US1339708A - Ments - Google Patents

Description

E. LIPPITT.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

1,339,708. Patented May 11,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l. 4

(524. f w'u;

i I ATTOfiNfYJ Patented May 11, 1920;

5 SHEETS-SHEET Z IQ Q 5 n v ws. [Q v e E. LIPPITT.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1917.

E. LIPPITT.

KNITTING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1917.

I Patentefi May 11, 920.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- E. LIPPITT.

KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1917.

1 ,339,708. Pawnted May 11, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHIU LIPIPITI, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN l/IENTS, OF ONE-THIRD T IEIENR-"SZ 3. HUNTINGTON AND ONE-THIRD T ESTEPHEN W. LIPI ITT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Patented May 11, 1920.

'1 '0 all when. it may concern:

lie it known that l. Finns lirrrrr'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at lr-velaarl, in the county 01 Cuyahoga and date oi? Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knittinghlahind-i, of which the following is a specificatiom reference being had therein to the a ccoinp anyin g d rawinc'.

Tlhis; invention relates to linitting machines oi the flat bed type employing either wiring eard or latch needles and the invenieon consists mainly of the novel form of sinker and Dresser mechanisms. characterized l' a presscr device and an associated sinker device for. the indhddual needles; whei'cbv l am enabled to employ spring ird heedles in a flat machine and produce sin-ii board fashioned ribbed fabric.

llhc invcnti *1 consists also of improved rm-ii guide 1 "hanism characterized by a plurality of & iides operating alternately; whereby dii ht kinds of yarn distin 'shcil as to weight or material or color, etc... may he incorporated in the fabric in its course oi formation.

The invention consists further in pressure holdi 1g the needles down on the :ure devices including springs *h on the needle jacks instead of on th: as heretofore,.with the result that in the reciprocation of" the needles to stitihes. they will not be subject against the springs.

The invention consists also in various imormril "eatures of construction in the genl'i'lll o ization of the machine which will la l' ()lDtPKl out in the specification to :iolloi. Add the novel parts of which will be so i'orlh. in the appended claims.

L11 the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an end elevation of my improved machine; A Fig. 2:3 is a transverse sectional elevation thi'o o same on an enlarged scale, cer

lain on. 5 it omitted.

vation of a portion of n parts broken away. 'inentary view in elevation tive position or the yarn for operating the same. :i a s ar view showing the yarn inoperative position, and the opersin therefor out 01' action.

gn'ientary sectional elevation showing the means for controlling the action oia detail of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in elevation showing the relative positions of the presser plate and sinker hook when the plate is operated to close the needle. i

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the presser plate retracted to open the needle.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the needle guide plates on which the presser plate and sinker hook are mounted.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the presser plates.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one of the sinker hooks.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a detail.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the wear plates for the needle guiding plates.

Fig. 1% is a fragmentary sectional. elevation showing how the presser plates are locked out of action when latch needles are employed.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation oi? one of the needle jacks.

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the spring which acts thereon to hold the same down yieldingly.

F 17 is a transverse sectional elevation shoivingthe lriving gearing for the cam drums and pattern chain drive wheel.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section throughthe same.

Fig. 19 is a sectional elevationof the drivin dogs for the cam drums.

Fig. 20 is an elevation of one of the gears oi? the train shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a detail of the mechanism for controlling the yarn guides. V

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22-22 of F ig. 3, showing how the yarn guides are driven. v

Referring to the drawings: I r

The operative parts of the machine are mounted in and sustained by a frame 1 sup ported by legs or standards 2 and giving support to two needle beds 3 extending at an inclination upwardly and inwardly toward each other as usual in machines of this type.

Each or" the needle beds is equipped with a set of needles 1 adapted to be reciprocated individually endwise so that the needles of the two sets will cooperate with each other and form a fiat ribbed fabric; or by the operation of the individual sets of needles, a ribless fabric of flat or tubular form may be produced.

These needles may be of the latch type or spring beard type, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, and in accordance with one part of my invention, which is applicable to needles oi either type, the needles are mounted ea ch at its rear in a needle jack 5 of the form shown more particularly in Fig. 15. Here it will be seen that the jack comprises a main lower body portion 5, the rear end of which extends upwardly and then forwardly in the form of a hook 5", the rear end of the needle being seated beneath the hook and resting on the body portion of the jack, as shown in Fig. 2. The jacks with the needles thus sustained are mounted side by side in upright guide grooves formed between upright needle guide plates 7 firmly fixed side by side in parallel grooves in the needle bed. The needles are each formed at a point forward of the hook 5 with an upwardly extending lug or heel. 4: which heels of the two sets t needles are adapted to be engaged by cams 9 on cam carriages 10 mounted on the frame of the machine above the needle beds and re ciprocated relatively to the jacks to form the stitches. The body portion of the jack is formed with a depending lug or heel which heels extend through openings or holes in the needle beds so that they may be acted on by two cam drums ll mounted for rotation beneath the beds side by side and extending longitudinally thereof. These cam drums are equipped with. cam links ll, of: different heights, and by cooperating with the heels on the needle jacks, the latter are raised or lowered. at their rear ends according to the arrangement of the cam links, and by correspondingly raising or lowering the needles, the heels ot' the latter will be moved into or out of engagement with the operating cams, and the operations of the needles thus controlled, according to the character of the fabric being formed. The rear ends oi the jacks are held down by spring pressure so that the heels on the jacks will engage and be supported by the links on the cam drums. In accordance with one part ot 'iy invention'this is effected by springs 12, one for each jack, which springs are sustained by longitudinal rods 13 fixed on the machine frame and extending above the needle guide plates and over the rear ends of the 's. The springs bear upon. the upper edg s ot the hooks 5" of the needle jacks, and the jacks and consequently the needles, down with a s ring pressure. Inasmuch as in the reciprocating actions of the needles, their motion is relative to the jacks, the needles will by the means described, be held down yieldingly without being subject to trictional wear between them and the springs,

the latter bearing on the needle jacks which have no reciprocating motions but only a motion up and down as controlled by the cam drums.

The cam carriages are connected together as usual by a yoke 10 so that they will be reciprocated over the needle beds in unison. In the present instance these carriages are driven by two driving screws l t mounted for rotation in suitable hearings in the outer edges of the machine frame by means oi? driving gearing operated from a main longitudinally extending driving sha it A mounted in suitable hearings on the machine frame. The screws are each formed with two spiral feed groows lit and 14-" a rranged respectively right and left and intersccting each other, in which engages a cross head 15 on the lower end of a stem 16 mounted to swivel or turn in a block 17 interlocked with the cam carriage, and sliding in longitudinal guideways in the frame, the result being that when the screws are rotated constantly in one direction, one of the spiral grooves of the screws will. feed the blocks 17,

and consequently the cam carriages, in one direction until the end of the screw is reached, whereupon the heads will shift in position and be engaged by the other spiral grooves, thereby reversing the direction of motion oi: the cam carriages so that they will be reciprocatcd back and forth, in the ('(H'ltlllll(.(l rotation ol the screws.

The machine in the accompanying drawings is shown equipped with spring beard needles, and in connection with these needles 1 employ an improved presser device for pressing down the beards and closing the same, and an associated sinker hook device for sinking the yarn, a set oi these devices being employed for each needle, and constituting the main feature of my invention. This mechanism is shown more particularly in Figs. 2, and 7 to 14:, and as the mechanism for each needle is the same, a description of one as to its detailed form and operation will sullice. The presser device, designated by the numeral 18, consists of a flat plate of general semicircular form, which is pivoted near its center at its lower edge as at 19 to the side of the needle guide plate '7 near its upper end, whereby when the plate is rocked on its axis, its forward end will be caused. to move up and down to and from the needle. of the plate is termed with a rounded portion or head adapted when rocked down to engage the needle beard and close the same against the body portion of the needle as clearly shown ,in Fig. 7. hook, desi nated by the numeral 21, consists of a fTat plate of general arcuate form having a hook proper 2]., which plate is guided in a circular path on the outer edge of the needle guide plate, which latter is The forward end The sinker 'curved as at 7* so as to fit within the sinker hook and afford a bearing for the same.

The hook thus mounted on the needle guide plate is disposed at the side of the presser plate to which it is connected by meansof pins 22 projecting from the side of the presser plate and engaging in arcuate slots 23 in the hook, the latter being thus capable of a limited motion relative to the presser plate about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the plate. The movements of the sinker hook relative to the presser plate are controlled and effected by means of a rocker or tumbler 24:, Fig. 12, in the form of a disk seated so as to rock in a curved bearing opening 25 in the edge of the needle guiding plate, the disk being formed with a lug E36 projecting radially therefrom beyond the edge of the plate, and being formed also with a radial slot 27 disposed diametrically opposite the lug. The lug 26 engages in a notch 21 in the inner edge of the sinker hook, while a pin 28 on the presser plate engages in the slot 27 in the disk. As a result of the construction described. when the presser plate is rocked or oscillated upon its pivotal axis, in the manner to be presently described, it will impart, through the medium of the transmitting rocker, a corresponding rocking motion or oscillation to the sinker hook, but in the opposite direction, so that when the presser head 20 on the presser plate moves down and engages the beard of the needle as the latter is retractedto draw the yarn in through the previous loop, the sinker hook will be moved upwardly free of the same; and when the presser plate moves upwardly to disengage the needle, the sinker hook will be moved down, and at the moment that the retracting needle sheds the stitch, the latter will be engaged by the sinker hook and carried down out of the line of action of the needle, thus causing a certain and positive cast-off. It will be understood that there is a mechanism of this character, consisting of a presser device and a sinker hook, for each needle of the two sets on opposite sides of the machine. Consequently the cast-off of each needle is entirely independent of every other needle. Due to this fact, the cast-off is effected positively and without side strains on the yarn or fabric, such as are encountered in the employment of a bur wheel cast-off and sinker. The construction is of further advantage in the formation of fabric in which ribbed work alternates with ribless work, and wherein the different tensions of the fabric would ordinarily interfere with the proper and uniform cast-off of the stitches. By effecting the cast-off of the individual needles independently as in my invention, no difficulty is encountered in the formation of combined ribbed and ribless fabric, as the difference in tension can have nov effect on the action of the improved mechanism.

The upper forward ends of the needle guide plates are extended downwardly and then rearwardly forming hooks 7 which when the plates are in position, engage over and around shoulders 7" at the upper edges of the two needle beds, this construction enabling the plates to be fastened in place on the beds without liability of displacement or looseness. A wear plate 7 of hardened metal is fixed to the hook on each guiding plate and forms in effect a part of the guiding groove for the needle, this plate being removable so that when it becomes worn by the action of the needle thereon it may be replaced by a new one.

The presser devices and sinker hooks are operated in timed relation to the operations of the needles, by means of cam slides 29, one on each side of themachine. The slides are mounted for reciprocation in longitudinal guideways in the machine frame over the respective presser plates, and they are formed in their inner sides with cam grooves 30 engaging lugs 31. projecting upwardly from the presser plates, these cams being of such form that as the slides move pastthe presser plates, the latter will be rocked first in one direction and throw their presser heads down and engage the needles, and then in the opposite direction and move the presser heads away from the needles. The reciprocation of the cam slides is effected by the movements of the cam carriages, through the medium of driving fingers 82, Fig. 3, on the slides which fingers extend downwardly between upwardly extending driving lugs 33 on the carriages, there being a set of driving lugs for each driving finger, so that when the carriages are moved in one direction one of the lugs of the sets will engage the associated fingers and will move the slides in one direction, and when the carriages are moved in the opposite direction the other lugs of the sets will engage the fingers an d move the slides in the opposite direction. The driving fingers are hinged to the respective slides so that the fingers may be swung up to inoperative positions out of the path of the driving lugs, as shown in Fig. 5, the purpose of this construction being to prevent the operation of the slides, and consequently the presser devices and sinker devices, under certain conditions, such for instance when for certain kinds of work only one set of needles is operated, or for instance when latch needles are employed on one or both sides of the machine.

