Needle selector for circular knitting machines

Claim 2

A selector device for needles or needle accessories of a circular knitting machine comprising: a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern; an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements; means for rotating the pattern drum; said bearer being displaceable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories; fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting elements; and an abutment and locking means cooperating with the abutment to secure said bearer in the active position.

Claim 3

A device as set forth in claim 1 comprising a base plate having a slideway, said bearer including a bearer plate carried in the slideway enabling linear movement of the bearer plate between the active and inactive positions.

Claim 4

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking means may also cooperate with said abutment to secure said bearer in the inactive position.

Claim 5

A device as set forth in claim 1 comprising resilient thrust means for axially holding the pattern drum in alignment with the linking elements when the bearer is in its active position.

Claim 6

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pattern drum includes a rotary cylindrical socket surrounded by a removable cylindrical sleeve, the periphery of which is provided with a series of axial grooves to receive said removable selection elements with the said selection elements each having a radially inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the top of the socket.

Claim 7

A selector device for needles or needle accessories oF a circular knitting machine comprising: a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern; an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements; means for rotating the pattern drum; said bearer being displacable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories; fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position, to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting teeth; and a fixed thrust element for axially holding the pattern drum on the bearer in the active position of the bearer.

Claim 8

A selector device for needles or needle accessories oF a circular knitting machine comprising: a removable rotary pattern drum having removable selection elements, disposed about its periphery, with projecting teeth arranged according to a predetermined pattern; an assembly of linking elements arranged in a stepped pattern located intermediate the pattern drum and needles or accessories and adapted to cause operation of the needles or accessories; a bearer movable in relation to the needles or accessories for receiving the pattern drum and assembly of linking elements; means for rotating the pattern drum; said bearer being displacable between an active position in which the projecting teeth are adapted to cooperate with the linking elements to act on the needles or accessories to be selected, and an inactive position in which the pattern drum and linking elements are removed away from the needles or accessories; fixed butting means against which said linking elements act during displacement of said bearer from the active to the inactive position, to thereby remove said linking elements from contact with said projecting teeth; and a fixed thrust element for axially holding the pattern drum on the bearer in the active position of the bearer.

Claim 9

A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pattern drum has on its periphery a series of radial grooves for receiving the selection elements, said thrust element also for maintaining said selection elements on the pattern drum.

Claim 10

A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pattern drum of the bearer includes a rotary cylindrical socket surrounded by a removable cylindrical sleeve, the periphery of which is provided with a series of axial grooves to receive removable selection elements with the said selection elements each having a radially, inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the top of the socket.

Claim 11

A device as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising an abutment and locking means cooperating with the abutment to secure said bearer in the active position.