US2604766A - Adjustable sinker cam assembly for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1952 M. P. DODDS 2,604,766

ADJUSTABLE SINKER CAM ASSEMBLY FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1949 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEETJ f'f'fri 6 TWA FIG.

IN VEN TOR.

MAX'WELL P. D0005 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 29; 1952 ADJUSTABLE SINKER CAM ASSEMBLY FOR KNITTING MACHINES Maxwell P. Dodds, Laconia, N. H., asslgnor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,494

12 Claims. (G1. 66-14) This invention relates to an adjustable sinker cam assembly for knitting machines particularly those of the superposed cylinder type in which the sinker control cams are located within the confines of one of the cylinders.

In machines of the superposed cylinder type the sinker control cams are relatively inaccessible, being located within one of the needle cylinders, and adjustment is made difficult. Such adjustments are desirable to take care of wear on the cams and to vary the depth of the knock-over movement of the sinkers for different size yarns. Furthermore, the removal and replacement of the sinkers which have become worn, broken, or otherwise damaged has been, in such machines, a difficult job involving usually removal of a cylinder and disturbance of any cam adjustments which may have previously been made.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a sinker cam assembly which makes possible the fine adjustment of the sinker cams for the purpose of securing desired control of the sinker movements.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a sinker cam assembly which makes possible the removal and replacement of sinkers in a fashion which will not require the disassociation of the needle cylinders. In particular, such removal and replacement of sinkers is, in accordance with the invention, accomplished without disturbing the adjustment of the sinker cams.

These and other objects of the invention, particularly relating to details of construction and operation, will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a generally radial fragmentary section showing the sinker cams and associated parts assembled in the machine, the section being taken substantially on the broken surface the trace of which is indicated at I-I in Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a plan view looking down on the assembly of Figure 1.

The lower needle cylinder of a superposed cylinder type of knitting machine is indicated at 2 and is provided with slots 4 for the reception of double-ended needles and lower controlling sliders, there being indicated at 6 the upper cylinder assembly which, as usual, is correspondingly slotted for the needles and their upper controlling sliders. These cylinders and various parts assembled therewith are conventional and need not be particularly described. As indicated, only a limited space exists between the cylinders, rendering inaccessible the parts within the lower cylinder. As will presently appear, the construction which is provided permits removal and replacement of sinkers through this space between the cylinders, making it possible to elTect such removal and replacement without removing the upper cylinder to provide any additional clearance.

A sinker ring of generally conventional type is indicated at 8, this sinker ring being slotted at III for the reception and guidance of the arcuate sinkers I2 which are conventional and which move between the needles in the usual fashion in the knitting operations. These sinkers I2 are provided with butts I4.

A sinker cup I6 is externally threaded at its lower end, as indicated at I8, for the reception of a nut 20. This nut is adapted to bear upon the inwardly directed flange 22 of the sinker sleeve 24. The outwardly directed flange 26 of. the sinker cup I6 extends over the annular shoulder 28 of the sinker ring 8. Between the sinker ring 8 and the upper end of the sinker sleeve there is a thrust ring 30. The sinker ring 8 is keyed to the needle cylinder at 32.

The sinker cup I6 is provided with an annular shoulder at 25 so that when the nut 20 is tightened the sinker cup I6 will be clamped to the inwardly directed flange 22 of the sinkersleeve. Under these conditions the sinker ring 8 will be free-running between the flange 26 and the thrust ring 30. The sinker sleeve 24, the sinker cup I6 and the nut 20 are stationary and supported by the frame at the lower end of the sinker sleeve 24 in conventional fashion. 7

The upper sinker cam ring 34 has a lower cam surface 36 cooperating with the sinker butts I4, and the lower sinker cam ring 38 has a cam surface 40 also cooperating with these butts. The cam race which is provided between these cam surfaces is conventional and need not be described in detail. The cam surfaces impart the usual movements to the sinkers. Between the cam rings 34 and -38 there is located a spacer ring indicated at 42. This ring holds the two cam rings in fixed spaced relationship to each other. A plurality of slots 44, in this case three, are provided in the sinker cup for the reception of keys 46 which are received in slots 45 in the spacer 42, slots 48 in the lower cam ring 38, and in slots 49 in the inner flange of the sinker sleeve 24, being held therein by screws 50 provided with lock washers 52. The slots 44, 48 and 49 associated with one of these keys are accurately cut to fit the width of that key so as to maintain the keyed parts in accurately fixed circumferential relationship. The slots for the other keys may provide larger clearances with respect to the keys so as to.. avoid, binding in assembly, these other keys being provided merely to limit upward movements of the sinker cams, as will be presently described.

Each of the keys 46 is provided with an outwardly directed ear 5| overlying an inwardlyfdirected flange on the lower cam ring 38.

A group of sockets 54, six in vnumber in the present machine, are provided in. the sinker sleeve 24 for the reception of strong helical spring 56 which urge the lower cam ring 38 upwardly and with it the spacer 42 and the upper cam ring 34. Threaded into the sinker cup l6 are screws 58, three in number, which have rounded lowervends engaging within sockets 60 ,lintheflupperucam ring; Adjacent to these screws Maren-screws 62 which pass through countersunk .holesin .thelsinker cup and are threaded into .tappedopenings' 64 in the ,upper cam ring.

.' As-willnow be. apparent the vertical position of ispacerl42, the lower cam;ring'being fixed cir-- cumferentially by the tight-fitting key 46.

l It will be evident from the 'foregoingthat the scams-race, receivinglthe sinkerbutts 14 may be ,yery accurately positioned vertically and, de-

lperiding.-upon .its verticalposition, will variably- ..controllthe extent of the knock-over movements .rofatheisinkers. A. substantial range of adjustment isprovided but,'generally speaking-only a :smalllrange is required to provide adequate ad- ;justment oi thesinker butt race within the range. The strong springs S B-provide during operation a ,substantiallyirigid. assembly after adjustment is (affected.

;The removal of 'thGLSlIlkBIS may be effected as Iollows: Aswthelnut 20, is. freed thepsinker cup [6 will be "forced upwardly and with it the cam rings 34- and l. 38..and .the-spacer142, by the action of the springs 56, the upward movement being limited by en- ,gagement of the inwardly directed flange of the cam ring-33 with the ears 51 ,of the keys 48. .Under. these conditions the lower cam surface 35 of the uppercam ring will, in the vicinity of the main feed position whereat the sinkers have their ,outermostposition, clear the'butts I4 of the sinkvers sothat they may be withdrawn by arcuate movements ,through the slots IE! and may be vsimilarlyreplaced. Due to the fact that they ,.may,bethus removed and the fact that the sinker cup. need not be'lifted .to any'substantial extent ,itiisunnecessaryto remove the upper cylinder in veffecting-sinker. replacement. It will be noted that the positioning ofthe parts as just mentioned does notdisturb the adjusted and set posibtion of thecam'ring-M, and when the parts are :restored to operating: position by the tightening up of thenut 20 the cam race will be precisely docated inits original adjusted position. Accordingly, the entire operation of replacing sinkers is greatly simplified as contrasted with the operation involved in the case of prior constructions which required very considerable dismantling of the major parts with the necessity for readjusting the sinker cams as a final step in putting the machine back into operation.

It will be clear that various details of construction involved may be modified without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

.l. In'.a*knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate .sinkers within oneof said cylinders, means providing a camrace for butts on the sinkers, a memberlhavingan axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, and means for "axially-adjusting said cam race providing means with respect to said member while maintaining the width of said cam race, so that movements of thesinkers relative to the needles may be varied.

2."In a knitting machine of thesuperposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers :withinone of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on'the sinkers, a member having an'axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, and means for axially adjusting said. cam race providing means with respect to said member so that movements of the sinkers relative to the needles may be varied, said means. for adjusting including a plurality of screws threaded into said member and bearing against said cam'race providing means and means for binding the last mentioned means against the screws.

.3. Ina knittingmachine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means'providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having an axially fixed position within the last-mentioned cylinder, said cam race'providing means'including elements providing upper .and lower cams and spacing means for said ele- 'ments, and means yieldingly urging said elements and spacing means together and to a predetermined'position relative to said axially fixed member. '4. In a knitting machine of the superpose needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, said cam race providing means including elements providing upper and lower cams and spacing means for said elements, means yieldingly urging said elements and spacing means together and to a predetermined position relative to said axially fixed member, and means for adjusting said predetermined position.

5. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locating said cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to said member, and means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements.

6. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locating said cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to said member, and spring means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements.

7. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for axially adjusting said cam race providin means relatively tosaid member, and means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith, without disturbing the relationship between the cam race providing means and said member, to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements.

8. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means :providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for axially adjusting said cam race providing means relatively to said member, and spring means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith, without disturbing the relationship between the cam race providing means and said member, to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements.

9. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locating said cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to said member, means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from 6 their mounting means by arcuate movements, and means limiting axial movement of said member.

10. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, means mounting arcuate 'sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, a member having, normally, an axially fixed position within the last mentioned cylinder, means for locating said cam race providing means in predetermined position relative to said member, spring means for effecting axial movement of said member and the cam race providing means therewith to locate said race in position to clear the sinker butts so that the sinkers may be removed from their mounting means by arcuate movements, and means limiting axial movement of said member.

11. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, a slotted member mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, said member having a portion extending radially inwardly beyond the sinkers, and means engaging said portion for fixing the axial position of said member, said engaging means having a running fit with said portion.

12. In a knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type, a slotted member mounting arcuate sinkers within one of said cylinders, means providing a cam race for butts on the sinkers, said member having a portion extending radially inwardly beyond the sinkers, means engaging said portion for fixing the axial position of said member, and means for axially adjusting said cam race providing means so that move-- ments of the sinkers relative to the needles may be varied.

MAXWELL P. DODDS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,986,317 Bentley et al Jan. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 429,056 Great Britain May 23, 1935 504,669 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1939

Images