US3265021A - Linking chain stitch machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1966 D. MATTHEWS LINKING CHAIN STITCH MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I/VVEN T02 DENNIS MA Til/EDS WZZMJQM A TTOM VS.

Aug. 9, 1966 D. MATTHEWS 3,265,021

LINKING CHAIN STITCH MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I .VENTOI? DENNIg MA TTH W A TTORNEYS- 9, 1956 D. MATTHEWS LINKING CHAIN STITCH MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Feb. 11, 1963 I IV VE N 702 lIFlVN/S MA 77716105 Aug. 9, 1966 D. MATTHEWS 3,265,021

LINKING CHAIN STITCH MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ll6 INVENTOQ DENNIS MA T THE WS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,265,021 LINKING CHAIN STITEH MACHINE Denis Matthews, Sntton-in-Ashtield, England, assignor to Matthews & Birkharnshaw Limited, Sutton-in-Ashiield,

England Filed Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,715 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 12, 1962, 5,358/62; Jane 6, 1962, 21,817/62 1 Claim. (Cl. 11225) This invention relates to an improved linking machine needle in or for a linking machine of the type in which a yarn control needle is operative on a joining yarn in stitching together two or more overlapping portions or loops of fabric by chain stitching.

In linking machines of this type the needle usually comprises a stern of straight or curved form, with one end portion adapted for releasable attachment to a reciprocated or oscillated machine operating member, and the opposite fabric-engaging end portion tapering substantially to a point for passing to and fro through the fabric portions or loops, and there being an eyelet in the fabricengaging end portion through which the yarn is threaded.

As is well known a needle of this type is only capable of operation for carrying with it, during its passage through the fabric portions or loops, a narrow loop of the joining yarn, it being necessary to provide separate looping means, usually a thread-looping element, for the narrow loops to be formed into loops of a knitted chain by which the fabric portions or loops are joined together.

An object of the invention is to provide, in or for a machine of said type, a needle which is of such construction as to be operable in the formation of the joining knitted chain without the cooperation of separate looping means such as the usual thread-looping element.

The invention provides a linking needle having one end suitable for releasable attachment to an operating member in a linking machine, an opposite end tapering substantially to a point as in the usual linking or sewing needle for ease in penetrating fabric portions or loops thereof, and adjacent the latter end yarn-receiving and loop control means for the passage of one loop through another as in knitting machine or crotcheting needles. The yarn-receiving and loop control means may be as in a knitting machine latch needle, there being a pivoted latch on the stem adapted for opening and closing a yarnreceiving recess. More specifically the recess is formed immediately behind the tapered end portion and the latch is arranged for closing over the recess and onto the wide end of the tapered end portion. The recess may be partly undercut into the tapered end portion to form a hook with which the spoon of the latch has releasable engagement.

The needle may be formed from a rod of metal of the type usually employed for such needles, the stem being formed of circular cross section, one end portion of the rod being tapered substantially to a point by shaping to spear-head like form, a recess being partly undercut into the spear-head like portion, and a groove being formed in the stem and a latch being pivotally mounted in the groove, for the recess to be opened and closed by displacement of the latch.

Alternatively the needle, with one end tapering substantially to a point may have a slot formed in it adjacent to the tapered end to provide a hook and adapted for passage of yarn into and out of the hook and tor allowing retraction of the needle through a loop with the loop riding over the hook.

The slot may be inclined to both the major and minor axes of the needle stem so that a portion of one side wall of the slot is level with the tip of the hook. Alternatively Patented August 9, 1966 the slot may be of helical form to provide for a loop n'ding over the hook.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in the appended claim are incorporated in the methods hereinafter particularly described in greater detail by Way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of parts of a needle according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of parts of the needle in its initial form;

FIGURES 3 to 5 are side views of parts of the needle at various stages in its production;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side view of the hooked end of a modified linking machine needle according to the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an under-side view of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a modified needle end;

FIGURE 9 is an underneath view of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view of the needle end on line 55 in FIGURE 8 and showing, in broken lines an old loop on the needle;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of part of a linking machine showing one of the needles in operation;

FIGURE 12 shows an action of a yarn control finger in the linking machine;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged cross section of the needle similar to FIGURE 9 but showing fabric on the needle;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged View of a further modified needle according to the invention;

FIGURE 15 is another enlarged perspective View of part of the needle shown in FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is a cross sectional View of said needle part.

In the example of FIGURE 1 there is provided a linking machine needle in this example having a circular cross sectioned stem 1 and having an end portion 1a adapted for releasable fitment to an operating head in a linking machine substantially as is usual for linking machines.

At the opposite fabric-engaging end of the needle there is an end portion 1b which, as shown, is of elongated form tapering gradually to a point, the tapering being for the usual purpose in a linking needle of ease in operation of penetrating fabric portions or loops to be stitched together.

The needle is also provided with yarn-receiving and loop control means substantially as in a knitting machine latch needle, there being a recess 1c formed in the stem, in the present instance behind the tapered end portion 1b. and a latch 1d of the spoon-ended type of knitting machine latch needles.

