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KNITTING MACHINE LOOP ADJUSTINGVMEANS
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KNITTING MACHINE LooP ADJUSTING MEANS
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KNITTING MACHINE LOOP ADJUSTING MEANS
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Patented Nov. 5, 1940
2,220,801
'rl-:NT VOFFICE
UNITED STATESi
2,220,807
KNITT'ING MACHINE LOOP ADJUSTING
MEANS
Harold E. Stout and Daniel B. Kitzmiller, Reading,
Pa.; said Kitzmiller assigner to said Stout
Application July 18, 1938, lSerial No. 219,846
19 Claims.
Our invention relates toloop adjusting means
for knitting machines, and particularly to such
means as applied to straight or full fashioned
stocking knitting machines.
Among the objects of the invention is to provide
means for automatically regulating the length of
the knitted loops to produce a stocking knit to a
specified number of courses per inch irrespective
of temperature changes, yarn and moisture varia
î tions, and other eñects. By so doing, stockings
of uniform length can be produced thereby reduc
ing the number of seconds or waste.
A further object of our invention is the provi
sion of mechanism which can be applied to full
fashioned knitting and other machines of the
character or types in general use and which will
operate in an eñ'icient and practical manner.
further object of our invention is the provi
sion of mechanism of the character and for the
purpose stated which will be of simple, strong
and durable construction and which by means
of its saving in the cost of producing the stock
ing will prove economical, useful and necessary.
To accomplish the objects stated, we focus a
light beam upon the knitted fabric close to the
needle line. The shadow of the yarn forming
loops is then enlarged through a lens system and
projected upon a master plate with holes spaced
the correct pitch desired, proportional to the en
largement. The master plate is slidably mounted
for ensuring registration of the holes with the
shadows or images of the loops by movement im
parted to the plate from the cam shaft. This
motion takes place while the yarn is being laid
across the noses of the sinkers.
While this ac
tion is taking place the fabric is not in motion
thus insuring greater accuracy. Photo-electric
cells disposed behind the master plate are añected
in accordance with variations in the size of the
40 loops as the shadows pass over the holes.
The
impulses created are then relayed to an auto
matically adjusted regulating motion.
The regulating motion through a system of
pawls and ratchets varies the distance between
the spring beard needles and the presser edge
thereby making longer or shorter loops as desired.
It can be seen that in a stocking of say 1900
courses, a variation in the loop size of 1/1000 part
of an inch would cause a variation of 1%@ inches
on the finished product.
To accomplish this minute variation of the
regulating motion we provide an arrangement of
pawls and ratchets which are selected by the im
pulse from the photo-electric cell through a sys
tem of relays to magnetic coils or solenoids
<01. fis-_sm
mounted on the adjusting arm. On the microm
eter adjusting screw shaft we have mounted two
ratchets with the teeth in opposite directions
with pawl means to operate each. This is to in
crease or decrease the size of the loop according
to the direction ratcheted. After the selection of
the proper pawl is `made the movement of the
pawl and subsequent rotation of the ratchet is
accomplished through the rocking motion of the
10
adjusting arm against a ñxed stop.
We make use of the chain motion, as on present
machines, and cams placed so as to open the cir
cuit when desired, thus rendering the system in
active while knitting loose courses, etc.
Also the light source may be pivotally mounted 15
for' swinging it clear of the knitting field when
inserting the welt bar and removing stockings,
and the lens system is also easily swung clear of
the knitting i'leld by the operator when changing
needles, etc.
'
Our invention further comprises loop regulat
ing mechanism for full fashioned stocking and
20
other knitting machines, embodying novel fea
tures of construction and combination of parts,
substantially as described and Yclaimed and as 25
shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a transverse or cross-sectional
View of a full fashioned stocking 'knitting machine
embodying our invention.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the 30
machine.
Fig. 3 shows a detail View taken through the
machine.
Fig. 3a. is a detail enlarged sectional view of
the master plate.
„
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view show
35
ing the loop regulator.
Fig. 4a shows adetail section View taken on
line Ala-lla. of Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of the loop 40
regulator.
Fig. 6 shows a sectional View taken on a line
6--6 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 shows a sectional view taken on line 1-1
of Fig. 3.
v45
Fig. 8 shows a detail sectional view taken Aon
line 8_8 0f Fig. 4.-.
Fig. 9 shows wiring diagram for controlling the
regulating motion which regulates the size of
the knitting loop.
-
Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the knitted
50
fabric as projected on the master plate.
Fig. 11 is a similar view indicating the relation
of ~long -loops to the Ímaster plate openings.
Fig. 12 is a view, similar to Fig. 11, indicating 55
2
2,220,807
the relation of short loops to the master plate
openings.
In the drawings the same reference characters
are used to indicate the same parts in all the
views of the drawings.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a stocking blank portion I is
indicated in outline between a needle bank 2 and
a draw off reel 3 which exerts the proper tension
on the fabric for knitting. The stocking is held
10 in a horizontal position by sinkers 4 and knock
over bits 5 while the needles on a needle bar 6,
through vertical and horizontal movements in
conjunction with the sinkers, perform the opera
tion of forming the knitted loops.
Mounted on the machine preferably the front
15
bed 1, is a bracket 8, on which is pivotally mount
ed a sleeve 9, in which is fastened a tube Iû, on
the outer end of which is mounted `a light source
I I, with condensing lens I2, which focuses a light
20 beam upon the knitted fabric: I. The light source
being -pivotally mounted can be easily swung out
of active position While the operator is perform
ing certain operations on the stocking. To posi
tion the light source properly in its Iactive and
inactive positions we have provided in bracket 8,
25 sliding pin I3, under pressure of spring I4, with
pin having a taper end for centering on holes I5
in sleeve 9. Electrical contacts A are provided
as shown in Fig. 3, for conducting current to the
light source. As the light beam passes through
the knitted fabric I, the projected image passes
through magnifying lens I3, which is mounted in
sleeve I1. On the upper end of `this sleeve and
directly below fabric I is fastened an aperture
35 plate I8 to provide a smooth surface for the ma
terial to slide over. This plate has a small hole
to allow the light beam to pass through. Mount
ed directly beneath lens I3 is provided prism I9
designed to direct the light beam 29 through a
, tube 2i, which is pivotally mounted on arms 22,
' by pins 23, on bracket 24, fastened to front bed 1.
The ltube 2| is held in position directly beneath
the fabric by tension spring 25, against adjusta
ble stop screw 26.
The lens system may be
first thereby creating an impulse in photo-electric
cell 36. It is through the impulses created in
the photo-electric cells 36 and 31, that we in
crease or decrease the size of the loops in the
knitted stocking I to conform to a standard
number of courses per inch 'as specified.
These electric impulses are carried from the
photo-electric cells 36 and 31 to relays 40 and 4I,
Fig. 9, as of the front and back contact separate
circuit type. Two sets of contacts open and two 10
sets close when coils 42 and 43 are energized.
Contacts 44 and 45 are normally open, land con
tacts 46 and 41 are normally closed. To illus
trate: Suppose the loops are being knit short as
in Fig. 12, the shadow of the yarn 39 first inter 15
rupts the light beam passing through hole 32 cre
ating an impulse in photo cell 36 the current
then passing to relay 49 energizing coil 42 closing Contact 44 and circuit 48 thereby energizing
magnet 49. As contacts 44 on relay 4I) are closed, 20
contacts 46 on the other end are opened, thereby
breaking circuit 50 Iand keeping _magnet 5I from
being energized which would occur when the
shadow of the next loop Y52, Fig. 12, passes over
hole 33.
This principle works the opposite way When
the loop has a tendency to get long as shown in
Fig. 11.
When the loop is exactly the correct length (as
shown in Fig. 10), the photo-electric cells re 30
ceive simultaneous impulses. The impulses pass
to the respective relays 40 and 4I, and energize
both coils 42 and 43, thereby breaking contacts
44 and 45, and circuits 48 and 50, leaving magnets
35
49 and 5I, inert.
One method of adjusting the loop regulating
mechanism in accordance with variations in the
lengths of the loops, is to provide a master plate
3| disposed in fixed position for cooperation with
the shadows of the movable fabric loops as each
new course of loops i-s cast from the needles.
Another method is to mount the master plate
3l on a slide member 53 provided with a gib 54.
By sliding the plate 3l, the holes 32 and 33 are
field by pulling handle 21, until collar 28, is
hooked behind catch plate 29, with -slot 39. The
purpose of swinging the lens system out of posi
required to traverse the shadows of the loops;
this action occurring, in one direction of the
sliding movement of the plate, while the circuit
controlling the light source is energized, and, in
tion is to facilitate the replacing of needles and
the opposite direction, while this circuit is de
45 moved to inactive position out of the knitting
50 inserting the welt bar.
As the light beam 20 passes through tube 2l,
it is thrown upon a master plate 3|, in which
there are two holes 32 and 33 (Fig. 10). These
two holes are spaced apart the distance from one
55 loop to the next according to the enlargement or
` magnification desired. Different sets of holes are
provided for the different number of courses or
pitches per inch desired. The distance between
the hole centers in inches is equal to one (l) di
60 vided by the courses per inch times the ratio of
enlargement. Directly beneath holes 32 and 33
are two prisms 34 and 35 through which the light
beam passes to photo-electric cells 36 and 31.
In Fig. 10, the loop is shown to the exact length
65 as per a specified number of courses per inch.
Fig. 11 shows a loop which, through Variations in
yarn, temperature changes affecting the vital
points on the machine, etc., has been formed long
thereby making fewer courses per inch than
70 specified. As the shadows of the loops pass over
holes 32 and 33 the shadow of the loop portion
38 passes over hole 33 first thereby creating an
electric impulse in photo-electric cell 31. When
the loop is short as in Fig. 12 the projected
75 shadow of a loop portion 39 passes over hole 32
energized.
Means for sliding the plate, comprises levers
55 and`5'ò pivotally mounted on a pin 51, a con
necting rod 58 pivotally connected to the lever 56
and to a lever 63, through yokes 59 at the ends
of the rod 58, and a cam follower 62 cooperating
with a cam 60 disposed on a stationary part of
the machine frame.
Because of the closeness of the holes in master
plate 3l, we have mounted in housing 65 the 90°
prisms 34 and 35 (one for each hole) for trans 60
mitting the light effects to the photo-electric cells
36 and 31 also fastened to slide 53.
At times it is necessary to knit loose courses
in the stocking. This is done to make easier the
insertion of the welt bar and also when topping 65
the leg on the transfer bar for insertion in the
footer. By having a normally closed switch 61
in the electric feed line 68 the current can be
broken at ,any time desired. The correct time to
perform this operation can» be controlled auto 70
matically, as from the usual chain motion. By
ybreaking the circuit when knitting loose courses
there `can loe no change made in the setting of
>the regulating motion.
To avoid changes in the lsetting or adjustment 75
3
- '2,220,807
'of the regulating motion by action of the photo
electric cells when the fabric is in motion, as
when the loops are being cast off the needles, a
one tooth on either ratchet 84 or 85.-v Near the
end of the upward stroke pin [08 on cam bar IBI,
trips one of the fingers 91, releasing the corre
normally open switch H8, in the feed line, and
operated as through a connection, such as the
rod> 58, to the cam shaft 6l, renders the system
inactive until this switch is closed.
,
As indicated in Fig. 1, a regulating arm 89 is
pivotally mounted on, and relative to, .a regulat
ing shaft ‘ì’il that is journaled in bearings Il
fastened to the front beam ‘l2 of the machine.
Motion is imparted to this arm through roller ‘i3
and cam 'lâ on cam shaft 8|. An adjusting arm
‘i5 is'fastened to shaft 'I8 for transmitting the
15 motion to the knitting field. On arm 15 is hooked
a spring I6 exerting pressure on roller 73. On
adjusting arm 'i5 is fastened a toothed dial TI.
'Regulating lever ‘i8 is fastened to adjusting screw
'i9 (see Fig. 4) threaded in adjusting arm 75.
The regulating lever 18 is held in position set by
sprinfI plunger 88 engaging the teeth in dial l1.
Extending 'through the center of the adjusting
screw 'I8 is a micrometer :adjusting screw 8l on
the front end of which is fastened a tooth wheel
B2 with spring plunger 83 in regulating lever 'i8
to keep the screw fromA turning. Parts 69 to 83
correspond to parts employed in standard ma
chines.
`
On the front end of the micrometer adjusting
spindle 8l we have mounted our automatic regu
lating device. To accomplish this we use two
ratchets 84 and 85, mounted with their teeth in
opposite directions. These ratchets are fastened
to the toothed wheel 82, and the micrometer ad
sponding pawl 88 or 89. A spring |81 keeps the
cam bar against adjustable stop 183.» A retain U!
ing collar H18 is provided to keep the various
parts in position on vthe micrometer adjusting
shaft 8|.
Although we have shown and described a par
ticular form of our invention, changes may be y10
affected therein without departing from the spirit
and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended
claims.
We claim:
1. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech 15
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-ofi` means, loop-regulating mechanism, and
means including light-sensitive vmeans affected
by loops close to the needles for adjusting said
loop-regulating mechanism.
'20
2. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mecha
nism including' a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism,
means for producing images of loop portions
close to the needles, and means including light 25
sensitive means affected by said limages 'for
adjusting said loop-regulating mechanism.
3, In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, 30
means for producing magniñed images of loop
portions close to the needles, and means includ
ing light-.sensitive means aifected by said im
ages for adjusting said loop-regulating mecha
35 justing screw 8i. On the outer end of this screw
35
nism.
there are two swinging arms 8S and 8l, on which
are mounted two pawls 88 and 89 for coopera
4. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
tion with the ratchets 84 and 85, respectively.
'I‘hese pawls pivot on studs 88 and 9i, and are
normally held out of Contact with ratchets 84
and 85, by springs 92 and S3.
On swinging >arm 843, is mounted a bracket' 94,
to which is secured a magnet 49. On swinging
take-'off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a
`arm 8l, is also mounted a bracket 95, to which is
- secured a magnet 5i. The purpose of these mag
nets is to pull pawls 88 and 89, into contact with
ratchets 85. [and 85. When one of these pawls is
loop-length standard for comparison with loops
close to the needles, means for producing a light.A 40
effect in accordance with said comparison, and
means including light-sensitive means affected
by said light effect for adjusting said loop
regulating mechanism.
5. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric ten
sion take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism,
pulled into contact with its ratchet it is held
means for projecting a light beam carryingim
there by hook 98 on a corresponding ñnger 91
(Fig. 8). These fingers pivot on studs S8 and are
held against pawls 88 and 89 by the action of
spring 88. Hence as pawls 88 and 89 yare pulled
tures for passing the respective image portions
into contact with ratchets 84 and 85, the corre
spending finger 9'! will hold the selected pawl
in contact with its ratchet until released at the
end of the ratcheting stroke by pin 180 on cam
bar lill. As explained in connection with the
relay system only one pawl can be selected at a
time. As the adjusting arm 15 moves forwlard
60 and backward once with each knitted course in
f' 45
ages of opposite-end loop portions close to the
needles, a loop-length standard having aper-`
1
of said beam, means controlled by the machine
for moving said standard to ensure register of
said apertures with said respective beam- por
tions, and means including light-sensitive means.
affected by light from said respective beam por
tions fo-r adjusting said loop-regulating' mecha
nism.
`
'
6. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
the stocking, we utilize this motion to change the
setting of the micrometer adjusting screw 8l if
it is necessary to do so. This is accomplished by
cam bar IUI, slidable vertically on bracket E82,
fastened to adjusting arm l5. As the cam bar
anism> including a> needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a
light-producing element for directing a beam on
loops close to the needles, a light-sensitive ele
ment subject to light from said beam as af
fected by said loops, at least one of said elementsl 65
hits adjustable stop 183, on the bracket |84 fas
having active position in the knitting field, means
tened to fro-nt beam l2, the downward movement
for moving one or both of said elements from
of the cam bar is arrested. As the motion of the y
said position to inactive position out of the
adjusting arm ‘i5 continues, the cam surface i235,
70 on the cam bar IDI, wedges between the two
swinging arms 86 and 87, which are always held
against the cam bar by spring EGE.
The swing- ‘
ing iarms pivoting on the micrometer adjusting
shaft 8i, impart a rotary motion to the pawls 88
75 and 89. This motion must be enough to ratchet
knitting field, - and means controlled by said
light-sensitive element for adjusting said loop
regulating mechanism.
7. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-olf means, loop-regulating mechanism, and
means for adjusting said loop-regulating mech
7,5
4
’2,220,807
anism including a pair of light-sensitive ele
ments, and means for directing light effects from
loop portions at the ends of a loop close to the
needles toward said elements, respectively.
8. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, and
means for adjusting said loop-regulating mecha
nism including a pair of light-sensitive elements
lO disposed a predetermined distance apart, means
for receiving light eifects from loop» portions at
the ends of a loop close to the needles, means
for maintaining said light effects close to each
other from said receiving means for a prede
15 termined distance toward said elements, and
means for causing said effects -to diverge at the
end of said distance toward said elements, re
spectively.
9. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
20 anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off
means,
loop-regulating
mechanism,
means for adjusting said loop-regulating mecha
nism by minute increments, and means includ
ing light-sensitive means alTected by loops close
.25 to the needles for actuating said adjusting
means.
10. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off
means,
loop-regulating
mechanism,
30 means including electro-responsive means for ad
justing said loop-regulating mechanism, means
including light-sensitive means aiïected by loops
close to the needles for opening and closing the
vices for oppositely controlling adjustment of
said loop-regulating mechanism, respectively,
means including light-sensitive means affected by'
loops close to the needles for actuating one or
the other of said devices, respectively, accord
ingly as the loops are longer or shorter than a
selected length and maintaining said devices in
active accordingly as the loops are of the selected
length, and means controlled by the regulating
movement of said loop-regulating mechanism for 10
adjusting the same as controlled by said electro
responsive means.
15. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, and 15
means including light-sensitive means aiïected
by corresponding bights of loops in next adjacent
courses close to- the needles for adjusting said
loop-regulating mechanism.
16. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism in
cluding main and micrometer adjusting means,
and means including light-sensitive means af
iected by loops close to the needles for adjust 25
ing said micrometer adjusting means.
17. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-01T means, loop-regulating mechanism in
cluding a micrometer adjusting screw, a pair of 30
oppositely directed ratchets secured to said screw,
a pair of arms pivotally mounted relative to each
other about the axis of said screw, pawls piv
circuit of said electro-responsive means, and
means for opening and closing said circuit.
11. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
otally mounted on said arms spring biased away
from said ratchets, electromagnetic means on
said arms for engaging the pawls to the ratchets, latching means on said arms for holding said
take-off
pawls engaged to the ratchets, means responsive
to the loop-regulating motion for imparting
means,
loop-regulating
mechanism,
means including electro-responsive means for ad
40 justing said loop-regulating mechanism, means
ratcheting motion to said arms for said pawls and
including light-sensitive means affected by loops for releasing said latching means, and means in 40
close to the needles for opening and closing the cluding light-sensitive means affected by loops
circuit of said electro-responsive means, and close to the needles for controlling ysaid electro- ì
`magnets.
means for opening said circuit during the pro
45 duction of loose courses.
18. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
12. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension take-off means, and means for maintaining sub
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism, a stantially uniform lengths of successive fabrics
source at one side of the fabric take-off path for of the same number of courses, comprising loop
50 directing a light beam toward the fabric close to regulating mechanism, and means including
light-sensitive means affected by loops close to
the needles, and means for controlling adjust
the needles for controlling adjustment of said
ment of said loop-regulating mechanism in
cluding light-sensitive means affected by a light loop-regulating mechanism.
19. In a full fashioned stocking blank knitting
effect of said beam at the other side of the fabric.
machine, loop-forming mechanism including a
55
13. In a knitting machine, loop-formingmech
55
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension needle bank, blank tension take-oiî means, and
take-01T means, loop-regulating mechanism, means for maintaining successive blanks of the
same number of courses of substantially the same
means including a pair of electro-responsive de
vices for oppositely controlling adjustment of length, including loop-regulating mechanism em
60
said loop-regulating mechanism, respectively, and
means including light-sensitive means aiîected by
loops close to the needles for actuating one or
the other of said devices accordingly as said loops
are longer or shorter, respectively, than a selected
65 length and maintaining said devices inactive ac
cordingly as the loops are of the selected length.
14. In a knitting machine, loop-forming mech
anism including a needle bank, fabric tension
take-off means, loop-regulating mechanism,
70 means including a pair of electro-responsive de
bodying a micrometer screw, means including
electro-responsive means for reversely adjusting 60
said screw by small increments, means for di
rectingva beam of light toward a postion on the `
blanks close to the needles, and means includ
ing light-sensitive means controlled by light from
said beam as affected by loops at said position
for controlling said electro-responsive means.
HAROLD E. STOUT.
DANIEL B. KITZMILLER.