USRE17705E - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet l E. U. AMES KNIT'IING MACHINE Original Filed March 19, 1926 .Nw/@MN l Ew lli June 17,` 1930.

`lune 17, 1930.

E. U. AMES KNITTING MACHINE original Filed March 19.' 192s 4, Sheets-Sheet 2 T. MN

m f W .i U( l f M m m M .Q o Q\ o D U D Nw June 17, 1930. E, U. AMES j lle-'17,705

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed March 19, 1926 g ww Ht 015 11 n: v a

Reissued .lune` 17, 1930 p T Re. I17,705

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f ELMEB y U.

KNITTING MACHINE AMES, DECEASED, LATE COLLIN GSWOOD, NEW JERSEY, BY CAROLINE F.

l AMESLALDMINISTRATRIX, F HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY y Original No. 1,722,989, dated August 6, 1929, Serial No. 96,049, led March 19, 1926. Application for reissue led AprilA 29,. 1930. Serial No. 448,390.

The said invention relates to knitting machines and particularly to mechanism or'selecting needles for special operations, as for the formation of ldrop stitch, tuck stitch and various other forms of knitting. IThe mechanism is here illustrated in connection with f a circular knitting machine for making hose tops and the like said machine having a stationary needle cylinder and a rotary cam ring lo but is clearly applicable to machines having a rotaryrneedle cylinder, to ribbing machines, footers, etc. and certain features thereof may be found applicable for use in machines o other types such as straight machines. It is 75 an object ofthe invention to provide mechanism of the character described which shall cover a very. wide range of possible changes for making' various patterns in, the knit fabric. I Anotherobject of the` invention is to provide extreme mutability to secure many pattern changes in the fabric with relatively simple mechanism which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to `manipulate for changing the patterns and not liable to get out of order.

' A further obj ectof the invention is to proi No'. 1,697,488, and ofl application 717,184,

now Patent No. 1,697,490. Certain parts are also claimed in divisional application 352,503,Apri14,1929. y

Referring to the accompanying' drawings which are made apart hereof and on which similarreference characters indicate similar lparts,

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the means l applied to a circular Vknitting machine of standard type, together with various cooperating parts, 'i

Figure 2, a vertical section at one side of` the axis,

Figure 3, a horizontalsect-lon above the trick'wheel, I

Figure 3a, a detail o`f parts shown'in Figure 3, v

Figure 4, a similar section below the tricks of the trick wheel showing the driving means; for the wheel, Fi ure 5, an elevation of a part of the need e row, I Figure, a section on line 6 6 of Figure 5, Figure 7, a sectionrn line 7 7 of Figure 5, Figure 8, a section on line 8--8 of Figure, Figure 9, a vertical section showing a trick wheel of modified form, and

Figure 1), a horizontal section of the same.- In the drawings reference character 10 indicates ,the lixed frame of the machine on which is a needle cylinder 11 provided with radial slots which may be of conventional characterand which serve as guiding means for needles 12. The needles are here shown as latch needles but may be of any desirable or 70 conventional character. Jacks or projectors 13 are arranged in underlying relation to the needles and parallel thereto said jacks being buried in the needle slots back of4 the needles y and having lugs 14 adapted to engage with the lower ends of the needles which in turn, are provided with butts 15 for engagement with needle cams such as indicated at 16 and 17. The needles are held -in place as usual by spring rings 18 and 19 and a spring ring se 20 near the lower end of the needle grooves serves to hold the lower ends of the jacks in place to prevent them from moving out too far. The jacks are provided at their lower y' ends with butts 21 for engagement by a rais- 85 ing cam 22 positioned to engage under the butts to raise the jacks and the needles when.

these parts are in the position shown in Figures-6 to 8.

A' spring ring 23 lies in a groove in the 00 outer periphery of the cylinder approximately midway between the ring 20 and the upper rings 18 'and 19. l T he ring 23 serves to hold in place a series of pressers or sub-jacks 24 lying in the respective needle slots in front of the jacks. For convenience the pressers are s shown in. Figures 5 to 8 as being provided each with a single butt 25, but it will be understood that there may be a plurality of butts v on each of the pressers. In a preferred methloe od of making the butts each presser is provided vvithla| complete row of butts, as in the case of the presser indicated in Figure 2, said butts corresponding to the number ot the cams 26 and the butts notjneeded for the formation of the desired pattern are broken off prior to positioning the pressers in front` of the jacks in the respective needle slots.

' butts 25. A rod 29 for tensioning thesprings issecured in position ,on the frame by a setscrew 31.

