US2895317A - Means for transferring loops in knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1959 c. F. MILLER ETAL MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES 4 .Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR. CHARLES F. Mm.

EQ THOMQS C. LYSTELE Filed. March 24, 1955 y 1, 1959 c. F. MILLER ET AL 2,895,317

ERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES MEANS FOR TRANSF Filed March 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVNTOR. CHA2LE5 F MILLER THOMA$ C. LYTEF;

.4 TTURNE Y uly 1 1959 c. F. WLLER Em 2,895,317

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ZONE 1 zomzs ZONE 5 zowaz:

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A G 60% g f 63 57 INVENTOR. Cumalhas FT MILLER THOMQS C. LYSTER ham A TTORNE V July 21, 1959 SEAL 2,895,317

MEANS we rmmsmamm LOOP-S w KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VENTO CHQRLE MILL THOMAS C. LXSTER.

A TTORNE Y IVLEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES Charles F. Miller and Thomas C. Lyster, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,557

8 Claims. (Cl. 6624) This invention relates to a novel means for transferring loops from one group of needles to another in knitting machines of the type having angularly disposed beds.

It is a general object of the invention to devise an apparatus by which transfer of loops from either group of needles to the other in machines of the type described shall be facilitated and rendered more certain.

A further object is that of devising a transfer instrument which shall function in the slot with its needle, being generally of the same thickness as the needle and having adjacent its loop engaging end means by which it acts as a support and guide for the needle.

Another object is that of providing in a transfer instrument a point for entering a loop which is not split along the length of the instrument and which therefore, may be designed to guide and be guided by the needle at the point end.

It is a further object to devise a transfer instrument which shall position the loop to be transferred very accurately for engagement by the needle to which transfer is to be made.

' A further object is that of providing a transfer instrument of bifurcated type through the opening in which the opposed needle is passed and the forked part of which shall be separable laterally at a position behind the point of the instrument, and yet one which is easily manufactured, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects will become obvious from the following disclosure.

It is common practice in knitting machines having angularly opposed beds, e.g., dial and cylinder machines or opposed flat bed machines, to knit on needles in one or both beds and then to transfer stitches from needles of one bed to those of the other bed. There are, however, practical limitations upon doing this in that these machines almost always depend upon needles with loop spreading and holding clips, separate transfer instruments and the like, the successful functioning of which depends to a considerable degree upon the disposal of the fabric to the needles from which transfer is to be made. For example, in a dial and cylinder machine the fabric is taken up by being drawn down within the cylinder so that transfer from the cylinder to the dial is easily effected by use of clipped needles or with successfully employed transfer instruments. The needles or instruments may be projected upwardly through the loops to be transferred, their movement being opposed by the pull on the fabric. The same procedure attempted at the dial is not as successful since these needle clips or the transfer instruments to penetrate a loop and to spread or enlarge it as required, must have resistance or else they merely push the loop away. At the dial or in a direction perpendicular to the fabric plane, this undesirable condition prevails so that there is a definite and prohibitive lack of resistance needed for a successful transfer in that direction.

For this reason the practice in the industry is to produce such fabrics as may be knit with a rib cuif (1 X 1 rib, for example) and then to transfer stitches from the atent O l Patented July 21, 1959 cylinder needles to intermediate dial needles and to continue on the dial making reverse jersey fabric until another article and a second rib cuff is to he formed.

It is desirable to do the opposite, especially since patterning is more easily accomplished while .knitting on the cylinder group of needles. Also it is desired to knit a 1 X 1 rib cuff or other section of rib fabric between two jersey sections, this meaning a transfer in each direction so that it becomes essential that the machine be provided for transfer from cylinder to dial and vice versa. Such practice and also the possibility of transferring from dial to cylinder are usefully employed in many ways, for example, in fashioning on circular knitting machines, or making a standard two draw thread separation in conjunction with a 1 x 1 rib cuflf.

Again, especially for finer gages of material, it becomes necessary to devise a transfer instrument and needle combination which may function in narrow slots in the needle beds and which may not be open to the common fault that the point fails to enter its loop properly or fails to register with the needle to which transfer is made.

According to the invention a transfer instrument is associated with each needle from which a loop is to be transferred, the needle and instrument sliding in the same slot and being so operated by a cam set, later described in detail, which, when a loop is to be transferred will control the needle to hold its loop while the instrument is extended outwardly. The movement of the instrument is one such that the loop is entered to the fullest extent necessary while the loop is still positively held. Thus it is no longer essential that the pull of the fabric contribute to successful transfer. The operation is universal- 1y effective to or from either group of needles.

The instrument itself will be described in detail along with a disclosure of the particular part it plays in the fabric forming process.

The invention will be described by reference to a preferred embodiment and modification thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is the first of a series of progressive views showing the steps in transferring a loop from a dial to a cylinder needle in a dial and cylinder type knitting machine.

Figs. 2 through 9 are similar figures showing progressively more advanced steps in the method.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a preferred transfer instrument.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the instrument of Fig. 10 with a cooperating needle in its related position.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of cams used in effecting a transfer from dial to cylinder.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of transfer instrument and needle.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the instrument and needle of Fig. 13.

Figs. 15-19 are views showing the method as applied in a flat, V-bed knitting machine.

Now referring to Figs. 1-9, a preferred form of the invention may be applied in a body machine having a cylinder 20 and a dial 21, each of which is slotted to form a bed for cylinder needles 22 and dial needles 23. These needles have the usual operating butts which are affected by cams to be described, and are preferably latch needles although with certain modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in this art, other types such as spring beard needles may be utilized.

While the novel transfer instruments described and claimed herein are universally applicable to either bed, it is contemplated that each needle group shall be provided with transfer instruments. The cams and the illustrative example of these Figs. 1-9 are particularly concerned with a transfer from dial to cylinder.

A transfer instrument 24 accompanies needle 22 in its.

slot and a similar instrument is associated with needle 23. While the needles are rather standard in design the instruments are quite unusual and will now be described referring to Figs. 10 and 11.

Each instrument is formed with a shank 26 which is, in fact of strip material folded at the end of the instrument at which the material is wide enough to form butt 27. The latter is'inturned at one side as at 28 to leave smooth, substantial surfaces against which the cams may function. The folded material is spot welded as at 29 and 30 and the remaining part is then forked or bifurcated to extend forwardly in long and short sides 31 and 32, respectively. While the two halves of the shank are herein shown spaced slightly, they are in a practical instance pressed rather tightly in contact, or may be riveted with a spacer or spacers between the two parts.

"The shank up to the point of divergence of the side members is, adapted to rest above or outside the needle 23 sliding on it and actually, the thickness of each should be the same. "The slots in beds are of appropriate width to accommodate the needle and instrument shanks out to or up to a point within which the wider or bifurcated part of the instrument never enters. They are discontinued then leaving adjacent the outer dial and upper end of the cylinder, forecuts 33 and 34 over which loops are measured and drawn during knitting. The sides 31 and 32 are much wider than the shank, being extended down to the level of the under side of the needle and turned under to support it at a number of places. The outer dial is stepped down at the terminal point of the slots so that these supporting pads may bear effectively thereon. One such support is evident beneath weld 3d as a part of the side 32 is bent under at 35. This constitutes a support for the needle and also a pad on which the instrument itself rides. It also constitutes a stop preventing possible overtravel of the instrument inwardly of the dial or downwardly in the cylinder.

As can be seen in Fig. 10, the sides 31 and 32 are caused to converge slightly so that when closed (full lines) the inner width is about the same asthat of a slot for the needle. At the end of the instrument, side 31 comes to a V-shaped tip 36. At about the starting point of the convergence of the sides they are also cut down to present shoulders 37, the sides being of only about the same height as the width of the needle from these shoulders to the tip 36.

Just in front of these shoulders the side members are built up to present lugs 38, one at each side, which prevent the loop from being displaced as the needle is moved out to clearing position. The tip section or long side of the bifurcated part of the instrument is channel shaped so it guides the needle and vice versa, especially when the instrument is moved out to enter the loop in a needle hook. Thus the solid or non-split tip 36 being centered with its needle must enter its loop.

The short side 32 is tapered downwardly as at 39 and bent under to form a part 40 which engages a rearwardly inclined surface 41 at the lower part of the channel section adjacent the tip 36. An upwardly directed part 42 of this channelled end of the instrument is tapered in either direction as are all other surfaces over which a loop may slip so that there shall be no tendency to hang or snag. Normally, the sides are resiliently maintained closed, but may be spread as in the dot-and-dash line position when the instrument is withdrawn to leave its loop on the needle to which transfer is made; the parts spring outwardly and the needle may be deflected slightly to one side.

The sides 31 and 32 behind the shoulders 37 are'formed with as wide an opening as possible for sure entry of the needle from the other bed and yet may not be wider than practical for clearance between the forecuts 33 or 34 as. the case may be.

The shank and part of the side members are cut away atl43 .and-44 to provide space for the needle latch when the needle is withdrawn and the instrument extended, and so that the upper part of the shank can be riveted nearer the tip than otherwise would be the case if support 35 remains where it is.

Now referring to Figs. l9, a description of the steps involved will be given. While, for simplicity, a single dial and a single cylinder needle are mentioned, it is to be understood that when going from rib to jersey, all dial needles which have loops thereon normally have their loops transferred to cylinder needles. That is done progressively as the cams affect their needles and instruments during relative rotation of the parts.

In Fig. 1, assuming all needles to be retracted, a loop is shown in the hook of the dial needle 23 and it. is to be understood that the fabric depends within the cylinder 2%) as shown. This may be a situation in which all loops are on dial needles or if the change is from rib to jersey, then alternate stitches are on rib and on cylinder needles. Then the transfer is of loops on dial needles tointermediate cylinder needles. In some instances it may be-n'ec-' essary to rack the dial to bring the proper needles into register, but in any event the process is fundamentally as herein described once the situationfor transfer is set up.

The dial needle must hold its loop until the instrument has fully penetrated it. In Fig. 2 that point has been reached and the loop is held against shoulders 37 and restrained by lugs 38 from moving forwardly on the instrument as the needle is then extended to clear the latch, Fig. 3. The needle is then retracted, Fig. 4, and the instrument must be moved outwardly to its fullest extent, Figs. 5 and 6, thereby to extend the loop and to bring the widest, open part of the instrument into register with cylinder needle 22. The latter having had its latch opened, is then raised to enter between sides 31 and 32 of the in strument and to penetrate the loop, Fig. 7.

Finally, the loop being safely on the cylinder needle,'the instrument is retracted, Figs. 8 and 9, leaving the loop on needle 22 which may then be controlled in such manner as desired according to the knitting sequences to be followed. As the instrument is withdrawn the sides 31 and 32 spring apart slightly and yet enough to permit needle 22 to slip out the lateral opening. The needle may be slightly deflected, but the amount of flexing to which any of the parts is subjected is not enough to cause misalignment even over extended periods of use.

If the transfer is from a cylinder to a dial needle, the process is merely reversed and, in fact, one may transfer to and fro more or less at will. For interspersingrib cuffs and jersey material, all needles knitting in one bed,

or alternate ones of those needles, give up their loop to needles in the opposite bed, but in instances, e.g., for fashioning or other work at spaced zones about the fabric, loops may be selectively transferred from relatively few needles which may vary from course to course or other wise.

Referring to Fig. 12 cams for eifecting the necessary movements of the needles are shown. Dial cams at the top of the figure are related to cooperating'cylinder cams at the bottom of the figure which is divided into zones each of which corresponds to one or more of. Figs. 1 through 9.

Beginning at the right side of the figure, the cams moving as shown by the arrow, the cylinder needles are all raised by cam 45 to open their latches. At the dialthe spaced radially from the dial center, but when a transfer is indicated, those cams are pattern controlled to move However, in this zone cor responding to Fig. 1 the butts of instruments are notto the position shown here.

affected.

In the next zone corresponding to Fig. '2, thecylinder needles are unafiected and cam 49 moves the instrument g butts to pathway 52 where the shoulders 37 bear against their loop. The dial needles remain as they were holding their loops in their hooks.

