a yarn guide member fastened to its other end and adapted to project clear of the group of rods,

whereby a guide member in said means may be readily exchanged for another without needing to disturb any of the group of rods.

11. A yarn carrier having a holder member to be directly fixed to one of a group of yarn carrier rods, a yarn guide member at each end of said holder member and yarn guide means intermediate said guide members and including arms spaced and offset attheir free ends and fixed to the carrier at their other ends, said uide members and guide means all replaceable without disturbing said holder member.

12. A yarn carrier comprising a holder member to be directly fixed to one of a group of yarn carrier rods, a carrier finger fixed to one end of said holder memben a means at the other end of said holder member for releasably holding a yarn guide member, a washer plate held at a point of connection between said holder member and said finger, and means for releasably holding yarn guide members, one at each end of said washer plate, and including bifurcated arms upstanding from the plane of the washer plate.

13. A yarn carrier having a holder member to be directly fixed to one of a group of yarn carrier rods, a yarn guide member at each end of said holder member and yarn guide means intermediate said guide members and including a plate supported on said holder member and including arms spaced and offset at their free ends and fixed to the plate at their other ends, said guide members and' uide means all replaceable without disturbing said holder member.

14. A yarn carrier comprising a holder member to be directly fixed to one of a group of yarn carrier rods, a carrier finger fixed to one end of said holder member, a replaceable yarn guide member at the otherend of said holder member, a washer plate hel'd'at a point of connection between said holder member and said finger, yarn guide members, one at each end of said washer plate, and bifurcated arms upstanding at least one from said holder member and at least one from said washer plate and integral'therewith for releasably holding said yarn guide members.

15. In a flat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members having yarn carriers fixed thereon, each carrier adapted to pass any other carrier in use, each having a plurality of yarn guide members in addition to a yarn delivery 10 tube, all said plurality of guide members renewable when the reciprocating'members are all in position for use, and readily releasable means for holding each of said guide members including bifurcate arms.

16; In a fiat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members having yarn carriers fixed thereto, each of said carriers including a holder, a finger fixed to said holder and a washer plate at the juncture of said holder and finger, said holder having means for replaceably holding a 'yarn guide member at the end removed from said finger and said washer plate having means at both ends for replaceably holding yarn guide members, each of said carriers passing any'other in use.

17. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocating yarn carrier rod of a yarn carrier fixed thereto and comprising portions extending in opposite directions from said rod, and means including bifurcate arms in said portions for releasably holdin yarn guide members.

18. -In a flat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members having yarn carriers fixed thereto, each of said carriers having means including arms having spaced free ends with the means fixed to the carrier at its other end and adapted for rotatably and replaceably holding a yarn guide member at a point removed from the delivery end of the carrier, said means extending in part at an angle to the part of the yarn carrier on which the means is carried, each of said carriers passing any other in use.

19. In a fiat knitting machine, a group of reciprocating members having yarn carriers fixed thereto, each of said carriers including a holder, a finger fixed to said holder and a, washer plate at the junction of said holder and finger, said holder having means for replaceably holding a yarn guide member at the end removed from said finger and said washer plate having means at both ends each including bifurcate arms for replaceably holding yarn guide members, each of said carriers passing any other in use.

20. A yarn carrier structure for full-fashioned knitting machines having means intermediate its ends for holding yarn guide eyelets comprising a plate portion having arms with spaced free end lying approximately atright angles to the plate and adapted to permit eyelet members to be readily inserted therebetween and removed therefrom.

21. A yarn carrier including a base having a generally plane rear portion and a generally plane front portion tilted relative to said rear portion, a yarn guide finger extending from said front portion and generally parallel thereto, a replaceable yarn guide tube removably mounted on said rear portion and extending generally parallel thereto, and a second replaceable yarn guide tube removably mounted generally parallel to said front portion.

HERMAN STAUB.

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