Actuating mechanism for the camst26 comprises trick wheels 32 rotatable on posts 33 (Fig. 2). In the present embodiment ot the inventi-on the posts are shown in the form of square-headed bolts heldin place by nuts 34 iitting in suitable under-cut slotsr at 35011 the frame. It will be obvious that by turning a bolt its nut may be loosened-and its trick wheel can be moved radially in or out with respect to the needle cylinder for positioning 4the trick wheel properly with respect to its cams 26. The term trick-wheelas used herein may beroughly defined as denoting a pattern form with a series of slots adopted to receive inserts (tricks) each of Which carries a plurality of pattern indications such as projecting lugs. The use of an upright drum, asdescribed in the co-pending application 25,915, with-a suitably shaped periphery for acting on transmitting elements such as therein shown at 25, is contemplated as being With- 1n the scope of the invention as is also the use of a pattern band (Figs. 9 and 10) and other equivalent devices. Each trick wheel has a series of radial slots in which are mounted-tricks 36 held in place by a spring ring 37. It will be seen that the tricks are therefore readily removable in similar manner to the pressure 24, the jacks 13 and the needles 15. The tricks are provided With lugs 38v suitably spaced for engagement with the noses 38 of the respective cams and in the preferred method of manus facture each trickisprovided with aj series of lugs suilicient inlnumber for actuating all the cams. Such lugs as are not needed for a particular pattern are subsequently broken out leaving only the correct numberior the pattern desired. For example Figure 2 shows at the left-hand side of the trick wheel a trick with two lugs in operative relation to the cams and at the right-hand side a trick with nine lugs in such operative relation, there being also three lugs shown in a position too -high torbe available for operation of any of the cams. The trick Wheel and the cams are mounted on a ring 39 mounted for rotation about the needle cylinder in any convenient manner which ring carries the cam ring, as is usual in machines of this type. This support also carries a .post 40 (Fig. 2) engaging the lowermost cam 26 to prevent sagging and consequent binding on the pivot post 27, while another part secured to the fixed frame carries a post 40 arranged t0 prevent upward displacement of the cams and a pawl 57 hereinafter described. y

It will be seen that with the parts in the position indicated, e. g. in Figures 2 and 3, the

same pressers will be actuated in successive revolutions to press the saine jacks inward whereby the same needles will be prevented from rising to take the yarn at the feed corresponding to the trick wheel shown in said figures and said needles may therefore be caused to knit only Withthe yarn from the lother feed, it being understood that the Ina- 'chine herevillustrated is provided with two sets of yarn/guides corresponding to the' two needle controlling pattern Amechanisms indicated in Figure 1. While the controlling means is vdescribed as intended for causing the needles either to go into action for knitting or to remain entirelyrout of action it is not necessarily limited to such control.

For indexing, i. e., rotating the trick wheels Step by stepon their axes as they revolve about the axis of the machine there has been 'provided means comprising a pawl 4l pivoted on an arcuate bar 43 slidably supported in a curved slot on the rotating ring 39. A spring 44 is connected at one end to a lug rigid with the pawl 41 and at the other end to a part fixed to the ring 39, said spring serving thus to move the paWl toward the trick wheel and thereby cause it to engage in the spaces between the tricks. It will be seen thereiore that longitudinal movement of the bar 43 in one direction will cause the pawl to advance relatively to the trick Wheel whereas movement in the other direction will cause the pawl to movethe trick wheel if its tooth is permitted to engage between the tricks, in which case the trick wheel will be rotated at each revolutionofthe cam ring to change the operative relation ofv the trick wheel and the cams relatively to the pressers for the jacks.

Operating means for the bar 43 comprises an abutment-plate 45 iXed to the forward end of a lever 46 pivoted at 47 by means of a pair of set-screws 48 engaging in slots in the plate 45 and thus providing for radial adjustment y A link 5l connects the character for moving the plate 45 into'and out I trick Wheel 'so as to move the trick wheel each in a deep indentation it will also be enabledy time the arcuate bar 43 Iis moved, such operaftionf being pattern-controlled as. just eX- plained. In the present embodiment ofthe invention however, there has been shown a ratchet 52 supported for rotation about the post 33 as an axis an-d preferably as shown in Figure 2 the ratchet is mounted forrotation about a flange on a bushing 53 held bythe post 33against rotation while the trick wheel is journaled on this bushing. The ratchet has deep indentations as at`54 and shallow indentations as at 55 (F ig. 4) in either one of which the pawl is adapted to engage when it is actuated by the bar 43. Should the pawl engage to engage between tricks of the trick wheel as will be evident from consideration of Figure 2 so as to rotate the trick wheel. On the other hand should the pawl engage a shallow v indentation it will not engage the trick wheel and onlythe ratchet will be rotated. It results lconsequently that where the-ratchet is used the pawl can operate the trick wheel only on alternate actuations of the pawl. If the plate 45 is in the dotted line position of Figure 2 the pawl will notbe operated and the needles will operate as in the previous course of knitting. The ratchet is centered and held against overrunning by means of a detent 56 held in place -by a spring 57. A pawl 57 serves to hold the trick wheel in place durmg operations and to center it with reference to the coacting elements under pressure of spring 58.

In a modied form of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the trick wheel 58 cooperates with cams 59 acting on pressers 24, jacks V13 and needles 12 all as in the form previously described. The cams 59 in this form of the invention have noses 60 reduced at both sides to enter notches in a ribbon 61 (preferably endless). The nosesv here are shown as reduced at both sides though they may be reduced at one side only as shown in the modification previously described or may be otherwise of suitable form to passthrough any kind of suitable apertures `in a ribbon of the character described. F The ribbon travels in the direction of the arrow and the cams are provided at 62 with inclinedy faces whereby they will be caused to ride out of the slots in the ribbon and the corresponding recesses in the trick wheel as the wheel rotates. The ribbon may be driven in any suitable manner, i. e. either by driving the trick wheel or by some other driving means and is provided with apertures at 63 for engagement by pins 64 projecting from the wheel. v

It is believed that the operation of the device lnay be clearly understood from the foregoing description. In a characteristic operation of the device the needles, jacks, and pressers may be arranged as indicated in Figure 5, the needles and jacks being all similarly positioned and duplicates of each other while the pressers are differentiated by the varying positions of their butts. The cams 26 also are duplicates of each other while the tricks in the trickwheel have butts arranged according to the desired pattern. According to the position of the tricks certain of the cams will now be pressed toward the cylinder by the butts to flex the corresponding jacks toward the axis of the cylinder and thus move them out of the Way of the cam -222 The acks will therefore not be raised and the correspon-ding needles, as will be understood from consideration of Figure 2, will not be raised to clear their latches and take the new yarn at the corresponding feed while the needles of the jacks that have not been forced in will be so raised.

It will be assumed for convenience that the needles are rendered active or inactive in groups of three due to the arrangement of retained presser butts and the trick butts, as indicated in Figure 5. Nowv as the cams move in the direction of the arrows past the needle row the cams 26 will act on certain of the pressers 24 to Hex their acks and bring them out of reach of the cam 22 whereupon the butts of these jacks will pass behind the cam 22, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. It is desirable to permit the jacks butts to spring out again "'as soon as possible in order to avoid dificulties. arising from the tendency -of the needles to be sprung outward radially by the flexing of the ack and for this reason the cam 22 is cut away 4`at 67 while an inclined surface at 68 connects the rear face of the cam with the slot 67 so that the outward movement of the butts may be a controlled one and not a sudden snapping out. It is understood, of course, that the pressers and cams are held in only during the movement of the trick wheel through a relatively small arc. i l

The control of the trick wheel on the pressers to determine whether a jack shall ride up the inclined upper face of the cam 22 or not becomes operative at the line marked contact point in Figure 5 so that all the jacks will be lifted a little distance above the normal position and thereafter will either pass back of the cam or ride on up as indicated for the first two solid line butts following the three shown in dotted in Figure l.

lines as passing back of the cam 22. The active butts of each active group of three jacks will continue to be lifted'by the cani until Ythey pass over the top of the same (F ig. 7) yand thus will raise the needlessufliciently high to permitv their butts to strike the needle raising cam 17a little above its eXtreme low point whereupon the needles will'continue to .be lifted into a position where the latches are cleared and the new yarn is taken by them (Fig. 8), whilethe raised. jacks remain in" elevated position. Thereafter the active needles are moved downward bythe stitch cam 16 and conse-v quently force their jacks down to the extreme low level. 4The inactive needles also strike the stitch cam near the bottom of the stitch drawing 'incline and are forced Vback to the lower-most position carrying with them their jacks to bring the butts from the slightly raised position shown atlthe bottom of Figure l5 to the lower-most position.

At the neXtrotation of the cam ring the ame operation may be repeated if the abutment plate lluremains in the position shown If," however, it has been returned to the position of Figure 2 then the bar 43 will strike it and will cause pawl 41 to, turn the ratchet 52. If now the pawl en-v gages'a deep slot in the ratchet it will also engage between two tricks of the trick wheel and index or turn the wheel one step thereby causing the needle operaton'to vary unless the trick now tobe operative is a duplicate of the one previously in action. A similar `operation may occur at each feed, if there are'more feeds than one, it being understood that there may be, four or more on a machine of large diameter.

The operation of the machine with the mechanism shown in Figures 9 and 10 is substantially the same as in the forni heretofore described excepting that longer patterns .may be made owing to the greater length of the, ribbon 61 as compared with the .circumference of a trick wheel.

It will be understood that either wheel or both may be actuated during a revolution of the cam ring or neither may be actuated aocording to the control of the abutment plate l5 by the pattern mechanism below the head of the machine. lt is also possible to use a single wheel with a plurality of feeds, e. g.,.

for-"a fabric having a pattern of solid color and a ground of alternating rounds of yarns of each feed. A wheel may be used at each feed and each wheel may be yfmoved at each` rotationof thev cam ring or they mayy be moved by alternate rotations or one may remain out of action while a complete pattern is knit with the other and then the'rst wheel Ais put into action while the second remains out during the knitting of the second pattern. It will be obvious that the cams 26'must be out of action if a wheel is to be out of action. y

Forthis purpose a trick may be omitted or a trick havingall its buttsbroken od may be used. When plain knitting is to be done, as before and afterlthe pattern at the upper end of a stocking obviously each trick wheel must be made idle at the same time', by this or equivalent expedient. 4It is` possible also to knit longer patterns by using first one wheeland then the other in which case the yarns will be reversed ifthesecond wheel is arranged as the complement of the first..

Among other'advantages' of the arrangement; may be mentioned the facts that solid Y effects may be secured in the pattern instead of two-tone effects for the reason that the in` active yarn may be thrown well tothe rear.'

of the active yarn; that a solid pattern is made'which stands out in such a manner thatv y cotton yarn may be used for both the vmain and the pattern yarninstead of it being necessary to use silk for the pattern yarn as heretofore; that the variation of patterns'is almost infinite; and that patterns may be made.

of an unusual length.

Other changes than those suggestedpwill occur tol those skilled in the art and it willV l. In an independent needle knittingma-` chine, knitting'needles and means for elevating them selectively comprising strip-like elements individual to said needles said striplike elements each having one or more butts variously located along their length and hav ing a movement transversely of the needleu bed, and `pattern means adapted to act on.

each butt for imparting such transverse movement to the strip-like elements, said eleinents andfsaid pattern means moving con- .stantly past each other in the operation of the machine.

2. A-knitting machine comprising a series of needles, needle cams, a series of jacks for moving such needles into operative relation 'with the needle cams, a jack cam, means for moving the jacks into andout of operative relation to said cam including a series of pressers each operative only on one jack of the series, said pressers having but-ts at different points in theirlength, a series of cams movable into and out of operative relation relative to said *presser-butts, and means for moviiig said cams selectively, substantially'as set forth.

