Patent GB-987852-A (GB)
Title: Hosiery-turning device for circular knitting machines
IPC: D06H3/16
Filed: 1964-03-23
Abstract: 987,852. Knitting machines, turning inside out. I. D. BELLA. March 23, 1964 [March 30, 1962; Dec. 27, 1963], No. 12087/64. Headings D1C and D1X. A hosiery-turning device provided in an automatic circular knitting machine comprises an inner tube which is disposed in a knitting cylinder and rotates synchronously therewith, an outer tube which surrounds the inner tube, is connected at its bottom end to a turned-article ejecting-device, and which rotates synchronously with the knitting cylinder, and means for producing air flow which moves upwards during hosiery turning and downwards during hosiery ejection in the space between the inner and outer tubes. An inner tube 1 comprises a stationary upper port 1a rigid with a fired ring 3, and a lower rotary part 1c which is journalled in ring 3 and which is rigidly connected via sleeves 1d and 4 with an outer tube 5. Said tubes are coupled by gearing 6, 7, 8 to a knitting cylinder 2 which surrounds the upper portion of port 1a. Tube 5 is journalled in a fixed surrounding casing 13 which is provided with an outlet 18. The upper end of tube 5 is formed with circumferential apertures 15, and the lower end is journalled at 17 on a duct 16 connected to a receptacle 19. The latter has a hinged flap 20 formed with apertures 21, and a partition 22 which is formed with apertures 23 and which defines an inner chamber 24 having an outlet 25 in which is mounted a flap valve 26. An air blower 27 has its suction duct 28 connected to an outlet 31 of a chamber 41 in a valve assembly 30, and its delivery duct 29 connected to an outlet 32 of a chamber 42 in assembly 30. Chamber 41 has valve seats 43 and 45 disposed at right angles to one another and communicating respectively with outlets 33 and 35. Chamber 42 has valve seats 44 and 46 disposed at right angles to one another and communicating respectively with outlets 33 and 37. Outlets 33 and 35 are connected by respective ducts 34 and 36 to outlets 18 and 25 respectively. Outlet 37 communicates with the atmosphere. A flap valve 47 is pivoted for movement between seats 43 and 45, and is connected by gearing 51, 52 to a pivoted arm 57 acted upon by a spring 59 to bias valve 47 against seat 45. Arm 57 is connected by a link 60 to one arm of a bell crank lever 61, the other arm of which is connected to an operating rod 62. A flap valve 48 is pivoted for movement between seats 44 and 46, and is connected by gearing 51, 72 to pivoted arm 77 acted upon by a spring 79 to bias valve 48 against seat 44. Arm 77 is connected by a link 80 to one arm of a bell crank lever 81, the other arm of which is connected to an operating rod 78. A pin 54 on arm 57 engages one end of a slot 55 in one end of a bar 53, the other end of which is pivoted to arm 77. The arrangement is thereby such that valve 47 may be moved independently between seats 45 and 43 by actuation of rod 58, while actuation of rod 78 moves valves 47 and 48 simultaneously. During the turning operation, flap 20 and valve 26 are closed, and valves 47 and 48 engage seats 45 and 44 respectively. Air is thereby drawn downwards through tube 1 and also through duct 16 to the bottom end of tube 5, to flow upwards between tubes 1 and 5 for effecting turning of the article at the bottom end of tube 1. Near the end of the turning operation, flap 20 opens to increase the upward flow of air. To initiate ejection of the turned article, flap 20 is closed, valve 26 is opened, and valves 47 and 48 are shifted to seats 43 and 46 respectively. Air thereby flows downwards between tubes 1 and 5 to convey the article through duct 16 into receptacle 19, when valve 26 closes and flap 20 opens to effect ejection of the article. Flap 20 then closes and values 47 and 48 return to their initial positions. In a modification, Fig. 7, the upper part 101a of the inner tube is fixed to a sleeve 103 journalling the lower part 101c of the inner tube. Part 101c has a funnel-shaped top extension 114. A pin 107, extending radially from sleeve 103, normally engages one end of a lever 115, pivoted at 116, to prevent rotation of part 101a. Actuation of lever 115 to free pin 107 allows part 101a to rotate with part 101c by the friction therebetween of the article being turned.