Combination feeder for a knitting machine

• US 9,487,891 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fabdesigns, Inc., Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Huffa, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US13/942,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20140157831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/106 at a selvedge, e.g. hems or turned welts
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/123 with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 15/48 Thread-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 15/56 for flat-bed knitting machines
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 15/70 in flat-bed knitting machines
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 7/04 with two sets of needles
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

A feeder includes a carrier and a feeder arm that moves between retracted and extended positions. The feeder also includes a first actuation member that is coupled to the carrier and that is configured to move relative to the carrier in a first direction. The first actuation member has a first aperture at least partially defined by a first edge. Additionally, the feeder includes a second actuation member that is coupled to the carrier and that is configured to move relative to the carrier in a second direction. The second actuation member has a second aperture at least partially defined by a second edge. A projection of the feeder arm is received within both the first and second apertures. Movement of the first actuation member in the first direction causes the first edge to engage the projection for movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position. Also, movement of the second actuation member in the second direction causes the second edge to engage the projection for movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

Claims

1. A feeder for a knitting machine having a plurality of needles, the feeder comprising:

a carrier that is configured for operably coupling the feeder to the knitting machine;

a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured for supplying a strand to the plurality of needles, the feeder arm coupled to the carrier and configured to move relative to the carrier between a retracted position and an extended position, the dispensing area being closer to the carrier in the retracted position than in the extended position, the feeder arm including a projection;

a first actuation member that is coupled to the carrier and that is configured to move relative to the carrier in a first direction, the first actuation member having a first aperture at least partially defined by a first edge; and

a second actuation member that is coupled to the carrier and that is configured to move relative to the carrier in a second direction;

the second direction being opposite the first direction, the second actuation member having a second aperture at least partially defined by a second edge,

wherein the projection is received within both the first aperture and the second aperture,

wherein movement of the first actuation member in the first direction causes the first edge to engage the projection for movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position, and

wherein movement of the second actuation member in the second direction causes the second edge to engage the projection for movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the first actuation member includes a first plate and a first arm, wherein the second actuation member includes a second plate and a second arm, wherein the first aperture is defined in the first plate, wherein the second aperture is defined in the second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are enclosed within the carrier;

and wherein the first arm and the second arm extend out from the carrier.

3. The feeder of claim 2, wherein the first arm includes a first end, wherein the second arm includes a second end, and wherein the first end and the second end are each configured to receive an input force from the knitting machine to move the feeder relative to the knitting machine.

4. The feeder of claim 3, wherein the first end and the second end are each configured to receive the input force from the knitting machine to move the feeder relative to the knitting machine while the feeder arm remains in either the retracted position or the extended position.

5. The feeder of claim 3, wherein the first end and the second end are each configured to receive the input force from the knitting machine to move the feeder relative to the knitting machine and also move the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

6. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a cover member with a slot that receives the projection, and wherein the projection is configured to slide within the slot to guide movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

7. The feeder of claim 6, wherein the slot has a major axis that is substantially straight, and wherein abutment between the projection and an inner surface of the slot limits the feeder arm to substantially straight movement along the major axis when moving between the retracted position and the extended position.

8. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the feeder arm includes a biasing member, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the feeder arm toward the retracted position, to bias the first actuation member in the second direction, and to bias the second actuation member in the first direction.

9. A feeder for a knitting machine having a plurality of needles, the feeder comprising:

a carrier configured for operably coupling the feeder to the knitting machine coupling a feeder arm and at least one actuation member to the knitting machine;

the feeder arm with a dispensing area configured for supplying a strand to the plurality of needles, the feeder arm coupled to the carrier and configured to move along a first axis relative to the carder between a retracted position and an extended position, the dispensing area being closer to the carrier in the retracted position than in the extended position, the first axis being substantially straight; and

the at least one actuation member that is coupled to the carrier, the at least one actuation member configured to receive an input force from the knitting machine that causes the at least one actuation member to move along a second axis relative to the carer while coupled to the carrier, the second axis being substantially straight and substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the movement of the at least one actuation member along the second axis causing the at least one actuation member to move the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

10. The feeder of claim 9, wherein the feeder arm includes a projection and the at least one actuation member includes an aperture that receives the projection, wherein the aperture is at least partially defined by an inclined edge that is disposed at an acute angle relative to the second axis, wherein the projection slides along the inclined edge when the feeder arm moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

11. The feeder of claim 10, wherein the at least one actuation member includes a first actuation member and a second actuation member, the first actuation member including a first aperture that is at least partially defined by a first inclined edge, the second actuation member including a second aperture that is at least partially defined by a second inclined edge, wherein the projection is received in both the first aperture and the second aperture.

12. The feeder of claim 11, wherein the feeder arm includes a biasing member that biases the feeder arm toward the retracted position, and wherein the first actuation member and the second actuation member are biased away from each other along the second axis due to the biasing of the feeder arm toward the retracted position.

13. The feeder of claim 10, wherein the carrier includes a cover member with a slot that receives the projection, and wherein the projection is configured to slide within the slot to guide movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

14. The feeder of claim 13, wherein the slot has a major axis that is substantially straight, and wherein abutment between the projection and an inner surface of the slot limits the feeder arm to substantially straight movement along the major axis when moving between the retracted position and the extended position.

15. The feeder of claim 9, wherein the at least one actuation member includes a plate and an arm, wherein the plate is enclosed within the carrier, wherein the arm extends outward from the carrier, the arm including at least one end that is configured to receive the input force.

16. The feeder of claim 15, wherein the arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to receive a first input force that causes the feeder arm to move along the first axis between the retracted position and the extended position and that also causes the feeder to move along the second axis, and wherein the second end is configured to receive a second input force that causes the feeder to move along the second axis while the feeder arm remains in the retracted position.

17. A knitting machine comprising:

a rail that extends along a first axis;

a plurality of needles that are arranged in a first needle bed and a second needle bed, the first needle bed disposed within a first plane, the second needle bed disposed within a second plane, the first plane and the second plane intersecting at an intersection; and

a feeder that includes;

a carrier configured for coupling the feeder to the rail for movement along the first axis;

a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured for supplying a strand to the plurality of needles, the feeder arm coupled to the carrier and configured to move along a second axis relative to the carrier between a retracted position and an extended position, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the dispensing area being above the intersection in the retracted position and being below the intersection in the extended position; and

at least one actuation member that is coupled to the carrier, the at least one actuation member configured to receive an input force from the knitting machine that causes the at least one actuation member to move along the first axis relative to the carrier, the movement of the at least one actuation member along the first axis relative, to the carrier causing the at least one actuation member to move the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.

18. The knitting machine of claim 17, wherein the feeder arm includes a projection and the at least one actuation member includes an aperture that receives the projection, wherein the aperture is at least partially defined by an inclined edge that is disposed at an acute angle relative to the second axis, wherein the projection slides along the inclined edge when the feeder arm moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

19. The knitting machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one actuation member includes a first actuation member and a second actuation member, the first actuation member including a first aperture that is at least partially defined by a first inclined edge, the second actuation member including a second aperture that is at least partially defined by a second inclined edge, wherein the projection is received in both the first aperture and the second aperture.

20. The knitting machine of claim 19, wherein the feeder arm includes a biasing member that biases the feeder arm toward the retracted position, and wherein the first actuation member and the second actuation member are biased away from each other along the first axis due to the biasing of the feeder arm toward the retracted position.

21. The knitting machine of claim 19, wherein the carrier includes a cover member, with a slot that receives the projection, and wherein the projection is configured to slide within the slot to guide movement of the feeder arm between the retracted position and the extended position.