3. A knitting machine comprising a series 'of needles, a serles of jacks for moving such needles, a jack cam, means for moving the jacks into and out of operative relation to said cam including a series ot pressers having butts at diiierent points in their length, a series of cams movable into and out of operative relation relative to said presser butts, and a rotary trick Wheel having tricks acting directly on said cams for actuating them selectively, substantially as set forth.

4. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a series of jacks for moving such needles, a jack cam, ,means for moving the jacks int-o and out of operative relation to said cam including a series of pressers having butts at different points in theirlength, a seriesof cams movable 4into and out of operativen relation relative to said butts, a rotary trick Wheel'having tricks for actuating said movable cams selectively, 'and means for indexing the trick Wheelbetween ythe knitting of successive courses, substantially as set forth. Y 5. fA knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a series of jacks for moving such needles, a jack cam, means for moving the jacks intoand out of operative relation to said cam including a series of pressers having butts at ditt'erent points Vin ltheir length, a series of cams movable into and` out of operative relation relative tosaid butts, a rotary trick Wheel having tricks. for actu'- ating said movable cams selectively, and pattern-controlled means for indexingthe trick Wheel, substantiall7 as set forth. 9

6. In a knitting machine, a series of independent needles, a bed'therefonneedle actuating cams, a` series of jacks for moving the needles into the range ot said cams, a cam for actuatingthe jacks, -pressers for moving the jacks outof range of the jack-cam, and pattern-controlled means Wholly oni the needle side of the bed for operating the pressers, substantially as set forth. -v

7.In a knitting machine, a series of independent needles, lneedle actuating cams, a series of jacks for moving the needles into "the rangeof said cams, a cam foractuating the-jacks to movey selected needles, pressers for moving the jacks. out of range of the f jack-cam, pattern-controlled means for oper- `ly-as set forth j ating the pre'ssers; including a trick Wheel havinglongitudinalk slots, and removable differentiated tricks `insaid slots, substantial-f 8.1Ina knitting machine,a series lof independent needles,'a.ser1es of cams .for actuat- 1, ingsaid needles, means for bringingl the butts ofthe needles into and out of operative rela- 'tion With the-cams including a trick Wheel @evolving with the needle cams, removable tricks extending lengthwise ofthe Wheel, said tricks having'integral projecting butts at different points in their length, a pawlfor rotating the trick Wheel on its aXis, and a pattern-controlled abut-ment `plate on the liXed frame of the machine movable into and out of operative relation with said` pawl, substantially as set forth. l

9. In a knitting machine, a series of independent ;needles, a series of cams for actuating said needles, means for bringing the i butts of the needles intoand out of operative relation with the cams including a trick Wheel I revolving with the needle cams, ahpawl for rotating the trick-Wheel, a pattern-controlledabutment plate on the fixed frame of the machine movable into and out of operative relation with said pawl, a ratchet positioned concentrically with the trickwheel, said ratchet parallel to the needles to brina' the needles` into reach of a needle cam-and having parts underlying the'needle Shanks, a jack-actuating cam, pressers in the needle grooves positioned to actselectively on said jacks, and means for actuating said pressers selectively to move said jacksv out of reach ,of said cam including a planetary element on said cam ring, substantially as set forth.

1 1. A ycircular knitting machine comprising a stationary needle cylinder, a series of needles thereima cam ring, a set of rotary needle cams on said cam ring, jacks movable parallel to the needles to bring the needles into 'reach of a needle cam, a jack-actuating cam, pressers in the needle grooves positioned to act selectively on said jacks, means for a'ctuating said pressers selectively to move said jacks out of reach of said cam including a planetary element on said cam ring, andv pattern-controlled means for rotating such planetary element at predetermined intervals, substantially as set forth.

l2. A circular knitting machine comprising a stationary needle cylinder, a 'series of needles therein, a cam ring, a setof rotary `needle/cams on said cam ring, jacks movable parallel'to the needles andjhaving parts -un- -derlying the needle Shanks, ajack-actuating cam,.pressers in the needle grooves positioned to lact selectively, on said jacks, means for actuating said pressers selectively to move said jacksnout' ofreach of said cam including a; planetary 'element on said cam ring, and pattern-controlledmeans for rotating `'such planetary elementy at 'predeterminedregular orirregular intervals, substantially' as set forth. y '13. A knitting machinev comprlsmg a.

slotted Ineedle bed, a needle slidable in a slot' in said bed, a jack lying in said slot with operating means proj ecting therefrom, said JackA 6. v, s u

i being movable with the needle and independently thereof1neans on the jack for engaging the needle to raise the same, av cam directly engaging the projecting 1means to ac- Y tuate the needle, and selectivepmeans acting' on the outer face of the jack vto prevent engagement ofthe jack and the jack-cam, substantiallyas set forth.

V14C. A knitting machine comprising'- `a `the needle to raise the same, a cam for acparallel to that of the needle cylinder, a camk tuating the jack,'means to prevent contact ofthe jack andthe `jack-cam including a cam outside the needle ycylinder movable toward and from the jack, and a rotary-device for actuating saidlast-.named cam, substantially as set forth.

15. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle cylinder, needles therein, means for controlling the operation of individual needles including a longitudinally grooved wheel parallel to the needle cylinder, differentiated tricks interchangeably positioned in the grooves of the wheel and stationary with respect to movement lengthwise of the wheel, strip-like elements in the needle slots positioned to be operated selectively by said tricks, connections from said elements to the needles in the respective grooves, and means for intermittently rotating the wheel, substantially as set forth.

16. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a' trick wheel rotatable about an axis ring rotatable relatively to the needle cylinder, strip-like tricks on `the wheel7 said tricksy ,having lugs at different elevations adapted to act selectively on the needles, and means for turning the wheel step-by-step, said means being adapted to be actuated at each rotation of said relatively rotatable parts, substantially as set forth. Y

17. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a trick wheel rotatable about an axis.

parallel to that of the needle cylinder, a cam ring rotatable relatively to the needle cylinder, interchangeable differentiated A tricks extending in the direction ofthe length of the Wheel adapted to `act selectively on the needles, means forturning the wheel, said meansV being adapted to be'actuated at each'rotation of said relatively rotatable parts,- and means to disable said wheel rotating means during predetermined rotations of s uch relatively rotatable parts, substantially as set forth.

' 18.. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, a cam normallyactuating all the needles, a trickwheel on an axis parallel to the needles,

"said wheel carrying interchangeable strip.:

like elements parallel to its axis with lugs thereon dierently positioned relatively to fthe length o f the wheel, and butts variously positioned lengthwise ofthe needle slots, said butts being operatively connected to said lugs for controlling the relation of said needles to said cam whereby the pattern may be varied by rearrangement of the lugs or the butts orV both.

19. VIn a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, needle cams, a needle in a slot of thebed out of control of vsaid needle cams, a jack of operativeV relation to its cam inclnding a presser with a plurality' of butts, and means acting selectively on said butts.

20. In a knitting machine, a'slotted needle bed, a needle in a slot of the bed, needle cams,

a jack movable lengthwise of the slot to effeet the operation of the needle, a jack cam, a trick vwheel havingits axis parallel to the needles and having interchangeable strip-like elements axially located thereon with patternA characteristics arrangedl at different. points along their length, means for rotating the -wheel, and means operable by said pattern characteristics for selectively moving the jacks outof operative relation to the jack cam. p. Y

21. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle cylinder, needles slidable in slots in said cyl Vinder, elements parallel to oney or more gf said. needles torl controlling the raising of the needles, said elements having projecting butts variously positioned along their length and being movable radially of said cylinder, and

a pattern device having pattern characteristics arranged in rows parallel tothe needles, said pattern characteristics selectively conrolling the'action of the needles through said utts. i 1

22. Ina knitting machine,a slottedneedle cylinder, needles in theslots of the cylinder, a trick wheel rotatable on an axis parallel to that of the cylinder, interchangeable tricks in stationary position on the trick wheel, diferentiated butts on the tricks, means for rotating the wheel intermittently, and means operable by said butts for selectively co-ntrolling 'the action of the needles according to the position of the trick wheel, saidmeans including a plurality of radially movable cams at various'elevations each cam having avertical cam face adjacent the needle cylinder.

23. In an independent needle knitting machine, knitting needles adaptedto be selectively raised, means to` raise the needles co1nprising strip-like elements individual to said needles and movable transversely of the needle bed, said strip-like elements each hav ing one o r more butts at the needle side of the bed variously located along their length, anda pattern surface constantly moving relative-` ly to said elements for so moving them, said pattern surface having pattern controlling i agencies foreach of said butts.

adapted to contact with the needles for raising needles selectively,'m eans for actuating the j acks, sub-jacks approximately parallel to the needles vfor controlling the relation of the jacks and their actuatingmeans, and pattern 'means at the needle side of the bed for contlolling the action of said sub-jacks. i

'25. In a-knitting machine, a series of needles, a series of jacks for raising the needles,

a. series of sub-jacks approximately parallel to the needles, differentiated butts on the sub-l ]acks, means for actuating the jacks, and means at the needle side of the vbed acting o-n the buttsof the sub-jacks for selectively controlling the operationof the jacks, substantially as set'forth. y

26. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, a s eries of independent needles having butts projecting from the slots in said bed, means for moving the needles endWise including slidable jacks, Vmeans for actuating the jacks, means for controlling the engagement of the jacks and their actuating means including sub-jacks in said slots having butts projecting from said slots at the same side of the needle bed as the needle-butts, and selective actuating means for the sub-jacks, substantially as set forth.

27. In a knitting machine, a needle bed having slots,`a series of needles in said slots,

needle cams relatively movable across said slots, a series of jacks for'moving the needles endwise by movement in the direction of the length of the needles, means to control the action of the jacks selectively including subu jacks parallel to the'needles, said sub-jacks being movable to impart transverse movement to the jacks, and controlling means for thefsub-jacks at the same side of the needle bed as said needlecams, substantially as set forth.y

28. `In a knitting machine, a series of inde-l thesub-jacks at theisame side of the needle bed` as said .jack cam, substantially as set forth` 29. In a knitting machine, a series of needles, a setof needle cams including a cam for moving the needles into yarn-taking position, a series of jacks, movable parallel to the needles, a cam contacting With the jacks for elevating the jacks to move needles into the eld ofaction of said needle cams, and means located Wholly at-the-needle side of the bed for preventing the elevation of selected jacks sub-jacks extending approximatelyparallel to the needles` and controlling the relation of said acks to their actuating means, and selective means for actuating-the sub-j acks,` substantially as set forth. Y

31. A knitting machine having a needle bed, cams arranged in a plurality of sets at the needle side of the bed, independent needles actuated by cams of one set, projectors for -moving needles selectively into position for engagement by a camof said set, said projectors havingbutts positioned to engage a cam constituting a second set, and means acting selectively on the projectors to take their butts out ofthe field of action of said cam including sub-jacks actuated by cams in a.y

third set, substantially as set forth.

32. In a knitting machine, a needle-cylinder, a set of needle cams, needles having butts normally .out of range of said -needle cams, jacks normally operative to raise the needles into the range of a needle cam, pattern means outside the needle cylinder, and connections from saidv pattern means to the jacks for rendering ,the jacks selectively inoperative, said connections being also outside the needle cylinder, and said pattern means and connections being rotatable relatively tc the needle cylinder, substantially as set forth.

33. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle cylinder, needles therein, needle cams, jacks movable lengthwise ofthe needle slots for raising the needles, vertically-extending radially displaceable elements at the outer side of the needle cylinder each controlling an 1nldividual jack, and means outside the needle cylinder for selectively acting on said elesaid elements, substantially as set forth. Y 34. In a knitting machine, a slotted n eedle cylinder, needles therein, needle cams, jacks movable lengthwise of the needle slots lfor raising the needles, elongated radiallyv displaceable elements lying in the slots of the cylinder parallel toi-the jacks each controlling the operation of one of said jacks, butts oneach of said radially displaceable ele. ments projecting outward from said slots, and means for selectively acting on said butts, substantially as set forth.

'ments at dilferent points along the length of 35. A circular knitting machine having a I slotted needle bed, cams arranged in a plurality of sets, independent needles in the slots of the bed actuated by cams of one set, jacks in f6?, chine, knitting needles and neans for elev` tthe slots for moving needles upward into.' position to engage a cam of said set, said jacks having butts positioned to engage a cam of a second set and the jacks resiliently holding their buttsout of the slots, and means acting selectively on the jacks to Ytake their l butts out lof the field of action of said lastactuating means.- f

namedcam, substantially asset forth.

36. A knitting machine having a needle cylinder, cams arranged in a plurality of sets about said cylinder,.independent needles actuated by camsof one set, slidable jacks for raising the needlesinto position to engage a cam of said set, a cam for moving all the jacks, controlling means for selectively vdetermining the operative relation of said cam and the individual jacks including sub-jacks having butts at diiferent elevations, and individually movable cams outside the needle cylinder acting on said butts at corresponding elevations, substantially as set forth.

37. In a knitting machine, a series` of needles, a set of needle cams, a series of jacks, means for actuating the jacks to move needles into the eld of action of a needle cam, a series of sub-jacks controlling the relation of said jacks to their actuating means, but-ts at different points on the sub-jacks, and selective actuating means for engagement with said butts, substantially" as set4 forth.

38. A `circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, a series of needles therein, a set of revolving needle cams, means for moving the needles into operative' relation with the needle camsincluding a trick wheel rotatable about an axis parallel .to that of the needle cams, interchangeable strip-like elements extending lengthwise of said wheel, selectively-operable connections from said trick wheel to the needles, and pattern conf rtrolled means for rotating the trick. wheel,

substantially as set forth. i

39. In a knitting machine, a stationary needle cylinder, aA revolving cam ring, a seriesof needles in the cylinder, a series of jacks for raising the needles, a lseries of sub-j acks with differentiated butts, means for actuating the Jacks, and means-.carried bythe cam ring out-- side the needlevcylinder, said means acting sejlectively on thebuttsof'the sub-jacks for controlling the operatienot' the jacks by the jack- 40. In a knitting machine, a stationary slotted needle'cjylinder, ay revolving cam ring,'a

"series ofneedlesin the slots of the'cylinder, a

series` .of'jacks' in? said.. slots for raising the needles, butts on the jacks resiliently held out vjacks to act on the )acks for controlling their fof the?V slots, a series of sub-jacks with Vdifferentiated. butts, aj ack cam and meansfcarried by the cam ring outside the needle cylinder or acting selectively `on the butts of the subrelation 'to the jack cam. A v v 41. `In an independent needle'knittin'g aing them selectively comprising strip-like elements individualto said needles, said strip-like elements each having one or more butts variouslylocated along their length at the needle side ofthe needle bed and havingV a movement transversely of the needle bed,

pattern means, and cams between said, pattern-means and said butts adapted to act on each butt for imparting 'such tr nsverse movement to the strip-like elements,`said pattern `means andsaid cams moving constantly past said elements in the operation of the machine.

42. In a knitting machine of the ing a needle bed and needles therein, alongitudinally slotted trick-Wheel rotating on. an

axis parallel to the needles, interchangeable .tricks Vin the slots of the wheel said tricks having frangible butts, a stack of levers each having a lug at the side next the trick-wheel in a row parallel to an operatively' positioned trick whereby ay trick mayoperate any or all of the levers according to its contour, andelements of the knitting machine selectively controlled by` said levers for varying the operation of the machine.

43. Anindependent needle circular knitting machine lincluding a set of rockable members adapted to act selectively on elements of the machine to vary the fabric being produced a trick-wheel comprising a slotted memberV adapted to `be moved about .its own axis, said trick-wheel and said rocking meinbers being relatively rotatable about the axis of the machine, interchangeable trick means in the slots of the trick-wheel said trick means having portionsnn at least one part thereof for acting selectively on said rockable members and thereby constituting a pattern set up, and pattern control means to determine Awhether on the next relative rotation of the between the butts, on said trick-wheel and the butts. on said elements, said means moving in each of said plurality of planesunder control of 'said trick-wheel butts to move said elements radially, and means for relatively rotating said trick-wheel and said elements.

