GB141660A - Improvements in knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

141,660. Wilcomb, J. F. April 12, 1919, [Convention date]. Circular machines; parallel machines; needles. -Relates to an improved knitting or crotchet unit which avoids objectionable features present in the latch and in the spring-beard type, and to an improved machine organization co-operating therewith. The needle unit comprises a yarndrawing member 1, Fig. 1<a>, having a hook 3, throat 4, shank 6, and butt 5, slidably mounted in a loop-spreading quill 2 of channel form with thin parallel side walls, and having a nose 7, rise 8, swell 9, drop 10, throat 11, stem 12, base portion 13, butt 14, and a riveted block 15 which may act as a stop for the needle. The nose 7 may work in a V-groove 29 at the back of the needle stem to ensure the quill 2 entering the loop, or the back of the needle may be flattened only. Fig. 1<a> shows the loop-building operation just completed; in forming the new loop, the needle first advances relatively to the quill to open the hook for receiving the new yarn. Fig. 3 shows the needle further advanced and followed up by the quill which has passed into the old loop and lodged it in the throat 11. Fig. 4 shows the needle again retracted into the quill and a further downward movement of needle and quill knocks the old loop over and brings the parts again into the position shown in Fig. 1<a>. In a modified form the needle has a hump 17, Fig. 8, somewhat larger than the corresponding swell of the quill; this reduces the abrasive action of the quill walls on the loop. To avoid expanding the loop too much, the needle and quill are recessed at 19, 18. In another modification, the quill has inwardly curved points 20, Fig. 10, to ensure penetration of the loop. Another form of needle for use in machines where each needle draws its own loop of yarn, has a large bent hook allowing free access to knots or bunches. Where yarn is fed by sinkers a much flatter type of hook, suitable also for plating, is used. The needle butts 5 and quill butts 14 may be controlled by separate cam tracks, or the needles may be in part controlled by contact of the butts with the quill stop 15 or by projection of their stems through the quills within range of friction jacks 26, Fig. 16, mounted below the quills to act as guards to restrain the needles from overshooting the lower point of the stitch cam. This construction automatically neutralizes or compensates for wear and upsetting effect on jacks and needles, and the wear due to impact of needles is spread over a large number of jacks instead of being concentrated on one part of a guard cam. The improvements may be applied to the Lamb type of machine. The needle and quill unit 1, 2 may be operated by hand.