US3766753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control apparatus for resetting pattern drums
Assignee: Mayer and Cie GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1971-12-14
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1991-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A pattern control device and a plurality of actuator devices are mounted on the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine and successively pass a stationary setting device which is moved to different setting positions under the control of a pattern chain cylinder. In different setting positions, the pattern control device and the actuator devices selectively operative for shifting pattern drums and a counter wheel. The pattern drums have a predetermined number of rows of pins to which alternating recesses and projections of the counter wheel correspond, except that one projection is replaced by a special deep recess which represents the initial position of the counter wheel and of the pattern drums. When a pattern has been completed, the setting means render all actuating devices operative to shift the pattern drums with the counter wheel in double steps to the initial position until the deep recess is sensed by sensing means which place the setting device in its initial positions in which the pattern control device and all actuator devices are rendered inoperative. In order to obtain the resetting of the pattern drums during one revolution of the needle cylinder, the number of actuating devices is an integer fraction of the number of rows of pins on the pattern drums, and the actuator devices shift the pattern drums a number of angular steps which is equal to the denominator of the fraction, for example, two steps at a time.
Inventors
- 👤 H Schnurrer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:55
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D04B15/665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
In a circular knitting machine having a series of knitting stations, and including a stationary support, a rotary carrier, and a turnable pattern drum at each knitting station having an initial position and a predetermined number of rows of control elements, in combination, a control apparatus for said pattern drums comprising a pattern control device mounted on said carrier and having an inoperative initial position, and an operative position for angularly displacing said pattern drums during each revolution of said carrier for rendering said rows successively operative so that a pattern is knitted; a plurality of actuator devices mounted on said carrier, each having an inoperative initial position, and an actuating position for stepwise angularly shifting said pattern drums, the number of said actuating devices being an integer fraction of said predetermined number of rows of control elements minus one, said fraction having a denominator of at least two, said actuator devices in said operative position shifting said pattern drums a number of angular steps equal to said denominator; a counter device mounted on said support and including a counter wheel having said predetermined number of angular positions, said counter wheel being turned in angular steps out of an initial position by said pattern control device and said actuating devices in said operative positions so that the angular positions of said counter wheel correspond to the angular positions of said pattern drums; setting means mounted on said support movable between an initial position and A plurality of setting positions for setting said pattern control device and said actuator devices to said operative and actuating positions, respectively, for displacing said counter wheel and pattern drums in angular steps; pattern program means for moving said setting means to selected setting positions; and sensing means for sensing said angular positions of said counter wheel and controlling said setting means to move to said initial position when said sensing means senses the initial position of said counter wheel whereby said pattern control device and said actuator devices are moved by said setting means to said initial positions thereof when said pattern drums and said counter wheel are in said initial positions thereof so that an other pattern can be started.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
In a circular knitting machine having a series of knitting stations, and including a stationary support, a rotary carrier, and a turnable pattern drum at each knitting station having an initial position and a predetermined number of rows of control elements, in combination, a control apparatus for said pattern drums comprising a pattern control device mounted on said carrier and having an inoperative initial position, and an operative position for angularly displacing said pattern drums during each revolution of said carrier for rendering said rows successively operative so that a pattern is knitted; a plurality of actuator devices mounted on said carrier, each having an inoperative initial position, and an actuating position for stepwise angularly shifting said pattern drums, the number of said actuating devices being an integer fraction of said predetermined number of rows of control elements minus one, said fraction having a denominator of at least two, said actuator devices in said operative position shifting said pattern drums a number of angular steps equal to said denominator; a counter device mounted on said support and including a counter wheel having said predetermined number of angular positions, said counter wheel being turned in angular steps out of an initial position by said pattern control device and said actuating devices in said operative positions so that the angular positions of said counter wheel correspond to the angular positions of said pattern drums; setting means mounted on said support movable between an initial position and A plurality of setting positions for setting said pattern control device and said actuator devices to said operative and actuating positions, respectively, for displacing said counter wheel and pattern drums in angular steps; pattern program means for moving said setting means to selected setting positions; and sensing means for sensing said angular positions of said counter wheel and controlling said setting means to move to said initial position when said sensing means senses the initial position of said counter wheel whereby said pattern control device and said actuator devices are moved by said setting means to said initial positions thereof when said pattern drums and said counter wheel are in said initial positions thereof so that an other pattern can be started.