US1266044A - Circular-knitting machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. IBM.

'1 $66,044:. 7 Patented May14,1918.

l4 SHEEl$-SHEET FIG". 1:

wart/7f 171 can,

A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. Hill.

1,266,044. Patented 14,1918.

14 SH SHEE1 2.

A. M. PlGEON.

- CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED JUNE 19. $911.

1 ,266,04=4:. Patented Mdyl i, 1918.

I 4 SHEEISSHEET 4.

IIIIIIIIIIIII I attorney Al Ml CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED JUNE l9. 19H.

Patented May14,1918.

l4 SHEEIS-SHEET 5.

Q Imam tor A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, [911.

1,266,044. Patented May 14, 1918.

'14 SHEEIISSHEE1 e.

Inwenwr dlliuvnupf A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONVFILED JUNE l9. I911.

1,266,044. "Patented May14,1918.

. I 14 $HEETSSHEET I- Fzam m $5 I Q W A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19; 19H 1,266,044. Patented May 14, 1918;

I4 SHEEIS-SHEET 9.

Iwuentor fllbarl' MPiyeozg Gwmmw M I I p W A. M PIGEON. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F|LEDJUNE19 |9H| 1,266,044. I Patented May14, 1918.

[II-l. Mill 'mm F Il all-l I a l!' w 176 u A. M. PIGEON. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE I9. I9II- I 1 ,266,044, Patented May14,1918.

I4 SHEEISSHEE'I II.

FIGEJ Inventor fllertMP 602g 4/ 7 r A. M. PIG'EON. CIRCUL'AB KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE |9 I911: 1,266,044. Patented May1-1',19l8.

l4 SHEEIS-SHEEI 12.

FIG M fllbartMPzyeom a pp A. M. PIGEON. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. 19]]- 1,266,044. Patented May14,1918.

'14 SHEEIS-SHEET l3. r v l ImaeMor A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. 1911.

Patented May14, 1918.

I4 SHEEIS-SHEET I4- FIGJI/YZZZ FIG-1121f. M FIGJZHZ Z122 120 0 12 My 110-;

Imemor flZDaZM 17980124 Q STATES AT NTYO FICE.

ALBERT I. 'PIGEON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 PIG EON CHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or rmmsnvmm.

' omcnnanrxnrrrmc monm'n.

Patented May 14, 1918.-

Application filed .Tune 19, 1911. Serial No. 683,988. 1

A further ob i ect' of the invention is to To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT'M. PIenoN,

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular -'Knitting Machines,. whereof the following is a specification,

reference being had to the accompanying drawin The invention relates more especially-to knitting machines." of the 1 cylinder type wherein 'the cylinder. may be rotated for circular lmitting or oscillated at certain intervals if desired.

An object of the invention is to provide a needle cylinder with spring beard needles .which may be placed very, close to ether and which needles are so constructed that the yarn may reeve through the hook ends thereof whereby the needles may be moved in succession beneath the fabric supporting bed for drawing 01f fabric loops and whereby the position of the fabric bed may be varied relative to the working position of the" 1needles for fashioning the lmitted artic e. i

A further object of the invention consists in providing the spring beardneedles with yarn supporters which are so constructed that .the yarn extends straight along the shanks of the needles without in any way being bent by the supporters and which sup porters operate to hold the yarn at a proper A distance above A the point of closing thebeards of the needles so that sufiicient time is allowed for the placing of the yarn underneath the beards.

, of the needles before said beards are closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yarn supporter which ma be ad-. -justed for varying the height of t e 9 held by the supporter on'the needle shank.

A further-OBJect of the invention is to provide individual yarn supporters for each needle with inclined forward ends, which and positively forced underneath the cards of the needles, the inclined forward ends of knitting point and the yarn feed forms a.

V-shaped channel for the thread. i

provide a needlecylinder with stitch cams and a yarn feed which are relatively so disposed that the yarn extending from the knitting-point to the yarn feed is drawn against the shanks of the needles.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved devices for raising and.

lowering the needle cylinder so that the size of the needl'eloop may be varied to fashion the article and that the fabric loopsmay be adjusted and so that the size of the fabric loops in one part of the knitted articlemay be varied without changing those in other parts of the knitted article.

A further'object of the invention is to provide an improved means for oscillating and rotating the needle cylinder whereby the parts may be operated at high speed and may be quickly shifted from oscillating to rotatlng movement; and whereby all possibility of lost motion is avoided during the oscillation of the needle cylinder.