In zone 3, corresponding to Fig. 3, the instrument and cylinder needles are not moved, but the dial needle is fully projected to clear its latch by cam 53 and a movable cam 54. For these purposes the latch clearing movement is. carried to greater extent than might otherwise be needed. Cam 54 is pattern controlled in any convenient way.

Zone 4 includes one function, the retracting of the dial needle by the guard portion 55 of movable cam. '4 and fixed cam 56. The loop is then off the dial needle and held on the instrument.

At zone 5, cam 57 starts the cyli-nde needle upwardly while cam 58in the dial moves the instrument outwardly to the point of Fig.5.

Zones 6 and 7 are combined, the transfer instrument first being moved all the way out, Fig. 7, by cam 59, and the cylinder needle, affected by cam 60 is passed up through the instrument and loop. The showing of Fig. 6 relates to an intermediate position of these parts. These earns 59 and 60 are adjustable and may be pattern controlled.

.At zone 8, the instrument is being retracted by cam 61 and the cylinder needle is drawn down to the extent provided by cam 62; it remains in that position momentarily as the instrument is being withdrawn into the dial, Fig. 8.

After that, the instrument when it has been affected further by the cam 61, will have its butt guided in circular pathway 47 until the next transfer. The cylinder needle moves to the position of Fig. 9 by cam 63 whereupon the operation is completed and knitting may then continue on the cylinder needles or on dial needles and such cylinder needles as had loops transferred to them.

The invention is equally applicable to other than dial and cylinder machines, for example, flat, V-bed machines in which transfer of loops is frequently made from needles in one bed to those in the other for various reasons, just as in the case of the circular machine above disclosed.

Referring to Figs. 15, such a flat, V-bed knitter is very briefly indicated having beds 64 and 65 which are slotted in the usual manner for needles 66 and 67, herein shown as of latch type. Transfer instruments 68 and 69 to be described in detail are guided in the slots with their needles and bear upon the needles. An instrument of this sort is shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and is perhaps simpler than that previously described. These V-bed machines present slightly less of a problem in that the fabric depends between the beds and its resistance is of advantage when transferring, although the use of the method herein claimed renders certain the transfer of loops in some fabrics and for some materials where a great deal of trouble has been experienced heretofore.

The instrument is formed by bending a properly shaped piece of sheet material at the end of butt 70 as with the form first mentioned, and the shank 71 of double thickness equal to that of the cooperating needle is spot welded at 72 and 73. The material is formed wider at the front or loop engaging end to extend down slightly below the lower needle shank or back of the needle. Actually, the slots are terminated at the point Where in the most retracted position, the wider, deeper part 74 of the instrument begins. The beds are not slotted from there out but have forecuts 75 and 76, Fig. 15, at their outer ends.

The instrument sides 77 and 78 diverge and continue parallel for a short extent whereupon they converge slightly to a width at the tip which permits side flanges 79 and 80 to form a channel in conjunction with the split under part of the tip within which the needle may slide freely. The tip 81 is rather pointed, split at the center, and permits a needle from the opposite bed which f; has been moved into the eye formed by sides 77 and 78 to spring the two parts slightly as required when the instrument is retracted.

Shoulders 82 serve to hold the loop in opened position for receiving the needle to which it is to be transferred.

Now having described the instrument, the steps which go to make up the complete method are to be discussed. In Fig. 15, knitting has progressed to a point where all or some needles in bed 64 are to give up their stitches to certain needles in bed 65.

Discussing the process as related to two needles only, in Fig. 16, instrument 68 is projected outwardly while retaining the loop in the hook of needle 66; thus the point must enter the loop until the latter is contacted by shoulders 82.

The latch of the needle is next cleared, Fig. 17, and then the needle retracted as the point moves out to align the eye of the instrument with needle 67 in the opposite bed. That needle is moved up through the loop and the retraction of the instrument leaves the loop on needle 67. This final position, Fig. 19, shows the reversal of knitting from the starting position, Fig. 1.5.

