US2418444A - Stop mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Ap 1, 1947. s. AQWYTOVICH STOP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet w. W H

INVENTOR. 571mm ,4. Wrens/l ,4 THRIVE) Ap 1, 1947. s. A. WYTOV'ICH STOP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1946 2 mw W m. A w. m 5

ATTOR/VD.

Patented Apr. 1, 1947 UNITED STATE s'ror MECHANISM FOR KNITTING.

MACHINES Stanley AtWytovich, Allentown; Pa assignor to Blossom Products Corporation, Allentown, Pa, a corporation ofPennsylvania Applicatieniuly 10, 1946, SerialNo. 682,572

This invention relates to knitting machines, and, more particularly, to a device for stopping the" machine when a predetermined quantity of fabric has been produced.

It' is essential that the take-upreel upon which the knitted fabric is wound as it is being produced contain a constant quantity of the fabric and that there be no variation in the yardage of successive reels taken; fromv the same machine or from a group-of machines. This is necessary because the yardage is an important factor in the subsequent dyeing and finishing operations; the goods aremarketed' and sold onthe basis of length;- freight and other charges are based on yardage: etc.

Stop mechanisms heretofore incorporated in circularknittihg machineaiboth of the rotating and stationary cylinder type, have not, been whollysatisfactory for a number ofireasons. Besides being complicated, or rather asa result of this, they have not been dependable in operation, becauseof frequent failure to function and stop the-machine. Such stop mechanisms have not been suflicientl y accurate in holding the fabric content of successive take-up reels toa constant quantity, the variation between reels being so great as to defeat the purpose for which the stop mechanism was intended.

The principal object of this invention is to provide anewand improved stop mechanism for circular knitting machines which will be dependable in operation and not subject to failure to stop the machine at the'end of each production cycle; and which will be highly accurate so that successive take-up? rolls will contain a constant quantity of knitting fabric;

A further object of the invention is a stop mechanism of; the character described which comprises a relatively few number of parts, of simpleconstruction; and not costly'to manufacture; A further object is a stop mechanism for the purposes: described which will be positive in operation. A still: further object is a stop mechanism whichlcanbereadily applied toknown types of circular knitting machines.

For" theiattainment of the foregoing and such other objects. of invention as may appear or be pointed. out hereiniI have shown an embodiment of my invention inithe accompanying; drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front, elevational View of the lower; take-unpartion of 'a circular knitting machine; intorporating the improved stopmechanism -fori a .rotating cylinder construction;

Fignre mshows the pair of: contact rollers and.

12 Claims. (01.66-167) V 2* the lower portion of the rod to which they are secured; H

Figure 3T-is a sectionalview taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; v I

Figure 4 is an elevational view, on enlarged scale, ofthe stop mechanism, showing a portion ofthemachine of Figure 1;

Figure 5v is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing certain: of the parts in section;

Figure 6- is a top view of the improved device, showing a portion of, the machine to whichit is secured;. g

Figurev 7. is an elevational view of the parts shown in: Figure 6,, taken from the front face thereof; v v

Figure 8 isasectiontaken online 8 -8 of Figure 6;.

Figures is an elevationalview similar to Figure '7 but takenifrom the rear. face of the device shown in Figure. 6;

Figure 1.0 1s; an:e1evationa1 View similar toFi'gure 9, but showing, only certain of the parts thereof, in altered position; and

Figure ll is a section taken on line H-l l of Figure 6. v H

Referring to Figure 1-, the circular knitting machine illustrated is the rotating cylinder type, 7

although the invention, can be applied to a stationary cylinder type by any one skilled. in the art. The machine has a main supporting. base I0 which is an annular ring of inverted-L section. To the depending flange portion-of base ring l0 issecured at spaced points about" its periphery, anumber of supporting legs 9. To the upper face of base ring, I0 is secured at spaced pointsiabout its periphery, the lower ends of a number of supporting braces-8, tothe upper'e'nds of which is secured an upper annularring, I,

which, together with upright bars 6', furnishes the support for the mechanism constituting the upper portion (not shown) of the knitting machine.

During the operative rotation of a circular knitting machine, a tube. of fabric is formed in well-known manner, and is directed downwardly to a take-up mechanism. In the particularstructure. illustrated, as cylinder 2 is" rotated (by means not shown) the fabric; knitted in' tubular form at the upper portion of themachine, moves downwardly from rotating cylinder 2% to pass through a pair of long rollers 21. The fabric as it leaves rotatingcylinder 24 is circular'b'ut becomes flattened when passing through rollers 21; hence the tapering appearance of the tubular fabric as indicated'a't 5. The" flattenedf'abric 4 'thereon, by the following means: is secured a worm wheel 32 meshing with worm I tojlthe predetermined fabric content.

- ofswitch |3 is connected by a rod or wire l5 to one leg 16 of a bell-crank lever |6-|| pivotally' mounted to supporting brace 8 at l8. provided on ring 20 to trip the switch by turning 3 leaving the rollers 2'! is wound on take-up reel 30, as will be described.

The upper face of base ring I0 is annularly recessed to present a peripheral ledge l2 which supports, and serves as a bearing for a ring 20 which is annularly recessed to provide a peripheral shoulder 22 seated on ledge l2. Ring 20 is rotated from rotating cylinder 24 by means of a number of rods 23 which are secured to ring 20 and cylinder 24 at spaced points about their periphery.

Secured to, and depending from, ring 20 are a pair of brackets 25, the lower ends of which are provided with bearings 26 for the shaft 3| of the take-up reel. Rollers 21 have bearing supports (not shown) secured to ring20. It is thus seen that main ring 20 and cylinder 24 rotate as a unit, and mounted on ring 26 to rotate therewith are the take-up reel 36, flattening rollers 2'! and the tubular fabric 5,4 coming off rotating cylinder 24.

Take-up shaft 3| is rotated, to wind the fabric To shaft 3| 33 secured at the lower end of a short vertical shaft 34. Shaft 34 has a clutch 35-36 (the purpose of which will be presently explained) and is driven from a horizontal shaft 38 through gearing (not shown). Horizontal shaft 38 is journaled at its left end, Figure 1, in a bearing 2| depending from main ring 20 and by other bearings (not shown) and likewise secured to ring 20. 'is secured a bevel pinion 39 which meshes with At the left end of horizontal shaft 38 the bevel teeth of an annular rack l9 secured inunderlying relation to the stationary base ring H). Horizontal shaft 38 and vertical shaft 34 'andtheir associated partsbeing carried, to-

gether with take-up shaft 3|, brackets 25, etc., by main ring 20, the turning of ring 26 will cause rotation to be imparted to horizontalshaft 38 as bevel pinion 39 rides on stationary rack l9.

vIn this manner, take-up rotation is imparted to take-up shaft 3| of the reel. The clutch 35-36 take-up reel. That is, take-up shaft 3I'is not constantly driven but only for a portion of the time; this portion depends upon the diameter of the reel at the particular time and is controlled fby the intermittent means associated with clutch member 36. 7

On one of the supporting braces 8 is mounted an electrical switch |3 which is shut-off to stop the machine when the take-up reel has built up Lever l4 Means are bell-crank lever |6|'| in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figures 1 and 4) when the take-up reel has built up to the predeterf mined fabric content.

secured to ring 20 by an L-shaped bracket 4|J-4|, the horizontal flange 40 of which is screwed or The tripping means is otherwise fastened to ring 29. As best seen in.

7 50, as best'seen in Figures 4, 5.

Slide bar 50 has an extent of longitudinal sliding movement relative to the bracket, limited by a pin 53 which projects outwardly from slide bar 50 and clears through an elongated slot 43 provided in the web of channel 42, the length of the slot determining the said limited sliding movement of bar 56. Pin 53 also serves to an chor one end of a tensile spring 37, the other end of which is secured to a pin 44 projecting outwardly of the channel 42. A second pin 5| is secured near the right end (Figures 6, 9) of slide bar 50, i. e., near the end adjacent bell-crank |6|'|. To pin 5| is secured a contact finger 51. As best seen in Figure 9, the right end of the web of channel 42 is recessed by a notch 45 to receive pin 5! when slide bar 56 is in its leftmost position (as in Figure 9) with pin 53 abutting the left end of slot 43. In the leftmost position of slide bar 55 (shown in solid lines in Fig- 'ures, 6, 9 and '7), its contact finger 5'! will not strike vertical leg I? of bell-crank iEi--|"| as the tripping mechanism passes the bell-crank as it turns counterclockwise (as viewed in Figure 6).

Slide bar 56 is latched in-its leftmost, inactive position, against the rightward urgency of tensioned spring 31 to project contact finger 51 to active position, by a hook 52 at the left end of the slide bar which is held by a latch dog 62. Latch dog 62 is secured, as by the set-screw shown, to a lever which is pivotly mounted at 6| to the vertical flange 4| of bracket 40--4|. The angle of turning of lever 6!] is limited by two closely spaced pins 63, see Figure 7. Near its distal end lever 65 carries a rod 64 disposed transversely of lever 60 and provided at its lower end, Figures 4 and 7, with a pair of contact rollers 1|, 7|. Rod 64 is mounted on lever 66 in a manner to provide for the following three adjustments: first, contact rod 64 may be adjusted longitudinally of lever 66, i. e., to left and right, as viewed in Figures 6, 7; second, contact rods 64 may be angularly adjusted in a plane normal to lever. 6|) third, contact rod 64 may be axially adjusted to raise or lower its contact rollers 1|, Figure 7. These three adjustments are made possible by the mounting bracket, see Figure 11, comprised by two hubs 67, TI integrally united with their Bracket 61-11 is mounted on lever 60 which is slidably received in bore 18 of hub 11; and may be secured at any point along lever 60, and with contact rod 64 disposed in the desired angular relation, by means of set screw 19. Contact rod 64 is slidably received in bore 68 of hub 61 and is secured by set screw 69 so as to dispose its contact rollers H, 1| at the proper distance from lever 60; a fourth adjustment is here provided, namely, the angular turning of contact rod 64 to orient its rollers 'F l. H as required.

