Overhead blower

Overhead blower apparatus for use in connection with circular knitting machines includes a relatively small diameter frame to which a drive motor is mounted. The drive motor rotates an L-shaped platform about a vertical axis. The platform supports a fan unit journaled for rotation about a vertical axis. A belt system utilizes the rotation of the platform about the vertical axis to provide a drive motor to rotate the fan unit about the horizontal axis. An integral air spray system may be incorporated into the frame to provide a cleansing air spray for the fan unit as it operates. 1. A fan blower for use in connection with circular knitting machines comprising:

a frame; a first drive motor mounted to said frame and having a vertically-extending output shaft; an L-shaped platform coupled to said shaft for rotation within said frame about a vertical axis; a fan unit comprising a fan motor, a fan mounted to an output shaft of said fan motor and a mounting cradle for said motor, said fan unit being mounted to said L-shaped platform for rotation about a horizontal shaft extending perpendicular to said fan motor shaft; a first horizontally-disposed, fixed belt track mounted to said frame; a second belt track mounted to said horizontal shaft; and belt means between said first and second belt tracks to rotate said fan motor about said horizontal shaft as a result of said first drive motor rotating said L-shaped platform about said vertical axis.

2. The fan blower of claim 1 further comprising first commutator means between said frame and Lshaped platform and second commutator means between said L-shaped platform and said fan unit to transmit electrical power to said fan motor during rotation of said L-shaped platform and fan unit.

3. The fan blower of claim 2, wherein said first commutator means includes a fixed housing mounted to said frame, said first belt track being located on said housing.

4. The fan blower of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a pair of tubular members having vertical side portions, said L-shaped platform being located between said side portions.

5. The fan blower of claim 4 further comprising air spray means mounted to said frame for directing a cleansing compressed air spray towards said fan unit.

6. The fan blower of claim 5, wherein said spray means comprise spray bores in a portion of at least one of said tubular members. A dust removal and collection system which includes a suction fan for creating upwardly and inwardly flowing air streams through a knitting section and a yarn feeding and guiding device for removing dust and other fiber waste from the components thereof. An airstream receiving and confining hood overlies the knitting section and defines therethrough an air passageway. An entrance end of the air passageway is disposed radially outwardly of and above the knitting section so that the upwardly flowing air stream flows outwardly of the knitting section to carry dust and other fiber waste entrained therein upwardly and outwardly from the knitting components such that no dust or other fiber waste will return to the knitting components. A waste collection device cooperates with the hood to receive and collect the dust and other fiber waste removed from the double knitting machine. 1. In a double knitting machine having a knitting section comprising a needle cylinder, cylinder needles mounted in said needle cylinder, a dial mounted above and in operative association with said needle cylinder, dial needles mounted in said dial and cooperating with said cylinder needles, and yarn feeding and guiding means for supplying yarns to said cylinder needles and said dial needles to form double knit fabric, the combination therewith of a dust and other fiber waste removal system comprising

(a) suction fan means mounted above said knitting section for creating an upwardly flowing air stream through and across said needle cylinder and said dial to remove dust and other fiber waste therefrom, and (b) hood means overlying said knitting section and extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said needle cylinder and said dial, said hood means defining a restricted air passageway therethrough communicating with said suction fan means at one end thereof and terminating in an ingress end at the other end thereof, said ingress end of said air passageway being located radially outwardly of and above said knitting section so that the air stream created by said suction fan means flows upwardly from and outwardly of said knitting section, whereby dust and other fiber waste is removed from said knitting section and is carried outwardly beyond the periphery of said knitting section.

2. A double knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein said hood means extends in surrounding spaced relation to said knitting section to confine the upwardly and outwardly flowing air stream to the immediate vicinity of said knitting section and to direct the air stream into the ingress end of said air passageway.

3. A double knitting machine according to claim 2 wherein said hood means has access means adjacent said knitting section to provide operator access to said knitting section.

4. A double knitting machine according to claim 1 including air jet means operatively associated with said knitting section for blasting said knitting section with a high velocity air stream to assist said suction fan means in removing dust and other fiber waste from said knitting section.

5. A double knitting machine according to claim 4 including means for mounting said air jet means for movement circumferentially around said knitting section, and drive means for moving said air jet means.

6. A double knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein said suction fan is located inwardly of said yarn feeding and guiding means and creates a second air stream flowing inwardly across said yarn feeding and guiding means for removing dust and other fiber waste therefrom.

7. A double knitting machine according to claim 6 including blower means located externally of said yarn feeding and guiding means for blowing high velocity air inwardly across said yarn feeding and guiding means to assist said suction fan means in removing dust and other fiber waste therefrom.

8. A double knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein said hood means comprises an outer hood member having a frusto-conical section defining the upper portion thereof and a generally circumferential section depending from the outer periphery of said frusto-conical section, said frustoconical section having an opening in the top thereof immediately below and in operative communication with said suction fan means, said circumferential section being spaced radially outwardly of the periphery of said knitting section, and an inner hood member located within but spaced from said outer hood member and defining with said outer hood member said restricted air passageway.

9. A double knitting machine according to claim 8 wherein said inner hood member is at least partially frusto-conical.

10. A double knitting machine according to claim 9 wherein said hood means further comprises an extension extending downwardly from said circumferential section of said outer hood member into surrounding relation to said knitting section.

11. A double knitting machine according to claim 10 wherein said extension has access means therein providing operator access to said knitting section.

12. A double knitting machine according to claim 1 including waste collection means connected to the exhaust side of said suction fan means for receiving the air stream and entrained dust and other fiber waste from said suction fan means for collecting the dust and other waste therein.

13. A fiber waste removal system for a double knitting machine having a knitting section including a needle cylinder and a dial and yarn feeding and guiding means, said system comprising

(a) suction fan means mounted above the knitting section and interiorly of said yarn feeding and guiding means for creating upwardly and inwardly flowing air streams through and across the knitting section and the yarn feeding and guiding means to remove dust and other fiber waste therefrom, and (b) hood means operatively associated with said suction fan means and overlying the knitting section of the double knitting machine and having an internal area greater than the area of the knitting section such that said hood means extends beyond the periphery of the knitting section, said hood means defining a restricted air passageway therethrough communicating with said suction fan means at one end and terminating in an ingress end at the other end thereof, said ingress end of said air passageway being in the outer portion of said hood means such that said ingress end will be located radially outwardly of and above the outer periphery of the knitting section so that the upwardly flowing air stream created by said suction fan means will flow upwardly from and outwardly beyond the knitting section into the ingress end of said air passageway and therethrough to said suction fan means.

14. A fiber waste removal system according to claim 13 including waste collection means connected to said suction fan means for receiving the air streams and entrained waste from said suction fan means for collecting the waste removed from the double knitting machine.

15. A fiber waste removal and collection system according to claim 14 wherein said hood means extends downwardly from and outwardly of said ingress opening to confine the upwardly and outwardly flowing air stream with said hood means.

16. A fiber waste removal and collection system according to claim 14 wherein said hood means comprises an outer hood member having a frusto-conical section defining the upper portion thereof and a generally circumferential section depending from the outer periphery of said frusto-conical section, said frusto-conical section having an opening in the top thereof immediately below said suction fan means, and an inner hood member mounted within said outer hood member in spaced relation thereto to define therewith said restricted air passageway.

17. A fiber waste removal and collection system according to claim 16 further including an extension carried by said circumferential section and extending downwardly there from to surround the knitting section of the double knitting machine.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved system for the dust control and cooling of circular knitting machines by use of pressurized air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Industrial knitting machines, and particularly circular knitting machines, are of complex, precision construction. They require the attention of skilled operators to ensure that the fabric generated is produced at an optimum rate and is of first quality.

A circular knitting machine includes a plurality of needles arranged in a circular pattern around the perimeter of a cylinder. The needles are provided with yarn. As the cylinder rotates and the needles reciprocate a knitted tubular fabric is developed and is withdrawn from below the needle cylinder.

Because of the constant motion of the needles and associated elements, they must be lubricated and cooled. Physically, such lubrication is provided by an oiling apparatus, the operation of which must be carefully controlled and monitored. Over-lubrication can result in unacceptable fabric spotting and staining, while under-lubrication can result in seizing or jamming of the needles. The importance of adequate heat removal continues to grow as the knitting speed of the machines increases.

The control of dust is another area of concern. The accumulation of dust and lint on or about the needles and associated mechanisms can jam or otherwise disrupt proper operation of the knitting machine. In addition, the capture of lint and dust by the knitted fabric lessens its quality.

Typical dust control apparatus include rotating fans which direct a sweep of air across the knitting machine operating areas. In addition, the use of pressurized air streams and/or suction devices in the proximity of the needle cylinder has been attempted to remove lint and dust from such areas. Such pressurized air devices also serve a cooling function, assisting the lubricating oil in such a regard. Conventional pressurized air and vacuum and suction systems are typically of rigid construction, and either constructed and arranged as an integral part of the knitting machine, or intended to be rigidly fastened and attached thereto. In either case, as a pressure/suction system should surround and enclose the needle cylinder area of the machine to operate effectively, such a system requires mechanical disassembly and removal from the knitting machine for knitting machine maintenance. This represents a significant shortcoming to the use of such systems, as knitting machine operators often require access to the needle area, either to replace a broken needle, restart a broken yarn strand, or otherwise adjust operations. A requirement to disassemble an air supply system to afford access to the knitting machine components blocked thereby, increases the downtime of the knitting machine and can complicate the adjustment or repair process.

It is accordingly a purpose of the present invention to provide a pressurized air cooling and dust control system for a circular knitting machine which may be easily mounted to a knitting machine.

Yet a further purpose of the present invention is to provide an air cooling and dust control system for a circular knitting machine which, when not operating, does not obstruct access to the needle cylinder and dial area.

Still a further purpose of the present invention is to provide a system of the aforementioned type which provides a visual indication of the degree of airflow passing therethrough.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooling and dust control system of the aforementioned type which can dynamically seal the needle cylinder and dial area of a circular knitting machine when in operation and retract to a rest position when not in use.