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said setting means includes a slide movable between said initial and setting positions, wherein said pattern program means includes a pattern chain having pattern members, and linkage means operated by said pattern members and connected with said slide for moving said slide between said setting positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pattern control device includes control cam means biassed to said operative position; wherein said actuator devices include actuating cam means biassed to said actuating position; wherein said slide of said setting means blocks in said initial position thereof movement of said control and actuating cam means to said operative and actuating positions, respectively, and permits in said setting positions selective movements to said operative and actuating positions; wherein said setting slide is movable in radial direction, and said control cam means and actuating cam means are movable in axial direction of said rotary carrier; and wherein said control cam means are narrower in said radial direction than said actuating cam means; and including shifting means operated by said cam means for stepwise turning said pattern drums and said counter wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control cam means includes two control cams of different radial width located at different axial levels for displacing said pattern drums and said counter wheel different numbers of angular steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pattern control device and said actuator devices include spring means for biassing said control cam means and said actuating cam means, and locking means for locking said control cam means and actuating cam means in said initial positions thereof, respectively; and wherein said support includes a stationary cam cooperating with said locking means for releasing said control cam means and actuating cam means when said pattern control device and said actuator device pass said setting means and said slide so that the displacement of said cam means is determined by the setting position of said slide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counter wheel has peripheral recesses and projections whose total number is equal to the number of said rows of control elements of said pattern drums, respectively, and which are sensed by said sensing means, the recess representing the initial position of said pattern drums being deeper than the other recesses so that said sensing means moves said setting means to said initial position when sensing said deep recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said recesses are circumferentially spaced a number of angular distances corresponding to the number represented by said denominator; and wherein said projections are circumferentially spaced a number of angular distances corresponding to the number represented by said denominator, except one projection which is replaced by said deep recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising a linkage connected with said setting means; wherein said pattern program means include a pattern chain having pattern membErs cooperating with said linkage for operating said setting means; wherein said sensing means is connected with said linkage; and wherein said pattern chain has a special lateral pattern member cooperating with said linkage for operating said sensing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said setting means includes a setting slide movable between said initial and setting positions; wherein said linkage includes Bowden cable means connected with said slide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said denominator is two; wherein said setting means has four positions including said initial position and three setting positions; wherein said setting means in said initial position holds said pattern control device and said actuator device in said initial positions thereof while passing said setting means due to rotation of said carrier; wherein said setting means in the first setting position places said pattern control device and actuator device in an operative position for shifting said pattern drums and counter wheel one angular step; wherein said setting means in the second setting position places said pattern control device in an operative position for shifting said pattern drums and counter wheel two angular steps; wherein said setting means in said third setting position places said pattern control device in the operative position for shifting said pattern drums and counter wheel two steps, and places said actuator devices successively in said actuating positions for shifting said pattern drums and counter wheel two steps; and wherein said setting means in said first and second setting positions holds said actuator devices in said initial positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said counter wheel has alternate normal recesses and projections except one deep recess between two of said normal recesses and being sensed by said sensing means in said initial position of said pattern drums for placing said setting means in said initial position thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said sensing means when sensing one of said normal recesses places said setting means in said first setting position, and when sensing one of said projections places said setting means in said third setting position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising linkage means connecting said pattern program means and said sensing means with said setting means; and wherein said pattern program means include a pattern chain with pattern members controlling said setting means, and a special pattern member representing the beginning of a new pattern and cooperating with said sensing means.
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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) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |