US408181A

US408181A - Circular-knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US408181A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1889-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1906-07-30

Description

(No Model.)

11 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. E. KILBOURN.

OIROULAR KNITTING MAGHINE;

No. 408,181. Patented July so, 1889.

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(No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. B. KILBOURN.

GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 408,181. Patented July 30, 1889.

um llillllll H n Illllllllliiiifi \llllll"Wjjiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllilii @XWmaooeo E. E; KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING. MAGEHNB.

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qwdweooao 11 Sheets-Sheet 5. E. E. KILBOURN;

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. I

(No ModeL) Patented July 30, 1889.

54 100 44 for (No Model) I 11 Sheets-Sheet l6.

' E. E. KILBOURN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 408,181 Patented July 30, 1889.

11 Sheets-Sheet 7.

Patented July 30., 1889.

E. E. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

En 1L I III! a llllllll (No Model.) 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 E. E. KILBOURN.

UIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 408,181. Patented July 30, 1889.

Q vamwow MA/S g m KNXNQINNW N. nnnnnnnnnnnnnn n n er. Wnlhingin (No Model.) 11 SheetsSheet 9.

E. E. KILBOURN. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

3 No. 408,181. Patented July 30, 1889;

11 Sheets-Sheet 10..

(No Model.)

B. E. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented July 30, 1889..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

ED\VARD E. KIL BOURN, OF NE'W BRUNS\VIOK, NE\V JERSEY.

CiRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,181, dated July 30, 1889.

Original application filed June 14, 1887, Serial No. 241,243. Divided and this application filed May 9, 1889. Serial No.

' 310,079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. KILBOURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex. and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oircular- Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to cylinder knitting-machines in which a circular series of needles is employed for circular work and also for reciprocating work.

The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and is disclosed in the following description and claims.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 25,213, filed by me June 14, 1887.

The invention which forms the subject of this present application has for its main 0bj eot an improvement in the pickers for operating the fashioning-needles during the process of narrowing and widening; to provide a carrier of simple and compact construction, and to provide a means for operating such parts, which shall be inseparable while in operation and which shall be certain in operation.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front view of a machine without the needles embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same. Fig. 2* is an end View of the circular thread-guide. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same through the axis of the needle-cylinder, some parts of the machine being represented in elevation. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the portion of the machine to the left of the axis of the knitting-cylinder; and Fig. 6 is a corresponding longitudinal section of the other portion of the machine to the right of said axis, both sections being at the axis of the knitting-cylinder. Fig. 6 is a section of a part of the nosing, showing the hook-partitions. Fig. '7 is a vertical transverse section of parts of the machine at the axis of the count-wheel with some parts in eleva tion. Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of the cam-cylinders. Fig. 9 is a view of the outside of one of the carriers of the machine. Fig. 10 is an inside view of the same. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the carrier and its supporting and guiding parts. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the same with an alternative construction for guiding. Fig. 12 is a top view of one of said carriers. Fig. 13 is a top view of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 14 is a face view of the ring and driver hereinafter described. Fig. 15 is a view of the back of one of the cog-wheels forming a part of these devices. Figs. 16, 16*, and 17 are views of the needles used in the machine. Fig. 18 is a diagram of the picker cam-rin Figs. 19 to 2% are views of modifications.

The machine herein shown is generally used for knitting seamless stockings by first knitting the leg by a continuous circular movement, operating all of the needles of the knitting-cylind er. The heel is then formed by the gang of needles used for reciprocating work, which are operated by the reciprocation of the appropriate operating mechanism. At the same time a certain portion of the needles at each side of the gang are successively thrown out of operation to eifect the narrowing of the web, which is then widened by throwing the fashioning-needles successively into operation in a reverse order. The foot of the stocking is then formed by a continuous circular movement of the operating device in connection with the whole of the needles of the knitting-cylinder, and the stocking is finished by forming the toe in the same manner as the heel. Vhile this is the most general mode of procedure in using the machine, it may also be used by commencing the stocking at the toe and reversin the order of operation here described.

The drawings of the machine represent it with its members in the proper relative conditions for operating for reciprocating knitting; but the machine will first be described as it is operated for circular work. The needles preferably used in the machine are latchneedles having pivoted latches of the usual construction, and the shank of each is secured to or made in one piece, with aprojection or nib upon which the cams act for the purpose of moving the needles. The needles are arranged in a circular series, and are fitted to slide up and down in the grooves of the knitting-cylinder A and the nosing A. These needles are operated by means of two cams, which, as shown in section atB B, Fig. 4, and in elevation at B B, Fig. 8, are arranged one above the other and secured to cantcylinders B B which are concentric with the series of needles and are fitted to turn around the knitting-cylinder A. The lower cam-cylinder B is supported by a ring bearing or support I), and the upper cam-cylinder B is supported upon the lower. The lower cam-cylinder B is held in place by means of studs 12*, secured to the ring-bearing, which studs enter a dovetailed groove 1) of the eam-cylinder. The upper cam-cylinder is held in place by means of screws 1), whose heads are received in a groove 1) of the upper cam-cylinder. The upper camcylinder B is employed, preferably, to oper ate the gang of the needles, which are put bodily out of operation when the heel and toe of the stocking are knit, the lower cam-eylinder B being employed, preferably, in operating the gang of needles which are employed in combination with a reciprocating threadguide to knit the heel and toe of the stocking. In order to adapt the needles to the positions of these cams, those needles 0, Fig. 17, which are to be operated by the upper cam B have their nibs 1) arranged at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam for circular work, and those needies 0, Figs. 16 and 16 which are to be operated by the cam 15 during the widening and narrowing, and which may be called the gang of fashioning-needles, have theirnibs Zr at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam for both circular work and reciprocating work. The fashioning-needles which are to be withdrawn and returned to the gang at work during the narrowing and widening are held out of the working position when withdrawn or raised too high to be operated by the cam when reciprocating by means of a holder applied preferably beneath their lower ends or the lower ends of their shanks 0r slides, as hereinafter described. The shanks Z2 of these fashioningneedles are extended and provided near their lower ends with supplementary nibs Z), Fig. 16, which are adapted to rest on said holders. All of the said needles are guided in their movements by being fitted to slide in the grooves of the knitting cylinder A in the usual manner, as a part of the nibs of the nee-- dles are engaged by cam B and a part by the cam 13. The two cam-cylinders B and B are connected with and given a continuous rotary motion by the main driving-shaft D, to which the fast and loose pulleys CZ d are secured. The connection between the lower Barn-cylinder B and the main driving-shaft D s by means of a main wheel 6, secured to the ,ower cam-cylinder B the intermediate wheel 6, fitted to turn on a stud 6 the pinion 6 secured to the upper end of the upright shaft a, the upright shaft 6, the beveled pinion 6 secured to the lower end of the upright shaft, the beveled wheel 6, gearinginto the beveled pinion 6 the beveled pinion e connected with the beveled wheel 6 and fitted to turn on .a shaft 6 and the beveled inion e secured to the main driving-shaft D and revolving with it. The upper cam-cylinder B is preferably caused to revolve by being connected with the lower cam-cylinder B and the most convenient mode of connecting the two is by means of two drivers, the onehaving the form of a lug 1, (see Fig. 1,) secured to the camcylinder B and the other being preferably a pivoted latch-lug 2, secured to the other camcylinder W. This latch generally is turned upward for the purpose of disconnecting the two cam-cylinders.

In feeding the yarn or thread to the entire circular series of needles for circular work I employ the thread guide R. This threadguide is connected with the upper cam-cylinder B so as to revolve with it at the requisite distance in advance of the cams B B to deliver the yarn to the needles in succession. In order that this thread-guide can be readily moved out of its operating position when the heel and toe of the stocking are to be knit, it is secured to a rocking shaft f, which is mounted on the cam-cylinder I3 and in order to hold it in its different positions aloeking device f is provided, having an inclined nib at the upper extremity of the same, which engages with an arm f projecting from the shaft f. The upper edge of the knitting-cylinder is provided with hook-partitions a, secured to the knitting-cylinder between the needle-grooves, which is fully described in my application Serial No. 310,07 9, of the same, which serve an important function in connection with the needles and the narrowing devices of the machine.

