Lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations

Abstract

In a lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations, in particular for supplying lubricant to knitting machines, a pump device is provided that serves at the same time as a distributor device. To that end, the pump device has a piston which is provided with a control groove. The corresponding pump cylinder has an inlet and a plurality of outlets distributed over the cylinder wall. Depending on which of the outlets the control groove of the piston is made to coincide with, a corresponding lubricating station is selected. The pump device is thus a distributor device as well.

1. A lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations, in particular for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubricating stations in a knitting machine,
 having a pump device ( 7 a) for pumping lubricant, the pump device having a piston ( 21 ) supported axially displaceably in a cylinder ( 8 ), and    having a distributor device ( 7 b), by which the lubricant pumped by the piston ( 21 ) is to be distributed to one or more lines ( 5 ) of a group ( 4 ) of lines ( 5 ) leading away from the distributor device ( 7 b), characterized in that 
 the distributor device ( 7 b) is part of the pump device ( 7 a), and  
 the piston ( 21 ) is connected to a locking device ( 46 ,  48 ), which serves to arrest the piston ( 21 ) in a manner fixed against relative rotation in selected rotary positions, while allowing an axial motion.  
   
     
     
       2. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the cylinder ( 8 ) has a plurality of outlet conduits ( 17 ), which are controllable by the piston ( 21 ). 
     
     
       3. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the cylinder ( 8 ) has a cylindrical cylinder wall, and that the outlet conduits ( 17 ) are disposed penetrating the cylinder wall. 
     
     
       4. The lubricating device of  claim 3 , characterized in that the control conduit ( 25 ), for forming the distributor device ( 7 b), can be brought into coincidence with at least one of the outlet conduits by rotation of the piston ( 21 ). 
     
     
       5. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the piston ( 21 ) is provided with at least one control conduit on its jacket face ( 23 ). 
     
     
       6. The lubricating device of  claim 5 , characterized in that the control circuit ( 25 ), for forming the distributor device ( 7 b), can be brought into coincidence with at least one of the outlet conduits by rotation of the piston ( 21 ). 
     
     
       7. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the piston ( 21 ) is rotatably supported in the cylinder ( 8 ). 
     
     
       8. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the pump device ( 7 a) and the distributor device ( 7 b) are connected to a drive device ( 33 ), and the drive device ( 33 ) includes a rotator device ( 55 ) and a displacement device ( 44 ), with the piston ( 21 ) connected to both the displacement device ( 44 ) and the rotator device ( 55 ). 
     
     
       9. The lubricating device of  claim 8 , characterized in that the rotator device ( 55 ) has a control motor which generates a desired rotary positioning motion. 
     
     
       10. The lubricating device of  claim 9 , characterized in that the stepping motor can be connected to the piston ( 21 ) in a manner fixed against relative rotation by means of a coupling device ( 39 ). 
     
     
       11. The lubricating device of  claim 10 , characterized in that the coupling device ( 39 ) has a defined rotary play. 
     
     
       12. The lubricating device of  claim 8 , wherein the control motor is a stepping motor. 
     
     
       13. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device ( 46 ,  48 ) has a locking member ( 48 ), which can be brought into and out of engagement with a locking wheel ( 46 ) that is connected to the piston ( 21 ) in a manner fixed against relative rotation. 
     
     
       14. The lubricating device of  claim 13 , characterized in that the locking member ( 48 ) can be switched into and out of engagement with the locking wheel ( 46 ) by means of a positioning drive ( 51 ). 
     
     
       15. The lubricating device of  claim 14 , characterized in that the locking wheel ( 46 ) is embodied as a ratchet wheel, and the locking member ( 48 ) is embodied as a pawl. 
     
     
       16. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that a control device is provided, with which the stroke of the piston ( 21 ) can be defined. 
     
     
       17. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that an inlet conduit ( 12 ) leading into the cylinder ( 8 ) and outlet conduits ( 17 ) communicating with the lines ( 5 ) are each provided with one check valve. 
     
     
       18. The lubricating device of  claim 1 , characterized in that a sensor device ( 66 ) is provided for monitoring the motion of the piston ( 21 ). 
     
     
       19. The lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations, in particular for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubricating stations in a knitting machine,
 having a pump device ( 7 a) for pumping lubricant, the pump device having a piston ( 21 ) supported axially displaceably in a cylinder ( 8 ), and    having a distributor device ( 7 b), by which the lubricant pumped by the piston ( 21 ) is to be distributed to one or more lines ( 5 ) of a group ( 4 ) of lines ( 5 ) leading away from the distributor device ( 7 b), characterized in that 
 the distributor device ( 7 b) is part of the pump device ( 7 a),  
   the pump device ( 7 a) and the distributor device ( 7 b) are connected to a drive device ( 33 ), and the drive device ( 33 ) includes a rotator device ( 55 ) and a displacement device ( 44 ), with the piston ( 21 ) connected to both the displacement device ( 44 ) and the rotator device ( 55 ), 
 the displacement device ( 44 ) is actuated by the rotator device ( 55 ), and  
 the displacement device ( 44 ) is formed by a gear, which converts a relative rotation between the piston ( 21 ) and the rotator device ( 55 ) into a linear motion of the piston ( 21 ).  
   
     
     
       20. The lubricating device of  claim 19 ,  A lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations, in particular for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubricating stations in a knitting machine,
   having a pump device for pumping lubricant, the pump device having a piston supported axially displaceably in a cylinder; and    
   having a distributor device, by which the lubricant pumped by the piston is to be distributed to one or more lines of a group of lines leading away from the distributor device, characterized in that the distributor device is part of the pump device,    
   the pump device and the distributor device are connected to a drive device, and the drive device includes a rotator device and a displacement device, with the piston connected to both the displacement device and the rotator device, the displacement device is actuated by the rotator device, and    
   the displacement device is formed by a gear, which converts a relative rotation between the piston and the rotator device into a linear motion of the piston, further  characterized in that the gear includes two threaded elements( 44 ,  45 ) , one of which is connected to the piston ( 21 )  in a manner fixed against relative rotation, and another of which is connected to the rotator device ( 55 )  in a manner fixed against relative rotation.  
 
     
     
       21. The lubricating device of  claim 20 , characterized in that at least one of the threaded elements ( 44 )  is connected to a magnet ( 62 ) , in order to prestress the threaded elements ( 44 )  against one another. 
     
     
       22. The lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations in a machine, comprising:
 a combined pump and distributor unit including a piston supported to be axially displaceable and rotatable in a cylinder, said piston having a control groove adapted to eject the lubricant therethrough toward the lubricating stations due to axial displacement of the piston within the cylinder, a wall of said cylinder having a plurality of radial openings with which said control groove is sequentially alignable as said piston is rotated within the cylinder;    pump drive means for axially displacing said piston within said cylinder to eject lubricant through said control groove; and    distributor drive means for rotating said piston within said cylinder into sequential alignment with said openings in the cylinder wall;    wherein said pump drive means and said distributor drive means are operable independently of each other to controllably produce axial displacement of said piston without rotation thereof, or rotation of the piston without axial displacement thereof, or both axial displacement and rotation of said piston with respect to one of said openings with which said control groove is brought into alignment.    
     
     
       23. The lubricating device of  claim 22 , wherein said pump drive means and said distributor drive means are components of one drive device.