45. In acircular knitting machine of the type having a needle holder and a series of needles therein, a series of instrumentalities adapted to co-operate tlferewith, a series controlelements each associ ted ndividuallyfj with said instrumentalities' and having butti in a plurality fof planes, a 'trick-wheel element,` means for relatively rotating Lsaid wheelelement and said control element about the axis of the machine, said wheel element having 'a plurality of'butts at different points lengthwise of the axis 4of the machine, and means forl transmitting the selective control from the butts on -said trick element to the buttson said control elements to move the same transversely.

46. A pattern device for use ,in knitting machines comprising afseries of elements each adapted to -Vbe associated individually With an instrumentality 4olf the knitting mawheel having series of removable butts around chine, said elements having a series ofv frangible selecting means in a vplurality of planes, a trick-wheel having a series of like'seleting means around its periphery and at diierent points relatively to the length of the wheel, means for relatively rotating said wheel and said elements about the axis of th'e machine,v

its periphery and at different points along the length of the wheel, means for relatively rotating said wheel -and`said elements about the axis of the machine, and means for transmitting the selective control from the butts on said wheel to thel 'butts on said elements during said movement. n

48. A.` control mechanism for a knitting machine of the type having a series of instrumentalities, comprising a series of elements each adapted to be associated individually with an instrumentality offthe machine to control the same, a pattern wheel having frangible butts disposed around its periphery j in a plurality of planes, a series of cams each f movable individually in oneof said planes and adapted to be moved by butts on said Y wheel, saidl cams transmitting their movements to said elements and thereby controlling the said instrumentalities, e

49. A. method of setting upal design for instrumentalities of a knitting machine .which comprises thesteps of braking olf certain predetermined frangible butts from control f' means each-of 'which' is adapted to be associated/individually with said instrumentalities, and breaking off certain predetermined frangible butts from tricks whichare adapted to bei secured `on the trick-wheel so that the remaining butts on said-means and on said wheel will cause the instrumental-ities to form l the design as the machine is operated.

. 50; In a circular knitting machine, a series of in strumentalities aiding in the stitch formation, elements cooperating with said instrumentalities to vary the action thereof, a trick-wheel with its axis parallel to the axis of said knitting machine, said elements and said wheel providing frangible projections in a plurality of planes, and means between 4 the projectionson said trick-Wheel and the projections onsaid elements', said means moving selectively and individually in each of said plurality of planes under control and by means of said Wheel projections to move said element projections transversely of the axis of said knitting machine. v

51. `In a circular knitting machine a series of instrumentalities aiding `in the stitch formation, a series of control elements therefor presenting a` pluralityv ofV frangible proj ections arrangedin a-plurality of planes, a.y trick-wheel provided with projecting butts -arranged at different points lengthwise of. the axis of the machine, and a series of cams,

one in each of said planes adapted 'to be selectively moved inwa transverse direction by` a butt on said wheel and to transmit said movement to a selected projection on said element to move ,the latter substantiallytransversely.

52. In a circular knittingmachine a series of instrumentalitiesl aiding in the stitch formation, a series of control elements therefor presenting projections in a plurality of planes, a pattern wheel provided with frangble projections arranged at-dili'erent points lengthwise of the axis of the machine, and a series of cams in said planes extending between said wlieel and said elements to transmit the selective projection control from the l wheel to the elements. a

53. Ina 'circular knittingv machine, a slotted bed, independent instrumentalities mov-. I able in said slots in said bed, members ea'ch ion l f los individually associated with'one of said instrumentalities respectively in their respective slots, a cam movable. past said bed, said members having related thereto butts pro-- jecting from said slots in the path of said cam, said members also having related theretoa plurality of butt selecting levels, and a on said last-named butt levels. for moving said members to carry said first-named butts out of reach of their cam.

54. In a knitting machine, a series of needles, a series of sliding jacks acting on the needles, a series of pivoted sub-j acks having differentiated frangible butts, means for normally y'actuating the j acks, andmeans act-` ing .selectively on said buttseto render the jacks inoperative, substantially as setforth.

55'. In a circular knitting machine, a series of' independent instrumentalities, a bed slotted to receive said instrumentalities,

lplurality of pattern ycontrolled cams to act means for actuatingthemincluding jacks in said slots, means for actuating the jacks in-" cluding va cam having lrelative movement.

crosswise of the slots in said bed,vmeans for controlling the engagement of the jacks and -their actuating mea-ns including sub-jacks,

and a plurality of' selective actuating cams along the axis ofthe machine for the subjacks, at the sameside of the bed as said jack cam, substantially as set` forth.

A56. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, aseries-of independentneedles having "butts projecting `from the slots in said bed,`

means for actuating the .needles including Y slidable acks, means for actuating the acks, means for controlling the' engagement of the jacks and their actuating means including subjacks having frangible butts projecting from said slots in the same direction as the 'needle butts, and selective actuating vmeans r for the sub-j acks, substantiallyas setforth.

t means for actuating the jacks, means for controlling the engagement of the jacks and their actuating means including pivoted subjacks, selective actuating means forthe subjacks including butts on the sub-jacks, and a plurality of selecting cams for selective engagement with said butts certain sub-jacks having butts atv spaced intervals in greater number than others, substantially as set forth.

59. In a circular knitting machine, a series of independent instrumentalities, meansfor actuating: them including vertically slidable ]acks, means for actuating the jacks, means for controlling the engagement of the jacks and their actuating means including pivoted sub-jacks, selective actuating means for the sub-jacks including butts on the sub-jacks differently located along the length of the `sub-jacks, and a plurality of selecting cams positioned in series for selective engagement with said butts, substantially as set forth. v

60. In a circular knitting machine, a series of independent needles, means for actuating them including vertically slidable jacks, means for actuating the jacks', means for controlling the engagement of the jacks and their actuating means including sub-jacks, and selective actuatingy means for the sub-jacks including butts on the ebb-jacks, cams positioned in series for selective engagement with said butts certain of the sub-jacks having a single butt, and others having a plurality of butts for engagement respectively with different cams of said series, substantially as set forth.

61. A knitting machine having a needle cylinder, cams arranged' in a plurality of sets about said cylinder, indep cndent needles actuc ated by cams of one set, 1resilient Ijacks controlling indivdual needles, a cam for moving the jacks, pattern elements operatively relatedto the ljacks said pattern elements' having butts at diiierentelevations, and individually movable cams at corresponding elevations foracting selectively on the pattern elements to flex corresponding` jacks thereby` moving their butts/outof the ield of action of the jack cam, substantially asset forth.

62. In a knitting machine, a slotted needle bed, a needle in a slot of saidbcd, a resilient jack in the slot having a part in operative relation to the needle and having a butt projecting from the slot, a pivoted sub-jack mounted in the slot, and pattern mechanism acting on the sub-jack to iex the jack to` WithdraW the butt into the slot.

63. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and a series of needles therein, a series of instrumentalities each adapted to be associated individually with said needles to selectively cooperate therewith by means `ofselective control thereon, said instrumentalities having selective control means including a plurality of rangible butts extending from said instrumentalities in spaced relation to each other and along the axis of the machine, said butts being broken off as desired to4 provide the desired selective cooperation, and cam means operable selectively along the axis of the machine upon the remaining butts to selectively operate the instrumentalities said cam means being adapted to be selectively operated by `pattern mechanism. f

64. Ina circular knitting machine, a series of instrumentalities aiding in the stitch formation, elements each adapted to be associated individually with said instrumentalities, said elements having frangible butts in a plurality of planes lengthwise of the. axisof the machine, and cam means operable selectively upon the butts in said plurality of planes said cam means being adapted to be selectively 'operated by pattern mechanism.

. 65. .A pattern selecting 'means for use in i knitting'machines to selectively control needle cooperating instrumentalities `comprising a series of frangible lselectingmea'ns in a plurality of planes along the axis of the machine operatively related to said instrumentalities,

cam means selectively operable upon said sel lective means in each of saidvplurality of planes, and means for relatively rotating said cam means and sa 1d instrumentahties said ing a slotted needle bed, a needle slidable in a slot'in said bed,.a,similarly slidable jack with operating means projecting therefrom, said jack being movable with the needle and independently thereof, means on the jack for engaging the needle to-select the same, a cam directly engaging said operating means to acf tuate the needle, and selective means acting on the outer face ofthe jack to prevent engagement of' said operating means and th jack-cam, substantially as set forth..

67. In a circular knitting machine, a slotted bed, needles slidable in the slotsof the bed, jacks inthe slots movable transversely and longitudinallythereof, a jack cam acting on the jacks to move the same longitudinally to cause the needles to beraised, a plurality of selectingcams'at the needle side of the bed adapted to act on the jacks at diii'erent horizontal levels, and a trick Wheel for moving the selecting cams selectively toward the Jacks yto move the same selectively transversely of the slots` and out of reach of the jack ca1n.

68. A circular knitting machine having a slotted needle bed and independently operable needles therein, a set of needle cams moving relative to said bed to operate the needles, rockable members'with at least one end in aslot to move the corresponding needle, a trick wheel comprising a slotte member rotating about the "machine 'and 'l adapted to be moved about its own axis,` interchangeable trick means in the slots of the trick Wheel said trick means having portions on at least one part thereof for acting selectively on said rockable members and thereby constituting a pattern set up, and pattern control means to determine whether during the next rotation of the Wheel about the machine the pattern set-up remains the same or is changed.

69.l A knitting machine having a slotted needle bed and independently operable needles therein, a set 'pf needle cams moving. relative 'to said bed to operate the needles, rockable members one in each v"slot to move the needles, a trick wheel comprising a slotted member rotating about the machine, interchangeable trick means in the slots of the trick wheel presenting a series of rockable- 'member-,actuating portions active during aA revolutionto vrelate selected" needles to the cams said series of-actuating portions constituting the pattern set-upv during that revolution, and pattern means acting upon the trick wheel as it goes past the said means to J provide a new set-up lof actuating portions' as the series during the next revolution orjlzo allow the old series to remain. 70. A circular knittingmachine having a I slotted needle bed and independently operable needles therein, a set of-needle cams" movingI relative to said bed to operate the needles, rockable members one in each slot,-

to move the needles into operative relation'- aid series tions, pattern means at one side of the machine acting upon the wheel as it goes past said means to change the actuating seriesof portions and the setup during .the next course or to allow the series of actuating portions and the set-up to remain. 4

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set myhand at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, Stateof Pennsylvania, this 24th day of April, 1930. 4

CAROLINE F. AMES, y Admz'm'stratw'mof the Estate 0f Elmer Ames, deceased.

iis

las

Images