US2454236A - Pneumatic knitting device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1948. M. vlTouX PNEUMATIC KNITTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 6, 1947 Patented Nov. 16, 1948 Marcel Vitoux, Troyes, France, as'rsglnor tol American Vitos Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,697 In France December 10, 1942 Section `1, Public Law 690,'August 8, 1946 Patent expires December 10, 1962 This invention relates generally to knitting devices for repairing of runs or ravellings in knitted fabrics, particularly hosiery. The particular type of mending device to which `the present invention relates, comprises a cylindrical holder which is connected to a source of power, such as compressed air to operate the needle and piston to which it is attached, the holder being held between the thumb and index nger by the operator during the reweavng operation.

One object of the invention is to increase the speed of operation of such mending devices from the present 1800-2000 mesh per minute, to a speed of 2500 to 3000 mesh per minute, even in very fine articles, such as silk stockings.

Another object is to produce a device of this nature which will reduce to a minimum the fatigue of the hand of the operator, and at the same time permit the article being knitted to be held less taut on its support, thereby not only reducing the chances of damaging the said article, but in addition, and above all, obtaining a better repair job.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of this character of greatly reduced weight or mass, thereby eliminating to a great extent the vibrations which in the present day devices cause the hands of the operator to become fatigued.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and corelation of parts herein fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claim.

The disclosure made the basis of exempliiying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, standpoint.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention it was found advantageous to provide a substantially light walled cylindrical casing having a hollow interior in which is mounted near its upper end a movable piston maintained 1 claim. (c1. fie-1.5)

in upper position by a spring and provided With an opening for receiving the upper shank end of a needle guided in a slotted bushing at the bottom of the casing. The top of the casing is provided with a finger piece having an inlet end forconnection with the tubing leading to the source of power, such as compressed air for operating the device.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 indicates a cylinder or casing which is provided with a lower central bore, an upper bore 'I concentric With the bore 6 and of somewhat larger diameter to form a shoulder 8 at the juncture of said bores. The top of the casing 5 is `provided with an enlargement 9 having an inner threaded counterbore I0 for the reception of a plug II having disks I2 which serve as finger pieces for holding the device. The said plug I I is provided with bore I3 and nipple I4 for the reception of a tube I5 leading to the source of compressed air not shown.

Located Within the bore 1 is a coiled compres sion spring I6 which rests upon the shoulder 8 formed by the bores E and l. The said spring supports at its upper end a piston Il which comprises a leather cup I8 clamped between an upper disk I9 and a lower washer 20, the upper disk I9 having a centrally drilled hub 2I into which extends the upper end of a knitting needle 22 and held in place in said hub by means of a set screw 23. The washer 29 may be locked in place by any suitable means, as for instance a pin 214 extending partlyinto the hub 2|. A shock absorbing spring 25 is interposed between the bottom of the plug II and the top of the disk I9. The needle 22 may be of the sliding catch type or as shown of the type having a small blade 2E pivoted at the working end thereof.

The piston and needle are moved downwardly by the action of the compressed air against the leather cup I3 and disk I9 and returned by the return spring I6, the needle passing through a two sectional bushing 21 having a rectangular slot 28 which conforms to the cross section of the needle. Thus the needle which forms an extension or shank of the piston, due to its passage through the rectangular slot or opening 28 guides and holds the entire movable operating device in proper position.

It Will therefore be seen from the above that due to the extreme lightness of the construction of the reweaving device a great amount of the usual vibrations of such devices is eliminated, With the consequent result that there is a s ubstantial decrease in fatigue of the operators hand and a corresponding increase in the speed of operation of the device, and a better finished job.

It is apparent that the specific embodiment shown above has been given by Way of illustration and not by Way of limitation, and that the structure above described is subject to wide variation and modification Without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A knitting device comprising a cylinder having a longitudinal bore, a piston at the upper end of said bore slidably arranged therein, a spring upon 25 Which said piston is supported, a bushing at the 4 lower end of the cylinder, having an opening formed therein, and a knitting needle carried by the piston and passing through the opening in the bushing, the contour of said opening and 5 cross-section of the needle corresponding one to the other and being such as to prevent rotary movement of the needle, said piston including a leather cup and means connected With said leather cup for supporting an end of said knitl0 ting needle directly below said leather cup.

y I MARCEL vIToUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

` UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,756,294 Leavin Apr. 29, 1930 20 2,048,903 Vitoux July 28, 1936 2,115,100 lGostkovvsk Apr. 26, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number kCountry Date '373,603 Italy July 31, 1939 849,074 France Aug. 7, 1939

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