US2432954A - Electric needle protector for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

E. VOSSEN 2,432,954

ELECTRIC NEEDLE-PROTECTOR FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 28, 194'? mane/Woe.

l/ojse/v. /W77 I HTTORNEX portion provided with cam surfaces l2. .plunger l4 extends through said tubular mem- Patented Dec. 16, 1947 ELECTRIC NEEDLE PROTECTOR FOR KNITTING MACHINES Edward Vossen, Brooklyn,

Motion Devices Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,768

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric needle-protector for knitting machines.

More particularly, the invention proposes an electric needle-protector for knitting machines provided with a plunger working through a tubular member and provided with a pick-up finger for being moved by foreign material'deposited on the needles of a knitting machine. It is proposed to associate contacts with said plunger and tubular member for engaging each other during the operation of the needle-protector and for being moved out of engagement with each other when the needle-protector is set on. It is further contemplated to so design the needle protector that the plunger may operate right, or left, or may turn both right and left for closing the contacts. Thus the needle protector may be applied to needles rotating in one or the other direction. The invention particularly relates to a novel arrangement for controlling the operation of said plunger.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as fully disclosed and described, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electric needle protector for knitting machines constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the needle protector shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 looking from the left hand end. i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line E-5 of Fig. 4.

The electric needle protector for knitting machines, in accordance with this invention. includes a tubular member I!) having a front end ber It Resilient means in the nature of an expansion spring I5 urges said plunger l4 rear- Wards of the tubular member I 0. More specifi- N. Y., assignor to Stop- 6 Claims. (Cl. 6615'7) cally, the expansion spring I5 is mounted coaxially about a portion of the plunger I4 and acts between a shoulder l6 formed internally of the tubular member l0 and a shoulder l1 formed externally of the plunger l4. q

A pin I8 is mounted through the front portion of the plunger l4 and engages said cam surfaces l2 for releasably holding said plunger M in its forward position. More particularly, the cam surfaces l2 have low points 20 and high points 2| positioned approximately or from each other. The high points 2| are recessed so as to form holding recesses 2| (see Figs. 1 and 3) for holding the pin l8. Stop pins 22 are mounted upon the front end portion ll of the tubular member I!) and limit turning of the plunger M to a position in which the pin I8 is disposed in the recesses 2| of the high points 2|.

A pick-up finger 24 is mounted upon the front end of said plunger l4 and is for the purpose of being moved by foreign material deposited on the needles of a knitting machine for pivoting said plunger l4 and freeing said pin l8 from the high points 2| to move along said cam surfaces l2 to locate the plunger l4 in a rear position.

In Figs. 1 arid-3 the dot and dash lines 25 schematically illustrate the needles of a knitting machine. When fuzz, lint and other foreign material deposits upon the knitting needles, or rotating parts 25, they will sooner or later engage the pick-up finger 24 for operating the electric needle protector. The arrows 26 indicate the direction of motion of the rotating parts 25. The dot and dash lines 24' indicate the set position of the pick-up finger 24 and the arrow 24a indicates the direction in which the pick-up finger 24 moves from the position 24' to its off position shown in full lines on the drawing.

A stationary contact 28 is mounted on and insulated from the tubular member ID. More particularly, the stationary contact 28 is mounted through an insulation member 29 which is 'mounted'through the side of the tubular member It. The outer end of the stationary contact 28 is provided with a conductor collar 39. A movable contact 3| is connected with the plunger i4 and is adapted to cooperate with the stationary contact 28. The movable contact 3| is in the nature of a metal ball slidably mounted in an opening 32 formed in the plunger 14. An expansion spring 33 urges the metal ball 3| outwards.

The rear end of the plunger I4 is provided wi h knob 33 by which it may be manually ,24a. As soon as the pin the needle protector.

3 moved. A bracket is associated with the needle protector by which it may be conveniently attached upon a post or other supporting part on the knitting machine. The bracket comprises a member 34 engaged about the tubular member In and provided with a slot or open side 35. A clamp screw 36 is mounted on and between the open side 35 by which the member It] may be clamped in position. A band 31 for engaging around a post or other support member on the knitting machine is formed in loop shape and has its ends connected by screws 38 upon the sides of the member 34. A set screw 39 threadedly engages through the member 34 and is adapted to abut the rod or post which is intended to pass through the band 31.

The pick-up finger 24 passes through an opening 40 formed through the front end of the plunger M. A set screw 4| threadedly engages through the plunger 14 and has-its head engaged in the recess '42 which communicates with the side of the opening 40 by which the pick-up finger 24 is releasably held in position. When the set screw 4| is loosened the pick-up finger 24 may be pulled out.

The operation of the electric needle protector may be understood from the following.

The needle protector is shown in full lines in an off position. In this position the pin 1'8 is disposed in the low spots '26 of the cam surfaces I2 and the contacts 3| and 28 are engaging each other. The needle protector is placed into a set position 'by manually gripping the knob 33 and forcing the plunger I4 inwards and simultaneously turning the plunger l4 so that pin l8 assumes a position across the high points 2| and on the recesses 2| of the cam surfaces. In this position of the plunger M the pick-up finger 24 will be in the position indicated by the dot and dash lines 2d, and the steel ball 3|, that is the movable contact 3| will be out of contact with the stationary contact 28.

When fuzz, lint and other foreign material accumulates on the rotating needles or parts 25 a time is reached when the foreign material will push the finger 24 in the direction of the arrow H3 is moved out from therecesses 2|, representing the high spots of the cam surfaces l2, the pin l8 will automatically ride down the cam surfaces l2 because of the expansion spring l5 and automatically the plunger l4 rotates as it moves rearwards. The plunger M in this way assumes its original position in which the contacts 28 and 3| engage each other and an electric circuit will now be closed through It is pointed out that in the position of the plunger is in which the pin I8 is disposed across the high spots 2| of the cam surfaces l2, the movable contact 3| will be out of connection with the stationary contact 28.

The needle protector is connected in the usual stop motion system .of a knitting machine, so that when the contacts 28 and 3| engage each other electric current will flow to the controller of the knitting machine, which then instantly stops the knitting machine,

While I have illustrated and described the pr ferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric needl protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided with a cam surface, -a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pickup finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, and a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger.

2. An electric needle protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided With a cam surface, a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pickup finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, and a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger, said cam surface having a low point and a high point.

3. An electric needle protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided with a cam surface, a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pickup finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, and a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger, said cam surface having a low point and a high point, said high point being provided with a recess for receiving and holding said pin.

4. An electric needle protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided with a cam surface, a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pickup finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, and a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger, said resilient means comprising an expansion spring coaxially of said plunger and acting between shoulders formed on said plunger and said tubular member.

5. An electric needle protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided with a cam surface, a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pick-up finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger, and a knob upon the rear end of said plunger by which said plunger may be moved to separate said contacts.

6. An electric needle protector for knitting machines, comprising a tubular member having a front end portion provided with a cam surface,

a plunger extending through said tubular member, resilient means for urging said plunger rearwards of said tubular member, a pin on said plunger and engaging said cam surface for releasably holding said plunger forwards, a pick-up finger mounted on said plunger for being moved by foreign material deposited on a rotating part of said knitting machine and for turning said plunger and freeing said pin to move along said cam surface to locate said plunger in a rear position, a stationary contact mounted on and insulated from said tubular member, a movable contact on said plunger and engageable with said stationary contact in the rear position of said plunger, and a bracket for engaging a rod or support, said bracket being mounted about said tubular member.

EDWARD VOSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

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