US3354672A

US3354672A - Connecting means

Info

Publication number: US3354672A
Application number: US441462A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans J Klaeui
Original assignee: Crompton and Knowles Malimo Inc
Current assignee: Crompton and Knowles Malimo Inc
Priority date: 1965-03-22
Filing date: 1965-03-22
Publication date: 1967-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1967 H. J. KLAEUI CONNECTING MEANS Filed March 22 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIHIIIIIHHI QWW BY ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1967 H. J. KLAEUI 3,354,672

CONNECTING MEANS Filed March 22, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HANS J. KLAEUI ATTORNEY United States Patent f 3,354,672 CONNECTING MEANS Hans J. Klaeui, Shrewsbury, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles-Malimo, Inc., Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,462 7 Claims. (Cl. 66-84) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE Connections of machine elements to shafts wherein an extension of the element encloses, and is clamped to the shaft by a split collar.

This invention relates to clamping mechanism for driving means such as gears and cams in knitting machinery where there are more than one driving means on and being driven by a common shaft and whose operations are so related as to require synchronism.

It is an object of the invention to provide clamping mechanism for the various drive means so that they can be adjusted on a drive shaft with respect to each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide the driving means with sleeves on which clamping means can be applied, the clamping means being effective when tightened to secure the driving means to the shaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a clamping mechanism in the form of a collar having multiple gripping surfaces on its inner circumference which are effective to grip any one of the driving means on its drive shaft through a sleeve integral with the driving means when the inner diameter of the collar is reduced.

Still another object of the invention is to provide each of the driving means with an integral sleeve which is deformable to hold the driving means against the shaft when a clamping collar which surrounds it is tightened.

A still further object of the invention is to provide at least one of the driving means with a clamping collar which also acts as a counterweight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the drive for loop forming knitting needles and thread guides for a knitting machine,

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the drive taken along line 2-2, FIG. 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the horizontal driver for the thread guides shown in FIG. 4 with the invention applied thereto,

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section on line 44, FIG. 3,

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5, FIG. 3,

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the motions of a thread guide about two loop-forming knitting needles,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of sleeve construction for any of the driving means,

FIGURE 8 is an elevation of the clamping means for the needle drive means.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown mechanism for producing chain-stitched rows of warp thread loops which can be joined together on a knitted fabric. This mechanism forms part of a knitting machine like that shown in Patent No. 3,030,786 and comprises knitting needles 2, each having a fixed hook 4 like a crochet needle. These needles are fastened in holders 6 which are attached to a needle bar 8.

Operated in synchronism with the loop-forming knitting needles are thread guides 10 which are supplied with 3,354,672 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 stitching yarn 12 and serve to insert the yarn into the hooks 4 of the needles 2. Holders 13 of the thread guides 10 are fastened to a guide bar 14 and for the just-men tioned purpose, are effectively revolved about the axes oi the needles at the proper time.

The needle bar 8 carrying the needles 2 is actuated by 2 first eccentric drive means generally indicated at 15 and including a connecting rod 16 extending from an eccentric rod 17 linked to a strap 18 of an eccentric 20 which is rotated by a motor driven shaft 22 supported by a housing 24. The guide bar 14 for the thread guides 10 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 26 through a lever arm 28. This shaft, being rotatably mounted within bearings 30, is adapted to slide longitudinally back and forth and carries a short lever 32.

Lever 32 is connected with a coupling rod 33 linked to an eccentric rod 34. Rod 34 with its strap 35 encloses an eccentric 36, which by means of an intermediate connecting rod 37, moves the thread guides up and down. This last described driving means forms a second eccentric drive means indicated generally by the reference character 31. In addition to this reciprocating movement, the thread guides must undergo an axially transverse back and forth movement in order to insert threads into the hooks of the needle 2. This is accomplished by a third eccentric drive means indicated generally by the reference character 43. As shown in FIGURE 6, the path of the thread guides 10 appears as a figure eight.

Each of the thread guides circles around two adjacently mounted knitting needles 2 and to cause each thread guide to alternately supply two knitting needles with yarn, each time at the moment when one of the needles has reached its foremost position and the thread guide has passed the highest point of its upward movement. For this purpose, the thread guides 10 and the shaft 26 carrying the same are operated to perform one complete back and forth movement while the needles 2 are moved twice back and forth by the third eccentric drive means. Drive means 43 includes a pinion 38 clamped to the shaft 22 and a spur gear 39 of twice the size of and engaged by said pinion. Consequently, the spur gear rotates at one-half the speed of shaft 22.

Said spur gear 39 is fixedly connected with an eccentric 40 whosestrap member 41 is linked by an eccentric rod 42 to a connecting rod 44 axially slidable in a bearing 45. When in operation, the rod 44 and its linkage 46 impart axial reciprocations to the shaft 26 by actuating an angle lever 48 rotatably mounted on a pivot 49. A tension spring 50 fastened about the shaft 26 between one of the bearings 30 and the adjacent lever arm 28 of the guide bar 14 aids the axially oscillating movement by forcing the shaft against an adjusting screw 51 connecting the free end of angle lever 48 to that of shaft 26.

From the foregoing it is seen how the first, second and third eccentric drive means operate in synchronism so that the thread guide It) will move with respect to the knitting needles 2 in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

In order to be able to adjust any of the driving means with respect to each other, pinion 3S and eccentrices 20 and 36 are adjustably held in driving relation to the driver shaft 22 by clamping collars 52.

Clamping collars 52 each comprise a ring 54 having a transverse slot 56 which forms an opening from the inner circumference 58 to the outer circumference 6d, and a stud 62 which extends across slot 56 by passing through

holes

64 and 65 in the ring 54. Hole 64 is large enough for the threaded portion 66 of the screw 62 to pass through but not large enough for the head 67. Hole 65 is tapped to receive the threaded portion 66 of the stud 62. The inner circumference 58 of the ring 54 is not a uniform surface, being formed with alternate grooves 68 and ridges 70.

Pinion 38, cam 20 and cam 36 are each provided with .n integral sleeve 72 which extends along the shaft 22. k clamping collar 52 fits on each of the sleeves 72. For ach collar 52, when the stud 62 is turned in one direcion so as to advance in tapped hole .65 it tends to reduce he inner diameter 58 of the collar 52 and causes the idges 70 to press against the sleeve 72 which in turn )IGSSCS against the shaft 22 to keep the pinion 38 in ight holding relation with the shaft. In order for the .leeve 72 to hold tightly against the shaft 22 it must be leformed somewhat by the collar 52. This can be accomilis'hed by making the sleeve of relatively thin cross-section is shown in FIG. 4 or by having slots 73 to form sections 75 as shown .in FIG. 7. After the machine has been assemiled for operation it may be found necessary to adjust he timing of the first, second and third drive means one with respect to the others. This may be necessary due to iuch factors as the use of different types of yarns as to itifiness, size, elasticity, permanent stretch, etc.

This can be accomplished by turning the studs 62 in :he opposite direction from which they were turned to tighten the clamping collars 52. This will loosen the collars 52 and free the sleeves 72 from the shaft 22 to allow the pinion 38, eccentric cam 20, or eccentric cam 36 to the desired position relative to the shaft upon which the studs are then turned in the direction to again cause collars S2 to clamp their respective drive members to the shaft.

It is seen that the clamping mechanism just described allows greater flexibility with respect to the synchronous timing of the difierent driving means of a knitting machine and also being effective to hold driving means in tight driving relation with the main drive shaft when they are not being adjusted.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 8, the clamping collars 52 for the first and second eccentric drive means each have an enlarged portion 74 which acts as a counterweight, said clamping collars being indicated generally by the reference character 76. Portion 74 extends radially from the rest of the collar and is disposed about 180 from the slot 56, and also may include holes 78. As shown in FIGURE 1, there are two collars 76 for both the first and second drive means for dynamic balance. It may be necessary to change the collars 74 which clamp cam 20 due to different types of yarn, different types of fabric, change in needle gauge or a change in the length of stitch. In this case the collars 76 can be very easily removed as previously described for collars 52 and new collars 76 with differences in the area 74 can be used. The difference in the area 74 may include more or less material, difference in the size and position of holes 78, or a difference in shape depending on the knitting conditions to be met.

Having described the invention what is now claimed is:

1, In a knitting machine for producing a textile fabric, said machine having a row of knitting needles, a first eccentric drive means to reciprocate said knit-ting needles, a plurality of thread guides for laying warp thread onto said knit-ting needles, a second eccentric drive means for reciprocating said thread guides in a vertical direction relative to said row of knitting needles and a third eccentric drive means for reciprocating said thread guides in a direction parallel to said row of knitting needles, a common drive shaft, connecting means to adjustably connect all of the aforementioned eccentric drive means, said connecting means comprising:

(a) a tubular sleeve having a continuous unbroken wall connected to each of said eccentric drive means, said sleeve extending along said drive shaft,

(b) a clamping collar surrounding said unbroken wall,

and

(c) means to reduce the internal diameter of said collar to cause it to force said sleeve against said shaft in tight holding relationship therewith.

2. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said clamping collars comprises:

(a) a ring having a transverse slot forming an opening from the inner to the outer circumference of the clamping member,

(b) a stud extending across said slot through appropriate holes in said ring, one of said holes being tapped to receive the screw of said stud, so that when the stud is turned in one direction it draws the edges which define said opening closer together to reduce the inner'diameter of said ring,

(c) a plurality of ridges on the inner surface of said ring, said ridges being effective to force the sleeve onto said shaft when the inner diameter of the ring is reduced by the action of the stud.

3. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is of thin wall thickness so as to be deformed by said ridges when said collar is tightened.

4. The mechanism set forth in claim 2 wherein said clamping collars for first and second eccentric drive means are each characterized by an enlarged segmented portion whose radius is greater than that of the remaining portion of the collar and is disposed from the slot in the collar. said enlarged segmented portions acting as counterweights with first and second eccentric drive means.

5. Connecting means for connecting drive elements to a shaft, said connecting means comprising:

(a) a tubular sleeve having a continuous unbroken wall connected to each said drive elements and extending axially about the shaft;

(b) a split clamping collar surrounding said unbroken wall; and

(0) means to reduce the internal diameter of said collar to cause it to force said sleeve against said shaft in tight holding relationship therewith.

6. The mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said clamping collar comprises:

(a) a ring having a transverse slot forming an opening from its inner to its outer circumference; and

(b) means to urge the walls of said transverse slot together to thereby reduce the inner diameter of said ring.

7. In a mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ring has a plurality of circumferential ridges on its inner circumference, said ridges being effective to deform portions of the sleeve into clamping relationship with said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,116,845 11/1-914 Rogers 287S2 1,328,688 1/1920 Pond 2'87-52 1,687,806 11/1928 Strong 308236 X 1,778,822 10/ 1930 Ackerman 308-236 X 1,821,877 9/1931 Bowne 308-236 X 2,890,579 6/1959 Mauersberger 66192 3,051,372 8/1962 Rockafield 28752 3,127,784 4/ 1964 ONeill 287-52 3,276,828 11/ 19.66 Mansfield 3 08236 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A KNITTING MACHINE FOR PRODUCING A TEXTILE FABRIC, SAID MACHINE HAVING A ROW OF KNITTING NEEDLES, A FIRST ECCENTRIC DRIVE MEANS TO RECIPROCATE SAID KNITTING NEEDLES, A PLURALITY OF THREAD GUIDES FOR LAYING WARP THREAD ONTO SAID KNITTING NEEDLES, A SECOND ECCENTRIC DRIVE MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID THREAD GUIDES IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID ROW OF KNITTING NEEDLES AND A THIRD ECCENTRIC DRIVE MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID THREAD GUIDES IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID ROW OF KNITTING NEEDLES, A COMMON DRIVE SHAFT, CONNECTING MEANS TO ADJUSTABLY CONNECT ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ECCENTRIC DRIVE MEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING: