DEVICE FOR PRODUCING INLAID OR SCULPTURED KNITTED FABRICS PARTICULARLY IN LINEAR KNITTING MACHINES

Abstract: In a device for producing inlaid or sculptured knitted fabrics in linear knitting machines, the yarn guiding tubes (GF) are rigidly supported, in predetermined numbers, on two rod-like elements (25) effective to be moved longitudi­ nally of the knitting machine. Thus, as the rod-like ele­ ments (25) are operated, the yarn guiding tubes (GF) are contemporaneously moved thereby reducing to a minimum the yarn locating and supplying errors. In this way an inlaid fabric is obtained of very high fineness and quality.

Description: This invention relates to a device intended for application to linear knitting machines, in particular linear knitting machines adapted for producing so-called inlaid knitted fabrics. An inlaid knitted fabric refers herein to a type of knitwork, well known in the art, which is enlivened with patterns reproducing in general geometric figures, such as lozenges, rectangles, and the like, which knitwork, contrary for instance to the Jacquard knitwork, has an almost identical appearance both on the plan and purl sides. For the production of such inlaid knitted fabrics, complex-design mechanisms and related yarn feeding fingers or tubes are currently employed which involve a tedious and difficult programming procedure, and which in no case can operate above a certain stitch fineness level. in fact, since the aforesaid yarn feeding or guiding members are generally individually driven, locating errors occur which, by humming on, prevent a high quality inlaid knitted fabric from being obtained0 This invention sets out to provide a device intended for application to knitting machines, in particular knitting machines of the linear type, which enables the production of inlaid knitted fabrics having a fineness within a broad range of values and affording a wide range of patterning capabilities, whilst its programming is extremely simplified0 Within that general aim it is possible to arrange that the device for knitting inlaid knitted fabrics can be made to operate with negligible errors in the locating of the yarn guiding members, thereby providing very high fineness inlaid knitted fabrics. It is further possible to range that the device for knitting inlaid knitted fabrics, according to this invention, cay be made to operate on just one or both needle beds, and is extremely easy to program. It is further possible to arrange that the device cr knitting inlaid knitted fabrics according to this invention requires, for its actuation, no complex auxiliary mechanisms. It is further possible to arrange that the device for knitting inlaid knitted fabrics, of this invention is extremely reliable in operation and has minimal maintenance requirements. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for producing inlaid or sculptured knitted fabrics particularly in linear knitting machines, characterized in that it comprises a plural- ity of yarn guiding member supporting rod-like elements effective to be moved longitudinally of the knitting machine, each said rod-like element or bar rigidly supporting a respective multiplicity ofyarn guiding members or tubes effective to supply with yarn a variable corresponding multiplicity of. needles of said knitting machine as held in predetermined positions, driving or actuating means being provided for longitudinally driving at least one said rod-like element of said plurality to cause said yarn gliding members or tubes to cooperate for controllably supplying said yarn to said needles to form predetermined inlaid knitted patterns. Further features and advantages of the device according to this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of example and not of limitation in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a device according to this invention; Figure 2 is a partly cut-away detail view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the component elements of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a further fragmentary perspective representation, with parts omitted for clarity, of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism for the device shown in Figure 1; ; Figure 7 illustrates, in a partly elevational and partially plan schematic view, the device of Figure 1, as associated with its related actuating mechanism shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the carriage units associated with the device of Figure 1; Figure 9 illustrates the configuration of the yarn feeding elements associated wtth the inventive device; and Figures 10 to 13 show individual inlaid patterns to be obtained with the device according to the invention. While the invention will be thereinbelow described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be clear that this embodiment is given only by way of an indicative and not limits¯ tive example since the inventive idea which, as it will become more apparent hereinafter, is that of simuntaneously moving one or more pluralities of yarn guiding members, will permit to those skilled in the art to easily mce other yarn guiding member driving devices,. either mechanically or electronically controlled, in such a way as to minimize said yarn guiding members locating errors. Referring now to the cited drawings, and par ticuWarly to Figures 1 and 2, there are respectively shown a fragmentary plan view and fragmentary cutaway plan view of a device for knitting inlaid pattern knitted fabrics according to the invention, from such views there being omitted the actuating mechanism, which is also an integral part of this invention and will be described more in detail hereinafter with reference to Bigures 5-7. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the device of this invention comprises a metal support base body 1, of substantially rectangular shape, wherein there are defined sliding movement guides 2 which extend transversely across the full width of the supporting body 1. In the sliding movement guides 2, there is slidably engaged a plate-like element 3, which will be explained hereinafter with reference to Figure 3 and i's adapted for being sli;dably advanced stepwise back and forth along said sliding movement gui'des 2., With the plate-like element 3, there are associated, e.g. through screw fasteners 4, twlo metal strips, indicated at 5 and 6 respective- ly. The strips 5 and 6 are arranged substantially V-like, the distance to the base of the "V" and the slope or inclination of the strips 5 and 6 being preset duringtiie designing stage in accordance with the dimensions of the knittel pattern to be produced and the machine fineness'. Again with reference to Figure 1, wi'th the base body 1 there are associated, at the edges thereof, two flanges 7 and 8 which carry, in turn, rod-like guiding elements 9 and 10 respectively, wherealong there can be reciprocated in "the directions shown by the arrows two carriage units 11 and 12, respectively, the reciprocating motion being imparted to the carriages 11 and 12 through a suitable actuating mechanism which will be explained hereinafter and reciprocates metal web or band-like elements 13 and 14 engaged respectively with the carriages 11 and12 and passed around small wheelsorpulleys 15,26 and 17,18, the wheels 15 and 17 and 16 and 18, respectively, being carried rotatably by small shafts 19 and 20 which are fixedly associated, e.g.. through securing blocks 21,21- and 22,22 to the flanges 7 and 8. With each carriage 11,12, there is associated- a pin or peg element 23,24 respectively, wherewith are in turn associated bars 25 supporting the yarn feeding fingers or tubes GF (shown in Figure 9). With the carriage elements 11 and 12, there are respectively rigid two supporting plates 26,27, with the plate 26 there being associated two pin- stop elements 28, 29, and with the plate 27 there being associated a respective pin stop element 30. As may be observed, the stop elements 28 and 29 limit, by abutting against the outer surfaces of the strips 5 and 6, the reciprocating movement of the carriage 11, and accordingly of the yarn feeding finger supporting bar (not shown in Figure 1) associated therewith, whilst the stop element 30 limits, by abutting against the inner surfaces of the strips 5 and 6, the recipro- cawing movementof the carriage 12, end accordingly of the seect9re bar 25 sortingthe yarn feeding fingers GF supported thereby.. Obviously, the extent of movement of the carriages will depend on the position of the plate 3 and inclination of the strips 5 and 6 thereto, it being from this very stage of the description noticeable that, at each instant, the sum of the travel distance of the carriage 11 plus the travel distance of the carriage 12 corresponds to a preset number of needles in the knitting machine, e.g. 40 needles, which number will be dictated by the dimensions of the patterns to be knitted. Thus, for example, when the carriage 11 completes ts full travel, e.g. along the major diagonal of the lozenges shown in Figure 10, the carriage 12 will be at a zero travel condition, that Is with its stop pin 30 wedged in the apex of the "V", such travel movements being obviously determined by the position of the plate 3 and strips 5 and 6, under the control and/or programmed timing by the knitting machine actuating members. With reference now to Figures 2 to 4 as well, the manner will be described how the plate 3 is reciprocated through the support body 1. As may be seen, with the plate 3, there is fixedly associated, e.g. by means of screws 31,a further plate-like ele ment 32 of a smaller size than the plate 3, which extends substantially acrossthewidthof the plate 3, centrally thereto. Along part of the length of the plate-like element 3, and at the two longitudinal edges thereof, there are formed a plurality of rack teeth 33 and 34, which are cut opposite one another, with the teeth 33 and 34 being engaged by forward and rearward advance pawls 35 and 36, respectively. The latter are supported such that they are allow to oscillate on two strips 37 and 38, which are joined together by means of a cross link 39 being rigidly connected as at 40 to an oscillating driveshaft (not shown).. As may be seen, the pawl elements 35 and 36 are biased by two respective springs 41 and 42 having their ends secured to the pins 43 and 44 on the strips 37 and 38 and 45,46 on the pawl elements 35 and 36 themselves.. Strip elements 47 and 48 are slidably received in guides formed in the base body 1, and are adapted for reciprocating back and forth to respectively inhibit and allow the pawls 35 and 36 to engage with the rack teeth 33 or 34.. For this purpose, the strips 47 and 48 are provided', at an intermediate portion thereof, with ports or oenings 49 and 50, formed through the strips themselves suchas not to break their continuity, thereby said strips are enabled to move as a unitary structure in their guiding grooves. For that travel movement, which is controlled by either electromagnetic or mechanical means (not shown), the strips 47 and 48, being further guided by small plates 51,52,53 and 54 integrally formed on the base body 1, are engaged in a swinging manner with small levers 55 and 56 having the other end swivelled to-a small shaft'.57, in turn attached rigidly to small blocks 58 and 59 which are in turnaffixed to the base body 1, as by thread engagement. More specifically, the strips 47 and 48 have at their ends slots wherein there engage for connection elongate head pins or pegs 60,61 which are rigid with the levers 55 and 56, respectively. Additional pins (not shown), rigid with the levers 55 and 56, and located at a lower level than the pins 60,61, function as the securing elements for respective ends of return springs 62,63 having their other ends linked to a plate 64 made rigid, through four cylindrical rods 65 (of which only the two upper ones are shown), with the blocks 58,59, and thus with the base body 1. It wll be appreciated from the foregoing how the forward and rearward advance movements of the plate 3, and strips 5 and 6, are obtained. In particular, as the link 39 i's oscillated, the strips 37 and 38 slide in their respective guiding grooves provided on the base body 1, being further guided by the guiding plates 66 affixed to the base body 1 and abutting against said additional guiding plates 51,52,53,54.. Thus, depending on which pawl is engaging the rack teeth, in accordance with the position of the ports 49 and 50 in the strips 47 and 48 and with the programmed timing of the oscillatory movement imparted by the link 39, the plate 3 will be advanced stepwise forward or rearward, to thus limit, step by step, the extent of the translatory movement of the carriage units 11 and 12, and accordingly of the supporting bars 25for the yarnèeding fingers GF associated therewith. Thus, assuming that the plate 3 is being advanced forward, the yarn feeding fingers GF will engage an ever vari'able number of needles in the front and rear-needle beds (not shown) of the knitting machine, thus providing the desired lozenge pattern, because, as mentioned hereinabove, the sum of the travel distances of the carriages 11 and 12 corresponds, step by step, to a preset number of needles. Making now specific reference to Figures 5 to 7, the translation mechanism for the carriages 11 and 12 according to this invention will be described in detail, which, as mentioned, is also an essential part of this invention.. As may be seen, this mechanism is located below the base body 1, that is below the carriages 11 and 12. It substantially comprises a horizontal shaft 67, supported; at its ends, whereon a gear 68 is keyed which receives a reciprocating oscillatory motion from means, not shown, associated with the knitting machine, the motion being transmitted, for example, by means of a drive chain.. To the shaft 67, there are keyed permanently two sleeve portions 67', against which.there abut cylindrical bushings 69 and 71 respectively, an additional bushing or ring 70 being arranged on the shaft 67 between the bushings 69 and 71. Of these cylindrical bushings, the outer ones, namely 69 and 71, are carried rotatably, whereas the inner one, 70, is carried immovably, that is rigid with the shaft 67. The central cylindrical bushing 70 has four pin elements 72 at diametrically opposed locations, only two such pins being shown; in Figure 6. Rigid with the outer cylindrical bushings 69 and 71 are two portions of cylindrical rods, indicated at 74 and 73 respectively, on which cylindrical rods elements 75 and 76 are slidable, stop nuts being provided on the rod portions 73 and 74 to prevent the elements 75 and 76 from sliding off.. The cylindrical rods 73 and 74 have threaded end portions 77, and the elements 75 and 76, which are slideable on said rods, have respective bifurcated ends 78, the bifurcated portions 78 being engageable with the pins 72 of the cylindrical bushing 70. It tho be noted that relatively to the cylindrical bushing 70, the assemblies including the bushings 69 and 71, cylindrical rods 74 and 73, and elements 76 and 75, are identical. As shown more clearly in Figure 7, springs 79 are stretched between respective ends of the elements 75 and 76, two springs 79 being provided for each element 75,76.. Thus, the bifurcated ends 78 of the elements 75 and 76 substantially abut against the sleeve 67'. As shown also in Figure 7, between the threaded ends of the rod 73, there is stretched a small belt or band 14 for the reciprocation of the carriage 11, the belt drivingthe carriage 12 associated with the ends of the rod 74 being omitted from Figure 7.. The operation of the mechanism just describedis self-explanatory. As the shaft 67 is being rotated, in either direction, through the gear 68 recei'ving its motion from motor means, not shown, associated with the knitting machine, the mechanism will oscillate back and forth as a whole, the shaft being supported at its ends, and the pins 72 will tend to spread apart-, against- the bias of the respective springs 79, the elements 75 or 76. Thus, the respective carriage will be displaced, and such displacement will be limited by the strips 5 and 6, the overrun movement, with respect to the fixed oscillatory one of the shaft 67 being "taken in" by the springs 79.. In other terms, the carriage driving mechanism according to this invention enables, while maintaining the nscillation of the shaft 67 fixed, a variable reciprocation of the two carriages; and this by virtue of the "lost motion-" feature of the springs 79. In that manner, and step by step, the sum of the translation of one carriage plus the translation of the other carriage will actually correspond to a constant number of needles. More specifically, whereas in conventional inlaid knitwork knitting machines the yarn i's deposited on the needles by the feeding fingers under the action of the carriage, which then leaves the reedles fully depressed after each knitting cycle such that they do not protrude out of the bed, with this invention, the carriages allows the needles to protrude from the needle beds and the yarn is deposited thereon by means of the feeding fingers GF being oscillated and translated by the carriages 11 and 12; subsequently, the carriage will actuate the needles which have already been fed with the yarn, such as to produce the knitted fabric. Finally, Figure 8 shows more in detail, and in perspective, one of the identical yarn feeding finger carrying carriages, Figure 9 showing the yarn feeding fingers GF for the patterning bar and complementary one respectively, and Figures 10 to 13 illustrate some inlaid knitwork patterns to be obtained with the do vice of this invention. It should be noted in this respect that the range of patterns to be obtained with the inventive device is quite a broad one, because through a suitable timing of the knitting machine movements, one can obtain, in addition to the conventional lozenge motif pattern shown in Figure 10, more intricate patterns, such as those shown in Figure 13, having a substantially rectangular middle portion. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention fully achieves its objects. In particular, a device has been proposed for producing sculptured or inlaid knitwork which can be applied to linear knitting machines and wherein the yarn guiding members or tubes are supported on and simultaneously driven, in pluralities, by only two bars thereby reducing to a minimum the locating errors of said yarn guiding members and providing an inlaid knitted fabric of high fineness and quality. Moreover, this device is structurally simple and has shown to be actually reliable in operation, and has enabled the knitting of inlaid pattern knitwork on machines having a high number of needles per linear inch, which was not possible heretofore with conventional methods. While the invention has been specifically described with reference to one embodiment thereof, it should be understood that, in the light of the teachings provided, it is susceptible to many modifications and variations without departing from the purview of the instant inventive concept. Thus, for example, a device can be designed including more than two yarn guiding member supporting bars or rods. Moreover, although reference has been made to forty needles, it will be apparent that the strips limiting the longitudinal travel of the yarn feeding finger carrying carriages may be arranged in a differently angled V-like configuration, such as to either increase or decrease the number of the needles brought to operate. Additionally thereto, and still withinfthe scope of this invention,.it will be possible through simple alterations well within the skill of an expert;, to provide a base body capable of accommodating different plate-like elements, with different shapes from the basic "vet', or to provide plate-like elements which can accommodate different strips or change the position of the associated strips, such as to produce varying shape and dimension patterns. Furthermore, the forward or rearward advance of the strip-carrying plate, instead of being implemented with the racks shown, could be obtained through any equivalent means, such as a step motor. Lastly, it should be noted that the inventive device may be applied to any machine for producing knitted fabrics, even to needle-less ones having other knitting devices, e.g. small tubes shaped to produce inlaid effect patterns.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 A device for producing inlaid or sculptured knitted fabrics particularly in linear knitting machines, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of yarn guiding member supporting rod-like elements (25) effective to be moved longitudinally of the knitting machine, each said rod-like element (25) or bar rigidly supporting a respective multiplicity of yarn guiding members (GF) or tubes effective to supply with yarn a variable corresponding multiplicity of needles of said knitting machine as held in predetermined positions, driving or actuating means being provided for longitudinally driving at least one said rod-like element (25) of said plurality to cause said yaxn guiding members (GF) or tubes to cooperate for controllably supplying said yarn to said needles to form predetermined inlaid knitted patterns. 2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two yarn guiding member rod-like elements (25). 3. A device according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said driving or actuating means are effective to longitudinally drive both said yarn guiding member rod-like elements (25). 4. A device adapted for application to a linear knitting machine, for the production of inlaid or sculptured knitted fabrics, according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an essentially rectangular sllpporting base body (1), in said body there being defined sliding movement guides (2) which extend transversely sub stantially across one face of said essentially rectangular body, a plate-likveR ent (3) engaged in said sliding movement guides (2) and adapted for being slidably advanced stepwise back and forth along said sliding movement guides (2), two metal strips (5,6) being fixedly associated with said plate-like element (3) and arranged substantially -V-like, and two carriage units (11,12) supported on said body and carrying two rod-like elements (25) and an associated plurality of yarn feeding members or tubes rigidly associated to said rod-like elements (9,10), said carriage units (11,12) being adapted for longitudinal reciprocation back and forth along said face of said body (1), and having stop elements (28,29,30) adapted for operatively engaging respective portions of said two strips (5,6) of said plate-like element (3) to restrict the longitudinal travel of said two carriage units (11,12) and said rod-like elements (9,10) carried thereby within respective desired distances along said face of said support base body (1). 5. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said plate-like element (3) includes oppo sitely located tooth rack means (33,34) adapted for engaging pawl actuating means (35,36) associated in sliding relationship with said one face of said support base body (1) for forward and/or rearward advancing, respectively, said plate-like element (3). 6. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said teeth (33,34) of said rack means are defined at the longitudinal edges of a further plate-like element (32) immovably associated with said one plate-like element (3) on the face thereof remote from the face wherewith said two strips (5,6) are associated and extending transversely and centrally substantially across a major part of said face 7. A device according to Claim 5, characterized in that said pawl actuating means (35,36) are pivoted to two further strip elements (37,38) operatively connected by a transverse actuating element (39) and engaging in sliding relationship in further guides defined transversely across said one face of said support base body (1), the oscillatory reciprocating movement of said transverse element (39) being thus converted to a linear reciprocating movement by said two further strip elements (37,38) and pawls (35,36) associated therewith. 8. A device according to Claim 5, characterized in that it comprises two rod-like or strip elements (47,48) arranged to slide transversely in guides on said base body, in said rod-like elements there being defined substantially centrally-located openings (49,50) and the position of said rod-like elements (47,48) in said base body being such with respect to said pawl elements as to inhibit the engagement of one said pawl element (35,36) with the rack teeth (33,34) arranged to cooperate therewith, for forwardly and/or rearwardly advancing said further plate-like element (32) stepwise, and/or vi ceversa. 9. A device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the translation of said.rnri-like elements (47,48) in said base body is effected through either electromagnetic or mechanical means, the engagement of one said pawl element (35,36) with the teeth (33,34) arranged to cooperate therewith being effected through said respective. opening (49,50) in said respective rod-like element (47,48). 10. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sum of the longitudinal translatpry movement distances of said two carriage units (11,12) corresponds, step by step of said plate-like element (3), to a fixedly preset number of needles. 11. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said two carriage units (11,12) are slidably supported on said base body (1) through a respective cylindrical guiding rod (9,10), said rods being immovably supported on said base body (-1) and extending parallel to each other substantially over the entire length or longitudinal dimension of said base body (1). 12. A device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal reciprocating movement of said carriage units (11,12) along said respective cylindrical guiding rods (9,10) therefor is effected through actuating means driven of rotatively oscillatory reciprocating motion and operatively connected to said carriage units (11,12) through two respective beltZlike driving elements (13,14) passed around respective guiding pulleys (15,16; 17,18) rotatably carried in said base body (1) close to the ends of said cylindrical guiding rods (9,10). 13. A device according to Claim 12, characterized in that said actuating means for said carriage units (11,12) comprise a shaft (67) adapted for attachment with the ends thereof to the frame of said knitting machine and for being oscillated in either directions through a preset rotation angle by motor means synchronized with the main programmed movements of said machine, said shaft (67) carrying rotatably two annular bushings (69,71), with each said bushing there being rigid portions of cylindrical rods (74, 73), on said portions there being slidably engaged bracket elements (76,75) having a respective end thereof bifurcated, between said two bushings (69, 71) there intervening a third bushing (70) carried immovably on salad shaft (67), said third bushing (70) supporting a plurality of pins (72) engageable with said bifurcated ends of said bracket elements (76,75) for moving said bracket elements (76,75) away along said cylindrical rods (74,73), springs (79) being provided for interconnecting the other ends of each pair of bracket elements (75,76). 14. A device according to Claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said two belt-lie driving elements (13,14) for actuating said carriage units (11,12) are secured with their ends to respective threaded ends of said portions of cylindrical rods (74,73) rigid with said bushings (69,71). 15. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said actuating or driving means for said yarn guiding -tube supporting rod-like elements (25) comprise at least a step by step motor or a DC motor and controlling means therefor.

Inventors: CAPARDONI, ADRIANO
Applicants: A CAPERDONI & CO. S.P.A.
Application year: 1980
Main classification: D04B11
IPC codes: D04B15, D04B7, D04B11