Patent GB-655451-A (GB)
Title: A straight-bar knitting machine
IPC: D04B11/00
Filed: 1947-12-02
Abstract: 655,451. Knitting. LAMBACH, F. Dec. 2, 1947, No. 31801. Convention date, April 25. [Class 74 (ii)] A straight - bar knitting - machine has, between each of a plurality of reciprocable yam carrier rods and a common actuating drive, an individual friction clutch having permanently frictionally-engaged clutch members, and controlling means for automatically holding the carrier rods in a predetermined position and for automatically releasing them at predetermined intervals so that, whenever a carrier rod is automatically released by an associated controlling means, it is reciprocated by the actuating drive, through the associated friction clutch. A pattern chain 148 is carried on a drum 150 racked round, through lever and pawl and ratchet mechanism, from a pattern chain cam 74 on the main cam-shaft 68. When a jack 156c is rocked by a button on the chain, a wire 158c attached thereto swings an element 192, pivoted on a rockable block 196, into the path of a cam follower 208 and the block 196, which has hitherto been stationary, will rock about its shaft 198 in time with the operation of a cam 72, until the element 192 is withdrawn. The rocking of the block 196, acting through linkwork and pawl - and - ratchet mechanism, rotates a shaft 228 bearing a number of control cams 242 which swing followers 244 and 246 and hence operate Bowden wires 248 and rods 250. A rack 256, itself reciprocated by rack-and-pinion from the drive to.the slurcock, drives carrier rods 274a-274h through pinions 262a ... 262h, permanently engaged friction clutches 264a ... 264h, pinions 272a ... 272h and racks cut in the carrier rods. Any yarn carrier may be held in inoperative position, whilst its clutch slips, by engagement of a spring-urged arrester 300a &c., at one end or other of the machine, with a hook 306a &c. at the corresponding end of the carrier-rod. The arresters are withdrawn by the rods 250, which are linked thereto. Another block 372 is rocked about shaft 198 by cam 70, whenever an element 382, pivoted on the block, is swung, through linkwork and a wire 158n, by a patternchain operated jack 156n, into the path of a rocker 366. This block is linked to forward and backward racking pawls of the carrier spindle 350 and thence, by further linkwork 454, 470, to forward and backward racking pawls for a narrowing spindle 464. Any pawl can be rendered ineffective, as required, by blanking discs such as 434, controlled by certain of the wires 248. The racking movements are the normal two needle space movements. Another rockable block 534 on shaft 198 and similar to block 196, when operative, completes the connection between a cam 76 on shaft 68 and a single-needle back-racking pawl 524 and ratchet 522 at the right-hand end of narrowing spindle 464. When the block 534 is inoperative, the pawl is held in a disengaged position. Another rockable block 558, on shaft 198, is included in the connections between a cam 78 on the shaft 68 and a forward and backward rocking drive at the right-hand end of the pointex spindle 354 and is generally similar to that for the carrier spindle. On the carrier spindle nuts 348L, 348R are stop latches 576La &c. and 576Ra &c. and holding latches 592La &c. and 592Ra &c. The stop latches, of which some are spring- urged but controlled by Bowden wires 248 and others are merely spring-urged and permanently operative, co-operate with adjustable stopscrews 580Ra &c. and 580La &c., at the ends of the carrier rods. The holding latches are normally held inoperative, through Bowden wires 248, but. may be released to move, under the action of their springs, into positions in which stop-screws 596 which they carry are in the path of abutments 598 on associated carrier rods. Similar spring-urged and Bowden wirecontrolled stop-latches are provided on the pointex spindle nuts 352R, 352L. The holding latches, stop latches and actuating levers may be increased in number, and they and the arresters 300a &c. may be re-arranged to co-operate with different carrier rods. In order that a fresh stocking may be begun without first backracking the carrier spindle nuts to their starting positions, auxiliary stop-levers are moved, by Bowden wires 248, to positions in which they are in the paths of other stop-screws screwed into any selected one of the carrier rods. The rack 256 and at least part of the clutches are in oil and oil sprays may be provided. The narrowing spindle-nuts operate slidable rails, bearing the narrowing points, against spring action. The cam-shaft 68 may be shogged, as usual, to disengage a clutch in the drive. The slurcocks 142 are reciprocated through rack 124, pinions 125, 134 and rack 136.