US2722815A - Straight bar knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1955 K- w. WICKARDT 2,722,315

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l KURT W/LL/ W/C/(APDT Inventor A Home y Nov. 8, 1955 K. w. WICKARDT 2,722,815

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KURT W/LL/ W/C/OIPDT Inventor Attorney United States Patent STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Kurt Willi Wickardt, Liverpool, England, assignor to Hosemaster Machine Company Limited, a British com- P y Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,467

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 12, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 66--110) The present invention refers to straight bar knitting machines and more particularly to jack head assemblies for such knitting machines.

During operation of conventional design of straight bar knitting machines each jack sinker is moved forward between needles during the coulier portion of each knitting cycle in order to measure a predetermined length of thread for the further formation of two loops. This forward movement of the sinkers occurs under the influence of striking jacks pivotally supported in jack heads and operated in the well known manner by slurcocks or slurcams traversing along and parallel to the row of needles.

In their forward position the striking jacks are resiliently held by jack springs contacting rear extensions of said striking jacks.

Except for this forward movement of the sinkers to their forward position, all other necessary movements of the sinkers are controlled by the catchbar, by which they are engaged after they have been brought to their forward position.

The operation which has just been described has not been modified when using the jack head assembly constructed according to this invention.

What has been invented is a jack head assembly wherein the jack spring bar and the jack springs are directly supported by or mounted in the'jack head assembly.

Hitherto the jack springs have normally been supported by jack spring bars which have been disposed separately from the jack heads in which the striking jacks are pivotally mounted, and the jack spring bars have been oscillated or rocked to render the jack springs operative and inoperative. The arrangement of the jack springs on a jack spring bar separate from the jack head which is so important to secure proper operation of the knitting machine leads to difficulties in setting each jack spring correctly in relation to its corresponding striking jack particularly because when the jack springs are mounted on a knitting machine they are not readily accessible. These difficulties arise in part from the fact that the striking jacks are assembled in the jack head quite separately from the assembling of the jack springs in the jack spring bars and in part from the fact that when these two assemblies are brought together in a machine difficulty is experienced in obtaining the correct settings of the various structural elements.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved jack head assembly whereby the adjustment of the various parts during and/or after assembly is facilitated.

According to the present invention a jack head assembly comprises a plurality of striking jacks alternating with jack walls and pivotally supported on a jack rod carried in said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs individually pivotally supported in said jack head assembly and arranged each to contact one of said striking jacks for resiliently restraining said striking jacks in their rear positions during the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle including the beginning of the coulier portion of 2,7218% Patented Nov. 8, 1955 each knitting cycle and during fashioning cycles, said plurality of jack springs resiliently restraining said striking jacks in their forward position after said striking jacks have been moved forward under the influence of a slurcam traversing along and parallel to the row of needles during the coulier portion of each knitting cycle, and selectively operable means for urging each of the jack springs into engagement with the striking jacks to restrain movement of the striking jacks.

Thus by the present invention the striking jacks and jack springs can be assembled into a single structure externally of the machine and the correct setting of each jack spring in relation to its associated striking jack is greatly facilitated.

Preferably the jack springs are pivotally mounted on a shaft or jack spring rod which extends substantially par allel to the jack rod. Each of the jack springs preferably includes a rigid portion comprising a bearing for the jack spring and a portion adapted to contact the associated striking jack, and a deflectable member or portion con nected to the rigid portion.

A cam is preferably provided adapted to engage the deflectable members or portions of all the jack springs in the jack head and operable to stress or release the deflectable members or portions to render the jack springs respectively operable and inoperable. The jack spring operating cam may be conveniently in the form of a rod from which a segment has been removed and the jack walls are preferably apertured to receive the jack spring operating cam and also the jack rod and the jack spring rod.

In one embodiment of the invention a jack head assembly comprises a multitude of striking jacks, one for each sinker to be moved forward and between adjacent needles, arranged in said jack head alternating with jack wells. These striking jacks are pivotally supported on a jack head rod carried by said jack walls and arranged substantially parallel to the row of needles. A multitude of jack springs, one for each striking jack, are pivotally supported on a jack spring rod disposed in the jack head substantially parallel to said jack head rod. They contact rear extensions of said striking jacks and rest with their deflectable ends against a jack spring operating cam arranged in the jack head and pivotally supported by said jack walls.

This jack spring operating cam is oscillated in timed relation to the performance of the knitting machine by a cam attached to the cam shaft of the machine through a lever connection in a manner which is well known in the design of straight bar knitting machines in order to exert a pressure to the deflectable parts of the jack springs, and thus to the rear extensions of the striking jacks, during the couliering portion of each knitting cycle to thereby hold the striking jacks resiliently in their forward position in such a way that the striking jacks can move backwards under any pressure exerted by the thread against the respective sinker but are brought forward into their position again as soon as such pressure is released. During the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during fashioning cycles the deflectable parts of the jack springs contact the low point of the jack spring operating cam thereby holding said jack springs in light contact with the rear extensions of the striking jacks in order to prevent any unintended forward movement of said striking jacks.

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a cross-section through a jack head assembly with the components in their relative positions prior to the commencement of the couliering portion of a knitting cycle.

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the components in their relative positions after the striking jacks have been moved into their forward position under the influence of the slurcocks.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the components in their relative positions during the loop forming portion of a knitting cycle or during a fashion-. ing cycle.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one form of a jack spring.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of another form of a jack spring, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through part of a straight bar knitting machine embodying the present invention and from which certain parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

The same reference numerals have been applied in all drawings to identify the same parts.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, striking jacks 1 are pivotally supported on a jack head rod 2, said striking jacks alternating with jack walls 3 which carry said jack head rod and are supported on a jack head base 7 and held in position by a clamp 8.

Jack head raiis 4, 5 and 6 are arranged to hold jack walls 3 in their correct position and with their correct spacing. A multitude of jack springs 10, one for each of the striking jacks are pivotally supported on a jack spring rod 9 arranged substantially parallel to jack head rod 2. Each jack spring 10 has a deflectable portion or member 12 which contacts a jack spring operating cam 13 which is pivotally arranged in jack walls 3 substantially parallel to jack head rod 2 and jack spring rod 9.

The relative disposition of the parts at the beginning of the coulier portion of each knitting cycle are indicated in Fig. 1 the deflectable portion 12 of each jack spring 10 is engaged by a high point of the jack spring operating cam 13 so that a contact portion 11 of jack spring 10 is pressed against an upper edge 14 of a rear extension of the associated striking jacks 1. This pressure of the jack springs 10 exerted on striking jacks 1 urges the striking jacks 1 in an anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow X in Fig. 1, thus preventing any unintended movement of striking jacks 1 against the rear butts of the jack sinkers. During the coulier portion of a knitting cycle striking jacks 1 are moved from their rear position 1a as shown in Fig. 1 and indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, into their forward position 1b, indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, under the influence of the slurcock moving along and parallel to the row of needles. The contact portions 11 of the jack springs 10 now contact lower edges 15 of the rear extensions of the striking jacks 1 and exert on striking jacks 1 a force urging the striking jacks 1 in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow Y in Fig. 2, to bring striking jacks 1 back into their forward position 1b after they have been moved slightly backward under the pressure of a thread against the throats of the jack sinkers.

Fig. 3 shows the various parts in their relative positions during the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during narrowing or fashioning cycles. The deflectable portions 12 of the jack springs 10 contact a low point of the jack spring operating earn 13 which causes contact portions 11 of the jack springs 10 to contact the upper edges 14 of the rear extensions of the striking jacks 1 with a very light pressure thereby exerting on the striking jacks 1 a force in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 1 thus restraining the striking jacks from being moved unintentionally forward towards the jack sinkers.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 which is a detail view of one form of a jack spring according to the present invention, the jack spring 10v is pivotally supported on a jack spring rod 9. The substantially rigid contact portion 11 of jack spring 9 is formed so as to be able to contact the rear extension of a striking jack. The deflectable portion 12 of jack spring 9 is pressed from its inoperative position 12a, shown in full lines, into its.

operative position 1212, shown in broken outlines, under the influence of the jack spring operating cam. This form of jack spring is formed from the same material as a unitary whole.

Fig. 5 shows another form of a jack spring according to the present invention. In this form the jack spring consists of a rigid member 16 which may be formed from strip or sheet material and which is provided with a contact portion 17 and a deflectable member 18 of resilient material, such as spring steel, solidly attached thereto. The defiectable member 18 can be moved upon operation of the jack spring actuating cam from its inoperative position 18a shown in full lines, into its operative position 1812, shown in broken lines.

Referring now to Fig. 6 an angle rail 19 forming part of the frame of a straight bar knitting machine carries for each section a sinker head 20 which slidably supports a plurality of jack sinkers 21 and dividing sinkers 22. The jack sinkers 21 and dividing sinkers 22 are movable horizontally into the gaps between needles 24 which are arranged in a needle bar 25 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The forward movement of the jack sinkers 21 and dividing sinkers 22 is limited by a verge plate 23 fixed to the upper face of sinker head 20. The angle rail 19 also carries for each section a jack head assembly 26 constructed as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. A slur bar 27 which forms part of the frame of the knitting machine slidably supports one slide 28 for each section. The slides 28 are connected to one another and to the well known drive means, not shown in the drawing, by a slur drive bar 29. Each slide 28 carries a plate 30 which is held thereon by a screw 31 and supports a slurcock 32.

