US3783645A

US3783645A - Sinker operating cams for circular knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3783645A
Application number: US00163007A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Bianchi
Original assignee: G Billi and C SpA
Current assignee: G Billi and C SpA
Priority date: 1970-07-20
Filing date: 1971-07-15
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08
Also published as: ES393342A1; DE2135966A1; FR2103119A5; GB1362028A; SU402231A3

Abstract

The sinker operating cams at each feed of a multiple feed circular knitting machine are mounted upon a slide, the slides are supported by and are movable radially of the sinker cam ring of the machine whereby the slides and the sinker operating cams thereon may be selectively moved at each of the feeds to each of a pair of radial positions. An annular plate circumferentially movable to three angular positions atop the sinker cam ring is operatively related to a tappet on each of the slides whereby in one position of the plate all of the slides are in their outer radial position, in a second position of the plate alternate slides only are in their inner radial position, and in the third position of the plate all of the slides are in their inner radial position.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Bianchi SINKER OPERATING CAMS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Massimo Bianchi, Firenze, Italy [73] Assignee: G. Billi & C.S.p.A., Firenze, Italy [22] Filed: July 15, 1971 21 Appl. No.2 163,007

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 4/1967 Great Britain 66/108 R [111 3,783,645 Jan. 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-W. C. Reynolds Assistant ExaminerAndrew M. Falik Attorney-Louis Necho 57 ABSTRACT The sinker operating cams at each feed of a multiple feed circular knitting machine are mounted upon a slide, the slides are supported by and are movable radially of the sinker cam ring of the machine whereby the slides and the sinker operating cams thereon may be selectively moved at each of the feeds to each of a pair of radial positions. An annular plate circumferentially movable to three angular positions atop the sinker cam ring is operatively related to a tappet on each of the slides whereby in one position of the plate all of the slides are in their outer radial position, in a second position of the plate alternate slides only are in their inner radial position, and in the third position of the plate all of the slides are in their inner radial position.

5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures FENTEU 3.783.645

sum 1 or 6 PATENTED 3. 783 ,645

MU 5 Br" 6 SINKER OPERATING CAMS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES The present invention relates generally to the art of knitting and more particularly to novel construction provide a novel construction of the sinker operating cams at each feed of a multi-feed circular knitting machine and to provide selective control thereof whereby the sinker operating cams are positionable in each of two radial positions, in the second of which the sinkers are moved inwardly a greater distance than in the first position thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to operate four feeds of a circular knitting machine having the sinker cam construction and control means of the present invention at each of the four feeds, and having needle selecting means to select needles to knit or tuck at each of the four feeds whereby plain stitches are formed on all the needles at the first and third feeds with the sinker cams in said first position thereof,.

whereby plain stitches are formed on alternate needles, and tuck stitches are formed on intervening needles at the second feed with the sinker cams in said second position thereof, and whereby plain stitches are formed on intervening needles and tuck stitches are formed on alternate needles at the fourth feed with the sinker cams in said second position thereof.

The sinker operating means at each feed of the machine are supportedupon and are movable with a slide which is supported by and movable radially in the sinker cam ring of the machine. An annularly shaped plate is circumferentially movable atop the sinker cam ring to a plurality of angular positions, the plate being operatively related to the slides at each of the feeds to selectively place the latter and the sinker cams thereon in each of a pair of radially different sinker operating positions, depending upon the angular position of the annularplate.

"With the above and other objects of the invention in view, as will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel construction of the sinker operating cams and the selective control thereof as set forth in the accompanying specification and in the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the sinker cam ring of the present invention, the portion of the sinker ring shown being associated with five knitting stations or feeds of an eight-feed circular knitting machine.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sinker cam ring of FIG. 1 showing the sinker operating cams.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the sinker cam ring of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken on line IV IV of FIG. 3 and also showing the adjacent portions of the needle cylinder and associated parts of a circular knitting machine.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view as taken on line V V of FIG. 4.

, FIG. 6 is an enlarged stitch diagram of a fabric made with the apparatus of the present invention, the arrangement of the stitches being repeated in four course sequences.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the feeding of a first yarn to the needles of a circle of needles of the machine for a first course of the fabric of FIG. 6 with all the needles in latch clearing position.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the stitches of a first course of the fabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and the needles of FIG. 7 with the sinkers in a first or normal position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG.'7 showing the feeding of a second yarn to the needles for a second course of the fabric of FIG. 6 with alternate ones of the needles in latch clearing position and with intervening ones of the needles in tuck position.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the course of stitches of FIG. 8 and the stitches of a second course of the fabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 9 with the sinkers in a second or advanced position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the feeding of a third yarn to the needles for a third course of the fabric of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 10, showing the courses of stitches of FIGS. 8 and 10 and the stitches of a third course of the fabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 11 with the sinkers in their first or regular position.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the feeding of a fourth yarn to the needles for a fourth course of the fabric of FIG. 6 with the alternate ones of the needles now in tuck position and with intervening ones of the needles now in latch clearing position.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 8, l0 and 12 showing the courses of stitches of FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 and the stitches of a fourth course of the fabric of FIG. 6 as formed by the yarn and needles of FIG. 13 with the sinkers in their second or advanced position, and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the top of the needle cylinder and associated portions of the sinker ring showing the relationship of the needles to the sinkers in each of the two positions of the latter during the formation of the fabric of FIG. 6.

The fabric of FIG. 6 is preferably made upon a multifeed circular independent latch needle hosiery knitting machine, although it may also be made upon other machines. The stitches of this fabric are arranged in a four course sequence and accordingly the number of feeds on the machine is a multiple of four. The yarns at the first and third feeds are fed to all the needles in their .latch clearing position, while at the second feed the clearing position. At the same time, at the first and third feeds the sinkers are moved radially inwardly to their regular inward position, while at the second and fourth feeds the sinkers are moved radially inwardly to an advanced inward position to form longer stitches and to abnormally tension the stitches so that certain ones thereof which have been formed at the first and third feeds are enlarged thereby causing others of the stitches formed at the first and third feeds to be made substantially smaller, even to the point of becoming unknitted or unlooped, whereby the fabric of FIG. 6 is made to be substantially run-proof.

The means to selectively control the neeldes in tuck and in latch clearing (or knit) positions at each of the four feeds is conventional and this invention is directed to novel means to control the movements of the sinkers at each of the four feeds.

In FIG. 1, the portion of the sinkercam ring shown is for five feeds of an eight-feed circular machine wherein the successive like portions of the sinker cam ring at stations A, B, C and D are provided for four corresponding feeds of the machine. It will be understood that the remaining four like portions of the complete sinker ring, of which one portion is shown at station E, are provided for the remaining four feeds of the machine. In the machine, FIGS. 4 and 15, the needle cylinder itself which may be of the revolving type, is shown at 1 with a circle of vertically extending independent latch needles 3 arranged for movement in slots in the needle cylinder.

A radially slotted annular inner sinker bed 5 is secured inwardly of and to the upper end of cylinder 1. A radially slotted annular outer sinker bed 7 is secured to an annular ring 8 formed as part of the needle cylinder and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent to its upper end. The inner edge of the bed 7 overlaps the upper face of ring 8 and is secured in place by means of an annular clamping plate 9, the inner edge of which overlaps the lower face of ring 8, the plate 9 being secured to bed 7 by circumferentially spaced screws 11 extending through suitable apertures in ring 9 and into threaded engagement with bed 7. A circular series of sinkers 13 are adapted to move radially of the cylinder in the slots of

beds

5 and 7, the sinkers alternating with the needles. A relatively small annular spring band 15 in engagement with depressions formed in the tail ends of the sinkers are adapted to normally urge the sinkers radially inwardly of the cylinder. Each sinker has a butt 13A extending above the sinker slots by means of which the sinkers may be moved along their slots. The sinker beds 5 and 7 revolve with the needle cylinder.

Surrounding sinker bed 7 is a stationary sinker cam ring or cap 17 containing the cams which actuate the sinkers. Centering rollers 19 may be interposed between sinker bed 7 and sinker cam ring 17. At each of the several like portions of the sinker cap, stations A through E, as well as at the portions of the sinker cap not shown, for each feed of the machine the sinker cap is radially slotted to accommodate a radially movable T-shaped slide 21 therein. A crosswise extending stop plate 23 is secured to the outer face of each slide 21 by a screw 23A extending through plate 23 into threaded engagement with the slide. The slide is urged radially outwardly by a pair of spaced

compression springs

25, 25, on each side of slide 21 in contact with the inner side of plate 23 and disposed in suitable apertures in the cam ring 17. An adjustable outward stop position for each slide 21 is provided by the head of an adjustable screw 27 which extends freely through a suitable opening in plate 23 and into threaded engagement with the sinker cap 17, the springs 25 urging slide 21 outwardly to a position in which plate 23 contacts and is stopped by the under side of the head of screw 27.

A pair of spaced inner and

outer cams

29 and 31, providing a cam track or pathway 33 therebetween for the sinker butts 13A, are secured to the underside of each slide 21 by

screws

30 and 32, respectively, the screws passing through slide 21 into threaded engagement with the cams. The undersurface of each cam 31 is undercut as at 31C and into which a radially movable thin cam 31A is placed, the cam 31A being movable radially to a limited extent relative to a screw 31D extending through a radial slot in the cam 31A and into threaded engagement with cam 31. The cam 31A is spring urged radially inwardly by a small spring 318 anchored on the screw 31D and exerting inward pressure against a pair of spaced screws 31E on each side of screw 31D and threadedly engaged in cam 31A. The function of cams 31A is to move the sinkers inwardly and at the same time to exert a yielding pressure thereon via contact with their butts 13A. The sinker butts 13A travel in the cam paths 33 at each feed of the machine wherein the cams 29 move the sinkers outwardly and the

earns

31 and 31A move them inwardly.

The normal position of slides 21 with their

cams

29, 31, 31A, and cam pathway 33 to provide normal sinker movement for the knitting of normal stitches may be obtained at each feed by suitable radial adjustment of the slides 21 thereat, such adjustment being made by turning screws 27. In addition to such normal sinker movement it is desirable for the knitting of the fabric of FIG. 6 that the sinker movement be changed at alternate feeds to move the sinkers further inward thereat while retaining normal sinker movements at the intervening feeds. This is accomplished by a special radially inward positioning of the slides 21 at the alternate feeds of the machine by means to be set forth. The means to be set forth is also capable of radial inward movement of the slides at all of the feeds of the machine as may be desired when a fabric of larger stitches is to be made.

Each slide 21 is provided on its upper side with an upwardly extending disc like eccentric tappet 35 which is secured in angularly adjusted position to the slide by a screw 34 extending freely through an off center hole therein and into threaded engagement with the slide. Disposed in an annular groove 17A, FIG. 15, formed in the upper face of cam ring 17, is a circumferentially slidable annular sinker control ring or plate 37 which is movable to at least three positions. To this end, plate 37 is provided with an upwardly extending pin 39 adapted to be engaged by an arm of pivoted lever 41, the other arm of which is attached by cable 43 to suitable cams on the pattern drum of the machine. A tension spring 42, FIG. 1, suitably anchored to the cam ring 17 and to the plate 27 urges the latter in clockwise direction against a suitable stop, not shown, to retain plate 37 in its first position of FIG. 1 wherein pin 39 is in its full line position. By the action of the cams on the pattern drum of the machine, lever 41 acts upon pin 39 to move plate 37 counter clockwise to a second and to a third position corresponding to the dotted line positions 39X and 39Y of pin 39.

