US2718768A - Beam drive - Google Patents

Description

S p 27, 1955 M. E. EBERT 2,718,768

- BEAM DRIVE Filed Jan. 26, 1953 INVENTOR TORNEY 2,718,7 68 BEAM DRIVE Max E. Ebert, Palisades'Park, N; J., assignor to Alfred Hofmann & (30., West New York, N. .l., a corporation Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,260

s Ciaims. (or. 66-86) machines, has madernandatory, the use of a positive type drive for the'let' off of the beam.

In known beam drives of the positive'type, the warp threads or yarns are fed continuously to the knitting instrumentalities and without any interruption during the knitting cycles. It follows, that a" continuous; uninterrupted feed of the threads, limits the possibilities of variations in stitch construction of the fabric being formed. A number ofstitch constructions are based on the use of floating or blind stitches. To achieve ,such constructions, the threads are passed through the guide bars of the machinewithout the formation of loops. This is only possible if 'the feed of the warp threads is temporarily halted. Accordingly, these special stitch constructions cannot be formedonconvention'al machines having a continuousbeam drive.

vBlind or floating stitches'are formed when one warp is floating and other warps are knitting, thereby accumulating fabric which is pulledtogether by the floating threads. In this manner, a variety of fabrics may be formed which show pleated, buckled and other three dimensional novelty effects. I

In forming these novelty fabrics, it is understood that during that number of the knitting cycles when'the warp' threads float to form the blind stitches, there is no demand for threads from the, beam and accordingly, the thread feed from the beam must be' temporarily suspended. For some-stitch constructions of this type, the floating period may extend for as many as 40'knitting cycles. I I I Accordingly, an object'of' this invention is to provide a positively driven beam let off, wherein the thread feed may be discontinued 'completelyfor a predetermined number of .knittingjcyles, thereby allowing the formation of a predetermined number of blindstitc'hes in ac cordance with the desiredifabric stitch construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positivelbeam drive',jwherein the' pa'ttern determining means of the knitting machine, controls theoperation of means for halting the beam drive for apredetermined number of knitting cycles. V i p A, further object of this invention-isto provide in abeam drive of the character described, means for automatically adjusting the beam drive as the beam'diameter varies, in order to maintain the-linear speed of the beam let as at a substantially constant speed. j Yet'another'object of this invention is to provide in a beam drive of the character described, driving means having intermittent actuation, the intervals of actuation being so small as to provide substantially continuous rotation of the beam/ Yet a further'object ofthis-invention is to provide a beam drive having substantially continuous actuation,

2,718,768 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 together with means for micrometer adjustment of the actuating means whereby to vary the quality characteristics of the knitted fabric.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a beam drive which is of rugged construction yet is readily adjusted to insure precision operation, which is easily manufactured and installed, which can be economically serviced and which is practical and adaptable in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a beam drive embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the ratchet portion of the drive; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the micrometer adjustment portion of the drive. g The beam drive of the instant invention'comprises essentially, positive means for rotating the beam such as a ratchet arrangement or other suitable mechanical 7 means interconnecting the beam drive shaft and a constant speed power shaft such as the cam shaft of the machine, together with means for suspending the operation of the connecting means for a predetermined number of knitting cycles, thus halting the rotation of the beam; means for regulating the speed of the beam drive to compensate for the decrease in beam diameter; and means for regulating the operation of thebeam drive with micrometer precision.

- Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a beam drive embodying the invention. The same com prises a beam 11, from which threads or yarns, not shown, are let off and supplied to the knitting instrumentalities, not shown of the knitting machine with which the beam is associated. A.worm wheel 12 is fixed to the beam shaft 13 and a worm 14 meshes with said worm wheel. The worm 14 is fixed to a beam drive shaft 15 which is mounted for rotation in an upper bearing 16, an in termediate bearing 17 and the horizontal arm of a lower bearing 18 having a right angle form.

A bevel gear 19 on the lower end of shaft 15, meshes with a bevel gear- 20 fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft 21 which is rotatably mounted i n the vertical arm of bearing 18 and a bearing 22. A plurality of ratchet wheels 23, 24, 25 in side by side relation, are fixed to an intermediate portion of shaft 21 and are arranged so that their respective teeth are in staggered relation. The ratchet wheels are respectively engaged by pawls' 2.6, 27, 28 mounted on a stud 29 which is fixed to the upper end of an arm 30 having a fulcrum portion freely swingable on shaft 21.

The lower portion 31 of arm 30 is formed with an elongated, rectangular shaped slot 32 which receives a slidable block 33. The arm 30 is oscillated'about shaft 21, through a linkage including a link 34 which is pivoted at one end on a stud 33a extendingfrom block 33 and is pivotally connected at the other end thereof to.a stud 3Sa extending from a slide block 35 slidably received in a rectangular slot 36 formed in an oscillatory arm 37. The arm 37 is actuated by means of a constant speed drive shaft, such as the main cam shaft 38 of theknitting machine of which the beam driveis a part, A cam 39 on shaft 38 engages a follower 40 mounted on the upper end of arm 37 which is mounted for oscillation on a stud 37a extending from the knitting machine frame, not shown. The cam 39 is suitably shaped to impart the desired'oscillatory movement to arm 37 and a. spring 41 secured at one end to the upper end of the arm and suitably anchored at the other end, keeps the follower 40 in engagement with the cam.

It will be apparent that the rotary motion of shaft 38 is translated into oscillatory motion by means of the arms 37; and connecting link 34, thereby actuating the pawls 26', 27', 28', which in turn rotate the ratchet Means is provided for regulating the operation of the drive shaft actuating means so as to. vary the let off. ofthe threads or yarn from the beam and thereby determine the quality characteristics of the knitted fabric. To this end,- the position of the slide. block in slot- 36 may be adjusted by means of a screw 42. whose. lower portion engages a vertically threaded portion of the block. A bevel. gear 43 is fixed to the upper end of screw: 42. and engages a bevel gear 44 fixed: to a horizontal stud shaft 44av journalledin the arm 37-. A handle 45 on the stud shaft 44a permits micrometer adjustment of the slide block 35 and thereby regulates the throw of the pawls through link 34 and slide block 33 on arm 30.

Means is. also provided for. adjusting the feed of the beam let off as the diameter of the beam decreases with. continued supply of thread to the knitting instrumentalities. This is accomplished automatically by means of a horizontally disposed roller 46 mounted on. the upper end of an arm 47 of a bell crank 48 fulcrumed at 49. The'roller 46 is urged into contact with the periphery of the beam by a spring. 50. attached to the crank arm 47 and anchored to the machine frame. The other crank arm 51 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical link 52, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to slide block 33.

Itwill be apparent that as the beam diameter decreases, as from A to B, roller 46 will move toward the beam: shaft 13, causing crank 48 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction- This will lift the slide block 33 upwardly in armslot' 32, through link 52. The position of the arm 30 will. be changed relative to shaft 21, due to the change in position of the block 33 as from a point x measured from the axis of shaft 21 to a point y also measured from the same axis. This will produce a' proportionatechange in" the stroke of the pawls so as to increase the rotational speed of the beam shaft and thereby maintain the linear speed of the beam let off substantially constant. The arm' 30 should be formed so that the ratio of the distancesx to y is aboutthe same as the. ratio of the maximum beam diameter A' to the minimum beam diameter B.

When knitting fabrics of the type which have blind or floating stitches, the feed of thread or yarns from the beam'must. be suspended for a predetermined number of knitting cycles. Accordingly, there is provided means. forv rendering the beam feed inoperative for intervals determined by the stitch construction of thede: sired fabric. 7 To this end, a curved sheet of metal 53 is positioned over the teeth of the ratchet. wheels by means of an arm 54 of hell crank 55 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 21. v

The other arm 56 of bell crank 55' is pivotally connected to a link 57 which is connected to the armature 58 of a solenoid 59. The winding on the solenoid is connected to a suitable source of current indicated at terminals 60, through a micro switch 61'. The switch arm' 62 is actuated to its closed. position by cam means in the form of short, arcuate strips 63 mountedon a pattern wheel 64 which forms a part of the knittingmachine. The cam strips 63 are positioned on wheel 64 so as to correspond to the knitting cycles during which the feed of threads from the beam is to be suspended.

Upon closing the switch 61, through the cam strips, the solenoid winding is energized, thereby moving the bell crank-in a clockwise direction. The curved metal sheet 53 will be moved to an angular positionwherein the teeth of the ratchet wheels will be shielded against engagement by the pawls. Accordingly the actuatioui of the pawls will be ineffective to drive shaft 15 and the beam 1'1 will cease to rotate until such time as the microswitch 61 is opened when the armature 58 will be retracted by spring means not shown. The bell crank 55 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction to move the shield 53 to a position where it will no longer interfere with the engagement. of the ratchet wheels by the pawls and the drive of the bea' m will be resumed.

It is understood that the s'wi'mn arm 62 may be actuated by any suitable cam. means related to. the knitting cycles of the machine, such as pattern chains or the like.

It will thus be seen' that there has been-provided a. beam drive in which the several objects of the invention have been achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the invention described, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment. set forth herein, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described. my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a knitting machine, a beam, means for. positively rotating said. beam, means for suspending the operation of said beam rotating means for a predeterminednumber of. knitting cycles, and means forv automatically actuating. said suspending means at predetermined intervals during the operation o'f'the machine.

2. In a knitting machine, a beam, adrive shaft for rotating said beam,; a power shaft, pawl and ratchet means connecting said power and drive shafts for imparting intermittent angular movement to said drive shaft and means for automatically rendering said pawl and. ratchet meansinoperative at predetermined intervals during the operation of the machine.

3. In a machine as in claim; and further including ashield located. over the teeth of. the ratchet and arranged for angular movement: towards. and away from a position renderingthe pawl inoperative, and means for moving said. shield.

4. In a machine as in. claim 2, andv further including means responsive to changes the beam diameter for regulating the operation of said. pawli and ratchet arrangemenL- 5. In a knitting machine, a beam. drive comprising a drive shaft, a. power shaft and clutch means connecting said shafts comprising a pair of oscillatable arms, one of said arms being arranged for oscillation by said power shaft and being formed with a. slot, ratchetmeans for rotating said drive shaft, pawl means on the other of said. arms for actuating said ratchet. means, said other arm being formed with a slot, a block. slidably'mou nted in the. slot. of each. of saidlar ms, a. link pivotally connecting said blocks and micrometer means: for adjusting the position; of the block. in theslot of said one arm.

6. In a machine as in claiui 5 I d further including a roller adapted to bear against the periphery of the beam, a bell crank for supporting, said roller, and a link pivotally connecting said bell crank and the block on said other 7. In a machine as in claim 5, and further including a shieldlocated over the teeth. of. said ratchet means and angularly movable towards and. away from a position between said pawl means. and. the teeth ofsaid ratchet means, solenoid means for actuating said shield, a circuit including said solenoid means: and switch means, and cam means for actuating said. switch means.

8. In a knitting machine, a. beam',: a. drive shaft for rotating. said beam, a power shaft, means. connecting said. shafts comprising a pair of oscillatory arms, a link connecting said arms and movably mounted thereon, driving means connecting; said. drive. shaft: and one of sa d. arms, means for adjusting; the position, of said:

5 relative to the other of said arms, and means for ad- 2,340,889 justing said link relative to said one arm in response to 2,400,525 changes in beam diameter. 2,400,526

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,989 932,337

2,327,747 Sirmay Aug. 24, 1943 6 Klumpp et al. Feb. 8, 1944 Amidon May 21, 1946 Amidon May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 25, 1921 France Nov. 24, 1947

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