US2853863A

US2853863A - Method and apparatus to draw off a fold of welt fabric

Info

Publication number: US2853863A
Application number: US588157A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Cobert
Original assignee: BEAUTIFUL BRYANS Inc
Current assignee: BEAUTIFUL BRYANS Inc
Priority date: 1956-05-29
Filing date: 1956-05-29
Publication date: 1958-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A. FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 a g Z N xxx NAN \QW Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 f r 7 #5 Z35 INVEIAITOR. A A9 1 2/0 A BY #45 M n /1 M? .16 M; I fly 2*? if! Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A MZ INVEN fizz hr [Z2252 BYW M Sept 3Q, 1958 A. J. COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW oFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29,1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN TOR.

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ept. 30, 1958 METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 29, 1956 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Arthur J. Cobert, Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor of fifty percent to Beautiful Bryans, Incorporated, Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application May 29, 1956, Serial No. 588,157

16 Claims. (Cl. 66-96) The present invention relates to an improved fabric take-up and method for a flat full-fashioned type knitting machine, and more particularly to an improved fabric take-up mechanism and method of operating the same to form and to draw off from the needles a fold of welt fabric.

The take-up mechanism herein disclosed as embodying in a preferred form the several features of the invention is of the general type shown in my co-pending application for Letters Patent in the United States Patent Otfice. Serial No. 294,804, filed June 21, 1952, for Automatic Welt Turning Mechanism for Straight Bar Knitting Machines which comprises generally a device for inserting and for drawing off a welt wire from the needles to form a fold of welt fabric, and for thereafter transferring the fabric take-up function to a nip roller take-up while the welt wire is withdrawn from engagement with the fabric and is returned to its initial starting position.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved welt wire take-up of this general description including a novel form of welt wire and novel supporting and actuating means for positioning the welt wire in operative position and for subsequently withdrawing the welt wire from engagement with the fabric to its initial inoperative position.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide in a flat cotton type knitting machine a readily flexible or pliable welt wire together with means for supporting the welt wire in an extended fabric take-up position for moving the welt wire while so extended in a draw-off direction, and thereafter for withdrawing the welt wire from the fabric fold.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention consist in devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed which, together with the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a straight bar knitting machine adapted for the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery, showing particularly one of the supporting frames and the various shaft centers, and more particularly the fabric take-up mechanism which forms more specifically the subject matter of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation illustrating generally the mechanism shown in Fig. l, and including two adjacent knitting sections of the machine with their adjacent supporting frames;

Fig. 3 is an isometric exploded view of the nip roller take-up mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an isometric exploded view particularly of the cable welt wire take-up mechanism of themachine;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view in left side elevation illustrating the supporting structure for the hang- 2,853,863 Patented Sept. 30, 1958

v shafts

174 and 268 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the hanging welt wire supporting arms shown in Fig. 5 and shows in addition the welt cable reset mechanism during the operation of resetting the cable welt wire in its operating position;

Fig. 8 is an exploded detail in perspective of the cable welt wire holding latch mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan View of the Bowden wire and cable and chain connections for operating the cable welt wire reset mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of certain of the connections for driving the cable reset mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a further detail of these connections taken on a line 1111 of Fig. 10.

The straight bar knitting machine which is generally illustrated in the drawings as embodying in .a preferred form the several features of my invention is a so-called cotton type full-fashioned hosiery machine having a series of spring beard needles 20 movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers 22 adapted to be moved successively in a knitting wave by means of a slur cock 24 for sinking yarn successively about the shanks of the needles 20, and a series of web holders or knock-over bits, not here specifically shown.

The machine is further provided with a narrowing machine including the usual narrowing machine frame bar 26, and forwardly extending rocker arm supports 28 from which are supported narrowing fingers 30. The support ing structure for the machine includes cross frames 34 spaced one to each two sections of the machine, and longitudinally extending frame members including a rear tie rod 36, a lower front frame member 38 and a sinker support bar 40.

There is also shown in the illustrated machine a. series of overhead frame supports 44, which are mounted as upward extensions of respective frame members 34 and provide support for an overhead welt mechanism including a series of hanging Welt bar support levers having mounted thereon welt hook bars adapted to be manipulated with relation to the knitting instrumentalities for setting up, drawing off, and subsequently in cooperation with transfer elements, for returning an initial course of welt loops to the needles to close the welt. as the'welt mechanism referred to forms no part of this invention and is fully described in applicants co-pending application, above referred to, no particular description or illustration thereof is made in this' application.

In the illustrated form of the invention shown a nip roller take-up is provided to engage with the fold of welt fabric produced as above set forth by the operation of the welt bar and the welt wire take-up hereinafter to be described.

