US3415081A

US3415081A - Machine for knitting non-torque fabric

Info

Publication number: US3415081A
Application number: US510794A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carroll R Anderson
Original assignee: Munsingwear Inc
Current assignee: Munsingwear Inc
Priority date: 1965-12-01
Filing date: 1965-12-01
Publication date: 1968-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-10
Also published as: IL26820A; FR1501456A; ES333640A1; DE1585250B1; GB1105740A

Description

De 10, 1968 c. R. ANDE'RsoN 3,415,081

MACHINE FOR KNITTING NON-'PORQUE FABRIC Filed nec. 1, 1965 2 sheets-sheet@ FIGLB INVENTOR.

CA @ROLL ANDERSON BY www@ Av-TonA/Ens Dec. l0, 1968 c. R. ANDERSON 3,415,081

MACHINE FOR KNITTING NON-TORQUE FABRIC Filed. Dec. l, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8 y

I NVNTOR.` CARROLL R.ANDER1$ON BY MMfJ/j 1 A -r TGR/w: Ys

United States Patent O 3,415,081 MACHINE FOR KNITTING NON-TORQUE FABRIC Carroll R. Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Munsingwear, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 510,794 3 Claims. ('Cl. 66--151) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A knitting machine for producing a jersey fabric wherein the takeup reel is rotated in a direction corresponding with the direction of relative rotation between the yarn inputs and the knitting head lbut at a rate determined by the amount and direction of twist in the yarn so that the wales in the `finished fabric are skewed slightly to compensate for torque produced in the fabric by the natural torque of the yarn. The change in speed is accomplished by altering the gear ratio between the knitting head and the takelup reel.

This invention pertains to a knitted fabric of single strand yarns of the jersey type in which the torque is substantially removed therefrom including an improved knitting machine for producing such fabric and more particularly to a knitting machine in which the wales of the fabric produced therein are skewed relative to the longitudinal axis in a direction and at an angle proportional to the direction and amount of twist in the yarn making up the fabric.

Knitting yarns constructed of material such as cotton, wool, or the like, have a twist therein due to the manner in which they are constructed, which is classified as a Z or an S twist depending upon the direction of the twist. The amount of this twist may :vary somewhat between different types of yarn and different manufacturers. When the yarn is knitted into a fabric in single ply yarn, such as a jersey fabric or the like, the twist of the various strands of yarn work together to produce a torque in the fabric with a magnitude approximately equal to one turn of the fabric about its longitudinal axis per 7 to l1 yards of length. Because of this torque the fabric will not llie flat and the edges have a tendency to curl and twist, which makes the fabric extremely difcult to handle and causes much difculty during the use thereof.

In the prior art many ideas have been mechanized to compensate for the torque in knitted fabric but none of these ideas are very effective. In general use is a process for treating the fabric to produce a somewhat harder surface so that the fabric will lie flat while a garment is being produced therefrom. However, once the garment is washed the treatment is substantially removed and the garment will not lie fiat or hang straight on the wearer. This is especially noticeable in long garments because the bottom of the garment, in some cases, will actually turn as much as one-quarter of a turn relative to the top of the garment.

Another method of compensating for the torque in fabrics is to alternate yarn having a Z twist and yarn having an S twist when the fabric is knitted. In this fashion the S twist in the yarn compensates for the Z twist in the adjacent yarn and the net torque is substantially zero. However, the overall appearance of this fabric is somewhat distasteful since adjacent -lengths of yarn in the fabric are not parallel. Also, it is necessary for the operators of the knitting machine to be extremely careful when they place yarn in the machine, since Z and S twist yarn must be alternated at the sources, or at least nearly equal amounts must lbe utilized. Thus, extra time is required in the operation of the machines ice and equal amounts of at least two different types of yarn must be available at all times. This increases the time and expense of the knitting process.

Another method is to use two or more plys of yarn in the same strand, whereby the torque of each strand works against the torque of the other strands, tending to neutralize the total torque of the yarn. However, this extra operation of plying the strands adds cost and is therefore generally not used in mass production.

In the present invention a standard :sinker-top knitting machine is utilized. In a sinker-top knitting machine a plurality of sources supply yarn to a plurality of needles in a knitting head. A motor provides relative rotation between the knitting head and the yarn sources, thereby, providing the knitting action so that a continuous length of `fabric is produced. This continuous length of fabric is rolled onto a takeup reel which is rotated about a horizontal axis at a speed sufficient to maintain the length of fabric taut and at the same time the takeup reel is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cloth at a lspeed equal to the relative rotation of the knitting head and the yarn sources. Thus, in the standard sinker-top knitting machine the knitted fabric is rolled onto the takeup reel so the wales, or the longitudinal ridges produced by a single row of stitches, are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fabric. In the present invention the standard sinker-top knitting machine is modified so that the fabric is wound onto the takeup reel with the wales skewed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fabric. The skew of the wales is proportional to the amount of twist in the yarn making up the fabric so that the fabric wound on the takeup reel is at rest or has substantially no torque therein. Thus, the present device does not compensate for the torque in. a Ifabric but substantially removes the torque therefrom.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knitting machine.

It is a further object of the present4 invention to provide a knitting machine which produces a knitted fabric ha-ving substantially no torque therein.

It is a further object of the present. invention to provide a fabric having substantially no torque therein.

It is a further object of the present. invention to provide a fabric which when made into a garment will not twist or turn.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanyingl specication, claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a sinker-top knitting machine with the present modication incorporated there- 1n;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen from the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, parts thereof shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view in perspective of the apparatus making up the takeup reel rotating means;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of jersey fabric having torque therein; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of jersey fabric which is substantially at rest, or has no torque therein.

A revolving cylinder circular knitting Imachine is generally designated 10 and illustrated in FIG. 1. This type of knitting machine is generally referred to as a sinkertop knitting machine which is commercially available and, therefore, will not be described in detail. Knitting machines of this type have a knitting head 11 which comprises a plurality of knitting head segments 12 arranged in a circular ring and a rotating cylinder, containing a plurality of knitting needles (not shown), which are operated by stationary cams mounted in the knitting head segments. A plurality of knitting yarn inputs 13 have yarn therein which is fed to the `knitting machine from a plurality of spools of yarn (not shown) mounted above the |machine 10. The yarn in each yarn input 13 is fed from its spool through a tension guide .14 and a yarn guide 15 to one of the segments 12 of the knitting head 11. The knitting head 11 knits the yarns into a tube or cylinder of knitted fabric 16, which is fed to the bottom of the knitting machine 10 and gathered on a takeup reel 17, illustrated in FIG. l with some fabric rolled thereon. A suitable drive means 18 mounted on a frame 19 drives the knitting machine 10 through a series of gears illustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 the drive means 18 is mechanically connected to a sprocket wheel 20 by a link chain 21. Wheel 20 is xedly attached to a horizontal shaft by a hub 23. Shaft 22 has a'plurality of reducing gears (not shown) situated in a gear reduction box 24 which reduce the speed of the input shaft 22 down to a desirable value at an output or pinion gear 25. The pinion gear 25 is meshed with a face gear 26 having cogs in the lower face thereof and xedly attached to the lower surface of a ring 27 which is concentric with the knitting head ,11 and operatively attached thereto. A second ring 28 is mounted concentric with the ring 27 and adjacent the outer edge thereof. The ring 28 is xedly mounted on the frame 19 by means not shown for clarity in the figures. A plurality of rods 29 help support the upper structure, including

guides

14 and 15, and maintain it concentric.

Power is transferred from the horizontal shaft 22 to a vertical shaft 30 by means of gears (not shown) in the gear box 24. The shaft 30 extends downwardly from the gear box 24 and has a drive gear 31 xedly attached thereto. Below the drive gear 31, adjacent the lower end of the shaft 30, is a concentrically mounted hollow shaft 32. The shaft 32 and the shaft 30 are mounted so that the shaft 30 rotates freely within the shaft 32. A driven gear 33 is xedly mounted at the upper end of the shaft 32 adjacent the drive gear 31 and in a parallel plane. A pair of

idler'gears

34 and 35 are xedly mounted on a shaft 39 which is in turn rotatably mounted parallel with and spaced apart from the shaft 32 so the idler gears 34 and 35 mesh with the drive gear 31 and the driven gear 33 respectively. Thus, as the shaft 30 turns the drive gear 31 turns and causes the gear 33 and the shaft 32 to turn through the idler gears 34 and 35.

Fixedly attached to the lower end of the shaft 32 is a pinion gear 36 which is meshed with a gear wheel 37. Gear wheel 37 is rotatably mounted in the frame 19 of the knitting machine 10 in a horizontal position substantially concentric `with the cylinder of knitted fabric 16 and having an opening therethrough for the passage of the fabric. Fixedly attached to the underside of the gear wheel 37 in a substantially vertical and parallel relationship are a pair of rectangular shaped supports 38. The takeup reel 17 is rotatably mounted between the supports for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. Means not shown rotate the takeup reel 17 about the horizontal axis at a sufficient speed to maintain the cylinder of knitted fabric 16 taut and the entire assembly is rotatably driven by the pinion gear 36 about the longitudinal axis of the cylinder of knitted fabric 16 or, in this embodiment, about a substantially vertical axis.

The entire gear assembly is enclosed in a housing 40 having openings therein for the meshing of pinion gear 25 and face gear 26 and pinion gear 36 and gear wheel 37. A lower portion 41 of the housing 40 is quickly removable so that the speed of the pinion gear 36 relative to the shaft 30 may -be easily varied. Such variations in speed are accomplished by changing the ratios of

gears

31, 33, 34 and 35 in a number of ways well known to those skilled in the art. In this fashion the Speed of rotation of the takeup reel 17 about the vertical axis relative to the knitting head 11 can be easily and quickly changed.

Although a single drive means 18 is illustrated in this embodiment it should be understood that a drive means might be utilized to rotate the knitting head 11 and a separate drive means might be utilized to rotate the takeup reel 17 about the vertical axis at varying speeds. It should also be understood that various methods might be utilized to operatively connect the drive means 18 to the `knitting head 11 and the takeup reel 17 to attain the desired relative speeds. In some knitting machines of the type described the knitting head 1.1 and the takeup reel 17 are stationary while yarn inputs 13 are rotated `along with the cams which produce the knitting action in the needles. In this type of machine a separate drive means is utilized to drive the takeup reels 17 at the desired speed with respect to the relative rotation between the knitting head 11 and the yarn inputs 13.

In FIG. 4 a portion of knitted fabric is illustrated having wales 45 extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. Fabric of this type is produced when the takeup reel 17 is rotated about the vertical axis at the same speed as the knitting head 11. The portion of knitted cloth illustrated in FIG. 4 has torque thereon which tends to cause the material to turn or twist about the longitudinal axis approximately one complete turn per 7 to ll yards of fabric. In FIG. 5 a portion of fabric is illustrated with the wales 46 skewed at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof. Fabric of this type is produced when the takeup reel 17 is rotated -about the vertical axis slightly faster than the knitting head 11 as disclosed in this specification. The portion of fabric illustrated in FIG. 5 is substantially at rest. That is, this fabric has substantially no torque herein. The yarn utilized to produce the fabric in FIG. 5 has a Z type twist and it should .be noted that the wales in a fabric produced from yarn having an S type twist would be skewed in the opposite direction at an angle proportional to the amount of twist in the yarn. Also, when the knitting head 11 rotates clockwise with respect to the yarn inputs 13, viewing FIG. 1 from the top, the takeup reel 17 must rotate in the same direction but slightly faster for Z twist yarns and slightly slower for S twist yarns. When the knitting head 11 rotates counterclockwise, viewing FIG. 1 from the top, the takeup reel 17 must rotate slightly slower for Z twist yarns and slightly faster for S twist yarns. In this fashion the torque is removed from the fabric during the knitting process with no extra operations required.

Thus, I have disclosed a jersey type knitted fabric having substantially no torque therein and apparatus for producing the same. Because the disclosed apparatus removes the torque rather than compensating for it, the fabric will always remain at rest and will not twist or turn even lafter numerous washings. Also, the present apparatus for removing the torque from the knitted fabric is 4relatively inexpensive and does not require additional operator time or material.

While I have shown and described a :specific embodiment of this invention, `further lmodifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An improvement in a knitting machine for producing a jersey fabric having substantially no torque therein comprising:

(a) at least a knitting yarn input adapted to have yarn with a twist therein applied thereto;

(b) a knitting head having a plurality of knitting needles operatively engaged therein;

(c) drive means operatively attached to provide relative rotation between said input and said knitting head for producing knitting action through said needles to form yarn into a continuous length of jersey fabric;

(d) takeup means for winding said fabric onto a roll;

and

(e) means for rotating said takeup means about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fabric, in a direction corresponding with the direction of relative rotation between said input and said head, and at a rate determined by the amount and direction of twist in the yarn, whereby the fabric is rolled onto said takeup means with the wales therein skewed slightly so there is substantially no torque in the fabric.

2. An improvement in a knitting machine substantially as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the takeup means includes apparatus connecting said takeup means to the drive means.

3. An improvement in a knitting machine substantially as set forth in claim 1 wherein the takeup means is rotated in the same direction as the relative rotation of the head with respect to the yarn input and the means for rotating the takeup means is convertible to rotate said takeup means somewhat faster than the relative rotation between the input and the head when the relative rotation between the input and the head when the relative rotation is in the direction of the twist in the yarn and somewhat slower when the relative rotation is in the 0pposite direction of the twist.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 463,788 ll/189l Hose et al. 66-151 2,364,560 12/1944 Stover. 2,578,889 12/ 1951 Kennedy. 2,994,214 8/1961 Wood et al. 66-202 XR 3,125,848 3/1964 Baebler.

FOREIGN PATENTS 336,861 10/193() Great Britain.

W. C. REYNOLDS, Prm'ary Examiner.