US1415583A - Split-work knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

A. LANDRY.

SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, I9I9.

Patented May 9, 1922.

6SHEETSSHEET I.

I IIII A. LANDRY.

SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1919.

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A. LANDRY.

SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 55, I919.

1,41 5,583. Patented May 9, 1922 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. LANDRY.

SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5,1919.

1 ,41 5,583, Patented May 9,1922.

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SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1919.

1,415,5 3,. Patented Ma s), 1922.

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SPLIT WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 5. I919.

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ALDEI MNDRY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EEIWBH'ILL COMPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CE'D'SETT8.

SPLIT-WORK KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, 1922.

To all who) it may concern:

Be it known that I, Annni LANDRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Central Falls. in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Split-Vork Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanylng drawings.

The invention has relation to circular needles. and the bottom of the foot composed of a similar section similarly knit of a different yarn or yarns upon a second sub- 'series of needles, with the said sections united to each other along the sides of the foot by the interknitting of the marginal loops or stitches of onesection with those of the other so as to form so-called seams or sutures. with similar split-work high-spliced ankle portions. In some classes of work, the narrow longitudinal sections are produced as strips which are left unconnected with each other along their margins. i

The invention comprises improvements which obviate certain important drawbacks and disadvantages of split-foot knitting machines and other like machines heretofore known in the art. It includes'various novel and improved features and combinations in connection with the various cams and pickers and the supporting means for such parts, and the means for operatively controlling thevcams, pickers, supports, etc.; and in connection with the yarn-guide for the auxiliary feed.

The invention includes also an improved construction of the sinkers or' web-holders and of their actuating means whereby during the knitting of the full courses the sinkersgor web-holders shall be caused to dwell Sometimes stockings are knit in their Wale-engaged position in the auxiliary feed, but during sp knitting they shall be moved such feed.

The accompanying drawings represent an illustrative embodiment of the features of the invention in a circular split-foot stocking knitting machine of the well-known Banner type. i

In the said drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of sufficient of the said machine, with the embodied improvements, to illustrate the nature and application of the invention, a small portion of the block of the main knitting-cam system being broken away.

Fig. l is adetail view in plan showing more particularly the means hereinafter described for taking up side-play.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts which are shown in Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a needle separately.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views showing the three different forms of jacks that are employed in the said machine.

Figs. 8 and9 are views showing the different forms of sinkers that are employed therein.

assing it-foot Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the sinker-cam ring and certain parts employed for moving the two-stepped, cam at the auxiliary feed into its different positions, with lever 50 in cross-sectioii--on line 10-10, Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a view in cross-section on line 10-- 10, Fig. 10, of the movable sinker-cam in. the auxiliary feed, showing such cam improvement in circular automatic stocking knitting machines. The so-called split-foot organization, apart from the features of improvement comprised in the present invention, is substantially on the order of that indicated in U. S. Letters Patent to George P.

Bosworth, No. 1,154,169, granted Sept. 21,

radially at are involved more immediately in the invention.

Lertain of the parts in the drawings cor responding with those of said Heniphill Patent No. 933.443 are designated herein by the same reference. characters as in such patent; namely, the main frame a, the table or bed (1 thereof, the rotatable needle-cylinder N, the sinker-bed n, the sinker cam-ring G, the latch-ring C, and the yarn-guides d of the main feed. Also, the non-rotatable cam-carrying plate H. and the cam-block 1) provided with the main knitting cams and with the narrowing pickers R, R. Also, thewidening pickers T. T, the mounting of said pickers upon a radially-movable block being novel with the present invention, however. Also, the vertically-guided slide-bar with the top of which the cam-carrying plate H is connected, said slide-bar having connected with its lower end the holder for the pins or so-called pawls that are engaged by pattern-cams of the patternwheel 9 (on the pattern-barrel shaft) for controlling the height and vertical movements of the cam-carrier H and camblock D and thereby determining and varying the length of the stitches. Also, the clutchlever 6' controlled by the pattern-barrel and itself controlling the clutch-hub b on the actuating shaft for the needle-cylinder so as to place the said clutch-hub in engagement either with the continuously rotating gear i for continuous round and round knitting, or with the oscillating gear i" for reciprocating knitting.