The nip roller is particularly adapted to take over from the welt wire take-up the function of drawing off the knitted fabric as it is produced, said draw-off action being continued until the stocking blank is fully knitted and is finally pressed off of the needles. As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the nip roller take-up comprises a pair of upwardly extending nip roller support levers 46, 48 pivotally supported at their lower ends by means of bearing pins on brackets 50 and 52 which are mounted from the lower front rail 38. At their upper ends each of the lever arms 46 and 48 is journaled to receive a rotatable shaft 54 on which is mounted a lower nip roller 56. The lever arms 46 and 48 are securely tied together by means of a connecting rod 58 which also provides a pivotal sup- Inasmuch port for two short lever arms 59 and 60 which, at their outer ends, have secured thereto a connecting rod 62. An upper nip roller 64 is mounted to turn freely on the rod 62. Tension springs 66 connected respectively between the short lever arm 59 and lever support 58 between the arm 60 and lever 46 act to maintain the nip rollers yieldably in contact with one another. Each of the nip rollers 56 and 64 is made of any simple material as, for example, hollow plastic tubes which are covered with a layer of sponge rubber and provided with a knitted cotton cover. The tubes are preferably constructed with aluminum flanges at each end which are cut out to provide bearing surfaces for supporting and rotating the rollers on respective shafts 62 and 54. The lower roller 56 is connected to its shaft 54 by means of a torsion spring 68 which, while connecting the roll to turn the shaft, permits the roll to vibrate with each successive forward and back movement of the needles in the knitting of successive courses.

Mechanism is provided for imparting a stepped rotational movement to the roller 56 which comprises the ratchet 70 mounted on the shaft 54 and a cooperating pawl 72 carried on the upwardly extending arm of a T-shaped pawl lever 74 loosely supported to turn on shaft 54. A lock pawl 75 prevents movement of the ratchet 70 in a reverse direction. The pawl 74 receives its motion through a flexible cable 76 and lever arm 78 secured to the usual regulator shaft 80 of the machine. The regulator shaft 86 is connected to be oscillated with each rotation of the main cam shaft of the machine indicated at 82 (Fig. 1) in order to control the forward and back position of the needles during one portion of each stitch-forming cycle, and it is this oscillatory movement which is applied to effect a stepped advancing movement of the pawl 72 and ratchet 70 to advance the nip roller 56 during the knitting of each successive course. The arrangement of the mechanism for imparting a stepped drawing off movement to the nip rollers 46 and 56 above described including the Bowden wire connection 76 permits the continued rotation of the rollers for any position of the levers 46, 43, and nip rollers similarly mounted thereon between the innermost position shown in Fig. 1 and the outermost position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The Bowden wire 76 and pawl lever 74 are so arranged that the pawl 72 is moved positively away from the ratchet 7 by a downward movement of the lever arm 78 and is then allowed to return by spring pressure as the Bowden wire 76 is slackened by the return movement of lever arm 78. Advancing movement of the pawl 72 is effected by means of a spring 86 connected between a forwardly extending arm of the pawl lever 74 and a lever 88 pivoted at 90 on nip roller support lever 46. The takeup tension exerted upon the fabric, and also the extent of each successive increment of take-up is thus controlled by the tension of spring 86 and is at the same time automatically adjusted in accordance with the length of fabric knitted.

With the illustrated construction I provide an improved mechanism for varying automatically the amount of tension exerted upon the fabric by the spring 86 during the knitting of dilferent portions of the stocking blank. In general, a heavy tension is applied during the knitting of the wide upper leg portions and a gradually reduced tension is applied as the fabric is narrowed toward the heel and foot. The mechanism provided (see Fig. 3) consists of cam and follower connections mounted on a fixed portion of the machine for controlling the angular position of lever 88 on the nip roller support lever 46 and thereby the tension exerted by spring 86. The lever 88 is connected with a tension pull rod 92, which extends longitudinally of the machine near the rear rail 36, by means of a Bowden wire 84 connected at one end to the tension control lever 88 and at its other end to a collar 96 on the tension pull rod 92.

The position of the tension pull rod 92 (see Fig. 3) is in turn controlled by means of a cam 98 supported to turn on a fixed pivot 100 on the machine. A depending cam follower lever 102 mounted to turn on a fixed pivot 104 and provided with a cam follower roll 106 is engaged at its lower end between two collars 108 fixed for the tension pull rod 92 which is thus controlled by the cam 98. A spring 110 acting against the pull rod 92 serves to maintain the follower roll 106 at all times in engagement with the cam 98. The angular position of cam 98 is controlled by means of connections which are responsive to movement of the yarn carrier stops in accordance with the width of fabric being knitted. A pinion 112 secured to the cam 1110 engages a rack 114 which forms part of a slide rod 116 connected by means of a lever 118 with one of the carrier dead stop blocks 120 of the carrier stop control mechanism of the machine.

The nip roller assembly, including the nip roller support levers 46, 48 and nip rollers 56, 64, is moved between a normal take-up position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 withdrawn from the needles, and a rearward closeto-the-needles position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 for engaging the fold of welt fabric drawn off by the welt wire take-up. The nip roller take-up assembly is moved positively rearwardly to the full line position of Fig. 1 in which the nip take-up rollers 56, 64 (Fig. 3) are moved to a position adjacent their needles by means of a cable 124 (Fig. 1) connected with a nip take-up lever 48 by means of a tension spring 126 connected between the cable wire and a horizontally disposed arm 128. At its rear end the cable 124is fixed to a pulley 130 secured to a shaft 132 which also has secured thereon one element of a magnetic clutch 134. The other element of the clutch having secured thereto a sprocket, not specifically illustrated, is adapted to receive a sprocket chain 138 which also passes around the sprocket 140 secured to a transmission shaft 142 extending along the rear side of the machine. The shaft 142 is driven from an electric motor 144 by means of a sprocket chain 146 which passes around sprockets on the armature shaft of the motor and on the transmission shaft 142. When the magnetic clutch is energized by means not specifically shown the cable wire 124 is wound onto its sprocket 130 causing the nip roller assembly to be drawn rearwardIy to its extreme rearward position in which a latch 148 engages in a notch lock dial 150 to lock the assembly in this position. An adjustable stop 152 (Fig. 3) is arranged to engage an upper portion of lever arm 46 for the rearward position of the nip roller take-up assembly to more rigidly hold the frame members including levers 46 and 48 in position as the latch 148 drops into its locking position. In the engagement of the notch lock dial 150, the limit switch 154 thus opens the clutch 134 thus preventing any further movement upon the cable wire 124.

In the operation of the machine the magnetic clutch 150 is energized at some point prior to the beginning of the take-up operation to move the nip roller take-up assembly to its rearward full-line position shown in Fig. 1. After a fold of welt fabric has been formed and has been drawn between nip rollers, and after an additional five or six inches of fabric has been knitted to avoid any possibility that the fabric may be pulled out from between the nip rollers the latch 148 is automatically withdrawn from the lock dial 150 thus permitting the nip roller supporting assembly to fall outwardly under the influence of its own weight, further assisted by the pressure of spring 126 so that the entire assembly hangs upon the fabric. As additional fabric is knitted the nip roller support levers 46, 48 swing outwardly until the assembly reaches the dotted line position of Fig. 1 in which the nip roller support lever 46 engages against a fixed stop 158 on the machine.

In accordance with the invention I provide a novel welt wire take-up device which operates in a novel manner to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric be tween the two rollers of the nip roller take-up and which is thereafter automatically withdrawn and returned toa tensions 44 of the machine.

storage position in the machine preparatory for a start of another welt knitting operation, the drawing off of the fabric being continued solely by the operation of the nip roller take-up. The Welt wire take-up, referred to, comprises a pair of hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 162 secured at their upper ends to a tube 164 which is in turn rotatably supported on two horizontally disposed

support arms

166, 168, which at their rear ends are freely and pivotally mounted on

sleeve bushings

170, 172 supported on a rock shaft 174 which extends along the length of the machine and which is rotatably supported in bearings formed in the several upper bracket ex- The

horizontal support arms

166, 168 are further tied together to move as a single rigid unit by means of a cross member 176. In order to further increase the rigidity of the assembly the

support arms

166, 168 are further tied together at their forward ends by means of a cross shaft 178 which also provides a bearing support for the sleeve 164 and hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 162 which are in turn tied together toward their lower ends by means of a strap 180. The main support shaft 174 has secured thereto an upwardly extending lever 182 which is connected at its upper end with a forwardly extending push rod 184 connected at its forward end with an upwardly extending arm 186 rigidly secured to sleeve 164.

The arrangement above described is such as to permit the use of separate control devices for rocking the horizontally disposed

lever arms

166, 168 to move the welt wire and .the support arms vertically, and for rocking the hanging

weltwire supporting arms

160, 162 forward and back. The mechanism for moving the hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 162 vertically comprises a sprocket chain 190 which passes'around a sprocket 192 fixed to the arm 166 coaxially with its pivotal axis and around a sprocket 194 mounted on an auxiliary transmission shaft 196. A magnetic clutch 198 mounted on the auxiliary transmission shaft 196 provides an electrically controlled connection between the sprocket 194 and the auxiliary transmission shaft 196. The auxiliary shaft 196 is connected by a sprocket 200 and chain 202 with the transmission shaft 142 (Fig. 1) driven from motor 144. For controlling the angular positions of

support arms

166, 168 there is also provided a lock dial 204 which is fixed to the arm 166 coaxially with its pivotal axis. The dial 204 has cut therein a plurality of square notches which are adapted to engage a latch pawl 206 for certain predetermined positions of the

arms

166, 168. The pawl 206 is actuated by means of a solenoid 208 and a connecting cable 210. A limitswitch 212 arranged to contact the pawl 206 only when in its latching position provides a means for indicating when the pawl is engaged.

The assembly, in its storge position, will be disposed somewhat high. The view in Fig. 1 shows the assembly in the down, or operative position. When in the upper position, as in Fig. 5, the

arms

166 and 168 form a rather sharp angle. The latch 206, Fig. 4, will hold the assembly from movement, locking it firmly in this position. In order to reduce the weight of the assembly, counter-balancing springs 213 and 214 are attached to the ends of the

arms

166 and 168, and the other ends of the springs are fixed to the frame of the machine, downwardly. The tension of the springs is adjusted to overcome most, but not all, of the weight of the assembly,

so that it is relatively easy to raise the assembly with a small magnetic clutch, and, at the same time, leave enough weight to insure the assembly remaining down, firmly,

without the aid of the latching arrangement.

When it is desired to move the assembly downward to its operative position, the clutch 198 is energized, simultaneously with the closing of the solenoid 208. This is accomplished from a signal on the main control panel, or pattern card, at the time when the assembly is to be placed in operation. This action will also start the motor 142, in the desired direction and cause the assembly to lower. A ratiomotor, with a series of reductions through the countershafts, will impart the correct speed to the assembly. It can be moved rather slowly, since the movement is accomplished while the machine is knitting, and the motion down can be started prior to the time necessary for placing the assembly on the fabric. The exact timing is not critical. The arm 166 will strike an abutment 216 (see Fig. .4), when the assembly has reached its lowest point, and, at the same time, close a limit switch 218, which releases the magnetic clutch and stops the motor. It is not necessary that the latch 206 fall into a notch of the lock dial since the assembly is resting on the abutment 216.

When it is desired to raise the assembly another signal from the main control pattern will set up a new circuit for retracting the assembly. First, the limit switch 218 must be shunted out, then the motor switch must be reversed, and then the clutch 198 will close. This last action will start the motor 142, and the assembly will start to rise. When it reaches its highest position, latch 206 will fall into a notch, and, at the same time, operate limit switch 212 which will release the clutch, and stop the motor.

The mechanism for rocking the hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 162 forward and back includes the push rod 184 above described, connected at one end to an upward extension 186 of rod 160 and at its rear end to a lever arm 182 rigidly secured to rock shaft 174. Automatically controlled mechanism is provided for controlling the angular position of rock shaft 174 to impart desired forward and back rocking movements to the hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 172. This mechanism comprises a sprocket 222 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 174 and connected by a sprocket chain 224 with a sprocket 226 loose on the auxiliary transmission shaft 196. The sprocket 226 is arranged to be operatively connected with the auxiliary transmission shaft 196 by means of a magnetic clutch, generally designated at 228, having one element secured to the sprocket 226 and the other element to the transmission shaft 196. For locking the hanging

arms

160, 162 and associated parts in one or more predetermined angular positions there is also provided on the rock shaft 174 a lock dial 230 having formed therein a plurality of notches arranged to be engaged by a lock pawl 232 pivoted at 234 on the machine frame. The position of the lock pawl 232 is controlled by a solenoid 236 and a connecting cable 238. There is also provided a limit switch 240 having a contact which engages the lock pawl 232. The limit switch 240 is arranged to be closed when the lock pawl is in its engaged position. It will be understood that the electrical connections for controlling the operation of the lock pawl 232 and lock dial 230 by which the forward and back position of thewelt wire are controlled are similar to those previously described for controlling the operation of lock pawl 206 and lock dial 204 by which the vertical position of the welt wire assembly is controlled.

Associated with the operating connections above described is a tensioning spring 242 which is connected at one end to an upward extension of hanging arm 162 and at its other end is hooked to a stud 244 on the arm 168. The purpose of the spring 242 is in general to bias the welt cable outwardly so that it will be held in the various positions required and also to impart the required tension to the welt cable and folded welt fabric engaged thereby during the welt knitting operation.

The welt wire provided in accordance with the present invention comprises a cable 250 which consists of a length of flexible braided steel wire with a molded nylon coating for smoothness. Attached to the free end of the cable welt wire 250 is a steel button 252, bullet-shaped at its outer end and having a circumferential groove 264.

The button is further provided with an axial hole to receive the end of the cable welt wire 250 which is soldered therein. The nylon coating referred to is extended over the button252 forming a smooth exterior of the tip end of the cable. The bare end of the cable 250 passes through a curved steel tube 256 (Figs. 4 and 7) and is attached by means of a coupling 258 to the end of a steel wire 260. The wire 260 extends upwardly into a spring sheath 262 fastened at 264 to the hanging welt wire cable supporting arm 162. The wire 260 which together with its sheath 262 forms a Bowden wire extends upwardly the length of the hanging arm 162, and then rearwardly along the horizontally disposed arm 168, being at its rear end attached to a pulley 266 fixed to a welt cable retracting shaft 268. The shaft 268 and pulley 266 are rotated to retract the Bowden wire 260 and cable welt wire 250 by means of connections which include a sprocket 270 on shaft 268, a sprocket chain 272, and a sprocket 274 on the upper auxiliary transmission shaft 276 of the machine. The sprocket 274 is connected with shaft 276 by means of a magnetic clutch 278, one element of which is secured to the sprocket 274 and the other element of which is secured to the transmission shaft 276. Auxiliary transmission shaft 276 is connected with the main drive shaft 142 by means of a sprocket 280, sprocket chain 282 and a sprocket not specifically shown on shaft 142. When the main driving motor 144 is turning, and clutch 278 is energized, shaft 268 and pulley 266 will be rotated to withdraw the Bowden wire 260 and the cable welt wire 250 therewith.

The cable welt wire 250 is supported in its extended operative position stretched between the lower ends of the two hanging welt wire

cable supporting arms

160, 162 by means of a latch holder 282 mounted on the arm 160, consisting of an aperture 284 formed in the lower end of hanging arm 160 of a size to receive the button 252, and a latch 286 vertically shiftable on the hanging arm 160 and provided with an edge 288 adapted for a downward position of the latch 286 for engagement with the groove 254 in the button 252 to latch the button end of the cable welt wire 250 to the hanging arm 160. The latch 286 is supported for vertical sliding movement in two pins which extend through slots in the latch and is urged yieldingly downwardly to latching position by means of a tension spring 290 connected between 3. lug on the latch and a pin on the arm 160. The latch 286 is released by means of a Bowden wire 291 connected to the latch, extending upwardly along arm 160, rearwardly on arm 166, and at its upper end secured to the armature of a solenoid 292 secured to the frame of the machine. When the solenoid is energized in response to a signal from the main control card of the central electrical control mechanism it will pull the latch 286 causing the welt cable to release from the holder 282.

The degree of tautness with which the cable welt wire 250 is stretched between the two hanging welt

wire supporting arms

160, 162 is controlled by means of an adjustable stop 294 which is adjustably clamped to the steel wire 260 to be moved into engagement with a guide 296, thus limiting the downward movement of Wire 260 and the rear end of the cable welt wire 250- The retracting movement of the wire 260 and cable welt wire 250 under the influence of magnetic clutch 273 and associated parts is controlled by means of a limit switch 298 which is engaged by a clamp type stop 300 adjustably secured to the wire 260 when the cable welt wire has been fully withdrawn. In order to provide a positive check to the withdrawal movement of the wire 260 the coupling 258 is arranged to be brought into engagement with the fastening bracket 264 for the fully retracted position of the wire 260 and cable welt wire 250. A cable welt wire reloading mechanism is provided which acts automatically when rendered operative to draw the button end of the cable welt wire 250 across the width of the knitting section from its withdrawn position 8 on the hanging arm 162 to the stretched out position in which the button 252 is locked in by the latch on the lower end of the hanging arm 160. The cable welt wire reloading mechanism is supported on the machine to cooperate with the welt Wire assembly when supported in the fully withdrawn storage position of Fig. 5.

The cable welt wire reloading mechanism comprises a reloading carriage 304 which is mounted to slide on two guide rods 306, 308 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which are mounted on brackets 310 on the machine above the narrowing frame so that the reloading carriage 304 will be regulated with relation to the lower ends of the hanging

arms

160, 162 and welt wire cable 250 supported thereby for the raised storage position of the Welt wire mechanism illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. The reloading carriage 384 is provided with a forwardly extending fork 312 which is adapted to fit over the cable welt wire 250, but is of smaller diameter than the button 252. At that time in the operation of the machine when the welt wire support assembly is moved to its raised storage position the reloading carriage 304 associated with each knitting section will be located at the extreme right of its travel. In this position of the parts, the action of raising the welt wire assembly to its storage position which includes moving the assembly horizontally in a rearward direction would place a portion of the welt wire immediately adjacent the button into the fork 312. A small spring detent 314 mounted in the fork will cause the cable welt wire and button to be retained yieldably in position in the fork during the subsequent reloading operation, hereinafter to be described.

Movement of the carriage 304 is controlled by means of a reloading cable 316 which is in the form of an endless belt, the two ends being secured to opposite sides of the carriage 304. Along the greater portion of its length the cable 316 is mounted within a sheath 318 fastened at its two ends by brackets 320, 322 (see Fig. 9) which serve as a Bowden wire. A portion of the length of the wire 316 is, however, replaced by a section of the sprocket chain 334 which passes around a driving sprocket 336, and a second idler sprocket 338. As best shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11, driving sprocket 336 is secured to one end of the drive shaft 340 which, at its other end, is connected by two

bevel gears

342, 344 with a stud shaft 346 which carries a sprocket 348. A sprocket chain 350 passing around the sprocket 348 and around a sprocket 352 on the upper auxiliary drive shaft 276 connects the above described driving connections for the carriage 304 with the auxiliary shaft 276.

A magnetic clutch 354 having one element fast to the sprocket 352 and the other element fast on the upper auxiliary drive shaft 276 provides a convenient means for throwing the mechanism for moving the reloading carriage 304 into and out of operation.

Movement of the reloading carriage 304 in each direction is limited by means of two

limit switches

356, 358 which are arranged to be engaged respectively by two clamp type stops 360, 362 which are adjustably mounted on the cable 316 to throw the limit switches and thereby to deenergize the magnetic clutch 354 when the reloading carriage 304 reaches respectively the fully reloaded position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and the fully retracted preloading position at the right hand end of its travel adjacent the curved guide pipe 256.

The operation of knitting a stocking blank, including the formation of the welt, will be described sufiiciently to show particularly the operation of the welt cable assembly above described. It is assumed that the welt cable assembly is in the upper or storage position of Fig. 5 with the cable drawn across the knitting section and locked in the latch holder 282 in its loaded position. The reloading carriage 304 remains at the end of its travel to the extreme left until after the welt wire assembly is moved away from the storage position to start the next succeeding reloading operation.

The knitting of the welt fabric is started on the needles and on a series of welt hooks which operate in a well known manner to draw off the fabric as knitted. Inasmuch as the details of the welt mechanism and operation thereof to form the initial welt setting up course, to form a fold of welt fabric, and finally to close the welt have been fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 294,804, filed June 21, 1952 for Automatic Welt Turning Mechanism for Straight Bar Knitting Machines, and form specifically no part of the present invention, specific illustration of the welt forming operation has been omitted. It will be understood further that the invention is not limited to any specific form of welt mechanism for setting up, forming a fold in, and thereafter for closing the welt portion of the stocking.

After a suitable amount of the welt fabric has been knitted which may be in the order of two inches of such fabric, a signal from the main control pattern of the machine will set up a series of circuits for lowering the welt cable assembly. A first circuit will close the clutch 228 which will cause the assembly to be moved outwardly away from its storage position, the

arms

160, 162 and cable mounted thereon being swung outwardly in a horizontal direction. The first signal fromthe main control pattern above referred to will also raise the latch 232 so that the shaft 174 is free to turn. When the outward position of the cable 250 has been reached the latch 232 will drop into another notch of the lock dial 230, and at the same time will actuate limit switch 240 which causes clutch 232 to release. Closing of the limit switch 240 sets -in motion another circuit for lowering the assembly to its operative position, the clutch 198 will close, and the direction of rotation of motor 144 will be reversed. The latch 206 is pulled out from the notch in the dial 204 so that the horizontally disposed

lever arms

166, 168 are free to turn. As these arms swing downwardly the entire assembly is lowered until the arm 166 comes to rest against the abutment 216. At this point, limit switch 218 operates to release the driving clutch 198. The closing of the limit switch 218 is utilized also to close another circuit which, as more fully set forth in applicants copending application, above referred to, causes the welt bars to be raised and tilted at an angle of approximately 45. Thereafter, the welt cable assembly is again moved outwardly, that is, in a direction away from the needles. The movement of the welt bar to the position above referred to may, for example, be utilized to close another circuit which will again cause latch 232 to be raised and clutch 228 to be energized.

The cable welt wire 250 now tends to move under the welt bars. It will be understood that positive movement outwardly by the cable welt wire is necessary only until the last notch in the lock dial 230 has moved away from the latch 232. Thereafter the tensioning action of spring 242 is employed to force the welt cable against the fabric, and to tension the fabric as it is being knit.

Outward movement of the welt cable and its supporting hanging

arms

160, 162 will continue until the latch 232 falls into another notch on the lock "dial 230, thus limiting the outward movement of the assembly. Prior to the point at which this limit is reached the welt mechanism will have functioned to close the welt and the tension feed rollers 54, 64 will have been brought into operation to engage and to take-up the fabric. The operation of the nip rollers to engage and take up the fabric while similar to that set forth in applicants copending application may be briefly reviewed as follows:

It is assumed that the roll assembly has been moved inwardly and locked into the full line position shown 1n Fig. 1 of the drawings. From a signal on the main control panel the magnetic clutch 134 is energized. The entire nip roller assembly is then drawn rearwardly through action of the Bowden wire 124 until pawl 148 falls into a notch in lock dial 150. This motion operates 10 1 limit switch 154 as above set forth which releases a circuit to the clutch and motor. Also at the start of the rearward movement of the nip roller assembly a solenoid370 will pull in at a signal from the main control panel and will thus hold the upper roller 64 away from the lower roller 56. It will be understood that as the nip roller assembly is moved rearwardly the welt cable is holding the welt in such a position so fliat the two nip rollers 56, 64 will pass respectively under and over the welt. Just enough of the welt will be positioned between the rolls 56, 66 to be sure of nipping the fabric properly. After the rolls have been positioned inwardly in the full line position of Fig. 1 the solenoid 370 (Fig. 3) is released permitting the roll 64 to move downwardly to provide a nipping engagement of the welt between the rollers 64 and 56. As previously noted the nip rollers are rotated to ensure the continued feed of the welt away from the needles by the operation of a continuously reciprocated pawl 72 which acts against a ratchet 70 mounted on the pivot shaft 54 for roll 56 to effect a stepped rotational movement of the roll 56.

The welt wire cable is now withdrawn from the fabric. The steps by means of which this is accomplished include the energizing of solenoid 292 which raises latch 286 to release the button 252 from the holder 282 on the hanging arm 160. Assuming that the main driving motor 144 is being driven in the correct direction, magnetic clutch 278 is now energized, thus causing pulley 266 to be driven in a direction to retract the cable 260 and welt wire 250 to their retracted position as above described.

It will be understood that the welt cable assembly is now raised and then moved rearwardly to its storage position by means of electrical circuits which control the operation of the main motor 144, the

magnetic clutches

198 and 228, above described, and which also effect the simultaneous withdrawal of the

latches

206 and 232 associated with the

respective lock values

204 and 230.

Prior to the point at which the welt cable assembly is moved rearwardly to its storage position the loading magazine 304 is returned to its starting position at the extreme right so that the jaws 312 will be brought into engagement with the end portion of the cable welt wire 250 adjacent the abutment 252. This operation is accomplished by means of an electric circuit which includes the magnetic clutch 354 and by the rotation of the main motor 144 in the proper direction. Movement of the reloading carriage 304 to the right is arrested by engagement by lug 360 with limit switch 356 which acts to deenergize the clutch 354. The operation of reloading the welt wire may be accomplished at any convenient time after the cable welt wire assembly has been returned to its storage position by the closing of an electric circuit which will again include magnetic clutch 354 and motor 144 which is now driven in the reverse direction so that carriage 304 is driven to the left as shown in Fig. 9 until the button 252 has been brought to the dotted position shown, for example, in Fig. 7 whereupon movement of the carriage would be arrested by the engagement of stop 362 with stop switch 358 to deenergize magnetic clutch 354.

Novel features of the present disclosure which relate to an improved nip roller fabric take-up for a knitting machine form the subject matter of a divisional application Ser. No. 708,071, filed in the United States Patent Oflice January 10, 1958 for Fabric Take-Up for a Flat Knitting Machine.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting a welted fabric having knitting devices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles a folded welt portion of said fabric, the combination of a pliable welt wire for engagement within said folded welt portion of the fabric, and welt wire supports located at each side of said fabric to which the welt wire is secured in a stretched-out position, said welt wire supports being mounted from the machine for movement away from the needles in a take-up direction as a unit.

2. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting a welted fabric having knitting devices including needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles a folded welt portion of said fabric, the combination of a pliable welt wire for engagement within said folded welt portion of fabric, welt wire supports located at each side of said fabric to which the welt Wire is secured in a stretched-out position, means connecting said welt wire supports to move as a unit, and means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in a take-up direction.

3. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting a'welted fabric, a fabric draw-ofi mechanism to draw ofi a fold of welt fabric including a pliable welt wire, and supporting members disposed at each side of said fabric and connected for movement as aunit to which the welt wire is secured in a stretched-out position, said supporting means being mounted from the machine for movement away from the needles in a fabric take-up direction.

4. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting a welted fabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to draw off a fold of Welt fabric including a pliable welt wire,, welt wire support located at each side of said fabric and connected to move as a unit, mechanism for drawing said welt Wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports for attachment thereto in a stretched-out position between said supports, and means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in a take-up direction.

5. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to draw olf a fold of welt fabric including a pliable welt wire, welt wire support located at each side of said'fabric and connected to move as a unit, means for attaching said welt wire to said supports in a stretched-out position therebetween, means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in a takeup direction, and means actuated when rendered operative for withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports.

6. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to position therebetween, means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in a take-up direction, a roller take-up comprising 'a-pa r of rollers between which the welt fabric is drawn by said welt wire, means for actuating said rollers to take up the fabric, and means for Withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from the rollerengaged welt fabric from one to the other of said supports.

7. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric having knitting devices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles a fold of welt fabric, the combination of a welt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable weltwire, welt wire supports located at each side of said fabric and connected to move as a unit, supporting means on the machine on which said welt wire supports are movable from a withdrawn storage position to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from the needles ina take-up direction, a welt wire loading mechanism arranged to cooperate with the Welt wire take-up mechanism in said storage position to engage with and draw the welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports for attachment thereto in a stretched-out position between said supports, means for moving said supports and welt Wire supported thereby away from the needles in a take-up direction, and means actuated when rendered operative for withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports.

8. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric having knitting devices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles a fold of Welt fabric, the combination of a welt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire, hanging welt wire supports pivoted above and at each side of the needle series and connected to move as a unit, horizontally disposed lever arms pivoted on the machine on which said pivot-s are carried, means for swinging said lever arms and hanging supports to move a welt wire from a withdrawn storage position to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from the needles in a take-up direction, guide means on one of said hanging supports on which the welt wire is movable longitudinally from a retracted position to cause the leading end of the welt wire to be connected with the other of said supports in a stretched out position, a latch engaging the leading end of said welt wire with said other support, means to disengage the latch, and means acting when rendered operative to withdraw the welt wire longitudinally to said retracted position on one of said supports.

9. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric having knitting devices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles "a fold of welt fabric, the combination ofa welt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire,

iwelt wire supports located at each side of said fabric and connected to move as a unit, guide means on one of said supports on which the welt wire is movable longitudinally between a retracted position associated with one only of said supports and an advanced stretched-out position connected between said supports, supporting means on the machine on which said welt wire supports are movable from a withdrawn storage position to en- .gage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from the needles in a take-up direction, a welt wire loading mechanism operable for said storage position of the welt wire mechanism to engage with and draw the welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports, means for attaching the welt wire to said other support in a stretched-out position between said supports, means for movingtsaid supports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in a take-up direction, a roller take up comprising a pair of take-up rollers between which the welt fabric is drawn by said welt wire, and means acting when rendered operative to withdraw the welt wire longitudinally from the roller-engaged welt fabric to said retracted position.

10. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric having knitting devices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing off from the needles a fold of welt fabric, the combination of a welt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire, hanging welt wire supports pivoted above and at each side of the needle series and connected to move as a unit, horizontally disposed lever arms pivoted on the machine on which said pivots are carried, means for actuating said lever arms and hanging supports to move a welt wire from a storage position to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from the needles in a take-up direction, guide means on one of said hanging supports on which the welt wire is movable longitudinally, a welt wire loading mechanism operable for said storage position of the welt Wire take-up mechanism to engage with-and draw a leading end of the pliable welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports, a stop device on said first support to limit the ad- 13 power driven means to withdraw the welt wire longitudinally from the welt fabric to a retracted position on the said one of said supports.

11. In a flat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, the method of drawing off a fold of welt fabric from the needles, which comprises drawing a pliable welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of a pair of supports spaced from one another at opposite sides of the fabric to move as a unit, securing the welt wire to the latter of said supports in a stretched out position between the supports, and moving said supports and pliable welt wire therewith against the welt fabric to draw off a fold of said welt fabric from the needles.

12. In a flat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, the method of engaging and withdrawing a welt wire from a fold of welt fabric, which comprises extending a welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of a pair of supports spaced from one another at opposite sides of the fabric to move as a unit, and securing the welt wire in position on said supports, moving said supports and welt wire therewith against the welt fabric to draw off a fold of said welt fabric from the needles, releasing the welt wire from one of said supports, and withdrawing the welt wire from the fold of welt fabric onto the other of said supports.

13. In a flat knitting machine, the method of engaging and withdrawing a pliable welt wire from a fold of welt fabric, which comprises locating welt wire supports spaced from one another at opposite sides of the fabric at a loading station, extending a welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports at said loading station, and securing the welt wire on said supports, moving said supports and welt wire against the welt fabric to draw off a fold of welt fabric, and releasing the welt wire from one support and withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from the fold of welt fabric onto the other of said supports.

14. In a fiat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, the method of engaging against and withdrawing a pliable welt wire from a fold of welt fabric,

which comprises extending said pliable welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of a pair of supports spaced from one another at opposite sides of the fabric to move as a unit, securing the pliable welt wire to the latter of said supports in a stretched out position between said supports, moving said supports and pliable welt wire secured thereto to draw a fold of the welt fabric from the needles between a pair of take-up rollers, turning said rollers to further draw off the welt fabric from the needles, releasing the pliable welt wire from the latter of said supports, and withdrawing the pliable welt wire longitudinally from the fold of welt fabric onto the other of said supports.

15. In the manufacture of a full-fashioned hose, a method of handling said hose'as it issues from the knitting machine, which comprises, placing a welt wire in the fabric of said hose to form a fold of welt fabric, drawing said hose from the needles of said machine by said welt wire, drawing said fold of welt fabric and said welt wire between rolls, turning said rolls to draw said hose from said machine, and withdrawing said welt wire in an endwise direction from said welt as said hose is being drawn by said rolls.

16. In a full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting welt fabric, a bed of needles, means for operating said needles to knit loops of knitted fabric, means including a welt wire to engage with and form a fold of welt fabric, tensioning means comprising a pair of nip rolls, means for actuating the nip rolls to take up the fabric as knitted, means for drawing the welt wire and fold of welt fabric therewith through said nip rolls, and means for withdrawing said Welt wire in an endwise direction from said fold of welt fabric as the fabric is being knitted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS