US3899899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for automatic selection of the knitting needles in a hand-operated knitting machine
Assignee: Empisal Knitmaster Luxembourg SA
•
Filing: 1974-10-07
•
Granted: 1975-08-19
•
Expires: 1994-10-07
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to the construction of a rotary pattern wheel for a hand-operated knitting machine wherein the pattern wheel carries pivotally mounted control members which are adjustable between two positions with the control members acting directly on knitting needles through an intermediate selection wheel, to set the positions of the needles. The working positions of the control members of the pattern wheel are selected by magnetic control means in accordance with a predetermined data source which selectively energizes or de-energizes the electromagnetic control means so as to effect the selective positioning of each control member, in turn, in either a work position or a rest position.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Bartels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:18
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04B; D04B15/00; D04B15/66; D04B15/68; D04B15/78; D04B7/00; D04B7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A device for use in a hand operated knitting machine for automatic selection of knitting needles tHereof, said device comprising a rotary pattern wheel, means for mounting said pattern wheel on a machine member for movement therewith, said pattern wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members arranges in a ring, said control members being of th rocker arm type, means mounting said control members for movement between a rest position and a work position for effecting selected predetermined positioning of knitting needles to reproduce a knitting pattern, electromagnetic means fixedly mounted within and concentrically of said ring of control members for timed excitation by an electrical pulse to selectively sequentially react on said control members and effect the positioning thereof, said pattern wheel being in axially symmetrical relation to said electromagnetic means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A device for use in a hand operated knitting machine for automatic selection of knitting needles tHereof, said device comprising a rotary pattern wheel, means for mounting said pattern wheel on a machine member for movement therewith, said pattern wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced control members arranges in a ring, said control members being of th rocker arm type, means mounting said control members for movement between a rest position and a work position for effecting selected predetermined positioning of knitting needles to reproduce a knitting pattern, electromagnetic means fixedly mounted within and concentrically of said ring of control members for timed excitation by an electrical pulse to selectively sequentially react on said control members and effect the positioning thereof, said pattern wheel being in axially symmetrical relation to said electromagnetic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein spring means urge said control members towards the work position, and wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable selection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein there are first guide means for coaction with said control members for urging all of said control members to a position adjacent said electromagnetic means for selected movement thereby to said work positions, and second guide means for later coaction with said control members to positively hold said control members in respectively set rest and work positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said guide means are in the form of opposed fixedly positioned curved limbs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein there is at least one selection wheel associated with said pattern wheel, said selection wheel including a plurality of pivotally mounted bi-stable selection levers for setting the positions of knitting needles, means mounting said selection wheel for rotation adjacent said pattern in a position wherein there is interengagement of said control members and said selection levers for the setting of said selection levers in accordance with the setting of corresponding ones of said control members, and drive means for rotating said selection wheel synchronously with said pattern wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for magnetically acting directly on a control member moving past said extension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein there is a non-magnetic ring positioned within said ring of control members, said non-magnetic ring having an open point, and said entension extends radially through said ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein a cover generally encloses said electromagnetic means, said cover being formed on non-magnetic material and haing an opening therein, and said extension being positioned in said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opening is shaped as a slit extending radially outwardly from the center of said cover through said end wall and at least partially into said skirt, and said extension being an angle piece in direct contact with said core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic means includes a core, said cover includes an end wall and a skirt, said cover opeing is in the form of an apeture formed in said end wall and shaped as a segment of a circle, said aperture continuing down into said skirt as a slit in the middle of its arc, and said extensIon being of a shape matching said opening and formed of magnetic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein there is a further opening in said cover, and electric cable means extends through said further opening and are connected to said electromagnetic means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein the means mounting said pattern wheel includes a fixed shaft, said extension includes an eye located in axial alignment with said electromagnetic means, and bolt means coaxially of said cover and said electromagnetic means and coaxially threaded into said shaft fixedly mounting said electromagnetic means and said extension on said shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said extension is formed of magnetic material and is provided with an insulating coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein each control member is formed of bent sheet metal and includes an upper arm and a lower arm, and said upper arm is of a greater circumferential extent than said lower arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein said pattern wheel includes a circular shaft, each control member has an oppen hook-like attaching portion engaged around said circular shaft, and there being a support engaging said attaching portion for retaining the same in engagement with said circular shaft while permitting rocking of said control member about said circular shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 15 together with spring means reacting on each attaching portion for urging pivoting of each control member in a direction to move the upper arm thereof towards said electromagnetic means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein said spring means are in the form of free ended lamellae of a circular disc, and means mounting said circular disc on said pattern wheel for rotation therewith concentric with an axis of rotation of said pattern wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
Aa device according to claim 3 together with spring means actin on said control members for moving said control members away from said electromagnetic means to said rest positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device according to claim 18 wherein said guide means are in the form of sickle shaped curved limbs opening towards each other and having spaced ends for the passage therebetween of those ones of said control members not set in their work positions by said electromagnetic means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein there is at least one radial extension associated with said electromagnetic means for folding selected ones of said control members in their work positions, said extension being positioned opposite to said second guide means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said attern wheel includes axially spaced plates, said control members are in the form of radially extending extending levers having vertical pivot shafts journalled in said plates, and said levers have inner end portions disposed radially adjacent to said electromagnetiic means for selective movement of said levers to their work positions by said electromagnetic means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device according to claim 21 wherein said plates have circumferentially spaced cutouts radially aligned with the positions of said levers, each lever having axially projecting portions extending into a respective cutout and circumferentially spaced edges of each cutout defining stops for said projecting portions, and magnetic means carried by said plates for retaining each of said levers in engagement with a preset one of its respective stops.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 21 wherein each control member has a projection thereon for direct engagement with a knitting needle and directly acts on a selection element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1 together with an overlying covering receiving at least an upper part of said pattern wheel including said control members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2153342A
Cited
US2821073A
Cited
US3079775A
Cited
US3170312A
Cited
US3292393A
Cited
US3611753A
Cited
US3820359A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |