US396907A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

P. WILOOMB. TAKE-UP AND TENSION DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No. 396,907. Patented Jan. 29, 1889...

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FRANK \VILCOMB, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VILCOMB MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

"TAKE-"UP AND TENSION DEVICE FOR KNlTTlNG lVl/ACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,90'7, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed. April 15, 1887. Serial No. 234,943. (No modeh 1b (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK \VILCOHB, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Take-Up and Tension Devices forKnitting-Machines; andldo hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the same.

In the form of yarn take-up and tension device hereinafter described apivoted sweep is employed to support and direct the yarn as it is being fed to the needles, said sweep performing the function of taking up the yarn when it becomes slack; and in this device also an independent spring-1:)ressure plate is employed for applying a tension to the yarn, it being arranged to subject the yarn to more or less frictional restraint at all times to hold or to keep .it taut, and adapted to be automatically controlled in its action upon the yarn by the movement of the sweep.

My object is to provide a tension device in combination with a take-up lever, but inde pendent thereof, whereby the tension on the yarn may always be present, and whereby a yielding pressure is applied continually to allow for the passage of knots or foreign matter without liability of rupturing the yarn.

My invention includes the combination of a takeup lever with a spring pressure plate for applying a tension to the yarn, and also the combination, with the sweep, of a spring for giving said sweep its takenp movement, said spring being so arranged and having such connection with the sweep as will cause the pull of the sweep to be exerted circumferentially or in the direction of the length of the coils, and providing for said spring means of adjustment. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly sectional, of the sweep and the support therefor, showing also the spring for pressing upon the yarn. Fig. 2 is atransverse section through the iension device for the sweep-arm, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings the take-u p sweep is shown as pivotally supported, being carried by a hub or disk, 71, which in turn is supported upon a shaft, 1', the disk being fitted loosely to the shaft, but held firmly thereto by a janrnut, 9, on the screw-threaded end, which acts to hold the disk by pressing it hard upon the shoulder on the shaft.

It will be understood that the normal posi tion of the sweep is up, its rising movement being limited by a stop-pimf on thebracket. This take-up movement may be imparted to 1 the sweep by a spring or its equivalent, and,

as hereinafter set forth, a special arrangement of spring for applying a practically unvarying power to the sweep forms one of the features of this invention. The spring-pressure plate, which is arranged independent of the sweep and is designed for placing the yarn under tension to keep it taut as it is drawn by the needles, is shown at 5, this being secured to the supporting-bracket over the opening in the circular portion 14, and extending into close proximity to the hub on the sweep and directly above a bearing-surface, 8, along which the yarn passes as the machine draws it. Its free end is in range with a pin, 12, in the face of the disk which moves with the sweep. The yarn from the bobbin passes through the circular portion of the bracket, as stated, over the bearing-surface below the tension-plate 5, thence clownwardly under an adjustable directing-bar, g, carried by a collar, g, held adjustably to the standard a by means of screw 9 From under the directing-bar the yarn passes through the eye in the end of the sweep. The spring tension-plate 5 is designed to be in engagement with the yarn at all times and to apply a slight frictional resistance to the movement thereof when the machine is working, so as to feed the needles properly and to press upon and hold the yarn in place when the work ceases. \Vhen the yarn is drawn upon, the first effect will be to draw down the sweep f a suiiicient distance to secure the necessary amount of movement for the take-up action, the tension-plate 5 during this time holding the yarn against movement through the device and allowing it to pull down the sweep, as described. The lifting-pin on the disk is so positioned that when the sweep reaches the desired position it will engage with the independent tension-plate 5 and raise it slightly to allow the yarn to move, but not, however, to such an extent as will disengage the plate entirely from the yarn, this cessation of the lifting action at the proper moment from the arrai'lgement of the spring described being due to the movement of the yarn, which thus-does not pull upon the sweep enough to move it farther downward. It will be seen from this arrangement of the tension or pressure plate independent of the sweep that the retarding action exerted upon the yarn will be constant and controlled by the sweep to keep the yarn just taut enough for good results, though capable of such variations as will permit the passage of larger port-ions of yarn or foreign particles without danger of rupture. lVhen such knots or foreign particles are passed under the tension-plate, the l sweep will be pulled upon by reason of the movement of the yarn being retarded, and this further movement of the sweep caused by the pull will lift the tension-plate farther and allow the enlarged portion to pass, after l which the sweep and plate will again assume the former positions to cause the necessary 5 amount of tension being applier'l. The spring- I l l l plate is fastened by a rivet to the part 123 of the bracket, and between this and the free end of the spring I place a screw, 15, which may be loosened or tightened to adjust the tension of the said spring, and thereby regulate the pressure for different conditions of work. \Vhen the take-up lever is elevated, the tension-spring bears fully upon and. holds the yarn in place.

The shaft f is journaled in a casing, 7:, formed on the supporting-bi'acket, and in connection with the shaft I employ a spring for applying a take-up power to the sweep, the shaft forming a connection from the said spring to the sweep through the disk h. The spring, preferably of spiral form, is coiled about the shaft, one end being connected to the casing and the other to the shaft itself. It will be seen from this that the pull of the yarn which passes from the bobbin through the end of the sweep will cause said sweep to move against the tension of the spring, and

the movement in'iparl'ed thereto will be in the direction of its coils orcirmunferentially. In this way a practically unvarying take-up power is applied to the sweep, whether it be in its upward or downward position.

I have made provision for adjusting the tension applied to the sweep by the spring to suit different coi'n'litions of the work, and for accomplishing this adjustment the relative positions of the sweep and shaft are changed; but the sweep always assumes the same normal position and is free to move throughthe same stroke. The end of the shaft is provided with a thumb-nut, l0, and by loosening the jam-nut 0, which presses against the disk, either the shaft or the sweep may be turned to the right or left, thus changing the relation existing between these parts to increase or diminish the tension of the spring, and, still holding them in this adjusted relation, the jam-nut 9 may be turned to fix the disk carrying the sweep rigidly to the shaft. The

supporting-bracket consists of a circular portion, 1%, provided with a lateral extension, 13, and a bearing, (Z, which is adapted to fit upon a supporting-bar, l). The bearing (1 is split, as shown, so as to be capable of being clamped upon the bar I), and the screw 0 passes through the flange of the bearing into the bracket. The bracket has also formed thereon the easing K, for supporting the shaft i and containing the sprin I claim as my invention- 1. In COD'lblllZtillOll, the take-up sweep pivotall y supported, and a spring-pressure plate supported so as to engage with the yarn at all. times for applying a tension thereto, said plate being arranged independent of the sweep and adapted to be automatically operated by engagement with a portion thereof for lessening the pressure of said plate on the yarn,substantially as described.

In mmbination, the take-up sweep pivotally supported, a spring-pressin-e plate for applying at all times a tension to the yarn, ar-

ranged independent of the sweep and adapted tobe operated thereby to lessen the friction on the yarn, and an adjustable power device for returning the sweep to normal position, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the sweep having a suitable bearing at its en d the spri ng-plate 5, automatically operated by engagement with a portion of the sweep, the shaft 6, for pivotally supporting the sweep, and the spring coiled about said shaft having. one end engaging therewith and the other end fixed, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the take-up sweep, an independent tension-plate, an independent spring for giving movement to the sweep, the pull. upon the said spring being in the direction of its coils, and means for adjusting the tension thereof in its relation to the sweep, substantially as described.

5. In combination,the sweep, pivotally supported, a shaft, '1', for supporting the sweep,-.

and a spring for applying a tension to said shaft, the sweep being loosely fitted to the shaft and held thereto adj ustabl y by a jamnut, 0, whereby the relative positions of the sweep and shaft may be changed, substantially as described.

0. In combination, the sweep, a support, 1', for the sweep, said sweep having a bearing at its end loosely fitted to the support 1', and a spring coiled about the support for applying a tension to the parts, said support having a suitable thumb-piece, by which it may be turned to change its position in relation to the sweep, and a jam-nut, f substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK \VILCOMB.

\Vitnesses:

GEo. R. Wmson, PETER F. lIUcHEs.

ITS

It is hereby certified that the residence of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 396,907,

granted January 29, 1889, upon the application of Frank Wiloomb, of Providence,

Rhode Island, for an improvement in Take-up and Tension Devices for Knitting Machines, was erroneously Written and printed of same place, whereas said residence should have been Written and printed San Francisco, California,- and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 12th day of February, A. D. 1859.

D. L. HAWKINS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL] Counter-signed BENTON J. HALL,

Commissioner of Patents.

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