US3703818A - Apparatus for feeding warps or filling threads to knitting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A supply thread guiding apparatus has upper and lower tracks of equal length and each having a middle straight region common to the other one, a single flexible band means is provided which is not longer than the circumference of either of the tracks and which moves along the tracks. The band means has thread guides disposed therealong at fixed intervals. Means is also provided for guiding the flexible band means alternately onto the upper and lower tracks when the leading end of the flexible band means reaches the junction of the upper and lower tracks at the end of the middle straight region. The beginning of the middle straight region is opposed to a first conveyor for carrying one of the respective ends of filling threads to one end of the knitting station of a knitting machine, and the end is opposed to a second conveyor for carrying the other ends of the filling threads to the other end of the knitting station. The arrangement is such that thread ends passed through the thread guides are delivered to thread clamps on the first conveyor at the beginning of the middle straight region and at the end thereof intermediate portions of the threads extending from the thread clamps on the first conveyor to the thread guides are delivered to thread clamps on the second conveyor.

Description

United States Patent Umeda et al.

[ Nov. 28, 1972 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING wARPs 0R FILLING THREADS T0 KNI'I'rING MACHINE Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kita- Assignee:

ku, Osaka, Japan Filed: Dec. 21, 1970 Appl. No.: 99,972

Foreign Application Priority Data F QR 1 P1LICA'IIONS 1,919,988 11/1969 Germany ..66/84 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorneywenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT A supply thread guiding apparatus has upper and lower tracks of equal length and each having a middle straight region common to the other one, a single flexible band means is provided which is not longer than the circumference of either of the tracks and which moves along the tracks. The band means has thread.

guides disposed therealong at fixed intervals. Means is [301 also provided for guiding the flexible band means al- Dec. 29, 1969 Japan ..45/1645 ternetely onto the pp and lower tracks when the May 22, 1970 Japan ..45/43782 leading end of the flexible band means r he he junction of the upper and lower tracks at the end of 52 us. c1. ..66/84 R, 66/125 R the middle Straight region- The beginning of the 51 Int. Cl. ...D04b 23/06, D04b 23/08, D04b 23/10 dle straight region is pp to a first eenveyer for [58] Field at Search ..66/84, 85, 125; 28/1 carrying one of the respective ends filling threads to one end of the knitting station of a knitting machine, 5 References Cited and the end is opposed to a second conveyor for carrying the other ends of the filling threads to the other U ITED S ATES PATENTS end of the knitting station. The arrangement is such 2 743 596 5/1956 Noe 66/84 that thread ends passed through the thread guides are 41/01 1/1968 "66/84 delivered to thread clamps on the first conveyor at the 3446038 5/1969 [Hui "66/84 beginning of the middle straight region and at the end 3523432 8/1970 vaj "6/125 thereof intermediate portions of the threads extending 3564872 2/1971 Klaeui "66/85 from the thread clamps on the first conveyor to the thread guides are delivered to thread clamps on the second conveyor.

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SHEET 1 0F 6 SHINOBU UMEDA, YOSHIAKI MIYAGAWA, Y'UTAKA TANAKA, YU'KIO TANAKA, and RYOHI NAKAMURA,

lnvenlors lay/41mm! w W A Home y s PATENTEDnnv 28 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 6 SHINOBU UMEDA,

