U.S. patent application number 09/822201 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for method and apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock.
Invention is credited to Fujiwara, Toshifumi, Nakahira, Takeshi, Shibata, Yusuke, Ueda, Takahiro.
Application Number | 20010039816 09/822201 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18647222 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010039816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujiwara, Toshifumi ; et
al. |
November 15, 2001 |
Method and apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock
Abstract
A method of sewing the toe of a sock is provided which can
automatically take out a sock pattern of knitted fabric from a sock
knitting machine and sew up the selvedge at the toe portion of the
sock pattern of knitted fabric thus improving both the efficiency
of production and the energy saving. When a sock pattern of knitted
fabric has been fabricated by the sock knitting machine, the
transfer needles mounted on a group of transfer needles equipped
movable tables are advanced at their tips close to the hooks of
knitting needles. Then, the sock pattern of knitted fabric is
lifted up and turned inside out by suction to transfer its loops at
the toe portion from the knitting needles to the corresponding
transfer needles. As a result, the sock pattern of knitted fabric
turned inside out is transferred from the sock knitting machine to
the transfer needles equipped movable tables. The transfer needles
equipped movable tables are then shifted to a linear position to
sandwich the loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern of
knitted fabric flatly between two row. The transfer needles
equipped movable tables is then conveyed to a toe sewing location
where the loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern is sewed up
automatically with a sewing machine.
Inventors: |
Fujiwara, Toshifumi;
(Kashiba, JP) ; Nakahira, Takeshi; (Yamototakada,
JP) ; Ueda, Takahiro; (Yamatotakada, JP) ;
Shibata, Yusuke; (Yamatotakada, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
18647222 |
Appl. No.: |
09/822201 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/13 ; 112/121;
66/148; 66/2; 66/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B 9/40 20130101; D04B
15/02 20130101; D04B 15/18 20130101; D05B 7/00 20130101; D05B
23/009 20130101; D04B 15/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
66/13 ; 66/2;
66/49; 66/148; 112/121 |
International
Class: |
D04B 009/46; D05B
023/00; D04B 009/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2000 |
JP |
2000-139839 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of sewing the toe of a sock comprising the steps of:
after knitting a sock pattern with a sock knitting machine, holding
the knitting needles at a specific height, downwardly removing the
loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric from
latches of the corresponding knitting needles, and holding the
loops at a specific location; positioning a group of transfer
needles equipped movable tables in a circular relationship just
above the sock knitting machine; setting the transfer needles on
the transfer needles equipped movable tables close to the hooks of
the knitting needles; lifting up the sock pattern of knitted fabric
to turn inside out and transfer the sock pattern at the loops of
the toe portion from the knitting needles to the corresponding
transfer needles with the help of a transfer bit elevated so that
the sock pattern of knitted fabric turned inside out are
transferred from the sock knitting machine to the transfer needles
equipped movable tables; positioning the transfer needles equipped
movable tables in two linear rows aligned opposite to each other to
sandwich the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric
flatly from both sides; shifting the transfer needles equipped
movable tables to a toe sewing location; and automatically sewing
up the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric with a
sewing machine provided at the toe sewing location.
2. The method of sewing the toe of a sock according to claim 1,
further comprising, when the sock pattern of knitted fabric are
held by the transfer needles at the toe sewing location, lifting up
the sock pattern of knitted fabric with a lifting member to enlarge
its loops at the toe portion, inserting a plurality of point
needles, each having a recess provided on the upper side thereof,
into the corresponding loops which are enlarged, removing the
lifting bit from the transfer needles, and sewing up the loops at
the toe portion with a sewing needles which performs an
intermittent reciprocal action in and along the recess of each
point needles.
3. An apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock comprising: a group of
transfer needles equipped movable tables arranged movable for
shifting between a circular position and a linear position where
two linear rows come opposite to each other, moving up and down
just above a sock knitting machine, and traveling forward and
backward horizontally of the sock knitting machine; a plurality of
transfer needles mounted on the transfer needles equipped movable
tables for radial movement when the transfer needles equipped
movable tables are arranged in the circular position; a guide ring
for moving up and down in the center of a circle of the transfer
needles equipped movable tables arranged in the circular position
and when the transfer needles are advanced inwardly, holding the
tips of the transfer needles in a circle so that the transfer
needles come close to the hooks of the corresponding knitting
needles of the sock knitting machine; a vacuum pipe for moving up
and down in the guide ring and when held at the lower position,
drawing by suction from above the sock pattern of knitted fabric
fabricated by the sock knitting machine so that the sock pattern is
turned inside out and lifted up; and a sewing machine installed at
a location on the horizontal traveling of the transfer needles
equipped movable tables for sewing up the toe portion of the sock
pattern.
4. The apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock according to claim 3,
further comprising: a lifting member for lifting up the sock
pattern of knitted fabric held on the transfer needles at the
location for sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern; a
plurality of point needles, each point needle having a recess
provided in the upper side thereof, for moving to and from the
corresponding loops of the sock pattern of knitted fabric held on
the transfer needles; and a sewing needle for performing an
intermittent reciprocal action in and along the recess of each
point needles which holds one of the loops so that the loops at the
toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric can be sewed up.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
automatically sewing the toe of a sock when having automatically
taken out a sock pattern of knitted fabric from a socks knitting
machine which knitted the pattern to the toe portion.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A common method of fabricating a sock is carried out with
the use of a socks knitting machine, such as a circular knitting
machine or a tubular knitting machine as comprising the steps of
knitting a sock pattern of knitted fabric from ribbed top to a
body, a heel, a foot, and a toe and sewing up the toe selvedge.
[0005] The step of sewing up the toe selvedge includes removing a
sock pattern of knitted fabric from the socks knitting machine,
turning the sock pattern inside out, and manually sewing up the toe
selvedge with a seam sewing machine.
[0006] As the sock pattern of knitted fabric has to be removed from
the socks knitting machine, transferred to a station for sewing up
the toe selvedge, turned inside out, placed on the seam sewing
machine, and sewed up by manual actions of the toe selvedge sewing
up step, the production of socks may be declined in the efficiency
thus increasing the overall cost.
[0007] It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a
method and apparatus for automatically turning inside out and
removing a sock pattern of knitted fabric from a socks knitting
machine and sewing up its toe selvedge thus to increase the
efficiency of socks production and improve the energy saving, hence
minimizing the overall production cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] For achievement of the object, a method of sewing the toe of
a sock defined in claim 1 of the present invention is provided
comprising the steps of: after knitting a sock pattern with a sock
knitting machine, holding the knitting needles at a specific
height, downwardly removing the loops at the toe portion of the
sock pattern of knitted fabric from latches of the corresponding
knitting needles, and holding the loops at a specific location;
positioning a group of transfer needles equipped movable tables in
a circular relationship just above the sock knitting machine;
setting the transfer needles on the transfer needles equipped
movable tables close to the hooks of the knitting needles; lifting
up the sock pattern of knitted fabric to turn inside out and
transfer the sock pattern at the loops of the toe portion from the
knitting needles to the corresponding transfer needles with the
help of a transfer bit elevated so that the sock pattern of knitted
fabric turned inside out are transferred from the sock knitting
machine to the transfer needles equipped movable tables;
[0009] positioning the transfer needles equipped movable tables in
two linear rows aligned opposite to each other to sandwich the toe
portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric flatly from both
sides; shifting the transfer needles equipped movable tables to a
toe sewing location; and automatically sewing up the toe portion of
the sock pattern of knitted fabric with a sewing machine provided
at the toe sewing location.
[0010] According to claim 2 of the present invention, the method of
sewing the toe of a sock defined in claim 1 may be modified further
comprising, when the sock pattern of knitted fabric are held by the
transfer needles at the toe sewing location, lifting up the sock
pattern of knitted fabric with a lifting member to enlarge its
loops at the toe portion, inserting a plurality of point needles,
each having a recess provided on the upper side thereof, into the
corresponding loops which are enlarged, removing the lifting bit
from the transfer needles, and sewing up the loops at the toe
portion with a sewing needles which performs an intermittent
reciprocal action in and along the recess of each point
needles.
[0011] An apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock defined in claim 3
of the present invention is provided comprising: a group of
transfer needles equipped movable tables arranged movable for
shifting between a circular position and a linear position where
two linear rows come opposite to each other, moving up and down
just above a sock knitting machine, and traveling forward and
backward horizontally of the sock knitting machine; a plurality of
transfer needles mounted on the transfer needles equipped movable
tables for radial movement when the transfer needles equipped
movable tables are arranged in the circular position; a guide ring
for moving up and down in the center of a circle of the transfer
needles equipped movable tables arranged in the circular position
and when the transfer needles are advanced inwardly, holding the
tips of the transfer needles in a circle so that the transfer
needles come close to the hooks of the corresponding knitting
needles of the sock knitting machine; a vacuum pipe for moving up
and down in the guide ring and when held at the lower position,
drawing by suction from above the sock pattern of knitted fabric
fabricated by the sock knitting machine so that the sock pattern is
turned inside out and lifted up; and a sewing machine installed at
a location on the horizontal traveling of the transfer needles
equipped movable tables for sewing up the toe portion of the sock
pattern.
[0012] According to claim 4 of the present invention, the apparatus
for sewing the toe of a sock defined in claim 3 may be modified
further comprising: a lifting member for lifting up the sock
pattern of knitted fabric held on the transfer needles at the
location for sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern; a
plurality of point needles, each point needle having a recess
provided in the upper side thereof, for moving to and from the
corresponding loops of the sock pattern of knitted fabric held on
the transfer needles; and a sewing needle for performing an
intermittent reciprocal action in and along the recess of each
point needles which holds one of the loops so that the loops at the
toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric can be sewed
up.
[0013] The transfer needles mounted on the transfer needles
equipped movable tables are identical in the number to the knitting
needles of the sock knitting machine. The guide ring has the same
number of grooves provided in the outer side thereof for accepting
and positioning the tips of the transfer needles.
[0014] The transfer needles equipped movable table comprises an
upper block and a lower holder of a rectangular shape. The holder
has a group of grooves provided therein in which the transfer
needles are movably mounted. The transfer needles equipped movable
table can be driven via a cam member by an air cylinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a longitudinally cross sectional view showing a
sock transfer mechanism and a sock knitting machine with a sock
pattern of knitted fabric held thereon at the initial stage
according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view of the
sock transfer mechanism and the sock knitting machine with the sock
pattern of knitted fabric held thereon at the initial stage;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing a transfer bit lifted up;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the sock transfer mechanism lifted down;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing a guide ring in the sock transfer mechanism lifted
down;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing transfer needles equipped movable tables moved close to the
guide ring in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing a vacuum pipe lifted down in the sock transfer
mechanism;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the vacuum pipe holding the sock pattern of knitted fabric
by the suction in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the vacuum pipe lifted up in the sock transfer
mechanism;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the transfer bit lifted up;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the transfer bit lifted sown;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a longitudinally cross sectional view showing the
sock transfer mechanism lifted up;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the transfer needles equipped movable tables spaced from
the guide ring in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the guide ring lifted up in the sock transfer
mechanism;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a longitudinally cross sectional front view
showing the transfer needles equipped movable tables arranged in a
linear position in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0030] FIG. 16 is an enlarged plan view showing the transfer
needles equipped movable tables arranged in a circular position in
the sock transfer mechanism;
[0031] FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view showing the transfer
needles equipped movable tables aligned about the outer side of the
guide ring in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0032] FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view showing the transfer
needles equipped movable tables being shifted to the linear
position in the sock transfer mechanism;
[0033] FIG. 19 is an enlarged plan view showing the transfer
needles equipped movable tables being further shifted from the
state shown in FIG. 18 to the linear position;
[0034] FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan view showing the transfer
needles equipped movable tables arranged in the linear position in
the sock transfer mechanism;
[0035] FIG. 21 is an enlarged plan view showing an arrangement of
the sock transfer mechanism for shifting the position of the
transfer needles equipped movable tables;
[0036] FIG. 22 is a longitudinally enlarged cross sectional front
view showing the sock knitting machine with a sock pattern of
knitted fabric at the initial stage;
[0037] FIGS. 23A, 23B, and 23C are a longitudinally cross sectional
front view showing the relationship between knitting needles and
transfer needles, an enlarged side view showing the relationship
between the knitting needles and the transfer needles, and an
explanatory view showing loops of the sock pattern of knitted
fabric being transferred from the sock knitting machine to the
transfer mechanism respectively;
[0038] FIGS. 24A and 24B are a longitudinally cross sectional front
view showing the relationship between the knitting needles and the
transfer needles with the loops of the sock pattern of knitted
fabric being transferred and an enlarged side view showing the
relationship between the knitting needles and the transfer needles
respectively;
[0039] FIGS. 25A and 25B are a front view and a side view of the
transfer needles respectively;
[0040] FIGS. 26A and 26B are a plan view and a side view of a cam
member respectively;
[0041] FIGS. 27 is a plan view of a point needle holder bed;
[0042] FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 28C are a perspective view showing a
primary part of the point needle holder bed with point needles, a
perspective view of the point needle, and a cross sectional view of
the point needle respectively;
[0043] FIGS. 29A and 29B are a front view showing lifting strips
before inserted between the transfer needles and a front view
showing the lifting strips inserted between the transfer needles
respectively;
[0044] FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a primary part of a sewing
machine for sewing up the loops at the toe portion of the sock
pattern;
[0045] FIG. 31 is a side view showing a primary part of the sewing
machine; and
[0046] FIGS. 32A and 32B are an internal cross sectional view and a
perspective view of a thread looseness eliminating device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] Some embodiments of the present invention will be described
referring to the relevant drawings.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, an apparatus for knitting the toe
of a sock comprises a sock knitting machine 1, such as a circular
knitting machine or a tubular knitting machine, for knitting a sock
pattern of knitted fabric, a sock transfer mechanism 3 having a
plurality of transfer needles equipped movable tables 2 arranged
for shifting between a circular position and a linear position
where their two rows are aligned opposite to each other, lifting
upward and downward above the sock knitting machine 1, and
traveling in the horizontal direction to the sock knitting machine
1 so that the sock pattern of knitted fabric, denoted by A,
fabricated by the sock knitting machine 1 can automatically be
removed from the sock knitting machine 1 and transferred
horizontally to another stage, and a sewing machine for sewing up
the selvedge of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A received from
the sock transfer mechanism 3.
[0049] The sock knitting machine 1 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 1
to 22, a rotatable circular cylinder 4, a multiplicity of knitting
needles 5 supported in a recess provided in the outer side of the
cylinder 4 for upward and downward movements to knit the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A, a multiplicity of sinkers 6 mounted on
a sinker bed of the cylinder 4 for producing stitches with the
knitting needles 5, a multiplicity of bits 7 mounted on the inner
side of the cylinder 4 for removing the stitches from the fingers
of the sinkers 6 and transferring the loops on the knitting needles
5 to the transfer needles described later, and a vacuum pipe 8
mounted in the cylinder 4 for suctioning and lifting down the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A by the action of vacuum. In action, as
the knitting needles 5 are lifted up and down by the actions of
cams not shown with the cylinder 4 rotating, the sock pattern of
knitted fabric A can be knitted from a ribbed top to a body, a
heel, a foot, and a toe.
[0050] The sock transfer mechanism 3 has a support post 10 mounted
upright on a base plate 9 as spaced from the sock knitting machine
1. A base plate 11 is mounted horizontally to the support post 10
for rotation about and upward and downward movement along the
support post 10. The upward and downward movement of the base plate
11 is activated by an air cylinder 12 mounted between the base
plate 11 and the base plate 9. A tubular member 13 of which the
inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the
cylinder 4 is mounted on the base plate 11 so that it comes just
above and coaxial with the sock knitting machine 1 when the base
plate 11 is shifted to the location above the sock knitting machine
1.
[0051] A guide ring 15 having a multiplicity of grooves 14 provided
in the outer side thereof is fitted in the tubular member 13 for
upward and downward movement. The upward and downward movement of
the guide ring 15 is activated by an air cylinder 17 mounted
between the base plate 11 and a lifting plate 16 fixedly joined to
the top of the air cylinder 17. A vacuum pipe 18 is provided
movable upward and downward in the guide ring 15 for suction and
lifting of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A fabricated by the
sock knitting machine 1. The upward and downward movement of the
vacuum pipe 18 is synchronized with that of the guide ring 15.
Also, the vacuum pipe 18 can independently be lifted upward and
downward by the action of a cylinder 20 mounted between the lifting
plate 16 of the guide ring 15 and a lifting plate 19 joined to the
top of the cylinder 20.
[0052] Provided beneath the base plate 11 are the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2 which can be shifted between the circular
position and the linear position where two rows are aligned
opposite to each other just below the axis of the tubular member
13.
[0053] Each of the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2
comprises an upper block 21 and a lower holder 22 of a rectangular
shape. A group of grooves 23 are provided in the holder 22 so that
they extend radially when arranged in the circular position. A
transfer needle 24 and a cam member 25 are movably mounted in each
groove 23. A group of the transfer needles 24 can be moved together
via the cam members 25 by the action of an air cylinder 26.
[0054] FIGS. 16 to 21 illustrate an arrangement of the transfer
needles equipped movable tables 2. In the arrangement shown, eight
of the transfer needles equipped movable tables denoted by 2a to 2h
are arranged at equal intervals in the circular position. In the
linear position, two rows of the four movable tables 2 are aligned
opposite to each other.
[0055] A couple guide rails 27 are mounted at both sides of the
axis of the tubular member 13 beneath the base plate 11. A guide 28
is mounted movable on and along an outer half of each the guide
rail 27 and has a pivot shaft 29 mounted thereon to which a pair of
brackets 30 of substantially an L shape are pivotably joined for
horizontal movement. The bracket 30 has a pivot pin 31 mounted to
the distal end thereof and one of the transfer needles equipped
movable tables 2 is pivotably joined to the pivot pin 31 as shown
in FIG. 21. The pivot pin 31 is movably fitted in a slot 33
provided in a positioning guide 32 mounted to the lower side of the
base plate 11 so that it can move orthogonal to the guide rail
27.
[0056] A guide 34 is mounted movable on and along the inner half of
each the guide rail 27 and has a pivot pin 35 mounted thereon to
which two of the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2 are
joined for pivotal movement. Each of the two transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2 has a pivot pin 36 mounted thereon. The
pivot pin 36 is movably fitted in an arcuate slot 37 provided in
the bracket 30.
[0057] Because of the above described arrangement, when the paired
brackets 30 are pivoted outwardly through an angle as shown in
FIGS. 16 to 19, the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2 are
arranged in the circular position about the axis of the tubular
member 13. When the paired brackets 30 are shifted inwardly to be
parallel with each other as shown in FIG. 20, the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2 are aligned in two opposite rows, four
each row.
[0058] As the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2a to 2h are
moved inwardly as shown in FIGS. 19 to 20, they may collide with
each other. For compensation, the pivot pins 29 for the brackets 30
are dislocated from the pins 35, whereby the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2 can be aligned in two rows as shown in
FIG. 20.
[0059] The pivotal movement of the brackets 30 may be actuated by
an air cylinder or an electric motor.
[0060] The total number of the transfer needles 24 mounted in the
grooves 23 of the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2 shown
in FIG. 13 is equal to the number of the knitting needles 5 of the
sock knitting machine 1. Also, the number of the grooves 14
provided in the outer side of the guide ring 15 is the same.
[0061] As best shown in FIG. 25, the transfer needle 24 is arranged
of an inverted L shape having an annular tip 38 provided at the
distal end thereof for opening and closing motions and a pad 39
provided on a center region of a leg portion thereof which is
fitted in the groove 23 of the transfer needles equipped movable
table 2. The cam member 25 for driving the transfer needle 24 has,
as shown in FIG. 26, a cam 40 mounted thereon for moving the
transfer needle 24 forward to its circular position and a cam 41
mounted thereon for moving the transfer needle 25 backward to its
linear position, both cams sandwiching the pat 39. The transfer
needles 24 and the cam members 25 of each transfer needles equipped
movable table 2 can be driven at once by the single cylinder
26.
[0062] While the sock knitting apparatus of the present invention
has the foregoing arrangement, a method of knitting the toe of a
sock will now be described.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 22, when the fabrication of a sock
pattern of knitted fabric A is completed in the sock knitting
machine 1, the sock transfer mechanism 3 drives the horizontal base
plate 11 to turn about the support post 10 until it stops just
above the sock knitting machine 1. As a result, the tubular member
13, the guide ring 15, and the vacuum pipe 18 of the sock transfer
mechanism 3 are positioned coaxially of the cylinder 4 of the sock
knitting machine 1. The base plate 11 may be driven by an air
cylinder or an electric motor.
[0064] At the time, the base plate 11 is at its upper position
while the lower sides of the guide ring 15 and the vacuum pipe 18
remain high above the base plate 11. The transfer needles equipped
movable tables 2 mounted to the lower side of the base plate 11 are
arranged in the circular position coaxially of the cylinder 4 of
the sock knitting machine 1 so that their inner diameter is
slightly greater than the diameter of the cylinder 4. The transfer
needles 24 of the transfer needles equipped movable tables 2 remain
retracted from the front end of the transfer needles equipped
movable tables 2 and their downwardly extending tips 38 are
vertically spaced from the upper ends of the corresponding knitting
needles 5 of the sock knitting machine 1.
