Clutch for a textile machine

Claim 2

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to restrain said pawl from said recess and to a second position spaced from said orbit; input means for movement into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate independently of said shaft; a spring biasing said input means into engagement with said cam plate; and a limit stop on said cam plate for limiting movement of said pawl into said inoperative position, said stop being positioned to limit movement of said input means relative to said non-circular surface.

Claim 3

A clutch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input means includes a pivotally mounted lever having a cam follower thereon, said cam follower being biased into engagement with said non-circular surface.

Claim 4

A clutch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said abutment is a pivotally mounted lever and which further comprises a programmer for selectively moving said lever between said first and second positions.

Claim 5

A clutch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft is rotatable through a plurality of rest positions and which further comprises a plurality of said abutments, each said abutment being disposed in a respective rest position of said shaft.

Claim 6

A clutch as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess.

Claim 7

A clutch as set forth in claim 5 wherein said restoring means includes at least one cam surface on said cam plate, a pivotally mounted lever connected to said abutment, and a cam follower mounted on said lever for movement on said cam surface wherein said cam surface causes said lever to pivot said abutment to said first position.

Claim 8

A clutch as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises an eccentric rotatably mounted on said shaft and secured to said cam plate for rotation therewith to drive the mechanical element.

Claim 9

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to retract said pawl from said recess and to a second position spaced from said orbit; spring biased input means biased into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate and withdrawal of said pawl from said recess; means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess; and a limit stop on said cam plate for limiting movement of said pawl into said inoperative position, said stop being positioned to limit movement of said input means relative to said non-circular surface.

Claim 10

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to retract said pawl from said recess and to a second position spaced from said orbit; spring biased input means biased into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate and withdrawal of said pawl from said recess; means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess; and a limit stop on said cam plate for limiting movement of said pawl into said inoperative position, said stop being positioned to limit movement of said input means relative to said non-circular surface.

Claim 11

A clutch as set forth in claim 8 wherein said input means includes a spring biased piston having a roller mounted at one end thereof, said roller being biased into engagement with said non-circular surface.

Claim 12

A clutch as set forth in claim 8 wherein said abutment is a pivotally mounted lever and which further comprises a programmer for selectively moving said lever between said first and second positions.

Claim 13

A clutch as set forth in claim 8 which further comprises an eccentric rotatably mounted on said shaft and secured to said cam plate for rotation therewith to drive the mechanical element.

Claim 14

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a first cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof, and at least one cam surface on said periphery; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; spring means mounted on said cam plate for biasing said pawl towards said shaft and said operative position; a stop on said cam plate for limiting movement of said pawl into said inoperative position; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to a second position spaced from said orbit, said abutment being disposed in said first position to initiate retraction of said pawl from said recess; input means for movement into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate and complete withdrawal of said pawl from said recess; a spring biasing said input means into engagement with said cam plate; and means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess, said means including a pivotally mounted lever connected to said abutment, and a cam follower mounted on said lever for movement on said cam surface wherein said cam surface causes said lever to pivot said abutment to said first position.

Claim 15

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a first cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof, and at least one cam surface on said periphery; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; spring means mounted on said cam plate for biasing said pawl towards said shaft and said operative position; a stop on said cam plate for limiting movement of said pawl into said inoperative position; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to a second position spaced from said orbit, said abutment being disposed in said first position to initiate retraction of said pawl from said recess; input means for movement into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate and complete withdrawal of said pawl from said recess; a spring biasing said input means into engagement with said cam plate; and means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess, said means including a pivotally mounted lever connected to said abutment, and a cam follower mounted on said lever for movement on said cam surface wherein said cam surface causes said lever to pivot said abutment to said first position.

Claim 16

A clutch as set forth in claim 12 which further comprises an eccentric rotatably mounted on said shaft and secured to said cam plate for rotation therewith.

Claim 17

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to restrain said pawl from said recess and to a second position spaced from said orbit; input means for movement into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate; a spring biasing said input means into engagement with said cam plate; and means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess, said restoring means including at least one cam surface on said cam plate, a pivotally mounted lever connected to said abutment, and a cam follower mounted on said lever for movement on said cam surface wherein said cam surface causes said lever to pivot said abutment to said first position.

Claim 18

A clutch for moving a mechanical element of a textile machine, said clutch comprising an intermittently rotatable input shaft having at least one recess therein; a cam plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam plate having at least one non-circular surface on a periphery thereof; a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam plate for movement between an inoperative position spaced from said recess and an operative position engaged in said recess; at least one controlled abutment movable from a first position in the orbit of said pawl to restrain said pawl from said recess and to a second position spaced from said orbit; input means for movement into engagement with said non-circular surface of said cam plate to effect rotation of said cam plate; a spring biasing said input means into engagement with said cam plate; and means for restoring said abutment to said first position after engagement of said pawl in said recess, said restoring means including at least one cam surface on said cam plate, a pivotally mounted lever connected to said abutment, and a cam follower mounted on said lever for movement on said cam surface wherein said cam surface causes said lever to pivot said abutment to said first position.