US3509739A - Stop motion for a knitting machine - Google Patents

Stop motion for a knitting machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3509739A
US3509739A US652856A US3509739DA US3509739A US 3509739 A US3509739 A US 3509739A US 652856 A US652856 A US 652856A US 3509739D A US3509739D A US 3509739DA US 3509739 A US3509739 A US 3509739A
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United States
Prior art keywords
latch
feeler
contact
needle
thyristor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US652856A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gernot Gottschall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Franz Morat GmbH
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Franz Morat GmbH
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Publication date
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Publication of US3509739A publication Critical patent/US3509739A/en
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B35/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, knitting machines, not otherwise provided for
    • D04B35/10—Indicating, warning, or safety devices, e.g. stop motions
    • D04B35/18—Indicating, warning, or safety devices, e.g. stop motions responsive to breakage, misplacement, or malfunctioning of knitting instruments

Definitions

  • a feeler is disposed in the region of the open hooks of moving latch needles, and is engaged by latches in the undesired partly or fully closed position.
  • the moving latch displaces the feeler angularly so that the same is released from an arresting means and mechanically effects closing of a contact located in the circuit of a relay which operates a switch to cut off the drive motor of the machine so that the movement of the needles is stopped.
  • the feeler In the stop motion of the prior art, the feeler must be mechanically displaced by the small latches against the action of a spring or other energy storing means and the required force must be sustained by the latch of the needle and by its pivot so that the latch needles are frequently damaged and must be exchanged.
  • Another object of the invention is to sense the position of a need'e latch by a yieldable, preferably resilient feeler contact which directly closes a circuit through the touched latch and the respective needle by which ultimately the stopping of the drive motor of the machine is eflected.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic gate control device whose gate circuit is closed by the electric contact between the needle latch and the feeler contact.
  • the present invention relates to a stop motion for a knitting machine, preferably a circular knitting machine, including a motor, a needle carrier, such as a needle cylinder or dial, driven by the motor, and latch needles mounted on the carrier for movement with the same and having latches moving ice along a first path when in a desired position, for example a fully open position, and moving along a second path when in an undesired, for example partly or completely closed, position.
  • a stationary electric sensing means is disposed for sensing in the second path, and is energized only when passed by a latch in the undesired position. For example, an elastic feeler contact in the second path is touched by a latch in the undesired position and establishes an electric connection with the same.
  • An electronic gate control device has a gate circuit electrically connected with the sensing means and a main circuit controlled by the gate circuit and connected with electric stop control means, for example a relay having a switch located in the circuit of the drive motor of the machine.
  • the main circuit When the gate circuit is energized by a Weak current flowing through the needle, latch, and feeler contact, the main circuit energizes the relay winding so that the relay switch is operated to cut off the motor.
  • the gate contolled device is a thyristor
  • the gate circuit is formed by a control electrode connected with the feeler contact, preferably through a resistor, and by a cathode connected with the relay winding.
  • the feeler contact may be constructed as a very flexible thin wire, no damage can be done to the latch, and the feeler contact resiliently slides over the latch with a light pressure sufficient to permit passage of the small exciting current required for activating the thyristor.
  • the main circuit of the thyristor remains operative until a manually operated switch connected in series With the relay winding is operated so that the relay is deenergized and the relay switch connects the motor again to a voltage source.
  • a signal lamp is connected in series with the main circuit of the thyristor so that the operative condition of the device and the stopping of the motor is indicated.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that the operation of a thyristor is in no way influenced by dust, and that no mechanical wear takes place.
  • a very important advantage of the invention is the very high speed at which the stop motion operates to cut off the motor, which is due to the use of an electronic gate controlled device, such as a thyristor.
  • the mechanically operated stop motions of the prior art require at least 300 milliseconds for the operation.
  • the circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder of 30 inch diameter, and 1680 needles, and rotating at 18 revolutions per minute, has turned an angle of 10 degrees, so that latch needles have passed the mechanical feeler before the same could elfect stopping of the machine and needle cylinder.
  • the inertia of the relay and the further turning of the needle cylinder after the motor is de-energized, until the needle cylinder is stopped by brakes, a cylinder needle whose latch is in a wrong position, produces faulty stitches in several successive knitting systems of the circular knitting machine before the needle cylinder can be stopped.
  • the electronic gate controlled device used in accordance with the invention effects stopping of the needle cylinder in a far shorter time.
  • the stop motion of the invention requires only 0.5 millisecond for stopping the machine after the sensing of a latch in a wrong position.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a device according to the invention sensing the position of the latch of a needle
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary axial sectional view illustrating a device according to the invention mounted on a circular knitting machine for sensing the positions of the latches of the cylinder needles;
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit used with the embodiment of FIG. 3.
  • a needle cylinder 2 has on its periphery axially extending grooves in which latch needles 1 are mounted for axial movement under the control of cams 20 in a cam box 21, cams 20 forming a cam track in which the butts 1d of needles 1 are guided during rotation of needle cylinder 2 relative to the stationary cam box 21.
  • a sensing device 3 is adjustably mounted by screws 3a on the cam box and has a resilient feeler contact 4 projecting into the region of the open book 1a.
  • a latch 1a in a fully opened position desired for certain phases of the knitting operation is spaced from feeler contact 4.
  • latch 1a is in an undesired, partly closed position, and is located in the region of the feeler contact 4.
  • a latch 1a in the desired open position shown in FIG. 1 will move along a first circular path which is spaced from the stationary feeler contact 4.
  • a latch in the partly closed position or fully closed position will move along a second circular path in which the feeler contact 4 is located. Consequently, latch 1a in the position of FIG. 2 will touch feeler contact 4, resiliently displace the same, and continue its movement along the second path while feeler contact 4 resiliently returns to its normal straight position for sensing the position of the latch of the next following needle.
  • feeler contact 4 is part of a circuit which is connected to one terminal of a voltage source whose other terminal is connected to the needle cylinder, or other needle carrier 2, which is electrically connected with the conductive needle 1, and latch 1b, so that a circuit is closed when feeler contact 4 touches a latch 1a in the position of FIG. 2, and the circuit is intermediately interrupted when latch 1a has passed the feeler contact and the same returns to its normal position ready to sense the position of the latch of the next following needle.
  • one terminal 22 of a voltage source is connected with the needle carrier 2 and the mass of the machine so that latch 1a which is electrically connected with carrier 2, is also connected with the voltage source.
  • Feeler contact 4 cooperates with latch la, as explained above, and is connected by a resistor 5 to the control electrode 6a of the gate circuit of a thyristor 6 whose cathode 6b is connected with the winding 76 of a relay 7 controlling a relay switch 7a which is connected into the circuit of the electric motor driving the knitting machine and the rotary carrier 2 of needles 1.
  • the main circuit of thyristor 6 is connected through a signal lamp 9 with terminal 22, and it is preferred to connect a resistor 9a in parallel to signal lamp 9.
  • a manually operated normally closed switch 8 is connected between relay winding 7b and terminal 23.
  • Resistor 5, signal lamp 9, and thyristor 6 are enveloped in a housing 3.
  • all thyristors are connected with a single relay 7 whose relay contact 7a is located in the circuit of the drive motor.
  • the latches During normal operation of the knitting machine, the latches have to be in the desired, fully opened position, shown in FIG. 1, at certain circumferential points of the circular cam box 21, and the sensing devices are provided in this region.
  • the needles During normal operations, the needles have to have open latches in the region of the sensing devices, so that feeler contact 4 is passed by the hooks and latches of the needles without being engaged. If the latch of a needle is in the undesired partly closed or fully closed position, the latch of the needle, which moves along a circular path, touches feeler contact 4 and displaces the same resiliently until the latch has travelled far enough to release feeler contact 4 which resiliently returns to its normal position for sensing the latch of the next following needle.
  • the contact between latch 1a and feeler contact 4 is of very short duration so that the short electric pulse passing through relay winding 7b is insuficient to over come the inertia of switch 7a and to disconnect the motor.
  • the main circuit of thyristor 6 is activated, and current flows continuously through signal lamp 9, relay winding 7b and the closed manual switch 8 so that switch contact 7a is operated, and the motor driving the machinev
  • the operator depresses and opens the manual switch 8 so that the main circuit of the thyristor 6 is interrupted and the thyristor cut off, so that the initial position of readiness of the sensing device is again restored.
  • the resistor 9a is advantageously provided in order to maintain the device in operative condition when signal lamp 9 burns out.
  • the resistance of resistor 9a is selected to be smaller than the resistance of signal lamp 9.
  • FIG. 3 shows all parts enveloped by the housing 3 in FIG. 4.
  • a cylindrical housing 10 has a cylindrical recess 1%, communicating with a bore 10a opening at the pointed free end of housing 10.
  • An insulating plug 11 has a recess 11a into which thyristor 6 fits in the assembled condition of the device, and carries a screw 11!) on which a coiled portion 412 of a sensing means 4 is mounted in such a position that the feeler contact 4a projects out of bore 10a when plug 11 abuts the shoulder between recess 10b and bore
  • a spacing disc 12 which has the same diameter as plug 11, and through which the three connectors 6a, 6b and 6c of thyristor 6 are threaded, abuts the upper end of plug 11 in the assembled condition.
  • a connecting wire secured to screw 11b passes through recesses in plug 11 and spacing disc 12 to one end of resistor 5 whose other end is connected with control electrode 6a of thyristor 6.
  • Insulator part 13 has a recess 13a for receiving resistor 5, and carries a contact 15 which is resiliently supported by a spring 14 in a recess of insulator part 13.
  • the electrode 66 of thyristor 6 is connected by a wire to resilient contact 15.
  • Insulator part 13 has an outer diameter matching the inner diameter of recess 10b in housing 10 and fits tightly into the same.
  • a bayonet holder ring 16 abuts insulating part 13 in the assembled condition, and fits into recess 10.
  • Signal lamp 9 is normally held by bayonet holder ring 16 in a position electrically connected with contact 15.
  • signal lamp 9 projects into recess 17b of the translucent cap 17 which is placed on the upper end of housing 10 to close the same.
  • screw threads may be provided to connect cap 17 with housing 10.
  • the attached cap 17 prevents any relative axial movement of the assembled parts of the device.
  • the wire passing through bore 13b of insulating part 13 also passes through bore 10c of housing 10.
  • Housing 10 may be conductive to connect the bayonet holder ring and the second terminal of signal lamp 9 through the supporting bracket 3b of sensing device 3 with cam box 21 and the mass of the machine including needle carrier 2.
  • the coil portion 4b renders feeler contact 4 particularly flexible so that the force exerted by feeler contact on the latch during displacement of the feeler contact is very small.
  • the sensing means for sensing the latches comprises a very thin wire core, partly enveloped by an elastic rubber cylinder and having a feeler contact portion freely projecting from the rubber and the core, for sensing the latches, as explained above.
  • the invention can be applied to all kinds of knitting machines, although it has been described in combination with a circular knitting machine. If the sensing device is used with flat bed knitting machines, it is advantageous that the feeler contact is yieldable and flexible in all directions. Feeler wires as described above, will suit this purpose. It is possible to mount the bracket 3b of the sensing device 3 adjustably on the knitting machine so that the device can be retracted or turned to an inoperative position in which the feeler contact is not located in the path of movement of the latches.
  • connection with terminal 23 is advantageously constructed as a circular conductor to which a plurality of manual switches 8 and devices 3 is connected.
  • Stop motion for a machine including a motor, and conductive parts driven by said motor and moving along a first path when in a desired position and moving along a second path when in an undesired position; a stationary electric sensing means including an elastic feeler contact disposed for sensing in said second path and being energized only when sensing a conductive part in said undesired position; a voltage source connected to said conductive parts and said sensing means; electric stop control means energizable to stop said motor; and an electronic gate controlled device having a gate circuit electrically connected with said sensing means and a main circuit controlled by said gate circuit and connected with said electric stop control means so that said gate circuit is energized when said sensing means senses a part in said undesired position whereby current flows through said main circuit and energizes said stop control means to stop said motor.
  • Stop motion for a knitting machine including an electric motor, a needle carrier driven by said motor, and conductive latch needles mounted on said carrier for movement with the same and having latches moving along a first path when in a desired fully opened position and moving along a second path when in an undersired not fully opened position; a voltage source having one terminal connected with said carrier and latch needles; a stationary sensing means having a resilient feeler contact disposed in said second path and connected with one terminal of said voltage source when touching a latch in said undesired position; relay means including a winding, and a relay switch in the circuit of said motor operable to effect de-energizing of said motor, said winding being connected with the other terminal of said source; and a gate controlled device having a gate circuit electrically connected between said feeler contact and the other terminal of said source, and a main circuit controlled by said gate circuit for connecting said winding with said one terminal so that said gate circuit is energized when said feeler contact touches a latch in said undesired position whereby current flows through said
  • said gate controlled device is a thyristor having a control electrode electrically connected with said feeler contact and a cathode electrically connected through said winding with said other terminal of said source.
  • said feeler contact is a thin flexible resilient conductive wire having a coil portion and a feeler portion projecting from one end of said coil portion.
  • a stop motion as claimed in claim 11, wherein said casing comprises a cylindrical housing portion, and a light permeable cap portion attached to said housing portion and covering said signal lamp so that light passes from said signal lamp through said light permeable cap portion; said housing portion and cap portion defining a confined space for non-movably holding the parts assembled in said housing.
  • Stop motion for a knitting machine including an electric motor, a needle carrier driven by said motor, and conductive latch needles mounted on said carrier for movement with the same and having latches for moving along a first path when in a desired fully opened position and moving along a second path when in an undesired not fully opened position; a voltage source having one terminal connected with said carrier and latch needles; a plurality of sensing devices, each of which includes a stationary sensing means having a resilient feeler contact disposed in said second path and connected with one terminal of said voltage source when touching a latch in said undesired position; relay means circuit is energized when said feeler contact touches a latch in said undesired position whereby current flows through said main circuit and winding, and actuates said relay switch to cut off said motor; and a plurality of manually operated switches respectively connected between said annular conductor and said sensing devices.
  • Stop motion for a knitting machine including an electric motor, a needle carrier driven by said motor, and conductive latch needles mounted on said carrier for movement with the same and having latches moving along a first path when in a desired fully opened position and moving along a second path when in an undesired not fully opened position; a voltage source having one terminal connected with said carrier and latch needles; a stationary sensing means having a resilient feeler contact disposed in said second path and connected with one terminal of said voltage source when touching a latch in said undesired position; relay means including a winding, and a relay switch in the circuit of said motor operable to effect de-energizing of said motor, said winding being connected with the other terminal of said source; a thyristor having a gate circuit electrically connected between said feeler contact and the other terminal of said source, a resistor connected between said feeler contact and said gate circuit of said thyristor, and a main circuit controlled by said gate circuit for connecting said winding with one terminal so that said gate circuit is energized

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)
US652856A 1967-03-25 1967-07-12 Stop motion for a knitting machine Expired - Lifetime US3509739A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEM0073343 1967-03-25

Publications (1)

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US3509739A true US3509739A (en) 1970-05-05

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US652856A Expired - Lifetime US3509739A (en) 1967-03-25 1967-07-12 Stop motion for a knitting machine

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US (1) US3509739A (xx)
AT (1) AT308275B (xx)
BE (1) BE712707A (xx)
CH (1) CH477588A (xx)
DE (1) DE1635851A1 (xx)
ES (1) ES352286A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1555288A (xx)
GB (1) GB1179817A (xx)
IL (1) IL29609A (xx)
NL (1) NL6804068A (xx)
SE (1) SE337880B (xx)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3690127A (en) * 1971-03-15 1972-09-12 Stop Motion Devices Corp Defective latch needle detector and control network therefor
US3710595A (en) * 1971-08-05 1973-01-16 Stop Motion Devices Corp Control means for textile producing machines
US3785177A (en) * 1970-07-29 1974-01-15 Gunze Co Ltd Device for sensing a broken yarn of a circular knitting machine
US3788105A (en) * 1972-03-08 1974-01-29 Sick Erwin Fa Needle monitoring device for circular knitting machines
US3834190A (en) * 1971-06-18 1974-09-10 Fouquet Werk Frauz & Planck Latch opener apparatus for knitting machines and particularly circular knitting machines
US4020655A (en) * 1975-01-22 1977-05-03 Centre Technique Industriel Dit: Institut Textile De France Device for detecting defects in needles on a knitting loom which is in operation
US4270369A (en) * 1980-01-22 1981-06-02 Mayer, Rothkopf Industries, Inc. Device for detecting broken heads of knitting machine needles

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2760363A (en) * 1951-07-30 1956-08-28 Borg George W Corp Defective needle spotter
US2804761A (en) * 1954-07-23 1957-09-03 Lebocey Bernard Jules Ernest Yarn clearer for knitting machines
US2880381A (en) * 1959-03-31 Antonevich
US2963890A (en) * 1957-09-03 1960-12-13 James M Hoots Electrical stop motion for knitting machines
US3258612A (en) * 1966-06-28 Gate drive circuit for control unit op automatic cathodic protection system
US3378733A (en) * 1964-05-22 1968-04-16 Danfoss As Supervisory switching arrangement

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2880381A (en) * 1959-03-31 Antonevich
US3258612A (en) * 1966-06-28 Gate drive circuit for control unit op automatic cathodic protection system
US2760363A (en) * 1951-07-30 1956-08-28 Borg George W Corp Defective needle spotter
US2804761A (en) * 1954-07-23 1957-09-03 Lebocey Bernard Jules Ernest Yarn clearer for knitting machines
US2963890A (en) * 1957-09-03 1960-12-13 James M Hoots Electrical stop motion for knitting machines
US3378733A (en) * 1964-05-22 1968-04-16 Danfoss As Supervisory switching arrangement

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3785177A (en) * 1970-07-29 1974-01-15 Gunze Co Ltd Device for sensing a broken yarn of a circular knitting machine
US3690127A (en) * 1971-03-15 1972-09-12 Stop Motion Devices Corp Defective latch needle detector and control network therefor
US3834190A (en) * 1971-06-18 1974-09-10 Fouquet Werk Frauz & Planck Latch opener apparatus for knitting machines and particularly circular knitting machines
US3710595A (en) * 1971-08-05 1973-01-16 Stop Motion Devices Corp Control means for textile producing machines
US3788105A (en) * 1972-03-08 1974-01-29 Sick Erwin Fa Needle monitoring device for circular knitting machines
US4020655A (en) * 1975-01-22 1977-05-03 Centre Technique Industriel Dit: Institut Textile De France Device for detecting defects in needles on a knitting loom which is in operation
US4270369A (en) * 1980-01-22 1981-06-02 Mayer, Rothkopf Industries, Inc. Device for detecting broken heads of knitting machine needles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1179817A (en) 1970-02-04
SE337880B (xx) 1971-08-23
AT308275B (de) 1973-06-25
IL29609A (en) 1971-10-20
CH477588A (de) 1969-08-31
ES352286A1 (es) 1970-03-01
BE712707A (xx) 1968-09-25
DE1635851A1 (de) 1972-05-04
NL6804068A (xx) 1968-09-26
FR1555288A (xx) 1969-01-24

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