YOSHIAKI MIYAGAWA,

YUTAKA TANAKA YUKIO TAKANA and RYOJ I NAKAMURA,

Inventors yalwfl,m y W Attorney Pli'TENTEnunvze I972 SHEET l 0F 6 SHINOBU UMEDA,

YOSHIAKI MIYAGAWA, YUTAKA TANAKA, YUKIO TANAKA, RYOJI NAKAMURA,

and

PATENTEI] 2 8 I97? 3. 7 03,818

SHEET 5 0F 6 SHINOBU UMEDA, YOSHIAKI MIYAGAWA, YUTAKA TANAKA, YUKIO TANAKA and RYOJ I NAKAMURA,

I nvenlors vll w d Q a M A Home y s APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WARPS OR FILLING THREADS TO KNI'I'IING MACHINE The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding filling threads efficiently when it is desired to incorporate fixed lengths of filling thread across the width of a fabric being knitted on a tricot machine or other knitting machine.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,701 discloses this type of apparatus, which comprises a first conveyor for feeding one of the respective ends of filling threads to one end of the knitting station of a warp knitting machine, a second conveyor for feeding the other ends of said filling threads to the other end of said knitting station, and a 7 third conveyor for carrying filling thread packages from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, the operation of the apparatus consisting of causing the free ends of the filling threads from the packages to be clamped by thread clamps on the first conveyor, drawing out the threads as the third conveyor is driven, causing thread clamps on the second conveyor to clamp the threads upon drawing out of lengths of filling thread corresponding to the width of the knitting station, cutting each thread at a point between the thread clamp on the second conveyor and the package on the third conveyor, and transferring the fixed lengths of thread thus cut to the knitting station of the knitting machine by the driving of the first and second conveyors.

The known apparatus for feeding filling threads described above is arranged to carry a number of filling thread packages on the third conveyor. Since these packages are constantly moving with the third conveyor, it is impossible to exchange packages or supply a fresh package unless the machine is stopped each time one package is consumed. Further, since threads are being drawn out from packages while the latter are moving, it is difficult to adjust tension and it is almost impossible to equalize the tensions of threads being drawn out from packages. A further disadvantage is that the driving of the third conveyor carrying a number of packages results in higher consumption of power.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is capable of exchanging filling thread packages without stopping the machine. A second object is to draw out threads from a number of filling thread packages positioned stationary and transfer the threads successively to said first and second conveyors without imparting twist to the threads being drawn out.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by positioning a number of thread packages stationary, inserting the threads drawn out from said packages into as many thread guides as the threads connected in a row through flexible band means, and moving these thread guides alternately up and down so as to describe the FIG. 8.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, shown in its entirety;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the principal portion;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a thread guide;

FIG. 6 is a front view of sprockets;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the sprockets and a triple chain;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the principal portion of another embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a front view of swing means for decreasing frictional contact between threads.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the relationship between a warp knitting machine 1 and the present apparatus. The warp knitting machine has a driving motor 2 disposed laterally thereof and it also has a first and a second conveyor 3 and 4, respectively, disposed rearwardly thereof and extending rearwardly from the opposite ends of the knitting station, each conveyor being composed of an endless chain having thread clamps 5 disposed therealong at suitable intervals to carrying filling threads 6 cut to a fixed length toward the knitting machine 1. Upon arrival of the filling threads at the knitting station, they are released for delivery to the knitting station by simultaneously opening clamps 5 at each end of a filling thread 6. The above-mentioned mechanism is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,701. According to the apparatus disclosed in said patent, a third conveyor for carrying a number of filling thread packages is installed at a position where supply thread guiding means 100 according to the present invention is installed. The thread end drawn out from each package is temporarily held by an air suction pipe 7 adjacent the first conveyor 3 and clamped by a thread clamp 5 on the first conveyor 1, and the thread is drawn out by the driving of the first and third conveyors. When the package on the third conveyor passes by the second conveyor 4, the thread is clamped by a thread clamp 5 on the second conveyor 4 and cut by a cutter 8 between the clamp 5 and the package.

According to the present invention, a number of filling thread packages 10 are mounted on a creel 9 positioned stationary laterally of the knitting machine 1 and a number of threads 12 drawn out therefrom through tension devices 11 are inserted into guide eyes arranged in a row on eye boards so that the threads are arranged side by side in a sheet. These threads are then guided into a number of thread guides moving from the first conveyor 3 to the second conveyor 4. During the movement of the thread guides, the thread ends are caused to be clamped by the clamps 5 on the first conveyor. When the thread guides included in the means pass by the second conveyor 4, the threads are further clamped by the clamps 5 on the second conveyor 4 and cut by the cutter 8. In addition, the numeral 13 designates a driving shaft for the two conveyors 3 and 4. The driving shaft 13 receives rotation from the motor 2 through a reduction gear box 14, from which the rotation is also imparted to a driving shaft 19 through a shaft 15, universal joint 16, intermediate shaft 17 and a universal joint 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 4 (particularly FIG. 4), an upper panel 22 is fixed to the frame 20 of the supply thread guiding means 100 by a support plate 21 and a lower panel 24 is likewise fixed to said frame 20 by a support plate 23 so that a long transverse clearance is formed between the upper and lower panels.

At the opposite ends of the upper panel 22 there are bearing portions to support shafts 25 and 26 having secured thereto driving sprockets 27, 28 and sprockets 29, 30 for moving the thread guides, it being noted that there are two identical sprockets 29 fixed on the common shaft 25 and that there are two identical sprockets 30 fixed on the common shaft 26.

Bearing portions are also formed at the opposite ends of the lower panel 24 to support shafts 31 and 32. Sprockets 33 and 35 are fixed on the shaft 31 and sprockets 34 and 36 are fixed on the shaft 32. As is apparent from FIG. 4, the sprocket 35 is positioned intermediate between the two sprockets 29, thus providing a set of sprockets 29, 35, 29 at the left-hand side as seen in FIG. 2. Similarly, the sprocket 36 is positioned intermediate between the sprockets 30, thus providing a set of sprockets 30, 36, 30. These two sets of sprockets drive a triple chain 37 which is not endless. To this end, the vertical distance between the upper sprockets 29 or 30 and the lower sprocket 35 or 36 is such that their pitch circles contact each other with their addendum circles crossing each other.

The triple chain 37 has a length not greater than the circumference of an upper or lower track defined by the upper or lower right and left sprockets and has hollow pins 38 extending therethrough at fixed intervals A flanged bushing 39 is fixed to one end of each hollow pin 38 forming an entrance for thread and a pipe 40 forming a thread exit is fixed to the other end (see FIG. A pin 41 is inserted in the pipe 40 across the pipe passageway. Pin 41 has an opening 42 at a right angle to the axis thereof and has a roller 43 pivotally supported at the projecting end thereof and is outwardly urged by a spring 44. Therefore, when the roller 43 contacts a cam and thereby is pressed as described hereinafter, the opening 42 in the pin 41 communicates with the pipe passageway in the hollow pin 38 and pipe 40, thereby permitting the passage of a thread 12, but when the roller 43 is disengaged from the cam, said pipe passageway is closed and the thread 12 is clamped between the inner wall of said pipe passageway and the step portion of the pin 41.

The middle chain section of the triple chain 37 meshes with the lower sprocket 35 and the chain sections on both sides mesh with the two upper sprockets while the triple chain is being moved alternately along the upper and lower tracks defined by the upper and lower sprockets by means described hereinafter. At this time, in order to guide the chain where no sprocket exists, rails 45 53 are fixed to the frame 20 and panels 22 or 24. These rails are so arranged as to contact the rollers between links of the triple chain in such a manner that while the triple chain is being moved along the upper straight region of the upper track, the two side chain sections of the triple chain are supported from above by the rails 45 and 46 and the middle chain section is supported from below by the rail 47. Further, in. the middle straight region where the upper and lower tracks are in contact with each other, the middle chain section of the triple chain is supported from above by the rail 48 and the twoside chain sections are supported from below by the rails 49 and 50. Further, in the lower straight region of the lower track, the two side chain sections of the triple chain are supported from above by the rails 51 and 52 and the middle chain section is supported from below by the rail 53. A cam 54 is fixed along the supported portion of the rail so that while the triple chain is being moved along the middle straight run, the rollers 43 on the thread clamping pins 41 are pressed by the cam 54 to maintain the respective thread passageways in their opened state.

The driving shaft 19 has a sprocket 55 fixed thereon to rotate sprockets 27 and 33 on shafts 25 and 31 in the directions of arrows a and b through an endless chain 56. The numerals 57 and 58 designate guide sprockets for the chain 56.

The shaft 19 has also a bevel gear 59 fixed thereon, said gear meshing with a bevel gear 61 fixed on a long shaft extending along the lower portion of the frame 20.

Shafts 26 and 32 on the opposite side for driving the triple chain have sprockets 28 and 34, respectively, fixed thereon, said sprockets being driven by an endless chain 64 through a bevel gear 62 fixed on the long shaft 60, a bevel gear 63 meshing with said bevel gear 62, and a sprocket fixed on a shaft on which said bevel gear 63 is also fixed. It is to be noted that except the bevel gear 62 they are arranged to be substantially symmetrical with. respect to the driving mechanism for the sprockets 29 and 35.

On the middle straight region common to the two upper and lower tracks, the triple chain is driven by the mechanisms described above toward the second conveyor 4 in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 2, but it is necessary that when the leading links 65 reach the lefthand end of the middle straight region (FIG. 2), they be directed alternately upwards and downwards.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a single tooth 66 and 67 of each sprocket 29 and 35 has its intermediate thickness por tion cut away to provide two thin parallel teeth which are then externally provided withrecesses 68 and 69, respectively. On the other hand, the leading link plates 65 of the triple chain are internally provided with complementary projections 70 and 71 to mesh with said recesses 68 and 69. The teeth 72 and 73 which are symmetrical with respect to the teeth 66 and 67, respectively, are made thinner than the other teeth, the phase relationship between the teeth being such that when the shaft 25 is rotated until the teeth 72 are at the bottom, the tooth 67 of the sprocket 35 on the shaft 31 is at the top. Therefore, in the position shown in FIG. 7, the middle chain section of the triple chain is joined to the lower sprocket 35 but the two side chain sections engaged with the upper sprockets 29 do not become joined to said sprockets 29 since their teeth 72 are thinner. As a result, the triple chain takes a downward course along with the lower sprocket 35. By suitably selecting the length of the triple chain and the number of teeth of the sprockets, it can be so arranged that when the triple chain has made a round of the lower track, the leading end of the triple chain is joined to the teeth 68 of the upper sprockets, so that this time the triple chain is caused to take an upward course. For example, if the number of teeth of each sprocket is 24 and the circumference of each track corresponds to the length of 300 chain links, such sprockets has to make 12.5 revolutions while the triple chain makes a round of the upper or lower track, so that the phase shifts through Thus the upper and lower sprockets can be joined to the triple chain in turns. Further, every sixth tooth of each of the sprockets 30 and 36 on the first conveyor side is made thinner in order to avoid interference with the triple chain. I

With the arrangement thus made, when the machine is driven, the triple chain will be moved alternately along the two upper and lower tracks to describe the FIG. 8 in such a manner that in the middle straight region which is the junction between the upper and lower tracks the triple chain is moved from the first to the second conveyor.

Thus, when threads inserted in the hollow pins 38 of the triple chain constituting thread guides are moved along the middle straight region, they are successively caught at their ends by the air suction pile 7 as in US. Pat. No. 3,364,701 and when so tensioned they are clamped by clamps 5 on the first conveyor 3. As the triple chain is further moved, the threads having their free ends thus clamped extend toward the second conveyor and as soon they pass by the second conveyor they are clamped by clamps on the second conveyor and cut by the cutter 8 between the thread guides and clamps 5. During this time, the hollow pins 38 are opened to permit threads to be freely drawn out, but simultaneously with the cutting of threads, the cam 54 which up to now has been pushing the rollers 43 releases them, so that the threads are clamped in the manner shown in FlG. 5 with the thread ends projecting outwardly through the exit pipe 40.

Thus, since the triple chain interconnecting a number of thread guides is moved alternately along the upper and lower tracks as described above, the threads tensioned between the eye plates 80 and the triple chain can be smoothly fed without being twisted more than once.

Further, in order to prevent the threads from sagging due to changes in the distance between the eye boards 80 and the thread guides included in the triple chain, light hairpin-like weights may be provided between the eye boards 80 and the tension devices 1 1.

FIGS. 8 and 9 shows another example of the means for changing the direction of a series of thread guides each time they have made a round of the upper or lower track.

Tw'o endless chains 101 and 102 are driven by sprockets 103 and 104 to form an upper and a lower track, respectively. The sprockets on the first conveyor side, though not shown, are arranged to be symmetrical with respect to the illustrated sprockets 103 and 104, Le, the sprockets on the second conveyor. Thread guides are held between the chains 101 and 102 and thereby moved along the middle straight region, but except therealong they are moved either by the chain 101 or by the chain 102 while being guided by a rail. Each of the chains 101 and 102 has some of its link plates replaced at suitable intervals by U-shaped plates 105 so that in the middle straight region where the upper and lower tracks contact each other, the U-shaped plates 105 on one chain are opposed to those on the other chain with thread guides held therebetween. Each thread guide consists of a hollow pipe 106 in which a thread is inserted and a rectangular parallelepiped member 107 holding said hollow pipe therein, said pipe 106 extending through the member 107. Projections 108 on the upper and lower surfaces of each member 107 are adapted to be fitted in openings formed in the respective middle bridging portions of the U-shaped plates to prevent slip between the members 107 and plates 105. The rail 109 is formed integral with a frame 120 to surround the upper and lower tracks and the surface of the rail 109 on which the members 107 slide is formed with a groove adapted to receive the projections 108 on the members 107 while the members are being moved along the rail.

In order that threads may be freely passed through the hollow pipes 106 during travel along the middle straight region and that the threads may not be passed therethrough any more when theyreach the terminal end of said region, each pipe 106 is provided with clamp means 110 and the frame 120 is provided with a cam 111 associated with said clamp means.

At a position where the thread guides are to change their direction of travel, a substantially triangular plate 112 is pivotally mounted on a stud 113. The extent of pivotal movement of the triangular plate 112 is limited by two stop pins 114 fixed to the frame 120. The base side of the triangular plate 112 is caused to abut against either of the two stop pins 114 by a spring 117 tensioned between a pin 115 on the triangular plate and a pin 116 on the frame so that either of the other two sides of the triangular plate is brought into successive contact with the pipes 106 inserted in the members 107, thereby guiding the thread guides. The triangular plate 112 is shaped symmetrical about a straight line perpendicular to the base side and passing through the center of the plate. The said stud 113 lies on said straight line and between the pins 115 and 116 which are also on said straight line, so that when the base side of the triangular plate is contacted with either of the stop pins 114, the straight line connecting the pins 115 and 116 is deviated from the center of the stud 113. Therefore, the triangular plate is urged by the spring 1 17 in such a manner that its base side is always in contact with either of the stop pins 114. The triangular plate is provided with pins 118 positioned adjacent the guiding sides thereof along which the pipes 106 are guided, said pins 118 being adapted to be contacted by a disc 119 provided on a particular thread guide 106'. Upon contact with either of the pins 118, the disc 119 turns the triangular plate around theaxis of the stud 113 to the extent that the pin 115 goes beyond the horizontal line. Thereupon, the triangular plate begins to turn by itself under the action of the spring 117 until the base side comes into contact with a pin 114 opposite to the one with which it has been in contact till now, thereby switching the course of travel of thread guides. Therefore, the thread guides that follow said particular thread guide 106' are guided by the triangular plate to take a course toward a track opposite to the one along which they have been travelling till now. When said particular thread guide 106 again reaches the triangular plate, it turns the latter as the disc 119 passes by the other of the pins 118, thereby changing the course of travel of thread guides that follow said particular thread guide 106', in the same manner as described above.