During the couliering portion of each knitting cycle the slides 28 with the slurcocks 32 are moved parallel to the row of needles and in each section the slurcock successively contacts with the rear edges of the striking jacks 1, swinging the striking jacks 1 from their rear positions 1a (Fig. 2) into their forward positions 1b, thus bringing their upper ends into contact with the rear faces of jack sinkers 21 thereby moving said sinkers forward until such movement is limited by verge plate 23.

The jack spring operating cam 13 extends on one side or on either side beyond the end of the jack head 26 and carries a lever or levers 33, keyed to such extension or extensions of the cam, connected through a link or links 34 and pins 35, 36 to a lever or levers 37 keyed to a shaft 38 which is oscillatably supported in the frame of the knitting machine. The shaft 38 carries one or more roller arms 39 attached to shaft 38 and each of said roller arms 39 carries a pin 40 on which is supported a roller orcam follower 41 urged by a spring into contact with one or the other of cams 42, 43. The cams 42 and 43 are in a well known manner attached to a cam shaft 44 rotatably and slidably supported in the frame of the knitting machine. During knitting cycles the roller 41 is in contact with the cam 42. The surface of cam 42 is shaped so as to press the high point of the jack spring operating cam 13 against the deflectable portions of the jack springs. 10 during the coulier portion of a knitting cycle and to release the pressure of jack spring operating cam 13 on the jack springs 10 during the loop forming portion of a knitting cycle.

During fashioning cycles the cam shaft 44 is moved along its axis for an amount approximately equal to the width of a cam in a manner well known in the design of straight bar knitting machines to thereby bring the cam 43 in contact with the roller 41. The cam 43 is circularly shaped and holds the lever 33 in the position 33a, shown in broken lines in Fig. 6, while the low point of the jack spring operating cam 13 is in contact with the jack springs 10. In this position the jack springs 10 exert only a very light pressure on the upper edges 14 of the rear extensions of the. striking jacks I, thus re.-

5 straining any unintended forward movement of said striking jacks.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack walls, a jack rod carried by said jack head, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on said jack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each contacting one of said striking jacks, means carried by said jack walls for pivotally mounting each of said jack springs in said jack head, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack head and connected to each of said jack springs for urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its corresponding striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

2. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack Walls, a jack rod carried by said jack head, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on said jack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each contacting one of said striking jacks, a jack spring rod extending substantially parallel to said jack rod and carried by said jack head, each of said jack springs being individually pivotally supported on said jack spring rod, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack head and connected to each of said jack springs for urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its corresponding striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

3. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack Walls, a jack rod carried by said jack head, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on said jack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each provided with a rigid portion including a bearing for mounting and carrying said jack springs between said jack walls and a head for contacting an adjacent striking jack, the remainder of each of said jack springs being deflectable, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack head and engaging said deflectable remainder of each of said jack springs thereby urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its adjacent striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

4. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack walls, support means provided on said jack walls, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally mounted on said support means between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each carried by said support means and in opposed but contacting position with an adjacent striking jack, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack head and connected to each of said jack springs for urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its adjacent striking jack and thereby restraining pivotal movement thereof.

5. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack walls, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported for rocking movement on said jack head and between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each provided with a rigid portion including a bearing for securing each of said jack springs to and between said jack walls, said plurality of jack springs each being further provided with a head portion for contacting an adjacent striking jack, the remainder of each of said jack springs being deflectable, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack head and engaging said deflectable remainder of each of said jack springs thereby urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its adjacent striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

6. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head having a plurality of spaced jack walls, a jack rod carried by said jack head, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on said jack rod for rocking movement between said jack walls, a jack spring rod carried by said jack head substantially parallel to and spaced from said jack rod, a plurality of jack springs each pivotally mounted on said jack rod between said jack walls and in engagement with one of said stn'king jacks, and selectively operable means carried by said jack walls for urging each of said jack springs into engagement with its corresponding striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

7. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a plurality of jack walls, a plurality of striking jacks, and a plurality of jack springs, each of said jack walls being provided with two spaced apertures and with an opening between said pair of spaced apertures, a jack rod received in one of said spaced apertures in each of said jack walls, each of said striking jacks being pivotally supported on said jack rod, a jack spring rod received in said opening in each of said jack walls, each of said jack springs being pivotally supported on said jack spring rod with one end contacting one of said striking jacks, and selectively operable means mounted in the other of said spaced apertures in each of said jack walls for holding said jack springs in contact with said striking jacks and thereby restraining movement of the latter.

8. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row of needles and a slurcam, and which comprises a jack head assembly constructed according to claim 7, each of said jack springs including a contact portion engageable with each of said striking jacks, and a deflectable remainder in engagement with said selectively operable means for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position upon operation of said selectively operable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,620 Vaclavik Ian. 1, 1952

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