US3854306A - Knitting machines and like fabric-producing machines - Google Patents

Knitting machines and like fabric-producing machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3854306A
US3854306A US00287807A US28780772A US3854306A US 3854306 A US3854306 A US 3854306A US 00287807 A US00287807 A US 00287807A US 28780772 A US28780772 A US 28780772A US 3854306 A US3854306 A US 3854306A
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United States
Prior art keywords
machine
yarn
stopping
tension bar
tension
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00287807A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Heywood
R Heywood
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Meiners Optical Devices Ltd
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Meiners Optical Devices Ltd
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Publication date
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B27/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, warp knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B27/10—Devices for supplying, feeding, or guiding threads to needles
    • D04B27/14—Thread tensioning rod arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B27/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, warp knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B27/10—Devices for supplying, feeding, or guiding threads to needles
    • D04B27/16—Warp beams; Bearings therefor
    • D04B27/20—Warp beam driving devices
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B27/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, warp knitting machines, restricted to machines of this kind
    • D04B27/34—Take-up or draw-off devices for knitted products

Definitions

  • This invention relates to knitting machines and like fabric producing machines. More particularly, it is concerned with the avoidance of one or more of certain undesirable effects in the fabric produced by such machines which effects have hitherto led to much waste of.
  • the powered yarn length control means acts on the yarn sheet to adjust the supply yarn length as necessary in a positive manner and thereby keep the yarn under the same controlled tension, even in circumstances where the operating speed of the machine is changing.
  • the conventional resiliently-rnounted flutter ba length control means may comprise a substantially rigid tension bar which isoscillated to and fro, toward and away from the local general plane of the yarn sheet, by
  • the knitting action performed by the .knitting elements demands an irregular yarn feed rate that varies cyclically in a manner depending on the pattern being knitted and since it is impossible to let off yarn from the warp beam-at a corresponding irregular elements.
  • the drive may be taken from the needle bar, or the pusher rods, or the pattern chain or'pattern wheel, or indeed the main shaft that drives theknitting elements.
  • the uncontrolled perturbations of te conventional flutter bar' are, by the technique described, replaced by precisely controlled movements of a driven solid tension bar which increase or decrease the yarn travel path to the knitting elements in exact accordance with the variations in yarn usage rate so as to keep the yarn ten sion closely controlled, either during steady state running of the machine, or specifically during stopping and starting periods, or at all times.
  • the yarn tension need no longer fluctuate cyclically while the machine is operating; and according to individual machine users requirements either stop and start lines can be eliminated, or with appropriate fabrics selvedge curl both objects can be achieved at the same time.
  • a tension ,bar is employed which is curved in the region of the selvedges to even out yarn tension throughout the entire width of the machine, thereby to deal even more effectively with selvedge curl.
  • a regular let-off rate is maintained and the rapid small fluctuations in the length of the yarn sheet caused by the cyclical irregularitiesin the rate of usage at the knitting elements are absorbed by r the resiliently mounted tension bar.
  • This tension bar therefore oscillates rapidly and isconsequently often referred to as the flutter bar.
  • Such a flutter bar is effective in preventthe flutter bar is-actuated by the yarn sheet instead of itself positively controlling the yarn sheet.
  • the invention extends not only to this novel yam-length-control equipment per se but also to knitting or other fibre processingmachines fitted with such equipment.
  • a declutching and braking system coming into operationautomatically when the mahysteresis-type clutch. It may'also be beneficial to fit a similar declutching andbraking system to the warp beam. Most advantageously, substantially instantastop' and start neous full braking is applied to bring the machine to a sudden stop when it has run down to a certain predetermined speed. This sudden stopping should always be effected with the needles in the same position, i.e., the down position.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of equipment according to the invention applied to a warp knitting machine
  • FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of the tension bars of the machine and associated actuating. mechanism
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan'of the equipment of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of a detail of the equipment of FIG. 1, and
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram of electrical circuitry associated with the equipment of FIGS. 1 to 4.
  • FIG. I shows, in side elevation, a conventional warp knitting machine having .two warp beams 6 supplying warp yarns 22 to needles 23, from which the knitted fabric 24 passes to a take-up roller 9.
  • sheet 22 passes first through a respective reed 16 carried by a fixed tension rail and then over a respective moving tension bar 7, 7A as shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, which presses upon the yarn sheet at a position between the reed l6 and the needles 23.
  • the tension bar arrangement 7"or 7A comprises a transverse rod 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of, say, three-eighths inch diameter solid steel, mounted on a parallel carrying spindle 11, which may be a 1V2 inches diameter steel tube, at a selected radial distance from the axis of the carrying spindle.
  • the spindle II which is supported at intervals of, for example, 42 inches across the 4 speed, or slowing down, or speeding up. No attempt has been made to shownthe profile of the cam 27 since the cam profile needed to produce changes 'in yarn path length matched to the fiuctations in. yarnusage rate during the knitting cyclewill be different for different stitch patterns.
  • a set of interchangeable cams can be supplied for each machine if the type of fabric knitted by the machine is to bevchang ed from time to time. Not
  • cam profile which is related to the yarn release, the location of the tension 7 or 7A'and the motion of 'the needles themselves.
  • each tension bar has. been shown as straight, there is advantage in so shaping it that in the neighbourhood of the selvedge-the bar is curved or angled in such manner as to even out the tension throughout the entire width of the machine. That is to say, looked at from the front of the machine, the ends of the bar are further away from the observer than at the centre.
  • the extent of the bent portion of the bar can be from 3 inches up to 12 inches or more from the selvedge, depending on the type of machine and the fabric.
  • the link rod 26 is actuated by a cam 27 via a cam follower.28 and a double-armed rocker 29, one arm of which cooperates with the cam follower while the other arm engages the link rod end.
  • the rocker 29 is loosely pivoted on a shaft 30 which is eccentric in its bearings 31.
  • the cam 27 is mounted 'on a shaft 32 (FIG. 3) which is driven by a chain drive 33 from the main driveshaft 34 of the knitting machine that bears the cranks or cams operating the'knitting elements.
  • the solenoid armature being pivotally connected to an arm 36 that is fast on-
  • the start button is depressed to restart the machine the solenoid 35 is deene rgised.
  • Machines normally have two or more warp beams supplying two or more yarn sheets to the knitting elements. A separate tension-bar is therefore provided for each yarn sheet.
  • the individual tension bars of whichv two are shown in the-example illustrated, maybe driven by respective individual cams 27, or in some .cases two or more tension bars can be driven from the same cam.
  • a convenient way of achieving this is to control the brake by means of a photocell, or like sensitive electronic device, that monitors the passing of a marker spot carried by a shaft or other rotating part of the machine.
  • the warp beam 6 may be similarly equipped.
  • electronically-controlled yarn let-off from the warp beam is available and may be employed in combination with this invention.
  • the linkage transmitting the cam motion to the tension bar spindle 11 may be arranged so that if it is over-tensioned it actuates a machineknock-off micro-switch.
  • many modifications 'of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. There are, for instance, numerous ways, alternative to that shown, of driving an oscillating tension bar in synchronism with the knitting elements.
  • punched steel tapes can be used or electrical or electronic means can be employed to control the movement of the tension bar, either at all times or during stopping and starting periods, in appropriate synchronism with the movement of the knitting eletion. This avoids the need for slow running or inchmg" of the stopped machine under manual control before re-threading after yarn breakage, which inching," apart from being time-wasting, would itself produce a stop line.
  • FIG. 5 shows an electrical circuit for achieving this result.
  • the forward running contactor FRC When themachine is running normally the forward running contactor FRC is pulled in, the coil of this contactor being energised through the start and stop switches S and ST fromsupply terminals L2 and L3 when the start button is depressed. Depression of the stop button opens contacts A and closes contacts B of the stop switch ST which energises the coil of relay A from terminals L2 and L3. This pulls in a holding contact aA for the coil of the relay A; and the contact bA drops out which would result in the supply to the coil of the contactor FRC being interrupted except that a parallel circuit at this time exists through a reed switch R1.
  • the forward running contactor 'FRC de-energises which completes a circuit from terminal L1 through the contacts Ac of the forward running contactor for energising the reverse running contactor RRC.
  • the machinetherefore slows rapidly to a halt but before it ac-.
  • a dynamic relay B2 which opens at a predetermined low speed, say about rpm, breaks the reverse contactor energising circuit so that the switch R1 has a biasing coil to prevent opening of the I switch during normal running of the machine, which coil is fed from a transformer that is de-energised either through the relay A or another relay operating in con- 7 junction therewith.
  • the switch B1 is another dynamic relay the contacts i of which are open to disable the energising circuit of the relay A when the machine is running, but which close to bring this circuit into operative readiness at a suitable speed chosen to ensure that no electrical or mechanical damage can occur.
  • the circuitry shown in FIG. 5 serves to'ensure stopping of the machine with the needles in the down" position or a short distance beyond the .down position. If more precise control of the stopping position is desired electronic control means can be employed.
  • auxiliary yarn-engaging extension or assembly may be provided on or associated with the flutter'barto come into operation during starting and stopping of the machine.
  • This auxiliary yarn-engaging means could be cam-driven, or driven in any other appropriate manelectronic control has the advantage, over the mechayarn supplied by said at least one warp beam pass, a
  • said warp yarns extending from said yarn length control means to said knitting elements in close mutually parallel relationship and all in a common plane so as to form a yarn sheet, a fabric take-up roller receiving fabric knitted by said knitting elements, said yarn length control means comprising a wholly rigid couplingincluding a rigid tension bar extending parallel to said yarn sheet plane and at right angles to the direction of travel of said yarns, said tension bar-being mounted for only rigidly controlled oscillation toand fro in a direction toward and away from said yarns, poweractuated drive means oscillating said tension bar rigidly in said a direction in synchronism with the operationof said knitting elements, and means automatically responsive to stopping and starting of said machine to vary the stroke of oscillation of said tension 'bar such 3.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a driving cam driven by said drive means and having a contour selected to suit a stitch pattern being knitted, and
  • a cam follower driving mechanism for said tension bar actuated by said driving cam.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 including electrical means for synchronizing movements of said tension bar drive means with movements of said knitting elements.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 including an eccentric shaft, means responsive to said stopping for angularly moving said eccentric shaft, and means responsive to said angularly moving for effecting said increase of movement of said tension bar.
  • said means for 'angularly moving said eccentric shaft includes a solenoid, and means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said solenoid under control of said starting and stopping.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is included a declutching and braking means for automati- I cally controlling the speed of said take-up roller in response to decrease of speed of said machineduring machine speed decrease on stopping and increasing said speed of said take-up -roller on start-up of said machine.
  • Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein is included a further declutching and braking system for automatically controlling speed of said warp beam in response to variation of speed of said machine during stopping and start-up.
  • declutching and braking means include clutch and brake means of the magnetic hysteresis type.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is included means for substantially instantaneously fully braking said fabric take-up roller in response to running down of said machine to a predetermined speed during stopping of said machine.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising means so controlling said stop mechanism that said machine always comes to a full stop when said knitting elements are substantially in the down position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
US00287807A 1971-09-16 1972-09-11 Knitting machines and like fabric-producing machines Expired - Lifetime US3854306A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB4333071 1971-09-16
GB1434172*[A GB1401623A (en) 1971-09-16 1972-03-27 Textile-fabric-producing or carpet-making machines

Publications (1)

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US3854306A true US3854306A (en) 1974-12-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00287807A Expired - Lifetime US3854306A (en) 1971-09-16 1972-09-11 Knitting machines and like fabric-producing machines

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US (1) US3854306A (cs)
CA (1) CA961289A (cs)
CS (1) CS161956B2 (cs)
DD (1) DD99822A5 (cs)
DE (1) DE2243765A1 (cs)
FR (1) FR2154088A5 (cs)
GB (1) GB1401623A (cs)
IT (1) IT967503B (cs)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4235083A (en) * 1978-11-24 1980-11-25 Munsingwear, Inc. Method and apparatus for producing patterned effect on knitted fabric
US4382371A (en) * 1978-11-24 1983-05-10 Munsingwear, Inc. Method and apparatus for producing patterning effect on knitted fabric
CN101899745A (zh) * 2010-07-26 2010-12-01 常州市润源经编机械有限公司 经编机纱线张力补偿装置
WO2017067050A1 (zh) * 2015-10-20 2017-04-27 江南大学 经编机的贾卡经纱张力装置
CN112160062A (zh) * 2020-10-14 2021-01-01 晋江市鹏太机械科技有限公司 一种可调型经编机恒张力送经装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5699681A (en) * 1996-05-14 1997-12-23 Albani Bayeux, Inc. Method and apparatus for precision pattern knitting on a warp knitting machine

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR553678A (fr) * 1921-08-24 1923-05-29 Cie Gen De Signalisation Perfectionnements aux lampes électriques pour la signalisation et autres applications
US2625021A (en) * 1949-02-01 1953-01-13 Alfred Hofmann & Co Automatic yarn tension control
US2651930A (en) * 1949-04-02 1953-09-15 Blue Ridge Textile Company Inc Warp knitting machine tensioning device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR553678A (fr) * 1921-08-24 1923-05-29 Cie Gen De Signalisation Perfectionnements aux lampes électriques pour la signalisation et autres applications
US2625021A (en) * 1949-02-01 1953-01-13 Alfred Hofmann & Co Automatic yarn tension control
US2651930A (en) * 1949-04-02 1953-09-15 Blue Ridge Textile Company Inc Warp knitting machine tensioning device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4235083A (en) * 1978-11-24 1980-11-25 Munsingwear, Inc. Method and apparatus for producing patterned effect on knitted fabric
US4382371A (en) * 1978-11-24 1983-05-10 Munsingwear, Inc. Method and apparatus for producing patterning effect on knitted fabric
CN101899745A (zh) * 2010-07-26 2010-12-01 常州市润源经编机械有限公司 经编机纱线张力补偿装置
WO2017067050A1 (zh) * 2015-10-20 2017-04-27 江南大学 经编机的贾卡经纱张力装置
US10392733B2 (en) 2015-10-20 2019-08-27 Jiangnan University Jacquard warp tension device for warp knitting machine
CN112160062A (zh) * 2020-10-14 2021-01-01 晋江市鹏太机械科技有限公司 一种可调型经编机恒张力送经装置

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Publication number Publication date
DE2243765A1 (de) 1973-03-22
FR2154088A5 (cs) 1973-05-04
CA961289A (en) 1975-01-21
CS161956B2 (cs) 1975-06-10
DD99822A5 (cs) 1973-08-20
IT967503B (it) 1974-03-11
GB1401623A (en) 1975-07-16

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