Contact rollers 1|, II are engaged by the periphery of v the fabric being wound on'take-up reel 30 when the fabric has built up to the preers 7|, H are effective to stop the machine, as will be subsequently described. To improve the engagement of the fabric with the contact rollers and to compensate of anyunevenness in the periphery of the fabric as it is Wound on the takeup reel, contact rollers l I 1| are pivotly mounted at the lower end of contact rod 64 so as to have a limited extent of turning movement. For this purpose, the lower end of contact rod 64 is bifurcated, as best seen in Figure 3, to provide two. forks 65 between which is pivotly mounted a spindle Til which is centrally flattened to be received within the forks 65, 65; spindle is held in place by pivot screw 66 passed through apertures in forks 65. 65 and an aperture centrally located in spindle 16. Spindle 10, except for its central flattened portion, is in the form of a round rod, upon which are rotatively mounted the pair of contact rollers H, H. The ends or spindle III are threaded for nuts 12 which retain the contact rollers in place, Figure 2.

Contact rod 64 is adjusted, in the manner described above, to present it pair of contact rollwith its take-up reel empty, slide bar 50 is moved,

leftwardly, as viewed in Figures 9, 6 and '7, where it is; latched, by engagement of its hook 52 with latch dog 62, in inoperative position with its trip finger 51 disposed leftwardly of bell-crank l6-I 1. This. latched, inoperative position is shown in Figures 9, 6 and 7 in solid lines; as perhaps best seen in Figure 6, in this position of slide bar 59, its contact or trip finger 51 will be ineffective to engage the vertical leg I! of bell-crank lt--il,

as the stop mechanism, carried by ring 29, turns counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 6, therewith. When, however, the take-up reel is built up to the predetermined fabric content and contact rollers 1 l H are engaged, as described above, and the lever 65 is turned on its pivot 6 I, upwardly in Figure '7, latch dog 62, secured on lever 60 as already described, is withdrawn from engagement with hook 52, whereupon the tensioned fspring 31 moves slide bar 50 rightwardly (indicated by dot-and-dash position in Figures 6, 7

and 9). In this rightward position of slide bar 50, its finger 51 is placed so that it will engage vertical leg I! of bell-crank l6l'l; hence the next time the stop mechanism, following the release of its slide bar 50, passes bell-crank I6l'i, finger 51 will engage vertical leg l1, and turnthe bell-crank counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, thus pulling wire l5, Figure 1, downwardly to operate electrical switch l3 and stop the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form; but obviously many variations and modifications may bemade therein which will stillbe comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims. i

I claim:

I. A stop. mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type having an annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during the knittin operation, a take-up reel car'- ried by the said-ring, and an electrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the saidtake-u-p reel has built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, a bell-crank lever pivotly mounted on the machine frame with its horizontal leg articulated to said switch andwith its vertical le disposed close to the said rotating ring, an angle bracket secured to the said ring to disposeits vertical flange, when approaching the said bellcrank lever, normal to a plane therethrough, a channel secured to one face of the said bracket flange and having an elongated slot in its web and a pin projecting therefrom, a; bar slidably mountedin the recess of-said channel and provided'with a pin clearing through said slot, a trip finger at its end adjacent the said bell-crank lever, and a hook at its other end, a tensile spring secured between the said pins of the slide bar and channel, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the other face of said bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning and provided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever to engage the aid hook to retain the slide bar in inoperative position with its trip finger spaced from the said bell-crank lever and with the said spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, a contact rod securedtransversely of said lever, and a pair of contact rollers mounted at the. lowerend of aid rod and adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the takeup reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

2-. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type having an annular ring. supported on the machine frame and rotated. during the knitting operation, a. take-up reel carried by the saidring, and an electrical control switch secured on the machine framasaid stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, means on the machine frame for operating the said switch, an angle bracket secured to the said ring to dispose its vertical flange, when approaching the said switch operating means, normal to a plane therethrough, a channel secured to one face of the said bracketv flange and having an elongated slot in its web and a pin projecting-therefrom, a bar slidably mounted in the recess of said channel and provided with a pin clearing through said slot, a trip finger at its end adjacent the said switch operating means, anda hook at its other end, a tensile spring secured between the said pins of the slide bar and channel, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the other face of said bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning and provided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever to engage the said hook to retain the slide bar in inoperative position with its trip finger spaced from the said switch operating means and with the said spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, a contact rod secured transversely of said lever, and a contact roller mounted at the lower end of said rod and adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

, 3. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type having an annular ring supported on the machine frame androtated during the knitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and an electrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, a bellcrank lever pivotly mounted on the machine frame withv its horizontal leg articulated to said switch and with its vertical leg disposed close to .the said rotating ring, an angle bracket secured to the said ring to dispose its vertical flangawhen approaching the said bell-crank lever, normalto a plane therethrough, a bar slidably mounted on one face of the said bracket flange and provided with a trip finger at its end adjacent the said bellcrank lever, and a hook at its other end, a tensile spring tensionedto move the said slide bar to wards the bell-crank, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the other face of said bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning and provided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever to engage the said hook to re- .tain the slide bar in inoperative position with its trip finger spaced from the said bell-crank lever and with the said spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, a contact rod secured transversely of said lever, the lower end of said rod being adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

4. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type having an annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during the knitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and an electrical control switch" secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predetermined plane therethrough, a bar slidably mounted on .4:

' one face of the said bracket flange and provided with a trip finger atitsend adjacent the said switch operating means, and a hook at its other end, a tensile spring stretched between the said j slide bar, and bracket flange, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the otherface of said bracket fla'nge for a limited extent of vertical turning and provided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position'of the lever to engage the I said hook to retain the slidebar in inoperative position with its trip finger spaced fromfthe said switch operating means and with the said spring tensioned to move thebar to operative position, a contact rod secured transversely of'said lever, and .a pair of contact rollers mounted at the lower end of said rod and adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built up to its said predetermined fabric, content. 5. A stop mechanism for a'circular knitting machine'of the type having an annular ringsupported on. the machine frame and rotated during the knitting operation, a take-up reel carried .by thesaid' ring, and an electrical control switch .secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted tov stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, means mounted on the machineliframe for operating the said switch,-a slide bar, means for n eunting' the said bar on the said rotating ring for movement towards and from thessald switch operating means, the end of the slidable bar adjacent the said switchoperatingfmea'ns being provided with a finger and its other "end with ahook, spring means urging the slidable bar towards the said switch operating means, a

lever pivotly mounted on the said rotating "ring and provided with a latch dog adapted to engage the said hook to retain the slide bar in inoperative position with its finger spaced from' the said switch operating means and with the said spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, and a'contact rod on the said lever, the lower end of said rod being adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

6. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with means for mounting the said contact rod on the said lever for longitudinal movement along the lever and for angular ad'- justment in a plane normal to the lever, said mounting means further providing axial movement of the said contact rod to adjust its said lower end relative to the lever.

7. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with a pair of contact rollers mounted at the said lower end of the rodan'd with means for mounting the said contact rod on the said lever, said contact rod being rotatively adjusted to orient its said pair of contact rollers at desired angular relation to the said lever.

8. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with a pair of contact rollers piv- "otly mounted at the lower end of the contact rod.

9. The. combination according to claim5 further provided with means for adjustably mounting the said contact rod on the lever, said mounting means comprising a pair of hubs integrally united with their axes normal to one another, the said contact rod and lever being'received in the bore of the respective hubs, said hubs being provided with set screws for securing the respective contact rod and lever in axial and rotational adjusted positions.

10. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the said lower end of the contact rod is bifurcated to provide a pair of forks, a short rod flattened at its central portion and pivoted thereat between the said pair of forks, and a pair of rollers rotatively mounted at the =e nds of the said short rod,

11. A stop mechanism for a; circular knitting machine of the type having an annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during the knitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and an electrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to apredetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, mea ns mounted on the machine frame for operating the said switch, a bar slidably mounted on the saidrotating ring for outward andinward movement relative thereto and effective in out- Ward position to actuate thesaid switch operating means, spring means urging the said slidable bar to outward, operative position, latch means normally holding the slidable barin inward, in-

operative position, andmeans -for releasing the slidable bar, said means including a contact element adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

12. A stop mechanism for a circularlknittlng machine of the type having an annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during the knitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and an electrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, in combination, means mounted on the machine frame for operating the said switch, a bar slidabiy mounted on the said rotating ring for out ward and inward movement relative thereto and effective in outward position to actuate the said switch operating means, said slidable bar being normally held in inward, inoperative position, and means for causing movement of the slidable bar 10 r to outward, operative positions, said means including a contact element adjustably positioned relative to the center of said take-up reel for engagement by the peripheral fabric when the reel is built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

STANLEY A. WYTOVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,785 Bouhuys Feb. 19, 1935 2,091,467 Carhart Aug. 31, 1937

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