Of course, the transfer instrument 68 is adapted to guide the needle and to be centered by its own engagement with the needle. While it opens at its center line the gage of these machines is usually rather coarse so there is little chance of the material becoming caught at the opening line. If desired, the same construction of instrument as first described may be substituted in these V-bed or other machines. When employing the instrument of Figs. 10 and 11 in a flat machine, it is desirable to make the end instruments right or left handed, as the case may require, so that the pull of the fabric as it contracts will tend to close rather than open the points.

While one preferred. embodiment and a modification have 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.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in each bed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least one bed, gaid needles and instruments being retained for sliding movement in superimposed relationship within slots and each instrument having adjacent its loop engaging end a needle enclosing and guiding portion terminating in a shouldered, bifurcated, channel sectioned, loop spreading and retaining means within which a portion of its companion needle is guided and through which a needle from the opposed bed may be projected and a split opening at the side of said instrument and behind its point to permit its retraction and disengagement from the needle to which loop transfer is made.

2. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in each bed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least one bed, said needles and instruments being retained for sliding movement in superimposed relationship within slots and each instrument having adjacent its loop engaging end a channel sectioncd, needle restraining and guiding portion pointed in form for entering a loop to be transferred, a shouldered, bifurcated loop spreading and retaining section within which a portion of its companion needle is guided and through which a needle from the opposed bed may be projected and an opening at the side and behind the portion which constitutes the point to permit retraction of the instrument and its disengagement from the needle to which loop transfer is made.

3. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in each bed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least one bed, said needles and instrumentsibeing retained for sliding movement within slots and each instrument 'having'a shank and butt, a shouldered eye portion and a point, said shank and needle being of substantially the same thickness and being operable in superirnposedrelationship, said shouldered eye portion being extended to encompass said needle and having at least one transverse member on which the instrument is supported and upon which the needle itself is borne.

4. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in each bed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least one bed, said needles and instruments being retained for sliding movement within slots and each instrument having a shank and butt, a shouldered eye portion and a point, said shank and needle being of substantially the same thickness and being operablein superimposed relationship, said shouldered eye portion being extended to encompass said needle and having at least one transverse member on which the instrument is supported and upon which the needle itself is borne, and a channel shaped point within which the needle is guided.

5. A loop transfer instrument for knitting machines comprising a shank terminating in an operating buttat one end and a bifurcated needle guiding portion terminating in a point for entering a loop to be transferred at its extreme other end, said bifurcated end of the instrument having an offset needle guiding and supporting portion with a laterally disposed opening at one side and independent of the point for permitting withdrawal of a needle towhich a loop held on the point may be transferred.

6. A loop transfer instrument for knitting machines comprising a shank terminating in an operating butt at one end and a bifurcated needle guiding portion terminating in a point for entering a loop to be transferred at its other end, said last mentioned end of the instrument having an enlarged, shouldered portion-forv spreadingthe loopto be transferred and a channel sectioned, .nee dle guiding point, and at least one transverse .mernberon which a cooperating needlemay'be supported and. upon which the instrument itself is slidable. g

7.- A loop transfer instrument foru knitting. machines comprising a shank terminating in an operating butt. at one end and a bifurcated needle guiding portion termina t ing'in a point for entering-a loop to be transferred at its other end, said last mentioned end of the instrument having an enlarged, shouldered portionfor spreadingthe loop to be transferred and a channel sectioned, needle guiding point, and at least one transverse-memberon which a cooperating needle may be supported-and upon which the instrument itself is slidable and a lateralopening in said bifurcated portion of the instrument.

8. A point as defined in claim 7 wherein said bifurcated portion? is further provided with' loop. restraining lugs between said shoulders and the point of the' instrument.

-References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,345 Witherell June 6, 1922 1,814,265 .Schabacker July 14, 1931 1,849,716 Ingalls Mar. 15,1932 2,004,584 .Philip June 11, 1935 2,092,701 Ingalls Sept. 7,-1937 2,181,105 Sirmay .-Nov. 21, 1939 2,198,626 Lawson et a1. Apr 30, 1940 2,326,694 Sirmay -Aug. 10, 1943 2,397,456 Sirmay Mar. 26, 1946 2,399,002 Coile Apr. .23, .1946

FOREIGN PATENTS 253,692 Great Britain 'June' 24, 1926

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