US3221520A - Double-needle-bed warp knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 R. G. BASSIST 3,221,520

DOUBLE-NEEDLE-BED WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Shee l BY g r Dec. 7, 1965 R. G. BASSIST DOUBLE-NEEDLE-BED WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 14 00011 19 6. 3/55/57 W 4 I w" United States Patent 3,221,520 DtlllliiLE-NEEDLE-BED WAR? KNlTTlNG MAQHTNE Rudolph G. Bassist, 366i) Waldo Ave, Riverdale, NFL Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,353 7 Qlaims. (Cl. 66-87) This invention relates to warp knitting machines, and has particular reference to apparatus employing two needle beds.

As is known, the yarn employed in a warp knitting machine is initially wound on one or more horizontally arranged elongated spools or warp beams and is advanced in parallel rows to a bank of needles moving rapidly in a generally up-aud-down direction. Drive means is provided for moving the needles through a predetermined knitting cycle, during which the yarn is directed to the needles, and interengaged with them, in accordance with a predetermined pattern. This is accomplished by one or more guide bars which receive the yarns from the yarn feeding means and bring the individual strands into predetermined positions for engagement by the needles. The threads are positioned while the needles are in their upward positions and when the needles move downward they perform a knitting operation (with the aid of a presser bar and other auxiliary parts) which thus incorporates the threads into the fabric, course by course. The movement of each guide bar involves a swinging movement in a backand-torth direction through the bank or bed of needles, and intermittent longitudinal movements which are timed in relation to the needle operation and in response to pattern-controlling apparatus.

For the production of plush-like pile fabrics two needle beds can be employed, arranged in relatively close parallel relation. Some of the yarn is fed to one bank of needles to produce a knitted fabric, other yarn is fed to the other bank of needles to produce a second knitted fabric, and a third proportion of the yarn is fed alternately to both sets of needles to produce strands that extend transversely between the two fabrics. When such transverse stands are cut, two separate fabrics having an upstanding cut pile are produced. in apparatus heretofore employed for this purpose, all the guide bars swing back and forth as a unit through both banks of needles. Since there must be at least one guide bar for each fabric, and since in most cases there are a multiple number of such guide bars for each fabric, a relatively cumbersome and heavy mechanism is necessarily involved to move all the guide bars together from one needle bed to the other and back-andforth through each bank of needles. This has heretofore imposed limitations upon the speed of operation, and upon the permissible spacing between the needle beds, and has necessitated relatively heavy machinery and considerable power consumption.

it is a general object of this invention to overcome these shortcomings and to provide an improved and simplified double needle-bed apparatus having greater flexibility and speed, and wider applicability.

It is a feature of the improved machine to provide separate swinging suspension and control for each of the three guide bar groups. Thus, at least one primary guide bar is mounted for swinging movement with respect to one set of needles only, controlling the supply and positioning of yarn only with respect to that bank of needles; at east one other primary guide bar cooperates in similar fashion only with the other needle bed; and a third and entirely independent intermediate guide bar (or more than one, if desired) swings back and forth between both sets of needles and positions the pile strands for engagement first by one needle bank and then by the other. The movements of the guide bars are brought about in a predetermined timed relation so that the yarn-positioning movements of the intermediate guide bar with respect to a needle bed always takes place along with the yarn-positioning movements of the corresponding primary guide bar.

Other features of the invention include means for readily varying the spacing between the two needle beds; means for correspondingly varying the range of movement of the intermediate guide bar; means for accurately adjustably shifting the center point of such movement; and the organization and arrangement of the various mechanisms in a manner which is entirely practicable and feasible from a manufacturing standpoint and which assures reliable and low-cost operation and easy control of the desired variables.

As a result of the independent mounting and control of the guide bars in the manner described, the speed of operation can be materially increased, and the cost of manufacture appreciably reduced; the weight and bulk of the apparatus can be lessened, as well as the power required for operation; and fabrics having higher piles, and more readily variable pile heights, can be produced at low cost and with reliable results.

One way of achieving these objects and advantages, and such other benefits as may hereinafter be pointed out, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view, of diagrammatic character, of a double-bed warp knitting machine embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 1a is an enlarged fragmentary detail along the line 1a1a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the swinging relationships of three guide bars; and

FIGS. 3-8 inclusive are enlarged diagrammatic views, in the same direction as FIG. 1, showing successive stages of the knitting operation.

For purposes of clarity, the proportions of the various parts shown in the drawings, are exaggerated, and do not conform to any particular scale. For the sake of simplicity of illustration only a single primary guide bar has been depicted for cooperation with each needle bed, and only a single guide bar has been shown for cooperation with both sets of needles. Also, since warp knitting machines are known, the details of the main drive, of the cams controlling the various movements and their timing, and the mechanisms and supporting structure in general, have been illustrated in simplified fashion. It is to be understood that there are appropriate warp beams and yarn feeding means, and mechanisms for controlling and actuating the needles in proper timed sequence, all of which are well known in the art.

One of the needle beds 28 is mounted at the upper end of appropriate supporting structure 21, this structure being positionally fixed on base elements 22. The second needle bed 23 is mounted in parallel relation to the first needle bed, and is supported at the upper end of appropriate structure 24. This structure is mounted on a base 25 in an adjustable relationship with respect to the base. Thus, by adjusting the positioning bolts or equivalent elements 26 and 27, the entire supporting structure 24 may be adjustably shifted toward and away from the supporting structure 21, thus varying the spacing between the two banks of needles Z0, 23.

Means is provided for moving the needles of each needle bed through the usual knitting cycle. This comprises a main drive shaft 28 and cam-driven transmission mechanism 29 for the needle bed Zll, and cam-driven transmission mechanism 36 for the needle bed 23. The mechanism 30 derives its power from a drive shaft 31 parallel to the main drive shaft 28 and driven by the latter through the intermediary of a chain or belt 32, and meshing gears 33, 3d.

To allow for the variation of spacing between the needle beds and their corresponding drive shafts 28 and 31, the belt or chain 32 may be provided with appropriate slack and idler guide means (not shown).

Suspended for swinging movement on a shaft 35 is a primary guide bar 35 which swings back and forth (through an arc diagrammatically indicated by the arrow 37 in FIG. 2) to loop the yarn 38 in predetermined fashion into engagement with the needles of the bed 20. A similar primary guide bar 39 is mounted for swinging movement upon its own rocker shaft 4%, parallel to the shaft 35. This guide bar swings back and forth through an arc diagrammatically indicated at 41 in FIG. 2, and controls the interengagement of the yarn 42 with the needles of the needle bed 23.

A third guide bar 43 is mounted upon a rocker shaft 4 for swinging movements through the larger are 4-5 (see FIG. 2) which controls the interengagement of yarn 46 with both needle beds. The rocker shaft 44 is at an elevation above the level of the shafts 40 and 35, so that the movements of the guide loops at the lower end of the guide bar 43 are along a relatively flat are between the two banks of needles.

Each of the shafts on which the guide bars are respectively mounted is provided with its own individual rocker bar. Such a rocker arm 47 is secured to the shaft 35, and similarly, rocker arms 48 and 49 are secured to the shafts 40 and 44, respectively. There is an actuator for each rocker arm, and cam means driven by the main drive shaft for moving the actuators in a predetermined timed relationship. Thus, the rocker arm 47 is articulated at 50 to an actuator 51. This is in turn articulated at 52 to a rocker 53 pivoted at 54 and actuated by a rod 55. The latter is pivoted to the arm 53 at 56, and at its opposite end it is articulated to a cam-following arrangement 57 rocking on the shaft 58. The arrangement 57 is caused to be rocked back and forth by the cam 59 mounted on the main drive shaft 28.

Similar mechanism, deriving its movements from a cam 60 on the shaft 31, controls the movements of the actuator 61 articulated at 62 to the rocker 48.

Similar cam-actuated mechanism (not shown) controls the movements of the actuator 63 articulated at 64 to the rocker 49.

|Whenever the space between the two needle beds is changed, it becomes necessary, or may be desirable, to make a corresponding change in the range of swinging movement of the third guide bar 43. This is provided for by the variable articulation between the rocker arm 49 and the actuator 63. Illustrative of a means for accomplishing this is the succession of openings 65 formed in the rocker 49, the articulation 64 being selectively made with One or another of these openings. This obviously changes the effective length of the rocker 49, thus altering the swing arc of the rocker shaft 44. Variably adjustable articulations of other types may be employed, if desired.

A change in the spacing between the needle beds requires, also, that the center-point of the swinging movement of the third guide bar 43 be shiftable. This may be accomplished as indicated in FIG. la. The rocker shaft 44 is supported upon a bracket 66 provided with slots 67 through which securing bolts 68 extend. To shift the axis of the shaft 44, the bolts 68 can be loosened and the bracket 66 (and with it, the shaft 44) can be adjustab-ly shifted, the bolts 68 being then retightened.

The operations of the guide bars, with respect to the two needle beds, is diagrammatically depicted in FIGS. 3-8. Since the operation is basically well known, it will suflice to point out that each of the primary guide bars swings back and forth only with respect to its own needle bed, controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of that bed, while the third guide bar 43 swings back and forth with respect to both needle beds, controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of both beds. The yarn-positioning swings of the third guide bar 43 with respect to each needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning swings of the corresponding primary guide bar. Thus, as will be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide bar 43 moves with the guide bar 36 while the needles 2% are in raised yarn-receiving position. Similarly, while the needles of the needle bed 23 are raised (FIGS. 68) the guide bar 43 swings With the primary guide bar 39 to position the yarns 38 and 42 with respect to this bank of needles.

Because of the fact that each of the primary guide bars is required to swing through only a small arc, the mechanism for controlling these movements can be relatively simple and of light Weight, thus greatly speeding up the machine and reducing the amount of power required to drive it. Also, since it is only the third guide bar 43 that swings through the full distance between the needle beds, this spacing can be adjusted to a considerably larger degree than has been possible heretofore, without encumbering the mechanism with relatively heavy equipment and parts, and calling for correspondingly greater driving power and slower speed of operation.

It will be understood, of course, that in many respects the details herein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means for moving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feeding means, primary movable guide bars in proximity to said needle beds respectively, each guide bar being adapted to move back and forth only with respect to its own needle bed and controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of said bed, a third movable guide bar adapted to move back and forth with respect to both needle beds and controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of both beds, means for moving said guide bars in such timed relation that the yarn-positioning movements of said third guide bar with respect to each needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning movements of the corresponding primary guide bar, means for varying the distance between said needle beds, and means for correspondingly varying the range of the back-and-forth movement of said third guide bar.

2. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements defined in claim 1, of means for adjustably shifting the center point of said range of movement.

3. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means for moving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feeding means, primary guide bars in proximity to said needle beds respectively, each guide bar being suspended for swinging movements upon its own shaft and adapted to swing back and forth with respect to its own needle bed only, said guide bars controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of the respective needle beds, a third guide bar suspended for swinging movements upon a third shaft and adapted to swing back and forth with respect to both needle beds, said third guide bar controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of both needle beds, and means for rocking said shafts in such timed relation that the yarn-positioning swings of the third guide bar with respect to each needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning swings of the corresponding primary guide bar.

4. In a warp knitting machine, the elements defined in claim 3, said shaft rocking means comprising individual rocker arms secured to said shafts respectively, a main drive shaft for the knitting machine, an actuator for each rocker arm, said cam means driven by said main drive shaft for moving said actuators in a predetermined timed relation.

5. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements defined in claim 4, of means for varying the distance between said needle beds, and means for correspondingly varying the swing arc of said third guide bar, said last-named means comprising a variable articulation between the rocker arm and actuator of said third guide bar.

6. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements defined in claim 5, of means for adjustably shifting the axis of the shaft on which said third guide bar is suspended, so that the center point of said swing arc can be shifted.

7. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means for moving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feeding means, primary movable guide bars in proximity to said needle beds respectively, each guide bar being adapted to move back and forth only with respect to its own needle bed and controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of said bed, a third movable guide bar adapted to move back and forth with respect to both needle beds and controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of both beds, and means for moving said guide bars in such timed relation that the yarn-positioning movements of said third guide bar With respect to each needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning movements of the corresponding primary guide bar, said guide bars being individually suspended for swinging movements upon separate parallel shafts, the means for moving said guide bars comprising individual rocker arms secured to said shafts respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,115,023 12/1963 Mosig et al. 66-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,216 9/1960 USSR.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A WRAP KNITTING MACHINE, A PAIR OF NEEDLE BEDS AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE NEEDLES OF EACH BED THROUGH THE KNITTING CYCLE, YARN FEEDING MEANS, PRIMARY MOVABLE GUIDE BARS IN PROXIMITY TO SAID NEEDLE BEDS RESPECTIVELY, EACH GUIDE BAR BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH ONLY WITH RESPECT TO ITS OWN NEEDLE BED AND CONTROLLING THE DISPOSITION OF YARN WITH RESPECT TO THE NEEDLES OF SAID BED, A THIRD MOVABLE GUIDE BAR ADAPTED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WITH RESPECT TO BOTH NEEDLE BEDS AND CONTROLLING THE DISPOSITION OF YARN WITH RESPECT TO THE NEEDLES OF BOTH BEDS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GUIDE BARS IN SUCH TIMED RELATION THAT THE YARN-POSITIONING MOVEMENTS OF SAID THIRD GUIDE BAR WITH RESPECT TO EACH NEEDLE BED OCCUR WITH THE YARN-POSITIONING MOVEMENTS OF THE CORRESPONDING PRIMARY GUIDE BAR, MEANS FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID NEEDLE BEDS, AND MEANS FOR CORRESPONDINGLY VARYING THE RANGE OF THE BACK-AND-FORTH MOVEMENT OF SAID THIRD GUIDE BAR.

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