Continuous weft feed for warp knitting machines

Abstract

Abstract A CONTINUOUS INSERT YARN FEED FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES IS PROVIDED WITH TWO INCLINED CHAINS LEADING TO THE ENDS OF THE KNITTING LINE, EACH CHAIN CARRYING PULLEYS WITH TOPS OR HATS HAVING A POINTED EXTENSION. INSERT YARN IS FED FROM ONE OR MORE PACKAGES TO A RECIPROCATING ARM WHICH CARRIES THE YARN AROUND THE PULLEYS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHAINS IN A ZIG-ZAG FASHION. THE YARN IS AROUND THE PULLEY UNDERNEATH THE HAT UNTIL IT REACHES A BOTTOM SPROCKET IN EACH CHAIN, THESE SPROCKETS BEING ADJACENT TO THE KNITTING LINE OF THE MACHINE. AS THE PULLEYS ON THE CHAINS TURN AROUND THE BOTTOM SPROCKET, THE INSERT YARN IS LIFTED ONTO THE HAT AND ON FURTHER TURNING SLIPS OFF. THE LAST MOTION AROUND THE RIGHT OR LEFT HAND LOWER SPROCKETS RELEASES TENSION ON THE INSERT YARN AS IT IS LAID AT THE KNITTING LINE BESIDE THE WARPS. KNITTING OF THE WRAPS IS BY CONVENTIONAL MEANS, INCLUDING WARP THREAD GUIDES, NEEDLES, SINKER BARS, AND THE LIKE. BRAKES MAY BE PROVIDED, FOR EXAMPLE A FLAT BAR WITH A SOFT RUBBER LINING WHICH BEARS AGAINST THE PULLEYS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF EACH CHAIN. THIS PREVENTS THE PULLEYS FROM OVERRUNNING, PARTICULARLY WHEN A MACHINE IS SLOWING TO A STOP. WITH VERY FRAGILE INSERT YARNS OR THOSE WHICH CAN STRETCH VERY EASILY, THE BRAKE CAN, IF DESIRED, BE NORMALLY KEPT OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE PULLEYS WHEN THE MACHINE IS OPERATING AND ONLY ENGAGE THEM WHEN IT IS SLOWING DOWN.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard L Walford

Bibliographic Details