[0065] As the sock knitting machine 1 finished its action of
fabricating the sock pattern of knitted fabric A, its knitting
needles 5 are lifted up to the clear position with the cylinder 4
held at the original position. At the time, as the sock pattern of
knitted fabric A is pulled down in the sock knitting machine 1 by
the suction of the vacuum pipe 8, its toe loops a are off the
latches 5b of the knitting needles 5 and stay on the sinkers 6a as
shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.
[0066] Then, a latch ring (not shown) is elevated and the transfer
bit 7 is lifted up to one step as shown in FIG. 3. The cylinder 4
of the sock knitting machine 1 is moved one full turn and the
suction of the vacuum pipe 8 is canceled. The cylinder 4 is moved
again one full turn and the loops a of the sock pattern of knitted
fabric A are held on the fingers of the corresponding sinkers
6.
[0067] This is followed by lifting down the transfer bit 7 of the
sock knitting machine 1 to its lower position shown in FIG. 2.
Then, the base plate 11 of the sock transfer mechanism 3 just above
the sock knitting machine 1 is lowered to the transfer position
shown in FIG. 4 by the action of the air cylinder 12 so that the
tips 38 of the transfer needles 24 on the movable tables 2 come
flush with the hooks 5a of the knitting needles 5 of the sock
knitting machine 1. Simultaneously, the guide ring 15 and the
vacuum pipe 18 are lowered by the action of the air cylinders 17 as
shown in FIG. 5 until the lower end of the guide ring 15 moves into
the circular position of the transfer needles equipped movable
tables 2 and comes to the height level of the transfer needles
24.
[0068] Then, the air cylinders 26 of the transfer needles equipped
movable tables 2 are actuated to drive the cams 40 of the cam
member 25 and thus push the transfer needles 24 forward to their
arcuate position facing the guide ring 15 as shown in FIG. 6. When
the transfer needles 24 are further advanced at their front end
into the corresponding grooves 14 provided in the guide ring 14,
they are positioned in a circle about the axis of the cylinder 4 of
the sock knitting machine 1 as shown in FIG. 17. As a result, the
tips 38 of the transfer needles 24 come in engagement with the
hooks 5a of the corresponding knitting needles 5 of the sock
knitting machine 1 as shown in FIG. 23.
[0069] This is followed by the retracting action of the air
cylinder 20 lowering the vacuum pipe 18 until its lower opening end
comes flush with the sinkers 6, as shown in FIG. 7. Then, the
vacuum pipe 18 is actuated with its blower for suction of the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A from the sock knitting machine 1. As a
result shown in FIG. 8, the sock pattern of knitted fabric A is
turned inside out by the suction. The air cylinder 20 is then
advanced to lift the vacuum pipe 18 up to the position shown in
FIG. 9 where it is held in the guide ring 15.
[0070] Then, the transfer bit 7 of the sock knitting machine 1 is
lifted up until the loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A
are held on the corresponding transfer needles 24, as shown in FIG.
10. FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate a step of the loops a of the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A are being transferred from the knitting
needles 5 of the sock knitting machine 1 to the transfer needles
24. When the sock pattern of knitted fabric A turned inside out is
lifted up by the suction of the vacuum pipe 18 with the transfer
needles 24 engaged with the hooks 5a of the corresponding knitting
needles 5, their loops a can smoothly be transferred from the
knitting needles 5 to the corresponding transfer needles 24. As the
loops a have been transferred to the transfer needles 24, the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A fabricated by the sock knitting machine
1 and turned inside out is now held in the sock transfer mechanism
3. The transfer bit 7 is then lowered to its no-action
position.
[0071] This is followed by the air cylinder 12 advancing to return
the base plate 11 from the lower position to the upper position
shown in FIG. 12 and disengage the tips 38 of the transfer needles
24 from the hooks 5a of the corresponding knitting needles 5.
[0072] When the retracting action of the air cylinders 26 drives
the transfer needles 24 to move back from their arcuate position
shown in FIG. 13, the vacuum pipe 18 and the guide ring 15 are then
lifted up to their no-action position shown in FIG. 14. As the
transfer needles equipped movable tables 2a to 2h are shifted from
the circular position and moved towards the axis of the cylinder 4,
they are aligned in two rows as stay in the linear position as
shown in FIGS. 15 and 20. With the two rows of the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2 aligned opposite to each other, the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A is sandwiched at its toe portion
between the two rows of the transfer needles equipped movable
tables 2 as best shown in FIG. 15. The selvedge at the toe portion
remains of the sock pattern held by the tips 38a of the transfer
needles 24, shown in FIG. 25, under the transfer needles equipped
movable tables 2.
[0073] While the sock pattern of knitted fabric A is sandwiched at
its two portion between the two rows of the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2a to 2h, the base plate 11 of the sock
transfer mechanism 3 is turned about the support post 10 to depart
from the sock knitting machine 1. As the base plate 11 turns, the
two portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A sandwiched
between the two rows of the transfer needles equipped movable
tables 2 is conveyed to a position just above the sewing machine.
The selvedge at the toe portion of the sock pattern is then
automatically sewed up with the sewing machine while held by the
tips 38a of the transfer needles 24 beneath the transfer needles
equipped movable tables 2.
[0074] For sewing up the selvedge at the toe portion of the sock
pattern of knitted fabric, the embodiment has a point needle bed 44
on which a plurality of point needles 43 are aligned at equal
intervals of a distance as shown in FIG. 27. In action, the point
needles 43 are advanced into the corresponding loops a of the sock
pattern of knitted fabric A held by the tips 38a of the transfer
needles 24 before lifted upward.
[0075] More particularly, each the point needle 43 is mounted to
the holder bed 44 with its proximal end 47 inserted into a hole 46
provided at a recess 45 of the holder bed 44 as shown in FIG.
28A.
[0076] The point needles 43 has a longitudinal recess 48 provided
in the upper side thereof.
[0077] Before the point needles 43 are advanced into the
corresponding loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A, the
loops a are enlarged with a lifting member 60 shown in FIGS. 29A
and 29B for ease of insertion of the point needles 43 into the
corresponding loops a.
[0078] The lifting member 60 comprises a row of lifting strips 61
made of planer members. The lifting strips 61 are linearly alighted
at equal intervals of the distance identical to that of the
transfer needles 24 or the point needles 43 shown in FIG. 28. More
specifically, the lifting strips 61 are aligned alternating with
the transfer needles 24.
[0079] As the lifting member 60 is moved forward and backward and
lifted upward and downward by a proper means, its lifting strips 61
are shifted from the position shown in FIG. 29A to the position
shown in FIG. 28B so that each lifting strip 61 comes between any
two adjacent transfer needle 24. Then, each portion between two
loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A is lifted up by the
lifting strip 61, hence causing the loops a to be enlarged while
held by the tips 38a of the corresponding transfer needles 24.
[0080] This allows the point needles 43 to advance without
difficulty into the corresponding loops a of the sock pattern of
knitted fabric A which are kept enlarged with the lifting strips
61. Also, as the loops a are enlarged uniformly, they can be sewed
up without generating irregular stitches.
[0081] After the point needles 43 are advanced into the
corresponding loops a, the lifting member 60 is lowered down from
the point needles 43 and the transfer needles 24 and then its
lifting strips 61 are withdrawn from the transfer needles 24.
[0082] As the loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A held
on the tips 38 of the transfer needles 24 are caught and lifted
down slightly by the corresponding point needles 43 aligned at
equal intervals on the holder bed 44 shown in FIG. 27, they are
favorably maintained at equal intervals.
[0083] The loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A are then
sewed up with the sewing machine 49 which, as shown in FIGS. 30 and
31, includes a geneva mechanism 50 mounted at one end thereof where
a follower wheel 53 remains static while a pin 52 mounted on a
driver pin wheel 51 is disengaged from any of four slots 54
provided in the follower wheel 53.
[0084] In action, as the driver pin wheel 51 makes one full turn,
the geneva mechanism 50 is turned 114 thus providing a {fraction
(1/4)} pitch intermittent movement of a screw shaft 55.
[0085] Also, the as the driver pin wheel 51 turns, a pair of gears
56 and 57 are actuated thus to drive the sewing needle 59 mounted
to a rod 58 for intermittent reciprocal motions.
[0086] Because of both the movements, when the sewing needle 59 is
advanced by the action of the paired gears 56 and 57 into the loop
a held on the transfer needle 24, the pin 52 of the driver pin
wheel 51 is not engaged with any slot 54 of the follower wheel 53
in the geneva mechanism 50, thus allowing the screw shaft 55 to
remain not turned to hold the sewing machine 49 at the original
position.
[0087] The loops a of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A are held
at equal intervals by the action of the point needles 43 and can
thus be sewed up precisely by the intermittent reciprocal action of
the sewing needle 59 in and along the longitudinal recess 48 of
each point needle 43.
[0088] The lateral movement of the sewing needles 59 is made by the
driver wheel 51, of which the pin 52 is engaged with the slot 54 of
the follower wheel 53 when the sewing needle 59 is retracted by the
action of the gears 56 and 57, turning {fraction (1/4)} with its
pin 52 departing from the slot 54 of the follower wheel 53 which
also turns {fraction (1/4)}. This causes the screw shaft 55 to turn
and drive the sewing needle 59 of the sewing machine 49 to the
position of the next point needle 43 for sewing up the loop a on
the next point needle 43.
[0089] As the selvedge of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A has
been sewed up with the sewing machine, the blower of the vacuum
pipe 18 is switched off and the transfer needles equipped movable
table 2 are returned back to the circular position. A finished sock
is then removed from the sock transfer mechanism 3 and one cycle of
sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric A
is completed. Then, the apparatus is shifted back to above the sock
knitting machine 1 and a next cycle of the action is commenced with
the latch ring lowered for knitting another sock pattern of knitted
fabric.
[0090] A feeder for feeding the toe sewing apparatus with a length
of thread is provided where the thread is tensioned at a constant
force with a tensioner so that it can hardly be loosened or
entangled while being fed.
[0091] When the feeding of the thread is temporarily canceled for
maintenance or other actions, the distance between the tensioner
and the entrance of the sewing apparatus may be varied hence
causing the thread to be loosened or entangled with neighbor
threads. If worse, the thread may be cut off or fed at its
entangled state, hence creating a downtime of the system. For
compensation, a thread looseness eliminating device is preferably
provided between the tensioner and the sewing apparatus.
[0092] FIGS. 32A and 32B are an internal cross sectional view and a
perspective view of the thread looseness eliminating device. A
thread 62 is introduced from above across a through hole 63 in the
looseness eliminating device to the toe sewing apparatus installed
beneath. In common, the thread 62 is balanced between a drawing
strength of the toe sewing apparatus and a tension strength of the
tensioner and can thus be fed without looseness into the toe sewing
apparatus.
[0093] When the feeding of the thread is temporarily canceled for
maintenance or other actions and the toe sewing apparatus is
dislocated for the actions, the through hole 63 is filled with a
jet of air generated by an air pump, conveyed through an air pipe
64, and introduced from an air outlet 65. Accordingly, when a
loosened portion of the thread 62 is created by the distance
between the tensioner and the entrance of the toe sewing apparatus
dislocated being shortened, it may be blown and forced by a jet of
air out from an aperture 66 provided opposite to the air inlet 65.
The loosened portion of the thread 62 hangs down from the aperture
66 due to its force of gravity as denoted by the one-dot chain line
in FIG. 32A and can be inhibited from being entangled with other
portions.
[0094] After the maintenance or other actions are finished, the toe
sewing apparatus is returned back to its original position and the
loosened portion of the thread 62 is then retracted from the
aperture 66 to the through hole 63. As the thread 62 is fed
straight across the through hole 63 to the toe sewing apparatus,
the procedure of sewing up the selvedge of a sock pattern of
knitted fabric can be restarted.
[0095] As set forth above, a sock pattern of knitted fabric
fabricated by the sock knitting machine is lifted up and turned
inside out by the suction from above. Then, the loops at the toe
portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric are transferred from
the sock knitting machine to the transfer needled equipped movable
tables which are in turn shifted from the circular position to the
linear position. As the loops at the toe portion of the sock
pattern of knitted fabric is held straight or flat between the two
rows of the transfer needled equipped movable tables, they are
conveyed to the toe sewing station by the movement of the transfer
needled equipped movable tables and automatically sew up with the
sewing machine. Since the sock pattern of knitted fabric fabricated
by the sock knitting machine is automatically conveyed out from the
sock knitting machine and sewed up at its toe portion, i.e. the
procedure from knitting of the sock pattern to sewing up of the
selvedge at the toe portion is automated, the production of quality
socks will be improved in both the efficiency and the energy saving
hence contributing to the cost down of the socks.
[0096] Also, the sock pattern of knitted fabric is turned inside
out and held linearly at its toe portion and its selvedge at the
toe portion can correctly be sewed up with the sewing machine.
[0097] Moreover, before the sewing up of the selvedge at the toe
portion, the sock pattern of knitted fabric is lifted up by the
action of the lifting member so that its loops at the toe portion
can readily be transferred from the transfer needles to the
corresponding point needles.
* * * * *