US3164975A

US3164975A - Knitting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3164975A
Application number: US228050A
Authority: US
Inventors: Haberhauer Karl
Original assignee: Schubert & Salyer Maschinenfab
Current assignee: Schubert & Salyer Maschinenfab; Schubert & Salyer Maschinenfabrik AG
Priority date: 1961-10-07
Filing date: 1962-10-03
Publication date: 1965-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-12
Also published as: CH395415A; GB1139539A; GB1024271A; DE1585368A1

Description

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1962 u will-VIII? V IIIII IIIIII INVENTOR KARL HABERHAUER W,

AT TORNEYS Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER KNITTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1962 Fig. 5

INVENTOR.

KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 3,164,975

KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. KARL HABERHAUER j w w A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1965 v K. HABERHAUER 3,164,975

KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1962 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 6

I i 1 20 E. 5 I II /F:::: 40' 1 4 44 2 ll 2 INVENTOR. 40 45 KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS.

Jan- 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 3,164,975

KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1962 9 sneets-sheefs 33 34 I I V7 4/ F4 INVENTOR. KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER I KNITTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001,. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. KARL HABERHAUER ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 7 3,164,975

KNITTING APPARATUS Filed on. :s. 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTQR. KARL HABERHAUER BY x47; M

ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER 7 KNITTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 L r I 3 rammgg -mmm B '1 IIIII4'IOZ 'II MIIIA 'IIIIII INVENTOR. KARL HA BE RHAUE' R )X(/% ATTORNEYS. 4

Jan. 12, 1965 K. HABERHAUER KNITTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 3, 1962 INVENTOR. K ARL HABERHAUER A T TORNE Y$ United States Patent f 3,164,975 KNITTING APPARATUS Karl flabe hauer, Ingolstadt, Germany, assignor to Schubert Salyer Maschinenfahrik Alrtiengeseilschat't, Ingoistadt Klonau, Germany, a German corporation Filed Get. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 228,950 Qlaims priority, application Germany Get. 7, 1961 36 Ciaims. (Ci. 66-445) The invention relates to an apparatus for severing and holding threads in circular knitting machines during the thread changeover and for severing and holding reinforcement threads at the edge of the reinforcement.

In the manufacture of womens hosiery with reinforced heels and soles on circular knitting machines, reinforcement threads are left lying loosely on the unreinforced part of the foot and have to be removed in an additional operation after the knitting has been completed. The clipping of these reinforcement threads is usually performed by hand, and signifies an important item of cost in the production of hosiery. Particularly in the case of circular knitting machines using any of several systems whereby the foot portion is made entirely by circular knitting, so that production time is greatly reduced, these hand finishing operations demand a relatively large amount of time. Furthermore, the hand trimming of the sole threads creates the danger of damage to the stockings.

Several apparatus have already become known which clip the reinforcement thread during the knitting operation. These devices are supposed to eliminate the separate operation of clipping the threads, but they have not yet succeeded in trimming these threads so quickly and so closely to the edge of the reinforcement that further hand trimming of the stocking is not required after the knitting operation is completed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for overcoming the disadvantages of prior art devices as are discussed above. The manner in which this object is attained will be apparent from the following description taken in reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the dial cap of a circular knitting machine with the clipping device of the invention, in a perspective view;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show details of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows how the severing device is disposed in relation to the knit loop forming parts, when in the lower cutting position for severing reinforcing threads;

FIG. 5 shows the system of FIG. 4 in the upper cutting position for severing threads during thread changes;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the eccentric disposition of the cutter in relation to the needle cylinder;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplificatory construction of the severing knife with a portion of the cutting edge at an angle;

FIG. 7a shows an alternative cutter construction;

FIG. 8 shows in elevation the grasping device and the clamp with the thread holding and sucking device;

FIG. 9 shows how the holding device is driven;

FIGS. 10 to 13 show the severing action on a twosystem circular knitting machine when inserting and withdrawing the reinforcing threads;

3,164,975 Fatented Jan. 12, P965 ice FIG. 14 shows a modified construction of the severing element in the lower cutting position for severing reinforcing threads;

FIG. 15 shows a modified construction of the clamp;

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the clamping device in section;

FIG. 17 shows the clamping area and the manner in which the threads are guided in a clamp as represented in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 represents another embodiment of the clamping device of FIG. 16;

FIGS. 19 and 19a are schematic representations of various possibilities for the arrangement of the clamping device according to the invention;

FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of a clamping device.

In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters, indicate corresponding parts.

The invention provides apparatus for knitting comprising an array of knitting needles for working thread into knit fabric, and means for severing an extension of the thread from a knitting needle and the knit fabric. The severing means includes a holder for the thread extension, and the holder is spaced from the needles. Thus, the thread extension can be held at spaced points by a needle and the holder. Means are provided for moving the needle array relative to the holder so that the thread extension between said spaced points can be moved relative to the holder. A cutter is disposed between the needles and the holder for cutting the thread extensions intermediate said spaced points. The apparatus is characterized in that the holder comprises a first clamping member disposed in the path of the thread as the thread moves in response to movement of the needle array, and said first clamping member includes gripping means for gripping the thread when the thread in its path crosses the first clamping member; the holder further includes a second clamping member for cooperating with the first clamping member to engage the thread in the holder. Means are provided for moving the first clamping member to carry thread gripped by its gripping means into engagement by the first and second clamping members. Thus, the thread can be held at spaced points by a needle and the holder for the cutting of the thread between said points by the cutter.

Advantageously, the cutter is positioned to cut the thread between the points at which the thread is held by, on the one hand, a needle, and, on the other hand, the holder, when the thread is held taut in response to the relative movement of the holder and the needle array.

The invention is particularly well suited for use in respect to circular knitting machines, for such machines, the holder can be mounted on the dial cap. In such an embodiment, the holder is disposed inwardly of the needles, and while such an arrangement is preferred, if desired, the holder could be disposed outwardly of the needles (see FIG. 19 and FIG. 19a).

The invention finds particular application in circular knitting machines which include means for knitting over but a portion of the circumference of the circular fabric being knitted. For example, the invention finds particular application where reinforcement threads are knitted into a portion of the material being knit. In such applications, thread is withdrawn from a thread guide and knitted into a portion of the circumference of the fabric, and

thread extensions from either or both ends of the reinforced portion can be severed according to the invention. Further, apparatus according to the invention is well suited for the cutting of thread extensions from reinforced portions which are knit into the fabric from two or more thread feeding stations. In such operations, so cording to the invention, it is necessary to utilize out a single holding and cutting means.

Various embodiments of the invention are depicted the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are of the type here discussed wherein a circular knitting machine is employed and a reinforcement portion is knit into the fabric from threads withdrawn from two thread feeding stations.

In FIG. 1 there is a perspective elevation of the dial cap plate with the mounting boss ill and the thread guides 31 and 32 of System I and 33 and 34 of System II of a circular knitting machine for the manufacture of seamless womens hosiery, equipped with a thread holder nc uding clamping members and further equipped with a thread severing device.

A first clamping member in the form of crown wheel 49 is set into a recess 43 in dial cap 1, said wheel being provided with thread engaging means in the form of catching teeth 40. As a second clamping member, there is provided a thread suction tube 24% disposed above crown wheel 40 and having a resilient engaging shoe 22 inserted at its lower marginal surface and resting against the rotating crown Wheel 4%). In the thread suction tube 25?, which for the sake of clarity is shown in the elevated position in FIG. 1, there is a guiding pin 22 for guiding the end portion of the thread. The thread suction 2d simultaneously serves as a holding device for free end portions which, after leaving clamp 21, are held in a known manner by the current of air.

On the dial disc plate 1 there is fastened a hold-down clip 24 for holding down the threads fed by the thread guide 31 of System I, and leaf spring 23 for tensing the threads fed to the holder composed of the clamping members 4t and 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As mentioned above, an advantage of the apparatus of .the invention is that the severing means can be used to sever thread extensions resulting from the knitting-in of threads from two or more thread supplying stations. A feature of the invention is the provision of a hold-down clip such as clip 24 which is described above. The path of each thread extension to the holding means composed of the clamping members, as is determined by the move ment of the needles, must be such that entanglement of the thread extensions is not a problem with respect to thread feeding stations adjacent the holding means, yet for stations remote from the holding means, provision must be made to prevent entanglement. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the hold-down clip 24 is provided for the thread extension of thread knit from the thread guide St at Station I, which station is remote from the holder along the path of the thread.

In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the drive of the holder is shown in detail. The crown wheel 40 is fastened by rivets 45 (FIG. 1) to a gear 45. Gear 45 is placed on a stub shaft '44 which is fastened to the underside of dial cap 1, and

is driven by an internal gear 2 (FIG. 9) fastened to the dial 1. With crown wheel 46 there is associated a severing element 50 (FIG. 8) which severs the thread tensed b tween clamp 21 and crown wheel as, on the one hand, and a needle 3 of the needle ring on the other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.

The severing element is in the form of a knife, for example, the cutting blade 5t), which is fastened to the blade holder 69, entering into the narrow gap between dial cap 1 and the needle cylinder 3:: with needles 3 (FIG. 4). The cutting blade holder 68 is pivoted on a carrier 66 by means of a pin 65. A compression spring 67 urges the cutting blade holder upwards against lever 7i) equipped with adjusting screw '72. The lever 7G is pivoted about a pin 7ft fastentcd to the frame of the machine, and is connected through adjusting screw '7 to the push rod '73. The bottom end of push rod 73 senses a section of pattern drum and is actuated by the cam lobe 8i when pattern drum 8) is adjusted to bring this about. When the push rod 73 is lifted by cam lobe hi, the blade holder is forced downward against the pressure of spring as. The cutting blade dd between the needles and the dial can then be brought into a lower cutting position (FIG. 4) and into an upper cutting position (PEG. 5).

It wi l be noted that an important part of the apparatus according to the invention is the holding means. As is indicated in the drawings, the first clamping member of the holder can be a rotatably mounted crown wheel or rotatabiy mounted disc of other form provided with a toothed area for engaging of the thread. The second clamping member is for cooperation with the first clamping member and can include means mounted on the end of a suction tube for engaging a portion of the toothed area. Desirably, the part of the second clamping member which engages the first clamping member covers but a portion of the toothed area of the first clamping member so that a portion of said toothed area remains exposed, and there is provided a way aiong which the thread may enter over the toothed area for the engagement thereof by the first clamping member. Whereas various means can be employed to provide the desired engagement between the clamping members and the desired entrance way for the thread, a preferred arrangement is where the second clamping member is disposed at an angle to the first clamping member so that, on the one hand, the desired engagement of the clamping members is obtained, while, on the other hand, a portion of the toothed area of the first clamping member is left exposed so that an entrance way to the holder is provided.

In FIGS. 10 to 13, the severin of a reinforcement thread at the margin of the reinforcement and the manner of operation of the individual parts of the thread severing device are shown in various stages. In FIG. 10, the reinforcement sector is designated by the thread entry point B and the exit point A. While the two basic threads F2 and P t of the thread guides 32 and 34 are being inserted in both Systems I and II, and the reinforcing thread Ff of System I has already been inserted by the thread guide 31 and is being knit into the fabric in section EA. In suction tube 2t: of the thread holding device, the end of the already inserted reinforcement thread F1 and the end of the reinforcing thread F3 of System II (which has not yet been inserted) are held by the aspirated air stream.

In FIG. 11, the reinforcement sector E-A has rotated further with the needle cylinder, so that now the entry point E is just approaching the severing knife 5%. in the movement from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG. 11: knitting of reinforcement thread F1 in section E-A has been completed so that reinforcement thread F1 is drawn from Station I by entrance point A in section E-A; and knitting of reinforcement thread at Station II has commenced and is in progress. Prom entry point E, free end portions of reinforcement threads PI and F3 extend to under the leaf spring 23 and on to within suction tube 2%. These thread end portions are to be cut off. in this position, the portions of the threads F1 and F3 between point E and leaf spring 23, which have been lifted by needles 3 above the ribbed-disc cap 1, are brought within the reach of crown wheel 49 and are caught by the teeth 4% thereof. The leaf spring 23 is disposed adjacent and ahead of the crown wheel, said leaf spring pressing the threads that slip under it against the dial cap 1 and thus working on these threads as a brake, to augment the operation of the crown wheel id. The leaf spring 23 serves to provide a gripping of the thread, for restraining the threads against the action of the holder and eventually release of the thread in response to action of the holder.

In this manner, the threads are momentarily pulled taut, so that the threads more perfectly engage the teeth 40 of the crown wheel 40.

Since the point A has already moved past System I, the reinforcement thread F1 is not being knit and is pulled from the thread guide 31 over the dial cap 1 at the point A, as point A moves along its course, whereupon thread F1 comes to lie under clip 24 and is held down by the latter.

FIG. 12 shows the parts but a moment after occupancy of the position shown in FIG. 11 and shows the severing action at the point of entry E. The end portions of threads F1 and F3 extending from point E are carried through under the knife 50. Since both these threads, however have been engaged by the crown wheel 40, they are pulled by the latter underneath the clamp shoe 21 which presses elastically against said crown wheel 40. At the same time, the threads are pulled away from under the leaf spring 23. The threads are then held between clamp 21 holders composed of members 21 and 4t), and the needle 3 at point of entry E, and are pulled taut, since the point at which the thread is held by the holder and the point of entry are moving apart. The taut sections of the threads are carried along to the severing element 50 and the threads are cut. Crown wheel 40 continues to revolve under the clamp shoe 21, with its teeth 40' carrying along the severed thread ends, and the latter pass out of the range of the clamp shoe 21, whereupon they are released from clamping action. The cut off end portions are then sucked away by suction tube 20.

It has proven to be important that this action of pulling the thread taut and the action of severing it against the cutting edge must be performed at precisely the same moment, for otherwise reliable severance is not assured. This is, however, accomplished by the cooperation of the holder, needles, and severing element according to the invention.

FIG. 13 shows the cutting off of the reinforcing threads F1 and F3 at the other end of the reinforced section, namely at point A. The section EA has advanced further along its course. The severing action is the same as it was at the point of entry E. In FIG. 13, the reinforcing threads F1 and F3 extend from the thread guides over the dial cap and have already been pulled past the leaf spring 23 and underneath clamp shoe 21 by crown wheel 40. The threads are pulled taut and severed, and

after the ends have been released from clamp shoe 21, they remain connected to Station I and II and are sucked into the suction tube 29, so that they dangle in the air stream. To prevent the tangling of the thread ends contained in suction tube 20 by the crown wheel, a guiding pin 22 is placed in the mouth of the suction tube, at which the threads are held back. Furthermore, the crown wheel 40 is overlapped by a shield 41 (FIG. 1) so that the inserted threads cannot be grasped prematurely by the crown wheel 40.

It is the way in which the severing elements is arranged which determines at what distance from the goods the threads are severed. In the case of reinforcing threads, it is desirable that the thread ends remaining on the goods be as short as possible. The severing element is therefore swung into a lower cutting position (FIG. 4) between the dial and the needle cylinder containing needles 3, so that the severance is performed very close to the goods, which are held back by the knockover bits 7.

In FIG. 5, the cutter or severing element St} has been swung into its upper cutting position, so that longer thread ends are left on the goods. This is desirable in the case of the thread change, so that the thread ends will not pull in when the mesh is stretched and release the newly inserted thread, resulting in laddering. Movement of the cutter between the upper and lower positions is described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Furthermore, it is necessary during the action of the transfer bits 5 for the formation of the welt, to withdraw the severing element out of reach of the transfer bit and into an upper cutting position between the dial cap and needles 3. The movement into the upper cutting position can be performed by pivoting or displacement. However, it has proven advantageous for the cutting angle between thread and knife for this movement to be in the direction of the dial cap 1, so that the cutting edge of knife 50 is directed toward the dial cap.

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the severing element in the form of a bent razor blade 51), which is lowered between the needles and the dial cap 1. In order to augment the cutting action of this stationary free blade 50, the arc of the razor blade is eccentric to the needle cylinder and to the dial cap.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the severing knife 50, making use of ordinary razor blades. By the use of an additional blade, a notch or angled cutting edge portion 53 is obtained, which augments the cutting ability of the severing device.

FIG. 7a shows a cutter in the form of an electrically heated element 53a, which provides the severing by burning the thread.

Another embodiment of the severing element is shown in FIG. 14. Instead of a rigid blade 54), a cutting disc 50 revolving at high speed is provided. The disc is driven by an electric motor 100 through friction wheels 1111 and 192. The electric motor 100 and the cutting disc 50', which is fastened on a shaft 105, are coupled together by an arm 193, and they can be pivoted together in the same manner as in the case of the knife blade 50.

In order to be able to cut the connecting thread between the end of the finished stocking and the beginning of a new stocking after the severing device 50 or 50' has been lifted (FIG. 5), an auxiliary knife (FIG. 1) can be provided on the dial cap. This extra knife has proven handy for the reliable severance of the so-called starting threads.

FIG. 15 shows a modified construction of the holder. On a slanting suction tube 20' there is fastened, instead of the clamp shoe 21, a rubber, plastic or other tire or ring 21' which is mounted on a ball bearing 25 and is driven by the crown wheel 40, since it rests against the latter. The thread seized by crown wheel 40 is then clamped between the ring 21' and the crown wheel as it passes through. In order to increase the clamping effect of this device and prolonging the clamping of the thread over a larger period of time, it is necessary to enlarge the clamping area. This can be achieved by the fact that the two rotating parts of the clamp, which are constituted in FIG. 15 by the ring 21' and the crown wheel 40, are developed so that they contact one another on a spherical contact area. Such construction is shown in FIG. 16.

In FIG. 16 the clamp includes the catch wheel 400 with teeth 4%. This forms the bottom part of the clamp, and the catch wheel has the shape of a sphere with the radius R where it comes into contact with the upper part of the clamp.

The upper part 211 of the clamp is likewise in the shape of a sphere with the radius R, being in fact a segment of a sphere, so that the bottom part 460 of the clamp and the upper part 211 of the clamp meet at a common area K which represents a portion of the mantle of the sphere with the radius R. The axes of rotation A and B of the two

clamp parts

400 and 211 intersect at the center M of the sphere. The axis of rotation B of the upper clamp part 211 is so inclined that a sufficiently large opening X is created between the two parts of the clamp on the side on which the thread F approaches it. This provides an entrance way for the threads to the holder. The upper clamp part 211 is mounted by means of a ball bearing 250 on a hollow shaft 202 and is covered with a cap 203. The entire upper clamp head is fastened by means of a bracket 204 to the dial cap 1. In order to achieve a good clampone-" ore ing action, a spring 265 urges the upper clamp part 2H against the lower clamp part 443i and provides a resilient mounting. The hollow shaft 282 is mounted displaceaoly in cap 2%, the spring travel being limited by a screw 2&7 sliding in an axial groove.

In order that the two

clamp parts

211 and 4% may always contact one another at their clamping surfaces, the suspension represented in FIG. may be chosen for the upper clamp part, in addition to the one represented in FIG. 16. In this case, cap 2d?) of the upper clamp part is pivoted at joint 213 on the holder 2&4 rigidly mounted on the dial cap 1. The spring 255 shown in FIG. 16 can then be eliminated.

FIG. 17 shows the planar projection of the clamping area K in a top view, said area being both the contact and the rolling area of the two spherical clamp parts 4%! and 211. The severing element St is disposed in the immediate vicinity of needles 3.

The operation of the clamping device according to FIG. E6 is based on the fact that the thread F, which runs from the thread guide to the needles 3 is pulled along by the latter due to their rotation and drawn over the dial cap 1. In the position F in FIG. 17, the thread has not yet reached the area of actionof the thread clamp. Not until it is in position F is the thread seized by the teeth 4% of the catch wheel 4%, which simultaneously forms the bottom part of the clamp, and carried along by said teeth, thus reaching the contact area K between the two clamp parts 409 and 211. Since the thread is being entrained, on the one hand, by the catch wheel 4% in the direction of the arrow P, and is being held fast on the clamping surface K, and on the other hand is also being carried by the needles 3 in the direction of the needle cylinder rotation Z, a gradual tensing of the thread results, as is shown in Positions F and P In this tensed state the thread comes within range of knife 56 and is severed in the immediate vicinity of the needles 3 (Position F so that only very short thread ends are left on the stocking. As it has developed in practice, an extremely precise clamping is necessary at the time when the thread F is passing through Positions F to F in order to achieve a reliable severance along with a uniform length of the thread ends left on the goods. Due to the fact that the two clamp parts 400 and 2H roll on a surface K, a good clamping effect is achieved throughout this area K, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a perfect entrainment of the thread is achieved without mangling it. The effect of teeth 46%) supports the entrainment and assures a precise and taut stretching of the thread F in the reach of knife 50. In this manner, it is possible to increase the edge life of cutter 50, even when thicker and less sharp blades are used, and to achieve a greater reliability of the severing action.

Owing to the fact that the spherical clamping surface K runs crosswise to the direction of the thread, the thread is bent at an angle in the clamping action, giving further support to the clamping action. To better entrain the thread F, the margin of the upper clamp part can be provided with notches or teeth tila. FIG. 18 shows another clamping device in which the bottom clamp part 410 has a convex spherical surface within the catch wheel 410, while the upper clamp part 211' has a concave spherical surface. The upper clamp part 211' is urged against the bottom clamp part 410 by means of a spiral spring 295' instead of the spring washers 2 95 (FIG. 16). As shown also in FIG. 16, the dial cap 1 is superelevated at the side where thread F enters so that thread F cannot be caught on this side by the teeth 4-10 of the catch Wheel, and thus lies diametrically over the catch wheel during the clamping action (FIG. 17). The thread ends released from the clamping device after the severance are then sucked away through the upper clamp part by a suction tube or hose 201 which is drawn over the hollow shaft 262' or is held by the aspirated air stream working in the direction of arrow S.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 1%, the clamping device 4% according to the invention can be disposed either inside of our outside of the circle of needles 3. in FIG. 19, as in the embodiments described above, the clamping device is on the inside, whereas in FIG. 19a, it is on the outside. One or" the two clamp parts can be made of an elastic substance such as polyamide or other plastic. in order to assure an intimate contact between the two clamp parts, even while the thread F is between them.

As is indicated in the drawings, in H6. 16, the clamp part 221 can be provided with notches til'a, and, in FIG. 18, clamp part 211' and 4M) can be provided respectively with notches tl'a and idb. Such additional notches can provide improved clamping.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus for knitting comprising an array of knitting needles for working thread into knit fabric, means for severing an extension of the thread from a knitting needle and the knit fabric, said severing means including a holder for the thread extension, said holder being spaced from said needles, whereby the thread extension can be held at spaced points by a needle and the holder, means for moving the needle array relative to the holder whereby the thread extension between said spaced points can be moved relative to the holder, and a cutter disposed between the needles and the holder for cutting the thread extension intermediate said spaced points, the improvement in the holder which comprises a first clamping member disposed in the path of the thread as it moves in response to movement of the needle array, said first clamping member including engaging means for engaging the thread when the thread in its path crosses the first clamping means, a second clamping member for cooperating with the first clamping member to engage the thread in the holding means, means moving said first clamping member to carry thread engaged by its engaging 1 cans into engagement by the first and second clamping members, whereby the thread can be held at spaced points by a needle and the holder for cutting of the thread between said points by the cutter.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, said cutter being adapted to cut the thread between said spaced points when the thread is drawn taut in response to relative movement of the holding means and needle array.

3. in circular knitting apparatus comprising a cylinder having knitting needles operatively mounted thereon for the working of thread into circular knit fabric, means for severing an extension of thread from a knitting needle and the knit fabric, said severing means including a holder for the thread extension, said holder being spaced from said needles, whereby the thread extension can be held at spaced points by a needle and the holder, means for r0 tating the cylinder relative to the holder whereby the thread extension between said spaced points can be moved relative to the holder, and a cutter disposed between the needles and the holder for cutting the thread extension intermediate said spaced points, the improvement in the holder which comprises a first clamping member disposed in the path of the thread as it moves in response to movement of the cylinder, said first clamping member including engaging means for engaging the thread when the thread in its path crosses the first clamping member, a second clamping member for cooperating with the first clamping member to engage the thread in the holding means, means moving said first clamping member to carry thread engaged by its engaging means into engagement by the first and second clamping members, whereby the thread can be held at spaced points by a needle mounted on the cylinder and the holder for the cutting of the thread between said spaced points by the cutter.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, said cutter being adapted to cut the thread between said spaced points when the thread is taut in response to relative movement of the holding means and the cylinder.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, said holder being positioned inwardly of said needles.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, and including a thread guide, means for knitting thread from said guide over but a portion of the circumference of the fabric being knit, said severing means being positioned for severing thread extensions from and knit into said portion.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, and including two thread guides disposed at spaced points about the circumference of the cylinder, means for knitting thread drawn from each of the thread guides into the fabric being knit over but a portion of the circumference of the fabric, said severing means being positioned to sever extensions of thread knit into said portion and drawn from said thread guides.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, and including a dial cap for the cylinder, said thread guides being disposed for feeding thread to needle hooks adjacent the periphery of the dial cap and being fixedly positioned with respect to the holder, the said path of the thread from each of said thread guides being in the same direction, a hold-down clip for the thread extension of thread knit from the thread guide remote from the holder along the paths of the thread.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, and including means disposed adjacent the holder along the path of thread to the holder for gripping the thread and releasing it in response to the action of the holder thereon.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, and including a restraining means mounted on the dial cap adjacent the holder in the paths of thread to the holder for gripping of thread moving along the paths and releasing the same in response to the action of the holder thereon.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3, said holder including means for applying suction to loose thread ends being worked by the holder.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, said suction means including a conduit having an open end disposed for receiving said loose thread ends and adapted for application of suction thereto, a pin projecting radially inwardly from the wall of said conduit adjacent the opened end thereof.

13. Apparatus according to claim 3, the second clamping member of the holder comprising a suction conduit having an open end portion for receiving loose thread ends being worked by the holder and for application of suction to said loose thread ends, and means mounted on said end of the conduit for the cooperating of said first and second clamping means as aforesaid.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, said means mounted on the end of the conduit comprising a resilient shoe pressing against said first clamping member.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, said first clamping member being rotatably mounted, said means of the second clamping member mounted on the end of the conduit including a tire rotatably mounted on said end of the conduit, said tire being in running contact with said first clamping member.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13, said first clamping member being rotatably mounted and having a toothed area providing the engaging means thereof, the means mounted on the end of the conduit of the second clamping member being disposed at an angle with respect to the first clamping member and engaging only a portion of the toothed area of the first clamping member leaving a portion of said toothed area spaced from said means, whereby an entrance way to the holder between the first and second clamping means thereof is provided.

17. Apparatus according to claim 13, and including a dial cap for the circular knitting machine, said first clamping member of the holder being disposed in a recess in the dial cap;

18. Apparatus according to claim 13, and including a dial cap for the knitting machine, said first clamping member being rotatably mounted on the dial cap and having a toothed area for providing the said engaging means thereof, said means mounted on the end of the conduit of the second clamping member being disposed at an angle to the first clamping member and engaging but a portion of said toothed area of the first clamping member leaving a portion of said toothed area spaced from said means for entrance of thread to the holder, said first clamping member being rotatably mounted in a recess in said dial cap so that the toothed area thereof is disposed below the level of the dial cap, and a shield plate partially covering the toothed area in the entrance way to the holder whole leaving a portion of the toothed area in the entrance way exposed for gripping threads.

19. Apparatus according to claim 3, the holder being positioned inwardly of the needles, the cylinder of the machine being rotatably mounted, and means for rotating the first clamping member of the holding means in the direction of rotation of the cylinder.

20. Apparatus according to claim 3, the severing means comprising a knife of curved form, the curve of the knife generally following the curve of the cylinder.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, the knife being disposed eccentrically with respect to the cylinder.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, the knife edge including a notch disposed for cutting action.

23. Apparatus according to claim 3, said cutter comprising a rotating cutting disc.

24. Apparatus according to claim 3, said cutter comprising a burner.

25. Apparatus according to claim 3, and including a dial cap for the circular knitting machine, said cutter being interposed between the dial cap and the cylinder, said cutter being movable from a lower cutting position and an upper cutting position, whereby cutting of the cutter as aforesaid can be performed in either of said positions and while in said upper position, thread change-over can be effected.

26. Apparatus according to claim 3, said apparatus including a dial cap for the knitting machine, said cutter being interposed between the dial cap and the cylinder and being movable between a lower position in which it is disposed for cutting as aforesaid and an upper position in which it is also disposed for cutting as aforesaid, whereby the cutter may be moved to said upper position to permit thread change, the cutter in said upper position being directed towards the dial cap.

27. Apparatus according to claim 3, and including an auxiliary cutter for cutting starting threads.

28. Apparatus according to claim 3, said first clamping member being rotatably mounted and having a toothed area for the engaging of thread worked by the holder, said second clamping member engaging the first clamping member over only a portion of the toothed area thereof for cooperating with the first clamping member to effect engagement of the thread by the holder, said second clamping member being disposed at an angle to the first clamping member leaving a portion of said toothed area exposed for engaging threads as aforesaid and providing an entrance way for the thread to the holder, said first and second clamping members contacting each other over an area having the contour of a portion of a sphere.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, and including means for rotating said first clamping member, that part of the second clamping member which engages the first clamping member being free to rotate in response to the engagement thereof by the first clamping member.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, and including means urging the said part of the second clamping member into engagement with the first clamping member.

31. Apparatus according to claim 28, and including means for driving one of the said holder clamping members.

32. Apparatus according to claim 28, the engaging surface of one of the said holder clamping members being of resilient material.

ale-awe 1 i 33. Apparatus according to claim 32, the engaging surface of the other of said holding members being metal.

34. Apparatus according to claim 28, the engaging surface of each of the said clamping members being toothed. 35. Apparatus accordingto claim 28, and including a dial cap for the knitting machine, said first clamping 'member being disposed in a recess in the dial cap, the

engaging surface of said first clamping member being concave, and the engaging surface of the second clamping member being convex.

36. Apparatus according to claim 28, and including a cap plate for the knitting machine, said first clamping member being disposed in a recess in the dial cap, the

i2 engaging surface of the first clamping member being convex and the engaging surface of the second clamping member being concave.

Reierenees {,ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,971 Gagne M Feb. 6, 1934 2,893,229 Haddad July 7, 1959 2,952,148 Rather Sept. 13, 1960 3,040,549 Peel June 26, 1962 3,075,374 St. Pierre Jan. 29, 1963 3,079,779 Butler et a1. Nov. 5, 1963 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,164,975 January 12, 1965 Karl Haberhauer It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read a corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2' and 12, and in the heading to the printed specification, line 4, for "Schubert G Saly er Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft,", each occurrence, read Schubert G Salzer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, column 5, line 20, strike out "clamp 21"; line 57, for "elements' read element column 9, line 4, for "said guide" read said thread guide column 10, line 12, for "whole" read while column 11, line 12, for "cap plate" read dial cap Signed and sealed this 22nd day ofJune 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR KNITING COMPRIISNG AN ARRAY OF KNITTING NEEDLES FOR WORKING THREADF INTO KNIT FABRIC, MEANS FOR SEVERING AN EXTENSION OF THE THREAD FROM A KNITTING NEEDLE AND THE KNIT FABRIC, SAID SEVERING MEANS INCLUDING A HOLDER FOR THE THREAD EXTENSION, SAID HOLDER BEING SPACED FROM SAID NEEDLES, WHEREBY THE THREAD EXTENSION CAN BE HELD AT SPACED POINTS BY A NEEDLE AND THE HOLDER, MEANS FOR MOVING THE NEEDLE ARRAY RELATIVE TO THE HOLDER WHEREBY THE THREAD EXTENSION BETWEEN SAID SPACED POINTS CAN BE MOVED RELATIVE TO THE HOLDER, AND A CUTTER DISPOSED BETWEN THE NEEDLES AND THE HOLDER FOR CUTTING THE THREAD EXTENSION INTERMEDIATE SAID SPACED POINT, THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE HOLDER WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF THE THREAD AS IT MOVE IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLE ARRAY, SAID FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER INCLUDING ENGAGING MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE THREAD WHEN THE THREAD IN ITS PATH CROSSES THE FIRST CLAMPING MEANS, A SECOND CLAMPING MEMBER FOR COOPERATING WITH THE FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER TO ENGAGE THE THREAD IN THE HOLDING MEANS, MENS MOVING SAID FIRST CLAMPING MEMBER TO CARRY THREAD ENGAGED BY ITS ENGAGING MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT BY THE FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPING MEMBERS, WHEREBY THE THREAD CAN BE HELD AT SPACED POINTS BY A NEEDLE AND THE HOLDER FOR CUTTING OF THE THREAD BETWEEN SAID POINTS BY THE CUTTER.