Nov. 28, 1961
R. W. SHANNON
3,010,299
_ KNITTING MACHINE
Filed Nov. 17, 1958
5 Sheets-Sheet l
INVENTOR.
RALPH WINFIELD SHANNON
KL. Zak/i4;
ATTORNEYS
Nov. 28, 1961
R. w. SHANNON
3,010,299
KNITTING MACHINE
Filed Nov. 17, 1958
v
3 Sheets-Sheet 2
INVEN TOR.
RALPH WINFIELD SHANNON
BY
.
ATTQR N EYS
Nov. 28, 1961
R. w. SHANNON
3,010,299
KNITTING MACHINE
Filed Nov’. 17, 1958
3 Sheets~Sheet 3
l'I T-E
‘.lu l
FIG. 5.
'_ nae?
INVEN TOR.
~RALPH- WINFIELD SHANNON
BY
4
ATTORNEYS
United States Patent ??ce
1
3,010,299
KNITTING MACHINE
Ralph Win?eld Shannon, Lakeport, N.H., assignor to
Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N.H.
Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,396
4 Claims. (Cl. 66-56)
3,010,299
Patented Nov. 28, 1961
2
FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing certain elements in
volved in the restoration of high speed operation; and
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modi?ca
tion of a yarn change mechanism of standard type desir
able to effect operation in accordance with the present
invention.
7
The machine to which the invention is applied may be
This invention relates to knitting machines and has par
conventional in most respects and is only relatively slight
ticular reference to devices for effecting slowdown of a
ly modi?ed in some of its parts to accomplish the desired
knitting machine prior to yarn change or some other oper 10 results in accordance with the invention. The machine
ation which is desirably not effected at the full speed of
to which the invention is applied may be of rotary or sta
operation.
tionary needle cylinder type such as is customarily pro
During straight forward knitting it is desirable to main
vided with a drive system involving high and low speed
tain a knitting machine operation at as high a speed as
pulleys between which a driving belt may be shipped.
possible to secure high rate of production. However, it
Consistently with the speci?c disclosure, it may be consid
is recognized that misoperation is likely to occur if the
ered that the knitting machine is of the superposed cylinder
igh speed of the machine is maintained during certain
operations such as are well typi?ed by yarn changes. In
particular, in some machines, for example of the super
“Komet” type, this type of machine particularly requiring
adequate slowdown during yarn changes because of the
relatively elaborate operations involved in making such
posed cylinder type, considerable movements of yarn ?n 20 changes. Attention may be particularly directed to the
gers are required to occur in sequence and in particular
patent to Bentley et al., 1,838,651, dated December 29,
relationship to movements of needles, and it is desirable
1931, which relates to yarn changing in a machine of this
that the machine should be slowed down during such oper
type and in particular discloses a yarn change controlling
ations. Obviously, it would be simplest if slowdown
means of a type to which reference is made hereafter.
could be accomplished simultaneously with steps of pat 25 Reference may also be made to British Patent 334,266,
tern control mechanism effective to control the opera
accepted September 1, 1930, which shows certain speed
tions for which the slowdown is required. Under condi
change mechanism which is conventional but has been
modi?ed in accordance with the present invention. Only
by reason of inertia will not slow down sutliciently rapidly
so much of the knitting machine is disclosed in the present
to achieve the desired operations.
30 speci?cation as is required for an understanding of the
It is, accordingly, one of the objects of the present in
invention, it being understood that the remaining parts
tions of normal high speed operation, however, the parts
vention to provide means for effecting slowdown of a knit
ting machine in a step under pattern control preceding the
of the knitting machine are conventional.
Referring ?rst particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, there
step which e?iects the operation for which slowdown is
are shown therein parts which are primarily conventional
required. In accordance with the present invention the 35 and which take part in speed control of the machine.
usual pattern chain of the machine is set up to c?fect slow
Three pulleys are provided as indicated at 2, 4 and 6
down one or more links ahead of the operation produc
which are, respectively, an idler pulley, a low speed
ing a yarn change or- some other operation requiring the
pulley and a high speed pulley, over which a belt may
slowdown.
be selectively shipped to secure, respectively, stopping
In accordance with the invention this is effected con 40 of the machine, low speed operation and high speed
sistently with securing a resumption of high speed opera
tion when that is required and not merely at the comple
tion of the operation for which the slowdown is required.
For example, if slowdown is desired during reciprocatory
operation, the belt being continuously driven from a
motor individual to the machine or from a countershaft.
The low and high speed pulleys serve to drive gearing
in conventional fashion to produce knitting operations,
knitting of a heel or toe, the showdown may be e?ected 45 and these geared connections remain unchanged in ac
prior to the beginning of reciprocation and then normal
full speed resumed after the reciprocatory knitting is com
pleted, using the same devices for effecting slowdown and
resumption of normal full speed as may be used in the
case of merely a transient slowdown.
The foregoing objectives are attained, in accordance
cordance with the invention and are, accordingly not
illustrated. A belt shipping lever is shown at 8, pivoted
to the machine frame at 1'0, and at its lower end, pro
vided with the fork consisting of the arms 12 between
50 which the belt (not shown) passes. When the lever 8 is
swung to the left as illustrated in FIGURE 1 the belt
with the invention, with a minimum of departure from a
drives the high speed pulley 6. When the lever is in
standard machine construction, one of the objectives of
intermediate position shown in FIGURE 2, the belt drives
the invention being the securing of simplicity in the at
the low speed pulley 4. The lever may also occupy a
55 right hand position, not shown, in which the belt drives
tainment of the foregoing ends.
the idler pulley 2.
The objects above ‘discussed and others relating to de
A lever 14 pivoted at 16 in the frame has its upper
tails of construction and operation will become apparent
end connected by an adjustable link 18 to the lever 8,
from the following description, read in conjunction with
the respective pivotal connections being shown at 20- and
the accompanying drawings, in which:
\FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the portion of 60 22. Formed as part of the link 18 is an extension 24
the upper end of which is arranged to be engaged with
a conventional knitting machine which is involved in at
taining different speeds by belt shipping, the parts being
shown in this ?gure in the positions assumed when the
belt is trained over the high speed pulley;
FIGURE 2 is a similar view but showing the belt ship
per in position to train the belt over a low speed pulley;
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing certain
elements controlling the change from high speed to slow
speed;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the assembly shown
in FIGURE 3;
the step 26 of a latch lever 28 pivoted at 29 and urged
downwardly by a spring 30 having its lower end con
nected to the link 13. As will be evident from examina
tion of the linkage, the link 18 has an approximately
horizontal movement between its various positions result
ing from operation.
I
A Bowden wire 32 has one end connected to the latch
lever 28 and passes through a sheath with its other end
connected as shown in FIGURE 5 and as later described.
The latch lever 28 is provided with a knob 36 in the
form of a pin which, as later described, may be conven
' 3,010,299
4
~ 3
iently lifted by an operator in starting a machine in high
When no lug on the chain 76 acts on followed 84 the
speed operation.
horizontally extending arm'of bell crank 116 is located
>
A manually operable lever 38, pivoted to the frame at
40, is provided at its upper end with a knob 42 for
manual operation. The lever 38 carries a pin 46 which
overlaps the left hand side of a lug 44 formed on the
lever 8. A triple armed lever 48 is pivoted at 50 on
the lever 38 and has one arm 52 located for engagement
with the right hand side of lug 44. A depending arm 54
cooperates with an adjustable abutment screw 56 which 10
limits counterclockwise rotation of the lever 48 relative
to lever 38. A third arm 58 of lever 48 is urged down
wardly. by a spring 60 having its lower end anchored to
the lower end of lever 38. A strong spring 62 normally
in spaced relationship to the stop screw 122.' The condi
tions illustrated in FIGURE 6 are those which occur
when a lug 82 of minimum height engages the follower
84, the bell crank 116 then being brought into contact
with or substantially into contact with the follower screw
without causing movement of the slide. Higher links on
the pattern chain produce movements of the slide and
yarn changes as described in said Patent 1,838,651.
The operation of the described mechanism is as
follows:
'
Y
When the machine is idle the lever 38 occupies an
extreme right hand position under the action ‘of spring
urges the lever 38 clockwise to a position limited by an 15 62, the rod 68 being released by disengagement of the
lugs 67 and 69, and the pin 46 holds the lever 8 in its
adjustable stop 64 carried by the frame. Pivoted at 66
extreme right hand position which is determined by the
to lever 38 is a rod 68 guided at its left hand end in a
adjustment of the stop 64 to locate the belt shipper in
holerin the frame and provided with a lug 67 which is
position to train the belt over the idler pulley 2. As
arranged to engage a lug 69 carried by the hub 71 of a
lever 73 pivoted to the frame. The arrangement is such 20 suming that the operator wishes to start the machine in
low speed, the lever 38 is moved to the left ‘and as this
that the machine may be stopped by pulling forward on
movement takes place the lever ‘48 having its arm 52
the lever 73 to disengage the lugs 67 and 69 to permit the
free of the lug 44 due to the stopping action of screw
rod 68 to move to the right and the lever 38 to move to
56, engages the lug 44 and, yieldingly, ‘through the ac
26 tion of spring 60,_ rocks ‘the: ‘belt shipping lever 8 to
62 thereby to ship the belt to the idler pulley.
ward the left and with ‘it the link 18 until the upward
Referring now to FIGURE 5, the end of the Bowden
extension 24 of this link engages the shoulder 26 of
wire 32 remote from latch 28 is secured to a lever 70.
latch 28. When this occurs the belt shipper trains the
which is pivoted at 72 to a stationary shaft of the machine
belt over the low speed pulley 4. The movement of
and carries an adjustable follower 74 engageable by side
lugs 76 on predetermined links of the main pattern chain 30 lever 38 is continued toward the left so that the lug
67 cams downwardly the lug 69 and ultimately passes
78 of the machine which is advanced step by step by pawl
it so that due to the weight of lever 73 the lug 69
action on the usual ratchet wheel 8%). As is usual, the
moves upwardly ‘to trap the lug 67 thereby latching the
pattern chain steps one link for one or more predeter
lever 38 in a left hand position which would normally
mined courses of knitting depending upon the particular
machine involved. This pattern chain controls all of the 35 correspond to the position of the belt shipper which
would train ‘the belt over therihigh speed pulley 6. In
operations of the machine including moves of the main
its extreme right hand position under the action of spring
the movement just described, however, since the belt
shipper lever ,8 ‘cannot move beyond the low speed
position because of the restraining action of the latch
‘speci?cally illustrated, yarn changes, the latter being
selectively effected through the use of different height lugs 40 lever 28, the lever 48 yields against the action of spring
60, being forced away from engagement with the stop
on the periphery of the chain links.
cam drum, moves of one .or more auxiliary cam drums,
if such are provided, and, in the case of the machine
Referring to FIGURE 4, one of such lugs is indicated
screw 56.
Under the conditions just stated, therefore,
the machine would operate at low speed. If high, speed
at 82 and acts upon the adjustable follower 84 secured
operation is initially desired, the latch lever 28 is raised
to an arm 86 which is in turn secured to a shaft 87 pro
vided with an upright arm 88 connected through an ad 45 by the operator through engagement with the knob 36.v
justable pivot 90 to a generally horizontally extending
rod 92. The rod 92 carries a collar 94 which is engage
able with a lever 96 pivoted at 97 to the frame and urged
clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3 by a spring 98 to be
positioned beneath an arm 100 secured to a shaft 102
which is urged so as to move the arm 1% downwardly
by a spring 104. The shaft 102 is provided with a fork
- 106 in which is pivoted a lever 188 having a cam fol
Thereupon the spring 60 acting through the‘ lever 48
and lug 44 moves the released belt shipper lever 8 to
its high speed posit-ion‘illu'strated in FIGURE 1.
In
stead of the two steps described, of course, the operator
may conveniently lift with his thumb the latch lever 28
simultaneously with the movement of the knob 42 to
the left so ‘that, effectively, the belt may be shipped di
rectly from the idler pulley 2 past the low speed pulley
4 to the high speed pulley. It will now be assumed that
vgageable with the left hand side of the upward extension 55 for the following events the machine has thus initially
lower portion 110 and a tail portion 111 which is en
24 of link 18 as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.
The
been put into high speed operation.
Let it now be assumed that as the result of previous
high speed pulley 6 is provided with a cam 112 which
operation of the machine the follower 84 is riding on
engages the cam follower end 110 of lever 108 when the
plain links which are not provided with any lugs such
lever is located in the path of the cam by the proper
position of shaft 102. A cam 114 is also provided on the 60 as 82. Under these circumstances the lever 96 will
underlie the arm 100 and the lever 108 will be in a
high speed pulley to rock the lever 168 and shaft 102 as
position in which its follower end 110 is located radi
hereafter described. Various of the parts just described
ally outwardly, with respect to the axis of the pulleys,
‘are as ‘shown in British Patent 334,266 referred to above.
beyond the path of the cam 112 so as not. to be engaged
The end of the rod 92 remote from the arm 88 is piv
V
'
oted, as indicated in FIGURE 6, to a bell crank 116 65 thereby.