The elements of the needle-actuating camsystems are closely similar to those of Pat ent No. 1,154,169, with the differences in arrangement, etc., which are characteristic of the present invention, and which are explained in the following portions of the specification. Thus the wing cams of the main cam-block D are indicated at o Fig. 1, and 2), Fig. 3, and the top or guard cam at v. The auxiliary cam-block, located at the opposite side of the machine from the main cam-block D, is indicated at B. Its side or wing-cams are indicated at 14 u, and its right and left upper guard cams are indicated at 0, 0 the plate or bar by which the said guard cams are supported upon the main part of the said block B being indi cated at 0. At E, Fig. 3, is the pivoted switch-cam at the back of the machine which is associated with cams c and if, its depressing spring being indicated at e,Figs. 2 and 3. M and M, Fig. 1, are race-cams, so-called, at the front of the machine, and

l t-t, Fig. 3 is a similar cam the machine. At (Z is the t auxiliary feed, delivering yarn to be knit by the needles which are actuated to knit by the cams of the auxiliary cani-bloch B.

As is well-known to those versed in the art, asplit-foot stocking knitting machine is constructed with two sets of knitting cams and with two yarn feeds conjoined therewith, usually one of such sets and its yarn feed being in operation only during splitwork knitting. Also, with pickers for narrowing and widening to tormheel and toe pouches and for operating the seam or suture needles for the production of the scams or sutures, and with pattern-connections by means of which the working pf the parts is controlled. Heretofore, the two sets of knitting cams, and all the pickers, have been arranged at substantially one level in a machine, and have been mounted in connection with one supporting plate. From this results a very crowded condition because of too many parts being assembled closetogether side by side at substantially the same level in connectionwith a common support,

and there further results an inconvenient,

lack of accessibility of the needle cylinder and needles and the parts themselves. Moreover, the auxiliary knitting parts are too small because of the necessity-0f confining the auxiliary set of knitting cams, etc., within a comparatively narrow portion of the circumference of the needle -'cylinder.

There also is a lack of capacity for independent adjustment of the two sets of knit ting cams by which to enable the closeness or looseness of the knitting of one longitudinal section of the split part of the stocking to be varied with respect to that of the other of the said sections, as, for instance, in order to compensate for differences between the yarns employed in knitting the respective sections, or in order to secure a desired-(lit ference in character or appearance between said sections. Because of this lack of capacity for inde endent adjustment it is practically impossi le to secure uniformity of appearance between the two opposite sections of knitted web, viz. The'upper and lower portions of the foot for instance, when such uniformity is desired. Another cause of lack of uniformity in such appearance in the case of machines heretofore in use is the fact that the needles used therein have butts of three different lengths, short, medium, and long. Those employed in knit-ting one of the said sections of knitted web (the heel. foot-bottom. and toe) have short butts, and the corresponding set of knitting cams (the main set) engage with such butts close to the surface of the needle-cylinder. Those employed as seam or suture needles have butts ofmedium length. Those employed in knitting the other of said sections (the in ing of the ste and top of the foot) have long butts, an the instep raising cam and pivoted switch cam E are arranged to engage. with said long butts at a distance from said surface sufiicient to enable such cams to clear the medium butts. The action in knit-ting of knitting cams located at a fairly considerabledistance outward from the surface of the needle-cylinder upon the long needlecramp in the needle-grooves of the needlecylinder. Furthermore, by the carrying of the needle-hooks outward toward or against the surface of the latch-ring, the. proper takyarn by such hooks is interfered with.

I do away with the drawbacks and disadvantages which have just been recited by the following improvements:

I dispose the :auxiliary cams and pickers which are brought into play for split-work knitting at a different level in the machine from that of the cams and pickers which are employed for round and round knitting and heel and toe work, and, as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, mount the respective sets of cams and pickers, thus disposed at difi'erent levels in the machine, upon different supports. In the drawings, the'main caniblock D, located at one side of the machine and provided with the main knitting cams and the narrowing pickers R, R, and a block 1, located at the opposite side of the machine and carrying the widening pickers T, T, are mounted at substantially one level in the machine, uponone support, herein the camcarrying plate H. The auxiliary cam-block B. with its auxiliary cams and the seam or suture pickers u, u, is disposed at another level below the first, upon a second support, herein the cam-carrying plate 2. The said cam-carrying plate H is supported higher above the bed-plate (1 than in the prior machines, with aspace between plate H and bed-plate a? suflicient to accommodate the auxiliary cams and seam or suture-needle pickers u, u, and the said supplementalcanicarrying plate 2.

In general terms, by the location of the auxiliary camsand pickers at a different level fromthe others, I obviate the crowded condition that is found in prior machines; render the needle-cylinder, needles, and various other parts, more accessible; enable the respective parts to occupy more space circumferentially of the needle-cylinder, and enable the partsto be made of larger and better proportions andto be spaced more conveniently and advantageously. The greater openness of the parts which surround the needle-cylinder, and consequent increased accessibility of the portions of the needle-cylinder which are adjacent and between'the said parts, and 01, the knitting parts themselves, are of importance because thereby adjustments are facilitated, as well as the removal and replacement of broken or damaged needles and other parts. Furthermore, it is made possible to provide foradjustnient of the seam or suture pickers u, u, to suit the path of'the butts of the seam or suture needles, by means of adjustmentscrews u", w, Figs. 1, 2. and 3, mounted upon bloc-k B and arranged to act against outwardly-extending tails formed upon the hubportions of the said pickers. Similar adjusting screws 1 9 are shown combined with the narrowing pickers R, R, of the main cam-block D,

The support 2 for the auxiliary cams, etc., and the support H for the main cams, are raised and lowered in unison in the working of the machine. Preferably this is provided for, as shown, by connecting the two supports with each other. This connection is effected in the illustrated embodiment of the invention by means of a bar 10 extending down from the supporting-plate 2 and fitted to a vertical recess in the upright portion 11 of an arm 12, the said arm forming a rear ward extension of the holder 9 for the pawls or pins 9' that rest on the peripheral portions of the pattern wheel g, the holder and arm 12 being made fast to the bar'g of the supporting-plate H by means of bolt 7. Fig. 3. The bar 10 is confined in the said recess of the portion 11 bymeans of a capplate 13 that is held in place upon the face of such portion by means of screws 14, 14.

I make provision for relative verticaladjustment of the supports H and 2 with respect to each other. Thereby I secure capacity for independent relative adjustment of the two sets of knitting cams with respect to each other, and remedy the deficiency of prior machines which interferes with vary-- ing the closeness or looseness of the knitting of the respective longitudinal sections of split work. In the illustrated embodiment, the

lower end of the bar 10 rests upon the upper end of an adjusting or set-screw 10 occupying a threaded hole that is tapped through the bottom wall of the recess in portion 11 of supporting-arm 12. By means of the said screw the height of the supporting-plate 2 and the auxiliary cams relative to the main supporting-plate H and the main cams maybe adjusted to a nicety to secure the required degree of correspondence, (or difference) in the stitches of the opposite sections of, the split work. For the purpose of clamping the bar 10 within the said recess, after vertical adjustment has been effected, a clamping screw 15. Figs. 1 and 2, is combined with one side of ihe upright portion 11. a plug 16, Fig. 2, of brass. or other suitable material. being interposed between the inner end of the said screw 15 and the edge of the bar 10 to avoid the formation of an indenieiion or burr in or upon such edge. By tightening up the screw 15 all lateral looseness and play of th bar 10 within the recess of the part 11 is taken up, end occidental lifting oi plate 2, es in consequence of strain, resulting from s bunch of yarn becoming engaged by the needles, while the latter are being drewn down by she eciion of the auxiliary earns of block B, or otherwise, will be prevented.

