US3771330A

US3771330A - Apparatus for feeding filling threads to a warp knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US3771330A
Application number: US00275654A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Carman
Original assignee: JP Stevens and Co Inc
Current assignee: JP Stevens and Co Inc
Priority date: 1969-10-20
Filing date: 1972-07-27
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13

Abstract

A feed mechanism for feeding lengths of weft thread on chains carrying to the knitting line of a weft inserted warp knitting machine is described. The chains are provided with conventional clamping thread transfer pins. A plurality of yarns from stationary yarn packages are mounted in a line parallel to the direction of the movement of the weft carrier chains. The yarns from the packages are led to a frame which oscillates from one carrier chain to the other, thus stringing the multiple yarns across and laying them parallel to each other. There are two variants for the frame, in one of which the frame has an inner frame which moves vertically, whereas the outer frame oscillates horizontally across, thus producing a figure-eight path for the yarn. The second variant has a much larger number of yarns, and the frame oscillates horizontally, with no inner frame.

Description

United States Patent [191 Carman Nov. 13, 1973 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILLING THREADS TO A WARP KNITTING MACHINE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: J. P. Stevens & Co., Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: July 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,654

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 867,524, Oct. 20,

1969, Pat. No. 3,699,783.

Alexander J. Carman, Athens, Ga.

[52] US. Cl 66/84 A, 28/1 CL, 156/439 [51] Int. Cl D04b 23/12 [58] Field of Search 66/84 A, 84 R, 85; 28/1 CL; 156/439, 440

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,603,117 9/1971 Svoboda et al. 66/84 A 3,364,701 1/1968 Carman 66/84 3,665,732 5/1972 Doring et a1. 66/84 3,446,038 5/1969 Iniji 66/84 A 3,523,432 8/1970 Vajda et al. 66/85 X Bassist 66/84 Jones 66/84 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi AttorneyRobert Ames Norton et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A feed mechanism for feeding lengths of weft thread on chains carrying to the knitting line of a weft inserted warp knitting machine is described. The chains are provided with conventional clamping thread transfer pins. A plurality of yarns from stationary yarn packages are mounted in a line parallel to the direction of the movement of the weft carrier chains. The

yarns from the packages are led to a frame which oscillates' from one carrier chain to the other, thus stringing the multiple yarns across and laying them parallel to each other. There are two variants for the frame, in one. of which the frame has an inner frame which moves vertically, whereas the outer frame oscillates horizontally across, thus producing a figure-eight path for the yarn. The second variant has a much larger number of yarns, and the frame oscillates horizontally, with no inner frame.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FATENTEDHUY 13 1973 FIG. I

SHEET 10F 3 PATENTEUNUY 13 I973 SHEET 2 CF 3 FIG. 4

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FILLING THREADS TO A WARP KNITTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED APPLICATION This applicationv is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 867,524, filed Oct. 20, 1969, andnow US. Pat. No. 3,699,783, Oct. 24, 1972.

Warp knitting machines which knit in filling threads or inserted yarn, resulting in an attractive fabric of enhanced dimensional stability, can be operated at enormous speed as far as the knitting mechanism is concerned. Speeds from 500 to more than 1,000 courses per minute are within the capabilities of the machine drive. Feed of filling thread or insert yarn presented a substantial problem. One very desirable solution was to provide parallel carrier chains, usually moving continuously to the two ends of the knitting line, with cam operated, thread clamping and releasing pins, the tread being out after clamping. However, certain problems arose. For one thing, the enormous speed of the machine, which can utilize filling thread lengths in the miles per hour, presented serious problems when the carrier chains were fed with a single thread from a single package. It was, of course, possible to change thread packages or cones by a conventional transfer mechanism which operates analogously to a transfer for connecting new supplies to shuttles in looms. This still presented a problem, because with a large knitting machine the speed at which filling thread had to be laid across the carrier chains could amount to as much as a mile a minute, which imposed quite formidable operating problems. Also, only a single kind of filling thread could be used, and patterns with different threads in alternating or other sequence of courses, such as threads of different colors, were not practical.

The above problems were solved in a very ingenious feed, which is described in the Carman patent 3,364,701, Jan. 23, 1968. In this device an endless chain moved across between the filling thread carrier chains and had mounted on it a comparatively large number of thread packages or cones. For example, a chain could carry several dozen packages, which could be of varying colored or textured threads. Very attractive designs of fabric thus became practical. The speed with which threads were drawn from the packages was also greatly decreased; for example, with 12 packages threads were drawn from five packages at the same time. This reduced the speed of thread movement by a factor of five and permitted operating the knitting machine at its maximum knitting speed. The Carman device has represented an important practical advance.

The numerous advantages of the Carman feeding device, which for obvious reasons is known in the trade as the carousel," have, however, required additional machine elements, for example tracks, rollers and the like where the chains are long enough that they can sag, and the conventional kind of package transfer is not practical when the cones are moving around an endless chain. Nevertheless, the large number of cones or packages made operation for quite a time possible before the machine had to be stopped and new sets of packages placed on the supports on the moving chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, of which there are two variants, operates on a different principle from the carouon a frame and the frame is slowly oscillated horizontally from one chain to the other. As the frame crosses the first carrier chain, which in the drawings is the left hand chain, each yarn is grasped by separate pins or clips on the chain. These pins or clips are cam opened against spring pressure as the threads or yarns pass over them and then close, gripping each thread, so that as the frame moves across to the other chain the multiple threads from the multiple packages are strung across. After passing adjacent the second chain, the pins or clips on that chain open and grasp the threads. The threads are then cut and are carried by the chains to the knitting line of the knitting machine. The operation of the pins or clips on a carrier chain is no different from the similar structures in the Carman patent exceptthat since there are multiple threads passing the chains simultaneously, the actual mechanism of opening the clips against spring pressure is slightly different, using an elongated cam, which may be actuated by a suitable power cylinder instead of a cam which is attached to the sprocket wheel of the two chains in the Carman patent and opens a single pin at a time as the chain passes over the cam. The pins themselves are not significantly different from those shown in the Carman patent'referred to, and in fact the pin structure was not broadly new with Carman but has been used in other machines.

All of the advantages of multiple package feed which have been referred to above in connection with the Carman patent are retained, such as pattern variation with different colors or texture of filling threads, much slower thread speed for the same number of courses knit, etc. An important new advantage is that the stationary packages can be provided with conventional transfer means so that when after a fairly long time which it takes to exhaust the threads from a number of multiple packages, new ones can be cut in without stopping the machine, which cannot be done conveniently on the moving packages in the Carman carousel. Thus all of the advantages of multiple feed packages with slow thread speed are retained, but, in addition, after the longer operating period, simple transfer means can be used.

The first variant uses a frame which has an inner and outer frame, the outer frame being oscillated slowly across between chains as has been described and the inner frame being moved vertically. The threads from the stationary packages are guided and carried by the inner frame so that they follow a figure-eight path from one chain to the other. Movement of the frames, of course, is synchronized with the continuous movement of the chains so that each thread reaches its proper pin or clip on each chain at the right time and the threads are all carried up in parallel.

Synchronization of the drive is not the distinguishing feature of the present invention but is obviously needed and is shown in a form slightly modified from that in the Carman patent. Since synchronization is not the present invention, it will be described for the first and for the second variant in purely diagrammatic form in a later section of the specification dealing with the description of the preferred embodiments. The motion of the frames is crosswise for an outer frame, and the inner frame is moved up and down in this outer frame to produce the figure-eight drive. The direction is at first slantingly up from the near chain, which has just received the threads, the slant compensating for movement of the two carrier chains. All of the multiple threads are then caught on the far chain and clamped. The frame then moves down, indexing back to another set of, for example, five to eight pins, threads are carried back on another slant to the first chain, then cut, and the frame indexes down, carries another set of threads from the packages and repeats the cycle. It is possible to double the number of packages by having a new set of threads on the second figure-eight movement, and this is sometimes of advantage in increasing the number of packages without increasing the number of guides on the frame.

It is theoretically possible to thread in a continuous strand, but this adds complication and it is generally preferable to cut the ends as otherwise rather long tails are produced. Cutters are conventional pieces of apparatus and are reliable, and so it is preferred to cut at each chain.

The second variant has a frame which usually draws threads from a larger number of stationary packages, for example to 50. The movement is essentially straight across and a stationary holding bar is provided with cutter and vacuum means. If intermittent operation is used, it can be almost perfectly straight across or there may be a slight upward slant to compensate for the motion of the opposite carrying chain. However, it is only necessary that the frame move along the same track. As with a large number of threads the frame can move back empty, in general the frame moves in front of the carrier chains and is only brought down to pin clamping position after it has traveled across the whole width between the insert yarn carrying chains. With a very large number of threads taken at one time, the empty return is not a serious factor in speed; but if it is-desired to thread on the return end too, a second stationary holding bar is provided at the other side which is provided with means to grip the threads after they are cut, and the frame then pulls them back across, being again indexed forward when the next empty set of carrier chain pins comes into alignment. The second stationary holding bar is not specifically illustrated in the description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings as the second variant just described multiplies the number of packages so greatly that not only is there very slow speed of thread movement but the machine can operate for such a long time that package transfer is normally not needed until, finally, after a long time the packages have become empty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of pins on a thread insert carrying chain with a power actuated cam means;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the first variant, the threading frame being movable in two dimensions;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the motion of the yarn carrying frame of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the second variant with a multiple yarn feed and a frame which moves essentially only across the chains;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the frame looking in the direction of the arrow 5'-5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view ofa typical drive, more particularly of the variant of FIGS. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the first variant of the present invention and show a row of packages (I) mounted on a stationary frame (10) which also carries individual guides (11), one for the thread from each package. In order not to confuse the drawings by unnecessary duplication, threads from only six of the packages are actually shown. In FIG. 2 a total of nine packages are shown in a staggered arrangement for economy of space, but the number of packages is not critical and more or less may be used. The six threads are led to a series of guides or eyes (12) in an inner frame (13) which is vertically movable in an outer frame (14). This frame in turn is moved from right to left and then from left to right by two drive chains (15).

FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically the drive from the main knitting machine drive. This figure shows the main drive motor for the knitting machine (41 which drives a shaft (42) through a chain (43). The shaft (42) is the main camshaft of the knitting machine. The weft insert chains (2L) and (2R) are driven via sprockets (S2) and (53) through chain (54).

Because FIG. 6 does not show all of the thread stringing elements of FIG. 2, it is convenient to show on this figure the knitting line (23) on which the inserted wefts are laid for the particular courses in which there is to be an inserted weft. Usually this will be every course. The opening of the pins (3L) and (3R) at the knitting line will be described below.

From the shaft (42) a chain (39) drives a rightangled bevel gear drive (18) which directly drives the lower of the two drive chains (15). The upper chain (15) is driven via bevel gears (56) through shaft (57), shown in FIG. 2. For the sake of clarity this is omitted from FIG. 6. The chains (15) are connected to the outer frame (14) by a linkage which is duplicated for the upper chain in FIG. 2. The outer frame (14) moves on rollers (47) on tracks which do not show. The continuous movement of the endless chains (15) causes the outer frame (14) to perform its horizontal oscillation as has been referred to above in a previous section of this specification.

The up and down motion of the inner frame (13) is effected by two cylinders (19) which tilt a rod (20) running to a pivot (21) on the inner frame. The cylinder actuation is controlled by limit switches (48), (FIG. 6). These limit switches are not shown on FIG. 2 but can clearly be seen on FIG. 6. The cylinder control and the limit switches are of conventional design and therefore are shown purely diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 6. Synchronization is provided so that one up-anddown motion of the inner frame (13) synchronizes with one horizontal oscillation of the outer frame (14). This results in a figure-eight path of each of the yarns or threads.

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically the figure-eight path of one of the six threads in order not to confuse the drawing by showing all six. The controls of the cylinders (19) are actuated in synchronism with the speed of the insert yarn chains (2L) and (2R). FIG. 2 also shows diagrammatically two conventional warp beams (22) in a conventional warp knitting machine. The knitting line is shown at (23), but the details of the moving needles are omitted as these are not changed in any way by the present invention and their showing would simply confuse the drawing. The knitting line itself is shown only in FIG. 6 in order not to confuse the drawing of FIG. 2. At the knitting line the thread from pins (3L) and (3R) is released and is knit into the fabric in the conventional manner.

