Mechanism for the control of reversible step-by-step rotation of selector drums of circular knitting machines

Claim 2

A mechanism for the control of reversible step-by-step rotation of selector drums of patterning devices for the control of knitting components of a circular knitting machine, which drums each have on their pperiphery a series of equidistant selection members, a control device being associated with each drum, said control device comprising first and second pairs of axially spaced apart toothed wheels; said first pair of toothed wheels being operatively associated with said drum for controlling rotation thereof in a first direction; said second pair of toothed wheels being operatively associated with said drum for controlling rotation thereof in a second direction opposite to said first direction; the two toothed wheels of each of said pairs having the same number of teeth; the two Toothed wheels of each of said pairs being rigidly fixed together coaxially with the teeth of one wheel angularly dephased by half a pitch with respect to the other wheel; a single control member mounted on a movable part of said machine; means for selectively displacing said single control member to any one of four positions corresponding to the four axial locations of said toothed wheels; said single control member engageable with a selected one of said toothed wheels dependent upon the position of said single control member, upon movement of said single control member by said movable part, to rotatably displace the said pair corresponding to said selected toothed wheel either by a half pitch or a full pitch of the teeth thereof, dependent upon the angular position of the teeth of said selected toothed wheel, and to thereby rotatably displace said drum by one or two steps of said selection members thereof in one of said directions.

Claim 3

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second pairs of toothed wheels are adapted to be rotatably displaced in the same direction by said single control member, and further comprising first intermediary transmission means for driving said drum in said first direction for a displacement of one of said pairs of toothed wheels; and second intermediary transmission means for driving said drum in said second direction for a displacement of the other of said pair of toothed wheels.

Claim 4

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first intermediary transmission means comprises a first pinion meshing with a second pinion integral with said one of the pairs of toothed wheels; and said second intermediary transmission means comprises a first chainwheel and a chain in driving relationship with a second chainwheel integral with said other pair of toothed wheels.

Claim 5

A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second pinion and second chainwheel of said intermediary transmission means are integral with the respective pairs of toothed wheels.

Claim 6

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said two pairs of toothed wheels are disposed coaxially.

Claim 7

A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said selector drum and the assembly of transmission means associated therewith are mounted on a movable support.

Claim 8

A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said single control member is mounted on a rotary crown of said knitting machine; and said single control member comprising an active part engageable with said toothed wheels and downstream of said active part in relation to its direction of motion a bearing surface limiting the angular displacement of the toothed wheel displaced by said active part.

Claim 9

A mechanism for the control of reversible step-by-step rotation of selector drums of patterning devices for the control of knitting components of circular knitting machines, which drums each have on their periphery a series of equidistant selection members, said mechanism comprising a control device associated with each drum and including: first and second pairs of axially spaced apart toothed wheels; each of said toothed wheels of each of said pairs having a peripheral portion, the tangents of said peripheral parts of each of said toothed wheels lying in substantially the same plane; the two toothed wheels of each of said pairs having the same number of teeth; the two toothed wheels of each of said pairs being rigidly fixed together coaxially with the teeth of one wheel angularly dephased by half a pitch with respect to the other wheel; a single control member having an active part and mounted on a movable part of said machine; means for selectively displacing said single control member to any one of four positions corresponding to the four axial locations of said toothed wheels; said control member being relatively movable past the toothed wheels along a direction substantially tangential to said peripheral parts such that said active part contacts a tooth of the peripheRal part of a selected one of said toothed wheels to rotatably displace the corresponding pair of toothed wheels either by half a pitch or by a full pitch of the teeth thereof, dependent upon the initial angular position of said selected toothed wheel; means for transmitting rotation of one pair of toothed wheels into rotation of said drum by one step of the selection members thereof in a first direction per half pitch displacement of said one pair of toothed wheels; and means for transmitting rotation of the other pair of toothed wheels into rotation of said drum by one step of the selection members thereof in a second direction opposite to said first direction per half pitch displacement of said other pair of toothed wheels.

Claim 10

A mechanism for the control of reversible step-by-step rotation of selector drums of patterning devices for the control of knitting components of circular knitting machines, which drums each have on their periphery a series of equidistant selection members, said mechanism comprising a control device associated with each drum and including: first and second pairs of axially spaced apart toothed wheels; each of said toothed wheels of each of said pairs having a peripheral portion, the tangents of said peripheral parts of each of said toothed wheels lying in substantially the same plane; the two toothed wheels of each of said pairs having the same number of teeth; the two toothed wheels of each of said pairs being rigidly fixed together coaxially with the teeth of one wheel angularly dephased by half a pitch with respect to the other wheel; a single control member having an active part and mounted on a movable part of said machine; means for selectively displacing said single control member to any one of four positions corresponding to the four axial locations of said toothed wheels; said control member being relatively movable past the toothed wheels along a direction substantially tangential to said peripheral parts such that said active part contacts a tooth of the peripheRal part of a selected one of said toothed wheels to rotatably displace the corresponding pair of toothed wheels either by half a pitch or by a full pitch of the teeth thereof, dependent upon the initial angular position of said selected toothed wheel; means for transmitting rotation of one pair of toothed wheels into rotation of said drum by one step of the selection members thereof in a first direction per half pitch displacement of said one pair of toothed wheels; and means for transmitting rotation of the other pair of toothed wheels into rotation of said drum by one step of the selection members thereof in a second direction opposite to said first direction per half pitch displacement of said other pair of toothed wheels.

Claim 11

A mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second pairs of toothed wheels are independently coaxially mounted on a common shaft, all of said toothed wheels having the same diameter.