If a number of threads arranged side by side are inserted individually in a series of thread guides and guided thereby while causing the thread guides to travel along the upper and lower tracks so as to describe the FIG. 8 in the manner as described above,

- tive ends pivotally mounted at the upper end 82 of a column 83. A base block 81 supports two parallel shafts 84 and 85. The shaft 84 is connected to the output side of a reduction gear 86 having the long shaft 60 as its input shaft. An endless chain 89 is entrained around a sprocket 87 fixed on the shaft 84 and a sprocket 88 fixed on the shaft 85. Each of the shafts 84 and 85 has a crank arm 90 fixed thereon and connected to its associated eye board 80 through a pin 91, rod 92 and pin 93. The shafts 84 and 85 are so controlled that while the thread guides in the means 100 make a round of the upper track and of the lower track (two rounds in all), each shaft makes one revolution, moving the eye boards up and down to change the level at which the threads are passed through guide eyes 94, thereby reducing frictional contact between the threads.

The present apparatus is arranged in the manner described above. Therefore, exchange of packages can be effected without stopping knitting operation, so that the efficiency can be increased. Further, since guiding of threads from the first to the second conveyor makes it only necessary to move threads guides alone, the consumption of power is very small and high-speed operation is possible.

What isclaimed is:

1. In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide track; a lower endless thread guide track positioned immediately below said upper track; the total length of said lower track being equal to the total length of said upper track; said upper and lower tracks having a common straight region; a first end of said straight region terminating adjacent said firstconveyor, and a second end of said straight region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a flexible band means movable along said tracks, the length of said band means being less than said total length of either of said tracks; a plurality thread guides extending through said band means at fixed intervals along said length thereof; means for moving said band means through said common straight region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding the leading end of said band means alternately to said upper and lower tracks after it passes said second end of said common straight region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said band means passes said first end of said common straight region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said second conveyor as said band means moves through said common straight region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said band means passes said second end of said common strai t region.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1, w erem said flexible band means comprises a triple chain, and said thread guides comprise hollow link pins of said triple chain.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.

5. In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide chain; .a lower endless thread guide chain positioned immediately below said upper chain; the total length of said lower chain being equal to the total length of said upper chain; said upper and lower chains providing therebetween a straight track region; a first end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said first conveyer, and a second end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a plurality of thread guides engageable by both of said chains and movable thereby through said straight track region; means for moving said thread guides through said straight track region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding said thread guides alternately to said upper and lower chains after said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said thread guides pass said first end of said straight track region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said second conveyor as said thread guides move through said straight track region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 5, further comprising plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.

Claims (7)

1. In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide track; a lower endless thread guide track positioned immediately below said upper track; the total length of said lower track being equal to the total length of said upper track; said upper and lower tracks having a common straight region; a first end of said straight region terminating adjacent said first conveyor, and a second end of said straight region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a flexible band means movable along said tracks, the length of said band means being less than said total length of either of said tracks; a plurality thread guides extending through said band means at fixed intervals along said length thereof; means for moving said band means through said common straight region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding the leading end of said band means alternately to said upper and lower tracks after it passes said second end of said common straight region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said band means passes said first end of said common straight region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said second conveyor as said band means moves through said common straight region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said band means passes said second end of said common straight region.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible band means comprises a triple chain, and said thread guides comprise hollow link pins of said triple chain.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.

5. In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide chain; a lower endless thread guide chain positioned immediately below said upper chain; the total length of said lower chain being equal to the total length of said upper chain; said upper and lower chains providing therebetween a straight track region; a first end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said first conveyer, and a second end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a plurality of thread guides engageable by both of said chains and movable thereby through said straight track region; means for moving said thread guides through said straight track region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding said thread guides alternately to said upper and lower chains after said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said thread guides pass said first end of said straight track region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said seconD conveyor as said thread guides move through said straight track region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 5, further comprising plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.

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