Patent GB-473181-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to rib knitting machines
IPC: D04B9/06
Filed: 1936-02-06
Abstract: 473,181. Knitting. HOLMES, H. H., and WILDT & CO., Ltd. Feb. 6, 1936, Nos. 3683, 33861, and 35529. [Class 74 (ii)] In a dial and cylinder rib knitting machine of the independent needle type comprising the combination of cylinder and dial needle cam systems for producing rib knitting, needle selecting means is provided for the dial needles having a number of individual patterning zones by which a non-spiral pattern effect is produced and which may be changed course by course or as desired without changing the initial setting of the pattern device and needle-selecting patterning means of a similar character is also provided for the control of the cylinder needles. The needle cylinder 20 and needle dial 21 are stationary while the associated cam boxes, 24 and 25 respectively, are rotatable. A tricked jack cylinder 31, carrying jacks 63, 64, 65, to actuate selectively the dial needles 23, is supported by a sleeve 29 carried by a vertical shaft 26. Ring gears 32, 33 actuated from the main shaft of the machine and connected by pinions 35, operate the cam ring 38 which carries the jack out-throw cams 71 or 78, Figs. 13, 17, 18. The gear 32 is driven from the ring gear 39 and vertical posts connecting the latter with the needle cam box 24 effect the movement thereof. For one or more yarn feeds an adjustable rotatable trick wheel 44, e.g. as set forth in Specification 267,876, [Class 74 (ii)], for selectively actuating the dial needle jacks, is provided. The bracket 46, carrying the trick wheel, is pivoted at 50 and may be moved about the same to co-operate with notches in a spring-urged catch 53. In the outward position, the trick wheel is convenient of access for the changing of the bits 60 and also allows access to the jack assembly on the cylinder 31. Butts on the bits 60 act through pivotally mounted cams 61, to engage butts on sprung-type pressers 62 lying in front of the jacks 63, the upper ends of which are restrained by a removable cap 74. A cam ring 69, rotating at cylinder speed, supports a jack-depressing cam 70 by which jacks, unselected by the trick wheel are depressed to position the swinging jacks 65 behind the dial needles. The dial jack cut-throw cam, carried by the ring 38, will then operate upon such needles, whereas the selected jacks 65 will merely swing on contact therewith without operating a dial needle. In a modification, Fig. 17, the swinging jacks 65 are replaced by pieces 75 which on being depressed move butts 77 of the dial needles (or of needle jacks) out from the path of an out-throw cam 78 which then acts directly on the needles. This arrangement may, however, be inverted. In a further modification, Fig. 18, the spring jacks 63 are replaced by rocker jacks 363. Non-selection of the jacks 363 from the trick wheel 44 allows the depressing cam 79 to move the lower jacks 75 to function as in the previous modification. Pattern control of the cylinder needles is effected by a trick wheel 82, adjustably carried in a bracket 286, and operating through selectors 83, pressers 84 and spring jacks 85 in a manner similar to that above. The jack out-throw cam 71 (or 78) is pivotally attached to the rotating cam ring 31, is spring-urged at 89 and held in position by a spring-urged catch 90 carrying an upstanding portion 100. The position of cam 71 is adjusted by an endwisemovable spring-urged rod 94, actuated through a two-stepped cam plate 96 by striker plates 112, 113. Two pivotally-mounted spring-urged catches 104, 105 co-operate with a pin 103 on the cam plate 96 to allow of adjustment to and maintain same in a new position. In its higher depressed position, the rod 94 will engage the edge 186 of the cam 71 to move same to position of Fig. 13, but in its lower depressed position, the rod 94 will engage the portion 100 of the catch 90 to release same and allow cam 71 to retract inwardly in which position it will swing the jacks 65 to move dial needles to a tucking position. In the position of Fig. 13, the cam 71 will move needles to a clearing position. The sliders and striking plates 111, 112, 113, 114 are carried by the plate 46 and are spring-urged outwardly so that they may contact with an operating striker plate 116 moved by any suitable pattern control. The plates 112, 113, 114 are each formed with two notches, either of which may be engaged by a spring-urged catch, the catch being deep enough to engage with one or other of the notches in all three plates. The catch carries a roller actuated by a cam on the plate 111 so that when this latter is moved inwardly all the other plates are released to move outwardly under spring influence. Similarly, when one slider is moved into position it will automatically release the others which have previously been moved inwardly. Slider 114 is wide enough to co-operate with both spring catches 104, 105 so as to contact therewith to release the cam plate 96 and allow rod 94 to rise and clear cam 71 and catch 90. Spring-urged sliders 124, 125 are also provided, the former to change the setting of the cam plate 96, previously effected by sliders 112, 113, if desired, and the latter to release a catch 129 engaging the slider 124 on contact with the lifter plate 116. The dial needle cam system, Fig. 13, comprises a divided clearing cam in two parts 130, 131, arranged one above the other and of similar profile. A similar system is arranged in the cylinder cam system. The dial and cylinder are furnished with both long and short butt needles, set out in accordance with the ribbing desired, e.g. 2 x 2 rib, which can be knitted between lines 132 and 133, Fig. 16, and then short butt needles may be introduced to effect widening between lines 133 and 134, the cam 71 and equivalent cylinder cam being in clearing position; after line 134 plain 1 x 1 rib knitting will be effected, cam 131 and equivalent cylinder cam being moved to clearing position and cam 71 being retracted. For patterning any portion of the 1 x 1 rib fabric, cams 130, 131 are retracted and patterning effected on dial needles. Cam 71 is moved from clearing position and needle selection will take place from drum 44. A similar effect may be produced in the cylinder needles. Alternatively, cylinder needles may each remain in operation by using a split clearing cam for both long and short butt needles, while for the dial needles cam 71 is moved inwardly to a trick position, whence selected needles stack and the others miss the yarn. In a further modification, two pattern drums each for the dial and cylinder may be used, one for widening and the other for patterning after widening has been completed. Specifications 223,619, 244,887, 245,558, 249,486, [all in Class 74 (ii)], 446,901, 461,016, 465,358, and 469,998 also are referred to.