US3854307A

US3854307A - Drive means for positive yarn feeding devices mounted on a circular knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US3854307A
Application number: US00351567A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Seibold
Original assignee: Wesco Industries Corp
Current assignee: IRO Inc; Wesco Industries Corp
Priority date: 1973-04-16
Filing date: 1973-04-16
Publication date: 1974-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-17
Also published as: GB1417687A; JPS49134966A; CA984632A; DE2364453A1; FR2225983A5; IT998938B; ES420993A1

Abstract

Drive means for positive yarn feeding devices mounted on a circular knitting machine. The positive feeding devices are mounted on the knitting machine with their rotating elements each being adapted for rotation about a vertical axis and with all the rotating elements being at the same elevation so as to be driven by a single endless tape adapted to travel in a horizontal path. The endless tape is driven by a drive pulley which is vertically mounted on the knitting machine, below the positive feeding devices, for rotation about a horizontal axis in predetermined relation to the rotational speed of the knitting machine. The drive pulley is thus easily accessible for adjustment and idler means mounted on the knitting machine guide the tape from the pulley to the horizontal path for drivingly engaging the rotating elements of the positive feeding devices.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Seibold [111 3,854,307 [451 Dec. 17, 1974 [75] lnventor: John Seibold, Ronkonkoma, NY.

[73] Assignee: Wesco Industries C0rp., Plainview,

22 Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 351,567

52 us. or. 66/132 T, 242/4701 4/1967 Great Britain 66/132 T FROM YARN SUPPLY TO KNITTING NEEDLES Primary ExaminerW. C. Reynolds Assistant Examiner-A. M. Falik Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry R. Lerner 5 7 ABSTRACT Drive means for positive yarn feeding devices mounted on a circular knitting machine. The positive feeding devices are mounted on the knitting machine with their rotating elements each being adapted for rotation about a vertical axis and with all the rotating elements being at the same elevation so as to be driven by a single endless tape adapted to travel in a horizontal path. The endless tape is driven by a drive pulley which is vertically mounted on the knitting machine, below the positive feeding devices, for rotation about a horizontal axis in predetermined relation to the rotational speed of the knitting machine. The drive pulley is thus easily accessible for adjustment and idler means mounted onqthe knitting machine guide the tape from the pulley to the horizontal path for drivingly engaging the' rotating elements of the positive feeding devices. I

PATENTEU 7 I974 3. 854.307

saw 2 OF' 2 FIG. 2. l

DRIVE MEANS FOR POSITIVE YARN FEEDING DEVICES MOUNTED. ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention v This invention relates to positive yarn feeding devices used on knitting machines and, particularly, to means for driving said positive feeding devices in predetermined relation to the rotational speed of the associated knitting machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Positive feeding devices have been in use for a substantial period of time in association with knitting inachines for the purposeof positively delivering to the knitting needles the .exact yarn requirement. An example of a commonly used positive feeding device is shownin U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,215 in'which the yarn is passed between a roller, and a tape, with the latter being positively driven at'a-preselected rate bearing the predetermined relation to the speed of the knitting machine. v

Another example of a positive feeding device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,444 wherein a plurality of ing devices and mounted in the conventional manner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,091.

SUMMARY OFYTHE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of cessible to the knitting machine operator for adjustyarn windings are formed about a drum or feed wheel a the knitting machine needles at the desired predetermined rate. A further example of a positive feeding device isshown in US. Pat. No. 3,720,384 wherein, in a manner similar to that shown in Pat. No. 3,709,444, the yarn wound about the drum may be withdrawn tangentially at a rate determined by the rotationalspeed of the storage drum, for positive feeding, but which yarn may also be alternately withdrawn'endwise of the storage drum at arate determined soleby the demand of the knitting needles. I I

Regardless of the-type of-positive feeding device uti-' liz'ed, the common requirement for all such positive feeding devices is that they be driven at a speed which is directly related to or proportional to the rotational speed of the knitting machine.

Under conventional knitting machine arrangement, all the positive feeding devices are mounted on the knitting machine so that. the rotating elements of the positive feeding devices, whether they be rotating feed wheels or winding elements for winding the yarn about stationary feed wheels, are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. Further, under conventional knitting machine arrangement, all the rotating elements of the positive feeding devices are adapted to be driven by a tape or belt which is itself driven by a driving pulley. Accordingly, the tape or belt travels in a horizontal plane in which plane the driving pulley is also mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. Such arrangement, as shown in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,215 locates the driving pulley in a horizontal plane which is usually high up on the knitting machine where it is accessible only with great difficulty. Such accessibility is of great importance since the driving pulley usually associated with positive feeding devices is of the type whose operative ment of the effective diameter of the pulley when such is required. Toward such end, while the positive feeding devices are still mounted on the knitting machine 'inthe same location as in conventional arrangements,

the pulley for driving the tape or belt is no longer mounted,in the horizontal plane in which such tape travels for driving the positive feeding devices but is mounted insteadin a verticalplane.for rotation about a horizontal axis and'is mechanically linked to the knitv ting machine drive means so that the rotation speed of the pulley is directly related, as required, to the rota tional speedof the knitting machine. By getting away from mounting the pulley in the plane of travel of the with-the pulley and suitable idlers are provided for changing the directional path of travel of the tape so that the latter travels in the requisitelhorizontal plane for driving engagement with the positive feeding devicesmounted on the knitting machin'e,.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the drivemeans in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22- of FIG. 1', and

FIG. 3 is a view taken alo g line 3-3 of'FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED v EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a conventional knitting machine 10 which includes the usual vertical posts 12 (only one of which is shown) and annular support member 14 conventionally supported by means of radial arms (not' shown) extending from vertical posts 12. Examples of support rings conventionally mounted by radial arms on knitting machines are shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,001,389 and 3,132,495. Feeding device l6, i's supported by .ring 14 and comprises a drum 18 adapted to be driven by tape or belt 20 which drivingly engages drum rotating element 22 of the feeding device. Yarn Y originating from a yarn supply is wound tangentially about drum 18 to form a plurality of .windingson the drum. A yarn control element, such as a hook 24, causes the yarn to be withdrawn at a rate corresponding to the angular velocity of rotating element 22 which is, in turn, set bythe linear velocity of the tape 20. It isseen, therefore, that feeding device 16 operates in effect as a positive feeding device similar to one of the types previously described. It will be understood that in a conventional knitting machine a plurality of such feeding devices are mounted on circular support ring 14 with rotating elements 22 of only two such devices being shown schev matically in FIG. 2. It will also be noted that in the particular embodiment shown, tape is perforated at regularly spaced intervals to cooperate with similarly arranged projections on rotating element 22 for positive engagement of the tape with such rotating element, although it will be understood that a non-perforated tape could similarly be used and is in fact more desirable when the positive feeding device is of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,215 wherein positive feeding of the yarn is accomplished by passing the yarn between the tape an the rotating element. In all cases, however, the positive feeding devices are mounted, as previously described, so that the driving tape travels in a horizontal plane, such tape being driven by the relatively inaccessible driving pulley mounted in the same plane. Since the tape is of finite, though relatively narrow width, reference herein to horizontal plane of tape travel is intended to identify the space extending between the horizontal planesdefinedby the opposite edges of the tape.

In accordance with the invention, and as best illustrated in FIG. 1, the driving pulley 26 is mounted vertically for rotation about a horizontal axis by means of its securement to horizontally extending shaft 28 whose elevation is selectedso that the driving pulley 26 is readily accessible to the operator. A lower support bracket 30 suitably'secured to the knitting machine, as for example to vertical post 12 by conventional means carries a vertical shaft 32 whose lower end projects outwardly of bracket 30 and terminates in a sprocket wheel 34 adapted to be driven by a sprocket chain 36 which is itself driven by a sprocket wheel 38 mounted for rotation in unison with the existing machine drive shaft 40 projecting upwardly of the knitting machine dial gear housing. Lower bracket 30 supports a housing 7 42 in which the upper end of verticalshaft 32 extends terminating in bevel gear 44. Drive shaft 28 of pulley 26 also extends into housing 42 where it terminates in bevel gear'46 in engagement with bevel gear 44. With this arrangement, it will be evident that the speed of rotation of pulley 26 is directly related to the rotational speed of the knitting machine. In this connection, it will be apparent that the specific relation between-the angular velocity of drive shaft 28 and that of the knitting machine drive shaft 40 is determined as required, by selecting the appropriate parameters for the sprocket wheels and bevel gears.

Pulley 26 constitutes, as previously described, the

drive means for tape 20 and, as shown in the figures,

board idlers 60 are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. As best shown in FiGS. 1 and 2, the tape 20, as it leaves its engagement with driving pulley '26, engages, in sequence,

idlers

48, 58, and 60, such idlers collectively twisting the tape in two stages of 90 each whereby the tape emerges from outboard idler 60 for travel in a plane which coincides with the horizontal plane in which it engages rotating element 22 which .drives the positive feeding device. As shown in the drawings, a pair of tape tensioning rollers 62 are mounted on a bracket 64 adjustably supported by rod 56 for imparting the requisite tension to the tape. By loosening knob 66 bracket 64 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly on rod 56 to accommodate any deliver the driving tape for travel in the requisite horizontal plane for driving the positive feeding devices mounted on the knitting machine in their conventional and received by the two positive feeding devices imme-' diately adjacent support rod 56, such tape is capable of driving all other positive feeding devices mounted on the same support ring 14 in conventional fashion with- V out undergoing any further change in the plane of carries a radially extending idler supporting rod 56, the

latter supporting a pair of inboard idlers 58 and outboard idlers 60. Idlers 58 are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the horizontal axis (radially extending) of pulley 26 and idlers 48 and outtravel.

In accordance with the construction as described hereabove, it is evident that there has been provided novel means for mounting a drive pulley which is used for driving a tape which,in turn, is capable. of driving positive feeding devices at a velocity having a preselected relationship to the rotational speed of the knitting machine. Such novel mounting means locates the drive pulley, which requires frequent attention, at a location readily accessible to the. operator, withouthowever interfering with the normal mounting and location of the positive feeding devices on the knitting machine.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be' understood that the invention may be embodied'otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and

that in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. In a circular knitting machine equipped with a plurality of positive yarn feeding devices, each having a rotating element mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and said rotating elements being mounted at the 7 same elevation whereby to be driven by a single endless tape adapted to travel in a horizontal path for drivingly engaging said rotating elements, means for driving said tape at a speed having a predetermined relation to the rotational speed of the knitting machine, comprising a. a pulley adapted to drive said tape,

b. means mounting said pulley onto said knlitting machine for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed below the elevation of said rotating elements whereby the tape travels vertically as it enters into and departs from its engagement with said pulley,

c. shaft means operatively related to said knittingmachine drive means for driving said pulley at a speed proportional to the rotational speed of said knitting machine, and

d. idler means supported by said knitting machine for guiding said tape from said pulley to said horizontal path for drivingly engaging the rotating elements of said positive feeding device.

2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said idler means comprise three sets of idler pairs operative to effectuate two separate 90 twists of said tape.

3. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knitting machine includes vertical support rods, and wherein there is further provided spaced upper and lower support brackets mounted on one of 7 said support rods, said lower support bracket defining the means for supporting said pulley and shaft on said knitting machine.

4. The improvement in accordance with claim 3, wherein said idler means comprise three sets of idler pairs operative'to effectuate two separate twists of said tape.

5. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein vertically extending idler support means are secured between said upper and lower support brackets for mounting one of said sets of idler pairs above said pulley and in close proximity thereto.

6. The improvement in accordance with claim 5, wherein said upper support bracket supports a radially extending idler support rod which carries the other two sets of idler pairs, said idler support rod being at an elevation above the elevation of said rotating elements,

7. The improvement in accordance with claim 3, wherein a gear housing is carried by said lower support bracket, said gear housing including a pair of meshing bevel gears one of which is secured to said pulley shaft means and the other of which is secured to a shaft adapted to be rotated by means mechanically linked to the knitting machine drive, whereby 'said pulley is driven at a rotationalspeed proportional to that of the knitting machine.

8. The improvement in accordance with claim 6, wherein a gear housing is carried by said lower support bracket, said gear housingincluding a pair of meshing bevel gears one of which is secured to said pulley shaftmeans and the other of which is secured to a shaft adapted to be rotated by means mechanically linked to the knitting machine drive, whereby said pulley is driven at a rotational speed proportional to that of the knitting machine.

Claims

1. In a circular knitting machine equipped with a plurality of positive yarn feeding devices, each having a rotating element mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and said rotating elements being mounted at the same elevation whereby to be driven by a single endless tape adapted to travel in a horizontal path for drivingly engaging said rotating elements, means for driving said tape at a speed having a predetermined relation to the rotational speed of the knitting machine, comprising a. a pulley adapted to drive said tape, b. means mounting said pulley onto said kn1itting machine for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed below the elevation of said rotating elements whereby the tape travels vertically as it enters into and departs from its engagement with said pulley, c. shaft means operatively related to said knitting machine drive means for driving said pulley at a speed proportional to the rotational speed of said knitting machine, and d. idler means supported by said knitting machine for guiding said tape from said pulley to said horizontal path for drivingly engaging the rotating elements of said positive feeding device.

2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said idler means comprise three sets of idler pairs Operative to effectuate two separate 90* twists of said tape.

3. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said knitting machine includes vertical support rods, and wherein there is further provided spaced upper and lower support brackets mounted on one of said support rods, said lower support bracket defining the means for supporting said pulley and shaft on said knitting machine.

4. The improvement in accordance with claim 3, wherein said idler means comprise three sets of idler pairs operative to effectuate two separate 90* twists of said tape.

6. The improvement in accordance with claim 5, wherein said upper support bracket supports a radially extending idler support rod which carries the other two sets of idler pairs, said idler support rod being at an elevation above the elevation of said rotating elements.

7. The improvement in accordance with claim 3, wherein a gear housing is carried by said lower support bracket, said gear housing including a pair of meshing bevel gears one of which is secured to said pulley shaft means and the other of which is secured to a shaft adapted to be rotated by means mechanically linked to the knitting machine drive, whereby said pulley is driven at a rotational speed proportional to that of the knitting machine.

8. The improvement in accordance with claim 6, wherein a gear housing is carried by said lower support bracket, said gear housing including a pair of meshing bevel gears one of which is secured to said pulley shaft means and the other of which is secured to a shaft adapted to be rotated by means mechanically linked to the knitting machine drive, whereby said pulley is driven at a rotational speed proportional to that of the knitting machine.