US3320773A - Straight bar knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

E. START ET AL 3,320,773

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES May 23, 1967 Filed DBC. 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 23, 1967 E. START ET AL STRAIGHT BAR KNTTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1964 May 23, 1967 E. START ET AL 3,320,773

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent C) 3,320,773 STRAIGHT BAR KNIT'IING MACHINES Ernest Start, Ruddington, and Raymond Blood, Shepshed, Loughborough, England, assignors to William Cotton Limited Filed Dec. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 420,311 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 27, 1963, 51,673/ 63 6 Claims. (Cl. 66109) This invention is for improvements in or relating to Cottons patent or similar straight bar knitting machines and primarily concerns coarse gauge machines.

The needle pitch of very coarse .gauge machines (i.e. 9, 6 or 41/2 gauge) is such that unless the knitting elements are made of very thick material the space between needle and sinker or knock over bits is excessive. This makes it very difficult to control the loops, for instance it is difhcult to hold the loops by the knock over bits whilst the new loops are being pulled through in the knock over position. Similarly it is difficult to hold the loops down to a reasonable level, particularly the selvedge loop as the needles rise.

To make the elements out of very thick material also presents difficulties:

(a) The steel is difficult to punch and tears so badly that hand finishing is necessary to ensure a good finish to the edges.

(b) It is also difficult to obtain the intricate shape required.

(c) The weight of the finished elements is such that unless the machines are run at a low speed excessive wear rapidly results, particularly to the falling bar.

An obje-ct of the invention is to provide yarn control blade elements in such improved manner in the machine that the aforesaid difficulties are avoided.

The invention provides a Cottons patent or similar straight bar knitting machine having yarn controlling blade elements operable in duplicate between successive needles so that yarn for each needle can be drawn over a pair of the elements. Means may be provided for operating the machine with a yarn controlling motion modified to suit each needles yarn being drawn over a pair of the elements. Conveniently at least the sinkers are provided in duplicate with a space between the sinkers of each pair thereof. The slurcock motion for sinking the yarn by the sinkers may be modified to suit each needles yarn being drawn over a pair of the sinkers. Conveniently also the knocking over bits are provided in duplicate with a space between the knocking over bits of each pair thereof. The needle bar lowering motion for drawing the yarn over sinkers and knocking over bits may be modified to suit each needles yarn being drawn over a pair of the sinkers and a pair of the knocking over bits.

The invention also provides a Cottons patent or similar straight bar knitting machine in which yarn is drawn by a lowering bar of needles over yarn controlling blade elements between successive needles, characterized in that the controlling blade elements are provided in duplicate between successive needles, and the duplicate elements are operable by the machines slurcock so that yarn for each needle is drawn over a pair of the elements.

The invention further provides a knitting machine having a row simultaneously operable needles means for feeding yarn to the needles, means for lowering the needles, a row of yarn controlling blade elements operable in duplicate between successive needles, and slurcock means operable to advance said duplicate elements so that the lowering needles draw yarn for each needle over a pair of the elements.

The above and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the construc- 3,320,773y Patented May 23, 1967 tion which will now be described as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of sinkers and knocking over bits according to the invention in a Cottons patent straight bar knitting machine.

FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating a modified machine motion of the sinkers.

FIGURE 3 is a similar View to FIGURE 1 showing the knock over.

FIGURE 4 is a similar diagram to FIGURE 2 showing a modified machine motion of the knocking over bits.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of sinkers being advanced by a modified slurcock in the machine.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional View of the machine showing relevant parts thereof.

Referring to FIGURE l a Cottons patent straight bar knitting machine is represented by a needle bar 1 having bearded needles 2, a thread carrier 3 feeding yarn Y, a sinker bar 4, and a knocking over bar 5.

The sinkers 6 are of Iconventional shape but they are provided in duplicate, that is to say that between each pair of adjacent needles there are two of the sinkers.

The sinkers of each pair of sinkers are spaced apart for which purpose the sinker bar 4 is suitably tricked as at 7.

Knocking over bits 8 may be of conventional form or as shown according to our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 421,235, filed Dec. 28, 1964.

The knocking over bits 8 are provided in duplicate in like manner to the sinkers 6, that is to say between the needles of each adjacent pair thereof there are two knocking over bits 8. The knocking over bits of each pair are spaced apart.

The machine, -being of the Cottons patent type, is represented further in FIGURE 6 by the usual cam operated mechanism for controlling the needles. This lmechanism includes an arm 9 depending from the needle bar 1 and connected to an arm 1t) which is coupled to an arm 11 depending from a shaft 12. This is part of usual mechanism for effecting horizontal movements of the needle bar 1 from a cam on the main cam shaft 13. Also on the main cam shaft 13 is a needle lowering cam 14 engaging a cam follower 15 which is connected to a shaft 16 on which there is also an arm 17 connected to the needle bar 1. The sinkers are advanced by slurcock mechanism in usual manner, the slurcock being indicated at 18 acting on jacks 19 ywhich act on the sinkers in usual manner.

The effect of having duplicate sinkers 6 is illustrated in FIGURE 2 which shows at the left hand `side the distance to which `sinkers are normally advanced by the slurcocks when only single sinkers are used between adjacent needles. The right hand side of FIGURE 2 shows the arrangement according to FIGURE l. It will be seen that in this arrangement a part P of the yarn Y for each needle extends across a pair of the sinkers 6 and across the space between the pair of sinkers.

One advantage of this is that there is less space between the sinkers and the needles than there is between the sinkers and the needles in the conventional arrangement with single sinkers, and this enables better control of the yarn.

Another advantage is that because the parts P of the yarn extend across the pairs or sinkers, the sinkers do not require to be advanced with such a long motion as in the conventional arrangement. Consequently the shape of the slurcock 18 can be modified by trimming back its forward and forward-side edges, as shown in broken lines at 18a in FIGURE 5, to provide for the shorter advance of the duplicate sinkers to suit the loops being drawn over them, and the motion of the sinkers is accordingly smoother than usual because of the trimmed edges of the slurcock so that the speed of operation of the machine can be increased.

The knock over by the knock over bits 8 is illustrated in FIGURE 3, and one kadvantage of having the knockingover bits in duplicate is that there is less space than usual between the knocking over bits and the needles which provides for better control of the yarn loops.

A further advantage is illustrated in FIGURE 4, the left hand side of which shows the conventional knock over distance to which the needles are lowered at the knock over. At the right hand side of FIGURE 4 showing the pairs of knocking over bits, it will be seen that a part P1 of each yarn loops L is drawn over a pair of the knocking over bits and across the space between them.

In consequence of this the aforesaid needle lowering cam 14, FIGURE 6, can be modified to provide a shorter lowering movement than is usual which again enables running of the machine at increased speed. The cam is modiied by trimming back its needle lowering nose 14a as indicated in broken lines at 14b.

A still further advantage of the use of the sinkers in duplicate is that they provide for better selvedge control. In the conventional arrangement with single sinkers each draw terminates with the advance of the sinkers catching up on the carrier, and this results in the angle of the yarn from the throat on the last fully drawn sinker to the carrier tube becoming steeper, and if the sinker catches become slightly worn or the carriers are set high, it is possible during the start of the next draw for the first sinker to be advanced under the yarn instead of the yarn being drawn by the sinker catchintofthe sinker throat.

With the duplicate sinker arrangement it will be seen from FIGURE 1 and FIGURE-5 that the leading sinker 6a of the selvedge pair of sinkers is advanced yby the slurcam ahead of the trailer sinker 6b. The effect of this is that the leading sinker 6a, which is in a better position than the sinker 6b for its catch to engage the yarn, in fact engages the yarn and its catch urges the yarn downwardly to a position where it cannot fail to beengaged by the catch of the trailing sinker 6b.

What'we claim is:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine having a predetermined coarse gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to each other'in a iirst direction and consisting of all the needles of the machine extending in said irst direction, rsaid needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each other according to said coarse gauge; and a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn controlling means being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each including at least one pair of like yarn controlling 'elements extending parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to said iirst direction; and means for operating said row of yarn controlling means and said row of needles in timed relation, said operating means operating all the needles extending in said first direction to cooperate with the respective yarn controlling means.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine having a predetermined coarse gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to each other in a first direction and consisting of all the needles of the ymachine extending in said rst direction, said needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each otherv according to said coarse gauge; and a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn Controlling means being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each including a pair of sinkers extending parallel to each other in a secon-d direction transverse to said first direction; and means for operating said row of pairs of sinkers and said row of needles in timed relation, said operating means operating all the needles extending in said first direction to cooperate with the respective yarn controlling means.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine having a predetermined coarse gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to each other in a tirst direction and consisting of all the needles of the machine extending in said first direction, said needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each other according to said coarse gauge; and a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn controlling ymeans being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each including a pair of knock over bits extending parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to said first direction; and means for operating said -row of pairs of knock over bits, and said row of needles in timed relation, said operating means operating all the needles extending in `said iirst direction to cooperate With the respective yarn controlling means.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine-having a predetermined coarse .gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to eachother in a tir'st direction and consisting of all the needles of the machine extending in said first direction, said needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each other according to said coarse gauge; vand a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn controlling means being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each includinga pair of sinkers and a pair of knock over bits extending parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to said first direction; and means for operating said row of pairs of sinkers and knock over bits, and said row of needles in timed relation, said operating means operating all the needles extending in said first direction to cooperate with the respective yarn controlling means.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine having a predetermined coarse gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to each other in a first direction `and consisting of all the needles of the machine extending in said iirst direction, said needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each other according to said coarse gauge; and a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn controlling means being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each including a pair of sinkers extending parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to said irst direction; and means for operating said row of pairs of sinkers and said row of needles in timed relation,.said operating means operating all the needles extending in said first direction to cooperate with the respective yarn controlling means, and including a slur cock for moving said pairs of sinkers a predetermined distance for kinking a given length of yarn into trapezoid shape between adjacent needles and a pair of sinkers between the same, lsaid distance, being less than required for kinking said given length of yarn over a single'sinker into tri-y angular shape.

6. In a straight bar knitting machine having a predetermined coarse gauge, in combination, a single row of needles extending parallel to each other in a first direction and consisting of all the needles of the machine extending in said iirst direction, said needles being spaced predetermined equal pitch distances from each other according to said coarse gauge; and a row of yarn controlling means spaced predetermined equal distances from each other, consecutive yarn controlling means being located between consecutive adjacent needles and each including a pair of knock over bits extending parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to said first direction; and means for operating said row of pairs of knock over bits and said row of needles in timed relation, said operating means operating all the needles extending in said rst direction to cooperate with the respective References Cited by the Examiner yarn controlling means, and including a cam for mov- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing said pairs of knock over bits a predetermined disy tance for knocking over loops on Said needles in a knock geran over position in which a given length of yarn extends 5 3059456 10/1962 Brooke 66 8` along a trapezoid line between adjacent needles over a 0631271 11/1962 Faust et-gi 66 8 pair of knock over bits, said distance being less than 3,066,511 12/1962 Brooke 65 8;

required for knocking over loops of the yarn by a single knock over bit while said given length of yarn extends ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

along a triangular line between adjacent needles and a 10 MERVIN STEIN, R FELDBAUM P C' FAW, single knock over blt. Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A PREDETERMINED COARSE GAUGE, IN COMBINATION, A SINGLE ROW OF NEEDLES EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER IN A FIRST DIRECTION AND CONSISTING OF ALL THE NEEDLES OF THE MACHINE EXTENDING IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION, SAID NEEDLES BEING SPACED PREDETERMINED EQUAL PITCH DISTANCES FROM EACH OTHER ACCORDING TO SAID COARSE GAUGE; AND A ROW OF YARN CONTROLLING MEANS SPACED PREDETERMINED EQUAL DISTANCES FROM EACH OTHER, CONSECUTIVE YARN CONTROLLING MEANS BEING LOCATED BETWEEN CONSECUTIVE ADJACENT NEEDLES AND EACH INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF LIKE YARN CONTROLLING ELEMENTS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER IN A SECOND DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION; AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID ROW OF YARN CONTROLLING MEANS AND SAID ROW OF NEEDLES IN TIMED RELATION, SAID OPERATING MEANS OPERATING ALL THE NEEDLES EXTENDING IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION TO COOPERATE WITH THE RESPECTIVE YARN CONTROLLING MEANS.

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