Textiles: knitting – Needle cooperating elements – Sinkers or web holders
Reexamination Certificate
2004-01-20
2004-10-05
Worrell, Danny (Department: 3765)
Textiles: knitting
Needle cooperating elements
Sinkers or web holders
C066S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06799444
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved circular knitting machine that has a saddle plate with matching cams and sinkers assembled thereon in an inclined manner, and a sinker drum with a concave surface forming a continuous circular ring in the shape of a conical shallow tray to allow the cams and the sinker drum to form a concave and convex surface contact thereby to achieve a smooth match between sinkers and cams.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional circular knitting machines generally include sinkers driven by a cam. The cam has a driving path to move the sinkers to and fro to perform a knitting operation.
The sinker is engaged with a preset driving path as shown in FIG.
1
A. During a knitting operation, the lug
62
of the sinker
61
is engaged with the driving path
64
of the cam
63
so that the sinker
61
is moved according to the driving path
64
to perform the knitting operation. The cam
63
is mounted horizontally on the machine deck. The sinker
61
is also mounted horizontally.
Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 2
, the sinker
61
is located on a sinker drum
60
which rotates at a high speed during knitting operation, and the sinker
61
is driven by the driving path
64
to move reciprocally to and fro rapidly. When the sinker drum
60
rotates at high speed, the sinker
61
is forced outwards due to a centrifugal force, but is retained by the driving path
64
of the cam
63
. Meanwhile the lug
62
moves along the driving path
64
. The centrifugal force generates a great force on the sinker
61
(indicated by an arrow in FIG.
2
). As a result, the lug
62
does not move as smoothly as desired along the driving path
64
. The contact surface
66
and contact angle
67
between the driving path
64
and the lug
62
form many stress concentration points. The continuous centrifugal force creates severe friction and wear. As a result, the lifetime of the sinker
61
and the cam
63
significantly decreases.
Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 1B
the cam
63
is mounted horizontally on the machine deck and the sinker
61
also is mounted horizontally. But the sinker drum
60
is a circular barrel with a plurality of cams
63
mounted thereon adjacent to one another in an annular fashion. There is a gap
65
formed between two neighboring and horizontal cams
63
. This resulting connection is not continuous between cams
63
. Hence during high speed rotation, interference or interruption can occur with the to and fro reciprocal movements of the sinker
61
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore the object of the invention is to provide an improved circular knitting machine that has a saddle plate with inclined holding surfaces and a sinker drum with an inclined surface so that the matching cams and sinkers are also coupled in an inclined manner. The cams and the sinker drum form a concave and convex arched contact surface so that a gap is less likely to occur. As a result, when the sinker drum rotates, the sinker may be moved along the driving path more smoothly without interference or interruption.
The driving path provided in the invention can also reduce the centrifugal force of the sinker and prevent the lug from hitting the cam. Therefore, the service life of the sinker and cam may increase.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3735812 (1973-05-01), Flavell et al.
patent: 4180993 (1980-01-01), Philip
patent: 4693092 (1987-09-01), Plath
patent: 5279133 (1994-01-01), Plath
Pai Lung Machinery Mill Co. Ltd.
Worrell Danny
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