US3774413A - Mechanical switching and ratchet arrangement for mutually-exclusive functions - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive functions, for example for selective needle bed shogging on flat knitting machines. A plurality of selector jacks are longitudinally slidable on a jack guide and each has associated with it a switch jack. A ball blocking device permits any one, but only one of the selector jacks to be moved longitudinally at any given time. When a selector jack is moved, it carries with it its switch jack which switch jack remains in the moved position even though its selector jack then moves back to its original position. A locking pawl is provided for holding the switch jacks in the original or the moved positions thereof.

Description

United States Patent [19'] Kemmler Nov. 27, 1973 [75] Inventor: Wilhelm Kemmler, Reutlingen,

Germany [73] Assignee: H. Stoll and Company, Reutlingen,

Stollweg, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 1, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 277,119

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 5, 1971 Germany P 21 39 132.2

[52]. US. Cl. 66/69 [51] Int. Cl. D04b 7/00, D04b 7/20 [58] Field of Search 66/69 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,504 8/1935 Geyer 66/69 2,093,858 9/1937 Zimic 66/69 2,110,915 3/1938 Nogler 66/69 2,653,460 9/1953 Zimic et al.... 66/63 2,284,167 5/1942 Ralston 66/69 Primary Examiner-Rona1d Feldbaum AttorneyRoberts B. Larson et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive functions, for example for selective needle bed shogging on flat knitting machines. A plurality of selector jacks are longitudinally slidable on a jack guide and each has associated with it a switch jack. A ball blocking device permits any one, but only one of the selector jacks to be moved longitudinally at any given time. When a selector jack is moved, it carries with it its switch jack which switch jack remains in the moved position even though its selector jack then moves back to its original position. A locking pawl is provided for holding the switch jacks in the original or the moved positions thereof.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures "MENTEUNCY 2 '7 EH75 sum n? 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tofa mechanical switching and ratchet device, and in particular ittrelates-to anew and improved: device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive-functions such'as selective needle bed shogrging on flat knitting machines.

In. automatically operating knitting machines, inpatticular flat knitting machines, the needle bed shogs determining stitch formation and% patterning intmany cases take place through the medium of switching jacks, which are individually selectedfrom a set of selector jacks by a patterning device, i.e. are brought fromtherest position into the operativeactivepositiom In such: a machine, the switching jacks-draw. on: switch levers or abutments which determine the longitudi'nali than twice the thickness of one selector jack. As a result thereof, after any one of the selector jacks have moved from the rest position to the active position, an attempt to move any other selector jack will be unsuccessful as that selector jack will be blocked by the balls. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the switch jack associated with each selector jack is so arranged relative thereto that when the selector jack moves from its rest position to its active position, it carries its respective switch jack with it. The switch jack is then held in this active position while the selector jack is permitted to move back to its rest position. This provides the advantage that all selector jacks are attheir rest positions for a random selection of a switch for thenext cycle. In accordance with this preferred arrangement, the switch jacks include front and rear abutments which cooperate with front and rear ratchet tips on a locking pawl which-is urged against all of said switchljacks; The ratchet tips and the abutrnents are so extent of needlebed shog. Thus, both: the switching. 205 arranged that the locking pawl is operable to concurjacks andthe selector jacks control. the shoggingonl y indirectly sincevit is thesaidflevers or abutrnents which actually determine the extent of the shoggingz. Heretofore, switching malfunctions could. not:v be: avoided; due

to faulty patterning bands on cards, to particularly strong vibrations of the machine; or. toforeignibodies orthe'like entering;thepatterning-device. It will be ap,- preciatedthat', inthe case "of mutuallyexclusive functions in. an. automatic knittingmachine; simultaneous switching can leadito damage vto-the :machinerand/on to the product. It must. therefore be: ensured thatz such-9 functions cannotoccur simultaneously Thus, there exists a need' fora'new andiimproved device of: the :type described which 5 is :simplebutx yet: reliable so asrto prevent. inadvertent: activations ofimore than one mutuallytex'clusivefunctionm-any given :time.

I A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it-isa purpose of the presentinvention to provide a device which prevents.mutually-exclusive;

functions being simultaneously switched andi which-: holds the switched functionuntil anew one is selected.

This purpose is achieved injaccordance with the pres ent invention by providing an arrangement wherein a plurality, of selector jacks-are arranged suchithat: only: one can be moved inany given time, the others prefera blytbeinglblocked-by a ball'type lockingdevice. Asso-" ciated with each selector" jacktis a'switchrjackpwhichi is movable with its respectivetselectorjack. The arrange? vated, operative-position whilethe selector jack is per= mitted'to move back to theoriginal, restsposition; a

suitable means being provided :for-holdingthe. switching jack in either of its respective positions:

In accordance with a preferred embodimentof thet invention, a plurality of selector jacks 'arerprovided for longitudinal movement on a jack-guide,' there being tza. switch jack; associated with eachhselectorzjackt Each" said switch jack is arranged 'adjacentztoand slidablevlongitudinally with its respective selector jack. lnflthe.

original rest position of theselector :jack's; aball block? ing arrangement may be provided which includes a plu-- rality of balls,- one located in, a -hole vofeach selector jack; the balls being aligned "transversely ofsaid longia 6 tudinal direction and the aggregate: space between the balls taken insaid transverse. direction being greater: than. the thicknesstof one selector 'jack but not greater r ment is'such' that the switchjjackrisrthen held in its activ 9 rently' holidzany one of the switch jacks in'an active position-.and concurrently hold the remainder of the switch jacks in: the rest position;

A- practical. embodiment of the invention adaptedrfor usefor selective needlebed shoggingonaflat. knitting machinetwill now. bed'escrib'ed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS There; follows a detailed: description of a= preferred embodiment of the invention: to beread -togeth'er with theiaccompanyingzdrawings, this embodiment and the accompanying drawings being provided-for purposes ofv vof FIG. 1.

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring vnow-to the-figures, like elements are'represented lby like numerals throughoutlthe several'views.

' A'jack guide 1:would normally be mounted upon and fiXedito the frame-of a'flat knittingmachine. For sim-' plicity; theknitting'machine itself isnot shown in the figures: The selector jacks 2 are longitudinallyslidable on thejack guide '1 and each has associated therewith a switch -jacki6 als'o longitudinally-slidable on 'the jack' guide" I. The illustrated draw cables of the selector jacks :areconnectedto theselector device and the illustrated clrawcables of theswitching jacks are connected to the switching device of th'e knitting machine; The

jacks are held in place on (the jack guide-by suitable plates'3,4and 5, the jackguide 1 havingfonned therein a plurality of slots for receivingthe jacks-2 and fiifor longitudinal movementtherein. Theseslots are visible in' FIG. 5. The plates 3, 4'and 5 "also serve as stops for thejacks 2 and 6: Specifically, the plates 3 and Sf aet :as -rearward "(rightward inthe figures) stops for taken along;

means 8 which is known per se. As illustrated in FIG.

5, a ball is provided in an opening of each selector jack, the balls being transversely aligned. The aggregate transverse space between the balls is such that when one selector is moved to the right to its active position, the balls will prevent any other selector jacks from moving to the active position. i

Each switch jack 6 has formed on its upper surface a pair of abutments 11 and 12. In a manner to be described below, these abutments cooperate with tips 9 and on a pawl 7 which is urged resiliently downwardly against the upper surface of all switch jacks 6 by means of spring 14. I i

The switching ratchet and device of the present invention operates as follows. Upon a given command, for example from a programme control, a selector jack such as the selecto jack 2 will be drawn to theselector by its draw cable. After it has moved to the left, the ball block 8 will prevent any other selector jack from moving to the left. The selector jack 2' carries along with it in the longitudinal direction its associated switch jack 6' until one of two active positions have been reached. In the first position the switch jack is pulled only until abutment 12 moves to the left of tip 10, at which time the tip 10 prevents rightward movement of switch jack 1. In the second position which is illustrated in FIG. 3, the tip 9 on the spring loaded pawl 7 will lie adjacent abutment l 1 so as to prevent movement to the right of the switch jack 6. Whichever of the first or second positions is selected, the switching jack adjusts an appropriate lever or abutment (not shown) via its draw cable. Before the jacks 2' and 6' were moved to the left; the tip 10 was positioned just forward of the rear abutment 12 on the jack 6' holding this switch jack in its original rest position. Now, as the selected switch jack 6' is located to the left, the tip 10 still engages the abutments 12 of the remaining switch jacks so as to hold them in their original, rest position.

When the selected switch jack 6" reaches an active position and is held there by cooperation of either abutment l1 and pawl tip 9 or abutment 12 and pawl tip 10, the selector jack 2' is free to move back to the right to its rest position under the force of spring 13. Ifthe second active position has been selected, the-elements then assume the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the selected switch jack 6-is still inthe second active position while the associated selector jack 2' has moved back to its rest position. I v

The elements will remain-'in'sthe active position until it is desired to select another function; For example, if the first position of the switch jack 6' hasbeen selected; the switch jack 6 will remain with its abutment 12 immediately forward of and restrained by pawl tip 10 and the selector jack 2' will be in the position, illustrated in FIG. 4. If however the second position of the switching jack 6' has been selected, the element 6',as; well as 2! will remain in the position as shown in FIG. 4 until it is desired to select another function. Since the selector jack 2 is back in its original, rest position, it is available to be selected during the nex tlfunction along with any of the other selector jacks. Ifthe same'selector jack 2 is chosen, then this jack willrnove to the left from the FIG. 4 position. If during this next selection it is desired to move the same jack 6 to the said first position thereof, then the. selector jack 2' will move only part way. If the switch jack 6 had been in this first position previously, then no further movement thereof will take place, and the selector jack 2' will again move back to its rest positionflf however, the switch jack 6 had been in its second, left-most position, and it is now desired to select only the first, partial position, then means must be provided to raise the pawl 7 to permit the switch jack 6" to move from its position as shown in FIG. 3 back to the said partial or first position wherein the abutment 12 is restrained by the tip 10. If on the other hand the same selector jack 2 and switch jack 6' are selected, but for carrying the switch jack 6 to the second or left-most position, then if the switch jack 6 had been in the left-most FIG. 3 position, then the selector jack 2' will simply move out to the FIG. 3 position without actually effecting motion of the switch jack 6' after which it will return to its original rest position as described above. If, however, during the movement of the jacks 2 and 6' to the second or left-most position, the switch jack 6.had been in the first or partial position, then in this case the selector jack 2' will simply pick up the switch jack 6' partway along its travel and then carry it the rest of the way to the FIG. 3 position, after which the selector jack 2 will return to its original position, as described above.

If, however, during this subsequent selection, a selector jack other than 2 is chosen, then it will pull out wardly to the left its respective switch jack 6. This new switch jack moving to the left will raise the pawl 7 during which time the original switch jack 6 will be released therefrom and be urged back to its rest position under the action of a spring (not shown). The pawl 7 will then return to its downward position under the force of spring 14 holding the newly selected switch jack 6 in its active operative position by engagement of the appropriate tip and abutment.

Although the invention has been described in considerable. detail with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive functions such as for selective needle bed shogging on knitting machines, in particular on flat knitting machines, comprising: a jack guide,.a plurality of generally parallel selector jacks mounted on said jack guide for longitudinal movement thereon individually at least between a rest position and anv active position, a separate switch jack associated with each selector jack and generally parallel to its respective selector jack, each said switch jack also having a rest position and at least'one active position, eachselector jack including means for carrying its respective switch jack from the rest position to an active position thereof as that selector jack moves from its :rest position to its active position, means for holding a switch jack in saidactive position while permitting its respective selector jack to move back from its active position toitsrest position, and blocking means for permitting only one of said plurality of selector jacks at a time to move away from said rest position thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprises a series of balls, each said selector jack having a hole therethrough greater than the diameter of the balls, one ball being located in the hole of each selector jack, the balls being arranged in a line transverse to said longitudinal direction, the aggregate space between the balls taken in the said transverse direction being greater than the thickness of one selector jack but less than the thickness of two selector jacks, such that the balls permit any one of the selector jacks tion.

4. A device according to claim 3, said holding means comprising a pawl having a front tip and a rear tip, said to move from its rest position to its active position tips extending transversely across said longitudinal direction and spring biased against all of the switch jacks, each switch jack including a front and a rear abutment engageable with said tips, the rear tip positioned to engage the rear abutment of any switch jacks in the rest position to hold said switch jacks in said rest position, and each tip positioned to engage an abutment of any switch jack in an active position to hold that switch jack in an active position.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein all of said selector jacks are spring biased back to said rest position.

6. A flat knitting machine including means for selecting needles, said means including a mechanical switching and ratchet device to claim 1.

Claims (6)

1. A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive functions such as for selective needle bed shogging on knitting machines, in particular on flat knitting machines, comprising: a jack guide, a plurality of generally parallel selector jacks mounted on said jack guide for longitudinal movement thereon individually at least between a rest position and an active position, a separate switch jack associated with each selector jack and generally parallel to its respective selector jack, each said switch jack also having a rest position and at least one active position, each selector jack including means for carrying its respective switch jack from the rest position to an active position thereof as that selector jack moves from its rest position to its active position, means for holding a switch jack in said active position while permitting its respective selector jack to move back from its active position to its rest position, and blocking means for permitting only one of said plurality of selector jacks at a time to move away from said rest position thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprises a series of balls, each said selector jack having a hole therethrough greater than the diameter of the balls, one ball being located in the hole of each selector jack, the balls being arranged in a line transverse to said longitudinal direction, the aggregate space between the balls taken in the said transverse direction being greater than the thickness of one selector jack but less than the thickness of two selector jacks, such that the balls permit any one of the selector jacks to move fRom its rest position to its active position while preventing any other selector jack from moving to its active position.

3. A device according to claim 1, said holding means including means for either a. holding all of said switch jacks in the rest positions thereof, or b. holding all except one of said switch jacks in the rest position thereof and holding the said one switch jack in an active position.

4. A device according to claim 3, said holding means comprising a pawl having a front tip and a rear tip, said tips extending transversely across said longitudinal direction and spring biased against all of the switch jacks, each switch jack including a front and a rear abutment engageable with said tips, the rear tip positioned to engage the rear abutment of any switch jacks in the rest position to hold said switch jacks in said rest position, and each tip positioned to engage an abutment of any switch jack in an active position to hold that switch jack in an active position.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein all of said selector jacks are spring biased back to said rest position.

6. A flat knitting machine including means for selecting needles, said means including a mechanical switching and ratchet device to claim 1.

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