US3703818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for feeding warps or filling threads to knitting machine
Assignee: Toyobo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-12-21
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A supply thread guiding apparatus has upper and lower tracks of equal length and each having a middle straight region common to the other one, a single flexible band means is provided which is not longer than the circumference of either of the tracks and which moves along the tracks. The band means has thread guides disposed therealong at fixed intervals. Means is also provided for guiding the flexible band means alternately onto the upper and lower tracks when the leading end of the flexible band means reaches the junction of the upper and lower tracks at the end of the middle straight region. The beginning of the middle straight region is opposed to a first conveyor for carrying one of the respective ends of filling threads to one end of the knitting station of a knitting machine, and the end is opposed to a second conveyor for carrying the other ends of the filling threads to the other end of the knitting station. The arrangement is such that thread ends passed through the thread guides are delivered to thread clamps on the first conveyor at the beginning of the middle straight region and at the end thereof intermediate portions of the threads extending from the thread clamps on the first conveyor to the thread guides are delivered to thread clamps on the second conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinobu Umeda
- 👤 Yoshiaki Miyagawa
- 👤 Yutaka Tanaka
- 👤 Yukio Tanaka
- 👤 Ryoji Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:03
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B23/00; D04B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide track; a lower endless thread guide track positioned immediately below said upper track; the total length of said lower track being equal to the total length of said upper track; said upper and lower tracks having a common straight region; a first end of said straight region terminating adjacent said first conveyor, and a second end of said straight region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a flexible band means movable along said tracks, the length of said band means being less than said total length of either of said tracks; a plurality thread guides extending through said band means at fixed intervals along said length thereof; means for moving said band means through said common straight region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding the leading end of said band means alternately to said upper and lower tracks after it passes said second end of said common straight region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said band means passes said first end of said common straight region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said second conveyor as said band means moves through said common straight region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said band means passes said second end of said common straight region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide track; a lower endless thread guide track positioned immediately below said upper track; the total length of said lower track being equal to the total length of said upper track; said upper and lower tracks having a common straight region; a first end of said straight region terminating adjacent said first conveyor, and a second end of said straight region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a flexible band means movable along said tracks, the length of said band means being less than said total length of either of said tracks; a plurality thread guides extending through said band means at fixed intervals along said length thereof; means for moving said band means through said common straight region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding the leading end of said band means alternately to said upper and lower tracks after it passes said second end of said common straight region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said band means passes said first end of said common straight region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said second conveyor as said band means moves through said common straight region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said band means passes said second end of said common straight region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible band means comprises a triple chain, and said thread guides comprise hollow link pins of said triple chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
285 words
In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide chain; a lower endless thread guide chain positioned immediately below said upper chain; the total length of said lower chain being equal to the total length of said upper chain; said upper and lower chains providing therebetween a straight track region; a first end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said first conveyer, and a second end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a plurality of thread guides engageable by both of said chains and movable thereby through said straight track region; means for moving said thread guides through said straight track region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding said thread guides alternately to said upper and lower chains after said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said thread guides pass said first end of said straight track region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said seconD conveyor as said thread guides move through said straight track region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
285 words
In an apparatus for supplying a plurality of filling threads to a knitting machine of the type wherein first ends of said threads are clamped by a first conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine, said threads are guided by a thread guiding means toward a second conveyor, and second ends of said threads are clamped by said second conveyor and moved thereby toward said knitting machine: the improvement wherein said thread guiding means comprises an upper endless thread guide chain; a lower endless thread guide chain positioned immediately below said upper chain; the total length of said lower chain being equal to the total length of said upper chain; said upper and lower chains providing therebetween a straight track region; a first end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said first conveyer, and a second end of said straight track region terminating adjacent said second conveyor; a plurality of thread guides engageable by both of said chains and movable thereby through said straight track region; means for moving said thread guides through said straight track region from said first end thereof toward said second end thereof; and means for guiding said thread guides alternately to said upper and lower chains after said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region; whereby threads extending through said thread guides are clamped by said first conveyor as said thread guides pass said first end of said straight track region, said clamped threads are then guided toward said seconD conveyor as said thread guides move through said straight track region, and said threads are then clamped by said second conveyor as said thread guides pass said second end of said straight track region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement claimed in claim 5, further comprising plurality of guide eyes arranged in a row, and wherein said plurality of threads are supplied to said thread guides from a plurality of stationary thread packages via said plurality of guide eyes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement claimed in claim 6, further comprising a pair of eye boards having therein said guide eyes, one end of each of said eye boards being pivotally mounted so that said eye boards may be individually moved thereabout.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |