US3568471A - Straight bar knitting machines - Google Patents

Straight bar knitting machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US3568471A
US3568471A US782054A US3568471DA US3568471A US 3568471 A US3568471 A US 3568471A US 782054 A US782054 A US 782054A US 3568471D A US3568471D A US 3568471DA US 3568471 A US3568471 A US 3568471A
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Prior art keywords
loop
control
doublings
counter
narrowing head
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Expired - Lifetime
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US782054A
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English (en)
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Raymond Blood
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William Cotton Ltd
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William Cotton Ltd
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04B—KNITTING
    • D04B11/00—Straight-bar knitting machines with fixed needles

Definitions

  • This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines and concerns the operation known as loop doubling.
  • the rib welt is formed, of a suitable length to provide for desired resilience, on a number of needles greater than the number of needles on which the non-rib fabric is formed; and in order to reduce the length of the last course of loops of the rib welt to the same length as that of the first course of the non-rib fabric, the operation of loop doubling is effected, wherein at predetermined positions in the length of the last course of the rib welt, adjacent loops are doubled together by loop transference.
  • the aforesaid operation of loop doubling is preceded by transfer of the rib loops from machine needles to alternate frame needles which are ineffective during the rib knitting.
  • An object of the invention is to provide for loop doubling by automatic operating means at readily changeable frequencies.
  • the invention provides, in a straight bar knitting machine, loop doubling means, comprising a narrowing head having a row of loop transfer point selector elements corresponding substantially to the row of needles and nited States Patent capable of influencing the transfer points to be effective or ineffective on needles 'each time the narrowing head is operated a plurality of times, and infinitely variable selection control means adapted to render the selector elements effective in groups for each operation of the narrowing head to form, loop doublings and to cause the groups of selector elements to be of any predetermined size to suit the required spacing required for the loop doublings.
  • control means comprises control bar means displaceable along the row of selector elements in amplitudes of movement which change to suit the loop doubling frequency required by predetermined operations of lead screw means under control of counter means.
  • the counter means comprises a predetermining electric impulse counter with automatic resetting which can be manually preset, the count pulses are pro prised by rotation of the lead screw mechanism, and a count complete switch is operated when the preset number of pulses has been registered to cause energizing of a reset coil to reset the counter for automatic repeat operation under final control of a homing switch operated by limit operation of the lead screw mechanism.
  • the transfer points and selector elements are conveniently as in the arrangement disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,503,226 which provides a row of flexible transfer points operable in a narrowing head, a row of point controlling elements movable with the narrowing head and displaceable therein between an inoperative position and an operative position deflecting the points into position for cooperating with the needles, a selecting mechanism constructed and arranged for having selective cooperation with the point controlling elements, and means for effecting relative cooperating movements between the narrowing head and the selecting mechanism for selectively operating the point controlling elements.
  • the selecting mechanism includes a row of selector elements shaped to provide a portion for cooperation with the point controlling elements, and, for the present loop doubling, the selector elements are also provided with a portion for cooperation with the control bar means, and a portion for cooperation with a swingable bar for pivotally displacing the selector elements between an ineffective position allowing for the adjusting displacements of the control bar to take place, and an effective position wherein they are selected by the control bar means.
  • An electric control circuit including the counter means conveniently also includes a programme reader start and stop switch, a start and stop switch, a start and stop position switch, a narrowing machine operated switch, a count complete and incomplete switch, a count svTitch operable from the lead screw mechanism, a reversible electric motor for operating the lead screw mechanism, and relay means for controlling operations of the motor.
  • the arrangement of the transfer points, the selector elements and the control bar means is conveniently in two halves, the selection control being conveniently started simultaneously on both halves at outer or inner locations and progressing inwardly or outwardly respectively.
  • FIG. 1 is a detail cross sectional view of mechanical parts of loop doubling means according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a detail vie-w of part of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of electric parts of the loop doubling means.
  • FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic front view of relevant parts of the machine.
  • FIG. is a diagrammatic detail front view of part of FIG. 4 at one stage in loop doubling operations.
  • FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 5 at the second stage in the loop doubling operations.
  • FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 6 at a third stage in the loop doubling operations.
  • FIG. 1 shows, as in said US. Pat. No. 3,503,226, a Cottons patent straight bar knitting machine represented by a needle bar 1 of bearded needles 2, a sinker bar 3 of sinkers 4, a knocking over bar 5 of knocking over bits 6, a catch bar 7, thread carrier means 8, and a narrowing head, this being represented by blocks such as 9 and rods 10, 11, 12, and side arms such as 13a carrying the rod 11 and mounted on a pivot shaft 13.
  • the rod 11 is connected by usual link 11a, FIG. 4, to usual cam operating mechanism 11b.
  • FIG. 4 also indicates that the machine is of multi section type and that usual knitting and fashioning motions are imparted to the needle bars 1 by usual means such as the cam follower lever 1a operable by knitting and fashioning cams 1b, 1c, and the cam follower lever 1a operable by knitting and fashioning cams 1e, 1
  • Spaced blocks such as 9 FIG. 4, are secured to the rod 11 for imparting, from the cam 11b the usual dipping and rising motions to the narrowing head.
  • blocks 9 To blocks 9 is fixed a half length bed plate 16 to which is fitted a half length row of loop transfer points 17, and to blocks 9 is similarly fixed a half length bed plate 16 to which is fitted a half length row of similar points 17.
  • These points 17 are of bent flexible type comprising, FIG. 1, a downwardly projecting point portion 17a, and an inclined shank portion 17!), which joins with the point portion at a bend 17c.
  • the blocks 9 9 are also secured to the rods 10, 12 respectively which are endwise adjusted by usual means for effecting sideways loop transfers by the transfer points 17 in the usual way.
  • guide bars such as 20, 21 having tricks for half length rows of point-controlling blade elements 22, 22 FIG. 4, which are frictionally held such as, FIG. 1, by a cover plate 123, 123a inserted behind flanges 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b of the guide bars 20, 21 and which correspond in length to the row of elements 22.
  • the narrowing head In the position shown, the narrowing head is in an upper position, and the elements 22, 22 have upper portions 22a, 22a of the elements projecting upwardly from the bars such as 20.
  • the lower ends 2217 of the elements 22, FIG. l have a recess 22c and a lower inclined face 22d, and the elements 22 are relatively-slidable in the guide bars 20, 21 first for their inclined face 22d to bear against the bends 17c of the points 17, 17 and deflect the latter and then for the recess 226 to fit on the bends 17c thereof with a releasable engagement.
  • the elements 22, 22 also have a butt 22c engageable by a reset bar 23 on a rocking rod 24.
  • mounting means 25 for a main selecting mechanism Disposed above the narrowing head is mounting means 25 for a main selecting mechanism.
  • a row of selector elements 26 mounted pivotally on a pivot 27 carried by the means 25 and corresponding to the row of point-controlling elements 22, 22
  • Each element 26 comprises a first arm 26a depending towards a pointcontrolling element 22 and at its lower end it has a central recess 26]) and which spaces two downwardly projecting portions 26c, 26d.
  • a second arm 262 of each element 26 has an upwardly directed projection 26 which may be for co-operation with pattern bits of a pattern drum PD.
  • a third arm 2611 of each element 26 has a downwardly directed projection 26i and the first arm 26a has a side edge projection 26
  • Each element 26 is biased by a wire spring 29 of a mounting 30 and bearing against the first arm 26a in a direction urging the upward projection 26 of the .econd arm 26e towards the pattern drum PD.
  • the second arm 262 also has a tail part 26k for cooperation with a reset bar 31 on a rocking shaft 32.
  • each selector element 26 has a tail portion 26! for co-operation with a pair of conrol bars 40, 41, FIGS. 1, 4, which extend in a direction transverse to the selector elements, i.e. in a direction parallel to the rows of selector elements point controlling elements. transfer points, and needles.
  • control bars 40, 41 are each about half the length of a knitting section, and they are mounted in staggered positions for endwise displacements in different paths by being secured to opposite side edges (see FIG. 1) of brackets 42, 43, (see also FIG. 2 for bracket 43) which are secured respectively to different operating rods 44, 45.
  • brackets 42, 43 (see also FIG. 2 for bracket 43) which are secured respectively to different operating rods 44, 45.
  • each bracket is slidably engaged by slots 46, 47 with the rod to which the other bracket is secured.
  • control bars 40. 41 are disposed and operated to co-operate with left and right hand halves of the row of selector elements. and the arrangement is repeated for other knitting sections, the rods 44, being continuous through those sections and being connected respectively by fingers 48a. 49a to screw nuts 48, 49 of oppositely screw threaded lead screws 50, 51. These leads screws are operated through bevel gearing 50a, 51a, by a motor 52 in a manner to be hereinafter fully described.
  • the bars 40, 41 are first disposed by the lead screw mechanism at outermost loca tions where their outer ends extend into the next adjacent knitting sections, and their inner ends are just outside those selector elements in line with selvedge needles, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the narrowing head When loop doubling is required, the narrowing head is lowered, and the operating bar 32, FIG. 1, is also lowered thereby to swing all the selector elements 26 to a position where the tail parts 26l are elevated above the level of the control bars 40. 41, and the lead screw mechanism is then operated. as will be hereinafter fully described. to displace the control bars 40, 41 inwardly for a distance equal to the distance between consecutive loop doublings required as indicated in FIG. 5, according to the required frequency for the loop doublings, so that the tail parts 26! of outer groups of the selector elements overlie end portions of the control bars 40, 41. Then the operating bar 31 is raised so that all those selector elements 26 except the outer groups thereof swing back to a position where, when the narrowing head next rises.
  • the associated point controlling elements will be unaffected since their upper ends will engage m the recesses 26]) of the selector elements.
  • the end groups of the selector elements will be maintained by the control bars in a position where their associated groups of point controlling elements strike the projections 26c of the groups of selector elements, with the result that the associated groups of transfer points 17 are deflected into operative position. Consequently in further operation of the narrowing head to effect a single needle inwards loop transfer operation, end groups of the needle loops are inwardly transferred one needle distance thus forming two outer loop doublings at locations L. L spaced a predetermined distance inwardly from the seivedges.
  • control bars being inwardly displaced for a further distance equal to the first distance, FIG. 6, so that to the first outer groups of selector elements, point controlling elements, transfer points and needle loops, are added second similar groups thereof at the inner sides of the first outer groups, whereby two further loop doublings L L are formed inwardly of the two outer loop doublings L, L and spaced therefrom for the same distance as the outer loop doublings L, L are spaced from the selvedges.
  • an electric control system is employed according to FIG. 3 in conjunction with a programming means such as a punched card and feeler operated card reader micro switches adapted in a known manner to cause the required fashioning motions of the machine from fashions holes in the pattern card but at this stage a clutch 54 is disengaged and a brake 53 is applied.
  • a programming means such as a punched card and feeler operated card reader micro switches adapted in a known manner to cause the required fashioning motions of the machine from fashions holes in the pattern card but at this stage a clutch 54 is disengaged and a brake 53 is applied.
  • the narrowing machine next lowers so that the switch NM moves to the down position in which, through a closed count incomplete side of a two way count control switch CC it causes the clutch 54 to engage and the brake 55 to release whereby the lead screws 50, 51 commence rotation to displace the screw nuts 48, 49 from outer positions inwardly, for inwardly displacing the control bars 40, 41 as hereinbefore described.
  • the rotation of the lead screws 50, 51 is imparted to an indexing plunger device 56 which operates a count micro switch CS to register the movements by pulses of the counter PC.
  • the count control switch CC automatically changes to close the count complete side. This causes the clutch '54 to disengage and the brake 55 to operate thereby stopping rotation of the lead screws 50, 51.
  • the narrowing machine then operates for the required inward loop transference, and it will be understood that the size of the groups of loops transferred is governed by the number to which the counter PC was preset. Consequently the size of the groups of loops transferred and the frequency of the loop doubling is readily variable between wide limits simply by different pre-settings of the counter PC to suit requirements.
  • a predetermining impulse counter for example, of the type known by the trade name Sodeco and having electric count-resetting means of a known construction. This counter is pre-set, before loop doubling operations are required, by manually rotating control discs of digit-counting mechanism, to set up a predetermined count to suit the required spacign of loop doubling to be made.
  • the first lowering of the narrowing head operates the switch NM to the down position which closes circuit, through a count control switch CCS to an operating coil of the clutch 54 to engage the latter, and which opens circuit through open contacts of the switch CCS to the brake 55 to release the latter.
  • Thcreupon the motor 52 drives the lead screws 58, 51 which displaces the control bars 44, 45 in the required progressive manner.
  • the counter includes a counting coil CC which is connected to the normally closed contact C2 of count switch CS and to the supply.
  • the count switch CS is operated by a pulsing device 56 driven by the motor 52 in synchronism with rotations of the lead screws 50, 51 to operate the counting coil CC in the counter thereby to rack on digit drums of the counter PC to progressively reduce the count by one for each rotation of the lead screws 50, 51.
  • the last count motion operates the count control switch CCS which opens circuit to the clutch 54 to disengage it and closes circuit to the brake 55 to apply the brake so that rotation of the lead screws 50, 51 and consequent adjustments of the control bars 44, 45 is stopped.
  • the control bars have had imparted to them a first adjustment to an extent governed by the pre-setting of the counter PC.
  • the narrowing head is operated by usual means for sideways loop transference to form the first loop doublings, followed by usual raising of the narrowing head.
  • the last operation of the counting coil CC causes operation of a reset switch which closes circuit to a reset relay and this introduces a reset coil RC which causes return of the digit drums to the original number, all in known manner, for the counter PC.
  • the motor 52 continues running, and when next the narrowing head lowers it again operates the switch NM to the down position, whereby the clutch 54 is re-engaged and the brake 55 is released, so that the lead screws 50, 51 are again rotated to again adjust the control bars 44, 45.
  • the count switch CS is again operated to progressively reduce the count in the counter to zero so that a second adjustment similar to the first is imparted to the control bars 44, 45.
  • the last movement of the control bars causes the switch HA to change to the home position whereby the relays RLR and RLM are de-energized so that the clutch 54 is disengaged and the brake 55 is applied.
  • control bars 40, 41 are displaceably adjusted from outer positions inwardly
  • An advantage of this arrangement is that when loops have been doubled they are not thereafter removed from the needles so that strain on the loops is minimized.
  • Knitting machine linear adjusting means comprising in combination, an adjusting screw, a screw nut on said screw for connection to a member to be linearly adjusted and inhibiting rotation of said screw nut, drive means connected for rotating said screw to obtain continuous linear adjustment of said screw nut means and said member, and electric control means for said drive means comprising, in an electric circuit, program controlled means for starting said drive means, drive interrupting means including an interrupting switch operable by a periodically operating machine part for producing interruptions of the continuous linear motion of said member in periodical manner, a manually presettable impulse counter and reset means operably connected to said drive interrupting means for periodical operation of said counter and reset means, and a counter pulsing device operable in synchronism with rotations of said screw for periodical counting by said counter and reset means each time to the limit of the preset count so that periodical linear adjustments of said member are of a magnitude which is variable by variable presetting of said counter and reset means,
  • Means as claimed in claim 1 having a reversible electric motor connected for rotating said screw, program controlled electric starting switch and relay means connected for starting said reversible electric motor, an electric clutch and electric brake connected to said motor and operable by said interrupting switch, and electric stop switch and relay means connected for operation by a limit adjustment of said member to reverse operation of the motor and reset said member.
  • a straight bar knitting machine loop doubling mechanism comprising, in combination, a narrowing head which is program controllable for repeat operation, a row of defiectable loop transfer points in said narrowing head. a row of selector elements operable in said narrowing head for deflection of said loop transfer points between effective and ineffective positions in a selective manner, control bars which are endwise displaceable into operable co-operation with progressively changing numbers of said selector elements for selection of the loop transfer points associated therewith in groups which change progressively along the row thereof, to provide for spaced loop doublings, and program introduced control means for said control bars comprising power-operated adjustable screw means to which said control bars are connected and including a lead screw, means operable under control of the repeat operations of the narrowing head for progressively adjusting the screw means and control bars each to the extent of a plurality of rotations of said lead screw, and counter means operable under control of said repeat operations of the narrowing head for controlling the magnitude of said progressive adjustments such that the spacing of said loop doublings is variable by variable presetting of said
  • a straight bar knitting machine having loop doubling mechanism comprising a narrowing head which is program controlled for repeat operation, individually controllable loop transfer points in said narrowing head, oppositely adjustable control bars for selective control of said points, an adjustable lead screw mechanism having oppositely adjustable screw nuts to which said control bars are connected respectively and an oppositely screw threaded lead screw mounting said screw nuts, and electric control means for controlling said adjustable screw mechanism comprising in an electric circuit, programmed controlled introducing switch means, a reversible electric motor connected to said switch means and to said lead screw, drive interrupting means connected between said motor and said lead screw, an interrupting switch connected to said drive interrupting means and periodically operable by repeat operations of said narrowing head, for producing interrupted rotations of said lead screw and interrupted linear adjustments of said control bars in opposite directions, such that spaced loop doublings are formed by selected loop transfer points, an electric pulsing device operable in synchronism with rotations of said lead screw.
  • a manually presettable counter and reset device connected to said interrupting switch and to said pulsing device for providing repeat operation each time the limit of a preset count is reached such that the magnitude of the linear adjustments of said control bars and the spacing of said loop doublings is variable by variable presetting of the counter and reset device without varying the main programming control of the machine.
  • a knitting machine comprising in combination, a periodically operable narrowing head with loop transfer points, adjustable lead screw mechanism comprising an oppositely screw-threaded adjusting screw, a pair of screw nuts on said screw-threaded points of said screw respectively for connection respectively to first and second elongate members inhibiting rotation of said screw nuts, and required to be linearly adjusted in opposite directions for selective control of said loop transfer points, drive means connected for rotating said screw to obtain continuous linear adjustment of said screw nuts and said members in opposite directions, and electric control means for said drive means comprising, in an electric circuit, machine programming controlled means for starting said drive means, drive interrupting means including an interrupting switch operable by said periodically operable narrowing head for producing interruptions of the continuous linear motion of said member in periodical manner, a manually presettable impulse counter and reset means operably connected to said drive interrupting means for periodical operation of said counter and reset means, and a counterpulsing device operable in synchronism with rotations of said screw producing output in accordance therewith for periodical counting by said counter and reset means to the limit of
  • loop doubling means comprising, a narrowing head which is program controllable to have a predetermined number of loop transfer motions in a single course, loop transfer points carried by the narrowing head which are selectively individually controlled to be effective and ineffective for loop transference, selector elements having butts and carried by the narrowing head in a manner for selective operation to eifect selection of the loop transfer points, selection means including a pair of control bars which are endwise displaceable for operable association with different groups of said selector element butts for reflecting selective operation of the selector elements in different groups for the loop transfer points to form spaced loop doublings, and variably pre-settable selection control means operably associated with the pair of control bars for controlling the said bars to cause the groups of selector elements to be of a variable predetermined size to suit the spacing required for the loop doublings.
  • a straight bar knitting machine having a successively operable narrowing head, separately controllable loop transfer points in two end-to-end rows in the narrowing head, upwardly and downwardly movable selector elements arranged in two end rows in the narrowing head for acting on the loop transfer points, butts on each row of selector elements, first and second control bars one for each row of selector element butts, first and second oppositely threaded adjustable screws connected to the first and second control bars respectively for producing progressive opposite displacements of the control bars so that said control bars act on the selector element butts to render progressively different groups of the loop trans fer points effective and other different groups thereof ineffective for use during successive operations of the narrowing head, and an electric system for controlling the control bars and including a reversible motor with releasable clutch and brake connected to the adjustable screw for rotating the adjusting screw at adjusting intervals under control of the narrowing head, a manually prcsettable counter, and a count pulsing device operably connected with the drive to the adjustable lead screw for predetermining

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Knitting Machines (AREA)
US782054A 1967-12-23 1968-12-09 Straight bar knitting machines Expired - Lifetime US3568471A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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GB58558/67A GB1248735A (en) 1967-12-23 1967-12-23 Improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines

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US3568471A true US3568471A (en) 1971-03-09

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US782054A Expired - Lifetime US3568471A (en) 1967-12-23 1968-12-09 Straight bar knitting machines

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US (1) US3568471A (fr)
CH (1) CH497582A (fr)
DE (1) DE1816476B2 (fr)
FR (1) FR1598069A (fr)
GB (1) GB1248735A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3656322A (en) * 1969-07-07 1972-04-18 Monk Sutton In Ashfield Ltd Sa Straight bar knitting machines

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3656322A (en) * 1969-07-07 1972-04-18 Monk Sutton In Ashfield Ltd Sa Straight bar knitting machines

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CH497582A (fr) 1970-10-15
GB1248735A (en) 1971-10-06
FR1598069A (fr) 1970-06-29
DE1816476B2 (de) 1972-09-28
DE1816476A1 (de) 1969-07-24

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