Assuming, now, that is is desired to e?iect slowing
which is associated with a slide 118 which controls yarn
down of the machine prior to an operation such as the
changes as described in detail in Bentley et al. patent,
shifting of the main cam drumor the effecting of a yarn
l-,838,65l,_referred to above. Comparing FIGURE 6
change. Prior to the location of a chain link ‘to effect
withFIGURE 9 of the last mentioned patent it will be
‘noted that the only difference is that a clearance space 70 such shifting 'or change a lug 82 of minimum height
124 is provided in the slide 118 so that the arm of bell
crank 116 has play at its end which engages the adjust
able s'c'rew 122 carried by the slide. The slide is urged
upwardly as viewed in FIGURE 6 by a spring 120, and
engages the follower 84 to rock ‘the shaft 87 and move
the rod or link 92 rearwardly. As previously pointed
out in connection with the description of FIGURE 6, this
movement mayoccur withoutimpa'rting movement to
isjshown in FIGURE 6 in its extreme upward position. 75. the slide 118. Y'I'hemovement, however, of ‘rod 92 is
3,010,299
5
6
su?icient to move collar 94 to disengage the lever 96
from beneath the arm 100 thereby to rock the lever 108
to a position wtih its follower end 110 in the path of
cam 112 carried by the high speed pulley. As the cam
engages this lever its tail portion 111 is moved to the
right as viewed in FIGURE 1 forcing the link 18 to the
right to move the belt shipper lever 8 to ‘the low speed
parting from the invention as de?ned in the following
claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A knitting machine comprising driving means selec
tively movable to effect either high or low speed oper
ation thereof, pattern means for effecting movement of
said driving means to e?ect low speed operation, means
independent of said pattern means and effective after the
out effecting movement of lever 38 which is latched by
last mentioned movement for holding said driving means
the interengagement of the lugs 67 and 69. This move 10 in position to maintain said low speed operation, and pat
ment produces a latching of the lever 8 in its low speed
tern means controlling said holding means independent
position after the lever 108 is released by cam 112 by
ly of the action of the ?rst mentioned pattern means for
reason of the fact that the upper end of extension 24 is
subsequently effecting movement of said driving means
located beyond the shoulder 26 of the latch lever 28
to effect high speed operation.
which is pulled downwardly by spring 30. As the high
2. A knitting machine according to claim 1 in which
speed pulley continues to revolve the cam 114 rocks
both of said pattern means are provided by lugs on a
pattern chain.
the lever 108, and this occurs revolution after revolution
until the follower 84 is clear of any lug 82 whereupon
3. A knitting machine comprisingdriving means se
the lever 96 again drops below the arm 100 to hold
lectively movable to e?ect either high or low speed op
the lever 108 in a position out of the path of the cam
eration thereof, means normally yieldingly urging said
112. The low speed condition of operation is then
driving means to eifect high speed operation, pattern
maintained. In the next or other subsequent step of the
means for effecting movement of said driving means to
pattern chain the main cam drum may be shifted or, by
e?‘ect low speed operation, means, comprising a latch
the passage of a high lug 82 a yarn change may be
restraining said driving means from return to its normal
effected as described in said Patent 1,838,651. It will 25 condition under the action of said urging means, for
be noted that by reason of the arbitrary possibility of
holding said driving means in position, ‘after the last
locating a link of minimum height on the chain ample
mentioned movement, to maintain said low speed oper
ation, and pattern means for tripping the latch of said
time is provided for full slowdown to occur before there
holding means for subsequently effecting movement of
takes place the event for which slowdown is required.
said driving means to effect high speed operation.
When high speed of operation is to be resumed, a
4. A knitting machine according to claim 3 in which
side lug 76 engages the follower 74 to exert a pull on
both of said pattern means are provided by lugs on a
the Bowden wire 32 which raises the latch lever 28 to
pattern chain.
release the link extension 24. As soon as such re
lease occurs the spring 60 through lever 48 will move
References Cited in the tile of this patent
the belt shipping lever 8 to the high speed position.
35
As will be evident from the foregoing, both the times
UNITED STATES PATENTS
position against the yielding action ‘of spring 60 with
of initiating low speed operation and resumption of high
speed operation are subject to arbitrary choice merely
by the proper locations of lugs 82 and 76 on the chain.
The advantage, of course, is that low speed operation
may be initiated well in advance of the operation for
which it is required, the interval being su?icient to per
mit proper slowdown to take place. Consistently with
this high speed operation may be resumed whenever
required, to provide either a long or short period of low 45
793,791
1,210,866
1,463,408
1,838,651
2,422,568
.
1905
1917
1923
1931
Larkin ______________ __ June 17, 1947
2,587,816
2,697,337
2,736,178
Bristow ______________ __ Mar. 4, 1952
Brown et al ___________ __ Dec. 21, 1954
Lawson ____________ .._ Feb. 28, 1956
171,483
334,266
Great Britain ________ __ Nov. 17, 1921
Great Britain ________ __ Sept. 1, 1930
speed operation.
It will be evident that various changes may vbe made
in details of the construction and operation without de
Johnson ______________ __ July 4,
Spiers _______________ __ Ian. 2,
Swartz ______________ __ July 31,
Bentley et a1. ________ __ Dec. 29,
FOREIGN PATENTS