A further object of the'invention is to provide devices for controlling the'pickers so that the Widening of the stocking maybe commenced on the same side of the knitted pocket as the narrowing thereof, so that a uniform knitted pocket is formed.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will 'in part be hereinafter more fully described,

In the, drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure'I, is a side view of a knitting v machine embodying my improvements.

Fig-II, is a similar view of-the opposite side of the machine.

Fig. III, is a partial-end elevation looking from the left of, Fig. 1, showing the clutch shifting mechanism and the belt shifter, to-' gether with the pattern controlled parts for operatin the same. J

: Fig; I- is a plan view of the supportin shelf, the needle cylinder and the yarn fee yarn supporters are moved radially of the cylinder so that the yarn may be. supported in Fig. V, showing the'pickerszand the raising and depressing Fig. V, is" a vertical sectional view of .the.

lia ak n,

I; is a-plansectionahview the needle cylindertaken 011' the-lin VI, 1 4

Fig. VII, is a partial vertical sectional view from front to rear through the sup porting frame showing the main shaft, the pattern shaft and the gears and segments for operating the needle cylinder and the pattern shaft.

Fig.

and II, transversely through the supporting frame and through the bearings for the main shaft and the pattern shaft.

Fi IX, is a plan sectional view takemon the lines IX, IX, in Figs. I, and 11, showing in plan the operating ars. for the needle cylinder, the bracket or supporting the'needle bed and the fabric cage.

Fig. X, is a partialhorizontal sectional view on the lines X, X, in Figs. I, II, and III, showing the transverse shaft for supporting the pattern members in plan.

Fig. X1 is a detail showing the pawling ratchet and the connecting lugs between the same and the shifting drum for the clutch shifting lever. I

Fig. XII, is a detail View showing the pattern cam for controlling the reinforcing yarn.

Fig. XIII, is a .detail view'showin the pattern chain and the supporting partst erefor.-

- Fig. XIV, is a development of the cam ring showing diagrammatically the stitch earns, the pickers, the raising and depressing cams, the beard depressor cams and the yarn feed.

Fig. XV, is a detail view of'the upper end of the fabric cage showing the take up rolls for the fabric and the manner of operating the same.

Fig. XVI, is an end view of the shifting drum for the clutch lever, looking from the left of Fig. VII.

' Fig. XVII, is a. detail view in section on the line XVII, XVII, in Fig. II, showing the pattern wheel and the cooperating fin gers for raising and lowering the needle cylinder.

Fi XVIII, is a sectional view on the line VIII, XVIIL' in Fig. XVII, through the support for the fingers, for raising and lowering the needle cylinder. g

Fig. XIX, is a detailview showing the cam for raisin and lowering the bed upon which the nee e cylinder is supported.

Fig. XX, is a detail view showing the latch for holding the widening picker in inoperative position.

Fig. XXI, is a detail view showing in inverted plan the cams for operating the yarn-supporting members.

Fig. XXII, is a diagrammatic view showing the needles, the yarn feed, the knitting;

point and the yarn supporters, the parts being shown in posltions typical of continuous rotary knitting.

VIII, is a partial vertical section taken on the lines VIII, VIII, in Figs. I,

needle and the beard closed by the depressor. i

- Fig. XXVI, is a similar view showing the arn supporter partially withdrawn to reease the yarn for the downward movement of the needle.

In the present embodiment of the inven-I tion, the machine consists generally in a needle cylinder, which is provided with a pluralit of spring beard needles, the beards of whic are depressed by suitable beard depressors, at the proper time to shedthe yarn loops therefrom. The

, am is fed to the needles by a yarn fee which includes a reinforcing yarn guide so that the heel and toe pockets may be suitably reinforced. The yarn feed is so disposed relative to the needle cylinder and the knitting point that the yarn leading from the feed to the knitting point is pressed against the shanks of the needles. To aid in positioning the yarn for the needles, and in carrying the same underneath the beards of the needles, a yarn supporter is provided for each needle, which properly holds the yarn relative to the beard depressors, so that the yarn may be introduced underneath the heard before .the heard is depressed to shed the needle loop. The

drawing off of the yarn is accomplished by the movement of the needlesbeneath the supporting bed orledge for the fabric, the

hook of the needles being so shaped asto allow a free movement of the yarn for this purpose. The fashioning of the stocking is accomplished by controlling the.- movement of the needle cylinder so as to change the distance the needles are drawnbeneath the fabric supporting bed. The needle cylinder comprises two series of needles, one of which may be rendered idle during the knitting 'of o vporting cage is provided for receiving the knitted product, and a take-up is located adjacent the upper end of the cage, which not only assists in taking the fabric from the needles as it is knitted, but also in packing the knitted product in the cage;

During the rotation of the needle cylinder, the cage rotates therewith, and through its rotary action, the take-up rolls are operated. All of the parts above noted are controlled -by patternmechanism, whereby a complete 'wardly pro ecting portion.

gear 6, rests upon the upper face of a sup ing needle slots in' each of stocking may be produced and fashioned au' 3 tomatically.

Frame structure.

Describing the inachine more in detail and with special reference to the drawings, sald' machine" consists of a main frame 1, which is supported on suitable legs or standards 2. Said main frame is box like in structure and carries a supporting shelf 3, at its upper.

end. This supporting shelf projects forwardly toward the front of the machine and the needle cylinder 4, is located in saidfor- The parts of the machine are operated by the main shaft 5, which extends transversely through the supporting frame 1. It will be noted as Y more clearly shown in I, that the needle cylinderis directly in front of the .oper-' ating parts, for controlling the same, and,

N eealle cylinder needles. The needle cylinder 4, extends through an opening 5, in the supporting shelf 3, andis entirely free from said shelf so that said needle cylinder may be raised and lowered relative to said shelf. The needle cylinder at its lower end is attached to a gear 6, by suitable screws 7, (see Fig. V). The

porting bed 8, which through said gear, supports the needle cylinder. The support ing bed 8, is mounted on a'bracket arm 9,

carried by a standard 10, (see Fig. 11). The standard 10, is supported by, suitably spaced brackets 11, and is free to move upand down therein. 'The, needle cylinder is providedWvith-a series of .spaced ribs formwhich is mounted a needle jack 12, carrying the needle 13.

The needle jack 12, is of substantially the same width as the ribs 011 the needlecylin der. This jack is also in thickness substantially the same as the width of the needle slot or the distance between two adjacent ribs 'on the cylinder, so that when the jacks are in place the cylinder at this point is substantially one solid band. This not only --strengthens the-cylinder and allows a very small cylinder to be made with'narro'w ribs, so that the needles may face of the jack relative to theusual needle formed -with an integral butt, gives'a much .j'. =,m()l.'eeflicient wearing surface and lubricating surface for the needle supporting parts.

7 be placed very close. together, but the comparatively large surl he-needle 13, as clearly shown in Fig. V,

is bent outwardly over the upper end of the ack, and, extends along the front of the jack. The needles are heldin their jacks and in the needle cylinder by'flexible bands 16. The jack is held in end by the needle, while the lower end of the jack is held in place by the cam ring This manner of holding and stitch cams. the jack in the needle slot avoids the use of extra flexible bands for the jack and allows the jack and needles to be shortened so that.

a very short needle cylinder may be used.

The upper orhook end ofthe needle as clearly shown in Figs. XXIV, and XXVI, is madecomparatively wide at its extreme upper part -17. The purpose of this particular shaping of needles is to allow the yarn engaged by the needle to move freely through the'hook of the needle and the needle to draw off the yarn for the stitch,

place 'at its upper as will behereinafter more fully described.

Needle cylinder operating meansf The needle cylinder is supported, as above noted, so as to move freely up and down in the opening in the shelf 3. In order that the machine may have the capacity of knitting stockings, the cylinder is provided with mechanism whereby the same may be rotated at intervals and may be oscillated at intervals., The needle cylinder is rotated and oscillated bya gear 18, which gear is secured to a bevel gear 19, by screws 20, (see Fig.

V), The gear 19, is rigidly attached to a vertical shaft 21, which is mounted torotate in a vertical bearing 22.. The shaft 21, is secured at its upper end to a collar 23, by a set screw. The hardened metal plate 24, is fastened to the upper end of the shaft '21,

bya screw 25. This-hardened metal" plate 24, rests on the upper end of the collar 23. I a

The collar-23, serves as thebearing for supporting the vertical shaft 21, and holding the same properly seated in, the bearing sleeve 22. .Any wear may be taken up by loosening the collar 23, and turning the screw'25', which willraise theshaft 21, 1n the bearing sleeve 22, after which the collar" 23, is again readily connected to the shaft.

