U.S. patent number 3,817,058 [Application Number 05/182,822] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for cylinder and dial construction for knitting machines.
Invention is credited to Victor J. Lombardi.
United States Patent |
3,817,058 |
Lombardi |
June 18, 1974 |
CYLINDER AND DIAL CONSTRUCTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES
Abstract
Spaces and passageways are formed behind the knitting elements
in cylinder constructions associated with circular knitting
machines and cut-out portions or circumferential grooves are
provided in the walls which constrain the movement of the elements
and such cut-out portions communicate with the spaces to allow
lubricant applied from at least one position outwardly of the
knitting elements and at locations juxtaposed to the cut-out
portions of the walls to pass between the knitting elements into
the spaces which include lubricant reservoirs to (a) facilitate the
lubrication of these elements, and (b) to improve heat transfer
away from portions of the machine at which frictional heat is
produced by the sliding action within their respective slots of
sinkers, needles, or other knitting instrumentalities. Also, a
provision is made for improved lubrication between the needle and
the cylinder by relieving a back portion of the needle to create a
lubricant reservoir in the offset portion of the needle. Further,
lubricating means positioned outwardly of the knitting elements are
provided to apply lubricant to at least two sides of the knitting
elements. In addition, a provision is made to lubricate the
cylindrical bearing surface of the sleeve gear member on which the
cylinder is slidably mounted for relatively vertical movement.
Inventors: |
Lombardi; Victor J.
(Burlington, NC) |
Family
ID: |
22670186 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/182,822 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/8; 66/55;
66/115; 66/19; 66/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04B
35/04 (20130101); D04B 15/14 (20130101); D04B
15/10 (20130101); D04B 35/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D04B
15/00 (20060101); D04B 35/00 (20060101); D04B
35/28 (20060101); D04B 15/10 (20060101); D04b
035/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;66/8,107,104,19,115,55
;184/6.26 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Knitting Machines and Aerosol Lubrication," The Hosiery Trade
Journal, Feb. 1966, pp. 127 & 129-130..
|
Primary Examiner: Reynolds; Wm. Carter
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cushman, Darby & Cushman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A circular knitting machine comprising:
cylinder means having a series of exterior spaced longitudinal
slots and wall means separating said slots and defining the side
surfaces thereof;
means defining at least one exterior circumferential groove in said
cylinder means interrupting said wall means;
knitting elements carried and guided for reciprocation in said
slots;
means defining spaces behind said elements between the bottom of
each of said slots and the opposed inner surface of the
corresponding element at the location of said groove, the bottom of
said groove in said wall means being spaced inwardly of said inner
surfaces so that the inner portion of said groove in said wall
means communicates directly with said spaces, and the lower end of
each of said spaces being disposed below said groove to form a
reservoir to contain lubricant in contact with said inner surface
of said corresponding element; and
means for directing lubricant from the exterior of said cylinder
means into said groove to penetrate directly thereinto between said
elements and thence into said spaces behind said elements.
2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the space-defining means includes
relieved portions in said cylinder means having downwardly and
outwardly inclined lower surfaces terminating at their lower outer
edges below the groove whereby the reservoirs contain wedges of
lubricant against the inner surfaces of the knitting elements.
3. The machine of claim 1 wherein each wall means tapers in
circumferential thickness toward and adjacent the groove.
4. The machine of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower side surfaces
of the groove are inclined respectively downwardly and outwardly
and upwardly and outwardly to provide a wiping action against the
side of the knitting elements to urge lubricant on said sides
inwardly of said cylinder means.
5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the space-defining means includes
relieved portions on the backs of the knitting elements terminating
at their lower ends in downwardly and inwardly inclined
surfaces.
6. The machine of claim 1 wherein the lubricant-directing means
includes a pair of spray nozzles disposed at acute angles opposite
in direction with respect to a radius of said cylinder means so
that said nozzles spray lubricant on opposite sides of the knitting
elements exposed in the groove.