FIG. 1 shows the operation of the pins (3L) on an enlarged scale. The pins are formed of bottom pieces (4) with top beveled clamping pieces (5) on rods (8), each passing through a hole in the bottom piece. The pins are held in closed position by the springs (6), which bear against the knob (7). The bottom pieces (4) are attached to chain (2L) by brackets (9). The construction is the same on the pins (3R) on chain (2R). As the yarns from the guides (12) of the inner frame (13) approach a pin on the chain (2L) or (2R), as the case may be, a cam (24) is raised, moving a knob (7) up and therefore opening a corresponding pin (3L) or (3R). In FIG. 1 two pins are shown, the pin at the right being opened by movement of the cam (24) so that a thread passes between the bottom and top pieces (4) and (5). The cylinder (25) then lowers the cam (24) and the rod (8) moves down, causing the clip to grasp a thread (26). In order to illustrate the operation of pins generally in open and closed position, FIG. 1 shows a sequence in which only one thread has been grasped; in other words, the operation being simplified for illustration purposes, as is the case in FIG. 3, which for the same reason simplifies the figure-eight travel by showing only one thread. Because FIG. 1 illustrates the general operation of pins or clips, a tilting cam bar (24) is shown, which permits illustration of the sequential opening and closing of the pins. The cam bars actually used in some of the other figures are slightly different, as will be described below. FIG. 1 should be considered, therefore, only as a diagrammatic showing of pin opening and closing.

When the chains (2L) and (2R) carry a weft or filling thread to the knitting line (23), the pins (3L) and (3R) are opened by cams attached to the sprockets driving the chains. This operation is identical with that shown in FIG. 5 of the Carman patent, and this figure together with the description of the opening and closing of the pin is to be considered as incorporated in the present specification. Therefore, in FIGS. 2 and 3 it is not shown as it would only confuse the drawing. Also, the opening of the pins and the releasing of the thread is at the knitting line, whereas in FIG. 5 of the Carman'patent to which reference has been made this is the opening and closing on the pins on the carrier chain where the threads from the moving package's encounter them. The operation at the other end is identical and causes the weft thread to be released at the knitting line. This operation of the pin is a conventional one and does not distinguish the present invention from the prior art, al-

though of course it is necessary for a machine to operate just as it is in the machine of the Carman patent and other weft inserted warp knitting machines.

It will be noted that in FIG. 1 a long cam bar (24) is shown as a number of pins corresponding to the number of yarns from a package, which would be nine in the case of FIG. 2, have to be caught by the clips or pins of the chains (2L) and (2R), respectively, at the same time. Where the thread is released at the knitting line,

only one thread at a time is released for each course and so, of course, only one pin is opened at a time, as is shown in FIG. 5 of the Carman patent above referred As can be seen from FIG. 3, a figure-eight path is described by the inner frame (13). At the start the inner frame (13) is just to the right of the chain (2R), whose pins are opened as has been described above in connection with FIG. 1. The remainder of the figure-eight path can clearly be seen from FIG. 3. The threads which are grasped by the pins are cut off by a conventional cutter, (37). Each cutter is illustrated purely diagrammatically. The cutters are illustrated at in FIG. 3 of the Carman patent, but of course there must be multiple cutters as a number of threads are cut at the same time.

; The inner frame (13) then indexes down as shown in FIG. 3 and a conventional vacuum (27) sucks out the tails so that when the frame (13) passes to the left across carrier chain (2R) another set of open pins can grasp the threads, which are then carried across in the figure eight to the chain (2L). It will be noted that this causes the frame to rise, which is necessary because the chains (2L) and (2R) are moving and the proper pins must be encountered so that the threads are parallel to each other. Again the threads are clamped by the pins and are cut by the cutters (37), moved down, with the tails pulled out by vacuum (28), and are grasped by the pins (3L) and strung across to the chain (2R), thus completing the cycle. FIG. 3 illustrates the yarn travel and is almost purely diagrammatic. Accordingly, the inner frame (13) is shown in a number of positions during the figure-eight track. Of course there is only one inner frame, but it is shown in a number'of positions at various points in the track.

Because of the multiple yarn packages, the speed at which the two frames have to move and the speed at which the yarns are removed from the packages are reduced by the multiple of the yarns. This produces the same advantage of slower yarn speeds and longer operation before a package becomes exhausted which are such important features in the Carman carousel machine.

In order to oscillate the outer frame (14), it is necessary that it be actuated from the chains (15) through a linkage (46) as otherwise the frame (14) would presother words, the frame (14) is not raised or lowered as it moves on the particular part of the chain (15). The flexibility of the linkage (46) permits oscillation without jamming. The linkage itself is common conventional form of linkage to move an element horizontally from an endless chain and so its particular design does not form a specific part of the present invention, though some linkage is needed. The showing, therefore, should be considered as diagrammatic. At the same time additional guide elements to prevent sag in the carousel chain have been eliminated, but, as far as the packages are concerned, their function has not, because the packages. are on a fixed frame and cannot sag.

The second variant of the present invention, which also includes a horizontally moving frame, though the frame is of somewhat different design than that in FIGS. 2 and 3, is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In these figures the same elements, such as insert yarn carrier chains, chain pins, cutters, carry the same reference numerals. FIG. 4 shows a large number, for example 30 to 50, of packages on a stationary frame (29). As the packages are mounted in the same manner as in FIG. 2, they carry the same reference numerals. Only two packages are illustrated in FIG. 4 in order to avoid confusion of the drawing. A somewhat larger number of yarns is shown in dot and dash lines, but still not as many as would correspond to the total number of packages in an actual machine.

In the actual device the packages on their frame are usually in front of the chains (2L) and (2R). However, to illustrate the packages and frames more clearly, FIG. 4 shows them over on the left side. The moving frame (30) on carriages (38) rolling on wheels (32) is best seen in FIG. 4, with a yarn tension bar (31), and draws the yarn straight across or at most at a very small angle. Yarns are pulled off from the packages in the same manner that the inner frame (13) did in FIGS. 2 and 3. The frame (30), when it is in its extreme right hand position, is over a stationary holding bar (33) having a pin for each yarn. At this point a vacuum (34) operates in the same manner as vacuums (27) and (28) in FIG. 3,

though it is of somewhat different shape. The vacuum straightens the tails of each yarn and they are clamped by pins on the holding bar (33). The pins are of the same design as in FIG. 1 and are actuated by a long cam similar to cam (24) in FIG. 1. This is shown in FIG. 5. The design is, in general, the same as in FIG. 1, though the length of the cam bar is somewhat greater because of the larger number of pins to be opened at one time and then closed by spring pressure. The frame (30) then moves to the left, and in FIG. 4 it is shown nearly over to the left hand chain (2L).

The frame (30) is moved by chainsjust as is the outer frame (14) shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and for convenience these chains which perform the same function are given the same reference numerals as in the earlier figures. In the same manner the frame is moved by linkages (46), as was the case in FIG. 2. The linkage performs the same function of flexibility of drive in the plane of the chain but, in addition, is designed to provide for some movement at right angles thereto, permitting the frame (30) to move toward and away from the weft carrier chains. This movement is very small, as will be brought out below, but the main design of the linkage is the same for both variants and is shown in the drawing only diagrammatically. In order not to confuse the drawing only the linkage is shown for the lower chain (15), but of course a similar linkage moves the frame (30) at its top end from the upper chain (15). The two chains (15) are connected together in the same manner as is shown in FIG. 2 by rods and bevel gear, which in FIG. 2 are illustrated at (58) and (56). As the connection of the chains is the same, these elements are omitted from FIG. 4 in order not to confuse the drawing.

When the frame (30) is just past chain (2L), the frame is moved forward by four air cylinders (50), as can be seen in FIG. 5. The air cylinders are controlled by limit switches in the same manner as is shown on FIGS. 2 and 6. As the drive of the chains is the same for both variants, FIG. 6 may be considered as a diagrammatic illustration of both drives. Of course the frame shown at (14) is of the design of FIG. 2 and not of FIG. 4, but as far as horizontal oscillation is concerned, the particular design of the frame does not affect the drive, and so the diagrammatic drive of FIG. 6 is not repeated for the exact shape of frame in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The pins on the carrier chains (2L) and (2R) are opened by a cam (24) actuated by an air cylinder (25). The operation is substantially similar to the operation of the cam in FIG. 1, and for this reason the same reference numerals are used. The actual shape of the cam is slightly different as it moves directly toward the pins instead of tilting as in FIG. 1, and because of the greatly longer cam it is shown in FIG. 5 as of generally channel cross-section with a wire truss. The operation of the cam can be seen in FIG. 5. Cutters are not shown in order not to confuse the drawing for the same reason that they are not shown in FIG. 6, as has been mentioned above. Just after the yarns are clamped by the pins on the carrier chains, they are cut at the left by the cutters (37), which are of conventional design, as is the case with the cutter illustrated in the Carman patent. As has been stated, there is shown a single cutter appears on the drawing on each side, in the present application there has to be multiple cutters for multiple yarns. At the same time the threads are cut, the pins on the holding bar (33) on the right are opened, releasing the yarns therefrom.

The frame (30) then moves again to the right, pulling the yarns from the packages and the operation which has been described is repeated. It will be noted that while the stationary holding bar (33) is stationary as far as moving along with the frame (30) is concerned, when the frame (30) is moved in and out by the cylinders (50), the holding bar (33) moves with it. Pins have been described for clamping the yarns on the holding bar, but, if desired, of course, any other clamping means may be used.

Since the number of yarns is very great, there will need to .be a pause at each end of travel of the frame (30), or if it returns empty, at one extreme. Therefore, the cylinders (50) may require a delay so that they move the frame (30) in only after a new set of pins is in position on the carrier chain. Such delay mechanism is conventional and is, therefore, not illustrated in specific detail on the drawings.

The variant shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has .a number of advantages. It shares all of the advantages of multiple yarns, which can be of different colors, and low speed pulling out of yarns, which are important features of the carousel and also of the first variant shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These advantages are actually enhanced because of the very large number of yarn packages which can be carried by the frame, which moves straight from side to side except-for the slight backward and forward motion by the cylinders (50) which bring it into register with the pins on the insert carrier chains. The number of multiple yarn packages which may be accommodated in a practical device is somewhat greater in the second variant of FIGS. 4 and 5 than is preferred in the first variant in FIGS. 2 and 3, where there is a double frame and the inner frame (13) has to move in two dimensions. As has been mentioned before, both variants of the invention permit transfers of yarn from an exhausted package to a fresh one, which is not practical on a Carman carousel with the moving yarn packages.

However, in both variants, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the very large number of yarn packages makes operation of the machine for hours practical before packages are exhausted, and so in many cases this permits elimination of the mechanism for flying transfer from exhausted packages to full ones. Conventional flying transfer from exhausted packages to full ones is not a distinguishing feature of the present invention and is, therefore, not shown. Both variants of the present invention, however, permit the installation of conventional flying transfer and therefore this constitutes an additional flexibility and advantage of the present invention.

It will be noted that both variants involve oscillating a frame from right to left across the carrier chains, although the two variants have frames of different specific designs. Both variants have the advantage that additional guide elements which prevent sag of the carousel chain are eliminated as far as the packages are concerned, but as sagging is not possible their function is not eliminated. This is equally true of the first variant of FIGS. 2 and 3 and ofthe second variant of FIGS. 4 and 5. The latter variant has, however, certain advantages, such as the larger number of packages practical, which has been mentioned above, and a more rugged and simpler drive because the frame does not have to move in more than one direction in stringing the'yarns across the carrier chains, except for the very short inand-out movement at the extremes of the horizontal oscillation. For some purposes the more rugged construction made possible makes the second variant preferable. Both variants, of course, have all of the advantages of the carousel, such as slow stringing of yarn, possibility of using yarns of different colors or textures, and the like. The two variants of the present invention, therefore, while retaining the advantageous features of the Carman carousel, embody definite improvements thereover.

I claim:

1. In a high speed warp knitting machine with inserted filling yarns at a knitting line, the machine being provided with yarn carrier chains and pins which are opened to receive yarn, then closed, and the yarns cut, the chains carrying each yarn to the knitting line of the machine and there being caused to open to deposit the filling yarn inserted against the warp threads, multiple stationary yarn packages mounted in a line substantially parallel to the insert yarn chains, the improvement which comprises,

a. a frame having guide openings for each of the multiple yarns from the multiple yarn packages,

b. means for slowly reciprocating the frame from beyond one insert yarn carrier to the other at a position above the plane of the chains and pins,

0. means for transferring the yarns to parallel pins on the insert yarn carrier chains without stopping the chains,

d. means for cutting off the yarns after transfer to the pins on the chains, and

e. means for holding the cut yarn after the first movement of the frame to the carrier chain opposite the yarn packages, whereby on the return movement of the reciprocation another set of yarns are strung from carrier chain to carrier chain and two sets of yarn are strung across and attached to the pins on the chains for each reciprocation of the frame.

2. A knitting machine according to claim 1 in which the frame moves only horizontally from chain to chain and the means for transferring the yarns to the insert yarn carrier chains comprises means for moving the frame a short distance toward the carrier chains at the moment of transfer.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the reciprocating means for moving the frame carry a holding bar, which does not reciprocate longitudinally, provided with cam actuated fastening means adjacent at least one carrier chain, the bar moving toward the plane of the chains when the frame does but having transfer means to transfer the multiple yarns from the frame to the holding bar in its position away from the carrier chain, whereby a series of parallel yarns are held and are transferred to the carrier chains at one time, the multiple yarns held by the holding bar being drawn out on the return travel of the reciprocating frame to produce a second set of multiple yarns for attachment to the insert yarn carrier chains when they have moved a distance corresponding to the number of yarns in the set.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which the transfer means include power actuated cams opening and closing pins on the insert carrier at the same time and in synchronism with the transfer of the yarns.

5. In a high speed warp knitting machine with inserted filling yarns at a knitting line, the machine being provided with yarn carrier chains and pins thereon which are opened to receive yarns, then closed, and the yarns cut, each yarn being carried by the chains to the knitting line of the machine and the pins being caused to open to deposit the filling-yarn inserted against the warp thread, the improvement which comprises,

a. multiple yarn packages mounted on a stationary support,

b. an inner and an outer frame, the inner frame movable vertically in the outer frame and carrying yarn guides, one for each yarn package,

0. means for imparting vertical motion to the inner frame and horizontal motion to the outer frame to cause the inner frame to describe a figure eight path extending from one insert yarn carrier chain to beyond the other and back, one position in the horizontal motion of the outer frame bringing the two frames adjacent the yarn packages,

d. means for transferring the multiple yarns through the inner frame to pins on one insert carrier chain as the frame passes beyond it, means for transferring the same yarn to the pins on the other'carrier chain as the frame passes beyond it, and

e. cutting means for cutting the yarn at both transfer points, the motion of the frame and the carrier chains being synchronized so that the multiple yarns are laid parallel to each other across chains.

Claims

1. In a high speed warp knitting machine with inserted filling yarns at a knitting line, the machine being provided with yarn carrier chains and pins which are opened to receive yarn, then closed, and the yarns cut, the chains carrying each yarn to the knitting line of the machine and there being caused to open to deposit the filling yarn inserted against the warp threads, multiple stationary yarn packages mounted in a line substantially parallel to the insert yarn chains, the improvement which compriseS, a. a frame having guide openings for each of the multiple yarns from the multiple yarn packages, b. means for slowly reciprocating the frame from beyond one insert yarn carrier to the other at a position above the plane of the chains and pins, c. means for transferring the yarns to parallel pins on the insert yarn carrier chains without stopping the chains, d. means for cutting off the yarns after transfer to the pins on the chains, and e. means for holding the cut yarn after the first movement of the frame to the carrier chain opposite the yarn packages, whereby on the return movement of the reciprocation another set of yarns are strung from carrier chain to carrier chain and two sets of yarn are strung across and attached to the pins on the chains for each reciprocation of the frame.

5. In a high speed warp knitting machine with inserted filling yarns at a knitting line, the machine being provided with yarn carrier chains and pins thereon which are opened to receive yarns, then closed, and the yarns cut, each yarn being carried by the chains to the knitting line of the machine and the pins being caused to open to deposit the filling yarn inserted against the warp thread, the improvement which comprises, a. multiple yarn packages mounted on a stationary support, b. an inner and an outer frame, the inner frame movable vertically in the outer frame and carrying yarn guides, one for each yarn package, c. means for imparting vertical motion to the inner frame and horizontal motion to the outer frame to cause the inner frame to describe a figure eight path extending from one insert yarn carrier chain to beyond the other and back, one position in the horizontal motion of the outer frame bringing the two frames adjacent the yarn packages, d. means for transferring the multiple yarns through the inner frame to pins on one insert carrier chain as the frame passes beyond it, means for transferring the same yarn to the pins on the other carrier chain as the frame passes beyond it, and e. cutting means for cutting the yarn at both transfer points, the motion of the frame and the carrier chains being synchronized so that the multiple yarns are laid parallel to each other across chains.