US2850886A

US2850886A - Circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US2850886A
Application number: US569757A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shortland Arthur
Original assignee: Mellor Bromley and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mellor Bromley and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1955-03-07
Filing date: 1956-03-06
Publication date: 1958-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-09
Also published as: FR1148851A

Description

Sept. 9, 1958 w A. SHORTLAND 2,850,886

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed March 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 As/mt/afld er v Arron/En;

Sept. 9, 1958 I A. SHORTLAND 2,850,835.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1956 J v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIVENTOE 2 .5 h o r i/qnd 5) m' aLuJ-q Anna/EX;

Sept. 9, 1958 A. SHORTLAND v 0,

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s m/vE/Wtw A Short/and A 2,850,886 Patented Sept. .9, 1958 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Arthur Shortland, Leicester, England, assignor to Mellor Bromley & Co. Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application March 6, 1956, Serial No. 569,757 Claims priority, application Great Britain March 7, 1955 9 Claims. (Cl. 66-25) This invention relates to knitting machines with circular needle beds, such as cylinders, cylinders and dials, and superimposed cylinders, associated cam carriers, and with independent needles.

The invention appertains to machines with movable cams of one form or another for eflecting changes in' the knitting operation, as by switching needles from one path to another to vary the character of the knitting or/and by adjustment of stitch cams to vary the quality of the knitted fabric, i. e. by producing tighter or' slacker stitches.

The invention is further applicable to machines adapted, by virtue of selective operation of needles, jacks, sinkers, or other independently movable instruments, to produce patterned or fancy knitted fabric.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved manner of effecting changes in the position of movable cams or selectively operable instruments so as to avoid the necessity for using a multiplicity of rotary drums or other controlling devices, thereby simplifying the means required to effect desired changes.

The aforesaid cams and instruments will be hereinafter generically referred to as the movable units.

The invention accordingly comprehends the provision of a bank of individually movable elements adapted to be positioned selectively for effecting, by direct or indirect action, changes in the positions of the movable units, a corresponding bank of members adapted selectively to influence the said elements, there being relative circular movement between the elements and the units, and also between the elements and the corresponding influential members, and a main controlling mechanism for action selectively upon the said members in order to effect such changes. f

in the case of movable cams the said elements would correspond in number with the number of cams, and

would be arranged for action upon respective parts connected with the cams. Alternatively, in the case of other units with butts there may be as many elements as butts, and the elements may be adapted for action upon the butts as by means of corresponding interposed members, such as levers or pressers.

As applied to a machine with a stationary cam carrier or carriers, the bank of elements would be arranged for rotation in timed relation with revolutions of the machine, while the bank of influential members and the main controlling mechanism would be stationary. In a machine of the converse type, the said bank of elements would be stationary while the bank of influential members and the main controlling mechanism would revolve.

Preferably, the said banks are mounted in carriers arranged coaxially with the needle bed or beds in proximity to the units to be actuated, but the invention is not limited in this respect, as any other appropriate disposition of the banks may be adopted.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the

said elements are selectively influenced under remote trical. circuit,

control from a single controlling mechanism through intermediate connections with the bank of influential memhers.

I The said mechanism and the influential members may be electro-mechanical or wholly mechanical in character. Moreover, the controlling mechanism may be adapted to effect selection and re-selection of the elements according to the changes to be effected during knitting.

In one form of an electro-mechanical arrangement, e. g. for controlling movable cams, the bank of elements in association with a series of electromagnetic devices, and the controlling mechanism includes a corresponding series of bus members adapted to be rendered live" through a series of selectively operable switches so that when any one of the bus members is live the corresponding device is energised and functions through the associated element to effect a change in the position of a corresponding movable unit. For instance, if eight movable units comprising cams are, involved at a feeder of the machine, there would be eight bus members, and eight electro-magnetic devices, i. e. eight actions per feeder.

The bus members are rendered live, preferably through micro-switches operated by any suitable form of controlling means, such as a jacquard band, strip, drum or chain operated in timed relation with the revolutions of the machine. This controlling means could be adapted to re-select switches between feeders, i. e. for achieving different selections of elements at different feeders and consequential different effects in the knitting.

There will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, specific examples of the invention, one comprising an electromechanical arrangement and the other a wholly mechanical arrangement applied to a machine of the revolving cylinder and dial type for controlling stitch and quality cams.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section of the electro-mechanical arrangement, and associated parts of the machine,

Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of a series of bus rings, and of the carrier for the said rings,

Figure 3 isan elevation of part of the selecting mechanism as viewed in the direction of the arrow A in Figure ,1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a bus ring and an associated solenoid with parts for action upon a cam,

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation'of a solenoid and a striker lever drawn to a larger scale,

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing part of the elec- Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of star wheels and associated connections for actuating a dial cam and a cylinder cam as viewed in the direction of the arrows A--A in Figure. 1,

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the star wheel and dial cam taken on line BB in Figure 7,

' Figure9 is a diagrammatic elevation similar to Figure l, but of the wholly mechanical arrangement,

Figure 10 is a plan of a portion of a bank of individual elements in their carrier, and

Figure 11 isanelevation of this arrangement as viewed in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 9,.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, according to this example, the cam actuating elements are solenoids 1 (with cores) radially disposed in an annular carrier 2 mounted above the dial cam plate 3 and adapted to be driven synchronously with the dial by means of gearing, comprising gear teeth 4,

pinions

5, 6 and a shaft 7, and a gear ring 8. Fixedly mounted immediately above the solenoids 1 is an annular support 9 for a corresponding series of copper or other metallic bus rings 10, which are connected by leads 11 to respective microswitches 12 in turn associated with an appropriate main selecting mechanism hereinafter described.

Specifically, the support 9 is located between the existing spider arms 13 and the dial cam plate 3, and the carrier 2 for the solenoids is disposed between the support 9 and the cam plate and is rotated one revolution per revolution of the dial 14. There is thus one bus ring, and a respective solenoid for each movable cam, say eight, four of which may be dial cams and four cylinder cams. Referring to Figures 1, 7 and 8, each dial cam is provided with a starwheel 15 and

lever mechanism

16, 17, the lever 16 being connected to the dial cam 18 and the starwheel being operated when desired by an energised solenoid. The

mechanisms

16, 17 are stationary on the cam plate 14 with the starwheels 15 disposed upwards between the cam plate and the solenoids. Each solenoid has a carbon brush 19 in contact with the respective bus ring 10, and the solenoids would be selected or reselected between each feeder, i. e. 12 times per revolution for a twelve feeder machine. The bus rings would be selected for energising by means of a remote control mechanismeither peg drum, chain, paper jacquard or other moving insulatable controller-suitably operating the micro-switches 12 through selectors 20. There would be eight switches one for each bus ring connected to the bus members by normal electric conductors.

Describing the electrical arrangement in more detail, the solenoids are mounted in a bracket 21 fixed to the carrier 2 so that their brushes 19 project upwards into contact with the bus rings which are located in concentric grooves in the support 9. The micro-switches 12 are mounted on the bed plate 22 of the machine in line with the selectors 20. The electrical circuit is single pole and, as shown in Figure 6, the rings 10 are connected through the micro-switches 12 to the source of supply by the

leads

11, 23 and the brushes 19 are connected through the coils 24 of the solenoids by

leads

25, 26 to the frame of the machine whereby they are earthed. The leads 11 are attached to the bus rings by screws 27 (Figures 1 and 4).

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, each of the solenoids has a core consisting of a plunger 28 with a non-magnetic tip 28a and for operating the corresponding starwheel a lever 29 and striking pins 30 (see also Figure 1) are respectively pivoted and slidably mounted in the bracket 21 in register with the plunger. Each of the pins is held raised by a spring 31 so that when a solenoid is energised its plunger is pulled down to depress the opposing lever and pin, thereby projecting the latter from contact with the corresponding starwheel as the carrier 2 r0- tates in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 7. Thus, by appropriate selection of the solenoids, the cams connected with the starwheels are actuated. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the lever 16 is combined with the starwheel 15, and a pin 32 connects the lever 17 with the cam 18. The starwheel 15 and lever 16 are freely mounted on the dial cam plate 3 by means of a screw 33. Figure 7 also shows a combined starwheel 15a and cam 16a mounted on the plate by means of a screw 34, a lever 35 pivoted on the plate by means of a screw 36 for action upon by the cam 16a and a lever 37 connected to a cylinder cam (not shown).

The main selecting mechanism, represented more or less diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a drum 38 to be racked by a pawl and

ratchet mechanism

39, 40, 41, 42 operable by means of a cam 43 on the cylinder driving gear 44. This mechanism is carried by a bracket 45 which is attached to the bed plate 22 and also serves to carry the selectors 20.- The drum 38 is furnished with bits 46 suitably pre-arranged thereon, for action upon the selectors tooperate the micro-switches. Thus, by suitable pre-arrangements of the hits, the position of any one or more of the four dial cams and/or the four cylinder cams at a feeder may be changed to effect the required variations in the knitting. The drum is racked in tirned relation with the revolutions of the machine between changes.

According to an alternative form of the electromechanical arrangements, electro-magnets may be substituted for the solenoids with striker levers and/or pins, such as 29, 30 arranged for limited fall by gravity, or spring loaded, so as to be adapted to be held inoperative with the switches closed and the bus rings live, whereby on selected switches being opened as by the selectors 20, so as to de-energise the corresponding magnets, the respective striker levers or/and pins would be released for action upon the corresponding starwheels.

The bus rings could be divided into feeder span sections insulated from each other, each section being rendered live from a corresponding switch which would enable the remote control mechanism to select, say, twice per revolution, instead of twelve times for a twelve feeder machine. This would mean that there would beif there were eight bus members and twelve feedersninety six switches to be operated. It would also be possible, and may be desirable not to energise all bus rings at the same time, but to energise bus rings for operating clearing cams later than bus rings for operating quality cams.

There would be two or more separate sets of bus rings and solenoids, or electro-magnets, say, one set for dial cam plate and one for the cylinder cam box.

According to the wholly mechanical arrangement, striker mechanisms are provided in conjunction with the individual elements and a common main controlling mechanism is provided in conjunction with the striker mechanisms. In one arrangement for controlling the multiplicity of movable cams at a feeder or feeders, of the knitting machine, the striker mechanisms comprise a circular series of concentric rings furnished with striking studs, and intermediate parts to be acted upon by the studs, said rings being mounted for angular movement under the control of the common controlling mechanism to cause the studs to position the said parts for actuation of the corresponding elements.

For a knitting machine with but one feeder, there will be one stud in each ring, and the number of rings corresponds with the number of elements in the bank. When there is more than one feeder, the number of studs in each ring corresponds with the number of feeders.

Referring to Figures 9 to 11 of the drawings, in a complete arrangement adapted, for example, to influence a number of movable cams in the knitting cam system at a feeder, there are (a) a bank of individual elements, comprising pins 47, -(b) a corresponding series of rings 48 with striking studs 49, (a) a corresponding bank of levers 59, (d) a corresponding number of selectors 51 and (e) a like number of interconnections 52 between the selectors 51 and the rings 48.

The pins 47 and the levers 50 are respectively pivotally and slidably arranged in a bracket 53 located in an annular carrier 54 mounted like the carrier 2 (Figure 1), and similarly driven by gearing 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The rings 48 are located in concentric grooves in an annular support 9 fixed above the carrier 54 with the rings in register with the levers 50. The intermediate connections 52 consist of cables inserted in blocks 52a, 52b and controlled by springs 55. Thus, when the selectors 51 are operated, the rings are moved angularly to cause their studs 49 to act upon the levers 50 so that the pins 48 are depressed against the action of springs, one of which 56 is shown in Figure 11, thereby to strike the

starwheels

15, 15a (Figures 7 and 8) as and with the result appertaining to the electro-mechanical arrangement hereinbefore described. A starwheel 15, with its associated

lever

16, 17 and dial cam 18, is also shown in Figure 9.

The construction and operation of the common controlling mechanism represented at 57 is similar to that already described with reference to Figures 1 and 3.

' In either form of the invention, a perforated jacquard band or strip, or a chain with bits thereon, may be pro vided on the drum 38 instead of the bits 46. Thus,

selectors

20 or 51 resting on imperforate parts of the band or strip, or on bits on the chain will be those selected.

When there are two or more feeders, each ring has a corresponding plurality of studs and there is a corresponding plurality of banks of associated pins and levers. Instead of rings, a multiplicity of segments with studs may be provided, there being as many segments and studs as pins andlevers to be acted upon, the mechanism in other respects being similar to that already described.

Figures 1 and 9 of the drawings show more or less diagrammatically as much of a circular knitting machine of the conventional rotary cylinder and dial type as is necessary to illustrate the application of the invention thereto. In these figures 58 is a cylinder, and 59' the associated cam box. Cylinder and dial needles are indicated respectively by the

references

60, 61. The top gear 8 is the one from which the dial 14 is driven as usual, and which serves to drive the carrier 2 {Figure 1) and 54 (Figure 9) through the

gearing

4, 5, 6 and 7. The spider arms, only one of which is shown at 13, are carried by posts, one being shown at 62. An annular gear case 63 is mounted on the spider arms.

In an alternative form of the wholly mechanical arrangement, the mechanism consists of a drum with selecting means, feeders in conjunction with the selecting means, a rotary cam unit for actuating the striker mechanisms through the agency of the feelers and connections intermediate of the feelers and the rings. The rotary cam unit is to be driven in timed relation to the revolutions of the machine, and the drum with the selecting means is to-be racked between changes. The rotary cam unit also serves to rack the drum, so that it a has cams for contact with the feeders, and a cam for contact with the racking mechanism. The latter may consist of a lever, a clawker or pawl, and a ratchet Wheel, and the aforesaid interconnections may comprise levers connected to the feelers, links connected to the rings, and other levers between the first mentioned levers and the links. The striker cams may be so mounted relatively to the rings that when a ring is moved angularly the stud or studs therein move the corresponding cam or cams into position to strike the co-related element or elements, thus to influence the associated movable unit or units.

The selecting means on the racked drum may be a jacquard band or strip, or a chain with bits, or bits attached to the drum. Thus feelers resting on imperforate parts of the band or strip, or on bits, will be those selected for operation by the rotary cam unit, and the se- 'lection will thereby be transmitted through the interconnections to the striker cams, and hence to the corresponding elements and the movable units.

According to a further form, a fixed bank of striking levers or/ and pins is provided and operated by peg drums mounted on a support revolving with the machine. The peg drums may be racked between feeders when required. A peg drum racking and bluifer mechanism controlled from chain control mechanism at one point would be provided. Alternatively, to give a much larger scope of control than that exercised by peg dmms, a rotary bank of levers or pins may be provided for together with a peg drum immediately above them, revolving therewith, but capable of being moved forward or backward one pitch between feeders, the racking or bluffing of this drum to be controlled from a chain control mechanism.

In the application of either of the forms of the invention described with reference to the drawings to the control of other individually movable units with butts, the carriers for the

pins

30 or 47 would be disposed and arranged so as to enable the pins to act upon respective butts or interposed members. There are machines with movable units, such as pivoted jacks, provided with butts so disposed thereon that when the units are prearranged in the associated needle bed, oblique series of butts are formed. As applied to such a machine, the pins may be disposed and controlled suchwise that they are selected or reselected between two adjacent oblique series of butts in order to eifect the required changes.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a bank of individually movable elements adapted to be positioned selectively for effecting changes in the positions of movable units of the kind referred to, a corresponding bank of electro-magnetic devices in association with and adapted selectively to influence the said elements, there being relative circular movement between the elements and the corresponding electro-magnetic devices, a single controlling mechanism for action selectively upon the said electro-magnetic devices in order to effect such changes, a bank of bus members, and a corresponding series of switches for rendering the said bus members active, said switches being under the control of the controlling mechanism, whereby whenever a bus member is rendered active the corresponding electro-magnetic device is energised and functions through the associated movable element to effect a change in the position of the corresponding movable unit.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the electro-magnetic devices with their said elements, and the corresponding bus members are mounted respectively in carriers arranged co-axially with a knitting component of the machine.

3. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a bank of individually movable elements adapted to be positioned selectively for effecting changes in the positions of movable units of the kind referred to, a corresponding bank of solenoids in association with and adapted selectively to influence the said elements, there being relative circular movement between the elements and the units and also between the elements and the corresponding solenoids, a bank of corresponding bus' members, corresponding switches in an electrical circuit including the solenoids and the'bus members, and a selecting mechanism including selectors for operating said switches, whereby whenever a switch is operated by a selector the corresponding bus member is rendered active and the corresponding solenoid is energised so that it functions through its associated element to effect a change in the position of the corresponding movable unit.

4. A combination according to claim 3, which includes, in association with the solenoids, corresponding levers and pins to be operated by the solenoids so as to position the pins for effecting changes in the positions of the movable units.

5. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, movable units effecting changes in the knitting operation of the machine, a bank of individually movable elements adapted to be positioned selectively for changing the positions of said movable units, a circular series of concentric rings which are mounted for angular movement and are furnished with striking studs corresponding to and adapted selectively to influence the said individual elements, intermediate parts to' be acted upon by said studs, there being relative circular movement between the elements and the units and also between the elements and the corresponding striking studs, and a single con-- of interconnections between the selectors and the rings whereby whenever a ring is moved angularly by a selector, the corresponding lever is moved to position the associated pin for changing the position of the corresponding movable unit.

7. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a knitting component, movable cams in said knitting component effecting changes in the knitting operation of the machine, a bank of individually movable elements adapted to be positioned selectively for changing the positions of the movable cams, a corresponding bank of star wheels and intermediate connections adapted selectively to influence the said elements, there being relative circular movement between the elements and the cams, and also between the elements and the corresponding influential star wheels and intermediate connections, and a main controlling mechanism for action selectively upon the said star wheels and intermediate connections in order to elfect such changes.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the individual elements are arranged for rotation in timed relation with the revolutions of the machine.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein the said influential star wheels and the individual elements are mounted respectively in carriers arranged co-axially with the knitting component, and the carrier for the individual elements is rotatable and adapted to be driven by intermediate gearing synchronously with the revolutions of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,782 Zeruneith Nov. 6, 1951