7. The machine of claim 1 including passageway means in said
cylinder means providing communication between at least one of the
spaces above the corresponding reservoir and the interior of the
cylinder means for aiding in the cooling of the latter.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to circular knitting machines and to
improvements in cylinder and dial constructions associated with
such machines. More precisely, this invention relates to an
improvement in the circular knitting machines disclosed in the
applicant's U. S. Pat. No. 3,545,233 issued on Dec. 8, 1970.
Circular knitting machines are well known in the art and include
machines having various diameters of cylinder constructions,
cylinders which include horizontally disposed sinkers at their
tops, other well known cylinder and dial combinations such as used
in rib knitting machines, and constructions of links and links or
superimposed cylinder design.
The cylinder and dial portions of a knitting machine are very
important parts of the entire machine, and the preciseness with
which these components can be manufactured and the subsequent
regard to their adequate maintenance under mill operating
conditions determine the real limitations for a given machine in
terms of fabric quality and speed of production. The proper
application of lubricant and the dissipation of heat during machine
operation are important requirements for successful and
trouble-free fabric production.
The aforementioned patent discloses novel constructions which
permit a more precise manufacture of cylinder and dial members,
which facilitate lint removal therefrom and which provide lubricant
reservoir means associated with an outside cylinder surface
adjacent to needles, or other knitting instrumentalities.
The patent, however, contemplated the application of lubricant in a
conventional manner to the cylinder and to the set of vertically
disposed knitting elements associated with the cylinder from a
position outwardly of the cylinder assembly. However, in view of
the extremely close manufacturing allowances between the knitting
elements and the cylinder slots in which they operate, adequate
penetration of the lubricant to the sides and backs of the knitting
elements was not always achieved, and therefore, the full potential
of the reservoir means feature could be only partially
realized.
It is the purpose of the present invention to improve the means
whereby adequate lubrication is applied from positions outwardly of
cylinder and dial members to all sides of the knitting elements, to
insure an adequate supply of lubricant to the reservoir means for
the purpose described, and to facilitate the dissipation of
frictional heat generated during knitting.
In addition, the invention contemplates that a lesser quantity of
lubricant will be required than with existing conventional systems
because in the present invention, the lubricant can penetrate more
quickly and more effectively to the sides and backs of knitting
elements where the need for proper lubrication is greatest.
Consequently, considerable lubricating economies can be effected in
the practice of the invention.
It is, also, a purpose of the present invention to minimize the
formation of the oil mist fog which frequently results when spray
lubrication means are utilized in circular machines incorporating
cylinder and dial members of conventional design. When spray
lubricating means are used with cylinders of conventional design,
the close tolerance which exists between the knitting elements and
the slots in which the knitting elements are made to operate
present virtually an unbroken surface which causes much of the
lubricating oil spray to bounce back away from the cylinder into
the atmosphere surrounding the machine, thereby, creating the oil
mist fog conditions described. Especially, in the case of hosiery
machines where several hundred units are frequently closely mounted
side by side in the same knitting room does the problem of "oil
mist fog" become acute. With the present invention, the cut-out
portions of the walls permit speedy penetration of the lubricant to
the sides and backs of the knitting elements with virtually no
bouncing back of the lubricant into the atmosphere since the
knitting elements and their cooperating walls do not present
unbroken surfaces at the lubricating levels; rather since the
cut-out portions of the insert or wall members are located at those
levels where lubricating means are provided, minimal quantities of
lubricant are required to adequately lubricate the knitting
elements at all sides without the formation of the oil mist fog
condition. With conventional existing systems, more lubricant is
needed and greater oil pressure has to be applied for longer
periods to effect machine lubrication. These factors result in the
utilization of more oil than is necessary for adequate lubrication
and contribute greatly to the formation of the oil mist fog
described.
The importance of proper lubrication of knitting machinery cannot
be overstated. For example, when a single jersey machine of, say,
30 inches diameter .times. 28 needles per inch of circumference
.times. 120-feed operates at 18 RPM-- a currently popular
model--each needle is vertically actuated in its cooperating slot
240 times during each revolution of the machine. This means that
for every minute of machine operation, the needle is activated a
total of 4,320 times, or 259,200 times per hour. Translating this
in terms of a .375 inch vertical movement for each actuation, it
will be seen that for each hour of machine operation, a single
knitting needle will be moved in a sliding engagement within its
respective slot, a distance of approximately 1.5 miles. The full
complement of needles in the cylinder would, therefore, have a
total movement of approximately 3,900 miles per hour, or greater
than the distance around the world in an eight hour period. It is
little wonder, therefore, why knowledgeable individuals in the
knitting industry consider proper lubrication to be the most
critical single requirement for the successful operation of a
knitting machine. This does not mean just the outside surfaces of
the cylinder and dial portions of the machine, but more
importantly, the needles, jacks, sinkers, or other knitting
instruments associated with knitting equipment. Earlier, it was
common practice in many knitting mills to oil machines manually at
some supposedly fixed time interval; understandably, with the human
factor involved, the application was erratic and this practice
resulted in a number of problems, among which the following might
be noted:
a. A heavy application of oil creates a drag on the needles which
retards their action. This results in the production of off-quality
fabric since needles which are restrained from free movement in
their respective needle slots produce knitted loops which are
smaller than would be the case with uninhibited needle movement. In
the case, for example, of hosiery, short lengths of stockings would
be produced until the oil had worked uniformly into the
machine.
b. Heavy oil application increases, at least temporarily, the power
requirements necessary to drive the knitting machine.
c. After several hours' operation, the oil film between the
knitting elements and the slots in which they operate is diminished
and metal-to-metal contact begins. This creates frictional build-up
which results in heating of the machine, in accelerating the wear
of knitting instruments, and in time, causing a breakdown in the
lubricant, thereby seriously impairing its effectiveness. The
efficiency of the knitting machine, and the quality of production,
accordingly, suffer.
The development of automatic oiling devices has greatly improved
the condition; however, these devices, operating within the
limitations of existing cylinder and dial design, do not permit the
adequate application of oil on the critical portions of moving
knitting elements where such lubrication is most seriously
required.
The present invention makes possible an improved and more uniform
application of lubricant on the bearing surfaces of these knitting
elements disposed in cylinder and dial members of a knitting
machine. The invention also permits a better and more uniform
application of lubricant to the cylindrical bearing surface of the
sleeve gear member on which the cylinder is slidably mounted for
relative vertical movement.
Basically, the present invention comprises the formation of cut-out
portions within the walls which guide the movement of the knitting
elements which cut-out portions communicate with spaces and
passageways similar to those disclosed in the above-mentioned
patent whereby lubricant which is applied to said knitting elements
by means positioned outwardly of said elements and at levels
juxtaposed to the cut-out portions in the walls passes between
these knitting elements to said spaces which act as lubricant
reservoirs. The shapes of the cut-out portions and/or, spaces may
be varied.
In addition, lubricant spray means positioned outwardly of the
knitting elements are provided to lubricate each side of each
knitting element as it reciprocates in its respective slot and such
spray means may be provided at various levels and may be spaced
circumferentially around the machine.
Furthermore, pneumatic cooling means may be provided at certain of
the levels adjacent to cut-out portions in the walls, whereby
dissipation of frictional heat generated during knitting is
facilitated.
Furthermore, the passageways which communicate with the spaces
formed in an outside surface of the cylinder may be sloped with
respect to said spaces from a higher level outwardly of the
cylinder to a lower level inwardly of the cylinder so that when
conditions so dictate, excess lubricant will flow from the
reservoirs provided in the spaces to a suitable container
positioned at said lower level of said passageways.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features and advantages are accomplished by the
preferred embodiments of the invention which will now be described
with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view in cross section of an inserted-wall
cylinder construction of the type known as a sinker-top or open top
cylinder having a sinker dial assembly included therewith;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a cylinder insert element used
in the construction shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a frontal view of a portion of a cylinder illustrating
the relationship between the knitting needles and the cylinder
inserts;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the FIG. 1 view with
the cylinder insert member omitted for clarity;
FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the FIG. 4 construction;
FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of the FIG. 1 construction;
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the cylinder insert element
illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a side view of shorter insert elements used in the
construction of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an elevational view in cross section illustrating a solid
wall cylinder construction, with its needle and jack means omitted
for clarity;
FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the solid wall cylinder of FIG. 9
with a needle and jack means in place;
FIG. 11 is an elevational view in cross section of a machine of
solid wall dial and cylinder construction;
FIG. 12 illustrates the dial portion of FIG. 11 with the dial
needle removed for clarity;
FIG. 13 illustrates another form of dial construction;
FIG. 14 is an alternate embodiment of a cylinder for the machine
shown in FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a frontal view of a cylinder cam layout indicating the
path of a knitting wave encountered in single jersey knitting;
FIG. 16 is a top cross sectional view of the cylinder and cylinder
cam layout taken along the line 16--16 in FIG. 15; and
FIG. 17 is an elevational view in cross-section of a portion of a
revolving cylinder knitting machine in which the cylinder is
slidably mounted for relative motion on a sleeve gear member.
Similar elements are identified by identical reference numerals
throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following discussion of the invention, it will be understood
that cylinder and dial constructions are discussed with reference
to known arrangements and relationships of cylinders and dials in
circular knitting machines. In the drawings, the cylinder and dial
constructions are shown as portions only of what would comprise an
entire cylinder or dial assembly, and the remaining assemblies
associated with typical circular knitting machines have been
omitted for clarity. However, the drawings and the following
discussion are intended to be related to known circular knitting
machine constructions and operations.
Other details of construction of the cylinder appear in the
applicant's above-mentioned patent which is incorporated by
reference into this disclosure. Thus, only those details of
construction pertaining to the various novel features which
constitute the present invention will be emphasized below.
In FIG. 1, a main body section of a cylinder 20 is shown in cross
section with the inner surface of the cylinder being to the left of
the drawing while the outer surface of the cylinder is to the right
of the FIG. 1 view.
The cylinder member 20 has been machined with plural longitudinal
slots extending in the axial direction around its entire
circumference to a depth 21 to receive a series of insert elements
30 (shown separately in FIG. 2). The insert elements 30 project
outwardly from the outside diameter indicated at 19, said insert
members in combination creating a series of vertical slots in which
knitting instruments, for example, needles 28 having butts 28', are
made to operate in the knitting process. As further shown in FIG.
4, the cylinder member 20 is machined with at least one outer
annular channel or groove 69 to a depth 73 and with beveled
portions 70. The inside diameter may also be channeled and this is
generally indicated at 67. After the channels, or grooves have been
machined into the cylinder, a series of circumferentially spaced
apertures 68, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, may be drilled
completely through the cylinder. The apertures may be drilled
through the cylinder at several levels or simply at one level as
shown.
It will be understood that the apertures 68 are not restricted to
drilled holes but may take the form of slotted passageways as
illustrated at 66 of FIG. 7a of applicant's above-mentioned
patent.
After the cylinder blank has been turned, grooved and drilled as
described, vertically extending slots are machined into the outside
surface of the cylinder to receive the cylinder insert elements 30,
as shown in FIG. 2, which form the side walls for knitting
instrument guiding slots. These insert members may be held in the
cylinder by a clamping ring 37 designed to fit into a notched
portion of the upper end of the insert. A rolling action at the
bottom-most portion of the insert exerts sufficient pressure to
lock the insert securely in place in its slot. Inserts can also be
held in place by soldering, or by the application of "Lock-tite," a
trade name for a bonding compound which, when applied between the
cylinder insert slot and the insert member itself, securely joins
them together. It will be understood that the insert member itself
can consist of shorter elements appropriately fastened into the
cylinder slot such that the space between the shorter elements will
define a cut-out portion for the application of lubricant.
It will be observed that the insert element 30 has cut-out portions
31, extending to a depth 33. As shown in FIG. 1, each cut-out
portion 31 extends inwardly of the back of the needle 28 and
occupies a position defined by an annular groove 69 of cylinder 20.
The cut-out portions 31 together define an exterior circumferential
groove of a height or width less than the groove 69 machined in the
cylinder member 20. Moreover, the groove 69, together with the
inserts 30, define a space behind each needle 28 in direct
communication with the circumferential groove defined by the
cut-outs 31. It will be apparent that the needle will be exposed at
its sides, as well as the front and back edges at those locations
where the cylinder insert members have the cut-outs 31.
Consequently, the application of lubricant by spray means to the
needles on a timed basis along the lines generally indicated in
FIG. 1 by the arrows A will deposit oil on all sides of the
knitting needles because the oil will penetrate directly onto the
aforesaid spaces. It is to be noted that insert members 30 are
bevelled at locations 34 of the cut-out portions 31 as best shown
in FIG. 3 to further facilitate lubricating the sides of needles
28. Of equal importance is that the oil will impinge on surface 73,
which constitutes the innermost portion of annular groove 69 and
will settle on the annular bevel 70, the lower edge of which is
below the cut-out 31 so that the lower end of each space forms a
reservoir for lubricant. Consequently, as the needle reciprocates,
an adequate supply of lubricant will be applied both to the sides
of the needle, as well as to the back of the needle. It will be
understood also that the accumulation of small quantities of
lubricant on the annular bevelled portions 70 will facilitate a
wedging action between the back of the needle and the lubricant
occupying the annular bevelled portions 70. This will cause the
needle to ride on a film of oil and will, at the same time, promote
a squeezing action on the oil causing it to flow from the back to
the sides of the knitting instruments, thereby providing additional
lubricant thereto. This lubricating action, especially in the case
of small diameter applications wherein cylinders are rotated at
high speeds will be greately assisted by the centrifugal forces in
effect, but at the same time lubricant will be contained in the
reservoir.
A sinker dial member 32 which is affixed to the upper end of
cylinder 20 by set screws 34' to guide sinkers 24 has been
channeled at 41 to a depth 43 which channel serves essentially the
same function as the cut-out portion of cylinder insert 30 and
reservoir groove 69. In addition, the cut-out 27 in sinker guide
ring 26, serves an analogous function as the cut-out portion 31 of
the cylinder insert 30. It will be appreciated, however, that
during mill operation, fabric from the back of the needle will
shield the cut-out 27 and prevent the application of lubricant to
the cut-out portion. The cut-out in this instance is to facilitate
"running in" of the machine during machine manufacture before the
machine has been threaded up for fabric production. This
consideration applies also to cut-out portion 36 of bearing member
46.
The sinker guide ring 26 and the bearing member 46 are mounted to
the cylinder 20 by bolt means 60 and thus are vertically adjustable
through the substitution of various washers 55 of different
thicknesses. Thus, the surface 57 of bearing member 46 can be
precisely adjusted with respect to the surface 35 of dial 32 to
avoid a rocking action of the sinkers 24 as they are guided
thereupon. The surface 57 in recessed at radial portions 61 and at
annular groove 36 to minimize frictional contact with the sinker
24, to provide a lubricant reservoir and to permit vertical
adjustment of bearing member 46 without fear of the sinker
contacting surface 61.
FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein passageways 68'
are angularly disposed to annular groove 69 to insure that any
excessive lubricant is permitted to flow over the crest 70',
through passageways 68' and into an annular trough 44 to be
siphoned off by conventional means not shown. It is to be observed
that crest 70' occupies a position inwardly of surface 19 so that a
small amount of lubricant is retained in the reservoir and only the
excess is permitted to flow into trough 44.
FIG. 6 illustrates still another embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the
insert member, rather than comprising a single element 30, as shown
in FIG. 2, consists of a series of shorter elements 30' and 30"
appropriately positioned and secured so as to define cut-out
portions 31' analogous in function to cut-out portions 31 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cylinder insert whose cut-out portion has a
configuration different from that disclosed in FIG. 2. It will be
noted that portions 33' converge outwardly of the cylinder and
serve the function of urging lubricant back into the cylinder where
it can move effectively lubricate the knitting elements during
their reciprocatory motions.
It will be observed in FIG. 8 that shorter elements 30' and 30" are
notched at 70" to conform to the reservoirs defined by bevelled
portions 70 in the cylinder. This notched configuration will insure
an unencumbered annular groove 69 and thus provide for more
effective lubrication to the backs and sides of knitting
elements.
FIGS. 9 and 10 represent elevational views of a solid wall cylinder
according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 indicates
annular grooves 69 terminating in an arcuate portion 73. The
grooves, as well as the apertures 68, are machined into the
cylinder member 20 prior to slotting the cylinder to a depth 18,
creating thereby, a series of walls 30'. There is illustrated in
FIG. 10 needle means 28 and jack means 29, which cooperate in a
common slot. It will be observed in FIG. 10 that annular openings,
or channels 75 are created behind each jack member. It is to be
further noted that profile 73 commences at the bottom of the slot
18 and extends inwardly of the cylinder to define the
aforementioned annular space 75. The space 75 is preferably
constructed of uniform curve configuration as shown, so that all
lubricant introduced at levels A will, under the force of gravity,
occupy positions at the bottom-most portions of annular spaces 75
so that as a knitting element is actuated upwardly and downwardly,
the lubricant will more readily find its way behind the knitting
elements, and as described earlier, squeeze out to the sides of
these elements. The grooves may also be shaped in arcuate form to
eliminate any possibility of having the leading portion of the jack
or needle "hang-up" in the annular groove during replacement. When
needle or jack replacement becomes necessary, the uniformly curved
configuration will gently cam the knitting element into its proper
vertical position in the cylinder slot. As shown in FIG. 9, fabric
shielding means 44 is appropriately mounted to insure that oil or
other dirt will not soil the fabric.
There is illustrated in FIG. 11 a machine of dial and cylinder
construction in which features of the invention are shown. In this
instance, however, the cylinder needle 28 is relieved at its back
so that a length of the needle back is spaced out of contact with
the bottom of the needle slot. In the illustration, cylinder 20 is
grooved 69 and 67 for the purposes described above. As explained in
the case of FIGS. 1 and 10, the groove 69 will facilitate the
application of lubricant to the sides of needle 28, as well as to
the back and front edges of the needle. It will be observed that
the lower end 28" of the needle relief is normally below the
bevelled portion 70 to form a reservoir for lubricant which will
effectively lubricate the knitting elements. Of course, this
construction also minimizes frictional contact between needle 28
and cylinder 20 and since it increases the surface area of needle
28, it increases the rate of heat dissipation therefrom.
The dial section 85 of FIG. 11 has cut-out portions 95 which, it
will be noted, extend downwardly, but above the bottom-most portion
99 of the needle slot. This construction will provide a reservoir
between adjacent needles and cooperating dial walls for retaining
oil generally applied along lines B, as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12
represents the dial portion of FIG. 11 with the dial needle removed
for clarity. FIG. 13 shows another dial embodiment in which the
cut-out, or channeled portion 98 is angled in a V-shape to
terminate at the bottom of the slot 99. Therefore, when oil is
applied along lines defined by the V-type grooves 98, the lubricant
will settle to the bottom of the "V," thus insuring a more positive
and better localized type application.
FIG. 14 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the cylinder of FIG.
11. It will be noted that the cylinder 20 is machined so that
annular channel 69 extends to a depth 73 which is outwardly of the
innermost portion 19 of the cylinder slot but inwardly of the
needle relieved portion. Therefore, partial wall portions 30' are
defined to provide increased strength and resistance to bending in
wall 30. It will be understood that lubricant spray means directed
into channel 69 will cause lubricant to be deposited on the fronts
and sides of knitting elements and that lubricant will penetrate
directly into the slots defined by the partial wall portions 30'.
Consequently, each knitting element will have its individual
reservoir of lubricant. Channel portions 69 are bevelled at 31' to
facilitate the directing of the lubricant.
FIG. 15 is broadly illustrative of a cam layout and the knitting
wave 16 associated with this knitting action. Cylinder 20 is moving
in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow C. Cut-out 31 has been
described in connection with FIG. 2. Stitch cam 17 and raising cam
18 indicate extreme positions of needle 28. As best shown in FIG.
16, oil mist or oil lubricating means generally indicated at 15 and
15' are provided in cam ring section 100. Stitch cam 17, raising
cam 18 and needle butt 28' of needle 28 have been omitted from this
view for clarity. These lubricating means are positioned at the
same level at which cut-out 31 is located and oppositely angled
toward a common point. Therefore, if lubrication is applied, for
example, at 15 in the direction A of machine travel, (indicated by
arrow A in FIG. 15), as well as at 15' in the opposite direction as
illustrated by arrow A', lubricant will be made not only to impinge
as by spraying through channels 15 and 15' on both sides of the
knitting elements through cut-outs 31, but also to enter into the
annular channel as shown, for example, at location 69 in FIG. 1 or
location 75 of FIG. 10. In addition, by spacing the lubricating
means circumferentially, but along the same level as shown in FIG.
15, it will be clear that different portions of the knitting
instruments will receive oil during different phases of the
knitting cycle. Furthermore, lubricating means may be spaced
axially at different cut-out portions 31 to, simultaneously,
lubricate different parts of a given knitting instrument. It will
be understood that lubricant can also be applied to the knitting
elements by means other than spraying.
FIG. 17 illustrates how in the practice of the invention a better
and more uniform application of lubricant to the sleeve gear member
of a revolving cylinder knitting machine is possible. In the
manufacture, especially, of seamless hosiery on small diameter
revolving cylinder knitting machines, the term "fashioning" relates
to the shaping of the stocking by automatically changing the stitch
length during the knitting of different portions of the stocking to
insure a better fit on the leg of the wearer. This automatic
changing of the stitch length is effected by raising or lowering
the cylinder of the machine relative to cams fixed in the cam
ring.
There is shown in FIG. 17 cylinder 20 slidably mounted on sleeve
gear ring member 76 for vertical movement relative thereto. Key
means 78 are provided to insure this relative vertical movement.
Ring gear 82 which is integral with sleeve gear ring 76 is driven
by means not shown. Consequently, cylinder member 20 which is keyed
to sleeve gear ring 76 will also rotate. Therefore needles 28 will
be actuated by fixedly mounted cams 17'. The vertical location of
cylinder 20 relative to fixed cam means 17' will determine the
length of stitch. The cylinder 20 is slidably mounted on sleeve
gear ring 76 at polished bearing surfaces 77. In conventional
design, these bearing surfaces are relatively inaccessible and
difficult to lubricate. However, in the practice of the present
invention, the combination of cut-out portions in the wall members
with spaces and passageways make possible uniform and effective
applications of lubricant to bearing surfaces 77. Cylinder raising
pin 79 is cam actuated by drum means not shown to progressively
raise and lower the cylinder to effect the shaping of the stocking
by automatically changing the stitch length. Other structures shown
in FIG. 17 include a cam ring supporting means 100 secured to a
bedplate 101 for supporting cam ring 103 as shown.
It will be apparent in FIG. 17 that lubricant generally applied in
the direction of arrows A will pass between adjacent knitting
elements into annular channels 69. In addition, the lubricant will,
in passing through the passageways 68, impinge on surfaces 86 of
the sleeve gear ring 76 running down bearing surfaces 77, thereby
effectively applying lubricant thereto. In addition, lubricant will
run into opening 83 of the sleeve gear member 76, thereby leaving a
deposit of lubricant on the bearing surfaces 84 of the cylinder
raising pins 79. Thus, from lubricating means located outwardly of
the knitting cylinder, effective lubrication of the bearing
surfaces between sleeve gear and cylinder members can be readily
achieved.
Although the invention has been discussed with reference to
specific embodiments, variations will become apparent to those
skilled in this art. All such variations as may be considered
equivalent to or obvious in view of the embodiments discussed are
intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
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