The bearing sleeve 22, extends through the opening. 26, in the shelf 3, and is mounted on,suitable brackets or lugscarried by said shelf. The gear 18, is considerably wider than; the gear 6, which attached to the lower end of the cylinder 4, so that the cylinder-.4, may be raised and lowered without moving the gear 6, out of operative connection withthe gear 18, which has nolatoral or vertical movement. The bevel gear 19, on the lower end of thevertical shaft '21, meshes with the bevel 27, which is integrally formed with sleeve 28, fixed on the central or driving shaft 5. The. fast driving pulley 30, is attached to a sleeve 31, mounted end, the sleeve 31, carries the pinion 32,

which meshes with a gear wheel 33, on the countershaft 34. A gear wheel 35, is rigidly secured to the gear wheel 33, and rotates freely on the countershaft. This gear wheel 35, meshes with a pinion 36, on a second sleeve 37, which rotates freely on the first named sleeve 31. This second sleeve 37, is rigidly connected to the slow speed driving pulley 38.

A loose pulley 39 is mounted to rotate freely on the outer sleeve 37. The two sleeves 31, and 37, and the shaft 5, are all mounted in a suitable bearing 40. The shaft 5, at its other end is mounted in a; bearing 41. The bearings 40, and 41, are secured to the main frame. A pinion 42, is loosely mounted on the shaft 5, and gears with the segment gear 43, which is pivoted to swing about the supporting axis.45. The

segmental ear 43, is connected by a link 46,

to a stud 4 secured to the outer face of the gear wheel 33. This stud 47, may be readily adjusted on the gear wheel to vary the stroke of the segment. The stud in effect forms a crank arm which, as the gear wheel rotates,

oscillates the segment back and forth about its axis 45, and in turn rotates the pinion 42. The sleeve 28, carrying the bevel gear 27, may be clutched either to the pinion 42, or to the pinion 32, by a clutch pm 50,- which as herein shown, is mounted to slide in the sleeve 28, and is formed with tapered outer ends. The pinion 42, has a tapered socket I 51, adapted to receive the tapered end of the clutch pin 50, and the pinion 32, has a simi lar socket 52, adapted to receive the other tapered end of the clutch pin. A clutch sleeve 53, surrounds the sleeve 28, and the screw 55 extends through the clutch sleeve 53, and

through a slot in the sleeve 28, and is connected tothe clutch pin 50, so that as the clutch sleeve 53, is shifted to the right, the pinion 32, will be locked to the sleeve 28, and through the gears 27, 19,and 18, any rotation given to the pinion 32, will be conveyed to the cylinder. inasmuch as the pinion 32, is connected directly to the fast pulley 30, through the sleeve 31, when the clutch pin is in the position shown in Fig. VIII, the cylinder will be rotated through the parts named. When the clutch pin is shifted to the extreme left, so as to connect the pinion 42, to the sleeve 28, then thepinion 32, will be free fromthe sleeve 28, and as this pinion rotates, the gear 33, will be rotated, which inturn through the crank pin or stud 47 will oscillate the segmental gear 43, and in turn rotate the pinion 42, and, as the segment oscillates first one way and thenthe other, the pinion 42, will be rotated first in one direction and then inthe other. This rotation of the pinion 42, in reverse directions will through the sleeve 28, to which it is then racemes than when the gear wheel 33, is driven This oscillating of the cylinder through the pinion 32, and its connection with the high speed pulley 30.

Clutch shifting and speed changing mecha, mlsm.

As a means for shifting the clutch so as to cause the cylinder to rotate or to oscillate, as desired, I have provided a clutch shifting lever 60, (see Figs. III, and IX). A rod 61, is mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in the supporting frame 1, and said rod is provided with a sleeve 62, which carries a fork arm 63, adapted to engage the groove 65,. between the collars on the clutch shifting sleeve 53, so that when the rod 61, is moved in one direction, the clutch sleeve will be carried therewith, and when said rod is moved in the other direction, the clutch sleeve will,

be given a reverse movement. A second collar 6,6, is carried by the rod 61, and is formed with a lug 67. This lug 67, lies between the forked arms 68, and 69, carried by the upper end of the clutch shifting lever 60. The arm- 68, is provided with a screw 70, while the arm 69, is provided with'a screw? 1. These screws are so positioned, that there is a slight lost motion between the clutch shifting lever 60, and the lug 67. Inthe manipulation of the clutch pin, it is desired that said pin should be moved far enough to seat firmly in the tapered socket in the part which it engages, but any further movement-of the clutch pin would cause a binding of the pinion against its bearing, and,,if the clutch pin is not moved for enough to be properly seated, then thereis a lost motion between the driving parts.

a further throw to the clutch pin. The other adjustments of these screws in order to properly position the clutch pin will be obvious.

The shifting lever 60, is controlled by a clutch drum 72, mounted on a cross shaft 73, journaled in suitable bearings in the frame 1. This clutch dIIIIH,lS made up of a cylinder having outer ribs and cam blocks 74, which are properly positioned onthe outer face of the drum to form a cam recess, which receives a roller carried by the lower end of the shiftinglever 60. By the proper rotating of the clutch drum 72, the lever 60, may be-shifted so as to controlthe clutch and cause the cylinder to rotate d ura ing theproper. interval for circularkliittingand to causethe cylinder to oscillate during the proper interval for forming a heel or toe pocket.

' tion, the pawling ratchetfis set on the shaft and thedrum may be adjusted relative to the pawling ratchet, by, adjustingthe screw 78. This adjustment aids, in assembling of the parts to properly position the shifting drum 72, so as. to bring its cam "shoulders into action in the proper timed relation to the other parts of the machine. This ad ustment provides a means for taking up any wear in. the cam 'plates 74, and also takes strain of clutching from the screwszin th pawling ratchet and clutch drum,

As ameans for shifting-the belt from the fast pulley to, the slow pulley,I have provided a belt shifting lever 80, which is pivoted at 81, to a rod 82, freely mounted in suitable hearings on the side frame of the machine,-see Fig. I. This belt shifting lever 80, is formed with projecting fingers 83, between which the belt passes. By shifting the lever 80, the 'belt will be shifted from one pulley to the other. I

The arm 85, is fixedly mounted on the rod 82, and is moved by-the spring'86, so that the bearing lug 87, carried by the arm 85, is held against a shifting cam 88. As the will move the arm 85, away from the frame,

" or allow the same tobe moved toward the frame of the machine through the action of the spring 86. The latch 90, is pivoted to the other end of 'the arm 85, and said latch is formed with a notch 91, ada ted to engage a pin on the back side of the elt shifting lever 80. A handle 92, is provided for manually releasing the latch 90. A spring 95, is connected to one of the arms 83, and to the frame of the machine, and this spring normally tends to throw the belt to the loose pulley when released by lifting the latch 90. When the latch is in engagement with the pin on the belt shifting lever.

80, said lever will then be controlled by the shifting cam 88. The shifting cam 88, is rigidly attached to the outer end of 'the shaft 73, and this shaft is controlled by a. patttern mechanism. to be hereinafter descri ed.

This clutch drum 72, is freely mountedon described.

Stitch cm.

The needles are raised and lowered during the normal knitting action by stitch cams which engage the butts 14, of the needle jacks. These stitch cams are secured to a cam ring 100, see Fig. XIV. The stitch cams are composed of suitable blocks 101 and 102, which are so positioned as to form a cam groove to receive the needle butts, and to thereby raise and lower the needles.

'I have shown herein two stitch cams, both of which are inaction during the oscillatlon of the cylinder, so that one of them effectively engages the needle butts when the cylinder oscillates in one direction and the other engages the needle butts when the cylinder oscillates in the opposite direction. The right hand stitch cam as shown in-Fig. XIV, is the only operative cam durmg the rotation of the needle cylinder. In

'order to render the stitch cams 101, and

102, effective or ineffective, I have provided switch cams 103, and 104, respectively, which are pivoted in suitable brackets carried by the supporting shelf v3,'these switch cams are spring-pressed, whereby they are normally held 1n contact with the edges of their respective cams 101, and 102., If the needle cylinder is rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in this figure, then the switch cam 103,. will be ineffective, and will ride lightly on the butts of the needles, while the switch cam 104, shown at the right, will engage. the needle butts and carry the same down into the main stitch cam.

During the oscillation of the cylinder, the long butt needles on one series ofthe needles will have been positioned entirely above the stitch cams as will be hereinafter more fully rm feed.

