US3846996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for actuating pattern or control drums in knitting machines, and knitting machines incorporating the same
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-06-01
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1992-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A cylindrical knitting machine has pattern control drums actuated by respective cam followers, themselves actuated by driven cams rigidly set in a carriage moveable axially of the cylinder. By virtue of the construction of the carriage and the setting of the cams in it only one cam follower can be actuated at any one time. Movement of the carriage is caused through a positive drive mechanism by radial movement of a carriage having driving cams. Only one of these may be engaged at any one time by an actuator disc, of which the axial position is adjustable by a lever linkage for which the control is a chain driven by movement of the cylinder, the chain having stops of different heights. According to the height of the stop sensed by the lever linkage the actuator disc is set axially, causing a corresponding radial set of the driving cam carriage and hence a corresponding axial set of the driven cam carriage. This has five positions, a neutral or non-driving position and two on each side of that: the chain has stops of five heights and there are five driving cams.
Inventors
- 👤 J Comas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:30
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D04B15/665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
388 words
In a circular knitting machine, pattern drum means, a pair of turning means operatively connected with said pattern drum means for respectively turning the latter in one direction or the other, a pair of cam follower means respectively connected operatively with said pair of turning means for respectively actuating the latter to turn said drum means in one direction or the other, rotary driven cam means supported for rotary movement about an axis of a cylinder of the knitting machine, said rotary driven cam means having a pair of cam portions for respectively cooperating with said pair of cam follower means to transmit movement through one or the other of said cam follower means to one or the other of said turning means for turning the drum means in one direction or the other, said pair of cam portions of said driven cam means being fixed to each other for rotation about the cylinder axis as a single unit and having with respect to each other a space which is too great for possible simultaneous actuation of both of said cam follower means, rotary driving cam means for assuming a plurality of positions to be respectively transmitted to said driven cam means for controlling the operation of the pair of cam follower means thereby, said rotary driving cam means also being supported for rotary movement about the axis of the cylinder of the knitting machine, transmission means extending between and operatively connected with said driving and driven cam means for transmitting movement of said driving cam means to said driven cam means so that the latter will assume a position determined by the position of said driving cam means, positioning means situated in the path of rotary movement of said driving cam means for engaging and positioning the latter, said positioning means itself having a plUrality of positions and said driving cam means responding to the position of said positioning means for providing through said transmission means a corresponding position of said driven cam means, information means containing data for controlling said pattern drum means, and detecting means cooperating with said information means and operatively connected with said positioning means for detecting the information in said information means and for responding to the latter information to displace said positioning means to a position corresponding to the detected information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
388 words
In a circular knitting machine, pattern drum means, a pair of turning means operatively connected with said pattern drum means for respectively turning the latter in one direction or the other, a pair of cam follower means respectively connected operatively with said pair of turning means for respectively actuating the latter to turn said drum means in one direction or the other, rotary driven cam means supported for rotary movement about an axis of a cylinder of the knitting machine, said rotary driven cam means having a pair of cam portions for respectively cooperating with said pair of cam follower means to transmit movement through one or the other of said cam follower means to one or the other of said turning means for turning the drum means in one direction or the other, said pair of cam portions of said driven cam means being fixed to each other for rotation about the cylinder axis as a single unit and having with respect to each other a space which is too great for possible simultaneous actuation of both of said cam follower means, rotary driving cam means for assuming a plurality of positions to be respectively transmitted to said driven cam means for controlling the operation of the pair of cam follower means thereby, said rotary driving cam means also being supported for rotary movement about the axis of the cylinder of the knitting machine, transmission means extending between and operatively connected with said driving and driven cam means for transmitting movement of said driving cam means to said driven cam means so that the latter will assume a position determined by the position of said driving cam means, positioning means situated in the path of rotary movement of said driving cam means for engaging and positioning the latter, said positioning means itself having a plUrality of positions and said driving cam means responding to the position of said positioning means for providing through said transmission means a corresponding position of said driven cam means, information means containing data for controlling said pattern drum means, and detecting means cooperating with said information means and operatively connected with said positioning means for detecting the information in said information means and for responding to the latter information to displace said positioning means to a position corresponding to the detected information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said driven cam means has a pari of opposed end positions at one of which one of said cam portions actuates one of said cam follower means and at the other of which the other of said cam portions actuates the other of said cam follower means, and said pair of cam follower means respectively having free ends aligned with a space defined between said cam portions when said driven cam means is between said end positions thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination of claim 2 and wherein each of said cam portions has a air of camming surfaces for respectively moving a cam follower means through different increments of movement and said driven cam means having four positions which include said pair of opposed end positions and two additional positions adjacent said pair of opposed end positions so that depending upon the position of said driven cam means, said drum means will be turned in one direction or the other through one of a pair of different increments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said transmission means includes a pair of carriages respectively connected operatively with said driven and driving cam means, said carriages being movable in mutually perpendicular directions, and said transmission means including a pair of racks respectively fixed to said carriages, and a pair of pinions fixed to each other and respectively meshing with said racks, so that in accordance with the diameters of said pinions a given transmission ratio will be provided between said driving cam means and said driven cam means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein said carriage operatively connected with said driven cam means is movable parallel to the cylinder axis while said carriage which is operatively connected to said driving cam means is movable radially with respect to the cylinder axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 5 and wherein said driving cam means includes two sets of radially spaced stepped cams which are respectively stepped in opposite directions and which define between themselves a space in which said positioning means is received during rotary movement of said driving cam means, and the pair of stepped cams having with respect to each other a space which will provide for engagement of one or the other of stepped cams by said positioning means in order to displace said driving cam means radially to a given position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 6 and wherein said positioning means is in the form of a cam disc which is received in the space between said stepped cams during rotary movement thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 7 and wherein said stepped cams have oppositely inclined ramp portions defining between themselves a space which converges with respect to said cam disc during rotary movement of said driving cam means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein the axial dimension of said driving cam means as well as the axial dimensions of the steps of the stepped cams and their positions with respect to each other prevent said cam disc from being received at any time in the space between said stepped cams at a region where there is between the stepped cams a distance less than the diameter of said cam disc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 9 and wherein said detecting means responds to said information means for displacing said cam disc parallel to the axis of the cylinder of the knitting machine, and said cam disc as well as said drivinG and driven cam means respectively having five positions which include between pairs of opposed end positions an intermediate position where said driven cam means will move past said pair of cam follower means without enaging the latter.
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) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |