US1795682A - Weight-releasing device for the draw-off mechanism of full-fashionedknitting machines - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1931. E. c. SANDERS 1,795,632

WEIGHT RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW- OFF MECHANISM OF FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 I lnver zlor A llorney March 10, 1931. E, Q SANDERS 1,795,682

WEIGHT RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW- OFF MECHANISM OF FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1930 2 Sheets-She'et 2 J y, f. v

J J b F r d/d A5 45 5. 4' /7 :/6' /f' I H FF .1 J FL F F A? I Invcnlor l f J 12 tfandara M v y 4%; i- Attorney Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEIGHT-RELEASING DEVICE FOR THE DRAW-OFF MECHANISM OF FULL-FASHIONED- KNITTING MACHINES Application filed June 24,

This invention relates generally to a full fashioned knitting machine, and more particularly to a device to be operatively connected to the draw ofi' mechanism, for progressively and successively lifting a plurality of weights from the tensioning table of the machine during a knitting operation.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a weight releasing device for the draw off mechanism of, full fashioned knitting machines of the aforementioned character embodying a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the tensionin cable may be relieved of the weights at any esired time during the knitting operation, the means for engaging and supporting the weights being adjustable.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described, which may be expeditiously connected for operation to a conventional full fashioned knitting machine without the necessity of altering said machine in any manner, which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient in its use, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a device constructed in accordance with this invention, operatively connected to the draw-off mechanism of a full fashioned knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking downwardly.

Figure 5 is a detail view, showing one of the adjustable stop collars in cross section.

Referring to the drawings in detail and to 1930. Serial No. 463,444.

Figure 1 thereof, in particular, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates a portion of fabric, coming from the knitting needles 2, in the usual manner and to the free end of which fabric is connected by any suitable means the straps 3, which are windable on the draw off shaft- 4 to one end portion of which are fixed the reels 5. Disposed vertically at a point adjacent to the draw oif mechanism, is an elongated cage designated generally by the reference numeral (3 and comprising a plurality of rods 7 arranged substantially in a circle and having their opposite ends anchored in the upper and lower plates 8'and 9 respectively. The plate 9 is arranged in anchored relation to the floor or other convenient support by any suitable means, such as the screws 10. Bracket 11 is mounted on the upper plate 8 and journaled for rotation on said bracket is a pulley 12.

The bracket 11 and the plate 8 are provided with registering openings, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The rods 7 are arranged in pairs, the rods constituting each pair being oppositely disposed. Mounted for vertical adjustment on the pairs of the rods 7 are the collars 13, which are secured in adjusted position by the set screws 14 (see Figure 5). The stop collars of the pairs of rods are disposed at vertically spaced points on the cage 6. Mounted for vertical sliding movement on the pairs of rods 7 are the horizontally disposed bars 15,-through the opposite end portions of which the rods 7 ass. The bars 15 are en a eable for rest on the collars 13.

Disposed on each of the bars 15 is a weight 16 and said weights and bars are provided with centrally disposed registering openings. in vertical alignment with each other and with the openings in the bracket 11 and the upper plate 8.

A tensioning cable 17 is windable on the reel 5 and trained under the pulley 18, which is mounted on the knitting machine as usual.

From the pulley 18, the tensioning cable 17 is trained over the pulley 12 on the upper plate 8 and extends downwardly through the opening in the bracket 11, the upper plate 8. the weights 16 and the bars 15 and has connected to its lower end portion any suitable number of the weights 19.

In use, when the knitting of the fabric 1 is started, the tensioning cable 17 is wound on the reel 5 and all of the weights 16 and 19 and the bars 15 are in the upper portion of the cage 6. As the fabric 1 is knitted and drawn toward the draw off shaft 4, through the medium of the weights 16 and 19, unwinding the tensioning cable 17 from the reel 5, the weights and bars in passing downwardly through the cage 6 will successively engage and come to rest on their respective supporting collars 13, and in this way the tension on the fabric 1 is decreased at exactly the de' sired time. When knitting stockings the weights are automatically shifted from the tensioning cable 17 at the proper place and also at the same place on each set or pair of stockings coming from the needles thus producing stockings of more uniform length having more nearly the same count in stitches than when the weights are removed manually by an operator.

It will be readily apparent that a device constructed in accordance with this invention will materially reduce the cost of producing the stockings by reason of the fact that an attendant or operator may devote to other matters, the time which, at present, is spent in relieving the tensioning cable of the weights. 'The device will further materially decrease needle breakage, which usually results from failure of the attendant or operator to remove the weight at the proper time or place, thus causing excessive strain on the knitting needles.

It is believed that the many advantages of a device constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had, which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a draw off shaft, a reel fixed on the draw off shaft, and a tensioning Cable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights thereon, of means operatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively lift said weights from the cable when said cable is unwound from the reel.

2. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a gravity actuated draw off mechanism including a cable and a series of weights slidably mounted on the cable, of means operatively connected with the cable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively engage and support the same for relieving the cable thereof.

3. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a draw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the drawofi' shaft, and a tensioning cable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights thereon, of means operatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively lift said weights from the cable when said cable is unwound from the reel, said means comprising a plurality of vertical rods disposed concentrically about one end portion of the cable, stop collars fixed on the rods at vertically spaced points, bars slidably mounted on the rods and engageable for rest on the stop collars, the cable passing slidably through said bars and each bar having a weight thereon.

4. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a draw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the draw-off shaft and a tensioning cable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights slidably mounted on one end portion thereof, of means operatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively lift said weights from the cable when said cable is unwound from the reel, said means comprising a cage including a plurality of vertically disposed pairs of rods, the cable having one end disposed for longitudinal movement in the cage, stop collars adjustably mounted on the pairs of rods at vertically'spaced points, transversely extending bars slidably mounted at their opposite end portions on the pairs of rods and engageable for rest on the stop collars, the cables passing slidably through the bars and each bar having a weight thereon, said bars constituting means for lifting the weights from the cable and supporting said weights when said bars are resting on the collars.

5. In combination with a full fashioned knitting machine having a draw-off shaft, a reel fixed on the draw-off shaft and a tensioning cable windable on the reel having a plurality of weights slidably mounted thereon, of means operatively connected with the tensioning cable and engageable with the weights in a manner to successively lift said weights from the cable, when said cable is unwound from the reel, said means comprising a cage including a plurality of pairs of vertically disposed rods, anchoring plates at the opposite ends of the rods, a pulley on the uppermost plate, the tensioning cable trained over the pulley and extending for longitudinal movement into the cage, stop collars adjustably mounted on each pair of rods at vertically spaced points, transverse bars slidably mounted on each air of rods for rest on the stop collars and through which the cable slidably extends and each bar having a wei ht thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERIE C. SANDERS.

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