A circumferentially extending slotted opening is provided in plate 37 at each of the sinker stations A through E for co-operation with tappets 35 of slides 21 to move the latter inwardly as may be required at each of the feeds of the machine. One such opening is shown inFIG. 3 in which plate 37 is in its first position of FIG. 1. The outer edge 36 is disposed so as to be spaced from tappet 35 and have no effect upon the slide 21, whereas outer edge 38 is so disposed as to engage tappet 35 when plate 37 is moved counter clockwise to its second and third positions and to move slide 21 inwardly, the tappet sliding along incline 37B as it moves toward 37A. The opening of FIG. 3 is repeated at stations E, B and D. At the stations A and C, the circumferential extent of the non-engaging surface is greater, as at 36A, so that in the first and second positions of plate 37 the slides are not moved inwardly. However, at stations A and C, the slides 21 are moved inwardly by outer edges 38A (which are shorter than edges 38) when plate 37 is in its third position, the tappets 35 moving along the incline 37C toward the end 37A.

Accordingly, in the first position of plate 37 none of the slides 21 are moved inwardly and sinkers operate normally for knitting of normal stitch length fabric, in the second position of plate 37 alternate ones of the slides 21 at stations E, B and D are moved inwardly while the slides at stations A and C are not moved inwardly for the knitting of the fabric of FIG. 6 in a manner to be set forth, and, in the third position of plate 37 all of the slides 21 are moved inwardly for the knitting of fabric having relatively large stitches. As appears in FIG. 15, when the slides 21 are in their normal outward positions, the sinkers 13 are in the position indicated by the dotted outline 13Y of the sinker nib and at this time the yarn extending from the throat of the sinker nib 13Y to the needle hook is indicated at MY. When the slides are in their forward positions, the sinkers 13 are in full line position wherein the nibs thereof are indicated at 13X and the yarn extending from the throat of the sinker nib 13X to the needle hook is indicated at MX. The length of yarn loop MX is greater than that of yarn loop MY.

The operation of the needles and sinkers upon the upon needles N1. It will also be noted that the tuck yarns to make the fabric of FIG. 6 is schematically indicated in FIGS. 7 through 14. At this time, all the needles N1 and N2 are raised to full latch clearing or knit level at the first and third feeds as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, while alternate needles N1 are raised to latch clearing level and intervening needles N2 are raised to tuck level at the second feed as shown in FIG. 9, and, intervening needles N2 are raised to latch clearing level and alternate needles N1 are raised to tuck level at .the fourth feed as shown in FIG. 13. At the same time, plate 37 is in its second position (pin 39 in position 39X) so that at the first and third feeds (corresponding to sinker stations A and C) the slides 21 are in normal positions to move the sinkers in to nib positions 13Y of FIG. 15, (positions S1 of the sinkers in FIGS. 8 and 12), while at the second and fourth feeds (corresponding to sinker stations B and D) the slides 21 are in advanced positions to move the sinkers to nib positions 13X of FIG. 15 (positions S2 of the sinkers in FIGS. 10 and 14).

A course of plain stitches of yarn F10 of a first stitch length is drawn by the needles N1 and N2 at the first feed, FIG. 7, with the sinkers in position S1, FIG. 8. It will be understood that this course of stitches is drawn through the stitches previously upon the needles.

Then, at the second feed, FIG. 9, with the sinkers in position S2, FIG. 10, a course of alternate plain and tuck stitches F121 and F122 of yarn F12 of a second and longer stitch length are drawn by the needles N1 and N2, respectively. It will be noted that plain stitches F121 of yarn F12 on needles N1 are drawn through forming needles N2 have thereon the previously formed plain stitches of yarn F10v and the tuck stitch F122 of yarn 12. Since the stitches formed at the second feed are longer than those formed at the first feed, the action of the needles N2 in forming the tuck stitches is to rob yarn from previously formed plain stitches of yarn F10 which were cast off from needles N1. This is so because the plain stitches of yarn F10 on needles N2 are elongated as the tuck stitches are formed and this robs yarn from the plain stitches of yarn F10 cast off from needles N1. This yam-robbing is sufficient to substantially de-knit, unknit or unloop the cast off plain stitch and, one such yam-robbed stitch is shown at F2 in FIG. 6.

The third course of knitting at the third feed, FIG. 1 1, is similar to the first course of knitting, FIG. 7, except that a third yarn F14 is used. As at FIG. 12, the plain stitches F141 of yarn F14 are drawn through the course of tuck and of plain stitches F121 and F122 on the needles.

The fourth course of knitting at the fourth feed, FIG. 13, is similar to the second course of knitting, FIG. 9, except that a fourth yarn F16 is used and now the needles N1 form tuck stitches F162 of yarn F16 with plain stitches F141 of yarn F14 while the needles N2 form plain stitches F161 of yarn F16. As in FIG. 14, the plain stitches on needles N2 are drawn through plain stitches of yarn F14, while on needles N1 there are tuck stitches F162 of yarn F16 and the plain stitches F141 of yarn F14. In the drawing of the longer length tuck stitches on needles N1 the cast off stitches of yarn F14 from needles N2 are made smaller to the point of becoming unknitted or unlooped in the manner previously described in relation to the alternate plain cast off stitches of yarn F10.

In FIG. 6, the plain stitches of yarn F10 are shown at F1 and F2, the latter stitch having been made smaller by the yam-robbing action of elongated stitches F1, the latter becoming elongated as they are drawn by the needles along with the longer tuck stitches F122 when the sinkers are in position S2. The plain stitches of yarn F14 are drawn through the plain stitches F121 and through the tuck stitches F122 and plain stitches F1, such plain stitches of yarn F14 being elongated as stitch F141 and made smaller as stitches F142. Then plain stitches F161 of yarn F16 are drawn through stitches F142 and tuck stitches F162 of yarn F16 are drawn along with stitches F141 of yarn F14. While the stitches F2 and F142 are shown as merely being made smaller, in practice the yam-robbing is sufiicient to completely de-knit these stitches so that they become unlooped or unknitted. It is the binding action of the de-knitted stitches upon the stitches previously drawn through them that causes the fabric to be ladderproof for all practical purposes.

What I claim is:

1. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, an annularly shaped sinker bed having a series of radially extending slots therein, a circle of sinkers disposed in and movable lengthwise of said sinker slots, an

annularly shaped sinker cam ring having cams therein to move said sinkers toward and away from said needle cylinder, the combination therewith of a slide supported by and movable radially of said cam ring, said sinker cam ring including a first and a second cam to move said sinkers toward said needle cylinder, said first cam being secured to said slide and said second cam being supported by said first cam, and said second cam being yieldingly movable relative to said first cam thereby to exert yielding pressure on said sinkers.

2. A circular knitting machine as in claim 1 wherein said slide is yieldingly urged away from said needle cylinder to a first radial position thereof and wherein means is provided to move said slide radially toward said needle cylinder from said first radial position thereof to a second radial position.

3. A circular knitting machine as in claim 2 wherein said machine is provided with a plurality of feeds and wherein a slide is provided at each of said feeds.

4. A circular knitting machine as in claim 3 wherein an annularly shaped plate is provided atop said sinker cam ring, said plate being operatively related to said slides to move the same, and said plate being circumferentially movable to a plurality of positions, said plate in a first position permitting all of said slides to remain in their said first radial position, said plate in a second position permitting alternate ones of said slides to remain in said first radial position thereof and to move intervening ones of said slides to said second radial position thereof, and said plate in a third position thereof moving all of said slides to said second radial position.

5. A circular knitting machine as in claim 4 wherein each of said slides is provided with a vertically extending tappet and wherein said plate is provided with a cam opening for each of said slides, said tappets extending through said cam openings and being moved thereby to move said slides when said plate is moved. l l l

Claims

1. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, an annularly shaped sinker bed having a series of radially extending slots therein, a circle of sinkers disposed in and movable lengthwise of said sinker slots, an annularly shaped sinker cam ring having cams therein to move said sinkers toward and away from said needle cylinder, the combination therewith of a slide supported by and movable radially of said cam ring, said sinker cam ring including a first and a second cam to move said sinkers toward said needle cylinder, said first cam being secured to said slide and said second cam being supported by said first cam, and said second cam being yieldingly movable relative to said first cam thereby to exert yielding pressure on said sinkers.

5. A circular knitting machine as in claim 4 wherein each of said slides is provided with a vertically extending tappet and wherein said plate is provided with a cam opening for each of said slides, said tappets extending through said cam oPenings and being moved thereby to move said slides when said plate is moved.