US2944414A

US2944414A - Vacuum yarn feeding device

Info

Publication number: US2944414A
Application number: US806297A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Malloy; John M Ashe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-04-14
Filing date: 1959-04-14
Publication date: 1960-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-12

Description

Filed April 14, 1959 INVENTOR. JOHN M. ASHE JOHN E. MALLOY I It i ATTORNEY 2,944,414 VACUUM YARN FEEDING DEVICE John E. Malloy and John M. Ashe, both of 1215 W. Glenwood, Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Apr. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 806,297 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-125) The present invention relates to a vacuum yarn feeding device, and more particularly to a vacuum yarn feed ng device for knitting, weaving, and like machines WhlCh regulates the tension of the yarn being fed to the needles of the machine, and which controls the lint and fly from the yarn. This is a continuation-impart of our copending application Serial No. 737,834, filed May 26, 1958, now abandoned, entitled Vacuum Yarn Feeding Devlce.

A problem in the operation of a knitting, weaving, or like machine is in the maintaining of a uniform tension on the yarn being fed to the needles of the machine. Heretofore various mechanical devices have been used for regulating the tension of the yarn as the yarn is removed from its supply bobbin. However, such mechanical devices have not proved to be entirely successful, and have many disadvantages. Such mechanical devices will not compensate for variations in the winding of the yarn on the supply bobbins. Thus, if a supply bobbin has portions of the yarn which are more loosely wound on the bobbin than other portions of the yarn, the mechanical tensioning devices will not feed the more loosely wound yarn at the same tension as the more tightly wound portions of the yarn. Furthermore, such mechanical devices will not compensate for sudden changes in the speed of the knitting machine which tend to increase the tension on the yarn, and thereby break the yarn. In addition, in most knitting machines, a plurality of yarns are simultaneously fed to the needles of the machine. Therefore, it is necessary that each of the yarns be fed to the needles at the same tension. Since a separate mechanical tensioning device is required for each of the yarns, it is a difficult task to regulate each of tensioning devices so that each of the yarns is fed to the needles under the same tension.

Another problem in the operation of a knitting machine is in the control of the lint or fly from the yarn. As the yarn is fed to the needles of a knitting machine, a large amount of lint is wiped ofi of the yarn, and floats about in the air around the machine. Such lint tends to settle on the various parts of the machine. If a sufficient amount of the lint accumulates on the-machine, the lint can jam the moving parts of the machine, and thereby damage the machine. Also, where there are a plurality of knitting machines operating in the same room with one machine using a yarn of one material, and another machine using a yarn of a difierent material, the lint from the yarns raises another problem. This problem is brought about when the lint of one material settles on a machine knitting a yarn of a different material, and the lint becomes knitted into the garment of a different material. It is Well'known that when various materials are treated with the same dye, the materials may take the dye differently so as to be different shades of the color of the dye. Thus, when a garment of one material having lint of another material knitted therein is dyed, the garment will not be of a uniform color.v

Still another problem in the operation of a knitting ma- States Patent M for the needles.

Patented July 12, 1960 chine is in the threading of the yarns to the feed heads This is particularly a burdensome and time consuming task when a plurality of yarns are being simultaneously knitted together on a single machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel yarn feeding device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum yarn feeding device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum yarn feeding device which regulates the tension of the yarn being fed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vacuum yarn feeding device for a knitting machine which controls the lint or fly from the yarn and disposes, of the lint without contaminating either the knitting machine or the surroundings.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a vacuum yarn feedingdevice for a knitting machine which permits threading of the machine quickly and easily. p I

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Figure l is a sectional View, partly in elevation, of a yarn rack for a'circular knitting machine which includes the vacuum yarn feeding device of the presentvinventron.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum yarn feeding device of the present invention.

Figure3 is a sectional view, partly .in elevation, of a modification of the vacuum yarn feeding device of the present invention.

Referring initially to Figure l, the yarn rack comprises a circular plate 10 which is mounted above the knitting machine for rotation with the feed heads for the needles of the knitting machine. A plurality of the vacuum yarn feeding devices of the present invention, each of which is generally designated as 12, are mounted on the plate 10 at spaced points around the periphery of the plate 10.

Each of the vacuum yarn feeding devices 12 of the present invention comprises an enclosed casing 14 of a transparent material, such as a plastic. Casing 14 comprises a conical outer wall 16, a top wall 18, and a bottom Wall 20.v The outer wall 16 of casing 14 has an opening 22 therein of a size to permit the insertion of a bobbin of yarn 24 into the casing 14. A door 26 covers the opening 22 in the outer wall 16 of easing 14, and is secured to the outer wall 16 by hinges 28. The door 26 is preferably larger than the opening 22 so that the door 26 overlaps the outer wall 16 adjacent the edgesof the opening 22. Thus, when the door is closed, the door will engage the outer wall 16 completely around the opening 22 to completely seal the opening 22. If desired, a gasket may be secured to either the inner surface of the door 26 around the edges of the door 26, or to the outer surface of the wall 16 adjacent the edges of the opening 22 to provide a tight seal between the door 26 and the outer wall 16. Door 26 may be provided with a latch 30 to lock the door 26 in its closed position. A holder 32 for the bobbin ofyarn 24 is mounted on the bottom wall 20 of the casing 14. A feed tube,34 extends through the top wall 18 of the casing 14, and is sealed to the top wall 18. Feedtube 34 extends from the casng 14 to a feed head for the needles of the knitting machine. Feed tube 34 is preferably of a transparent vmaterial, such as a plastic. An exhaust tube 36 extends '40 to a vacuum pump 42. Pipe 38 is connected to pipe 40 through a suitable coupling 44 which permits the pipe 38 to rotate with respect to the pipe 40 upon rotation of the plate during the operation of the knitting machine. I v

The operation of the vacuum yarn feeding device of the present invention is as follows:

The bobbin of yarn 24 is inserted into the casing 14 through the opening 22, and mounted on the bobbin holder 32. The filament of yarn 46 from the bobbin 24 is threaded through the feed tube 34 in the manner as will be explained later. The door 26 is closed, and the vacuum pump 42 turned on to draw a vacuum in the casing 14. The vacuum in the casing 14 draws a stream of air through the feed tube 34 as indicated by the arrows 48. In the operation of the knitting machine, the filament of yarn 46 is drawn from the bobbin '24 and passes through the feed tube 34 in the direction opposite to the flow of air through the 'feed tube 34. As the stream of air flows over the filament of yarn 46 in the feed tube 34, the stream of air applies a frictional force to the filament of yarn 46 which tends to draw the filament of yarn 46 back into the casing 14. Thus, the stream of air passing through the feed tube 34 causes the filament of yarn 46 to be tensioned. The amount of tension applied to the filament of yarn 46 depends on the speed of flow of the stream of air through the feed tube 34. However, as long as the stream of air flows through the feed tube 34 at a uniform speed, the tension applied to the filament of yarn 46 will remain constant. Since the tension applied to the filament of yarn 46 is dependent solely on the flow of the stream of air through the feed tube 34, variations in the winding of the bobbin of yarn 24 will not affect the tension of the filament of yarn 46 within the feed tube 34. Also, sudden changes in the speed of operation of the knitting machine will likewise not affect the tension of the filament of yarn 46 in the .feed tube 34 so that the filament of yarn 46 willnot be broken by sudden changes in the speed of operation of the knitting machine. The stream of air passing through the feed tube 34 also suspends the filament of yarn 46 in the center of the feed tube 34 so that the filament of yarn 46 does not contact the Wall of the feed tube 34. Thus, there are no additional frictional forces applied to the filament of yarn 46 which will affect the tension of the filament of yarn 46.

The vacuum in the casing removes any loose lint from the filament of yarn 46 as it is drawn from the bobbin 24, and pulls the loose lint to the bottom wall 2i) of the casing 14. The loose lint will then be drawn from the casing 14 through the exhaust tube 36. If desired, the pipe 40 may be provided with a filter for collecting the loose lint from the vacuum yarn feeding devices 12. Thus, by the time that the filament of yarn 46 reaches the needles of the knitting machine, substantially all of the loose lint has been removed from the filament of yarn 46 so that there will be little, if any, loose lint left on the filament of yarn 46 which can contaminate the knitting machine or the surroundings around the knitting machine.

To thread the filament of yarn 46 through the feed tube 34 to the knitting needles, the door 26 is closed, and the vacuum pump 42 turned on to draw a vacuum in the casing 14 and pull a stream of air through the feed tube 34. The end of a separate length of thread, or a filament of yarn, is held at the free end of the feed tube '34. The stream ofair passing into the feed tube 34 will draw the end of the thread or filament through the feed tube 34, and into the casing 14. The door 26 is then opened, and the end of the thread is tied to the end of the filament of yarn 46. By pulling the thread back through the feed tube '34, the filament of yarn- 46 is threaded through the feed tube 34 to the knitting needles. Thus, the filament of yarn 46 is threaded through the feed "tube 34 easily and quickly.

Referring to Figure 3, a modification of the vacuum yarn feeding device of the present invention is generally designated as 50.

The vacuum yarn feeding device 56 comprises a mounting plate 52 which is mounted above the knitting machine for rotation with the feed heads for the needles of the knitting machine. A plurality of yarn bobbin holders 54 are mounted on the plate 52 at spaced points around the periphery of the plate 52. Ahood 56 of a transparent material, such as a plastic, is mounted on the plate 52, and covers the bobbin holders 54. Hood 56 comprises a conical outer wall 58, and a top wall '66. The outer wall 58 of hood 56 is secured to the plate 52 so as to provide an air-tight seal between the outer Wall 58 and the plate 52. The outer wall 58 of hood 56 has a plurality of openings 62 therethrough. Each of the openings 62 is positioned adjacent a bobbin holder 54, and is large enough to permit a bobbin of yarn 64 to be inserted into the hood 56 through the opening 62 and seated on a bobbin holder 54. A separate door 66 extends across each of the openings 62 in the outer Wall 53 of hood 56, and is hingedly secured to the outer wall 53. The doors 66 are larger than the openings 62 so that the doors 66 overlap the outer wall 58 of hood 56 adjacent the edges of the openings 62. Each of the doors 66 may be provided with a latch 68 to lock the doors 66 in their closed position.

A plurality of feed tubes "70 are mounted within the hood 56. Each of the feed tubes 70 is adjacent a separate bobbin holder 54, and has a U-shaped top portion 72 which extends over the bobbin of yarn 64 mounted on the bobbin holder 54. Feed tubes 70 extend downwardly through the plate 52 to the feed heads for the needles of the knitting machine. Feed tubes 70 are preferably made of a transparent material, such as a plastic.

An exhaust tube 74 is secured to the top wall 60 of hood 56, and is in communication with the interior of the hood 56 through a hole 76 in the top wall 60. Exhaust tube 74 is connected through pipe 78 to a vacuum pump 80. Exhaust tube 74 is connected to the pipe 78 through a suitable connection 82 which permits the exhaust tube 74 to rotate with respect to the pipe 78.

In the operation of the vacuum yarn feeding device 50, the filament of yarn 84 from each of the bobbins of yarn 64 is threaded through the adjacent feed tube 76 to a feed head for the needles of the knitting machine. With the doors 66 closed, the vacuum pump is turned on to draw a vacuum in the hood 56. This causes a stream of air to flow through each of the feed tubes 7i? to apply a tension to the filaments of yarn 84. The vacuum in the hood 56 also removes the loose lint from the filaments of yarn 84 to prevent the knitting machine and the surroundings around the knitting machine from. being contaminated by the lint from the filaments of yarn 84.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A yarn feeding device comprising an enclosed casing, means in said casing for holding a bobbin of yarn, a yarn feed tube extending from said casing, and means for applying a suction to said casing.

2. A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim 1 in which said casing has an opening therein, and a door extending across said opening and hingedly secured to said casing.

3. A yarn feeding device according to claim 1 in which said casing has at least a portion thereof made of a transparent material.

4. A yarn feeding device in accordance With claim 1 in which one end of the feed tube is above the bobbin holder.

5. A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim '1 openings and'hingedly secured to said casing. a

7. A yarn feeding device comprising an enclosed casing having a substantially cylindrical outer wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, a holder for a bobbin of yarn within said casing and mounted on said bottom wall, a I

yarn feed tube extending from said. casing, and means for applying a suction to said casing.

8. A yarn -feeding device in accordance with claim 7 in which the outer wall of the casing has an opening therein, and a door extending across said opening and hingedly secured to said outer wall.

9. A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim 7 in which at least the outer wall and top wall of the casing is made of a transparent material.

10. A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim 7 in which one end of the feed tube is above the bobbin holder. 7

11.- A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim 7- including a plurality of bobbin holders in said casing, and a separate yarn feed tube adjacent each of said bobbin holders.

12. A yarn feeding device in accordance with claim 11 in which the outer Wall of the casing has a plurality of openings therein, each of said openings being adjacent a separate bobbin holder, and a separate door extending across each of said openings and hingedly secured to said outer wall. 4

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,046,822 Madden Dec. 10, 1912 2,108,404 Janssen Feb. 15, 1938 2,357,716 Ballamy et al. Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,070,264 France Feb. 17, 1954