US727465A - Take-up mechanism for knitting-machines. - Google Patents

Description

4 SHEETS-SHEET .1.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1902.

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No. 727,465. PATENTED MAYVI5, 1903.

SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS.

UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

TAKE- APPLIOATION FILED APR. 10, 1902.

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NO MODEL.

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PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MAOHINESL APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I! lllllllllllllll! Wc'fiwssasv- 217%4 No. 727,465. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.-

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1902. NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HE NORRIS PEYERS CO PNOYO T N D C I SUNIIFE STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OEETcE.

ROBERT \V. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, OF ASHBOURNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAKE UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 727,465, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed April 10,1902. Serial No 102.250. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

'Be it known that we, ROBERT W. SCOTT, of Philadelphia, and LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, of Ashbourne, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented certain Improvements in Take-Up Mechanism for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is equally applicable to plainknitting machines and to machines for producing ribbed fabric and also to machines wherein the work runs upwardly from the needles of the head or downwardly therefrom, the invention being applicable especially to such machines as have rotating needle cylinders or heads or rotating needle cylinders and dials and non-rotating carriers for the needleoperating cams or stitch-forming wheels. In such machines the tube of knitted web turns with the needle cylinder or head and the takeupmecl1anism,through which the tube of knitted fabric passes, must necessarily be mounted upon a carrier having like rotating movement. Hitherto in machines of this class various forms of take-up mechanism have been employed; but all have been open to serious objection. If the frame which carries the take-up rolls has no vertical movement and the rate of rotation of the rolls can only be regulated by a spring or by frictional adjustment of the actuating mechanism, greater stress is applied to the fabric when the machine is producing tuck-stitches than when it is producing plain stitches, because a given length of tuckwork is necessarily knitted slower than the same length of plain work, while the movement of the rolls is the same in either case. There vertical movement of the roll-carrying frame is permitted, the objection is in a measure overcome; but another evil arises from the fact that the driving mechanism in such case is-usually so operated that sudden movements of relatively large extent are intermittently imparted to the take-up rolls and the constant repetition of these movements results in a jerky blowlike motion, and when ratchet-Wheels and pawls are employed for imparting motion to the take-up rolls this motion is still more pronounced, and the most desirable characteristic of a take-up of this classthat is to say,

the application of weight without appreciable motion'is impossible. If, however, the rolls are driven by a belt whose operativeness is dependent upon the vertical movement of the take-up-roll frame, there need be no shortinterval of rapid take up followed by a relatively long period of rest, as the driving mechanism can be readily arranged in such manner that the heavy swinging take-up frame has the least possible amount of vertical movement, the operative periods of the take-up rolls being of relatively long duration and the intervals of rest being relatively short.

Our present invention comprises a construction whereby the desired results are attained without any rotation of the vertically movable frame which carries the take-up rolls, said frame in our present machine being hung or otherwise mounted upon the fixed frame of the machine and being consequently accessible at all times to the attendant, who can test the degree of tension which is being imparted to the work or can readily increase or diminish such tension without stopping or in any way interfering with the continuous operation of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of suificient of a knittingmachine to illustrate our present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the belt-and-pulley mechanism employed in connection with the take-up device; and Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, are vertical sectional views illustrating modifications of various parts of the machine within the general scope of our invention.

We have shown our invention as applied to a machine in which the knitted tube extends downwardly from the needle-cylinder, the take-up being so mounted and weighted as to exert a downward pull upon the tube; but in applying the invention to that class of machines in which the knitted tube is delivered upwardly from the needle cylinder or head the take-up mechanism will be so mounted and weighted as to exert an upward pull upon said tube.

The fixed table or bed of the machine is represented at 1, said table having secured to it a cam-cylinder 2 and providing bearings for ICO . rolls 19, so as to cause the latter to rotate to the rotating needle-cylinder 3, which is provided with an annular rack 5, meshing with a bevel-pinion 6 on a shaft 7, the latter being free to turn in one of the standards 9, which support the table 1, and being provided with fast and loose pulleys 10 and 11 for the reception of the usual driving-belt.

The standards 9 are supported upon a platform 12, which is mounted upon the legs 13 of the machine, and to one of said standards is pivoted a swinging frame 14, provided at its free end with'a depending rod 15, upon which can be placed weights 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

Free to rotate in suitable guides on the swinging frame 14 is an annular plate or ring 17, which has bearings for the shafts of a pair of take-up rolls 19, said shafts being geared together at one end by spur-pinions 20 and one of said pinions meshing with a spur-wheel 21 at one end of a shaft 22, which is likewise mounted in bearings on the ring 17 and is provided with a worm-wheel 23, meshing with a worm 24, carried by a shaft 25, which is free to turn in a bracket 26 on the ring 17 and is provided with a belt-pulley 27.

Depending from the needle-cylinder 3 of the machine are rods or struts 29, two of which are shown in the present instance, although any desired number may be employed, these rods or struts engaging with the ring 17 and also with a ring 30, which is mounted so as to be free to turn on the platform 12 and carries the can 31, which receives the knitted web after the same has been delivered by the take-up rolls 19.

Secured to the ring 30 is a bracket 32, which carries a short shaft 33, having a pinion 34 and beltpulley 35, the pinion 34 meshing with an annular rack 36 on the under side of the platform 12 and the pulley 35 receiving a belt 37, which passes over idler-pulleys 39, carried by the forked upper end of the bracket 32and located one'on each side of the belt'pulley 27, the belt 37 passing under said pulley 27, as shown in Fig. 3. When, therefore, the pulley 27 is caused by the action of the weighted frame 14 to bear upon the belt 37, so as to tighten the same, movement of rotation will be imparted to said pulley 27 and thence through the worm and spur gearing described to the take-up ward each other, and consequently to rise upon the knitted web until the'swinging frame 14 has been raised sufficiently to lift the pulley 27 from thebelt 37 and slacken the same until it fails to transmit rotating movement to thesaid pulley, the movement being resumed, however, as soon as the pulley 27 again falls sufficiently to tighten the belt. The rising and falling movements of the frame 14, however, are almost imperceptible, the effect of the operation beingan almost continuousturning of the feed-rolls 19 and an even and regular pull or tension upon the web of knitted fabric, there being none of that jerky or blow-like action to which we have before alluded as being a characteristic objection to intermittent take-ups as heretofore employed in connection with this class of machines.

As there is no rotation of the swinging frame 14, the attendant can at any time manipulate the same to test the tension of the work or can increase or diminish such tension by pressure of the hand upon the frame or by adding to or removing .the weights 16, whereas in that class of take-ups in which the swinging frame carrying the take-up rolls rotates with the needle-cylinder access to the take-up mechanism for the purpose of testing or varying the tension is impracticable without stopping the machine.

Instead of driving the rings 17 and 30 by rods or struts depending directly from the needle-cylinder we may use gearing for the purpose, one form of such gearing being shown in Fig. 5 and comprising an annular rack 40 on the needle-cylinder meshing with a spur-pinion 41 at the upper end of a vertical shaft 42, which is adapted to suitable bearings on the fixed frame of the machine and has at the lower end a spur-pinion 43,

meshing with an annular rack 44 on the ring 30, so as to rotate the latter in unison with the needle-cylinder, one or more rods 45 projecting from the ring 30 and engaging the ring 17, so as to transmit like motion thereto.

Other means than those shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may also be employed for imparting rotating movement to the take-up rolls. For instance, in Fig. 4 we have shown the beltpuliey 27 as adapted to engage the lower bight of an endless belt 46, depending from a pulley 47, which is carried by a shaft 49, mounted in a bracket 50, secured to and projecting downwardly from the needle-cylinder structure of'the machine.

Forming part of or secured to the hub of the pulley 47 is a spur-wheel 51, which meshes with an annular rack 52 on the fixed table or bed of the machine, whereby as the needle-cylinder rotates the spur-wheel 51 and pulley 47 are also caused to rotate around their axis by reason of such meshing of the rack and pinion. In this embodiment of our invention the takeup mechanism is rendered operative and inoperative in the same manner as before by the tightening and loosening of the belt 46, due to the rising and falling movements of the swinging frame 14. and of the parts carried thereby.

In that embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 6 the belt-drive is abandoned and another form of frictional driving device is substituted therefor. In this'case the worm 24 is carried by a vertical shaft 25 which has at its lower end a beveled friction-wheel, cooperating with a correspondingly-beveled friction-ring 54 on the platform 12, the shaft 25 being caused to rotate whenever the drop of the frame 14 brings the friction-wheel into contact with said ring 54 and the rotation be- IIO ing arrested Whenever the rise of the frame 14 carries the said wheel out of frictional contact with the ring.

In the machine shown in Fig. 1 weight is added to the swinging frame 14 in order to impart the necessary tension to the fabric; but in some cases the Weight of the swinging frame and its appurtenances may be such as to impart greater tension to the fabric than is needed, in which case a portion of the weight can be counterbalanced by means of weights 55, hung to a rope or chain 56, which is connected to the free end of the swinging frame 14 and passes over a sheave 57, mounted on one of the standards 9 of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7.

l/Vhile we prefer in all cases to employ a pivoted and swinging frame for carrying the take-np-roll mechanism, a frame vertically guided on the fixed frame of the machine may be employed for the purpose, if desired, such a frame being shown at 14* in Fig.8 and vertical guidance of the frame being effected by means of rods 60, depending from the frame and adapted to openings in the platform 12. When the swinging frame is employed,however, the movement of that portion of the same which carries the take'up rolls is substantially in the plane of movement of the tube of fabric engaged by the rolls. Hence the swinging frame is quite as effective for the intended purpose as a frame which is directly guided in a vertical plane, while preferable to such verticallyguided frame in other respects.

The different methods of carrying out our invention which we have described serve to show that said invention is susceptible of many modifications and is largely independent of mere matters of mechanical detail; but the modifications which we have selected for illustration will, it is believed, convey to those skilled in the art sufficient knowledge of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said take-up-roll carrier, said frame having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotative movement with the latter, and a ring rotatably mounted in said frame and carrying the take-up-roll mechanism ,whereby the fabric can be delivered from the rolls down through the ring, substantially as specified.

2. The combination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder orhead, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said rotating carrier, said frame having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotating movement therewith, and take-uproll-operating devices dependent for their action upon such movement of said non-rotating frame and a ring rotatably mounted in said frame and carrying the take-up-roll mechanism, whereby the fabric can be delivered from the rolls down through the ring, substantially as specified.

3. The combination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said rotating carrier, which frame has movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but has no rotating movement therewith, and rotating devices for the take-up rolls having'as an element a belt which is tightened and slackened bysaid movement of the frame, substantially as specified.

4. Thecombination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said carrier, said frame having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotating movement therewith, and take-upsroll-drivin'g mechanism having as elements a belt which is tightened and slackened by said movement of the frame, a belt-pulley on the take-uproll carrier, and worm-gearing whereby the movement of said belt-pulley is transmitted to the take-up rolls, substantially as specified.

5. Thecombination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said carrier, said frame having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotative movement therewith, a ring independent of but rotating with the take-up-roll carrier, and take-up-roll-driving mechanism having certain elements which are carried by said ring and do not partake of the movement of the supporting-frame of the take-up-roll carrier, substantially as specified. v

6. The combination in aknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, and a supporting-frame for said take-up-roll carrier pivoted to the fixed frame of the machine whereby it is incapable of rotating movement,

said supporting-frame having therein an opening through which the fabric may be do livered from the take-up rolls, substantially as specified.

7. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine so as to be incapable of rotation but susceptible of movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, said supporting-frame having therein an opening through which the fabric may be delivered from the take-up rolls, and take-uproll-operatin g devices dependent for their action upon such movement of the frame, substantially as specified.

8. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correa fixed portion of the frame so as to be incapable of rotation but susceptible of movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, and rotating devices for the take-up rolls having as an element a belt which is tightened and slackened by said movement of the frame, substantially as specified.

.9. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine so as to be incapable of rotation, but susceptible of movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, and take up roll driving mechanism having as elements a belt which is tightened and slackened by said movement of the frame, a belt-pulley on the take-up-roll carrier, and worm-gearing whereby movement of said beltpulley is transmitted tothe take-up rolls, substantially as specified.

10. The combination in a knitting-machine, of the rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, a supporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine so as to be incapable of rotation but susceptible of movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, a ring independent of but rotating with the take uproll carrier, and take up-rolldriving mechanism having certain elements which are carried by said ring and do not partake of the movement of the pivoted frame, substantially as specified.

11. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a. rotating needle cylinder or head, a takeup-roll carrier rotatable with said cylinder, a supporting-frame therefor having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but incapable of rotation, a ring independent of the take up roll carrier and having no movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, take-up-roll-operating mechanism mounted partly upon said ring and partly upon the take-up-roll carrier, and means for rotating said ring and carrier simultaneously and in unison with the rotation of the needlecylinder, substantially as specified.

12. Thecombination inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, atakenp-roll carrier, a supporting-frame therefor having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but incapable of rotation, a ring independent of the take-up-roll carrier but having no movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, take-up-roll-driving mechanism mounted partly upon the take-up-roll carrier and partly upon said ring, and a rod projecting from the needle-cylinder structure and engaging with the take-up-roll carrier, and ring so as to rotate the same simultaneously and in unison with said needlecylinder, substantially as specified.

13. The combination inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder or head, a correspondinglyrotating take uproll carrier, a supporting-frame for the latter having movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but incapable of rotation, a ring mounted on the fixed frame so as to be capable of rotation with the take-up-roll carrier but having no movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web, a take up roll operating mechanism comprising gearing on the rotatable take up roll carrier having as one of its elements a belt-pulley, and other gearing carried by the rotatable ring and comprising a shaft with belt-pulley and pinion meshing with a fixed rack on the frame, a pairof idlerpulleys flanking the belt-pulley on the takenp-roll carrier, and a belt passing over said idlers and around the driving-pulley so as to engage the beltpulley on the take up roll carrier, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. SCOTT.

LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

F. E. BECHTOLD, J os. H. KLEIN.

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