The yarn feed as herein shown, consists of a yarn feeding-loop 105, which is rigidly secured to'a bracket arm 106, mounted on the rod 107, secured in suitable brackets 108, on the supporting frame or shelf 3, at the upper side of the main frame. 107 is capable of being oscillated in its supporting bracket to move the yarn feed out of operative position. During the entire action of the machine. the yarn feed is in fixed position, and is located close to the needles and directly over the yarn supporters. The stitch cams are so located relative to the yarn feed that the knitting point indicated at 109, in Fig. XIV, is in advance of the yarn feed. Said knitting point is also in advance of the tangential point of a line passing through the yarn feed and touching the needle cylinder, 8017118.], the yarn extending from the knitting point to This rod the yarnfeed will be thrown snugly against the shanks of the needles. 7

Beard depressors.

Each needle is'provided with a beard depressor 110, which is mounted in the needle slot directly over the needle jack. The depressors also extend between the fabric supporting members and the active edge is enlarged to fill the entire space between said members, so that the heard of the needle. will be engaged by the depressor with certainty. a v

The upper end of the beard depressors is formed so as to engage and depress the beard of the needle and allow the loop on the needle shank to be shed over the spring beard. The beard depressors are each formed with a butt adapted to engage operating cams 111, see Fig. XIV. These operatingcams 111, are carried by a member supported from the cam ring 112. The cam ring 112, rests on the ring 113, which is secured to the upper end of the needle cylinder. Said cam ring 112, is held stationary by the posts 115, which are mounted on the supporting shelf 3. Screws 116, engage each side of the posts 115, and serve as a means for angularly adjusting the ring 112, relative to the thread feed. The rings 112, and 113, move vertically with the needle cylinder, and the ring 113', rotates therewith. As a means for securing the ring 113, to the needle cylinder, I have provided a brass ring 117, see Fig. V, which is seated in the inner face of the ring 113, and is clamped against the ribs of the needle cylinder 4, by screws 118. This provides a means for firmly clamping the supporting ring 113, to the needle cylinder without injury to the cylinder ribs or the binding of the needles or depressors. The supporting ring 112, may be adjusted diametrically to the needle cylinder by screws 119; this allows for the taking up of any wear between the parts and the centering of the supporting ring relative to the rotating V cylinder.

The depressors for the spring beards of the needles and the operating mechanism therefor form no part of the present invention, but are shown, described and claimed prior Letters Patent of the United Sgtges No. 943,230, dated December 14th,

abrio depressors and yarn supporters.

In my present machine I do not use strictly speaking, any sinkers for positioning the yarn about the shanks of the needles. The position of the yarn feed rela tive to the knitting point draws the yarn tangentially against the shank of the needles and serves one function of the sinkers. The downward -movement of the needles below thefabric supporting bed draws 0E the yarn for-the stitch and serves the other function of the usual sinkers. I do however, use a fabric depressor for holdingvthe the supporting ring 113, andare moved back and forth by cams 121, carried by the lower side of the supporting ring 112.

These cams 121, are shown in Figs. IV, and XXI, and are so constructed as to'mo ve the fabric depressors back and forth in the proper time relations to the point of stitch formation. 'Said members are withdrawn at the knitting points, by the cam inclines 121, (see Fig. XXI, and dotted lines in Fig. IV), to an extent just suflicientto allow the needle loops to be carried down past the ends of the supporters, and are again thrown inwardby the cam inclines shown at 125". In oscillatory knitting, on the return movement, the partial withdrawal of the yarn supporters by the cam inclines 121, again occurs, but the yarn supporters are immediately thrown inward again by the cam inclines at 125". Said "fabric depressors are also withdrawn at a point central of the stitch cam, or opposite the yam feed by the cam incline at 121, so that during the reversal of themovement of the cylinder, during the oscillating of'the same, the yarn is released'from around the end of the fabric depressors, as is usual in connection with the withdrawal of the web holders in ordinary latch needle knitting. The yarn supporters are-however, moved inward between the point directly opposite the feeding of the yarn and the knitting point by 'one or the other of the cam inclines 125, according to the direction of motion, in order to support the. yarn as above noted. During oscillatory knitting,

active needle is not supported at the proper height. before the beard closing action occurs, it may be penetrated by the heard ,when the needle descends, or may :be entirely missed. Hence it is essential that before the closure of the heard of the leading needles at the

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