US3122008A

US3122008A - Contact ring for circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3122008A
Application number: US42355A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hanel Ewald; Mayer Werner
Original assignee: Schubert und Salzer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
Priority date: 1959-07-17
Filing date: 1960-07-12
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 E. HANEL ET-AL 3,122,008 I CONTACT RING FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l HEI NZ KOHLER WERNER. MAYER.

Feb. 25, 1964 HANEL ETAL CONTACT RING FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS EWALD HANEL HEINZ KOHLER. WERNER.- MAYER r A ORNE 5 Feb. 25, 1964 E. HANEL ETAL 3,122,008

CONTACT RING FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS EWALD HANEL HEINZ KOH LER WERN ER. MAYER United States Patent 3,122,098 CONTAQT a non cracumn KNITTING Macrnnns Ewald new, Heinz Kiihler, and Werner Mayer, Ingolstadt, Germany, assignors to Schubert 8; Salzer Masehinentabrlk Aktiengeselischaft, lngolstadt, Germany, a corporation oi Germany Filed July 12, 19nd, Ser. No. 42,355 iah..s priority, application Germany July 17, 1959 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-42) The present invention relates to a contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine and more particularly to a cam contact ring for the operational control of the individual knitting systems of a multiple system circular knitting machine for specific chronological operational sequence.

Heretofore, contact rings have been provided for the simultaneous operational switching in and switching out of the locks or actuating cams for the various needle butts, sinker butts, and the like, of individual knitting systems of circular knitting machines. Such contact rings are particularly useful in connection with fine-rib or hosiery knitting machines. The lock parts or actuating cam elements which in every system have the same function, are coupled with one another by means of a mutual common contact ring and activated by rotational movement of the contact ring in consequence of a control chain or control drum arrangement. In this way, similar cam elements may be activated at the particular individual operating positions desired simultaneously in consequence of a single control cam arrangement.

With respect to a fine-rib or hosiery knitting machine, if several operating cam grooves or paths are provided for the sinker cams of the rib dial or the needle cams of the cylinder, then correspondingly a contact ring is positioned in each case for use with each cam groove or path. The several contact rings may be positioned next to one another but in each case the contact ring is individually activated according to the usual techniques for operating the respective knitting systems.

Nevertheless, in circular knitting machines of small diameter, particularly in automatic circular knitting machines for the production of socks and fine hose, the use of contact rings was hitherto not customary. Such contact rings were of no particular advantage with respect to these machines especially since these machines were normally only constructed with one or two knitting systems. In working with more than two knitting systems, dilficulty always. arises with respect to accommodating the control elements necessary for each individual system. Moreover, operations normally repeated during the production of each stocking, for example, which require an operational insertion of the cam elements and thread guides of the individual systems in specific chronological sequence, could not be accommodated under existing constructions.

Thus, for instance, the starting rows or courses at the double welt or edge portion of an article of fine hose being knitted are customarily first worked with one knitting system and thereafter with one or more additional systems which are later switched into operation, The necessarily large number of linkage rods and control elements not only causes difiiculties with respect to accommodating these parts in terms of confined space, but also impairs the accessibility for servicing and supervising of the knitting machine itself.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and to provide a contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine whereby the operation of the individual knitting systems may be carried out effectively using a simple constructional arrangement of parts.

Other and further objects of the invention will become See apparent from a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a contact ring for a thread guide in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 shows a partial schematic view of a lift curve disposed on a switch drum for effecting rotational movement of a contact ring in accordance with the embodiment of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the contact ring arrangement shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic flat projection of the contact ring in accordance with the embodiment of FIGURE 1, showing staggered individual switching phases for operating four individual knitting systems,

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a contact ring arrangement in accordance with the invention for use with cam slides.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic partial view of a lift curve arrangement disposed on a drum similar to that of FIG- URE 2, the arrangement in this case being used with the contact ring arrangement of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the contact ring arrangement of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 8 is a schematic partial view in section of a circular knitting machine illustrating the operational relation of the various elements in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. and 8b are enlarged views of a thread guide arrangement similar to that of FIG. 8 iliustrating more clearly the relationship between the guides and ring, FlG. Sagenerally corresponding to the upper left portion of FIG. 8 and FIG. 8b generally corresponding to the upper right portion of FIG. 8, and

FIGURES 9a, 9b and respectively cover in perspective, plan and perspective view control ring arrangements for thread guides of a multiple system, circular knitting machine in accordance with the invention.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that the switching of actuating cam elements or thread guides in circular knitting machines having several individual systems may be suitably efected by providing on the contact rings therefor several phase-staggered cam guiding surfaces corresponding to the number of individual knitting systems. Upon the rotational movement of the contact ring, the individual contact or control phases take place in specific chronological intervals in consequence of conventional control means, such as lifting cams or lift curves defined on drum surfaces, chain-stud arrangemeuts, and the like. In this way only one control ring or control element with corresponding motion transfer devices need be used for operating several individual 'knitting systems even where several different operations are required to succeed one another in the various systems. An effective simplification in construction is provided in accordance with the invention as well as an advantageously easily visible arrangement of machine parts.

Thus, a contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of the machine is obtained in accordance with the instant invention which includes a contact ring mounted for limited rotational movement which contains a plurality of phase-staggered cam guiding surfaces defined thereon corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine. Also a plurality of cam means mounted for guiding cam engag ment with the cam surfaces of the contact ring during its limited rotational movement is employed, these cam means being adapted to control the operation of the individual knitting systems in response to such guiding cam engagement. The contact ring arrangement is suitably provided with rotational control means for effecting periodic phase-staggered rotational movement of the contact ring as by a lift-curve arrangement on a drum.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 a contact ring or control ring 1 is shown having switch cam guiding surfaces 31 defined thereon in phase-staggered relation corresponding to systems I to 1V. Thread guides 2 assigned to each of the individual knitting systems are pivotaily mounted on the stationary thread guide ring (see ring 25, FIG. 8). Thread guides 2 are arranged along contact ring 1 for guiding cam engagement with the cam surfaces 11 corresponding thereto and for c? outing limited pivotal movement in connection therev Contact ring 1 executes limited rotational movement in consequence of the control arm 3 connected thereto whicn traces a path along the lift-curve or lifting cam surface 4 disposed on the switch drum 5 (FIGURE 2?.

pon rotation of the switch drum 5, the lift-curve 4 is scanned by the switch rod 3 which translates the switching phases S S S S and S which correspond to the steps or stages 3 S S S and S of the liftcurve 4, to the contact ring I in the direction of arrow P.

It is evident from FIGURE 4 that the thread guides 2 in the individual knittin. systems are placed in operation one after the other in consequence of the corresponding switching phases S. For example, at the switching phase S the thread guides of sy ems I and it are placed in operation while the thread guide of system H1 is only switched into operation at the switching step or phase S The step increments of the lift-curve 4 in FIG- URE 2 correspond to the switching phases S of the contact ring 1 in FIGURE 4. Of course, the sequence of the individual systems for effecting the switching of the particular parts may take place in any sequence arrangement as desired. l D

Thus, for instance, with the COII'BSPOIILIIHg POSIUOH- ing of the switching cam guiding surfaces ll, there may also be placed in operation first the thread guide 2 of system IV, thereupon at switch phase S that of system I and at switch phase S the threads guides of systems Ill and I I.

The duration of the individual switching phases S (see FIGURE 4) is determined by the length t of the lift-curve step S (see FIGURE 2). In this way it is possible, for instance, to allow the thread guide for system I to operate alone during one rotation of the cylinder, and thereafter to synchronize the thread guide of system ll therewith, and only after further rows or courses have been completed to place the thread guides of systems III and IV in operation.

The same principle applies cam switches or cam slides 6 correspondingly arranged at the staggered cam guiding surfaces 11 of the contact ring embodiment shown in FIGURE 5. The rod 3' effects limited rotational movement of the contact ring 1 in this embodiment as the lift-curve 6' is traveled by rod 3. The cam slides 5 are switched into and out of operation by means of the staggered cam surfaces 11 in the same way as described above synchronously with and in the same switching phases as the thread guides. Thus, FIGURE 6 generally corresponds in operation with respect to the contact ring arrangement of FlGURE 5 in the same way as in FZGURES l and 2. FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the cam switches or cam slides 6 with respect to the cam guiding surfaces 13. The function of the contact ring in accordance with this embodiment is similar to that of FIGURE 1, the difference being that the cam slides 6 effect the control for placing the knitting cams 65 into and out of operation for effecting the circular knitting of hose article and the like. On the other hand, the thread guides 2 of FIGURE I serve to place the thread of the particular system involved into and out of operation for effecting the knitting.

Referring to PEG RES 8, 8a, 8b, 9:1, 91) and 90, four for t e switching of the

contact rings

1, 1, I, and 1 are positioned in a knitting machine arrangcment.

Contacts rings

1, 1 and 1" are operativcly connected for controlling the thread guide elements 2- and 2" respectively. Contact rings 1 and It are provided along their inner edges with a plurality of cam guiding surfaces 11 and 11 respectively, which correspond to the number of thread guide elements 2 pcsitioned on the machine. Contact ring 1 is provided with a plurality of transverse indentations or grooves 11" along its top surface corresponding in number to the thread guide elements 2".

Thread guide elements

2 and 2 are suitably positioned for guiding cam contact with cam surfaces 11, ll and 11 respectively during the limited rotational movement of

contacts rings

1, 1 and 1".

While only a thread guide element 2 is shown on the upper right side of FIG. 8, for clarity in viewing, it will be appreciated that actually a thread guide element 2" is normally positioned adjacent thereto as more fully appears from FIGS. 81) and 95. As may be seen from FIGS. 8a and 8b, the thread guides Z and 2" do not have the same shape. Thread guide 2 is provided with an underside along the portion adjacent contact ring 1" which is sufficiently spaced from the top of ring to avoid any contact with upper cam surface 11 of said ring 3. On the other hand, the underside of thread guide element 2" along the portion adjacent the top of contact ring 1" is not so spaced therefrom but actually is meant to contact upper cam surface 11 for the desired actuation of thread guide element 2." into and out of yarn feeding position. Inasmuch as thread guide element 2 is meant to be controlled by

contact rings

1 and 1, the vertical side portion thereof is maintained closely adjacent the inside diameter surface of

rings

1 and 1. In this manner, such vertical side portion may be suitably actuated upon engagement with com surfaces 11 and 11 of contact rings 1 and 1 respectively. Similarly, thread guide element 2" is provided with a vertical side portion which is spaced from the adjacent inside diameter surfaces of rings I. and 1 so that cle ment 2" will not be influenced by these contact rings but only by ring 1 as aforesaid.

Thread guide elements

2 and 2" are pivotally mounted on blocks 24 positioned on thread guide carrier ring 25. Thread guide carrier ring 25, in turn, is pivotally mounted at hinge 25 on a support 26' and is supported by a support member 29 rigidly connected to base 30. A latch arrangement, including stop 27 on carrier ring 25 and leaf spring 28 attached to support member 29 maintains the assembly of thread guide elements and contact rings in releasable arrangement with respect to the knitting machine. Thus, ring 25 upon releasing stop 27 from leaf spring 28 may be moved up and away from the top portion of the knitting machine allowing access to the various machine parts.

Thread guide elements

2 and 2 are connected by springs 33 to carrier ring 25 so that these elements will be downwardly pivotally urged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with cam guiding surfaces 11, 11 and 11". Contact rings 1, 1 and 1" are secured against horizontal displacement out of their normal path of limited rotation by means of partition segments 32 connected by means of flange segments 32 to carrier ring 25. At this portion of the machine dial Z2 is disposed, above which is situated cover plate 31. These elements are concentrically situated with respect to the axis of shaft 22 within the confines of ring 25 and segments 32'. The rotatable needle cylinder 21 is disposed beneath dial 22 and sinker ring 23 is concentrically positioned along the outer surface of cylinder 21. These elements are conventional as is the knitting machine with respect to which the contact rings of the invention may be conveniently operated.

Thus, cylinder 21 is provided with a needle bed along its exterior surface containing a plurality of needles 63 slidably displaceable in axial direction. Needles 6'31 are provided with suitable butts 64 which are necessary for actuating the needles via earns 65 of slides 6 in the well known manner.

A knitting cam ring 34 is provided on base Stl in such a manner that the same surrounds a portion of the cylinder 21 below ring .23. Ring -34 is provided with a flange element 62 upon which is s'lidably disposed cam slide 6 carrying stud 61. A spring 33 interconnects ring 34 with stud 61 so as to normally urge cam slide 6 radially inwardly toward cylinder Z i. Interposed between ring 34 and stud 61 is contact ring 1 which is mounted for slidable movement along the upper surface of flange 62. Knitting cam 65 is suitably disposed at the radially inward end of cam slide 6 for guiding engagement with butt 64 of needles 63 to effect a knitting operation in the well known manner.

Accordingly, upon limited rotational movement of contact ring 1', stud 6 1 will be urged inwardly along cam guiding surface 11 permitting the insertion of knitting cam 65 for operating a knitting system. Upon reverse movement of contact ring 1', stud 61 will move by contact with cam guiding surface 11 and thus withdraw knitting cam 65 from actuation of needles es.

The operation of contact ring 1 in this connection may be more clearly seen from a study of FiGURE 9a. The linkage 3 causes the movement of contact ring 1 first in the direction of the arrow P and thereafter suitably in the reverse direction. This is contemplated by the linkage movement in the direction of the arrow P. It will be readily seen that in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9a, certain of the thread guide elements 2 are placed in operation since the same are placed in contact with cam guiding surfaces 11 while others are situated out of contact with cam guiding surfaces ill and instead are in contact with the adjacent edge of contact ring 1. As soon as contact ring ii is further moved, the staggered phase relationship between the various thread guide elements 2 is changed. Spring 33 normally urges thread guide elements 2 in downward direction to effect immediate actuation in response to the movement of contact ring 1.

FIGURE 9b shows in greater detail the arrangement of contact rings 1, l and l. of FIGURE 8 positioned respectively one above the other with the adjacent parts of the machine conveniently omitted. Contact ring 1" controls the insertion of thread guide elements 2" for Working a particular thread, while contact rings 1 and 1 control the insertion of thread guide elements 2 for working another thread in multiple system knitting operation. By a short rotational movement of contact ring 1, all of the thread guide elements 2 are simultaneously inserted or removed in the knitting operation. This is carried out in the conventional manner by means of the linkage 3 which operates in the same manner as has been heretofore described. Contact ring 1 is provided along its inner edge with cam guiding surfaces 11 which perform the same function as cam guiding surfaces 11 and ll of contact rings 1 and 1' respectively. Contact ring 1 is rotated by linkage '3' while contact ring 1" is rotated by linkage 3" to effect suitably the insertion of

thread guide elements

2 and 2 as aforesaid.

While the contact ring arrangement is such that by rotation of contact ring 1, the thread guide elements 2 are simultaneously operated, contact ring 1, on the other hand, is so constructed that the thread guide elements 2 are individually operated in accordance with the switching phases S, in the same manner as aforesaid. However, the actuation of thread guide elements 2" in this connection is carried out independently of the actuation of thread guide elements 2, which latter actuation is caused by rotational movement of either contact ring 1 or contact ring 1.

Thus, contact ring 1 is actuated by linkage 3 to operate thread guide elements 2 by means of cam guiding surfaces 11 in a predetermined phase staggered manner while contact ring 1 may be actuated by linkage 3 to operate thread guide elements 2 by means of earn guiding surfaces 11 in a simultaneous manner. Independently of this arrangement, contact ring 1 may be actuated by linkage 3" to operate thread guide elements 2." by means of cam guiding surfaces 11 in a desired phase staggered manner. It will be appreciated that contact ring it" being the uppermost ring is suitably provided with cam guiding surfaces 11" along its top edge rather than along its inner edge as is the case with contact ring 1 and contact ring 1, and rather than along its outer edge as is the case with contact ring 1' which is employed to operate cam slides 6.

It will be appreciated by' the artisan that any conventional circular knitting machine may be used in accordance with the invention. The operation of such machine is well known and will not be discussed in detail herein. It will be appreciated in this connection that the contact ring means in accordance with the invention may be employed to switch various knitting elements into and out of operation such as thread guide elements and actuating knitting cams. The particular operation of the contact ring control in accordance with the invention may be carried out in any desired manner depending upon the type of knitting to be carried out, such that a plurality of individual knitting systems may be conveniently con trolled to switch into and out of knitting operation in phase-staggered manner as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises a contact ring mounted for limited rotational movement, said ring having a plurality of phasestaggered cam surfaces defined thereon corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, rotational control means for eifecting periodic phase-staggered rotational movement of said contact ring, and a corresponding plurality of individual integral cam means mounted for constant and continuous direct guiding cam engagement with said contact ring and in turn said cam surfaces during the limited rotational movement of said contact ring and thus direct displacement between active and inactive operative positions as a result of such movement, said individual integral cam means solely, immediately and directly controlling the operation of the corresponding individual knitting systems in response to such guiding cam engagement and displacement between said active and inactive operative positions.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said cam means are normally resiliently urged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with said ring and in turn said cam surfaces.

3. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises a contact ring mounted for limited rotational movement, said ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfacesdefined thereon along the top edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, rotational control means for effecting periodic phase-staggered rotational movement of said contact ring, and a corresponding plurality of cam means, including thread guide elements operatively connected for guiding the thread for the corresponding individual knitting systems between active and inactive thread feeding positions, mounted for direct guiding cam engagement with said contact ring and in turn said cam surfaces during the limited rotational movement of said contact ring and thus direct displacement as a result of such movement, said thread guide elements being pivotally mounted for such displacement in a plane substantially radially passing through the axis of said contact ring between said active and inactive positions while being in constant and continuous contact with said ring in any position of movement thereof and normally resiliently urged into direct guiding cam engagement with said cam surfaces and thus being operatively positioned for such displacement between said active and inactive positions solely, immediately and directly by guiding contact between such thread guide elements and said ring.

4. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises a contact ring mounted for l.. ited rotational movement, said ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the inside edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, and a corresponding plurality of cam means, including thread guide elements operatively connected for guiding the thread for the corresponding individual knitting systems between active and inactive thread feeding positions, mounted for guiding cam engagement with said contact ring and in turn said cam surfaces during the limited rotational movement of said contact ring and thus displacement as a result of such movement, the corresponding thread guide elements being pivotally mounted in a plane substantially radially passing through the axis of said contact ring for such displacement between said active and inactive positions during guiding cam engagement with said cam surfaces and being adapted to control the operation of said individual knitting systems in response to s eh guiding cam engagement.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said thread guide elements are normally spring-urged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with said ring and in turn said cam surfaces.

6. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises a contact ring mounted for limited rotational movement, said ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the outside edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, and a corresponding plurality of cam means, including cam slide means operatively connected for controlling knitting cams of the corresponding individual knitting systems between active and inactive operative positions, slidably mounted for displacement in a substantially radial direction toward and away from said contact ring and correspondingly for guiding cam engagement with said contact ring and in turn said cam surfaces during the limited rotational movement of said contact ring, to effect the switching into and out of active operation of the corresponding knitting cams of the individual knitting systems upon such movement of said contact ring and in turn displacement of said cam slides while in said earn engagement.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said cam slide means are normally springurged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with said cam surfaces.

8. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises at least two contact rings in superimposed axial relationship mounted for individually controlled independent limited rotational movement, each said ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systoms of the knitting machine, and a plurality of sets, each including at least two thread guide elements, corresponding to the plurality of said knitting systems, the thread guide elements of each said set being operatively connected for guiding the thread between active and inactive thread feeding positions for the corresponding individual knitting systems, at least one of the elements of each set being mounted for independent guiding cam engagement with a corresponding phasc sla ered cam surface of one of said contact rings at the knitting station of a corresponding knitting system during the limited rotational movement of said one of the contact rings, at least another one of the elements of each set being mounted for independent guiding cam engagement with a corresponding phase-staggered cam surface of another of said contact rings at the knitting station of a corresponding knitting system during the limited rotational movement of said another of the contact rings, said thread guide elements be ng operatively connected for guiding the thread for the corresponding individual knitting systems, and adapted to control the operation of said individual knitting systems in response to such guiding cam engagement.

9. Arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the corresponding thread guide elements at each knitting station are dimensioned for engaging the phase-staggered cam surface of the respective contact ring with which the particular element is used during the limited rotational movement of said rings while avoiding engagement with any other contact ring.

10. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises three contact rings in superimposed axial relationship mounted for individual controlled independent limited rotational movement, the uppermost ring havin a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the top edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, the middle ring having a plurality of phasestaggcred cam surfaces defined thereon along the inside edge thereof corresponding to said plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, the lowermost ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the inside edge thereof corresponding to the said plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, rotational control means for effecting individual periodic phase-staggered rotational movement of each said contact ring independently of the movement of the other two rings, and a set of at least two individual integral thread guide elements at each said knitting system operatively connected for guiding the thread for the corresponding individual knitting systems between active and inactive thread feeding positions, one of said at least two thread guide elements of each set being pivotally mounted for displacement between active and inactive thread feeding positions in a plane substantially radially passing through the axi of said rings and for guiding cam engagement with said uppermost ring and in turn the corresponding cam surface on said uppermost ring during the limited rotational movement of said uppermost ring so as to effect such displacement, another of said at least two thread guide elements of each set eing pivotally mounted for displacement between active and inactive thread feeding positions in a further plane substantially radially passing through the axis of said rings and for guiding cam engagement with said middle ring and in turn the corresponding cam surface on said aiddle ring during the limited rotational movement of said middle ring so as to effect such displacement as well as alternatively for guiding cam engagement with said lowermost ring and in turn the corresponding cam surface on said lowermost ring during the limited rotational movement of said lowermost ring so as to effect alternatively such displacement between said positions, said thread guide elements being adapted to control the operation of the corresponding individual knitting systems in response to such guiding cam engagement.

ll. A contact ring arrangement for use in a circular knitting machine to control the operation of a plurality of individual knitting systems of said knitting machine which comprises three contact rings in superimposed axial relationship mounted for individual controlled independent limited rotational movement, the uppermost ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the top edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, the middle ring having a plurality of phasestaggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the inside edge thereof corresponding to said plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, the lowermost ring having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the inside edge thereof corresponding to the said plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, rotational control means for effecting individual periodic phase-staggered rotational movement of each said contact ring independently of the movement of the other two rings, the inside edge of said uppermost ring having at every point a radius at least as large as the largest corresponding radius of the inside edge of said middle ring and at least as large as the largest corresponding radius of the inside edge of said lowermost ring, and a set of at least two individual integral angular thread guide elements at each said knitting system operatively connected for guiding the thread for the corresponding individual knitting systems between active and inactive thread feeding positions and having, when in active thread feeding position, a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, one of said at least two thread guide elements of each set being pivotally mounted for displacement downwardly from inactive to active thread feeding position and upwardly from active to inactive thread feeding position in a plane substantially radially passing through the axis of said rings and for guiding cam engagement along the underside of the corresponding horizontal leg only with the corresponding cam surface on said uppermost ring during the limited rotational movement of said uppermost ring so as to effect such displacement directly as a result of such rotational movement, another of said at least two thread guide elements of each set being pivotally mounted vfor displacement downwardly from inactive to active thread feeding position and upwardly from active to inactive thread feeding position in a further plane substantially radially passing through the axis of said rings adjacent the first-mentioned plane and for guiding cam engagement along the radially outer side of the corresponding vertical leg with the corresponding cam surface on said middle ring during the limited rotational movement of said middle ring so as to elfect such displacement as well as alternatively for guiding cam engagement along said radially outer side of the corresponding vertical leg with the corresponding cam surface on said lowermost ring during the limited rotational movement of said lowermost ring so as to effect a1ternati-vely such displacement, the radially outer side of the corresponding vertical leg of said one thread guide element, when in active thread feeding position, being radially inwardly disposed with respect to the inside edges of both said middle ring and lowermost ring to provide clearance between said one thread guide element and said middle and lowermost rings in any position of movement of said one thread guide element and said middle and lowermost rings, and the underside of the corresponding horizontal leg of said another thread guide element, when in active thread feeding position, being axially upwardly disposed with respect to the top edge of said uppermost ring to provide clearance between said another thread guide element and said uppermost ring in any position of movement of said another thread guide element and said uppermost ring, said thread guide elements solely, immediately and directly controlling the operation of the corresponding individual knitting systems in response to such guiding cam engagement, said thread guide elements being normally resiliently urged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with the corresponding cam surfaces.

12. Arrangement according to claim 11 wherein a further contact ring is provided which encloses concentrically the needle bed of the knitting cylinder of the machine at a level corresponding to the normal rotational path of at least a portion of the needle butts of the needles in said needle bed, said further ring being mounted for limited rotational movement and having a plurality of phase-staggered cam surfaces defined thereon along the outside edge thereof corresponding to the plurality of individual knitting systems of the knitting machine, and a corresponding plurality of elongated cam slides for the corresponding individual knitting systems, each said cam slide having a knitting cam fixedly disposed thereon at one end thereof and an upstanding stud fixedly disposed thereon adjacent the other end thereof, said cam slides being slidably mounted for displacement in a substantially radial direction toward and away from said further contact ring with the stud ends of said earn slides being radially outwardly located and correspondingly positioned for direct guiding cam engagement with said cam surfaces during the limited rotational movement of said further contact ring, to effect the switching into and out of operation with said needle butts of the corresponding knitting cams, of the individual knitting systems, at the radially inwardly located ends of said cam slides, said cam slides being normally resiliently urged in the direction of guiding cam engagement with said cam surfaces of said further contact ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,581 Schuknecht Aug. 28, 1934 2,378,316 Minton June 12, 1945 2,948,131 Levin Aug. 9, 1960 3,048,990 Moyer Aug. 14, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,109 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1929

Claims

1. A CONTACT RING ARRANGEMENT FOR USE IN A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE TO CONTROL THE OPERATION OF A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL KNITTING SYSTEMS OF SAID KNITTING MACHINE WHICH COMPRISES A CONTACT RING MOUNTED FOR LIMITED ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT, SAID RING HAVING A PLURALITY OF PHASESTAGGERED CAM SURFACES DEFINED THEREON CORRESPONDING TO THE PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL KNITTING SYSTEMS OF THE KNITTING MACHINE, ROTATIONAL CONTROL MEANS FOR EFFECTING PERIODIC PHASE-STAGGERED ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT RING, AND A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL INTEGRAL CAM MEANS MOUNTED FOR CONSTANT AND CONTINUOUS DIRECT GUIDING CAM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT RING AND IN TURN SAID CAM SURFACES DURING THE LIMITED ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT RING AND THUS DIRECT DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN ACTIVE AND INACTIVE OPERATIVE POSITIONS AS A RESULT OF SUCH MOVEMENT, SAID INDIVIDUAL INTEGRAL CAM MEANS SOLELY, IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE CORRESPONDING INDIVIDUAL KNITTING SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO SUCH GUIDING CAM ENGAGEMENT AND DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN SAID ACTIVE AND INACTIVE OPERATIVE POSITIONS.