Torque and skew reduction in tubular knitted fabric

Abstract

The present invention includes aligning ring guides disposed at opposite angles to each other to force the tubular knitted fabric to turn in a spiral direction allowing the wales or rows of stitches to rest at an angle with respect to the edge of the tube of fabric. This is the normal or resting state and position of the wales in a wash-tested sample or laundered garment. This is accomplished by a pair of add-ons for torque and skew reduction in a tubular knitted fabric, which includes a crossbeam and a pair of angled ring guide assemblies that depend from the crossbeam. Each angled ring guide assembly has a mount with a fixed portion and a movable portion, and further has a guide ring, with each angled ring guide assembly being disposed on the movable portion. The fixed portion contains a crescent-shaped slot, with the movable portion containing a peg that rides in the slot.

Claims

1. A pair of add-ons for torque and skew reduction in a tubular knitted fabric system, comprising: a) a crossbeam; and b) a pair of angled ring guide assemblies, each angled ring guide assembly includes: a mount having a fixed portion and a movable portion, the fixed portion including a crescent-shaped slot; wherein said pair of angled ring guide assemblies depend from said crossbeam for torque and skew reduction in the tubular knitted fabric system.

2. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein said movable portion of said mount of each angled ring guide assembly is pivotally attached to said fixed portion of said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly.

3. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each angled ring guide assembly comprises a guide ring.

4. The add-ons of claim 3, wherein each guide ring is attached to said movable portion of said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly.

5. The add-ons of claim 3, wherein each guide ring is movable via said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly for reducing torque and skew in the tubular knitted fabric.

6. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein said movable portion of said mount of each angled ring guide assembly contains a peg.

7. The add-ons of claim 6, wherein said peg of said movable portion of said mount of each angled ring guide assembly rides in said slot of said fixed portion of said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly as said movable portion of said mount of said associated angled ring guide assembly is pivoted.

8. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each angled ring guide assembly is disposed on said movable portion of said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly as said movable portion of said mount of said associated angled ring guide assembly pivots.

9. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each angled ring guide assembly moves with said movable portion of said mount of an associated angled ring guide assembly as said movable portion of said mount of said associated angled ring guide assembly pivots.

10. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a top neutral position.

11. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a front neutral position.

12. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a left 15.degree. “S” twist position.

13. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a left 15.degree. “Z” twist position.

14. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a left neutral position.

15. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a right 15.degree. “S” twist position.

16. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a right 15.degree. “Z” twist position.

17. The add-ons of claim 1, wherein each add-on has a right neutral position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

(1) The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical piece of open-end yarn;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical piece of ring spun yarn;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of typical pieces of ring yarn produced in each of “S” and “Z” twist;

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical circular knitting machine;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical knit cylinder feeder;

(7) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a typical ring guide spreading system;

(8) FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted circle identified by ARROW 7 in FIG. 6 of a typical electric eye sensor arm;

(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted circle identified by ARROW 8 in FIG. 6 of a typical electric eye sensor arm;

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted circle identified by ARROW 9 in FIG. 8 of a typical ball assembly;

(11) FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the torque and skew reduction in tubular knitted fabric of the embodiments of the present invention in a neutral position;

(12) FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic front elevational view taken in the direction of ARROW 11 in FIG. 10 of the torque and skew reduction in tubular knitted fabric of the embodiments of the present invention in a neutral position;

(13) FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic left side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a 15° “S” twist position;

(14) FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic left side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a 15° “Z” twist position;

(15) FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic left side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a neutral position;

(16) FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic right side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a 15° “S” twist position;

(17) FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic right side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a 15° “Z” twist position; and

(18) FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic right side view of the embodiments of the present invention in a neutral position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

Prior Art

(19) 20 open end yarn 22 ring spun yarn 24 “S” twist of ring spun yarn 22 26 “Z” twist of ring spun yarn 22 28 circular knitting machine 30 feeders of circular knitting machine 28 32 needle detectors of circular knitting machine 28 34 stripe fabrics of circular knitting machine 28 36 ceramic eye pot of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 38 knot catcher of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 40 magnetic pressure catcher of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 42 yarn wheel of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 44 warning light of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 46 guide of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 48 sensor of each feeder of feeders 30 of circular knitting machine 28 50 standard ring guide spreading system 52 crossbeam of standard ring guide spreading system 50 54 pair of ring guides of standard ring guide spreading system 50 56 electric eye sensor arm of standard ring guide spreading system 50 58 mounting bracket of electric eye sensor arm 56 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 60 power base of electric eye sensor arm 56 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 62 output module of electric eye sensor arm 56 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 64 powerhead of output module 62 of electric eye sensor arm 56 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 66 reflector of electric eye sensor arm 56 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 68 ring guider ball assembly 68 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 70 ring support of standard ring guide spreading system 50 72 ring support idler of ring support 70 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 74 first stud of ring support 70 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 76 pair of bearings of ring support 70 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 78 retaining ring of ring support 70 of standard ring guide spreading system 50 80 second stud of ring support 70 of standard ring guide spreading system 50

Present Invention

Introductory

(20) 90 pair of add-ons of embodiments of present invention for torque and skew reduction in tubular knitted fabric

Configuration

(21) 92 crossbeam 94 pair of angled ring guide assemblies 96 mount of each angled ring guide assembly 94 98 fixed position of mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 100 movable portion of mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 102 guide ring of each angled ring guide assembly 104 slot in fixed portion 98 of mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 106 peg of movable portion 100 of mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94

EXAMPLES

(22) top neutral position of pair of add-ons 90 front neutral position of pair of add-ons 90 left view of 15° “S” twist position of each add-on 90 left view of 15° “Z” twist position of each add-on 90 left view of neutral position of each add-on 90 right view of 15° “S” twist position of each add-on 90 right view of 15° “Z” twist position of each add-on 90 right view of neutral position of each add-on 90

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Introductory

(23) Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the pair of add-ons of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 90 for torque and skew reduction in a tubular knitted fabric.

Configuration

(24) The pair of add-ons 90 comprise a crossbeam 92, and each has a ring guide assembly 94. Each ring guide assembly 94 of each add-on 90 depends from the crossbeam 92 for torque and skew reduction in the tubular knitted fabric system.

(25) Each ring guide assembly 94 of the pair of add-ons 90 has a mount 96. The mount 96 of each ring guide assembly 94 of the pair of add-ons 90 depends from the crossbeam 92.

(26) Each mount 96 of each ring guide assembly 94 of the pair of add-ons 90 has a fixed portion 98 and a movable portion 100. The movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of each ring guide assembly 94 of the pair of add-ons 90 is pivotally attached to the fixed portion 98 of the mount 96 of an associated ring guide assembly 94 of an associated add-on 90.

(27) Each ring guide assembly 94 of the pair of add-ons 90 further comprises a guide ring 102.

(28) Each guide ring 102 is attached to the movable portion 100 of the mount 94 of an associated angled ring guide assembly 94, and is movable via the mount 94 of the associated angled ring guide assembly 94 for preventing torque and skew in the tubular knitted fabric.

(29) As shown in FIGS. 12-17, the fixed portion 98 of the mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 contains a slot 104. The slot 104 in the fixed portion 98 of the mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 is crescent-shaped.

(30) The movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 further contains a peg 106. The peg 106 of the movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of each angled ring guide assembly 94 rides in the slot 104 of the fixed portion 98 of the mount 96 of an associated angled ring guide assembly 94 as the movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of the associated angled ring guide assembly 94 is pivoted.

(31) Each angled guide ring 102 of the pair of angled ring guide assemblies is disposed on, and moves with, the movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of an associated angled ring guide assembly 94 as the movable portion 100 of the mount 96 of the associated angled ring guide assembly 94 pivots.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

(32) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 in a top neutral position.

Example 2

(33) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11 in a front neutral position.

Example 3

(34) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12 in a left view of a 15° “S” twist position.

Example 4

(35) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 in a left view of a 15° “Z” twist position.

Example 5

(36) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14 in a left view of a neutral position.

Example 6

(37) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 15 in a right view of a 15° “S” twist position.

Example 7

(38) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 16 in a right view of a 15° “Z” twist position.

Example 8

(39) The pair of add-ons 90 of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 17 in a right view of a neutral position.

APPENDIX

(40) Attached hereto is an appendix disclosing the tests conducted using the present invention and the results obtained therefrom.

Impressions

(41) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

(42) While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in torque and skew reduction in tubular knitted fabric, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

(43) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.