US1015668A

US1015668A - Flat-bed knitting-machine.

Info

Publication number: US1015668A
Application number: US55104810A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edouard Dubied
Original assignee: Edouard Dubied et Cie SA
Current assignee: Edouard Dubied et Cie SA
Priority date: 1910-03-23
Filing date: 1910-03-23
Publication date: 1912-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1929-01-23

Description

-APPLIQATION FILED MAB.23, 1910.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented .15.11.23, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IIAR-23, 1910.

115,668 Mtented Jan.23,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 23. 191.0.

.Patente-d Jan. 23, 1912.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Elf/140 E. DUBIBD.

PLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.23, 1910,

Lls, Patented Jan.23,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. DUBIEDi FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-23, 1910.

1,015,668 Patented 52111.23, 191.2

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6v E. DUBIED.r

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIcAToN FILED Mums, 19104 Patented @11.231913 10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

wwwa

E. DUBIED.

PLAT BBD KNLTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MANN, 1910.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

CM/ @Tm MM E. DUBIED.

PLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23. 1910.

Patented 52111.23, 1912.

lo'sHEETs-SHBBT 9.

(2Q/WM.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

AYPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1910.

' inarknd hei'eon, which forni' a..

iipplicaltion 'ile. llarch 1916. Serial No.

Specicaton o' Let-'ters atezit.

l'o all whom ii may comem:

- E@ it known that 1, lilooUAnn citizen of the 'Ropuhlio of Switzerland, rosiding t Convoi., inho @anion oi Nanaimolylopublio'oi Switzerland., (whose p office address Convoi.) have inrsnieil certain new and useful ln'iprm'oinenls in Flat-Bod lini' '.in`-ll'nohinos; and l do hereby declare he. following to he a. iull.7 clear. :incl @met description of the invenion., such Domien, zr

as Vwill enable oihors Skil-lod in lho aitio which it Lippert-anis to inane and nso *rho saine, reference being had to the accompany@ ing drawings, and. to leiiers of vroioionoe part of i'his speoiicntion.

Knitting-inachinos in 'whioh sho needlehoil is autonmtionlly racked or shogged required to snit the fabric hy means oi n pniioin i'nch-.inisin already known. ln iliose Cases, however, wher@ *or'e "L 'i'.fickod pnttorns had io he proflnsoo. in tho saine artid@ n very longl paitern chain 'was quired, `as the chain had lo romain in operadming the Whole process of knitting Such long- Chain.. besides being had the disailinnl'nge that ii had altered over Yiis eniiio 'lil'i'o niiiole. expensive, io he changed or length, whon' it W: o ih@ racked pual-ns even ill it was only 'to the extont of one row of loops, which tool; up ninoh time intl involved oonsiilornhl@ expense.

1n the anoniziiio racking or shogging io-l vii-o 'forming ihe suhjevt 1h@y present invention z. separato ijmitorn mechanism i proviiloil 'for @zich polini-ii siii-.h iniolninishs boing soparzi'i'ely nnil indoiiaon other brought ini@ und ont notion "ihrongh one Connnon nniinchnin. auch oi ih@ snifi ineohunisins cmisiin"4 n slugging of in@ noedlelred. By this n ngmnont the lhe accompanying iwings'illnsiinfo ihn invention by way o1 oxfnnplo in ono 'Forni of construction of n needle-heil shogging loN fico for lnil'ing machines for producing inhrics Wiih thro@ clileron; alierns .Figure Lis nn fnd View of 'he machine looking` from what is the righ hand emi in .if Fig. 2 s a part sectional 'plan of Fig. Eig. 3 =n elevalion oiif'iho mor Chino looking from wlmi the loft hz'inil side. 1n Fig. 1. Eig. Ll is .i plan of the zich 1 main and pattern Ming mechanism for the nei'fossnr); to alter on@ ly of @zich l The noodles in rho hocl 1.

i l l l i i i i i i i l l l l nnisin partly in sociion.

'- neoillo-hoil innnwr oif noi-dio piivlws in one direction or chainsf liO. 5 is 2L xont elevation o1i *alle leiit end portion of the machine. -lf*`,ig. 6 is, v21 diagram of the fabric produced bjfthe machine. 1F ig. 7 Ais :i part end oleviicion looking 'from what is/the left hand Sido lin Fig. Fig. 8 is n planof Fig. 7. Eig. 9 is a. deiail of Fig. T. Fig. 10 is a section on the line fir-B ol" Fig. 12. Fig. 11is a. dof tail of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is n front elevation of the right ondpoition of the machine on :i larger soule Fig'. 1:5 is n section on the line Cdl) of Fig. 1Q. Fig. 1l shows a d@ iail taken from Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a pl-.in corrospon-fling to Fig. 12. Fig'. 1G is n seoiion'on the line 141-1? of Fig; 15. Fig. 17 is n. ifont olnifniion o1 ille Coi'itrollinginechlig. 18 is an end View looking from whatzis lhe left hand end in Fig. 17. Fig'. 19 shows a. portion of tho oo ntioliing nieohnnisin. Fig. 20 is n section on the lino G-*lfl of Fig. 1T, shown .from the left sido. Fig'. Q1 is n section on the line J-li of Fig. 1T shown iroin the loft side.

1 donoos tho rear needle .hed sliilzihly a1- rnng'ecl `'fiihin the iii-mno oi ih@ lnitiing machine; nifl needle heil Carries :i guido' piero 2 loos/ol)v embracing n rod T secured in the fr-.aine 5 l, 1G, Two Studs lined on the guido pisco engage boih sides und Connected with u ratchet Wheel 8 (Fi 1. 107 1l. 12. 15. 1(3). The laitier has l'wo rows o'i opposiloljv iliioiocl teeih, iho pitch of 'the iooi'h Corresponding io tho pitch of'iho steppoil anni l.. while the hoigjht of che siens oi" the luiloi' is equal lo the pi'oh of lo'ih rows of eol'h oil the rzxtrhol Whoo! S zii-o engaged hy pzmls unil lo .iosi'iooiix'ely so ilmi'. when ihn rnl'chot'ivliooi l'zuhed hyriiher of ih@ prin'ls lo lh@ exenl ol ono or more tooth the 1 is shongml :1. Corresponding l f'efxnrod "ro the stopped com 4. is n noli-hoo n'lwol l1. tho noi-ches of Whioh'zife :i (loloni' l2 (Figs. 3. l0. lf2, 'whivh is prossml against l'he notched Wheel h3' ino-.ins oi: :i lover l?) fixed on the rook shaft ih@ miner.

1l, ihns prevailing: nroicloninl rotation of lho :nn who@ il. Tho simil' 1&1 is carried in hearings 30 fixed on has@ plaie 32 (Figs. 1, 3 v

and 5).

but is prevented from axial movement thereon. On the shaft 14 (Figs. 4, 10, 12, 15 and 16) is fixed a lever 17 which carries on a pivot 18 the two

pawls

9,10 which are pressed against the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 8 by means of the

springs

19, 20. On the shaft 14 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are mounted

arms

23, 24, 25 with cam-blocks having oblique working surfaces, against which a roller 26 strikes at each str ke of the carriage 27. The middle arm 24 carries a block having two oppositely disposed working surfaces, one of which is parallel to the working surface of the arm 23, and the other parallel to the working surface of the arm 25. Accordingly,iat each stroke of the carriage, the shaft 14 is rocked once forward and once backward through the co-action of the roller 26 with the said surfaces, whereby the arm 17 fixed on the rock shaft 14 and carrying` the

pawls

9 and 10 nieves up and down while the lever 13 moves backward and forward.

On the shaft 6 is niounted a chain drum 28 adapted to carry the pattern chain (Fi gs. 1, 3, 12, 13, 15 and 16) and the shaft'` 29, which is fixed in a bracket on the base plate 32, carries two

chain drums

34 and 35, each of which rotatable on the said shaft 29. Each of the said chain .drums has a

ratchet wheel

36, 37, 38, (Figs. 12, 15 and 16),l actuated by pawls 39,' 40 and 41 respectively (Figs. 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 1.6)y which pawls are pivoted on

pins

42, 42, 43 (Figs. 1, 4, 14, 13 and 16) carried on the

levers

44, 45 and 45n fixed on the rock shaft 14. The

pawls

39, 40, 41 are normally pressed by means of

springs

87, 88, 89, against pins 90 on the

levers

44, 45, 45a. An oscillatingmovement is imparted to the

levers

17, 44,

'and 45"L as they are rigidly, fixed to the shaft 14.

The shaft 52 (Figs. 1, 12, 13,14, 15) carries

pawls

53, 54. 55, which are kept in engagement with the

ratchet wheels

3G, 37, 38 by means of springs.02 attached to the carriage guide so that backward rotation of the chain drums 28, 34, 35, is prevented. The chain drums 28,`

l

34, 35, carry pattern chains 66, 67, 68 (Figs. 12, 13, 15) to each of which may be screwed two rows of studs 69, in any desired position according to the requirements of the patternI of the fabric which studs act upon feeler levers 70. 7l, 72, 73, 74, 75, upon rotation of the chain drums 28, 34 and 35, and advance of

thepattern chains

66, 67, 68. The

levers

70, 72, 74 are secured on the shaft 15,. and the .levers 71, 73, '75, are fixed on the shaft 52. Theplevers 70,v 7.1, 72, 73, 74, 75 are 'pressed against the n pattern chains "i6, 67., |18 by means of springs 76 (Fig. 13) enga, fin a` the

levers

70 and 71.

The nvm-

s

70,71. (Fig-s. i0, 11, is and 15) have downwardly extending` arms 77, 78 the i lower ends of which are connected by means i of

rods

81, 82 with

cams

83, 84 loosely mounted on the shaft 6 between the stepped cam wheel 4 and the chain drum 28l (Fig. 16).l The

pawls

9 and 10 have

side projections

85, 86 in engagci'nent with the cams 83, A84 (Figs. 11 and 15).

Under the

pawls

39, 40, 41 (Figs. 3, 12, 13, 16) are arranged knock-

olf fingers

91, 92, 93 which are secured to

shafts

94, 95, 96

which latter are carried in bearings 97, 98.`

99 fixed on the base plate 32. At the left hand ends of the

shafts

94, 95, 96 are secured lever-s100, 101, 102, (Figs. 3 and 5) which are connected by means of

rods

103, 104, 105 with

levers

107, 108, 109, on the shaft 106 (Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 8). The'levers 1 08, 109, 1,10 are subjected to the downward tension of the springs 111. The shaft 106 is rotatably mounted in the left hand end of the machine frame 5; the lever 107 being secured to said shaft while the

levers

108, 109 are loosely mounted thereon. The lever 107 is positively connected with a feeler lever 110 through the shaft 106. Upon a pin 1113 fixed to the machine frame are loosely mounted hooked catches 114,115,116 each of which is pressed by means of a spring 117 against one of the

levers

108, 109, 110. Below these levers is a chain drum 121 rotatably mounted on a shaft 120 fixed to the machine frame which chain drum carries the main pattern controlling chain 122 having. the same number of rows of

pattern studs

124, 124, 125a of various licight,'as

` there are pattern-chains (in the present case therefore three) which pattern studs engage with the levers 1.08, 109, 110, upon rotation of the

chain drum

121, 2'. e. upon feeding of'the chain 122. rThe main chain drum 121 has on its right hand side a ratchet wheel 126 the teeth of which are engaged by a pawl 127 pivotcd on 'a pin 128 carried by a lever 129 fixed on the shaft'. 14 (Figs. 7 and 8). cured to it at the left hand side a notched wheel 130 the notches of which are engaged by a catch 131 which, when the m'ain chain drum 121 is at rest, is pressed against the notched wheel by a. lever 132 secured to the shaft 1.4 (Figs. '5, 7 and 8), accidental movement or sudden advance of the main-chain drum 121 being,r thus prevented.` rllhe catch 131 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 106.

The main pattern controlling chain 122 is brought into and ont of action by a'spccial controlling mechanism hereaftcrdescribedl See Figs. 5, 7 and 8.

A double armed lever 135 whichis pivotally mounted on a shaft 1.37 fixed in the machine frame 5, bears with its forward end (right hand) upon the main pattern chain 122; the pawfl 127 has a pin 138 with which it rests on the level-'135, said pawl being thusI -prevented from engaging the ratchet wheel 120 when the lever 135 'is The main chain wheel 121 has sev diately behind the lever 'tends to return the catch into its normal pof, noon reciprocation of noiaees raised by a stud 124a on the chain. ln this position ot the lever its rear end is arrested by a catch 188, the further racking or feeding of the main chain 122 being thereby prevented. The lever 135 remains in the position shown until the catch" 139 is withdrawn trono the lever by means ot the wire through the action ot the controlling mechanism whereupon the lever drops and the pawl 127 eng@A` s the teeth of the ratchet wheel 120 whereby the feeding of the main chain is continued. The catch 139 is pivotally mounted within its support 141 which is fixed to the base plate 132 imme- 12" A spring 142 JLU vi) 5 sition.

The periodical throwing into and out otA .ac-tion of the pattern chains GG, 67, 68 and the stepped cam 4 is effected by the main chain 122 (Fig. 3). The chain drum 121, carrying the main chain 122 is operated :trom the rock shaft 14 (Figs. 7 and 8) to which an oscillating movement is imparted v the carriage 27 (Figs. ffl and 4) -by the cooperation olf the roller 26 'with the

arms

28, 24, Each backward oscillation oi the rock shaft 14, v. e. in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 7

and 10, eli'ects an advance of the. ratchet wheel 126 and thereby also an advance of the main chain 122 through the intermediary of the lever 129 and the pawl 127 when the double lever 135 is lowered.

When one of the low studs 124 (Figs. 3, 5, 7) on the main chain strikes one ot the

levers

108, 109, 110 for instance the lever 110, the latter lis raised and engaged by a corresponding catch 114 until one oit the high studs 125a in the same row strikes the toe of the catch 114 throwing the latter out of engageinent with the lever 110 which is then returned to its normal position through the action of the spring 111. In raising' f the lever 110 'the shaft 04 is turned through the intermediary olf the shaft I106 the lever 107 the rod 103 and the lever 100 thereby moving the knotlr--oil' nger 01 out ot enp -agement with the pawl 39 (Fig, 13).

At each stroke of the carriage the pat tern chain drum 28 is turned to the extent of one tooth by means of. the shaft 14 through the intermediary of the pawl 39 on the lever 44. This turning continues until the lever 110 is again released. It one of the chain studs 69 fixed to the pattern chain G6 which is Athus fed strikes one oi the feeler levers 70, 71 for instance the lever 70, the shaft 15 as also the cam 83 are partially rotated in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 10; the cam 88 is moved through the intermediary of the rod 81-and the'lever 77.v The projection 85 of the pawl 9 slips of the cam 83 and the pawl 9 engages one of the teeth ot the ratchet Wheel 8 and -sitioir 'push-pawls 1757 174,

rotates at the next downward movement o' the lever 17 the stepped cam wheel 4 to the extent of one step to the front, inasmuch as both

pawls

9, 10, have an up and down motion in consequence of being pivoted on vthe lever 17. The said racking or turning of the stepped cam 4 eliects a shogging of the needle-bed 1 to the extent oi" as many needle pitches to the lett as teeth of the ratchet wheel, and therebyof 'the cam, have been successively racked. lf a stud 69 or. the pattern 'chain 06 strikes the lever 71 the shaft 52 will be partially rotated and thereby by means of the rod 82and the' lever 78 also the cam 84 (Fig. 11). The projection 8G of the pawl 10 slips oil the cam 84, the pawl 10 engages with the other row of teeth of the ratchet wheel 8 and turns, at the next downward movement of the" lever 17 the stepped cam 4 to the extent of one step to the rear whereby the `needle bed 1 is shogged from lett to right.v llhesprings 7 6 effect the return of the levers 7 0, 71,

v72

73, 74, 7 5 into normal position after the' chain studs 69 have passed them. The throwing into action of the other pattern chains 67 andtS is effected by the other rows of

studs

124, 125 on the main chain 122, striking the corresponding

levers

108, 109.

Figs. 17 to 20 show an extremely suitable controlling mechanism for the n iain chains 122. rllhe controlling apparatus has a countery drum 143, Fig. 17, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 144 held in brackets 145, 146V and is provided externally with

double helicalgrooves

147, 148 along which run index marks numbered tor instance from 1 to .1000. Nithin the grooves 147 the drum143 are slidable Contact blocks 149, 150, 151, 152, 153 which may be fixed in poln the helical grooves 148 (Figs. 17, 19) on the drum 148 slides the lower portion 155 of a reversing sleeve 156 which is slidably mounted on a shaft 158 with a key. way 157 engaged by a key bloclr 159 (Fig. 20) of the sleeve-156 which is thus prevented from rotation on the shaft. 'Ehe shaft 158 is cai ried in the brackets 145, 146. The reversing sleeve 156 carries loosely two

teeler levers

160 and 151 17, 20 and 21) which are in operative connection with the rocking

levers

104, 105 through the intermediary ot pins 102, 163. The rocking levers 164, engage with their upper .t'orked portions a cranked shaft 167 which is carried by the brackets 145, 146 (Fig. 17) and has secured. to it the lever 168 (Figs. 17, 18) which is connected by means of the rod 1.69 with the lever 170.

For the rocking or rotation of the drum 143, at each stroke or" the carriage there are arranged a'lever 171 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) two (Figs. 18, 19) as also two ratchet wheels175, 176 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) which are rigidly secured to the drum f 158 (Fig. 17)- has secured to it a lever 176* vented.v

fixed. on the latter.

which 1s in connection through the intermediary of a' pin 178 ,with the reversing cam 177 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) which is loosely mounted on the shaft 144 between the bracket 145 (Fig. 17 and the ratchet Wheel 175. Between the two ratchet wheels 1 75, 176 (Figs. 17 and 18, 19) are arranged the two

pawl carriers

179, 180, which form with each other a kind of tongs, a spring 181. (Fig. 19) tending to keep the tongs constantly closed when they are`not forced open by the lever 171 which receives its upward movement from the connecting-rod head 182 with the roller 182@l (Figs. 3, 17 and 18). -The drum 143 has further fixed to it the retaining wheel 184 the teeth of which are engaged by a spring actuated pin 183 any undue ro tation of the drum 143 being thereby pre- The connecting-rod head 182 with the roller 182a (Figs. 3, 17, 18) which are fixed to the driving chain 154. of the 'knitting niachine, move the lever 171 upward whereby the

pawl carriers

179, 180 are forced apart owing to the beveled faces lof their lower ends, the pawl 173, being in action, when the cam 177 is in the corresponding position shown in Figs. 18 and 19, moves the ratchet wheel 175 to the extent ofl one tooth' and the drum 143 to the extent of one index pitch in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 18 and 19. This action is repeated every time the connecting-rod head 182 (Fig. 17) is brought under the lever 171 through the movement -of the driving chain. The pawl 173 remains operative until the'projecting toe 220 of the contact block 152 (Fig. 17) strikes the downwardly extending projection 155 of the reversing sleeve 156 thus partially rotating the latter and the shaft 158. By this rotation of the shaft 158 the lever 176* is also rotated which latter moves the reversing cam 177 by means of the pin 178 which is Inl consequence of the rotation of the cam 177 the pawl 173 is brought to bear-on the face 185 of the cam 17 7 thus preventing its engagement with the ratchet wheel 175. The pawl 174 slips off the face 186 of the cam 177 and drops into engagement with teeth of the ratchet wheel 176, which teeth-are arranged in an opposite direction to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 175. The drum 143 is now rotated by the pawl 174 that is in the opposite direction to that imparted by the pawl 173, until a contaet'block'151 (Fig. 17) strikes the projection 155 of the reversing sleeve 156. Thereby the reversing cam 177 is again'brought into the former position shown in Fig. 19,

, the pawl 173 being brought into operation while the pawl 174 is put out of action and v drum. A

the drum 143 (Fig. 17 is again rocked in the first mentioned direction.

The contact blocks 149, 150 are secured in the broad groove 147 but the reversing sleeve 156 with its lower end 155 is freely movable since the projecting toes 220 are kept short and do not cover the narrow groove 148. The

contact blocksv

149, 150 thus act only on both feeler levers 160 or 161 (Figs. 17, 2o, 21). The feeler levers 160'and 161 (Figs. 17, 20, 21) are provided with slots 187, 188 (Figs. 20, 2l) so thatv the forked rocking

levers

164, 165 can only be actuated, each in one direction through the feeler levers by,

the forward and backward motion of the In the direction indicated by thev arrows in the Figs. 18 and 19, e. when the drum is rotated by the pawl 173, a contact block 149 striking the feeler lever 160 will move the latter and also rock the forked lever 164,

theslot 187 being correspondingly arranged relatively to the pin 162 as shown in Fig. 20. 1f however in the direction indicated, a contact block 150 (Figs. 17, 21) 'engages the .feeler 4lever 161 the pin 163 slides within theslot 188 so that the forkedA lever 165 is not rocked as the block150 slides past under the feeler lever 161 as shown in Fig. 21, without the latter actuating the forked lever 165. If on rotation of the drum by means of the pawl 1.74, t'. e. in the direction opposite to that indicated in Figs. 18 and 19 a contact block 149 comes into engagement Figs. 17 and 20) with a feeler lever 160 the latter will move away from the pin 162 in consequence of its slot 187' (Fig. 20) and will not actuate the forked rocking lever 164. However in the same direc-tion of rotation the block 150 will engage the feeler lever 161 in such manner that the forked lever 165 is rocked thereby. In order to return the feeler levers 160, 161, again into their original positions, when the contact blocks 149, 150 have passed beneath them without actuating the forked rocking

levers

164, 165, respectively, each of the feeler levers 160, 161 is provided wit-h a spring 166 (Figs. 17 20, 21) which tends to keep the said feeler levers 160, 161, againstthe pins 162'and 163 respectively.

The main chain 4122 of the knitting machine is brought automatically into and out of action in the following manner. The y controlling lever 170 is onnected by means of a steel wire 140 with tie catch 139 (Figs. 1, 7, 8, 17 and 18) for the purpose of bringin'g the main chain .122 into and out of operation. While the lever 170 is'in the position shownin Fig. 18, the pawl 127 pivoted on the lever 129 serving for the rocking of the ratchet wheel 126 of the main chain (Figs. 7 and 8) rests upon the double lever 135 through the intermediary' of the pin -V 164 with its4 upper for ed portion'. impart-s lever 168, whereby the lever '170 is direction to the arrow in Figs. 18 and 19 a tion of the drum'143 by'meanscfsthe pawl -the steel wire 1'40 from engagement with the has passed through under the feeler lever 160 v,156) the main chain 122 will be brought into -action'simultancously with the reversal of I 138 and 'isthusprevented from engagement with the ratchet wheel 126.`. The left hand end of the double lever 135 is held down by the catch-139g at itsright hand`end the lever 135 has a hooked portion 189;" If on rota- 173, z'. e. in the direction of the arrow Figs. 18 and 19 acontact block 149 strikes the feeler lever 160 `F ig. 20 it then eifects rotation of the latter and moves the forked lever 164 by means f the vin 162. The lever movement to the cranked shaft'167 and the raised the termediary offthe rod 169;

through 139 is thus withdrawn by means of the catch double lever 135. This lever 135 is now free and drops with its hooked portion 189 von the chain 122. When the contact block 149 on rotation of the drum -143 by means of the` pawl 173 the catch 139 isA returned' lto its former position by the spring 142 (Fig. 8) fceler lever 160 is returned into its. former position by spring 166 (Figs. 17, 20). When the hooked' portion 189 of the lever 135 drops down, the pawl 127 falls 'into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 126 and feeds the main chain forward through the oscillation of the shaft 14, the said chain in its turn controls the automatic operations in the manner'described. 4The pawl 127 remains in operation until a stud 124 on the main chain passes under the double lever 135 which causes the leftliand end of the said lever to pass beneath the catch 139 and is arrested in that position vwhereby the pawl 127 and the main chain 122 are thrown out of action. If on rotation of the drum 143 by means of the pawl 174 z'. e. in the opposite contact block 150 strikes the feeler lever 161 the latter will be rotated and the main hchain 122, brought into action in the same manner as already described. The main chain 122 is thus. thrown into and out of action upon the forward or backward rotation of the drum 143, as many times as there are

contact blocks

149 and 150 respectively fixed into the groove 147 and Aaslthese blocks maybe .adjusted in any desir d position on the drum 143 the main chain 1' 2 may be brought into action after any desired number of rows of loops according to the position of the blocks.

Iflinstead of a contact block 152 a contact blockl 153 is placed within the groove 147 which block is so formed and arranged that it contacts simultaneously with the feeler lever 160 and the reversing member the drum 143,A from forward to backward ro- 1 tation.

If the contact block 1511s so formed and arranged that it contacts at the same time with the 'reversing member 155 and feeler 161 the main chain v122'w1ll be brought into action simultaneously with the reversal from backward to forward rotation. lf, for in stance, the article to be produced Shas7 80 rows of loops that'vnumberof rows will be counted forward and for the next article backward, that is, a contact block 151 will 'Y be fixed von the index niark O and anotherl Contact block 153 will be fixed at the mark 7 80, therefore the controlling mechanism,

will return into its initial position after.

every two articles made. 1f, however the article has for instance '1300 rows, one contact block 152 is lixed at 650, this will represent650 rows, on the forward rotation of the drum and again 650 rows on the backward rotation, which is equal to 1300 rows. rl`his is on the assumption that the drum has 1000 index divisions.

The movement of the carriage 27 may be effected byhand or motor. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 sh'ow an actuating arrangement which is suitable Afor manual or power operation. In .the frame of the machine is carriedl 'a shaft 190 on the forward end of which is loosely mounted a crank handle, boss of which is provided with teeth at the rear. A collar-*192 also provided with teeth is secured to the shaft 190. 1t is clear from the drawing that manual rotation of t-he shaft 190 is only possible when the crank handle is pushed back into engagement with the collar 192 and rotated in a clockwise direction. The rear end of the shaft 190 carries a clutch 193 and a loose belt pulley 194 so that by means of the said clutch the pulley may be coupled to the shaft. For this purpose a bell' crank lever 196 is pivoted to the machine frame at 195, the longer arm of which lever is provided with a handle 197 the shorter arm engaging by 191, the

199 slidable upon the shaft 190. The said sleeve is so connected with the clutch that upon corresponding movement of the bellcrank lever the forced against the inner periphery of the belt pulley thus coupling thelatter to the shaft. The motion of the shaft 190 is transmitted by means of

toothed Wheels

200 and 201 to a shaft 202 which is supported on a hearing. 203 inthe machine frame and carries a chain wheel 204 at its forward end. On the base plate 32 is fixed a bracket 210 for the shaft- 205 of another chain wheel 206. A chain 154 is passed over the chain wheels 204, necting rod 207 is attached to one of the chain links the other end of said rod being connected to an arm 208 of the carriage 27. The arm 208 slides along .a guidebar 209 fixed-in the machine frame. 1t is to be understood from the above that motion may arms 193 of the clutch are 206 and the head 182 of a con- 1 three) least fourteen links.

be imparted to the carriage 27 by hand as also'by power.

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a fabric of 140 rows of loops which may be knitted in the machine. ln thiscase the first 20 rows of loops are racked after every fourth stroke of the carriage, the following 110 rows are racked after eachstroke of the carriage and finally the last 10 rows on every second stroke. If this pattern had to be produced on an ordinary knitting machine the pat tern chain necessarily would be very lon-g.

In the new machine in addition to the main chain there are provided as many smaller' chains as the number ofV different patterns in the fabric (in the present case Each of 'these chainscontains as many links as are necessary to produce the particular pattern, for instance the chain for that pattern where the rows of loops are to be racked after every second stroke of the carriage has at least four links the sccond chain which is to cause the racking of the rows ot' loops after every stroke has at least two links and the third chain for the racking of the loops on every fourth stroke, at least eight links; this being in all at ln previously known machines a chain of M0 links would be necessary to produce a fabric of this pattern.

lYhat l claim isa l. In an automatic racking device for the needle beds of tlat bed knitting machines the coinbimitifni of a primary rotating pattern controlling chain. a pluralityy of secondary rotating pattern-chains, means for thrt'iwing cach of the seeoinlary rotating pattern chains into and out of action apart from the others, by the primary chain, a rotatable stepped cam, and means for rotating the stepped cam from each of the secondary pattern chains in one or the other direction.

ln an'automatic racking device for the needle beds of [lat bed knitting machines the combination of a primaryrotating pat tern controlling chain, a. plurality of secondary rotating pattern chains, the primary.

rotating man1 pattern controlling chain having as many rows of studs as there are secondary rotating pattern chains, each of the secondary rotating pattern chains having a group of studs, the studs of the various groups being placed in different successions, means for throwing each of the secondary rotating pattern chains into and out of action apartfrom the others,'a rotatable stepped cam, and means for rotating .the stepped cam from each of the secondary pattern chains Ain one or the other direction.

3. In a iiatfbed knitting machine thecombination of a slidablc needldbed, a rotatable stepped cam wheel for shogging said needle-bed, a carriage sliding over the needle bed, mechanism actuated from the carriage for counting the number of strokes, a primary pattern controlling chain, means for operating said primary chain through the reciproeation of the carriage, a plurality of secondary pattern chains, means for throwing each of the secondary rotating chains into and outof action apart from the others by the primary rotating chain, and means for rotating the stepped cam wheel, from each of the pattern chains, in one or the other direction.

A. In a flat bed knittingmachine, the combination of a slidable needle-bed, a carriage adapted to slide over the needle-bed, said carriage .carrying a roller, a shaft, a plurality of arms fixed to the shaft carrying cam blocks adapted to coperate with said roller, a chain drum, a primary rotating pattern controlling chain carried by the drum, a ratchet wheel connected to the drum, a lever fixed to the shaft, and a pawl pivoted to the lever and engaging the ratchet wheel.

In a flat bed knitting machine, the combination of a primary chain, a chain drum carrying said primary chain, several rows of alternating high and low studs on said chain, levers extending into the path of these studs, catches for arresting said levers, extensions on said catches reaching into the pat-h of said studs, knock off fingers, and means for transmitting the movement of said levers to said knock off fingers.

(5.-ln a flat bed knitting machine, the combination ofA a. slidable needle bed, two studs carried thereby, a stepped cam wheel engaged by said studs, a ratchetwheel having two 'oppositely disposed sets teeth and rigidly secured to said stepped cam, two cams partly projecting beyond said ratchet teeth. two shafts disposed one on either side 'of said stepped cam, two arms secured to the said shafts, and two rods,l each of which connects one of' said arms with one of said cams for imparting rotations to said cams.

7 In a flat bed knit-ting machine the combination of a stepped cam wheel, a" {q het vwheel having two oppositely disposed sets of teeth and rigidly secured to said stepped ram, two rotatable cams, two rods for imparting rotation to said cams, two shafts disposed one on either side of the stepped cam and two arms secured to the said shafts and `connected with said rods, arock shaft,

a lever secured tosaidvrock shaft, two pawls pivoted to said lever engaging said ratchet teeth, projections on said pawls extending into the path of the said'cams, for preventing the engaging of the one, or the other,

orboth of said pawls into the correspondin;- teeth.

, S. ln a llat bed knittingmachine a movable needle hed, studs mounted thereon, a stepped cam engaged by said studs, shafts,

`chain wheels mounted von said shafts, pattern chains carried thereby, a notched wheel Lomas@ rigidly connected with said stepped cam Wheel, two shafts arranged one at each side of said pattern chain, a detent loosely mounted on one of said shafts and adapted to engage said notched Wheel and a lever mounted on said rock shaft and adapted to actuele said, detent.

In testimony whereof, I have signedfmy name to this specicton inthe vpresence oftwo subscriblng Witnesses.

EDOUARD DUBIED. Witnesses:

HERMANN HUBER, v 1 CARL GUBLER.