The control of the presser operating cam slides is effected in the present instance by means of two rocker plates 84, Figs. 1, 3 and 5, extending longitudinally at eachside of the machine beneath the respective driving fingers and pivoted at their upper edges on horizontal longitudinal axes as at 3%, th) arrangement lazing such that when the plates are swung upwardly they will lift the lingers out of the path of the driving lugs, and when swung downwardly the fingers will be allowed to descend into the path of the lugs. The plates are operated by means of upright links 36 pivoted at their upper ends to the plates at one end, and extending downwardly at one end of the machine, and pivoted at their lower ends respectively to the inner ends of two horizontal operating levers 37 whose outer ends are pivoted to the frame of the machine on horizontal longitudinal axes as at 38. The said levers are provided between their ends with depending lugs 39 disposed. in longitud'inal alinement with each other and in position to be engaged respectively by pattern chains ill! passing over rotary pattern chains drive-wheel 42 journalcd on the machine frame, and over a guide pulley l3 mounted on the machine frame. The pattern chains are provided with links of different heights, so arranged in relation to each other, that the plates controlled by the lev is will be operated to render the driving fingers operative or inoperative at proper times according to the character of the fabric being formed.

\Vhen latch needles 35 are employed in stead. of spring beard needles, I propose to lock the presser plates in their retracted positions free of the needles. This can be conveniently efl'ected as shown in Fig. 14:, by first removing the presser plate cam slides and rocking all of the presser plates back to their extreme position free of the needles, and then passing a locking rod B through registering holes in the needle guide plates, the arrangement being such that in this position, the rod will engage the edges of the presser plates and hold them retracted. Vith the presscr plates thus retracted, the sinker hooks will be held projected. between the needles, thus forming extended throat jacks, so that in the operation of latch needles the stitch will be drawn across the top of the sinker hooks, the extended throat jacks causing a greater length of yarn to be incorporated in the stitches and thereby producing a more elastic stitch.

In this action of the parts, the hook on the sinker devices performs the function of a web holder since the stitch is drawn around the point and flops or slides under the hook, which prevents the thread from following the needle.

The yarn is fed. to the needles in accordance with my invention, by means of two yarn guides 44 and 45 carried respectively by slides 414 and 4s mounted to move longitudinally in guides formed in the machine frame above the upper ends of the needle beds. Each of the guides consists of a finger in pivoted to the slide on a horizon tal longitudinal axis 1 s at 45 and formed at its lower end to guide the yarn, whereby said finger may be swung inwardly to an operative position where the yarn will be taken by the needles, or may be swung outwardly to an inoperative position where it will hold the yarn out of reach of the needies, a spiral spring 4:6 being disposed between the iinger and slide and tending to swing the guide inwardly to an operative position.

The purpose of this movable mounting of the yarn guides on their slides is to enable them to employed alternately, first one feedi: g the yarn to the needles, and then the other so that different kinds of yarn may be incorporated in the fabric automatically in the course of formation as will be more particularly described later on.

The yarn guide slides are reciprocated in their guides by means of the prc plate cam slides 29 which latter are provided each with two upwardly extending driving lugs 14;? between which the ends of arms l8 connected fixedly with the respective fingers carrying the yarn guides extend when said guides are in operative position to guide the yarn to the needles, it being understood that in the operation of the machine but oneyarn guide is in zmtion at one time. In other words, theguides are operated alternately. The construction is such that when the arm 48 is swung uprardly free of the path of the driving lugs, the yarn guide will be swung outwardly to an inoperative position, in which. position of the parts the yarn guide will remain at rest and will not be reciprocated by the driving lugs; and when the arm i8 swung down, the yarn guide will be swung inwardly to an operative position and will be reciprocated back and forth by the presser cam slide and thereby caused to guide the yarn to the needles.

The arms 48 are controlled in their movements to correspondingly control the operation of the yarn guides, by means of two plates -l9 extending longitudinally of the frame beneath the respective arms 4-8 and 3 pivoted to the frame at their upper edges on horizontal longitudinal axes as at 50, so that when the plates are swung upwardly on their axes they will engage and raise the arms 48 clear of the driving lugs 52?, Fig. 5, i.

the plates 34, while their lower ends are pivoted respectively to the inner ends of two operating levers 52 whose outer ends are pivoted as at 53 to the machine frame. Be tween their ends the levers are provided with depending lugs 5 1 in position to be engaged respectively by cams 55 on two rotary operating wheels 56 fixed to the ends of the cam drums 11 before alluded to, the said cams being of such form and so located relatively to each other, that they will act through the levers, the links and pivoted plates to cause the yarn guides to be operated respectively by the sets of driving lugs alternately.

The wheels 56 and consequently the cam drums 11 are rotated step by step by means of a vertically reciprocating actuating slide 57, Figs. 1 and 18, mounted in vertical guides on the machine frame, the said slide having pivoted to its upper end two driving dogs 58 in position to engage ratchet teeth on the wheels. The dogs are acted on by a torsional spring 60 surrounding their pivotal axis and bearing against the dogs and tending to spread them apart and thereby maintain their engagement with the ratchet teeth, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that when the slide is moved downwardly the dogs will engage the teeth and advance the wheels, and when the slide is moved upwardly the dogs will slip over the teeth for another hold. The slide is acted on by an expansion spring 61 bearing respectively against the machine frame and the slide, and acting to return the slide to its upper position after being moved downwardly by its operating mechanism for the slide 57. This operating mechanism consists in the present instance of a cam wheel 62 which is mounted to rotate on a stud 63 sustained by the machine frame and constituting a longitudinal horizontal. axis for the wheel, said wheel being arranged closely alongside of the lower portion. of the slide. At its inner side the wheel has fixed to it two cams 64 inposition to engage a roller 65 projecting from the side of the slide, so that the latter is given two impulses in every revolution of the wheel, the spring 61 returning the slide to its upper position between each of its downward movements. In this manner the rotation of the wheel in connection with the expansion spring 61, imparts to the slide a vertical reciprocating movement, which movements of the slide will through the medium of the driving dogs impart step by step rotative movements to the ratchet wheels 56.

The cam wheel 62 is operated from the main driving shaft A before alluded to, a pinion 67 being fixed to the end of the sh aft and engaging a gear wheel 68 journaled on the machine frame, which gear wheel meshes with a pinion 69 also journaled on the machine frame and having on its hub a second pinion -69 engaging gear teeth 70 on the cam wheel.

The cam wheel also operates the pattern chain drive wheel 42 before alluded to to impart thereto a step by step rotation. This is effected by means of two cams 71 on the side of the cam wheel opposite the cams 6a, which cams 71 are in position to engage a roller 7 2 journaled on a horizontal lever 73 between the ends of the latter. At one end the lever is pivoted as at 7 4 to the machine frame on a horizontal longitudinal axis and at its other end it is pivoted as at 75 to the upper end of a sliding bolt 76, the lower end of which slides through a guiding opening in a lug 77 on the machine frame, nuts 78 being screwed on the end of the bolt and hearing against the under side of the lug. The bolt is encircled by an expansion spring 79 bearing at its upper end against a shoulder on the bolt and at its lower end against the lug, the tendency of the spring being to urge the lever upwardly. Adjacent the sliding bolt the lever has pivoted to it a driving dog 80 which engages ratchet teeth 81 on the pattern chain drive wheel 42. As a result of this construction, when the cam wheel is rotated, the cams 68 will engage the rollers 7 2 in succession and will impart to the lever, successive downward movements, the spring 7 9 moving the lever upwardly between each downward movement so that the lever will be reciprocated, and the driving dogs acting on the ratchet teeth will impart to the chain wheel a step by step rotating movement.

The operation of the slide 57 in actuating the cam drums 11 and the parts operated thereby, is controlled so that these parts may be rendered inoperative at certain times according to the character of the work being produced. This is effected by means of a pattern chain 81 Fig. 6, passing around and operated by the pattern chain wheel 42 and having links thereon which engage a locking detent 83 pivoted to the frame of the machine adjacent the lower end of the slide. This detent comprises a vertical arm 83 and. a horizontal. arm 83". The arm 83 is formed with a hook 83 which when the vertical arm is moved inwardly and the horizontal arm moved downwardly, will engage over a lug 84 on the lower end of the slide when the latter is in its lowered position, and will thereby lock the slide down out of action, the slide being released and permitted to be actuated, when the detent is rocked to move the vertical arm laterally and thereby disengage the nose from the lug. These movements of the arm arecontrolled by furnishing the chain with links of dif ferent heights, the high links 85 actingon the horizontal arm of the detent and raising the same so as to move the vertical arm free of the lug on the slide, and the low links 86 on the chain permitting the horizontal arm of the detent to move downwardly and thereby cause the vertical arm to move inwardly and engage its nose over the lug .on the slidev The detent is acted on by a spring 87 which tends to hold the horizontal arm down on the links of the chain beneath.

In the foregoing description and accompanying drawings I have set forth my invention in the particular detailed form which I prefer to adopt and Which in practice has been found to answer to a satisfactory degree the ends to be attained. It will be manifest, however, that the details may be variously changed and modified without departing from the limits of my invention, and further it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, needle jacks mounted thereon and movable to and from the plane of the bed, a ack operating member directly engaging the jack and operable to move it away from the bed, a spring acting directly on the jack and operating to hold it in yielding engagement with the jack operating member, a needle carried by the jack and movable with it, and movable also relatively to it to form the stitches, and means for moving the needle relatively to the jack.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, a needle jack mounted thereon and movable to and from the plane of the bed, said jack comprising a lower body portion and a hook portion overlying the rear end of the body portion, a jack operating member engaging the jack and operating to move it away from the bed, a spring acting on the hook portion of the jack and operating to maintain the ack in engagement with the jack operating memher, a needle mounted between the body portion and hook portion of the jack and mo able with the ack, and means for reciprocating the needle endwise relatively to the jack to form the stitches.

In a knitting machine, the combination of a bed, needle jacks mounted therein and moval ile toward and from the bed, depending heels on the jacks, an operating member en aging the heels, springs acting on the jac 's at a point removed from the heels to cause the heels to engage the operating member, needles carried by the jacks and reciprocable endwise relatively to the same to form the stitches, said needles beingprovided With operating heels, and an operating member engaging said heels to recipm s t n edl 4, In a knitting machine, the combination of a series of needles, means for operating the same, a presser device and an associated sinker device for each needle, and operative connections between S; id two devices to cause them to act in alternation, said operative connections being independent of each other.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination of a series of spring beard needles, means for operating the needles, a presser device and an associated sinker device for the indidividual needles, means for operating the presser devices, and means controlled by the operation OI the presser devices for operating the sinker devices, said last mentioned means being independent of each other.

6. A presser device and sinker mechanism for knitting machines, comprising a movable presser plate operable to engage the needle hook and close the same, and an associated relatively movable sinker hook operated. by the movements of the presser plate.

7. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, spring beard needles mounted therein, movable presser plates mounted on the bed over the respective needles, a movable-sinker hook mounted on the bed adjacent each presser plate, connections between the presser plates and hooks to cause the hooks to be operated by the plates, and means for operating the presser plates.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, spring beard needles mounted therein, movable presser plates mounted on the bed over the respective needles, means "for moving the plates forwardly to engage and close the needle beard and for retracting the plates to open the beards, a movable sinker hook mounted on the bed adjacent each presser plate, and connections between the presser plates and sinker hooks mdependent of each other and adapted to cause the hooks to be retracted when the plates are moved forwardly, and

operating to advance the hooks when the plates are retracted.

9.' In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, a series of needle guide plates extending upwardly therefrom and forming needle guides, needles mounted for reciprocation between said plates, presser plates pivoted to the respective guide plates and movable at their active ends to and from the needles, sinker hooks movably mounted on the guide plates adjacent the respective presser plates, rocking members mounted on the respective guide plates and ging both the presser plates and the sinker hooks, and means for operating the presser plates.

10. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed adapted to accommodate either latch needles or spring beard needles, a series of needles mounted therein, presser plates and associated sinker hooks for the respective needles, said plates and hooks being so cooperatively connected that when the plates are retracted the sinker hooks will be projected between the needles, and means for locking the presser plates in retractt-zd position when latch needles are employed.

11. In a knitting machine, the con1bi11ation oi :1 needle bed, needle guide plates thereon forming needle guides between them, neiwlles mounted between said guide plates, rocking presser plates mounted on the sides of the respective guide plates,

oscillating sinker hooks guided on the edges oil the respective guide plates, connections between the presser plates and sinker hooks operated to vanse the hooks to be projected between the needles and thereby form continuatiens oi the guide plates when the presser plates are retracted, and means for locking the presser plates in retracted position.

'12. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, spring beard needles therein, a movable cam carriage for operating the needles, presser plates and sinker hooks for the respective needles, a movable cam slide in position to operate the presser plates, and driving connections between the cam carriage and cam slide whereby the cam slide is operated by the cam carriage, said drir ing mnnections being movable to permit the can: carriage to be operated without operating the cam slide.

123, in knitting machine, the combination out 11 needle bed, needles mounted for reciprocation therein, a reciprocating cam carriage i'or operating the needles, presser pl;v inl sinker hooks for the respective neei cam slide for operating the same, a driving arm on the slide, and driving lugs on the rum carriage in position to engage the ori ing rm and operate the slide.

5 1-4;. Li knitting machine, the combinanecdle bed, needles therein, a recipuage for operating the nee- ,L; i t w 4' }v 111 Li .sei p es ant Sinner icons 01 1e needles, a reciprocating am slide ting the same, a driving arm co.n Wh the slid. and adapted to be enh the cam carrn s, am being J, r H m at} Fri-1a 1-,,

w and othe pa 1 o uis am carriage, -nd means tor moving said arm to control driving action of the cam carriage on the n a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, needles therein, a cam g tor operating the needles, presser lates nd sinker hooks for the respective needles, a reciprocating cam slide for operating the same, a swinging driving arm on the slide adapted when in lowered position to be engaged by the cam carriage and adapted when raised, to be free of the cam carriage, a pivoted plate beneath the arm to raise the same, and a pattern chain controlling the movements of the pivoted plate.

16. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, needles therein, a reciprocating cam carriage for operating the needles, presser plates and sinker hooks for the respective needles, a reciprocating cam slide for operating the same, a driving arm connected with the slide and adapted to be on gaged by the cam carriage, said arm being movable out of the path of the carriage, and a pattern chain controlling the movements of said arm.

17. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, needles therein, a cam rarriage for operating the needles, presser plates and sinker hooks for the respective needles, a reciprocating cam slide for operating the same, a swinging driving arm on the slide adapted when in lowered position to be engaged by the cam carriage and when raised, to be free of the same, a pivoted plate beneath the arm to raise the same, a link connected with said plate for operating it, a lever connected with the link, and a pattern chain controlling the operation of the lever.

18. In a knitting machine, the combination of a fixed needle bed and needles there in, a movable cam carriage for operating the needles, presser plates and sinker devices for the respective needles interconnected with and movable relatively to each other to cause the sinker devices to be operated by the presser plates, a movable cam slide driven by the cam carriage for operating the presser plates and their connected sinker devices, and a yarn guide movable in an operative path to guide the yarn to the needles, said guide being operated by the movement of the cam slide.

19. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed and needles therein, a cam carriage for operating the needles, a cam drum for controlling the operation of the cam carriage on the needles, a driving mechanism for the cam drum including a reciprocating slide, a member in position to engage the slide and hold it from operation, said member being movable to release the slide to permit its operation, and a pattern chain for controlling the movements of said signature hereto.

ELIHU LIPPITT.

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