In order to hold the upper cam-cylinder out of operation when reciprocating work is being done, I provide a locking device for such cylinder, which consists of a notched latch F, with which a locking-lug ct, secured to the cam-cylinder B engages. This locking device is mounted on one end of a rock-shaft g, from which an arm projects. The end g of this arm is inclined, (see Figs. 1 and 6,), and is within the range of an arm G, securedto a second rock-shaft 1 to which a lever-handle G is secured. By moving the lever-handle G to the right hand the lever-arm G is removed from beneath the arm g and the lock ing-latch is lowered into its locking position, and by moving the lever-handle G to the left the lever-arm G is forced beneath the arm g and the locking-latch is raised from its locking position and is held in that position until the lever-handle G is again moved to the right.

During the reciprocating work I prefer to cause the cam-cylinder B to move to and fro by a portion of the same gearing which is used to move it during circular work, and

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use supplementary gearing to complete the movement. I prefer in this connection to use a supplementary driving-shaft D for reciproeating'work and to connect so much of the gearing as is then used with that supplementary driving-shaft. The portion of the main gearing previously described, which is used in the said machine for reciprocating work, consists of the main wheel 6, the intermediate wheel 6', the pinion 6 the upright shaft 6, the beveled pinion c and the beveled wheel 6. The other portion of the main gearing which remains connected with the main driving-shaft consists of the two wheels e e. In order that the former portion may be re-. ciprocated for reciprocating work, the beveled wheel 6 is not made fast to the beveled wheel 6 and the connection of the said beveled wheel 6 with the beveled wheel 6'' for circular work is effected by means of the disconnectible drivers, which consist preferably of two lugs h h, Fig. 13, one of which is secured to the back of the beveled wheel 0, while the other is secured to the beveled wheel 6 which is driven by the drivin gsh aft D when circular work is being done. This mode of connection permits the driven wheel 6 to be moved to and fro nearly a complete revolution without affecting the driving-shaft D. A further ex tent of reciprocation is obtained by securing the lug ft to a hub 7L2, upon which the beveled wheel e is fitted to turn, and by connecting this hub with the beveled wheel through the intervention of a notched collar h of the hub h and a pin 7L secured to the beveled wheel. By making the notch of the said collar wider, so as to increase the play permitted bet-ween the ends of the notch and the pin 7U of the beveled wheel a the extent of reciprocation of that wheel may be increased to any extent required to operate the cam-cylinder of the gang of needles used for reciprocating work.

The supplementary driving-shaft D is fitted with fast and loose pulleys d d and the shaft. D is connected with the beveled wheel a through theintervention of a reciprocating rack II, Figs. 2 and 3, and pinion e which is driven by said rack and is connected with the beveled wheel 6. The stock of the reciprocating rack II is fitted to slide in bearin connected with the main frame, and is con nected by a conneeting-rod H with a crank II on the crank II, and this crank-shaft is connected with the supplementary drivingshaft D by means of the beveled wheels 6 c In order that the reciprocating mechanism may be connected with and disconnected from the cam-cylinder B the connection is made through the intervention of a clutch member I, Fig. 13, whose hub is fitted to slide upon the pinion-shaft c and is connected by means of a spline and groove of the usual construction. The clutch member has atooth i, which is fitted to engage in a notch formed in a collar ii of the hub of the wheel a, and the portion of the main gearing connecting it with the cam-cylinder B and that cam-cylinder are caused to turn to and fro by means of the continuous revolution of the drivingsha'ft D. This clutch member may be moved by a clutch-shipper, one arm of which J' is forked and engages in a groove I of the hub, and the other J has the form of a handle by which the attendant can move the clutch. The two arms J J" are mounted on a connected rock-shaft J During reciprocating work the yarn is fed to the needles then at work by means of a supplementary thread-guide B, which is given the necessary reciprocatory motion to effect this result, and maybe turned out of the way when desired, as fully described in my application Serial No. 310,078.

In order that the work may be narrowed while reciprocating work is being done, more or less of the needles at the sides of the reciprocating gang are successively moved out of their operative positions by raising them. This is effected by means of pickers K, (see Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12,) one for each side of the gang of needles. Each of these pickers is fitted to slide up and down in a carrier L,

which is moved, as required, to place the picker in the position to ope-rate upon the required needles. Each carrier is fitted to turn concentric with the series of needles, so that the pickers'have the same relative position to the needles they are to operate upon. For this purpose the lower edge of each carrieris fitted in a circular groove of the frame-work at it, and the upper edge of each carrier is fitted in a cireulargroove at in the under side of the ring-support Z) of the cam-cylinder. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 11.) These grooves being concentric with the knitting-cylinder and the carriers being segmental in form the carriers work in the same grooves at opposite sides of the knitting-cylinder. tion enables me to use short pickers an d pickers of the same size on both sides of the machine.

In respect to this construction it is to be noted that the pickers and their carriers are in the same horizontal plane, and that the movement of the pickers is within the planes of the upper and lower ends of the carrier, so that a compact and rigid construction is socured. It will also be seen that in view of the constructions described a very slight movement of the pickers is required, while the arrangement of the needle-moving lugs on the picker in two horizontal planes enables me to effect thenarrowing and widening by a movement of the picker throughthe same space for both operations, or, in other words, by the same range of movement, the same cam effecting the movement of the picker both for narrowing and widening. If pre ferred, the ends of the carriers may be grooved and the stationary grooves may be replaced by circular ribs, as shown at 7%, Fig. 11*. In order that the same picker may be used to move the needle for narrowing out of its working position and to move it for widening into its working position, each picker is fitted This construe.

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IIS

with two lugs 7,5 Figs. 10 and 11, one of which k acts beneath the supplementary nib -working position for widening. In order to effect this, the two lugs k k are placed upon a picker in different vertical planes. (See Fig. 10.) In the operation of narrowing,when the lug 70 is operating to raise the needles out of their operative position, the lug 713 lS in advance of the lug 70 and as the needles are then in their lowest position the lug 70 has no effect upon them. The inner ends of the two lugs, however, are in line with each other, so that when the picker has reached the end of its'movement to effect the proper amount of narrowing a slight movement in the opposite direction brings the lug 70 over the supplementary nib of the needle last raised, and the downward movement of the picker brings said lug into engagement with such nib and draws the needle downward into operative position. The lug k being then in advance of the lug k in this retrograde movement, moves beneath the nibs of the needles thrown out of position in the act of narrowing, and therefore has no effect upon them.

While I prefer to make thelugs of the pickers of the width shown, they may be made considerably wider by extending the outer edges as far as is desired. Such extension will not, however, affect the operation of the devices.

At the end of the widening movement the narrowing-lugs of the two pickers are brought into the space beneath the gang of needles, which is stationary during reciprocating work, while the widening-lugs remain above the nibs of the last needles depressed by them. The stationary needles not extending below the reciprocating cam, the narrowing-lugs are wholly out of the way, while the wideninglugs being above the range of movement of the reciprocating needles during knitting such lugs are equally out of the way of the needles of the reciprocating gang.

The pickers are caused to move up and down the required distance by the cam-ring K, (see Figs. 4c, 5, G, and 28,) which is preferably fitted to turn upon the stock a of the knitting-cylinder below the knittingcams and independently thereof, and each picker K is provided with a pin 76!, which its in the cam-groove ofsaid camring, so that the camgrades of the ring move the pickers up and down positively in both directions. The groove of the cam-ring is provided with two grades K and K at such a distance apart that the one acts upon the picker at one side of the knitting-cylinder and the other 011 the picker at the other side, the operating devices for the cam-ring being adapted to move the same the required distance to effect this, and cannot give the ring a greater degree of move ment. This, in effect, provides a separate cam for each picker, though the two are connected to move in unison.

The picker cam-ring K is caused to reciprocate independently of the needle-operating cams by connecting it with the supplementary driving-shaft D by means of the followin g connecting mechanism.

The cam-ring K is provided with a gearwheel is, secured to it, and the teeth of this wheel engage with those of a segment 76, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) which is fitted to vibrate upon a stud secured to the frame-work of the machine. To this segment is secured a second segment 11, whose teeth engage with those of a rack N, which is supported in-guides and has its shank connected by a pin with an upright lever N, whose lower end is pivoted to the framework of the machine. Thelever N has two projections 71 11 Fig. 6, which are within the range of the two members n n of a cam N which is secured to the crank-shaft H of the machine, and which, as previously stated, is in this machine driven by the supplementary driving-shaft D. By reason of this connection of the picker cam-ring K with the crank-shaft, the picker-cam is caused to turn to and fro correspondingly with the reciprocations of the reciprocating needle-cam B and at the required times to operate the pickers K.

The best time at which a needle can be moved out of operation for narrowing the work is in the interval of the knitting movement of the needles, which occurs after the cam B of the cam-cylinder B while being moved in a direction toward the side of the gang of needles at which the needle to be raised is, has passed by the nib of that needle, and before the cam is returned to the position of the nib of that needle. On the other hand, the needle which is to be moved into its operating position for widening the work must be moved there by the picker before the leading end of the cam B of the cam-cylinder B which operates the picker-cam K, reaches that needle, and the picker cam-groove should therefore be so shaped and the movement of the cam so timed as to move the picker K at the said times, as above set forth.

When a needle is moved out of its operattive position, it should be held positively from returning until it is again wanted for widening the work. This positive holding of the needles is effected in he machine represented in the drawings by means of the needleholder m, Figs. 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, one of which is used for each picker and is connected with the respective carrier L thereof. holder m consists, preferably, of a ringsegment which is supported at its outer edge by being fitted to move in a groove of the carrier L, and is supported at its inner edge in a groove, which is in this instance formed by two collars m of the lniitting-cylinder. (See Fig. 4c.) The needle-holder is movable in the carrier and a spring m", Fig. 9, is applied to move it independently of the carrier.

WV hen This needlethe carrier is moved in the direction of the arrow m, Figs. 9 and 10, as hereinafter described, to place the picker in position to raise a needle out of the working position, the end of the holder at is pressed laterally against the shank of that needle, the spring m yielding to permit the carrier to move without carrying the holder with it. Then when the neodle is raised by the picker the holder m forces the needle-holder beneath the raised needle and holds it positively in its raised position. The circular extent of the needle-holder is sufficient to hold all the needles which are successively raised for narrowing the work. \Vhen the carrier is moved outward-that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow m Fig. 9to place the picker into the working position for widening the work, the needleholder is moved with the carrier by reason of the end of the slot m, Fig. 9, through which the needleholder pin on passes, bearing against that pin, and the holder is thereby moved from beneath the foot of the needle upon which the picker is to operate, thus releasing it.

In order that narrowing or widening may be effected, the carrier must be moved to an extent equal to the distance between the centers of the needles, so as to remove the picker held by the carrier from the needle upon which it has operated to the next needle in the gang, and as the machine represented in the drawings is adapted. to knitting stocking heels and toes, in which the narrowing and widening at each side of the work is the same, both the carriers L are moved equally, but are moved in alternate succession, so that the needles at opposite sides of the work maybe moved or raised out of the working position or depressed or moved into it in alternate succession. The alternating movement of the picker-carriers L is effected, preferably, by the following mechanism: Each carrier L is fitted with a worm-segment Z, which is engaged with a screw Z on a shaft Z which is fitted both to turn and move endwise in its bearings. Each screw-shaft is fitted with a pinion Z whose teeth engage with those of a wheel Z", which is a driving-wheel common to both screw-pinions Z Z This wheel Z" is caused to turn continuously during reciprocatin g knitting by connecting it by gear ing hereinafter described with the supplementary driving-shaft D. The gearing between the screws Z Z and the supplementary driving-shaft is preferably so proportioned in the machine represented in the drawings that each screw is caused to revolve one-half of a revolution for each revolution of the crankshaft H that imparts the reciprocating movement to the cam-cylinder B and the threadguide E, and the pitch of the screws Z Z is double the pitch or gage of the needles in the series, so that a half-turn of the screw is sufficient to move the carrier which it con trols and the picker of that carrier from one needle to the next in the series. The screws are given an endwise movement for the purpose of giving the carrier a period of rest before each advance by cams, and I prefer to use two cams for each screw and arrange these in form of cam-collars ZZFigs. 3 and 4. These cam-collars are located at the opposite sides of the bearings Z, in which the screw-shaft revolves, and the screw-shaft is fitted with pins Z which bear against the cam-collars, so that as these pins move during the turning of the screw along the inclined faces of the cam-collars the screw-shaft Z and screw Z are caused to moveendwise.

During the narrowing of the work the carrier is caused to move inwardthat is, to appreach the middle of the gang of needles then at workand during the widening of the work the carrier is caused to moveoutward. In order that these movements in reverse directions may be obtained from the drivingshaft while always revolving in the same direction, the screw-d rivin g wheel Z is connected with the supplementary driving-shaft D of the machine represented in the drawings, through the intervention of gearing which comprises two racks,or wheels operating as racks, which are moved alternately in opposite directions.

The screw-driving wheel Z which is fitted to revolve upon a stud secured to the frame of the machine, has secured to its hub a beveled pinion Z Fig. 45, whose teeth engage with a beveled wheel Z, whose hub Z is fitted to turn upon the cylindrical stock or shank a of theknitting-cylinder A. A corresponding beveled wheel Z having its teeth reversed, is also secured to the same hub Z so that the two beveled wheels Z Z turn simultaneously. At the side of the hub of these beveled wheels which is opposite to the beveled pinion Z a second beveled pinion Z is arranged, and this beveled pinion is connected with the supplementary drivin shaft D through the intervention of the wheel Z, secured to the hub of the beveled pinion Z the pinion Z the intermediate-wheel Z secured, to the pinion Z the pinion Z which is secured to the crank shaft 11 and the beveled wheels 6 6 which impart motion from the supplementary driving-shaft D to the crankshaft H.

The diameter of the pinion Z is smaller than the space between the faces of the reverse beveled wheels Z Z so that it can opcrate in connect-ion with one of said beveled wheels without touching the teeth of the other, and the shifting of the driving-pinion from one (P) of the two beveled wheels to the other (P and vice versa, changes the direction of rotation of the same, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the pinion Z and of the screw-drivin g wheel Z and of the screws Z, and consequently reversing the direction in which the carriers L are moved by the screws.

In order that the driving-pinion may be shifted automatically from one wheel to the other, the hub of that driving-pinion Z and the wheel Z secured to that pinion, are fitted be omitted while others are used.

to turn upon a stud Z", which is movable, it being held by an arm Z which is fitted to swing upon the axis of the intermediate wheel 1 as a center of motion, so that the drivingpinion Z may be shifted from one of the change-wheels to the other without affecting the engagement of the teeth of the wheel Z and pinion Z through which motion is transmitted to the driving-pinion. pinion also is provided with a stud or roller 1, Fig. 4, and a rail Z upon which this roller bears, is secured between the two changewheels 1* Z to their hub Z Two segments Z are secured, preferably by means of screws, between the change-wheels, with the teeth of the segments corresponding to those of the wheels. Consequently when the driving-pinion impelling either of the two wheels Z Z causes the appropriate segment Z to come into gear with the pinion-teeth the pinion runs inthe segment and shifts from one of the change-wheels to the other, and the end of the rail is in the proper position to permit the stud or roller Z of the driving-pinion Z to pass around it during this shifting operation. The extents of the portions of the wheels I Z which are between the segments determine the number of turns imparted to the carrier-screws, the number of times the carriers are moved, and the number of needles that are moved out of and into operation during narrowing and widening.

From the foregoing description it appears that each carrier is combined with the driving-shaft for reciprocating work through the intervention of a train of gearing, which is inseparable, so that the movements of the carrier are always positive and to exactly the required extent to shift the picker from one needle to the next of the series, and there is no possibility of the carrier being shifted by accident, of missing a movement, or of being moved to a greater extent than is required.

While I have described the best construction in which I have embodied my invention prior to making application for a patent, I wish it to be understood that the mechanism may be varied without ceasing to embody the material parts of my invention, as some of the combinations recited in the claims may Thus, for example, the change-wheels may be straight racks and may be separate from the knittingcylinder instead of being concentric with it. An example of this construction is illustrated in Figs. 19, 20, and 21. In this case the change racks Z Z are made in one piece with the segments Z Z which connect them, and are in the same plane, and a distinct set of cog-teeth Z is employed to transmit motion to the pinion Z The driving-pinion Z in this case, as in the machine first described, turns upon a stud Z which is held by an arm Z that is fitted to swing upon the axis of the intermediate wheel Z as a center of shifting, so that the driving-wheel may be shifted from one change-rack to the other.

The driving The straight change-racks are guided by having their stock fitted to slide in guides, one of which is represented at Z Fig. 2G, and each of which is supported in a bracket- 1 at the front of the machine.

The modifications shown in Figs. 19, 22, 23, and 24 illustrate also the employment of a single or main driving-shaft for both circular work and reciprocating work, such main driving-shaft being then an equivalent for the supplementary driving-shaft D of the machine first described. In this modification the main driving-shaft D, the wheels 6 e, and the clutch-hub 1 correspond, respectively, with those of the machine first described, and these members are connected, when required,

with the crank-shaft H of the gearing for re' ciprocatin g work through the intervention of a duplex clutch I and the connecting wheels and pinions e e 6 6 which in this case are arranged at the front of the machine. The duplex clutch I is connected with the clutch-hub I by a rod Z, which is fitted to slide in the shaft 6 is secured also at one end to that hub, and has a cross-pin 2' at the other, which slides in slots in the shaft e while its ends project in to an annular groove in the interior of the sleeve of the duplex clutch I, the object of these slots and annular groove being to permit the clutch-hub I, with which the rod Z and its cross-pin are connected, to be moved sufficiently to disengage and re-engage the clutch-tooth i, Fig. 13, before the duplex clutch I is shifted by the same hub I through the rod Z and its crosspin. The duplex clutch is connected by a spline 5 and groove with the hub of the wheel 8 which is loose from the wheel 6, the loose connection between. the wheels a and 6 being in thisinstance dispensed with. The duplex clutch has at one end a clutch-tooth 6 Fig. 23, which is fitted to engage in anotch of the hub of the wheel e, and has at its other end a clutch-tooth i Fig. 25L, which is fitted to engage in a notch of the hub of the connecting-wheel 6 hen the rotation of the drivin g-shat't D causes the wheel 6 and the duplex clutch I to rotate, and when the members above described are in the positions in which they are respectively represented in Figs. 23 and 24, the duplex clutch I, being then connected, through the intervention of the connecting-wheels e e e 6 with the crankshaft l l causes it turn and operate the mechanism for reciprocating work, as previously described, the wheel 6 being then caused to reciprocate (as previously described with reference to the wheel eof the first machine,) and to transmit a reciprocating movement to the lower cam-cylinder B On the other hand, when the clutch-hub I is shifted (as described with reference to the first machine) to disconnect the wheel 6 from the crank-shaft and from the gearing operated by that crank-shaft for reciprocating work, the duplex clutch I is moved also in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 22, the effect of which is to disconnect it from the connectingwheels 6 e e e and from the crank-shaft H, and to connect it directly with the wheel e", whereupon the wheel e is caused to revolve continuously and to transmit a continuous circular movement to the cam-cylinders B B and to the other devices for circular work, as described wit-h reference to the first machine, while the crank-shaft is then disconnected from the driving-shaft D and remains at rest.

The members of the said Figs. 19, 20, and 21 which have not been herein described cor-. respond respectively with those parts' of the first machine which are designated by the same letters.

The needle-cams, general actuating mechanism, and stop devices, form the subjectmatter of my application Serial No. 241,243, filed June 1- 1887; the hook partitions the subject-matter of my application Serial No. 310,077, filed May 9, 1889; and the thread-supplying devices the subject-matter of my application Serial No. 310,078, filed May 9,1889 and are not claimed herein.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, substantially as before set forth, frame of the machine by means of grooves which are concentric with the needle-cylinder and which hold and guide the upper and lower edges f said picker-carrier.

The combination, substantially as before.

set forth, of the picker, the needle-holder, and

the carrier, by means of which the first two are held and moved.

3. The combination of a driving-shaft and a picker-carrier with intermediate gearing, through the intervention of which the pickercarrier is operated from the driving-shaft, the members of the said gearing being inseparable during operation.

l, The combination, substantially as be fore set forth, of the knitting-cylinder, a camcylinder for operating the needles for reciprocating work, the picker for acting on the needles which are to be put out of operation with said cam-cylinder, the carrier for said picker, and the needle-holder by which the needles are held positively out of their operating positions.

5s The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the knitting-cylinder, two camcylinders for operating the needles of the same for circular work, the picker for acting on the needles which are to be put out of or into operation with one of said cam-cylinders for reciprocating work, and the movable carrier for said picker.

6. The combination,substantially as before set forth, of the circular series of needles, the picker, a cam operated independently of the needle-cams for moving the picker positively in both directions, the carrier, and the worm'segment and screw whereby said car-, rier is moved partially around the circular of the picker-carrier with the series of needles positively without the possibility of overmovement by momentum.

7. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the knitting-cylinder, the two cam-cylinders for operating the needles thereof for circular work, the picker, and the carrier, which operates in combination with one of said cam-cylinders for reciprocating work.

8. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the circular series of needles, the cam-cylinder for operating the same for reciprocating work, the picker, the carrier, the wormsegment and screw, and the cams by which the said screw is moved endwise while being caused to turn.

9. The combination,substantiall y as before set forth, of the knitting-cylinder, two camcylinders for operating the needles thereof for circular work, the picker, the carrier, the worm-segment and screw, and the cams by which said screw is caused to move endwise.

10. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the circular series of needles, the can'i-cylinder for operating the same for reciprocatlng work, the picker, the carrier the change-wheels and segments, whereby, the number of times the carrier is to be moved in opposite directions is determined, devices intermediate said change-wheels, and the carrier for moving the latter, and the drivinggearing engaging with said change-wheels and segments.

11. The combination, substantially as be fore set forth, of the change-wheels and the curved segments set behind the teeth of the said change-wheels.

12. The picker, substantially as described, having a lug for engaging the nibs of the fashioning-needles from the under side, and a lug for engaging such nibs on their upper side, said lugs being located upon the picker in differentvertical planes, substantially as described.

13. The combination, herein described, of a knitting-cylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work, a cam for operating said needles, a picker having two lugs in different horizontal and vertical planes, and a single cam-grade for actuating said picker.

14. The combination, substantially as bcfore set forth, with the frame of the machine and a knitting-cylinder, said frame being provided with annular grooves outside of said cylinder, of picker-carriers of segmental form mounted in said grooves.

15. The combination, substantially as be fore set forth, of the knittingcylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work provided with nibs for engaging the operatingcam, a portion of which are provided with supplemental nibs, a cam for operating said needles for circular and reciprocating work, pickers for engaging the supplemental nibs of said needles, and mechanism operated independently of the needle-cam for operating said pickers positively in both directions.

10. The combination, with a knitting-cylin- IIO der and needles, of two pickers, two pickercarriers, and the worm-segments and screws for moving the carriers, the movable parts of said pickers intersecting the planes of said segments and screws, substantially as described.

17. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knitting-cylinder and a circular series of needles, including a gang for reciprocating work, a portion of said reciprocating needles being provided with supplemental nibs, cams for operating said needles for circular or reciprocating work, pickers for engaging the supplemental nibs of the needles, and a cam for operating said pickers having motion independent of the n eedle-opcrating cams.

18. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knittingcylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work, a portion of said needles being provided with supplemental nibs, a cam for operating said needles for circular and reciprocating work, pickers for acting on the supplemental nibs, and an independently-operated cam for moving said pickers positively in both directions.

19. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knitting-cylinder having needles divided into gangs, one of said gangs being for reciprocating work, and a portion of said reciprocating gang being provided with supplen'iental nibs, pickers for engaging the supplemental nibs of said needles, a cam for operating the reciprocating gang for both reciprocating and circular work, a cam for operating the other gang for circular work, and a cam for operating said pickers positively in both directions.

20. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knitting-cylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work, a cam for operating said needles, two pickers, and a separate cam-grade for operating each of said pickers having motion independent of the needle-operatin g cam.

21. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knitting-cylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work, a cam for operating said needles, two pickers, and a cam-ring having motion independent of the needle-operating cam and having a separate cam-grade for operating each of said pickers.

22. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of aknitting-cylinderhaving a gang of needles for reciprocating work, acam for operating said needles, two pickers, and a grooved cam having a separate grade for operating each of said pickers.

23. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a knitting-cylinder having a gang of needles for reciprocating work, a cam for operating said needles, two pickers having each two lugs in different vertical and horizontal planes, two picker-carriers having alternate movements from needle to needle, and a cam for operating said pickers.

24. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a needle-cylinder with necdles, all of which are in operation during circular work and a part of which constitute a gang for reciprocating work, a thread-guide for reciprocating work, narrowing and widening devices, including both means for throwin g a portion of the reciprocating gang of needles out of operative position, and a stop for said thread-guide, and screws for moving said narrowing and widening devices in proper relation to the needles during the narrowing and widening.

In testimony whereof I afiix my sign ature in presence of two witnesses.

EDXVARD E. KILBOURN.

\Vitnesses:

L. P. WHITAKER, J. H. WHITAKER.