GB566568A - Improvements in the method of and in machines for knitting hosiery - Google Patents

Abstract

566,568. Knitting. WOODCOCK & SONS, Ltd., G., and WOODCOCK, H. E. Jan. 1, 1943, No. 17079/42. [Class 74 (ii)] In knitting the leg, heel tabs and foot of a stocking or like blank upon the same straightbar machine without a running-on operation, so that the inner edges of the heel tabs are united to the foot bottom during the knitting process, knitting is temporarily suspended on a central group b, b of instep needles, the heel tabs ht are knitted on needles outside the central group of inactive needles, and the width of the group of inactive needles is progressively increased. After the desired heel fabric has been produced, knitting of the instep and foot bottom is effected on the increased group of needles. The heel tabs may be shaped by excluding the outer selvedges from the transfer operations during part of the knitting of the tabs. Auxiliary pressers 17a, 17b are provided for pressing the needles knitting the heel tabs and means are provided for moving these pressers outwardly in conformity with the transfer operations to effect the progressive increase in the number of temporarily inactive needles. Two transfer points 111, additional to the usual transfer points 11, are provided to transfer fabric to the needles that are progressively rendered inactive. The auxiliary points transfix the fabric at the plain side of the needles and position it for reception by the needles rendered inactive. The points 111 are mounted for dipping and swinging movement independently of the transfer points 11. To enable the heel tabs to be shaped, peaking blades 14 are provided for masking the action of selected transfer points 11.