Patent GB-780427-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in yarn or thread supplying means for knitting machines
Inventor: SHORTLAND ARTHUR
IPC: D04B9/06
Filed: 1954-06-08
Abstract: 780,427. Knitting-machines. MELLOR BROMLEY & CO., Ltd. June 1, 1955 [June 8, 1954], No. 16804/54. Class 74 (2). Mechanism for taking a yarn and positioning it so that it is taken by the dial needles of a cylinder-and-dial machine so that it is drawn by the needles into the hooks of the cylinder needles and subsequently knitted by both sets of needles, comprises picker mechanism P which takes hold of the yarn held between the arms of a clamping device and which is then moved under the influence of a cam drum to draw the yarn downwardly into engagement with the dial needles. The clamping device is automatically operated to release the yarn when the picker mechanism takes the yarn. As described, a selection from four yarns may be made, a separate clamping device being provided for each yarn, all of which are mounted side-by-side on a bracket 16 secured to a pivoted arm 13. The arm 13 is swung to bring the desired selected yarn into alignment with the picker mechanism P by a peg 32 engaging a slot 31 in a bracket secured to the arm 13, Fig. 5, the peg 32 being secured to the end of a lever 33 which is adjustably positioned by pins 35 engaging a nose 33b on the lever 33, Fig. 2. The pins 35 are secured on a wheel which is periodically rotated through a star-wheel mechanism 40, 41 which is driven in timed relation from the cam drum controlling the picker mechanism. The clamping device comprises two plates 24, 25 spring urged together and having spaced arms 24d, 24e and 25b, 25c respectively, Fig. 12. A member 28 is also provided adjacent each clamping member and has an upturned lip 28a adapted to engage between the plates 24, 25 to separate them when the depending portion of the member 28 is engaged by a bracket 95, Fig. 9. The bracket 95 has a projection 95a which opens the aligned clamping device when operated from the cam drum in timed relation with the picker mechanism. However, a further bracket 89, which is suitably notched at a position in alignment with the picker mechanism, is subsequently operated to engage the tails 28b of the members 28 and remove the lip 28a from between the plates 24, 25 of the previously opened clamping device but not that for the selected yarn which tail engages in the notch and is not operated. The picker mechanism which comprises a blade 46 movable between two fixed blades 47, Fig. 9, having been raised through linkage 56, 57 and guided by a slotted plate 62, Fig. 6, to engage the yarn by gripping it between its blades, is then lowered to a position below the dial needles, Fig. 1. A pusher member 54 slidably mounted upon the blades 46, 47 is then actuated to extend the yarn into the path of the dial needles. The picker mechanism movement is controlled by a follower 65 on the link 57, which is engageable in a cam-way 64 on the cam drum, the follower 65 being withdrawable from engagement with the cam-way when desired as determined by the absence of pins 35, the tails of which are used to insert the follower 65 into its cam-way. In taking the yarn from its clamping device and drawing the yarn beneath the dial needles, the yarn engages a feeder plate 104, Fig. 9, and is engaged in an opening 105. Beneath the feed plate 104 is pivoted a blade 106 which is actuated from the cam drum and serves to co-operate with the lower edge of the opening 105 to sever a yarn withdrawn from knitting. The cam drum is rotated by pegs 124, Fig. 1, which engage a starwheel 122 connected through shaft 121 to a bevel gear 118 driving a gear attached to the drum. The pegs 124 are mounted on the headwheel 8 of the machine, but some of them which are slightly longer than the others are mounted in addition on pivoted plates. In the normal circumstances the pegs 124 pass beneath one recessed tooth in the star-wheel which is only engaged by the longer pegs to bring the remaining teeth on the wheel into engagement with the other pegs. A cam ring suitably gapped is provided adjacent the pegs 124 and serves to hold the plates and longer pegs in alignment with the path of the remaining pegs a suitable plunger operated from a pattern chain being provided for deflecting the plates to bring the longer pegs into alignment. The gaps in the cam ring serve to permit pins on the plates to pass through them and which pins engage the cam ring to hold the plates in the position in which the longer pegs are operative. By this latter mechanism the cam drum may be selectively rotated and actuation of the picker and clamping mechanism suitably controlled. Specification 428,537 is referred to.