US3851500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circular knitting machine needle selecting apparatus
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Broadly, there is disclosed an improved apparatus and method for selecting controllably certain discrete bodies one from the other as the bodies move past a site of selection. More specifically, there is disclosed method and apparatus for selecting which of the needles carried within the tricks of the needle cylinders of rotary knitting machines are caused to knit or not to knit. In the device described, selection of the needles actually results, in the preferred arrangement, from the operation of magnet means including permanent and electromagnets upon edge portions of patterning or needle jacks located beneath the needles themselves, rather than by direct action upon the needles. The actuating or selecting mechanism generally comprises a first or lower magnet means that includes a pair of poles, one of which is shaped in such a fashion as to provide a cam surface against which one end (in this case, the lower end) of the jacks will be cammed into a preselected position. This preselected position is one in which the other ends of the jacks, here the upper ends, are moved into a select position where they can be magnetically engaged by a second or upper magnet means. The second magnet means includes a plurality of electromagnets, which in operation are sequentially energized, and permanent magnet means that serve to maintain the needle jacks in position for selection to the non-operative position and to maintain the jacks in the nonoperative (non-knitting) position for a length of time sufficient to permit the jacks to clear the knitting cams located circumferentially about the periphery of the needle cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wolfshagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:03
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D04B15/68; D04B15/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Actuator apparatus for selectively effecting positioning of needle jacks mounted within the tricks of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine to place the jacks in either a selected or a non-selected position, as desired, said apparatus comprising a magnetic static force assembly including cam means adapted for physical engagement with one end of each of the jacks to place the jack in the selected position in which the each associated needle carried in the needle cylinder will be caused not to knit, magnetic means for holding said one end of each jack in contact with said cam means, and magnetic force translation assembly means including a plurality of electromagnets physically arranged in a predetermined manner to enable them selectively to magnetically engage the other end of each selected jack with sequentially applied magnetic fields overcoming said magnetic means of said static force assembly means to hold the selected jack in the selected position where the associated needle will be caused to knit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Actuator apparatus for selectively effecting positioning of needle jacks mounted within the tricks of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine to place the jacks in either a selected or a non-selected position, as desired, said apparatus comprising a magnetic static force assembly including cam means adapted for physical engagement with one end of each of the jacks to place the jack in the selected position in which the each associated needle carried in the needle cylinder will be caused not to knit, magnetic means for holding said one end of each jack in contact with said cam means, and magnetic force translation assembly means including a plurality of electromagnets physically arranged in a predetermined manner to enable them selectively to magnetically engage the other end of each selected jack with sequentially applied magnetic fields overcoming said magnetic means of said static force assembly means to hold the selected jack in the selected position where the associated needle will be caused to knit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
a permanent magnet located rotatably ahead of said plurality of electromagnets to cooperate with said first magnet means in positioning the jacks in a select position where they can be magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets when they are energized, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
a permanent magnet located rotatably ahead of said plurality of electromagnets to cooperate with said first magnet means in positioning the jacks in a select position where they can be magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets when they are energized, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a pivot cam is located between said magnetic static force assembly and said magnetic force translation assembly means to provide a fulcrum about which the jacks will pivot when acted upon by said magnetic static force assembly means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
a second pole having a cam surface configured to cause the jacks to move to a position of selection; b. second magnet means for magnetically engaging the upper ends of said jacks to move them into a non-operative position in which the needles carried in the needle cylinder will be caused not to knit, said second magnet means including:
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
a second pole having a cam surface configured to cause the jacks to move to a position of selection; b. second magnet means for magnetically engaging the upper ends of said jacks to move them into a non-operative position in which the needles carried in the needle cylinder will be caused not to knit, said second magnet means including:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
a permanent magnet located rotatably behind said plurality of electromagnets to magnetically engage the upper ends of those jacks magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets and hold the jacks in a non-operative position for a predetermined period; and c. a pivot cam located between said upper and lower magnet means to provide a fulcrum about which the jacks will pivot when acted upon by said magnet means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
a permanent magnet located rotatably behind said plurality of electromagnets to magnetically engage the upper ends of those jacks magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets and hold the jacks in a non-operative position for a predetermined period; and c. a pivot cam located between said upper and lower magnet means to provide a fulcrum about which the jacks will pivot when acted upon by said magnet means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means comprises a cam pole having a surface adapted to be contacted by said one end of each jack, said contact surface being configured to cause the jacks to move into a position where they can be selected by said magnetic force translation assembly means when desired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a pivot cam is located between said magnetic static force assembly and said magnetic force translation assembly means to provide a fulcrum about which each jack will pivot when acted upon by said magnetic static force assembly means and in which said magnetic means comprises a pair of poles positioned to magnetically engage said one end of each jack, at least one of said poles being configured to cause each jack to move into a position where it can be selected by said magnetic force translation assembly means when desired.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means comprises a pair of poles positioned to magnetically engage said one end of each jack, at least one of said poles being configured to cause the jacks to move into a position where they can be selected by said magnetic force translation assembly means when desired.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of electromagnets are physically arranged in a manner such that the effective fields thereof overlap for a predetermined length of time when said electromagnets are sequentially applied, said length of time being such as to enable maintenance of magnetic engagement with any selected jack through the amount of arcuate travel about the axis of rotation of the needle cylinder required to hold the selected jack in the inoperative position and to enabLe the jack next following the selected jack to be acted upon by said electromagnets independently.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein at least three electromagnets are present in said magnetic force translating assembly means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic force translation assembly includes jack indexing magnet means located rotationally ahead of said plurality of electromagnets to cooperate with said magnetic static force assembly means in positioning the jacks in a select position where they can be magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets when they are energized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said jack indexing magnet means is a permanent magnet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic force translation assembly means includes jack latching magnet means located rotationally behind said plurality of electromagnets to magnetically engage said other ends of those jacks magnetically engaged by said plurality of electromagnets and hold the jacks in the non-operative position for a predetermined period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said jack latching magnet means is a permanent magnet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for selectively effecting movement of pattern jacks mounted within the tricks of the needle cylinder of a rotary knitting machine to place the jacks in either an operative or a non-operative position, as desired, and said apparatus comprising: a. first magnet means for magnetically engaging the lower ends of said jacks to place the jacks in the operative position in which the needles carried in the needle cylinder will be caused to knit, said first magnet means including:
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for selectively effecting movement of pattern jacks mounted within the tricks of the needle cylinder of a rotary knitting machine to place the jacks in either an operative or a non-operative position, as desired, and said apparatus comprising: a. first magnet means for magnetically engaging the lower ends of said jacks to place the jacks in the operative position in which the needles carried in the needle cylinder will be caused to knit, said first magnet means including:
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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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |