US3225568A - Hand-knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 MAKOTO TANAKA 3,225,568

HAND-KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l Q 8/ L10 INVENTOR.

MA KOTO TANAKA F i .30, BY 3, 1

ATTORNEK D 1965 MAKOTO TANAKA HAND-KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1962 INi ENTOR.

1 I w y I Dec. 28, 1965 MAKOTO TANAKA 3,225,568

HANDKNITTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FfiyG 3/ 3/ W WWW WW W W United States Patent 3,225,568 HAND-KNITTING MACHINE Makoto Tauaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Art Amiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Apr. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 186,235 Claims priority, application Japan, Apr. 13, 1961, 36/ 12,652 3 Claims. (Cl. 66-60) The present invention relates to a hand-knitting machine, wherein various patterns can be selectively and automatically produced by adapting a pattern selecting aparatus which is disposed within the body of the machine.

Hand-knitting machines, which permit automatically the production of any desired pattern, are designed such that all their knitting needles can vary their positions upwardly and downwardly. These knitting needles are divided into two groups. The first group is disposed in an upper position and performs the pattern production by operation of the pattern selecting device, The second group is disposed in a lower position and participates in the pattern production. By operation of a lock only the needles belonging to the first group are forcibly caused to perform the process of the pattern formation.

A pattern selecting apparatus is known, wherein several freely slidable multiple cam plates are arranged such that the cam plates move crosswise below the needles and can move freely.

A concave portion receiving the needles is formed on the surface of each of the cam plates. On the other hand the pattern-selecting device can comprise a rotating cam rod, which moves below the needles and can rotate about its axis. A groove-like concave portion receives the knitting needles and is formed about the cam plates.

Concerning the concave cam parts, which receive the knitting needles in the slidable multiple-cam plates, each of the plates has its concave parts, the position and distance between the parts being different from the corresponding values of another cam plate. The patternknitting can be performed by one of the cam plates or by the combination of two or more than two of the plates, in order to produce a desired pattern. In case of a rotating cam rod each of the lines has in a plurality of directions its concave parts along the axis on the outer periphery, the positions of and distance between the concave parts being different from the corresponding values of any other line. A cam line is chosen by rotation of the rod in accordance with a pattern to be produced. In this maner a desired pattern is produced.

As stated above, in the known pattern selecting devices a knitting needle is lowered into a concave cam part and the butt of the lowered knitting needle is removed from the position in which the butt of the needle engages the forming cam of the lock.

Accordingly, the needles belonging to this group, which are lowered and removed from the position, where the lock engages the pattern forming cam, are inoperative and hold the yarn with their hooks. Only the needles belonging to the first group, which are not lowered, are effective on the formnig cams of the lock, in order to bring about a predetermined pattern. For this reason, after performance of a predetermined pattern by means of needles belonging to the first group, a further pattern is formed or after termination of the pattern a formation without pattern is performed with all knitting needles. It is required to raise needles belonging to the second group which are lowered into the concave part of the cam.

Thus, in using the known method, it has been, by all means, necessary to provide a complicated mechanism in order to raise up all neeedles simultaneously.

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It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a hand-knitting machine, which avoids the drawbacks of the known structures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand-knitting machine, wherein all knitting needles, Whose positions can be freely changed upwardly and downwardly, are subjected to a pretension in upward direction. They are formed such that they are positioned on the surface of the cam of the pattern selecting device, which is disposed inside of the main body; the butts of the needles are arranged such that they are always in engagement with a group of formation cams of the lock. A needle selecting device is provided on the lock, which device divides the needles into two groups, namely, into one group to which belong needles which are disposed on the concave parts of the selection device, and into another group, to which belong such needles which are disposed on the face of the cam. Needles which belong to each of these groups are caused to be moved over a cam provided separately for each of the groups. Thus, at first a further particular pattern formation can be started, without necessity that the needles are raised simultaneously, or a pattern formation can be terminated. In this case a particularly advantageous performance can be obtained.

The same pattern can easily be transferred in crosswise direction such that the number of loops is reduced by one loop with each step of the pattern selecting device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hand-knitting machine, wherein each needle is automatically selected by the needle selecting device of the lock, so that the needles pass through a particular circle. In case of pulling-up knitting or a pattern interknitting, the present device avoids a troublesome operation. Such operation must be performed for displacing by hand the needles which do not coincide with the needles which act upon the formation cam, namely, the needles which should be made to pass through the upper cam circle or through the lower cam circle.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-section of the main body of a knitting machine;

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the lock;

FIGS. 3 and 3a are elevations of a cam plate indicating the relation between the needles and the pattern figuring cam plates in different operational positions;

FIG. 4 is an elevation similar to that of FIG. '3;-

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the needle selecting device in relation to the showing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of another embodiment than that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the hand-knitting machine comprises a front end wall 2 and a back end wall 3, which end walls 2 and 3 are connected by a grooved plate 1 which covers the upper face of the main body of the knitting machine. Knitting needles N extend through the walls 2 and 3, freely moveable forwardly and backwardly.

The shanks of each knitting needle N pass through a vertical guiding bore 4, disposed in the back end wall 3. The needles N are pushed upwardly by the free end of a spring 5, for instance a blade spring, the base of which spring is fitted to the inner bottom surface of the main body. They are pressed against the upper end of the guiding bore 4. Thereafter the butt b of each needle N passes through a needle groove 6 of the groove plate 1 and projects upwardly.

Thus, the knitting needles N have the tendency of moing upwardly at all times.

On the inner face of the main body of the knitting machine several pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 are arranged such that they are disposed crosswise below all knitting needles N and engage each other in the direction of movement of the needles N.

The pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 are equipped with toothlike cam portions 7', 8 and 9' projecting from the upper end faces of the plates 7, 8 and 9 and including concave and convex parts.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 3a, the cam portions 7' are arranged such that the needles N are positioned one after the other alternately on the concave parts and the convex parts, while the cam members 8' are arranged such that one needle N is positioned on the concave part and the two adjacent needles are positioned on the convex parts. The cam portions 9 are arranged such that one needle is positioned on a convex part and the adjacent needles on the concave parts. Each of the pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 is usually kept in such position that the convex parts of each of the cam portions 7, 8 and 9' is disposed in the space between two adjacent needles N. The pattern plates are positioned axially to a predetermined relationship with each other and with the needles N. As shown in FIG. 4, for instance the convex part of the cam portion 7 is positioned below the shank of the fixed needle N.

A horizontal slot 10 is provided in the pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 and a bolt 11 extends through the rear end wall 3 and through the horizontal slots 10. Accordingly, the longitudinal movement of the pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 is controlled by the horizontal slots 10 and by the bolt 11 passing through the slots 10.

A lock 12 is mounted on the groove plate 1 and includes fan-like cams 13 and a lowering cam 15 which forms an idling passage 14. Swing-can1s 16 are provided, which open and close, respectively, the idling passage 14. Swingcams 18 are swingably secured to the lower ends of the fan-like earns 13 and open and close, respectively, a lower idling passage 17. A tuck cam 19 is also provided which can raise to the tuck position the needles N which have been lowered into the lower idling passage 17.

Needle selecting cams 20 are arranged on the two outer sides of the lock 12 such that they extend along the faces of the cams 18, that is along the outer face of the main cams 13.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, the base ends of the cams 20 are secured axially at a position, where the free end of the swing earns 16 engages the free ends of the swing cams 18 in the position in which the upper idling channel 14 is opened and in which the lower idling channel 17 is opened. The free ends of the cams 20 are always in the position, in which the lower idling passage 17 is closed.

If the swing cams 18 open the lower idling channel 17, guiding slots 21 are set on the needle selecting cams 20 such that needles passing under the needle selecting cams 20 can enter into the lower idling passage 17. The butt of knitting needle N only can enter the guide slots 21 in view of the upwardly directed force of a spring 5.

Accordingly, the depth of the guiding slots 21 must be properly predetermined in accordance with the present invention.

Needle selecting members 22 are secured to the outer face of the needle selecting cams 20. The ends of the arms 23 of the needle selecting members 22 are secured axially to the needle selecting cams 20 by means of pins 24.

The pins 24 are surrounded by coil springs 25, one end of which engages the cams 20 and the other end forces the needle selecting members 22 in downward direction.

The needle selecting members 22 turn, therefore, downwardly until the cams 20 abut on stops 26. They close resiliently the outer end entrance sides of the guiding slots 21.

In this case, the tension of the springs 25, forcing the needle selecting members 22 downwardly, must be greater than that of the springs 5, which pretension the needles in upward direction.

Further, the lower face of the needle selecting member 22 must be inclined such that the member 22 turns upwardly in the backward direction.

As it is set forth below, it is also desirable that, as shown in FIG. 6, the guiding slot 21 is formed gradually deeper such that the entrance side has the least depth and the exit side has the greatest depth, and in particular such depth that the upper end of the butt b of a needle N in its upward position may be received at the exit end.

If now each of the pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 is in its normal position, in which the convex face of its cam member is positioned such that it is disposed between the needles, a knitting needle, the butt b of which has been brought to the rear end of the needle slot 6 by the reciprocating movement along the groove plate 1 of the lock 12, is moved forward along the outer face of the cam 20, because the butt b is carried off by one of the needle selecting members 22, namely the cam 20. Then the needle moves downwardly against the force of the spring 5, because the butt [1 is pushed down by means of the needle selecting member 22. Then the needle moves upwardly again into the position, where the butt b passes through the guiding slot 21 and slides out of the guide slot 21. Then the butt [1 passes through the circuit course for a formation according to the main cams 13 and the lowering cam 15, and after that, pushes the other needle selecting device into the open position so as to perform the general plain knitting process.

Due to the slow deepening of the guide slot 21, the needle moves slowly upwardly as the result of the operation of the spring 5 during the passing through the guide slot 21 in view of the downward force exerted by the needle selecting member 22. When the needle reaches the exit of the guiding slot 21, the needle is restored to its original upper position and continues its working stroke in the same manner. At the moment the needle passes the guide slot 21, it moves upwardly. By this method, the noise creation due to the upward movement or the return of each needle can be avoided.

When one or more than two pattern plates slide for the performance of a pattern formation and then the convex face of a cam member is caused to be positioned below a fixed needle and the lock is additionally operated, the butt b of the knitting needle N positioned on the concave face of the cam member of the pattern plate is, as mentioned above, caused to move downwardly by the needle selecting member 22. Then the needle is caused to pass through the guiding slot 21. The needle N positioned on the concave face of the cam member is caught by the convex face and is not permitted to descend, as 15 shown in FIG. 5. The needle N moves the needle selecting member 22 upwardly against the force of the spring 25 and moves along the outer face of the needle selecting member 20.

Accordingly, if the upper idling pasage 14 is opened to the left side of FIG. 2 by means of the swing cam 16and the lower idling passage 17 is closed by means of the swing cams 18, then a needle positioned on the concave face of the cam member of a pattern plate passes through the upper idling passage 14 and a needle positioned on the concave face of the cam member gets through the guiding slot 21. It moves upwardly through the formation cam circuit in view of the raising cam 13 and finally the knitting process can be performed.

If the upper idling passage 14 is closed to the right side of FIG. 2 by the swing-cam and the lower idling passage 17 is opened by the swing-cam 18, then a needle passing through the guiding slot 21 moves through the lower idling passage 17 and then comes to a stop; a needle, which could not pass through the guiding slot 21, moves along the side face of the needle selecting cam 20 and enters into the formation circuit and is acted upon by the raising cam 13. Thus the same pattern formation as is the case in the known device can be performed.

In this condition, if the pattern plates 7, 8 and 9 (only one pattern plate will be sufficient for the pattern formation) are shifted sideways as one body by a distance of one Wale, then the same pattern is obtained displaced laterally.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose an embodiment, wherein the needle selecting members 22 are omitted, which in the previously mentioned embodiment close resiliently the outer ends of the guiding slot 21, provided at the needle selecting cams 29.

In this embodiment, springs 31 are disposed in place of the needle selecting members 22, which springs 31 extend downwardly from the slidable foot of the lock 12, the needle Nprojecting rearwardly from the rear end of the groove plate 1 is pushed downwardly by means of the free end of the spring 31. The spring 31 is stronger than the spring 5 which tensions the needle in upward direction. Accordingly, the needle N positioned on the concave face of the cam of the platform plate disposed in the interior of the main body of the knitting machine, is pressed down by means of the spring 31. It is caused to pass through the guiding slot 21 of the needle cam 20 provided at the lock. The needle N passes then through the main circuit, while the needle N positioned opposite the convex face of the cam moves such that it bends the spring 31 upwardly and then moves along the needle selecting cams 20. It moves finally through a circuit different from that through which the aforementioned needle N passes.

Therefore, the position of the free end of the spring 31 must be properly decided in such manner, that the spring 31 moves forwardly to a certain extent along the needle selecting cam and presses down a needle which has just reached the outer end of the guiding groove 21.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is desirable that the spring 5, which pushes a needle into the upward position, is caused to act upon the needle in a direction opposite to the spring member 31, as shown in the drawing.

In this embodiment, also a needle is always in the upper position just as in its aforementioned embodiment, and needles positioned opposite the convex and the concave face of the cam of the pattern plate are selected by means of the spring 31, so as to go through separate circuits, respectively.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense,

the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-knitting machine comprising a main body,

a plurality of knitting needles having a butt and disposed parallel relative to each other and movable in said main body to assume a high, operative position and a low, inoperative position, respectively,

a pattern selecting device disposed in said main body and passing across below said knitting needles,

said pattern selecting device having at its upper surface a projecting portion receiving said knitting needles,

resilient means pushing said knitting needles upwardly individually to said high, operative position and lifted from said high position by said pattern selecting device.

a carriage mounted on and movable along said main body,

cam members secured to said carriage and causing said lifted knitting needles to perform a knitting operation, and

means associated with said carriage moving said knitting needles not positioned above said projections of said pattern selecting device into said low, inoperative position.

2. The hand-knitting machine, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said pattern selecting device includes a needle selecting member and the latter has a guiding groove below its upper surface and said butt of said knitting needles capable of passing said guiding groove only in the low, inoperative position of said needles, and

said needle selecting member closing the entrance of said guiding groove to push downwardly knitting needles positioned on a flat portion of said pattern selecting device into said low, inoperative position and to push upwardly knitting needles positioned on said projecting portions of said patern selecting device into said high, operative position.

3. The hand-knitting machine, as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said guiding groove has a depth smaller at its start than at its end, and

means for restoring said knitting needles to their high, operative position upon leaving said guiding groove.

Claims (1)

1. A HAND-KNITTING MACHINE COMPRISING A MAIN BODY, A PLURALITY OF KNITTING NEEDLES HAVING A BUTT AND DISPOSED PARALLEL RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND MOVABLE IN SAID MAIN BODY TO ASSUME A HIGH, OPERATIVE POSITION AND A LOW, INOPERATIVE POSITION, RESPECTIVELY, A PATTERN SELECTING DEVICE DISPOSED IN SAID MAIN BODY AND PASSING ACROSS BELOW SAID KNITTING NEEDLES, SAID PATTERN SELECTING DEVICE HAVING AT ITS UPPER SURFACE A PROJECTING PORTION RECEIVING SAID KNITTING NEEDLES, RESILIENT MEANS PUSHING SAID KNITTING NEEDLES UPWARDLY INDIVIDUALLY TO SAID HIGH, OPERATIVE POSITION AND LIFTED FROM SAID HIGH POSITION BY SAID PATTERN SELECTING DEVICE. A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON AND MOVABLE ALONG SAID MAIN BODY, CAM MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID CARRIAGE AND CAUSING SAID LIFTED KNITTING NEEDLES TO PERFORM A KNITTING OPERATION, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CARRIAGE MOVING SAID KNITTING NEEDLES NOT POSITIONED ABOVE SAID PROJECTIONS OF SAID PATTERN SELECTING DEVICE INTO SAID LOW, INOPERATIVE POSITION.

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