USRE17331E - Control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1929.

C. SCHUTZ CONTROL macmmsu 0digital]. Filed Dec. 2'7, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 7 Conrad Shh-2Z9 j v for'ngy l f E 1.?"

June 18, 1929, c. scHUTz CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Des. 2'7, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 men/Z01. Conrad Sofa Z2 June is, 1929. scHu-rz Re. 17,331

CONTROL MECHANISM Uniginal Filed Dec. 27, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,fzderdfor CO nrad 6' Chair? June 18; E929. co SCHUTZ Re. 17,331

CONTROL MECHANI SM Original Filed Dec. 27, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1710972291; Izzy. 8. v Cora et/Z},

June 18, 1929. c. SCHUTZ CONTROL MECHANISM oi -i inal Filed Dec. 27, 1522s 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Reissued June 18, 1929.

PATENT: OFF-Ice;

UNITED STATES CONRAD SCH'U'TZ, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,-ASSIGNOR, BY MESN'E ASSIGN- KENTS, TO ROSE LIBERMAN AND HERMAN' P. LIBERMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA,

rmns nvmm.

CONTROL MECHANISM;

Original No. 1,680,808, dated August 14, 1928, Serial No. 682,991, filed December 27, 1923. Application for reissue filed April 9, 1929. Serial No. 353,868.

My invention is primarily designed to provide means for effecting the control of mechanisms comprised in or ancillary to fabricating machines, but it is applicable to various uses where power is to be transmitted at predeterminedperiods. My improyements are particularly applicable. to fabricating machines, (such as full fash onedhosiery knltting machines) having mechanism for varying the fabricating effect, (such asmechamsm for narrowing the hosiery fabr c). 'When applied to such machines, my improvements automatically stop the fabricating mach ne and also automatically control the varymg mechanism at predetermined times. I

a The invention comprises" means for automatically stopping the machine, and means I for controlling the stopping means, including a detent and a cooperating rotating member operated, through speed reducing means, synchronously with the machme. Thls rotating member is provided with a number of properly spaced critical margins of detent release, whereb the detent operates, upon release by a critical margin of release, to render the stopping means efl'ecti-ve.

In the present example illustrating my invention, where the type of switch used for controlling the motor requires a considerable amount of power to operate, a cam and lever mechanism is used to operate the switch, and the detent operates to render theswitch-operating means effective at predetermined points in the travel of the rotating member, that is, at the instant a critical margin of release releases the detent.

These margins of release are so spaced apart as to secure the required number of courses between adjacent margins of release, so that the stopping mechanism becomes effective upon the completion of the required number link for disengaging parts of the varying mechanism of the machine is controlled by a finger riding on the disk periphery. When the finger has reached the end of a disk recess, it is shifted out of such recess and onto the periphery of the disk by a spring pressed slide controlled by further cams driven from the speed reducing apparatus.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will more fully a pear from the following description of a pro erred embodiment and application of my invention, and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. '1 is a transverse sectional view'of a full fashioned knitting machine having my cams and a section of the knitting machine cam shaft; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached view of the control mechanism and cams from'the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 6 is a vertical section'on line 6, 6 of Fig. 3 on enlarged scale; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the same mechanism on line 7, 7 of Fig. 4; Fi 8 is an enlarged top plan view on the plane of section line 8, 8 of Fig. 3 of the stopping mechanism with parts omitted for the sake of better illustration; Fig. 9 is a top plan view, taken from the rear, of the mechanism for controlling the narrowing or varying mechanism of the machine; and Fig.

10 is an elevation of the mechanismshown A and has fixedthereto suitable cams whereby the mechanisms involved in the knitting operations are controlled. The shaft F has fixed on the end thereof a gear G through which power is transmitted from a pinion H on the hand wheel shaft I. The shaft I has fixed thereto the usual hand wheels I for affecting manual rotation of the shaft I, which. however, is normally driven through an end gear J meshing with the pinion K of an electric motor L. The current supplied to the motor. is controlled by a switch box M from which projects a control lever N linked to the reciprocatory control rod 0 which slides in bearings O of the machine frame. The

cam shaft F also has connected therewith suitable cam mechanism P for rocking the pawl Q, into engagement with the' ratchet teeth R of the chain wheels to advance such chain wheel one step for each revolution of the main cam shaft. The wheel S translates the chain T having thereon buttons T which engage the lever, U to release the catch V andpermit movement of the cams W and X for operating the narrowing mechanism of the knitting machine.

In the usual operation of hosiery-knitting machines of the type illustrated, it is necessary for the operative manually to' 1) stop the machine when sufiicient courses have been knitto form a fabric of the length desired for forming the double top or welt tc permit the welt to be turned by means of the Welting bar; (2) to manually bring the narrowing mechanism into operation to narrow the upper leg; (3) to again manually stop the machine to permit substitution of silk for the cotton yarn commonly used for the upper part of the stocking: to again manually bring the narrowing mechanism into operation to narrow the calf of the leg; (5) to again manually stop the machine to permit the insertion of the additional yarn for forming the high heel: (6) to again manually stop the machine for the formation of the heel tabs: (7) to again manually bring the narrowing mechanism into operation for narrowing the heel tabs: and (8) to again manually stop the machine upon the completion of the stocking leg.

Inattention or inefiiciency 011; the part of operatives in charge of machines results in the stopping of the machine and the actuation of the narrowing mechanism at improper times,-with resulting waste of material and the production of hosiery having irregular sections and irregular lengths,therebynecessitating careful sorting to secure. approximately evenly matched pairs.

A leading object of my invention is to pro vidc means whereby the stopping ofthe knitting machine and the actuation of the narrowing mechanism are automatically elfected, at predetermined intervals, after the knitting of fabric sections of desired length; provision being made for compensating for variations in the thread, particularly silk, due to changes of climatic conditions and the length of fabric knitted therefrom. By the use of my improvements, stockings of constant uniformity are produced, with resulting econ omy and avoidance of necessity for matching.

To accomplish the foregoing desiderata and effect the automatic control of the stoppage and of the narrowing mechanism of the knitting machine illustrated, I mount upon the rafter B (Figs. 1, 2, 3) struts 1 which support a table Qprovided with a vertical standard 3. A lever 4, fulcrumed on the standard 3, has its upper end disposed between the collars 5 on the control rod or shift-clement 0,

while its lower end lines in the path of a' crumed on the bearing 2 on the table. (Figs.

3, 4, 8). The quadrant'has pivotally connected therewith one end of a slide bar 9, reciprocable in the table bearings 2, and

' having hinged to the other end thereof a contact block or shoe 10. An arm 11, projecting from the shoe, has pivoted thereto a link 12 (Figs. 4, 5) whereby the contact block may be elevated out of the path of a cam 13 on the shaft F, which transmits power through the block and connected parts to rock the lever 4 when the block 10 is in lowered position. In other words, the reciprocating mechanism which communicates movement from cam 13 to lever 4, includes the slides 6 and 9 and the block 10.

A cam 14:. fixed on the cam shaft F, is provided with a shoulder 14' which, on each revolution of the shaft, contacts with a roller 15' .journalled between the arms 15 of a bell crank fulcrumed on the table bearing 2. The arms 16 of this bell crank contain slots 16 in which are adjustably fixed bearings 17 having links 18. 18 pivotally connected therewith. The links 18,- 18 are pivotally connected with the arms 19, 19 journalled loosely on a shaft 20 journalled in a-bearing 2 on the table 2. I i

The arms 19, 19' are normally drawn toward the shaft F by a spring 21, and have pivoted thereto the pawls 23, 23', which are normally drawn downward by the coiled springs 24, 24 fixed to the respective arms 19, 19. A bracket 25, fixed to the arm 19,

has journalled therein a finger piece or wing nut 26 provided with the diametrical arms 27, 27 connected by the slotted links 28, 28' with the pawls 23, 23. By rocking the member 26, the pawls are respectively rocked into and out ofposition for engaging the ratchet teeth 29, 29 of the respective ratchet wheels 30. 30 which are fixed to the shaft 20 and controlled by the friction brake pieces 22.

The ratchet teeth on the wheels 29. 29' diffor in number and length so that by throwing one or other of the pawls 23, 23' into engagement with its corresponding ratchet teeth the rate of rotation of the shaft 20 may be varied to compensate for climatic conditions ali'ecting the thread, as hereinafter explained. If desired, a handle 31 may be fixed to theshaft 20 to effect manual rotation thereof.

The shaft 20 has thereon a worm 32 which meshes with the teeth of a worm gear 33 fixed to a shaft 3% mounted in a bearing 2 of the platform 2. A disk 36, fixed to the shaft 34; above the gear 33, has depending therefrom cams or lugs 37 and contains pe ripheral slots or recesses 38, having critical Ill) margins 38' of detent release, positioned ad-" the latter is maintained in vertical position and normally urged toward the left, as shown in Fig. 7. A coiled spring 47 is also connected with the detent slide plate '41 and anchored to a post 48 to supplement the action of the spring 44.

\ The slide bar 9 has pivoted thereon a springpressed latch 49, the end of which engages the detent slide plate 41 when theshde bar 9 is advanced toward the shaft F and the de-.

tent slide 41 is moved to the right against the resistance of the springs 44 and 47. In such position of the parts, the hooked end 12" of the link 12 engages the detent slide 41 so as to elevate the contact hlock 10. The detent slide 41 is translated toward the right (Fig. 8) against the resistance of the springs 44 and 47 by a hook 50 normally, pressed by a spring 50 into engagement with a tooth or stud 51 on the detent slide 41. This hook 50 is ivoted on a slide 52 reciprocable in the guldeway of the block 40, and is disengaged from the tooth 51 by the engagement of a cam shoulder 53 with a stud 54 on the block 40.

p The movement of the hook is limitedby a 'eral curved segments 72, 72 and 72".

pin 55,

The hook 5O has pivotally connected withthe end thereof a link which is pivoted to the end of a lever 56 fulcrumed on the pivot 2. The opposite end of the lever 56 is slotted and adjustably connected with the bar 6.

When the detent slide plate 41 has been shifted to the right by the mechanism just described, it is latched in such position by a trigger 57 which slides through the post 39 into the path of said detent slide plate. This trigger is normally pressed forward into position for engaging the detent slide plate by a link'58 fixed on a shaft 59. A spring 59 is anchored to this shaft and to the base and tends to turn the shaft and press the trigger inward.

.A dog 61, mounted on a pivot 62' adjustably connected with a bracket 62 projecting from the post 39, is normally pressed upward toward the disk 36 by a spring 63. The dog 61 has a cam tooth 61' which'is adapted for engagement with the lugs 37 on the disk 36 and has a finger 64 adapted for engagement with the inclined face 57' of the trigger 57.

A disk isfixed to' the lower portion of the shaft 34 and contains the peripheral recesses 71, 71' and 71" spaced by the periphplate 73, fixed to the disk 70, is provided with cams 74, 7 4' and ,74? separated by curved peripheral segments 75, 75'- and 75".

A frame 76, fixedto the struts 1, 1, has ournalled therein a shaft 77 having a pro ect ng arm 78 to which is pivotally connected a link 79. The link 79 is reciprocable through a bearing 79' into engagement with the pawl Q, which is thereby disengaged from the ratchet R to prevent the action of the narrowing mechanism. When the link 79 is moved away from the pawl Q, the spring P moves the awl into engagement with the ratchet R to e ect the actuation of the narrowing mechanism. .The shaft 77 is rocked about 1ts axis by an arm 80 fixed to the shaft and having a fin or 81 which rides on the periphery of the isk 70.

A shaft 82, jour'nalled in the frame 76, has.

fixed] thereto an arm 83, provided with a finger 84 which rides on the periphery of the plate 73. The arm is engaged by an end of a spring 85 coiled on the shaft 82 and anchored to the post 86. A slide 87 is :connected, with the arm 83 by a pintle'88 and is guided beneath the disk 70 by the guides 89 ona bracket 89-.

In'the operation of the knittingmachine,

the control bar 0 is shifted to the left (Fig.

2)'to operate the controller, shown in thepresent example, as the switch in the box M to turn off thecurrent and stop the machine, and to the right to turn on the current and start the machine. The lever 4 and rod 0 are so connected b the collars 5 that the movement of one e ects movement of the other.

With the mechanism in the position shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8 of the drawings, and the knitting machine operating, it will be observed that the slide bar 9 is advanced toward the shaft F and is heldjn this advanced po sition by the engagement of the catch. 49

with the detent slide 41, which is in its eittreme right hand position, where it is held by the engagement of the trigger 57. The

contact block 10 is elevated by the engagement of the link 12 withthe detent slide 41 so that the cam 13 on the shaft F may rotate'without engaging the contact block.

The revolution of the shaft F causes the shoulder 14 on the cam 14 to rock the crank arms 15 and, through the crank arms 16, 16, and links 18, 18", to advance the arms 19, 19. The handle 26 having been turned to bring either the pawl 23 or the pawl23 into position to engage the ratchet teeth 29 or 29, each rotation of the shaft F acts through the intermediate mechanism to rotate the shaft 20 one step. The length of such step is dependent upon whether the Cir weather. In wet weather, silk particularly tends to stretch and hence a greater number of courses are required to knit a fabric of a given length, while in dry weather, a fewer num ber of courses will knit a fabric of the same length. Hence as it is desired that the machine be stopped, after a fabric of predetermined length has been knitted, the operation of the stop mechanism is adjusted by means of the pawls to compensate for the different number of cours'esrequired to knit a fabric of given length under difierent climatic conditlons.

The rotation of the shaft 20 acts throu h the worm 32 and worm wheel 33 to rotate t e shaft 34 and disks 36 and 70. The rotation of the disk 36 brings one of the lugs 37 into position to engage the inclined portion of tooth 61' of the dog 61, which is thereby depressed so that the finger 64, acting on the inclined surface 57, retracts the trigger 57 to release the detent slide41 therefrom. The edge of I the detent slide 41 thereupon engages the periphery of the, disk 36 and is held against the full action of its springs 44 and 47 until a critical margin 38' of a slot 38in the periphery of the disk 36, moves into position to re lease the detent 41. The detent slide 41 is then immediately thrown by its springs 44 and 47 to the left (Figs. 2, 7) so as to disen-' gage the member 12 and the catch 49. The disengagement of the member 12 permits the contact block 10 to drop into the path of the cam 13. Upon further rotation of the shaft F, the cam 13 pushes back the slide 9 which acts through the quadrant Sand link 7 to rock the lever 4 which acts through the rod 0 to stop the machine. To again start the machine, the operator manually shifts the rod 0 in the reverse direction, which acts through the collars 5, lever 4, bracket 6, link 7, and quadrant 8 to advance the slide 9. Simultaneously therewith the bar 6 is operated by the bracket 6 to rock the lever 56, which, through the link 50 rocks the hook 50. The hook 50 engages the tooth 51 of the detent slide 41 and moves it toward the right into the path of the overturned end 127 of the member 12 and into the path ofthe catch 49 on the slide 9. The catch, being yieldingly mounted, slips'past the detent slide 41 but soon as it has done so its spring turns it into posit-ion in front of the detent slide 41. there by keeping the slide 9 advanced. The engagement of the end 12 with the detent slide 41 causes the contact block 10 to be turned on its hinge upward out of the path of the cam '13, when the slide 9 is advanced. When the detent slide 41 has been moved sufliciently to the right, the trigger 57 is projected by its spring into the path of the detent slide, and thereupon the hook 50 is moved further to the right so that its shoulder 53 contacts with the stud 54, whereby the hook is rocked on its pivot out of engagement with the teeth 51, so

that the detentslide 41 is in position to be released when the trigger 57 is again retracted by the engagement of a lug 37 with the tooth 61'. The movement of the book 50 is limited by the pin 55.

the finger 81 rides on a peripheral segment 72, 72 or 72 so that the rod 79 is held in position to maintain the pawl Q out of engagement with the ratchet on Wheel S thereby rendering inoperative the narrowing mechanism.

When, however, the finger 81 drops into a recess 71, 71' or 71 the pawl Q is shifted by its spring P into engagement with the ratchet on the chain wheel to actuate the narrowing mechanism. During the period the finger 81 is in the recess 71, 71', or 71 the finger 84 rides on a peripheral segment 75, 7 5' or thereby retracting the slide 87. As soon as the finger 84 reaches the end of the segment on which it is riding, it drops down over the ad-' jacent cam 74, 74 or 74", whereupon the spring 85 rocks the arm 83, which shifts the slide to move the finger 81 out of the recess 71, 71 or 71'. and on to a peripheral segment 72, 72' or 72", where it rides during the narrowing of the fabric.

While I have described a specific form and application of my improvements, it is to be understood that my. invention is not limited to the specific form or use described. 1

Having described my invention, I claim 1. An automatic control for knitting machines, comprising means for stopping the machine, and means for controlling the stop ping means comprising a detent and a 00- operating rotating element moving synchronously with the machine provided with critical margins of detent release, said detent operating upon release by a critical margin of release to render the stopping means effective upon completion of a predetermined course.

2. An automatic control for knitting machines, comprising means for stopping the machine, and means for controlling the stopping means comprising a detent and a co :qwrating rotating clement moving synchronously with the machine provided with critical margins of detent release in prcdelerl'nincd spaced relationship, said detent operating upon release by a critical margin of release to render the stopping means efi'cctive upon com 'pletion of a predetermined course.

upon release by a critical margin of release to render the stopping means effective upon completion of a predetermined course.

4. In an automatic control for knitting machines, the combination of an electric motor for driving the machine, an electric switch for controlling the motor, means for operating theswitch, a detent and a cooperating rotating element moving synchronously with the machineprovided with critical margins of detent release, said detent operating upon release by a critical margin of release to render the switch operating means effective to stop the motor upon completion of a predetermined course.

5. In an automatic control for knitting machines, the combination of an electric motor for drivingthe machine, an electric switch, for controllingthe motor, means for operating the switch, a detent and a cooperating rotating element, combined pawl and ratchet and Worm-gear mechanism operating with the machine and communicating movement to the rotating element, said rotating element provided with critical margins of detent release, said detent operating upon release by a critical margin of release to render the switch operating means effective to stop the motor upon completion of a predetermined course.

CONRAD SCHUTZ;

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