More specifically the recess 1c partly undercuts, by a concave portion 1e, into the tapered end portion 1b, and a groove 1 is formed in the stem beyond the recess 1c, and the latch la is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 1g in the groove 1 The groove 17 may be of arcuate form and of sufficient length to enable pivoting of the latch 1d between one open position indicated in full lines, in which it extends from the pivot pin 1g along the stem away from the recess 10, to another closed position shown in broken lines, forming a bridge over the recess 1c by extending from the pivot pin lg to the tapered end portion 1b.

The provision of said yarn-receiving and loop control means renders the needle capable in its passage to and fro through the fabric portions or loops of receiving yarn and chain-stitching by the passing of one loop through another, without the aid of a separate looping element.

More specifically the tapered end portion 1b of the needle enables the usual ease of penetration of the needle through the fabric portions or loops, and in all other respects the needle is capable of being operated to function substantially in the same manner as a knitting machine needle.

More specifically in use the latch 1d is opened, when the needle penetrates the fabric portions or loops, by action of an old chain loop in the recess 10 of the needle, and the latch passes not only beyond this old chain loop but also beyond the fabric portion or loops; at this stage the joining yarn is received in the recess 1c and upon retracting the needle, the latch 1d is closed over the recess 10 to retain the joining yarn therein; continued retraction of the needle causes it to draw a new needle loop of the joining yarn through the fabric portions or loops and also through the old chain loop on the needle stem until a position is reached where the old chain loop is cast-otf the needle over the newly drawn needle loop to complete the cycle of operations.

In a convenient method of manufacturing the needle it is first provided in the form of a square sectioned rod as indicated in FIGURE 2.

The needle is then formed with its circular sectioned stem as shown in FIGURE 3 and one end is shaped to be of spear-head like form as indicated in FIGURE 4, this portion being formed to constitute the tapered end portion 1b of the needle.

Next the recess 1c is undercut partly into the tapered end portion 1b as indicated in FIGURE 4.

Finally as shown in FIGURE 5 the arcuate groove 1 is formed in the needle stem and the latch 1d is pivotally mounted in the groove by the pivot pin 1g.

Referring now to the modification of FIGURE 6 a linking machine needle is provided comprising a square sectioned spring steel wire or rod stem 11 having an end portion 12 tapering substantially to a point P and forming a downwardly directed beak-like tip 13.

In the stem 11 behind the end portion 12 there is a hook 15 provided by forming a slot 16 in the stem.

The slot 16 consists of a lead-in portion 16a which is inclined inwardly of the stem towards the pointed end thereof and a portion 16b extending from the inclined portion 16a along the length of the stem 11 towards the rear end thereof.

The inclined lead-in portion 16a of the slot starts at the under-side of the needle such that the hook 15 is disposed substantially to one side of the needle, FIGURE 7, with the portion 16:: of the slot extending diagonally across the under-side of the needle from the hook towards the pointed end thereof, and with the tip 15a of the hook adjacent the bottom edge of the needle, FIGURE 6. The other portion 16b of the slot extends diagonally of the needle at the opposite side to that of the hook and at a slight angle to the inclined lead-in portion 16a of the slot at the hook side of the needle as shown in FIGURE 6.

In this example the slot has straight sides, being formed by saw cutting. In the example of FIGURES 8 and 9, the hook 15 and slot 16 are of helical or twisted form such that the part 161) of the slot inclines downwardly from the hook 15', which is substantially half way up the thick ness of the needle at the side where the hook is disposed. The other side of the part 16b of the slot inclines upwardly from the hook 15' as indicated in broken lines at 160.

FIGURE 9 shows that the portion 16a of the slot extends diagonally substantially as in the construction of FIGURE 7.

In use of either of these needles for knitted chain stitching, the needle with an old loop on its stem is advanced to receive yarn Y fed to it as shown in FIG. 7, at the angle shown across the slotted under-side, the yarn extending from a feeder 17 (FIG. 11) at the non-hook side of the needle across to the hook side thereof and through the fabric F to be joined, into the old loop OL. Theyarn is urged upwardly against the under-side of the needle so that it enters the lead-in part 16a, 16a of the slot 16, 16'. In the instance of the straight sided inclined slot FIGURES 6 and 7 the yarn is clear of the tip 15a of the hook 15 immediately it enters the slot. In the instance of the helical or twisted slot the yarn is guided by the slot into a position clear of the tip 15a of the hook 15'.

The result in each instance is that upon retraction of the needle the hook rides under the yarn and the yarn is drawn rearwardly through the fabric F to be joined and through the old loop 0L on the needle stern.

It is important to note that the hook 15 will not foul the old loop OL, in the instance of the straight sided slot, by virtue of the portion 16a extending diagonally across the needle, and in the instance of the helical or twisted construction, by virtue of the tip 15a of the hook being disposed rearwardly in relation to the old loop as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 10. In addition in neither instances will the hook 15 or 15' foul the fabric by virtue of the underneath part of the fabric extending round the linking points 18 as shown in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 11 illustrates the yarn feeding position with the feeder 17 feeding the yarn Y from the inner side of the fabric F and the needle being operated from the outer side of the fabric F.

It is important to note that the upward disposition of the yarn Y in the inclined, helical or twisted slot 16 ensures that when the needle retracts, the yarn is held upwardly clear of the next adjacent fabric holding pointed pins 18.

FIGURE 12 shows the yarn controlling guide 17 with the arrows A and B indicating that it has an arcuate upward motion to urge the yarn into the slot of the needle and an arcuate downward motion to position the yarn ready for the advancing needle to cross over it.

Operation of the needle and of the yarn guide may be effected by the means disclosed in U.S. patent application Serial No. 257,719, but at opposite sides of the fabric.

In a convenient method of making the helical or twisted construction, the slot 16 or 16 is stamped out of the stem with the part 16b or 16b parallel to the stem and then relative twist under heat is elfected between the stem and the end portion thereof through an angle of say about 45.

In another method of forming either of the needles, the slots maybe formed by spark erosion.

Conveniently the inclined construction may have a slight twist in the stem and/ or imparted to it by suitable mechanism.

It is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention :for the needle to be employed for any purpose where it is required for a new loop of yarn to be drawn through an old loop. An example of this is in a sewing machine where it is required for a needle to produce knitted chain stitching. This could be effected conveniently by use of a needle according to the invention operated from the underside of the fabric with yarn being fed at the upper side thereof.

In the further modification shown in FIGURE 14, the needle is of substantially square cross section and is formed with a circular cross sectioned pointed tip 16a. In addition there is formed near the pointed end 116a, a slot 116b which as shown in FIGURE 14 terminates in an inclined end 116c. FIGURE 15 shows that the slot inclines to the longitudinal axis of the needle, and FIGURE 16 shows that the slot inclines also -to the transverse axis of the needle, so that the effect of forming the slot is to provide an underneath slot 116d the tip 116e of which [is off-centre so that, as shown in FIGURE 16, it is substantially level with the lower port-ion 116 of the opposite wall of the slot.

The arrangment is conveniently such that as shown in FIGURE 15 the slot 116!) allows entry of yarn Y which is lapped about the needle (as disclosed in said U.S. patent application) so that the yarn is caught by the hook 116d to be carried along with the needle in its retraction.

FIGURE 16 shows that the effect of the tip 116e of the needle hook and the opposite portion 116 being substantially level with each other is that this prevents an old chain loop OCL (said US. patent application) from entering the slot 1116b and being caught by the hook, so that the yarn Y can be drawn as a loop through the old chain loop as required.

What I claim is: 1

In aknitwear chain stitch linking machine having a plurality of pointed pins and a linking machine needle, a standard needle operating member arranged to reciprocate said needle from a retracted position at one side of the fabric to an extended position at the opposite side of the fabric, and to retract the needle, and yarn feeding and guiding means on such opposite side of the fabric to feed and guide yarn to said needle projected through the fabric by said operating member, said linking machine needle having an elongated longitudinally arcuate and longitudinally smoothly streamline stern formed with a shank portion at one end for releasable attachment in said standard operating member, the opposite end of said stem having an elongated portion gradually tapering to a point suitable to penetrate loops of overlapped fabric portions to be chain stitched to each other, said elongated stem portion being imperforate; and yarn and loop control means on said needle including a recess formed in said stem inwardly of said imperforate elongated portion and inwardly from a surface of said stem for releasably receiving new yarn from said yarn feeding and guiding means, said recess being contoured at its outer end to define a hook facing away from said point and having a laterally outer surface included within the forwardly extending peripherally conforming projection of the longitudinally streamline surface of said stem inwardly of said hook, said laterally outer surface enabling passage of a loop on the needle smoothly over the recess; said stem being formed with a longitudinally extending groove extending longitudinally inwardly from said recess, said groove being longitudinally arcuate and having an outwardly facing concave surface; and a latch pivotally mounted at one end within said groove on a transverse axis intermediate the ends of the latter; said latch having a spoon-shaped free end, and having a first position, substantially within said recess, in which said spoon-shaped end overlaps said hook and a second position, substantially out of said recess, in which said spoon-shaped end extends toward said shank portion of said stem; whereby said needle may be used for chain stitch linking in a knitwear chain stitch linking-machine without requiring a complex looper.

References fiited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,025 1/1849 Helbert 223-102 X 299,305 5/1884 Weed 223-102 X 1,611,306 12/1926 Feldman 223102 1,714,928 5/1929 Sigoda 1 12198 2,041,674 5/ 1936 De Spain 22310'2 X 2,264,234 1 1/ 1941 Bell 112--25 2,699,053 1/ 1955 Noe 66-'121 2,781,957 2/ 1957 LeSzen 223-402 FOREIGN PATENTS 8 11,307 8/ 1951 Germany. 461,876 2/1937 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

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