US3653232A

US3653232A - Digitally controlled translational movement

Info

Publication number: US3653232A
Application number: US31045A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Walter
Original assignee: Erwin Sick GmbH Optik Elektronik
Current assignee: Erwin Sick GmbH Optik Elektronik
Priority date: 1969-04-08
Filing date: 1970-04-07
Publication date: 1972-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-04
Also published as: FR2038316A1; CH513462A; GB1295894A; DE1917835A1

Abstract

The bolt of a warp knitting machine is movable longitudinally and is urged by a spring in one direction against a stop. A rotating cam moves the bolt in the opposite direction. A plurality of blocks have an operative position between the cam and bolt and an inoperative position spaced therefrom. Electromagnets are employed to move the blocks from the inoperative to the operative position. The blocks have thicknesses that are digitally related to each other and each is a different digit.

Description

United States Patent 1151 3,653,232

Walter [451 Apr. 4, 1972 54] DIGITALLY CONTROLLED 3,464,235 9/1969 Salway ..66/86 TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] wane" Denzlmgen Germany 204,446 11/1908 Germany ..66/86 [73] Assignee: Firma Erwin Sick 265,540 10/1913 Germany.. 458,199 3/1928 Germany.. [221 489,059 1/1930 Germany.. [21] Appl. No.: 31,045 628,239 11/1961 Italy ..66/86 Primary Examiner-Ronald F eldbaum [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-Darbo, Robertson & Vandenburgh Apr. 8, 1969 Germany ..P 19 17 835.9

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. CL ..66/86, 66/154 The bolt of a warp knitting machine is movable longitudinally and is urged by a spring in one direction against a stop. A rotating cam moves the bolt in the opposite direction. A pluralit of blocks have an o erative position between the cam [56] Rekrences cued and t aolt and an inoperativ e position spaced therefrom. Elec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tromagnets are employed to move the blocks from the inoperative to the operative position. The blocks have 3,478,543 1 l/ 1969 F anmger ..66/86 thicknesses that are digitally related to each other and each is 3,456,461 7/1969 Offermann et al. ..66/86 a diff t digit 3,089,322 5/1963 Bruce et a1 ....66/154 3,006,170 lO/ 1 961 Chapuis ..66/86 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure Jueuu/uueuuue N PATENTEDAFR 4 I972 IN V EN TOR. AR THUR Wu; TER

DIGITALLY CONTROLLED TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a digitally controlled translational movement, in particular for controlling the guide bars of warp knitting machines.

For sometime, pattern chains have been used to control the guide bars of warp knitting machines, in particular the weft thread guide bars (pattern guide bars) which determine the pattern of the texture by their position. During the knitting process the pattern chains run over a drive pulley past the rams of the guide bars. Depending on the shape of the chain elements the corresponding ram and with it the guide bar is shifted to a greater or lesser extent. For each guide bar there is provided a specific pattern chain.

If the pattern of the texture is to be changed, various pattern elements in the pattern chains must be exchanged so that the guide bars are controlled in a different rhythm. Such a technique is complicated and time-consuming.

Depending on the pattern to be made, the length of the pattern chains may be substantial and may, above all, be of different lengths for the individual guide bars so that a considerable amount of apparatus is required. Moreover, it is disadvantageous that the controls of the guide bars are effected by particularly shaped mechanical structures, namely, the pattern elements, since the manufacture of these pattern elements requires a great amount of labor and time.

In summary, it can be said that the conversion of given information (according to the pattern) into the corresponding control commands for the machine is very complicated and tedious in warp knitting machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for a digitally controlled translational movement which may be used particularly for the control of the guide bars of warp knitting machines.

According to the invention, this object is attained by using spacers having different widths (dimensions in a given direction) to obtain different valences of the digital information. To achieve a particular pattern, the informational instructions are employed to select particular spacers and arrange them successively so that their widths add up to produce the translational movement of the guide bar required for that part of the pattern.

By the invention, a generally applicable arrangement is provided permitting a pre-established digital information to be converted into geometrical quantities, such as widths.

A further modification of this invention is characterized in that the spacers have a position of rest from which the spacers required (when converting a pre-established digital information) are moved into an operating position which is disposed between a drive effecting the shifting and an index.

Substantial advantages are obtained by applying the invention to the control of the guide bars of warp knitting machines. Instead of using a pattern chain, an arrangement according to the invention for controlling a guide bar is applied. Thereby, all the disadvantages described above in connection with pattern chains are eliminated. A pattern to be knitted is, for example, established in digital form on an information media such as a kind of Jacquard card, punched tape, or the like. From this coded card or tape, electromagnets are controlled in a known manner to effect the movement of the spacers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawing is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements. The claims at the end hereof are intended as the chief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meet the requirement of pointing out the parts, improvements, or combinations in which the inventive concepts are found.

A plurality of spacers l, 2, 4, 8 and 16 are employed. Each has a different width, i.e., vertical dimension as seen in the drawing. These widths are digitally related to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the

spacers

1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 have respective widths l l l l and I In the binary system the spacer 1 represents the value 2, the spacer 2 the value 2, etc. The spacers have a position of rest 25 (in which they are inoperative) and an operative position 26. They are moved from the inoperative to the operative position by respective electromagnets M1, M2, M4, M8 and M16 when the latter are energized. In the illustrated example, the spacers l, 4 and 16 are in their operative positions corresponding to a binary number LOLOL.

For converting this binary number into a translational movement, the cam 20 is rotated as indicated. The cam shifts the

spacers

1, 4 and 16 against the bolt 21. Bolt 21 (mounted for axial movement in a frame 24) has a position of rest (or zero position) against the stop 22 to which position it is urged by the spring 23. Continued cam movement forces the bolt upwardly by the sum of the widths of the spacers I I 1, Thus, the digital value is converted into a translational movement of a given increment. If no spacer is in its operating position, the bolt will not be shifted upon rotation of the cam or will be shifted only by a minimum fixed value. To improve the sliding movement of the cam 20 when the spacers are shifted, a roller 28 and a plate 27 are employed. Shifting of the bolt 21 may be used for the control of various operations. By way of example, the guide bar of a warp knitting machine may be controlled by means of the bolt. As is known, the guide bars are shifted during the knitting process to produce patterns.

A pattern being knitted is coded in digital values into an information means such as a form of Jacquard card, etc. The information is then automatically taken from the coded card to control the energizing of the electromagnets which select the spacers. For controlling a warp knitting machine, an arrangement, such as that illustrated and described, is required for each guide bar. Each arrangement, according to the invention, is designed narrow so that they can all be positioned closely together in a row.

The speed at which the cam rotates is defined by the working rhythm of the warp knitting machine which also determines the times of interrogation of the coded card.

I claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine having a movable guide bar and a device for moving said guide bar in different and predetermined strokes, the improvement comprising:

a bolt having an end and an axis, means guiding said bolt for axial movement, a spring contacting said bolt and resiliently urging said bolt in a direction such that said end is forwardly to a position of rest, a stop positioned to contact a portion of said bolt and prevent said bolt from moving in said direction beyond said position of rest, actuating means having a part having a relative motion toward and away from said end, said actuating means being positioned beyond said end when said end is at said position of rest to define a space therebetween, a plurality of individually movable spacers each having a specific dimension in a given direction, said dimensions of the spacers being digitally related to each other and each being a different digit, and means including electromagnets associated with said spacers for moving said spacers into said space between said actuating means and said bolt.

2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a rotating cam.

=1 l l l I

Claims

1. In a warp knitting machine having a movaBle guide bar and a device for moving said guide bar in different and predetermined strokes, the improvement comprising: a bolt having an end and an axis, means guiding said bolt for axial movement, a spring contacting said bolt and resiliently urging said bolt in a direction such that said end is forwardly to a position of rest, a stop positioned to contact a portion of said bolt and prevent said bolt from moving in said direction beyond said position of rest, actuating means having a part having a relative motion toward and away from said end, said actuating means being positioned beyond said end when said end is at said position of rest to define a space therebetween, a plurality of individually movable spacers each having a specific dimension in a given direction, said dimensions of the spacers being digitally related to each other and each being a different digit, and means including electromagnets associated with said spacers for moving said spacers into said space between said actuating means and said bolt.