US3777512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Creel assembly including stop motion devices for circular knitting machines
Assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-31
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1992-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A creel assembly including a plurality of frame sections, each being made up of a plurality of modular units, the frame sections being supportable in braced relation on a common horizontal support surface with a circular knitting machine in radially outwardly spaced relation to the periphery of the machine and in annularly spaced relation thereabout so as the define a circumferential aisle on the horizontal support surface extending about the periphery of the machine and a plurality of access aisles of a number equal to the number of frame sections communicating with the exterior of the circumferential aisle at annularly spaced positions, the frame sections carrying transfer tail yarn packages in generally vertically extending aligned relation to a target eye at convenient vertical levels permitting storage of yarn packages on the horizontal support surface therebelow, the frame sections providing yarn guide elements including weighted self-cleaning friction disc assemblies for guiding each yarn from the target eye to an outlet eye, a pullout stop-motion device associated with each outlet eye and a plurality of spring biased over-center parallel linkage mechanisms mounting the stop-motion devices for movement between an upper operative position wherein the stop-motion devices are disposed above the circumferential aisle a distance substantially above the head of the operator stationed therein for guiding the yarns from the outlet eyes to the associated in-feed positions on the machine along angular paths which extend upwardly and then downwardly and a lower feed position wherein the stop-motion devices are disposed above the circumferential aisle within easy reach of an operator stationed therein.
Inventors
- 👤 A Burnet
- 👤 J London
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:49
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/94
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
377 words
A creel assembly for a circular knitting machine of the type operable to progressively knit tubular fabric from a multiplicity of yarns fed thereto at a multiplicity of fixed circumferentially spaced yarn in-feed positions disposed at the upper end portion of the machine, said creel assembly including a plurality of frame sections having means for supporting the same on a common horizontal support surface with a circular knitting machine in radially outwardly spaced relation to the periphery of the machine and in annularly spaced relation thereabout so as to define a circumferential aisle on the horizontal support surface extending about the periphery of the machine and a plurality of access aisles of a Number equal to the number of frame sections communicating with the exterior of the circumferential aisle at annularly spaced positions, a multiplicity of generally vertically extending target guide means of a number equal to the number of yarns fed to the machine carried by said frame sections, means carried by said frame sections below each of said target guide means for supporting a pair of yarn packages with their axes extending upwardly in general alignment with the associated target guide means so that the trailing end of the yarn package in use can be connected with the leading end of the other yarn package to enable use of the yarn thereof without interruption, a multiplicity of outlet guide means of a number equal to the number of yarns fed to the machine carried by said frame sections adjacent the upper end portions thereof, means for guiding yarn from each of said target guide means to an associated outlet guide means, a pull-out stop-motion device associated with each outlet guide means, and means carried by said frame sections for mounting said stop motion devices for movement between an upper operative position wherein the stop motion device is disposed above said circumferential aisle a distance substantially above the head of an operator stationed therein for guiding the yarn passing through the associated outlet guide means to an associated in-feed position on the machine along an angular path which extends upwardly and then downwardly and a lower feed position wherein the stop-motion device is disposed above the circumferential aisle within easy reach of an operator stationed therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
377 words
A creel assembly for a circular knitting machine of the type operable to progressively knit tubular fabric from a multiplicity of yarns fed thereto at a multiplicity of fixed circumferentially spaced yarn in-feed positions disposed at the upper end portion of the machine, said creel assembly including a plurality of frame sections having means for supporting the same on a common horizontal support surface with a circular knitting machine in radially outwardly spaced relation to the periphery of the machine and in annularly spaced relation thereabout so as to define a circumferential aisle on the horizontal support surface extending about the periphery of the machine and a plurality of access aisles of a Number equal to the number of frame sections communicating with the exterior of the circumferential aisle at annularly spaced positions, a multiplicity of generally vertically extending target guide means of a number equal to the number of yarns fed to the machine carried by said frame sections, means carried by said frame sections below each of said target guide means for supporting a pair of yarn packages with their axes extending upwardly in general alignment with the associated target guide means so that the trailing end of the yarn package in use can be connected with the leading end of the other yarn package to enable use of the yarn thereof without interruption, a multiplicity of outlet guide means of a number equal to the number of yarns fed to the machine carried by said frame sections adjacent the upper end portions thereof, means for guiding yarn from each of said target guide means to an associated outlet guide means, a pull-out stop-motion device associated with each outlet guide means, and means carried by said frame sections for mounting said stop motion devices for movement between an upper operative position wherein the stop motion device is disposed above said circumferential aisle a distance substantially above the head of an operator stationed therein for guiding the yarn passing through the associated outlet guide means to an associated in-feed position on the machine along an angular path which extends upwardly and then downwardly and a lower feed position wherein the stop-motion device is disposed above the circumferential aisle within easy reach of an operator stationed therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop-motion device mounting means includes a plurality of parallel linkage mechanisms, each of said parallel linkage mechanisms including a support structure fixedly carried by the associated frame section, a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at one pair of ends with said support structure, a stop-motion support structure pivotally interconnected with the opposite pair of ends of said parallel links supporting a stop-motion device for vertical movement in response to the pivoting of said parallel links between said upper operative position and said lower feed position, and spring means operatively connected between one of said support structures and at least one of said parallel links in an over-center relation to the associated pivot thereof for resiliently biasing said stop-motion device into either of said positions from a null position intermediate thereof, and manually engageable means for enabling an operator to effect movement of said stop-motion device away from either of said positions toward the other at least past said intermediate null position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said frame sections is made up of a plurality of modular units, each of which includes at least four outlet guide means, four target guide means, four pairs of yarn package supporting means, foru pull-out stop-motion devices and two stop-motion mounting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein each modular unit further includes a single upright member provided at its lower end with said means for supporting the associated frame section on said common horizontal support and having a horizontal member secured to the upper end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 4 including annularly extending horizontal bracing means fixedly interconnected between the adjacent outer ends of the horizontal members of adjacent frame sections and radially extending horizontal bracing means fixedly connected with said annularly extending bracing means and extending inwardly for fixed securement to a fixed structure of the circular knitting machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the yarn package supporting means for each modular unit includes upper and lower horizontal members mounted intermediate their ends on said upright member in a selected one of a plurAlity of fixed positions of vertical adjustment, a pair of generally parallel cross members mounted intermediate their ends on the end portions of each of said horizontal members on opposite sides of said upright member in a selected one of a plurality of fixed positions of adjustment toward and away from said upright member and means on the ends of each of said cross members for mounting a pair of yarn packages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the yarn package mounting means on each end of each cross member includes a pivoted element and means for moving said pivoted element into a selected one of a plurality of positions of pivotal adjustment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said lower horizontal member is secured to said upright member at a fixed position of adjustment spaced substantially above the lower end of said upright member so as to provide yarn package storage on the aforesaid common horizontal surface therebelow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the two stop-motion mounting means associated with each modular unit comprises a block fixedly secured to said horizontal member in horizontally spaced relation to said upright member, a support structure mounted on said block in a selected one of a plurality of fixed positions of pivotal adjustment about a vertical axis, a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at one pair of ends with said support structure, a stop-motion support structure pivotally interconnected with the opposite pair of ends of said parallel links supporting two stop-motion devices for vertical movement in response to the pivoting of said parallel links between said upper-operative positions and said lower-feed position, and spring means operatively connected between one of said support structures and at least one of said parallel links in an over-center relation to the associated pivot thereof for resiliently biasing said stop-motion device into either of said positions from a null position intermediate thereof, and manually engageable means for enabling an operator to effect movement of said stop motion devices away from either of said positions toward the other at least past said intermediate null position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said manually engageable means comprises a rigid lever pivotally interconnected with the associated pair of parallel links intermediate the ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A creel assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said yarn guiding means includes a friction disc assembly for each yarn, each disc assembly including a freely rotatable upper disc biased into engagement with a cooperating lower disc by its own weight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |