US2750772A

US2750772A - Knitting machine needle device

Info

Publication number: US2750772A
Application number: US251029A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bellini Eugene
Original assignee: VF Corp
Current assignee: VF Corp
Priority date: 1951-10-12
Filing date: 1951-10-12
Publication date: 1956-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-19

Description

E. BELLINI KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE June 19, 1 956 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 FIG. 1. FIG: a F1513- FIE: Q- FIE-.5-

June 19, 1956 E. BELLINI 2,750,772

KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Eyene ,BeZZznz BY A7TORNEX June 19, 1956 E. BELLlNl 2,750,772

KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1951 I 7 Sheets-Sheet s Y Fl E: 1D. I 1

1 i I 1 5 L i f Z I Z INVENTOR. E eneBeZlini, BY

June 19,1956 E. BELLINI 2,750,772

KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1951 7 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR. Eugene Bellini,

ATTORNEY June 19, 1956 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 E. YBELLINI KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 22398116 Bellini, BY

A7TORNEY.

June 19, 1956 E. BELLJNI 2,750,772

KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIE-.15-

INVENTOR. Ell/gene Bellini, BY

June 19, 1956 BELUN] KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed 001;. 12, 1951 sozzazfiozaozwzmzmmmm Summon Eugene fieZ znz,

attorneg United States Patent KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE DEVICE Eugene Bellini, Jackson, Ala., assignor to Vanity Fair Mills, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 12, 1951, Serial No. 251,029

Claims. (CI. 66-86) This invention relates to knitting machines in general and more particularly to a novel needle device for such machines, novel means for operating such a device, and a new method of knitting.

In certain knitting machines, such as warp knitting machines and full fashioned hosiery knitting machines, socalled spring beard needles are commonly utilized for producing the loop formations of the knitted fabric made by the machine. While such needles have been found to effectively serve their intended purpose, they nevertheless have certain structural and functional limitations of a detrimental character. For example, the spring beards of such needles are formed as an integral part of the needles and since these beards are constantly flexed during operation of the machine, such flexing eventually causes fatigue of the metal which reduces the operating efliciency of the beards, or causes imperfect formation of the knitted loops, or breaking off of the beards. Then too, the minimum vertical operating movement of such needles is fixed by the length of the beards in relation to the other knitting elements with which the needles cooperate during the knitting cycle. This minimum vertical movement limits the speed at which such needles can be properly and efliciently operated to produce the desired loop formations of the fabric. Furthermore, such spring beard needles must necessarily have a very irregular motion. This is partly due to the height of movement which must be attained by the needles and the dwelling pause which takes place there until the yarn feed guides pass between the needles, and is partly due to the fact that the needles must thereafter again rise to allow the threads to reach a point below the free ends of the spring beards. This latter motion consumes about 120 degrees of the knitting cycle and the irregular movement of the spring beard needles makes it essential that all other cooperating elements of the machine carry out a correspondingly irregular movement. 1

One object of my invention is to provide a novel twopart needle device for knitting machines, such as warp and full fashioned hosiery knitting machines, which knitting device overcomes the indicated and other detrimental characteristics of the spring beard needles heretofore utilized in such machines.

Another object is to provide such a knitting needle device having an operative movement which is smooth and uniform and which enables the cooperating elements of the machine to carry out a correspondingly smooth and uniform movement.

Another object is to provide such a knitting needle device which has certain structural and functional features of advantage over the similar knitting needle devices of .the prior art.

. -.A further object is 'to provide such a knitting needle It is also an object to provide such a knitting needle device of parts that are more rugged, more wear resistant, v 3

and less expensive to produce, than the similar parts of the prior art devices.

An additional object is to provide such a kntting needle device comprising two unique and independently operable parts that are arranged for movement relative to each other, both laterally and longitudinally.

It is also an object to provide such a knitting needle device in which one of the said unique parts comprises a substantially straight element having a beard-like end portion provided with a groove, and the other of said parts comprises a needle element having a hook formation at its end and a groove adjacent thereto for entry by the tip of the beard-like portion of said first element.

Another object is to provide novel operating means for such a two-part knitting needle device.

Another feature of the invention resides in the new method of knitting carried out by the novel knitting means of my improvements.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of one practical and illustrative embodiment of my improvements shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the novel knitting needle device, the operating means therefore, elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as well as the new method of knitting, herein disclosed and more particularly defined by the hereto appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view of one of the individually operable needle bar segments of the twopart needle device arrangement forming part of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view showing the two individually operable needle elements of my novel two-part needle device in cooperative relationship.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view of Fig. 5 which in turn illustrates a partial front elevational view of a second individually operable needle bar segment of the two-part needle device arrangement forming part of my invention.

Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive are similar partial side elevational views of certain loop forming elements of my invention, including the elements disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and illustrate said loop forming elements in the relative positions which they occupy during the novel knitting cycle and loop forming process of my invention.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and illustrates by dot-and-dash, lines the various phases of the loop forming cycle carried out by each of the parts depicted during the movements thereof as shown in Figs. 6 to 12.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 and illustrates a conventional prior art spring beard needle and presser edge element arrangement; this being shown for comparative purposes and to make clear the difference in vertical movement of one prior art needle in contrast with the needle element of my invention, as well as certain other differences in the movements of the cooperating loop forming means, as indicated by the schematic knitting cycle diagram depicted by Fig. l4-A.

Fig. 15 is a partial vertical sectional view of a warp knitting machine mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an elevational detail sectional view which illustrates certain structural modifications of the parts shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and

Fig. 18 is an elevational detail sectional view of a modified construction of certain parts shown in Figs. 15 and It will be helpful to an understanding of my invention to first briefly consider the more important aspects and phases thereof. Accordingly, it is noted that the two-part needle device of my invention is adapted for use in various knitting machines of the general type utilizing so-called spring beard needles or other devices, that cooperate with usual yarn loop forming means, such as yarn guides, sinkers, etc., to form a knitted fabric of successive courses of loops arranged in interconnected relation, as well known in the art of machine knitting.

The two parts, or elements, of said needle device are adapted to be operated in novel manner by means, and in accordance with a method also forming part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, my invention is shown in cooperative relation with certain usual and well-known parts of a warp or tricot knitting machine. However, it will be understood by those skilled in this art that the practical and illustrative form of my invention there shown can be applied in substantially the same, or a similar manner, to other knitting machines, so as to impart to the latter the various benefits and advantages of my novel improvements in substantially the same manner. This will become more apparent from the following detailed description of one practical and illustrative form of my invention.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, my novel two-part needle device comprises two

unique elements

1 and 2, arranged in multiple or series form on separate supporting members or bars 3 and 4 that are individually operable. As shown, the

elements

1 and 2 are fixedly mounted in aligned laterally spaced relationship (see Figs. 1 and in the usual manner of the practice followed when mounting spring beard needles or other needle devices. The

elements

1 and 2 may be provided at their mounting ends with butts (not shown) of the usual type provided on spring beard needles to facilitate their mounting on the bars 3 and 4. The uniform spacing and assembly of the

elements

1 and 2 is carried out in accordance with the gauge of the fabric to be knitted and the

members

3 and 5 are mounted in suitable operating supports for united cyclic actuation by novel means hereinafter described.

The element 1 comprises an elongated slender needlelike stem 1*, the free or outer end of which is shaped to form a beard that tapers to a point, or substantially so. The stem ll is provided with a longitudinal groove 1* that extends rearwardly from said pointed end.

The needle element 2 comprises an elongated slender stem 2 the free or outer end of which is of reduced thickness and formed into a hook 2 The stem 2 is also provided with a longitudinal groove 2 that extends rearwardly from the hook 2 Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the beard element 1 and the needle element 2 and illustrates the manner in which the pointed end of the element 1 extends into the groove 2 of the needle element 2, and the hook 2 of the latter extends into the groove 1 of the beard element 1, during a certain phase of the knitting I cycle of my novel two-part needle device.

Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, clearly illustrate the cooperating movements carried out by the

elements

1 and 2 during one loop forming operation, or knitting cycle of the machine, the more important positions of the

elements

1 and 2 being shown in properly timed relation with other usual loop forming elements, such as yarn guides 5 and sinkers 6, only one of each of which is depicted in said figures so as to simplify the illustrations. By referring to Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, in conjunction with Fig. 13, the knitting cycle of the respective elements will become clear. In Fig. 13, the successive positions occupied by the respective elements are indicated by Roman numerals.

Fig. 6 indicates the first or initial positions occupied by the

needle device elements

1 and 2, the yarn guide 5 and the sinker 6, at the beginning of a respective knitting cycle in accordance with my novel knitting process, to

effect the addition of a course of new loops to a knitted fabric section. In Fig. 6, the fabric section is indicated more or less schematically by the chain of loops F, and a warp yarn Y is shown extending upwardly therefrom on the far side of the sinker 6, through the eye of its respective yarn guide 5. It will be understood that the loop forming elements just referred to are duplicated and arranged in laterally aligned spaced relationship, as usual, to an extent providing one such group of cooperating elements for each loop in the course of loops of the fabric being knitted by the machine.

Fig. 7 illustrates the positions occupied by the respective loop forming elements at the end of their first movement. It will be noted that the sinker 6 has remained stationary while the beard element 1 and yarn guide 5 have been moved rearwardly and the element 2 has been moved upwardly in a perpendicular line to a position in readiness to receive the yarn Y for effecting a new loop.

Fig. 8 illustrates the positions occupied by the respective loop forming elements at the end of their second movement. The sinker 6 is in the same stationary position as before, while the yarn guide 5', after being laterally shifted toward the observer so as to bring the yarn Y over the top edge of the sinker 6 and across the element 2, has been moved forwardly. At the same time, the beard element 1 has been moved forwardly so that the point thereof rests in the slot 2 of the needle element 2, and the hook 2 of the latter rests in the slot 1 of the element 1, thus closing the gap beneath the hook.

Fig. 9 illustrates the positions occupied by the respective loop forming elements at the end of their third movement. The beard element 1 and yarn guide 5 have remained stationary while the needle element 2. has moved downwardly in a perpendicular line and the sinker 6 has moved rearwardly in a horizontal line, thereby causing the fabric F to ride upwardly in the slot of the sinker and pushing the bight portion of the last fabric loop L onto the rear outer curved surface of the element 1 adjacent to its free or pointed end.

Fig. 10 illustrates the positions occupied by the respective loop forming elements at the end of their fourth movement. The beard element 1 and yarn guide 5 have remained stationary while the element 2 has continued its downward movement along a perpendicular line until the outer or free ends of the

elements

1 and 2 have become separated. At the same time, the sinker 6 has continued its rearward movement along a horizontal line. These movements have caused a certain supply of the yarn Y to be drawn downwardly by the hook 2 of the element 2, to thereby effect enough yarn feed for forming a new loop N of the same length as the other loops of the fabric F, while the previously formed loop L has come to rest along the top edge of the sinker 6.

Fig. 11 illustrates the positions of the respective loop forming elements at the end of their fifth movement, during which the needle element 2 has continued its downward motion along a perpendicular line and the sinker 6 has moved forwardly to a point where the last course of knitted loops L is about to enter the slot of the sinker 6.

Fig. 12 illustrates the positions of the respective loop forming elements at the end of their sixth movement, during which the needle element 2 has continued its downward movement along a perpendicular line so as to draw the old loop L off the point of the beard element 1 and has caused the bight portion of the new loop N to embrace the legs of the old loop L. At the same time the sinker 6 has continued its forward movement so as to effect sinking, or shifting, of the fabric F along the rearwardly inclined slot of the sinker 6. At this point the loop forming cycle has been completed and the needle element 2 moves a short distance to its initial position, that is, substantially to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The arrows of Fig. 13 illustrate the direction and extent of the movements carried out by the

elements

1 and 2, the yarn guides 5 and the sinkers 6 of the machine, during one knitting cycle. The Roman numerals indicate the locations of these parts at the end of each successive movement depicted by Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive. In this connection it is to be noted that the beard element 1 and yarn guide 5 reciprocate rearwardly substantially in unison, and the latter, at a certain point in its operation, has the usual sidewise motion, first in front of and then in back of the needle element 2, so as to effect laying of the yarn Y about the stem 2 of the latter, preliminary to shifting of the yarn in loop form under the hook 2 The needle element 2 reciprocates in a substantially perpendicular line and the sinker 6 reciprocates in a hori zontal line.

It will be understood that yarn guide 5 and sinker 6 perform their usual and normal functions in this arrangement, but are operated in timed relation with the

elements

1 and 2, so as to carry out successive loop forming operations in the novel manner illustrated in Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive and Fig. 13.

Fig. 14 illustrates a conventional spring beard needle S in association with the usual and well-known movable presser element P and other cooperating loop forming parts of a warp knitting machine which are similar to those previously described, such as a yarn guide 5 and sinker 6 The arrow A in Fig. 14 indicates the approximate extent of the vertical movement carried out by such a spring beard needle S during its knitting cycle, depending upon the machine construction and adjustment. Since the various parts illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, as well as the extent of their movements are depicted to the same scale, it will be noted that the vertical movement of the spring beard needle S is comparatively much greater than the similar movement of the needle element 2 of Fig. 13.

Fig. l4A is a schematic diagram, or curve chart, that further illustrates the comparative vertical movements of the spring beard needle S and the needle element 2, substantially at normal or full scale and during one knitting cycle. The dotted curve C indicates the vertical movement of the spring beard needle and the solid line curve C-l indicates the vertical movement of the needle element 2. From this curve chart it will be apparent that the needle element 2 has a smooth and uniform vertical movement, Whereas that of the spring beard needle S is relatively irregular. Furthermore, that the maximum vertical movement of the spring beard needle S is actually about one-quarter inch greater than that of the needle element 2 and that this greater movement takes place during approximately 120 degrees of the knitting cycle, as indicated by the two dot-and-dash lines of the chart. This is, of course, approximate and would vary somewhat depending upon the machine construction. Since the cooperating loop forming elements must necessarily function in corresponding manner, it will be realized that the shorter, vertical movement of the needle element 2 and its smoother uniform cyclic operation, provide a considerable advantage insofar as efiicient high speed machine operation is concerned.

To effect movement of the described loop forming elements of my invention, the knitting machine is provided with mechanism as indicated in Figs. to 18 inclusive. Only those parts of a conventional warp knitting machine are there shown which pertain to the operation of the loop forming elements previously described, the other usual parts and mechanisms of the machine being omitted since their construction and operation is well known.

In Figs. 15 and 16 the usual warp knitting machine parts shown comprise aframe 7, a cam shaft 8 on which are fixedly mounted two similar

opposed cams

9 and 10, arranged to operate a rocker arm 11 provided with freely

rotatable cam followers

11 and 11 The arm 11 is secured to a rocker shaft 12, the motion of which is transmitted by a connecting rod 13 to a shaft 14, in turn connected by an adjustable linkage 15, to a shaft 16.

Depending from the shaft 16 are arms 17 (only one being shown) to the lower ends of which are connected the supporting bar 3 for the beard elements 1.

Depending from the shaft 14 are arms 18 (only one being shown) to the lower ends of which are connected a supporting bar 19 for the yarn feeding or guiding elements 5.

Fixedly secured to the shaft 12 are arms 21 (only one being shown) to the outer ends of which are connected the supporting bar 4 for the needle elements 2.

The sinkers 6 are secured, as usual, to a bar 22 carried by arms 23 fixedly secured to a rocker shaft 24 that is operated by the cam shaft 8 in usual manner by cam means, not shown.

Fig. 17 shows a modification of the means for operating the beard elements 1. Certain of the parts shown in Fig. 17 are similar to those shown in Fig. 16 and'are consequently identified by corresponding reference characters. The arrangement of Fig. 17 diifers from that shown in Fig. 16 in that a lever 25 is secured to the shaft 14, to one end of which is connected the rod 13 and the lower end of which lever 25 carries the supporting bar 3 for the elements 1.

Fig. 18 shows a further modification of the means for operating the yarn guides 5 and beard elements 1. In this instance, both the yarn guides 5 and the beard elements 1 are jointly carried by an arm 26 fixed to the shaft 14, which latter is operated by the means shown in Fig. 16.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and more particularly defined by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising in combination with yarn feeding means and sinker means, of two separate elongated complementary elements one of which includes a rigid hook end portion and the other an end portion for closing and opening said hook portion and which elements are adapted to form yarn loops in successive interconnected order with said yarn feeding means and sinker means by independent lateral movement only of the element having the hook closing and opening end portion relative to the element having the hook end portion and by independent longitudinal movement of the element having the hook end portion, and means effecting said independent movements of the elements relative to each other.

2. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, yarn feeding means, sinker means, and two separate elongated complementary elements one of which includes a rigid hook end portion and the other an end portion for closing and opening said hook portion and which elements are adapted to form yarn loops in successive interconnected order with said yarn feeding means and sinker means by independent lateral movement only of one of said elements relative to the other so as to effect hook closing and opening cooperation and by independent axial movement of the other of said elements, and means for etfecting said independent movement of the elements relative to each other.

3. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, yarn feeding means, sinker means, and two separate elongated complementary elements one of which includes a rigid hook end portion and the other an end portion for closing and opening said hook portion and which elements are adapted to form loops in successive interconnected order with said yarn feeding means and sinker means by independent movement of said elements relative to each other including lateral swinging movement only of one of said elements to elfect closing and opening of said hook end portion, and means for effecting said swinging movement toward and from the other of said elements.

arrows 4. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a two-part needle device which consists of two independently movable elongated loop forming ele ments, one of which elements has a hook at one end thereof and the other of which elements has a pointed end portion provided with an elongated lengthwise extending groove, and means eflecting independent lateral movement only of said pointed element relative to said other element during the loop forming operation of the mechanism.

5. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a two-part needle device which consists of two independently movable elongated loop forming elements, one of which elements has a hook at one end thereof and the other of which elements has a pointed end portion provided with an elongated lengthwise extending groove, and means for imparting a lateral swinging movement only to said latter element during the loop forming operation of the mechanism.

6. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a two-part needle device which consists of two independently movable elongated loop forming elemerits jointly operative to form yarn loops in successive c 9 means for imparting a vertical reciprocatmg movement to the other of said elements.

7. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a needle element having a hook portion at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, a beard element having a hook portion closing and opening point at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, and means arranged to impart relative movement to said elements in such manner that one of said elements will move only laterally and the other longitudinally.

8. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a needle element having a hook portion at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, a beard element having a hook closing and opening point at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, and means arranged to elfect lateral arcuate movement only of said beard element during the loop forming operation of the mechanism.

9. A knitting machine yarn loop forming mechanism comprising, a needle element having a hook portion at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, a beard element having a hook closing and opening point at one end thereof and a longitudinal groove adjacent the latter, means arranged to effect lateral reciprocating movement only of one of said elements, and means arranged to effect vertical reciprocating movement of the other of said elements.

10. in combination with a knitting machine having sinker-s and yarn feed means; of a two-part needle device comprising, an element having a stem provided with a hook portion at one end thereof which terminates in a substantially straight tip portion and a longitudinal groove arranged in adjacent substantially axially aligned relation with the latter, an element having a substantially straight pointed stem portion provided with a longitudinal groove; and means for imparting lateral movement only to one of said elements and longitudinal movement to the other of said elements in properly timed relation with the sinkers and yarn feed means to effect the production or knitted loops in successive interconnected order.

647,881 Scott et a1 Apr. 17, 1900 1,198,275 Rick et a1. Sept. 12, 1916 1,391,033 Wilcomb Sept. 20, 1921 1,498,706 Wilcomb June 24, 1924 1,662,281 Scott Mar. 13, 1928 1,666,784 lsarkin Apr. 17, 1928 2,238,192 Start et al Apr. 15, 1941 2,312,903 lirt ct al. Mar. 2, 1943 2,331,528 West Oct. 12, 1943 2,428,405 Young Oct, 7, 1947 2,436,371 Arnidon Feb. 24, 1948 2,508,209 Amidon May 16, 1950 2,519,875 Berger et al. Aug. 22, 1950 2,522,335 Amidon Sept. 12, 1.950 2,560,872 Jutglar Pares et a1. July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,716 Great Britain of 1845 36,342 Germany July 21, 1886 395,837 Germany May 19, 1924