Textiles: knitting – Needle cooperating elements – Sinkers or web holders
Patent
1998-11-09
2000-09-19
Falik, Andy
Textiles: knitting
Needle cooperating elements
Sinkers or web holders
66217, 66107, D04B 1506, D04B 1526
Patent
active
061194883
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sinker drive mechanism, in particular but not exclusively for driving sinkers in a straight bar knitting machine.
2. Description of Related Art
In a straight bar knitting machine, sinkers are advanced after having received yarn in order to draw the yarn around the needle shanks prior to operation of the needles.
Conventionally, each sinker is advanced mechanically by a striking jack which is engaged by a slur cock which traverse across the back of the sinkers so as to advance each sinker in succession.
The mechanical action of a slur cock is noisy, relatively slow and requires continuous maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The sinker drive mechanism for a knitting machine includes a piston assembly for actuating the sinkers. The mechanism has valve means for advancing in succession each of a plurality of pistons of the piston assembly and disposed along the length of a support body to actuate the respective sinker. The valve means includes a piston head movable along a piston chamber within the support body to introduce pressure to each piston of the plurality of pistons and urge serial movement of the plurality of pistons with resulting actuation of the respective sinkers.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved drive mechanism which overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional mechanical sinker drive mechanisms.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sinker drive mechanism including an elongate support body including a plurality of pistons spaced along its length, each piston being extendable to advance an individual sinker to an extended position.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a knitting machine or weaving machine including a drive mechanism as defined above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the knitting head of a conventional straight bar knitting machine;
FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 showing a straight bar knitting machine modified in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a sinker drive mechanism according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V--V in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a multi-sectioned knitting machine;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a single sectioned knitting machine;
FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing a straight bar mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 5 showing a modified embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI--XI in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1 there is shown a typical layout of a conventional straight bar knitting machine having knitting needles A held in a needle bar E. Sinkers B (typically one between every two needles) are slidingly received in a sinker bar K which extends along the length of the knitting head. Dividers C are usually located inbetween each pair of neighbouring sinkers.
A catch bar G extending along the length of the knitting head is provided for advancement of the dividers and the simultaneous retraction of the sinkers and dividers.
A slur cock SC is provided mounted on a guide rail extending along the knitting head. The slur cock SC moves along the guide rail and advances each sinker sequentially by engaging by a camming action, an associated striking jack J.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 3), the slur cock SC and associated guide rail and drive mechanism is replaced by a sinker drive mechanism 10 which operates the sinkers via the striking jacks J. In accordance with a second embodi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4191222 (1980-03-01), Marshall
patent: 4298034 (1981-11-01), Viscardi
patent: 5184483 (1993-02-01), Conti
patent: 5494080 (1996-02-01), Sano
Falik Andy
The RHD Company Limited
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