US3675446A - Positive feed system for circular knitting machines - Google Patents

Positive feed system for circular knitting machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3675446A
US3675446A US46736A US3675446DA US3675446A US 3675446 A US3675446 A US 3675446A US 46736 A US46736 A US 46736A US 3675446D A US3675446D A US 3675446DA US 3675446 A US3675446 A US 3675446A
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United States
Prior art keywords
disc
stepping motor
combination according
variable diameter
wheel
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Expired - Lifetime
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US46736A
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English (en)
Inventor
Albert Edward Cooke
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Triplite Ltd
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Triplite Ltd
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B15/94—Driving-gear not otherwise provided for
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B15/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, weft knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B15/38—Devices for supplying, feeding, or guiding threads to needles
    • D04B15/48—Thread-feeding devices

Definitions

  • An adjustable positive yarn feed system comprises a variable diameter wheel used to drive a band, tape or the like by which positive feed is applied to a yarn or yarns. adjusting means for varying the wheel diameter a stepping motor for effecting incremental variation of the setting of the adjusting means, and a control device for actuating the stepping motor as and when required.
  • a positive yarn feed system such as may be used on a circular knitting machine, wherein a variable diameter wheel is used to drive a band, tape or the like through the operation of which positive feed is applied to a yarn or yarns and having an adjusting means on the variable diameter wheel, to adjust its diameter, a stepping motor for varying the setting of the adjusting means and a control device for activating the stepping motor as and when required.
  • the stepping motor is conveniently arranged to be activated in such manner as to vary the setting of the adjusting means in small increments forwardly or in reverse to provide for required changes in the ratio of the drive between the variable diameter wheel and the band, tape or the like whereby required changes in the rate of positive feed are effected smoothly and effectively in accordance with pro-determined requirements.
  • variable diameter wheel conveniently has a cam disc which is arranged to control the radial positions of a series of blocks forming segments of the wheel periphery, and the cam disc is geared to the spindle of the stepping motor to be adjusted by the action of said motor.
  • the variable diameter wheel may be constructed as described in my US. application, Ser. No. 46,340, filed June 15, i970, based on British Application No. 3 l 213/69. With this form of wheel the cam disc positioned at one side and arranged for turning movement to adjust the radial positions of the blocks is conveniently formed peripherally with gear teeth engaged by a pinion at one end of a train of gears driven from the spindle of the stepping motor.
  • the control device by which the operation of the stepping motor is governed may comprise a photo-electric or other sensing device responsive to indications on a disc which conveniently rotates with the variable diameter wheel and the mounting of the stepping motor, and/or in response to indications on a disc which is driven to rotate at a speed proportional to that of the variable diameter wheel.
  • the electrical supply to the stepping motor is conveniently provided by a stationary brush unit having brushes engaging with slip rings connected to the motor windings.
  • a convenient control device is one in which there is a scanning head fitted with two photo-transistors and an opposed lamp or lamps between which a disc as aforesaid is interposed, a single slot or a plurality of slots at circumferential intervals being formed in the disc to provide for exposure of the photo transistors to the light from the lamp or lamps.
  • a sequence of four different conditions of energization of the photo transistors occurs namely: exposure of first transistor only; exposure of both transistors, exposure of second transistor only; and non-exposure of both the transistors.
  • a sequence of different impulses in a particular order is initiated at the scanning head and is used to advance the motor in a succession of four short step movements.
  • the direction of movement of the motor may, if required, be controlled by a switch in an appropriate electrical control circuit through which the impulses are fed to the motor.
  • the stepping movements of the motor impart small adjustments to the variable diameter wheel.
  • the number of increments of adjustment of the wheel which occur during a rotation of the control disc can be varied in the case of a disc having circumferentially spaced slots by masking one or more of the slots to provide for the required number of energizations of the motor at each rotation of the disc.
  • the incidence of adjusting movements imparted to the variable diameter wheel can be controlled by energization and deenergization of the scanning head and/or circuits controlled thereby, under the dictation of patterning means, e.g. a chain or drum on the knitting machine.
  • the scanning head and the circuits controlled thereby will be de-energized during periods when no change in the rate of positive feed of yarn is required and ener gizing of the scanning head and its circuits will occur only during a period when change in the positive feed rate is needed.
  • the adjustment of the degree of change in rate is determined by the period of energization and the number of slots which are exposed in the control disc.
  • an auxiliary scanning head related to a disc having a single slot may be provided with such disc driven at a reduced speed from a spindle carrying the variable diameter wheel and the mounting of the stepping motor, for example at a rate of one turn for every four turns of the spindle of the variable diameter wheel.
  • the equipment may have two scanning heads one related to a disc as afore mentioned with a circumferential row of slots and another related to a disc having only one slot which is driven at a slower rate of speed, either scanning head being caused to activate the motor as required.
  • FIGS. la and lb together show in perspective view with certain parts broken away and mountings omitted, the driving arrangements in the system, and
  • FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram.
  • FIGS. la and 1b there is shown a positive driving belt 10 for driving a gear pulley 11 on a vertical shaft 12 supported in fixed bearings not shown.
  • the belt 10 is driven from a timing pulley on an appropriate shaft of a circular knitting machine which is equipped with positive feed mechanism comprising yarn feeding rollers l3 and i4 driven by a tape or band 15 from a master driving pulley l6 as described in my US. Pat. No. 3,478,945 issued Nov. 18, i969.
  • the pulley 16 is on a spindle l7 driven by a belt 19 which engages with a variable diameter pulley indicated generally at 20 and fixed to the shaft 12.
  • the belt 19 is equipped with a spring urged jockey pulley (not shown) to maintain it in a taut condition.
  • variable diameter pulley 20 is constructed as described in my U.S. application, Ser. No. 46,340, filed June 15, 1970, based on British Application No. 31213169 and comprises radially adjustable blocks 21 slidable on pairs of parallel radial spokes 22 radiating from a central holder 23, and a cam disc 24.
  • the cam disc 24 is formed with gear teeth 25 around its edge which are engaged by a pinion gear 26, the turning of which causes adjustment of the disc 24 and of the efl'ective diameter of the pulley 20.
  • the cam disc 24 is mounted so as to be capable of turning on the shaft. Also fixed to the shaft [2 is a carrier disc 27 which supports on four pillars two of which are seen at 28) a stepping motor indicated at 29.
  • the motor 29 has a spindle 30 which carries a gear wheel 31 for driving through a train of gears 32 a gear wheel 33 secured to a spindle to which the pinion 26 is fixed.
  • the gears 32 and 33 have their spindles carried by the carrier disc 27.
  • a scanning disc 34 which thus rotates with the shaft 12 and which is formed with spaced slots 35 at a position to pass through a gap in a scanning head 36.
  • the latter is fitted with two photo-transistors side by side and an opposed lamp or lamps, the light from which can be transmitted through one of the slots 35 to energize the photo-transistors.
  • a sequence of different impulses is set up and according to the order in which these are applied to the stepping motor it is energized for forward or reverse stepping movements.
  • the stepping motor 29 receives its energization through slip rings 37 carried on an insulating disc 38 which rotates with the motor 29 and shaft 12. Three of the slip rings supply power to the motor and the fourth is related to a switching circuit. These slip rings are engaged by brushes 39 on a stationary brush unit 40.
  • a further shaft 41 Secured to the top of the motor assembly 29in line with the shaft 12 is a further shaft 41 which carries a small pulley 42 driving through a belt 43 a larger pulley 44 supported for rotation by a spindle 45 carried by an arm 46 on a stationary post 47.
  • the pulley 44 has depending from it three symmetrically arranged rods 48 supporting a further scanning disc 49 formed with a single slot 50 to co-operate with a further scanning head 51 fixed to the post 47 and constructed similarly to the scanning head 36.
  • the shaft 12 is driven during the operation of the knitting machine at a speed in synchronization with the machine.
  • the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley shall be changed accurately to vary the rate of positive feed of the yarn fed by the rollers 13 and 14, in order to provide the required changes in yarn length or loop size.
  • These changes must be very accurate as well as easy to program and these conditions are well met by the employment of the stepping motor 29 which when supplied with DC. pulses with polarity changes in a specific sequence will turn in the required direction in minute intermittent steps.
  • the motor used at 29 is one which can also be run on AC, this facility being used for re-setting purposes.
  • the scanning disc 50 and scanning head 51 are brought into action instead of the disc 34 and head 36, by switching on the scanning head 5!.
  • Four energizations of the motor will be caused during each rotation of the disc 49 and the disc is arranged to rotate at a reduced speed compared with the shaft 12, the ratio being determined by the relative sizes of the pulleys 42 and 44 and being adjustable by substituting a different sized pulley at 42.
  • Changes in the rate of positive feed are effected as above described by control mechanism of the knitting machine e.g. the patterning chain) at required steps during the knitting of a stocking or leg blank and on completion of the article it is required that the variable diameter pulley 20 shall be restored to its original diameter for commencement of knitting the next article or blank.
  • control mechanism of the knitting machine e.g. the patterning chain
  • stepping motor 29 may be caused to be operated in reverse to step the cam disc 24 round until the wing 53 of bracket 52 trips the micro-switch 55 so as to deenergize the motor 29 when the cam disc 24 has been reset.
  • the resetting movement of the cam disc 24 is effected by energizing the motor 29 by A.C.
  • switch 55 for continuous movement in reverse and using the switch 55 to interrupt such energization.
  • the switch 55 will remain tripped until the wing 53 is moved away from the button 54. This can be brought about by means of a control switch (not shown) which overrides the action of switch 55 for starting purposes.
  • FIG. 2 One particular example of a suitable circuit arrangement for controlling the stepping motor is illustrated in FIG. 2, the motor being shown by its windings at 58 and its slip rings at 37.
  • the photo-transistors of the scanning heads 36 and 51 are indicated at 59 and 60 and they are related to reed switches of change-over type indicated at 61, 62, 63, and 64.
  • Surge suppression circuits 61a, 62a, 63a, and 640 are related respectively to the reed switches, and lamps 65 and 66 are related to the photo-transistors 59 and 60.
  • the circuit is energized from a mains transformer 67 having a center tapped secondary coil 68 connected to a rectifier bridge 69 from which the DC.
  • the transformer 67 has an additional secondary coil 70 related to a rectifier bridge 71 from which the 0.0 supply for the lamps 65 and 66, phototransistors 59 and 60 and for operating switch coils is derived.
  • the switch coils just referred to are shown at 72 and 73 and operate multi-contact switches 74 and 75 through which the generated impulses can be applied in required manner to the slip rings 37 through the brushes 39.
  • the circuit is controlled in operation by the switches 76, 77 and 78 which are actuated by cams on the control chain or pattern drum of the knitting machine
  • the switch 78 is ganged with the switch 79 and controls the activation of the stepping motor adjustment sequence by controlling the DC.
  • the switch 79 controls the zero volts line to the motor 58.
  • the switch 76 together with switch 77 control activation of the switch coils 72 and 73, respectively.
  • the switch 76 in effect controls which of the scanning heads 59 and 60 is activated. If the switch 76 is open the reed switch pair 61 and 62, pulsed by the phototransistors in the scanning head 59, are connected to the motor 58. 1f the switch 76 is closed, the reed switch pair 63 and 64, pulsed by the photo-transistors in the scanning head 60, are connected to the motor 58. During scanning, the switch 77 must be opened.
  • the switch 76 is kept open during the knitting of a stocking welt and panel and closed for narrowing while the switch 77 is open for forward energization of the motor coils 58.
  • the switch 77 controls reverse energization of the step motor 58.
  • the switches 76 and 78 already being open, the switch 77 is closed so as to connect an ac supply to the stepping motor over the switches 75. Reverse energization of the motor 58 is automatically terminated by operation of the switch 55 as previously described.
  • a positive yarn feed system for a knitting machine comprising positively driven yarn feeding rollers, an endless band for driving said rollers, a variable diameter wheel through which said endless band is driven, means for driving the variable diameter wheel, a rotary adjusting means for varying the effective diameter of said variable diameter wheel, a stepping motor, drive connecting means between said stepping motor and said rotary adjusting means, and a control device for activating the stepping motor in predetermined manner.
  • control device includes means for activating the stepping motor to vary the setting of the adjusting means in small increments forwardly or in reverse to provide for required changes in the ratio of the drive whereby changes in positive feed rate are effected smoothly and effectively.
  • control device comprises an indicator disc and a sensing device responsive to indications on the disc for controlling operation of the stepping motor.
  • a combination according to claim 5, comprising means mounting the disc to rotate at a speed related to the speed of the variable diameter wheel.
  • the sensing device comprises a scanning head including two photo transistors and at least one light source and wherein the disc is interposed between the photo transistors and the light source and is formed with at least one indicator slot to provide for exposure of the photo transistors to the light source.
  • a combination according to claim 7 in a system for positively feeding yarn to a knitting machine having patterning means including means for controlling energization and deenergization of the scanning head, said controlling means being constructed and arranged to be actuated under the dictates of the patterning means of the machine.
  • a combination according to claim 7 comprising an auxiliary scanning head and a related auxiliary disc with at least one slot formed therein for scanning by the auxiliary scanning head, and means for driving the auxiliary disc at a speed proportional to but slower than that of the indicator disc.
  • a combination according to claim 10 including means for causing either one of the two scanning heads to actuate the stepping motor in accordance with requirements.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
US46736A 1969-06-20 1970-06-16 Positive feed system for circular knitting machines Expired - Lifetime US3675446A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3121469 1969-06-20

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US3675446A true US3675446A (en) 1972-07-11

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US (1) US3675446A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2030333A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1320502A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3922887A (en) * 1974-09-13 1975-12-02 Singer Co Positive yarn feeding system for circular knitting machine
US3949573A (en) * 1974-03-12 1976-04-13 Aktiebolaget Iro Thread delivery device for textile machines
US4004438A (en) * 1974-07-17 1977-01-25 Institut Textile De France Thread feed device for a hosiery knitting machine
US4015447A (en) * 1975-01-03 1977-04-05 Morris Philip Method and apparatus for positively feeding yarn
US4047398A (en) * 1974-12-31 1977-09-13 Firma Gustav Memminger Verfahrenstechnik Fur Die Maschenindustrie Yarn guide finger for positive yarn supply apparatus

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CS227674B2 (en) * 1978-10-03 1984-05-14 Frederick H Carrotte Device for forced feed of thread to knitting mechanism
DE3007034C2 (de) * 1980-02-26 1985-05-15 Memminger Gmbh, 7290 Freudenstadt Fadenliefervorrichtung, insbesondere für Rundstrickmaschinen
GB8621751D0 (en) * 1986-09-10 1986-10-15 Profile For Sport Ltd Knitting machines
DE3931997C2 (de) * 1989-09-26 1998-08-27 Sipra Patent Beteiligung Antriebsrolle für eine Fadenliefervorrichtung
DE19733266A1 (de) * 1997-08-01 1999-02-04 Sipra Patent Beteiligung Antriebsrolle für eine Fadenliefervorrichtung
DE19814927A1 (de) 1998-04-03 1999-10-07 Sipra Patent Beteiligung Antriebsrolle, insbesondere für den Antriebsriemen einer Fadenliefervorrichtung an einer Textilmaschine
CN104357969B (zh) * 2014-11-28 2016-07-06 浙江凯成纺织机械有限公司 一种步进电机导纱卷绕成形的控制方法及装置
CN113512812B (zh) * 2021-04-30 2022-08-09 康美特(厦门)智控科技有限公司 一种针织大圆机及提高传动稳定性的方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243091A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-03-29 Rosen Karl Isac Joel Yarn feeding equipment
US3327499A (en) * 1964-07-06 1967-06-27 Morat Gmbh Franz Intermittently driven thread transporting apparatus
SE300138B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1966-05-17 1968-04-08 K Rosen
DE1290290B (de) * 1962-03-17 1969-03-06 C Terrot Soehne Fa Garnzubringer fuer vielsystemige Rundstrick- und Rundwirkmaschinen
US3478945A (en) * 1967-01-25 1969-11-18 Newmark Instr Ltd Yarn supplying means for knitting machines

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3243091A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-03-29 Rosen Karl Isac Joel Yarn feeding equipment
DE1290290B (de) * 1962-03-17 1969-03-06 C Terrot Soehne Fa Garnzubringer fuer vielsystemige Rundstrick- und Rundwirkmaschinen
US3327499A (en) * 1964-07-06 1967-06-27 Morat Gmbh Franz Intermittently driven thread transporting apparatus
SE300138B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1966-05-17 1968-04-08 K Rosen
US3478945A (en) * 1967-01-25 1969-11-18 Newmark Instr Ltd Yarn supplying means for knitting machines

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949573A (en) * 1974-03-12 1976-04-13 Aktiebolaget Iro Thread delivery device for textile machines
US4004438A (en) * 1974-07-17 1977-01-25 Institut Textile De France Thread feed device for a hosiery knitting machine
US3922887A (en) * 1974-09-13 1975-12-02 Singer Co Positive yarn feeding system for circular knitting machine
US4047398A (en) * 1974-12-31 1977-09-13 Firma Gustav Memminger Verfahrenstechnik Fur Die Maschenindustrie Yarn guide finger for positive yarn supply apparatus
US4015447A (en) * 1975-01-03 1977-04-05 Morris Philip Method and apparatus for positively feeding yarn

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DE2030333A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-12-23
GB1320502A (en) 1973-06-13

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