US2861443A - Controller for knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 F. c. wlEslNGER 2,851,443

CONTROLLER FOR KNITTING MACHlfNE Filed July 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll 51') HH om Soo 1N VENTOR.

E BY FREDERICK CwsfNeER A TTORNE Y Nov. 25, 1958 F, c. WIE-:SINGER coNTRoLLER FOR KNITTING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 9, 1957 Mig A TTORNEY INVENTOR. FREDERICK C WsmGER CONTROLLER FOR KNITING MACHINE Frederick C. Wiesinger, Feasterville, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,734

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-155) This invention pertains to controller means for knitting machines which knit through various phases of a cycle and which require changes only at spaced, short intervals in said cycle, and more particularly, to means for arresting the action of certain of the controller parts except when there is need for its function.

It is a general object of the invention to improve the operation of a knitting machine'of the type described, to render its action more silent especially when running at higher speeds and to increase the life of controller parts some of which have heretofore become worn rather quickly even though the need for their function has been limited to only a very short part of the complete knitting cycle.

Other objects will become apparent from the following, more detailed disclosure.

Knitting machines such as that of United States Patent 2,082,127 are employed for knitting articles such as sweater blanks, for example, during which the knitting cycle is changed at frequent intervals, for example, to change yarns being fed, to rack the dial, to etect transfer of stitches from one set of needles to another, to change stitch length, knit separation courses, etc. To time these changes and effect them in proper sequence a controller unit such as that of the patent above cited or United States Patent Re. 23,554 may be employed.

The machine itself is preferably provided with two speeds and changes are usually effected at low speed. The knitting is carried on at a higher speed and thus the controller unit is designed to operate at the lower speed, generally speaking, and, if practicable, it would be desirable to stop the function of all its parts at all other times. Of course, cessation of all movement is not possible, but the pattern advance is stopped and thus there is no selecting function completed, but that part of the mechanism by which a selector lever is caused to impart its selection through to other members has continued to operate and at the high speed knitting, wear and noise occasioned have been very annoying.

According to the instant invention, these undesirable characteristics of the prior art are overcome and motion of the controller parts is limited to rotation of certain gears and shafts all of which are balanced and function more or less idly, but at the most do no more than to advance a pattern chain thereby to control the general cycle.

This chain comprised of differentiated links has for one function the control of stopping and starting the drum and pattern and also, according to the invention, effects certain changes which bring about a cessation of movement of several other parts. As will be described in detail, the parts which do continue in operation are incidental to continued operation in properly timed relation to other parts. The mechanism may always be stopped and then restarted in such a way as to bring the controller and pattern into action with all parts properly synchronized. Y

The invention will be set forth in greater detail by ice reference to one specific form the mechanism may take as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention as applied to a typical knitting machine.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the controller unit.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts as seen from the opposite side.

Fig. 4 is a right hand end view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 isa left end view of part of the mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of certain parts at the left hand side of the device.

Fig. 8 is a section taken at line 8 8, Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken at line 9 9, Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a section taken at line 10 10, Fig. 6.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the controller unit is Ycommonly mounted on a bracket 20 bolted to the lower part of a knittingmachine frame and comprises among other parts, a slotted guide member generally indicated by numeral 21 within which are guided for vertical movement a plurality of selector bars 22 each of which is urged downwardly by means of one of the springs 23 attached to a hooked or other portion of the bar and also to the outer end of a spring anchoring member 24. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the unit also comprises certain frame side members 25' and 26 within which are rotatably mounted several different parts of the device. At 'the front a shaft 27 is rotatable in appropriate bearings in the forwardly directed frame parts Z8 and 29. This shaft has fixed thereon a slotted drum 30 similar to that shown in patents above mentioned and having at its ends sprockets 31 and 32 adapted to maintain properly aligned with the drum a paper or other more or less continuous type of pattern indicated by letter P and having differently disposed groups of perforations 33 punched therein, these perforations aligning with the slots in the drum for a purpose hereinafter to be explained. This drum has sixteen slots and the shaft 27 has carried thereon beyond the bearing 28 a Geneva wheel 34 which with its hub 35 is maintained in an adjustable, fixed position by means of certain devices at 36 well known in the trade since the same form parts of the well known circular Jacquard type knitting machine. The disc 34 has provision for sixteen movements when advanced as will be explained, one movementcorresponding to an advance of the drum and pattern throughout one slot or one row of perforations.

A plurality of selector levers 37 are pivoted at 38, Figs. 2 and 8, and these levers formed as shown have spring pressed pins 39 adjacent their outer Vor relatively free ends, the pins being adapted to drop through a perforation and to enter a slot in the drum so that when advanced throughout a selecting movement, the drum will carry selected levers forwardly since each of the levers is slotted as at 39. These levers are guided within each of the selector bars 22 and each of these bars is l, adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of its respective lever whenever that lever is selected and is then moved upwardly to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 8.

As shown in both Figs. Zand 8, a rocking lifter bar comprising a transverse bar 40 fixed to the ends lof arms 41 and 42 is adapted to be swung about shaft 38 since the said arms are pivoted thereat. The arm 42 also carries an upper follower 43 and a lower follower 44, each of these being engageable by certain cams. The upper follower 43 is engaged on its cam 4S while a complementary cam 46 acts upon follower 44 so that the arms and the transverse bar 49 tied together as a unit, are periodicallyY 3 swung to and fro so long as all of the mechanism is in operation. This transverse bar 40 is so positioned'as shown lin Figs. l, 3 and 8 that if a lever 37 is not selected,

thebar uponritvs upwardniovementmerelyswingsinto .a

with the drum and pattern beingmoved step by step at v each of 1whichrsteps l onemor morelofthelevers 137 may befselected and moved rearwardlyNwhereuponthose that are selected are immediately engaged by-y the upwardiy moving transverse b ar Attendere A elevated Ato complete their intended fundtioii, Allfofthe-leversj37 are urged by means of springs 4t?n toward the frjontaof the -unit, that it, in a direction vto assume a non-selected position. To

make that function positive, an( eccentric'49jis continuously rotated in order to press againstthe rearmost parts of the levers so that nojonej may stick/'in position and thereby cause unintended selection of ia bar and, of course, the diiculties which would beforthcoming if that should happen. n

The swinging arm pivoted onshaft 3S as described has a dependingl portion U in which'is set a wire or other arm 51* to which is connected a tensioned spring 52 which normally tendsto Vreturn theparts to a lowermost position. However, since. the cams 45 and 46 are complementary cams there is no need for the spring 52 except that it tends .to keep the mechanism biased in the direction of `maintaining vthe' follower 43 tightly against earn 45 at all times'. 'that reduces noise and wear.

Now referring to Figs. 2 and 3,y a sprocket l535 is mounted at the outer end of a studshaft 54 fixed in the frame side member whichstud shaft also carries several. other parts including a large Geneva Wheel 55' and a disc 56 separated by a centrally disposed spacing portion 57. A gear 58 is alsofreely rotatable on stud shaft 54 and is driveniby means hereinafter to he described. The sprokct'SS, also loose on the stud shaft, is looked tothe" gear 53 byfmeans of a plungerv 59 capable of being withdrawn by the thuri'b grip 66 but normally spring pressed into positionto lock the sprocket iii any one of sixteen different angular positions. This sprocket carries chain f6.1 which is the pattern chain above mentioned and which has normaler lovglinksV andalsohigh links 62, these being adapted to affect a follower 63 in `a manner and for a purpose hereinaftertqbr desfibsd- Now having described several shafts and the parts on them, the imanner in whichthese parts are rotated will be explained: The drive is taken from any convenient moving part'of theimachine-proper,here a miter gear 64 fixed to a shaft (not :shownlwhich is connected to the machine'ringgear forl continuous'rotation. This gear 64 meshesfwith `a second miter vgear 65 integral with a hub 66 and spur gear 67, these being free to rotate on a double width gear 72, both'ofthese being free on a cam-V shaft v3. T he mechanismdescnbed to this point has been 'found in the prior art,` but fromthisPFint on thel drive'providesfor stoppingthis cam shaft `at high speed operation, but bringing it back in at low speed, that is, when Vchanges are to be eiecte'd.

This rotation of gears 71 and 72 may be imparted to shaft '73 through a sliding, dog clutch 74. This clutch hasl a tooth 75 which vis ycaught by a tooth 76 on gear 72 and is slidably-Vkeyed` tothe'shaft by key 77. second' tooth78 is adapted to be engaged against a xed man 19 which is a part of a plate sa adjustabty bolted to an endmember Sl'in turn attached 'to plateV 82e);-A

4 tending up from horizontal frame piece 83, Figs. I, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

The teeth 75 and 76, when engaged (clutch to the' right), drive through to shaft 73 at the end of which are keyed cams 45 and 46. When the clutch is moved to the* left the drive s broken and the shaft andcams are stopped as tooth 78 contacts that at-79. Thus the parts are posi@ tively held against rotation as soon as the drive is dis-- continued and as there are only single teeth'at either endT of the clu'tc'h, it can only be picked upagain'in 'a properlyl timed relationship.- The slots atY the plate 80 permit ani angular adjustment of the tooth 79 to stop the parts at' the proper position.

As shownin Figs. l, 2, 7 and 9, al shaft 84 has freely rotatable and slidable-thereon, a long hub S5' on which are cut two gears 86 and 87 and a ange S8. This hub also mounts a switch cam S9 having a V-shaped point 9i). Thev gear 86 is driven by gear 72 so Vthatthefhub as rotates continuously.' YItdrivesY bac'ktlto'ugti gear 87 5to 'a Ydouble 'length'cd l'gea`r"91' freeV oncarn shaft 73" and, as seen in Figs. Zand 7, tha'tdrive is carried on through an intermediate vgearv 92 to Va pinion 93 fastened' to eccentric shaft 941 The flange 88 engages withinfa groove 95 in the dog clutch 74 and endwisernovement 'of the hub 85 'effects a similar movement'of the dog clutch.` Two posts 96?' and 97 move verticallyin 'the base or frame member $32!' Post 97'is longer and attaches by a hinge pin' 98 to va` lever'9'9i L A .leverll is Ypivoted at 101 and connects' hy its .slotted ends andpins 102 and 103 tothe postsv softhat as one is moved upwardlyg'the other moves downlwar'dly. and vice versa. switch carri point '90"to 'move thehub endwise on' its shaft. When pst is contacted bythis cam the hub and functionally."'integral partsfare moved to the right inthe 4figures and'that'eieetstwo changes. First'a pin 104 set'in gear 87 is positioned toast upon the Geneva wheel 34 to advancezthedrumand"pattern one step for eachrotation of the hubjgor clutch 74.` Also, the latteris pulled to theright; Fig.2, and the `-teeth 75 'and 76" engage to start rotationjofk thecam shaft'73 and thusthe 'action of the vlifter' bar *40; rotated Yat all times anyway.

Since the shaft V94`is thuscontinuously rotated, it serves' as' a crossdriveto parts 'at theopposite'side of the unit- At that end'of the' shaft a diskltlrcarrying a pin106fA is fixed; That pin stepsGenevawheel S5 ahead one notchy at each revolution' of the ldisk.y Then'- that wheel through:

disk156 Aand a pin 107* advances a Geneva wheel 108= free on shaftV 94 and also integral' with'a gear 1(99.v "-Thef latter meshes' with'and'drives `largegear 58 and, of c'ourse` the sprocket 53 to advance the chain.

It is to be understood-thatjeach Geneva wheel anditssA driver are constructed as usrual'so thatthe wheel locks" when not being.y advanced. I The chain linksact upon a followerlt, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which through arm; Y 4pivotedfat 11-1` in bracket.u

112, actson a link 1134v to raise' or lower an arm 114.. Link 113 is connected'at 11S to arm 110' fand at 116 to ar'mm114.

This arm 114 has a notchedend .which bearsunder the adjacent'end ofV the .lever199, Figs.4 3 and 4. A spring. 117 pulls these parts downwardly toward a stop screw..

118fhy which an Vadjustmentmay. be made.'Vv

This farin`114'alsoaiects a switch '119' and other parts to changehfrom high' tolowi speed Tand .vice versa;`

VWhen' on low links of the'chaim-themachiue is` running.A

at high speed and post 97`s elevate-d. Thatmeans that These serve in .conjunction with" The eccentric 49y is rotate smoothly and do not involve much by way of noise or avoidable wear.

At a high link on the chain the follower 63 is lifted and the machine `drive is changed to slow speed. Also the post 96 rises and shifts the hub to the right. Pin 104 then starts the periodic advance of the drum and pattern. At the same time clutch 74 moves to the right and the teeth 75 and 76 pick up the shaft and cam drive where left so that the bar 40 may elevate a lever or levers 37 which are selected at each step. Corresponding bars 22 are also raised to perform a known function and are later to be released in known manner.

The drum and pattern are timed to advance just before the levers have been lowered enough for their pins to strike the pattern.

When the change has been completed, the follower drops 4from a high link and the parts change to their high speed relationship. Of course, this cycle may lbe repeated as often as is necessary for the completion of a knitted article.

The gear ratios, number of levers and bars, the number of slots in a drum and for each Geneva motion may -be altered to suit each individual situation. The extent and makeup of a pattern card and of the chain 61 are, of course, variable to a great extent and may be set up according to the particular cycle of knitting desired to be followed.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may -be carried out in a number of Ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a controller mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a slotted drum over which van endless strip pattern having pattern determining indicia is passed, sensing means for reading said indicia and for transmitting the dictates of said pattern to means to be controlled thereby, a means for imparting a step by step movement to the drum and a swinging motion to those sensing means selected at each step, and other means for starting and stopping said drum and for rendering active and inactive the means Ifor imparting said swinging movement in accordance with active and inactive parts of a cycle through which said controller means functions.

2. In a controller mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a slotted drum over which an endless strip pattern having pattern determining indicia is passed, sensing means for reading said indicia and for transmitting the dictates of said pattern to means to be controlled thereby, a means for imparting a step by step movement to the drum and a cooperating movement of those sensing means which have been selected at each step, and means including a second pattern means for starting and stopping the drum and for rendering active and inactive the sensing means which includes shiftable means adapted to be clutched and declutched in accordance with the active and inactive parts of a cycle through which said controller means functions.

3. In a controller mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a slotted drum over which -an endless strip pattern having pattern determining indicia is passed, sensing means for reading said indicia and for transmitting the dictates of said pattern to means to be controlled thereby, Ia means for imparting a step by step movement to the drum and a cooperating swinging movement of those sensing means selected at each step, shiftable means for starting and stopping said drum and pattern, and a second means responsive to that for stopping and starting the drum and pattern for rendering active and inactive the means for imparting swinging movement to the sensing means.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for swinging said selected sensing means comprises cam and follower means and in which a means for rotating said cam means comprising a clutch movable to two positions in one of which it establishes a driving relationship and in the other of which it locks said cam means against further movement.

5. In a controller mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a slotted drum over which an endless strip pattern having pattern determining indicia is passed, sensing means for reading said indicia and for transmitting the dictates of said pattern to means to be controlled thereby, a means for imparting a step by step movement to the drum and a cooperating swinging movement of those sensing means selected at each step, shiftable means for starting and stopping said drum and pattern, and a second means responsive to that for stopping and starting the drum and pattern for rendering active and inactive the means for imparting swinging movement to the sensing means, said means for starting and stopping the drum and pattern and rendering active and inactive the means to impart swinging movement comprising continuously intermeshed gearing yand clutch means capable of engagement in only a single driving relationship.

6. In a controller mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a slotted drum over which an endless strip pattern having pattern `determining indicia is passed, sensing means for reading said indicia and for transmitting the dictates of said pattern to means to -be controlled thereby, a means for imparting a step by step movement to the drum, a lifter bar and a cam and follower means to impart motion to said lifter bar for raising those sensing means selected at each step, said means for imparting movement to the drum comprising a Geneva mechanism, means to render said Geneva mechanism active and inactive, a clutch through which sai-d cam and follower means is driven, a single tooth connection between said clutch and cam drive means, and a means between said Geneva mechanism drive and clutch for coordinating the action of the two.

7. Mechanism as dened in claim 6 wherein a single tooth stop is further provided for stopping and holding said clutch and cam and follower means in a denitely timed relationship between active phases of the cycle.

8. Mechanism as `defined in claim 6 wherein a pattern means is provided for determining the stopping and starting points of the parts during their cycle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,554 Miller Sept. 30, 1952 1,653,207 Gordon Dec. 20, 1927 2,082,127 Sirmay June 1, 1937 2,395,823 Hayhurst Mar. 5, 1946

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