US2667052A

US2667052A - Thread feeder for knitting and hosiery machines

Info

Publication number: US2667052A
Application number: US160851A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lebocey Bernard Jules Ernest
Original assignee: SARL SO CALLED LEBOCEY MACHINE
Current assignee: A RESPONSABILITE LIMITEESO-CALLED LEBOCEY MACHINES Ste; SARL SO CALLED LEBOCEY MACHINE
Priority date: 1949-06-02
Filing date: 1950-05-09
Publication date: 1954-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-26
Also published as: DE910712C; GB677187A; CH289657A

Description

Jan. 26, 1954 B. J. E. I EBOCEY 2,667,052

THREAD FEEDER FOR KNITTING AND HOSIERY MACHINES Filed May 9, 1950 Patented Jan. 26, 1954 THREAD FEEDER FOR KNITTIN G AND HOSIERY MACHINES Bernard Jules Ernest Lebocey, Troyes, France, assignor to Societe a Responsabilite Limitee su-called: Lebocey Machines, Troyes, France Application May 9, 1950, Serial No. 160,851 Claims priority, application France June Z, 1949 4 Claims. (Cl. (i6-132) My invention concerns the supply of the yarn to knitting and hosiery machines.

Its object is a new self-regulating thread feeder whereby the thread is delivered under a practically constant tension irrespective of the rate at which the thread is delivered and of the variations in the tension of the thread as it leaves the pay-off bobbin.

My device is characterized thereby that it com prises a rotary member by means of which the thread is moved along simply by friction, the said member being rotated at such a speed that at all points of its periphery its circumferential speed is higher than the rate at which the thread is consumed by the machine.

Preferably, the shape of the rotary member is that of a frustum of a cone about which the thread winds as a helix from the larger to the smaller end of said cone.

Preferably, a stationary friction member is arranged opposite the skirt of the rotary member for the purpose of preventing the turns of thread wound about it from getting entangled with one another.

A specific embodiment of my invention is shown merely by way of example in the drawing appended hereto.

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing how the thread is moved along between the pay-off bobbin and the yarn carrier.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II in Fig. 1.

According to my invention, the thread that comes from the pay-off" bobbin passes through the guide eye l after which it winds spirally on the smooth surface of a tapered rotary drum 2 driven at a constant and predetermined angular speed. The distance between the stationary guide eye I and the drum 2 is suiiicient to limit the different turns of yarn on the drum to take the equilibrated positions corresponding to the various take-up speeds of the machine. For that purpose a pinion 4 is provided which meshes with the teeth of a spur ring 3; the drum 2 may be driven by the machine itself or by any other extraneous hprime mover.

In order to make sure that the thread may be properly moved along the drum, it is advisable that the peripheral speed of this latter, measured at the very point where the thread leaves the drum, should be higher than the rate at which the thread is taken up by the machine.

Effectively, with this condition fulfilled, all the points on the surface of the drum rotate at a speed which is higher than the travelling speed of the thread, with the result that an almost negligible pull exerted on the leading end of the thread is suiicient to create adhesion of the same on the drum and consequently to cause the latter to carry along the former. Upon the pull on the thread becoming null the latter will no longer adhere to the drum and no feeding action of the latter upon the former will occur. In steady working conditions, no thread-feeding and nonfeeding actions will be exerted by the surface of the drum; instead, intermediate conditions will be obtained in which the thread slips permanently on the drum while the pull on the delivery end of it remains constant.

The device thus behaves like a capstan, with the difference that the drum is a surface of revolution the diameter of which varies along its axis, whereby owing to the action of the brush 5, automatic separation of the turns of the thread coiled about the drum is ensured.

As the thread leaves the drum it is delivered to the knitting machine; if necessary, a stop-motion may be provided either ahead of or below the thread-feeding drum.

It must be moreover pointed out that the frictional action exerted by the brush upon the thread or yarn turns results in a braking action upon the thread or yarn. This braking action facilitates the turns to loosen from the tapered surface of the rotary drum whenever the rate at which the thread or yarn is taken up by the knitting machine happens to decrease or whenever the machine suddenly ceases to take up the thread or yarn. This results in practically preventing the turns of thread or yarn from entangling with one another.

A further advantage of such an arrangement is that the thread turns wrapped around the drum can find from themselves a suitable equilibrated position.

Besides, it must be pointed out that the braking action from the brush upon the yarn is of a nature to create a sort of backwards repulsion upon the thread turns, which very usefully helps these ones to get loose as soon as the yarn absorption ceases or decreases, in consequence of what it results that any risk of entangling will be practically prevented.

Fig. 2 more clearly shows the position of the brush 5 on the surface of the drum 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the thread-feedall times to nd their most favorable position.

surface of revolution, the yarnsuppliedeto the machine being Wound over said even surfaceof the tapered member in several helical turns from the broader to the narrower end of said taperedevmember, means to drive said member-at an angu.

lar speed at which the peripheral Speeder, all.'v

points of said surface is higher than the maximum rate at which the yarn may -bevtakenup by the machine, and a stationaryv member slight frictional engagement with at least someof said helical turns wound around'the rotary mem.-

ber, thereby exerting a continuous braking action upon said turns and facilitating these lattertoA f loosen from the surface of the rotaryfmember s whenever the speed at which the yarn is taken up by the machine happensto decrease. ,Y

2. A self-regulating device for the. delivery of. yarn under a practically constant tension .to knitl ting and hosiery 1nachines'which comprises a rotary tapered member having an even peripheral surface of revolution, the yarn supplied to the machine being Wound over said even surface of the` tapered member in several helical turns from ,the

broader to the-narrower end of said taperedmember, means to drive said member at an angular speed at which the peripheral speed of allpoints of said surface is higher than the maximum rate at which the yarn maybe taken upby the machine, and a stationary frictional member inengagement with at least some of said helical turns wound around the rotary member, said stationary rictional member being rough-enough to exert a continuous andslightbraking actionupon saidY turns and smooth enough to permit a free axial displacement of said turnsalong the even surface. of the rotary member.

3. A self-regulating devicefor'the delivery of yarn under a practically constant-tension to knitting and hosiery machines, which comprises a rotary tapered member-having an even peripheral surface of revolution, the yarnfsuppliedtorthe;

machine being wound over said even-V surface of;- the tapered member in several helical turns-from-V member, means to'drive'said member at an angular speed at which-1 the ,peripheral speedi ofY ,all

the broader to the narrower end of said tapered' yarn under a practically constant tension to knittingand hosiery machines, which comprises a rotarytapered member having an even peripheral surface of revolution, the yarn supplied to the machine-.being'lwound over said even surface of the taperedmemberzinfseveral helical turns from the broader to the narrower end of said tapered member, means to drive said member at an angular speed at which the peripheral speed of all points ofitssurface is higher than the maximum rate at `which the yarn may be taken up by the machine, a stationary member in slight frictional engagement with at least some of said helical turns wound around the rotary member, thereby exerting a continuous braking action upon said' chine happens to decrease, and stationary guiding-means for guiding the yarn towards the broader end of said tapered member, thedistance between said stationary guiding means and said tapered member being `sunicientto allow the dif-,1'

ferent turns of yarn on the rotary member to take the various equilibrated positions corresponding to the Various take-up speeds of the machine.

BERNARD JULES ERNESTTLEBOCEY;`

Referencesv Cited in the le' of'this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Niunber Name Date 1,579,572. Stoneet als: Apr. 6, 1926 2,109,863 Lawson Marrl, 1938 2,135,756 Lawson Nov. 8, 1938 2,343,659 Gerson Mar. 7, 1944 2,399,403 St. Pierre Apr. 30; 1946 2,537,000 Stibbe Jan. 2, 1951 2,539,527' St; Pierre Jan. 30,v 1951= 2,542,816 Kent Feb. 20, 1951'- FOREIGN' PATENTSv Number Country Date 964,455 France Jan-25, 1950