Patent GB-1371049-A (GB)
Title: Circular knitting machines
IPC: B65H45/103
Filed: 1971-01-21
Abstract: 1371049 Laying fabric STIBBE MACHINERY Ltd 13 Jan 1972 [21 Jan 19711 2850/71 Heading D1S Knitted fabric is stacked in layers in a container in continuation of the knitting thereof on a circular knitting machine by reciprocably guiding the fabric into the container to cause it to be folded, in concertina fashion, and in a uniform manner, between two opposite walls of the container. In one embodiment, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a circular knitting machine has a stationary base plate 3 on which a rotary table 5 is mounted by a bearing 4. Tensioning rollers 6 are driven in synchronism with the fabric output. Layering rollers 8, 9 are supported on frames 10 on the table 5 which also supports a container 11. The rollers 8, 9 are mounted on shafts 13, 14 each provided with an idler roller 15 to run on a surface 16 on the frame 10 and with a gear wheel 17 engaging a toothed rack 18. Each wheel 17 incorporates a one-way gear including a pawl and ratchet mechanism so that it is positively driven in one direction only, the arrangement being such that the rotation of the roller 8 or the roller 9 is in a direction, in use, to cause the fabric to be fed downwardly. The ends of the shafts 13, 14 pass through slots 19, Fig. 4, in a link 20 and through holes in links 21 hinged together by a pin 22 and coupled together by a tension spring 23 to urge the rollers 8, 9 together. To reciprocate the rollers 8, 9, a link 24 is connected to the link 20 and to a continuously driven endless chain 25. At the end of the stroke of the rollers 8, 9, the latter stop whilst the link 24 moves around a sprocket carrying the chain 25. To continue feeding of the fabric during the pause, the rack 18 stops short of the end of the frame 10 so that the wheels 17 move out of engagement therewith. A sprocket 30 is mounted on the shaft 13 to enter into engagement with the chain 25 and incorporates a ratchet 31 and a pawl 32 to drive in one direction only. As the wheels 17 become disengaged from the rack 18, continued movement of the chain 25 causes rotation of the wheel 30 to positively rotate the roller 8. A potentiometer 43 is provided to govern the speed of traverse, and thus the speed of rotation, of the rollers 8, 9. Spring clips (not shown) may be provided to hold the fabric in the bottom of the container 11. Pivotally mounted dropper arms 44 may be provided to hang freely and have rubber or nylon pads thereon to grip the fabric. A cam plate 46, Fig. 3, lifts the arms 44 at the end of each stroke of the rollers 8, 9. In another embodiment, Fig. 6, the fabric F passes between take-off rollers 53, 54 and guide bars 79, 80 to be deposited in an opensided container 57 located on a rotary table 62 by brackets 61. Four screw-threaded posts 63 are located adjacent the corners of the container 57 and each has a bracket 64 screwed thereon. Two brackets 64 carry driven sprockets 66 and two carry idler sprockets 67. Drive chains 68 extend between the sprockets 66, 67 on opposite sides of the container. The bars 79, 80 are positioned between and fixed to the chains 68 so as to be reciprocated thereby. A vertically-movable reversible motor 69 reciprocally drives the chains 68. A sprocket 72 is fixed to the lower end of each post 63. A continuous chain 73 interconnects the sprockets 72 so as to rotate the posts 63 when a star wheel 74 fixed to one post 63 below the sprocket 72 contacts a stationary cam (75), Fig. 5 (not shown), to raise the fabric guiding mechanism. Spring clips 81 hold the fabric in the bottom of the container 57. A micro-switch 82 may be provided to be actuated by one bracket 64 when the container 57 is full to stop the machine. In a modification, Fig. 7 (not shown), the bars (79), (80) move partly around the sprocket (67) before reversal of the motor (69) and may be replaced by freely rotatable rollers. In a further modification, Fig. 11 (not shown), a photo-electric sensing device (87) is fitted to one bracket (64) to co-act with a light source on the opposite bracket and causes the cam (75) to operate the star wheel (74). In another embodiment, Fig. 12, the fabric F is laid in a container 89 by nozzles 90, 91 through which compressed air is projected alternately.