By the edjustehility of ihe two sets of cams relative to each other l are enabled to control the closeness or looseness of the lmitring of each of the two longitudinal sections of a split port of s stocking, so as to secure uniformity of appearance between ihe two portions thereof, or any desired difierence appear-unc e.

By way of still further guarding ageinsa lateral movement of the supportingplste 2 and parts chrried thereby, a block 17, Fig. 1 Sheet 1, and Fig. 2, at the upper end of the her 10 is located within a recess 18 in the adjacentedge of the bed-pleie a of ihe machine. as shown in Figs. l" and 2, and wedge-shaped pieces l9, 19, Figs. 1, 1". end 2, are applied to the opposite sides of the said block 17, their inner portions being entered between the said sides and the adjacent wells of the notch 18. These wedges 19, 19, are secured to the sides of the block by means of screws 20, 20, the wedges being slot-ted longitudinally at 21 to provide for longitudinel adjustment of the wedges to take up lateral looseness and play of the bar within the recess.

To suit the dis osition of the cams and pickers at two di erent heights or levels in the machine, I provide in connection with the needles two sets of but-ts or heels, also arranged respectively at difierent levels, for engagement with therespective sets of cams. These butts or heels for convenience are pro' vided upon jacks, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, which are en aged with the needles in usual manner. ne of the jacks of the instep needles is shown at 3, Fig. 5; Fig. 6 shows one of the jacks, 4, of the needles used for knitt-in heels and toes and foot-bottoms; Fig. shows shows one of the jacks, 5, of the seam or suture needles. Inasmuch'as all of the needles are actuated by the main cams for round and round knitting, all of the jacks, 3, 4, 5, are furnished with butts 3, 4 5, at one height for engagement with such cams, the said butts 3, 4 and 5 ,.constituting one of the said sets, which is a complete circular series. For the actuation of the instep needles and seem or suture needles by the auxiliery cams during reciprocating knitting for the production of split-work, the jacks 3 of the insiep needles and the jacks 5 of the seam or suture needles are furnished respectively, with additional butts 3 and 5", at a second height. These additional but-Ls collectively constitute a secondary series, which is the second of the said sets. The needles which knit the heel and toe, and bottom of the foot, as Well as the back of a high-splice, are not engaged by the auxiliary cams; their incl-rs, e, have no secondary butts.

y reason of there being no but-ts of the heel and toe needles {apart from the seam or suture needles) in the secondary series of bulls or heels, I am enabled to give the auxiliary earns a working position much closer to the surface of theneedle-cylinder than heretofore. In fact, I may and usually do allow their faces to make contact with "the said surface when the said working position is assumed. This permits making the butts, 5 of the seam or suture needles short as in Fig. 7, and the belts, 3, of the instep needles of medium length,insteed of making the said butts medium and long as heretofore. This, also, permits the instep-raising cam 2' and pivoted switch-camE to have working posirions closer to the surface of the needle-cylinder than heretofore, namely only far enough outward from said surface to clear safely the short butts of the seam or suture needles. Thereby I avoid the dis advantages of having butts of three len 7 tbs (short, medium, and long) as hereto ore,

and of operating the instep needles by means of cams engaging at a. considerable distance outward from the needle-cylinders with the Sifter portions of long butts upon such nee- In order that the auxiliary cams may be caused to assume an idle position, retracted outward clear of the secondary butts, as during round and round knitting or heel and toe knitting, or an inward workin posit-ion suitable for engagement with sai butts, as during the knitting of split-work, the block B is mounted on its supporting-plate 2 with capacity to slide thereon radially with reference to the needle-cylinder N.- It is shown as held down upon the plate 2 by means of bent pieces 23 which are attached by screws 23*, 23, to the side edges of plate 2 and have their top portions bent inwardly over the side marginal portions of the block B, so as to hold the latter down while'at the same time permitting the radial movement. This is merely a, convenient construction for the purpose.

The parts through which the position of the block B is controlled by the patternsurface comprise a link 25, Figs. 2 and 3, abell-crank 28, and a lever 27 acting by one arm thereof upon said bell-crank and con heeled by a rod 28 with a lever or finger 28,

. other cause.

Fig. 11, that is controlled by the portions 28 of the pat-tern surface. By means of an elevated portion 28 of the pattern surface acting through the said parts, the block B is moved out-ward, so as towithdraw the auxiliary cams and pickers out of working relations with the lower butts 3 and 5", and so long as such a portion continues in engagement with the lever or finger 28*, the said block B is held in its outward or idle position. An expanding spiral spring 29, Fig. 1, confined between an upwardly projecting portion of the cam-block and a block '30 upon supporting-plate 2, pushes the block B inward toward the ,needle-cylinder when permitted by the pattern surface, and holds it in the inward position during the knitting of split-work.

The devices for controlling the auxiliary cam-block B which have just been described operate with positive action in moving the said cam-block outward, but operate to move it inward with yielding force. Herein resides one of the features of improvement. By reason of moving the block inward with yielding force, no injury from strain will result in case the block should be prevented from moving all the way in by a broken piece of needle fallen in between the block and the needle-cylinder, or by In prior machines the camblock B is moved inward positively. Hence, if a piece of needle, or other object, should fall in between the said block and the needle-cylinder while such block occupies its outward position, as during the knitting of the leg of a stocking, or of a heel or toe, so as to prevent the block from moving the full distance inward, the parts concerned in producing the inward movement would be strained and either bent or broken. If bent, adjustmentwould be necessary.

A modified arrangement of the instep cams i 2', is necessitated by the disposition of the butts in two series at different heights, the said cams being arranged as shown best in Fig. 1 so that'lower instep cam i cooperates with butts of the lowero'r secondary series, by acting upwardly thereagainst, while upper instep cam.z'"cooperates with butts of the upper series, by acting down-v wardly thereagainst. The two cams, i i are separated vertically more widely than heretofore upon their carrying-bar ifishown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The said carrying-bar is mounted for the required vertical movement thereof in a guideway in a stand z' that is attached to the upper cam carrying-plate H. The actuating connections throughwhich bar i and instep cams i i are moved upward and'downward at the required times in the working of the machlne comprise a bell-crank .5 which is pivoted at 6 upon the lower portion of said stand, with one arm thereof slotted to recase of a misplaced needle.

ceive .a screw 5* projecting from, the bar 21, and a link 7 extending from the other arm of said bell-crank to the upper arm of clutchlever I), the said link being engaged with said arm by means of a stud-screw 8 car ried by the arm and working with lost-motion in a slot 9 in the link. \Vhen the clutchlever is actuated to shift clutch-hub?) into engagement with oscillating gear 1' for reciprocating knitting, motion is transmitted by means of the link and bell-crank to raise the cams i 2" so thatthe cam 71 may act against the lower butts of the instep needles to raise such needles out of working relations with the main knitting cams and into the 'elevated position which they are re quired to occupy during reciprocating knitting; and when the clutch-lever is moved oppositely so as to shift clutch-hub 7) into engagement with the continuously-rotating gear 2" the cams 2' 2', are moved downward so that cam 2' may act upon the said upper butts to depress the instep needles and carry such butts into position to be engaged by the main knitting cams for round and round knitting. 1

The block 1, carrying the widening pickers T, T, is mounted upon the upper supportingplate H with capacity for movement radially toward and from the needle-cylinder, in order to place the said pickers in and out of working relations with the butts 4:- of the needles on which the heel, etc., are knit. During round andround knitting, and also during narrowing, the said block and pickers occupy their outwardly retracted position.

They are caused to occupy the outwardlyretracted position during the reciprocating knitting of split-work, because if at such time the widening pickers were left inward trouble would result sometimes, as in the It is difilcult to adjust the said ickers so as to avoid trouble of this kind. ometimes a needle jumps as a result of contact with a narrowing picker, .which would involve undesired engagement with a widening picker. if the latter were in- -ward. The position of block 1 is determined by means of the pattern surface-and connec} tions comprising a lever 31 pivoted by screw 31", Fig. 2, on one edge of block B and having its upwardly-extending arm engaged in a slot in a plate 32 that projects outward from the block 1, the said lever 31 being actuated by means of a lever 33 which is connected by means of a rod 34- with a lever or finger 34*, Fig. 11, that is indirect engagement with the pattern surface. The pattern surface, acting through these connections, operates to move the block 1 outward into its position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and normally holds it in such outward position. An

expanding spiral spring 35, Figs. 1 and 3, confined between the outer end of the block 1 and a fixed piece 36 upon the supportingplate H, operates to move the block inward when permitted to do so by the pattern surface, and holds the block in its inward position, with the pickers T, T, in working relations with the said butts 4 during the widening operation in forming a heel or toe bulge or pouch.

The tapering gauge-plate is by which the elevated positions of the widening pickers T, T, are controlled is mounted upon the block 1 in a manner providing for adjustment of the said gauge-plate inward and outward. The gauge-plate is affixed to the inner end of a carrier-block k" occupying a slot 1n the top of the block 1, said carrier block being secured in place in the said slot by means of a screw [72. The stem of said screw passes vertically through a longitudinal. slot in the carrier-block, permitting the I carrier-block and gauge-plate to be set in or out as required, and fastened in place. A setting of the carrier-block and gauge-plate farther inward operates to lower the waiting i ositions of the engaging ends of the pickers T. A setting of the same farther outward operates to permit said engaging ends to occupy higher waiting positions.

Stops are provided for the purpose of limiting the extent of the inward movement of the blocks D and 1 so as to relieve the needle-cylinder from the inward pressure of the cams and pickers which are carried by the said blocks. The stop for limitingtheinward movement of the block D consists in a plate 351, Fig. 1, attached by a screw 35 to the top of the supporting-plate H. Said plate extends under the outer portion of'the block D, and has an upturned lug that engages with a shoulder that is formed at the outer end of a recess in the under side of block D. This stop 35 is slotted longitudinally, at 35 to enable it to be adjusted in or out so as to vary the closeness of approach of the main knitting cams to the surface of the needle-c linder under the action of sprin (Z ant the engagement of the narrowing pickers with the needle-butts. The stop for limiting the inward movement of the block 1 is constituted by a screw 361- carried by the downturned outer end of a plate 37 that is attachedto block 1 and projects outward therefrom. The inner end of the said screw 361 is adapted to make contact with i the adjacent edge of the supporting-plate H.

assume the feeding position at the time of By adjustment of the said screw-stop the closeness of the approach of the block 1 and parts carried thereby to the cylinder may be regulated to a nicety, and thereby the engagement of the widening pickers with the butts 4 may be regulated.

The means for controlling the. yarn-guide d of the auxiliary feed so that except during the knitting of split-work it shall occupy its non-feeding position, and so that it shall relates beginning to knit split--work, comprises in the case of the machine shown in the drawings a lever 50 adapted to engage with the said yarn-guide. The said lever is pivoted at 50*, Fig. 3, upon one edge of cam-carrying-plate H, and its lower arm is engaged by a late 51 carried by auxiliary cam-block 13. he relations, etc., are such that while the said cam-block B occupies its idle outward position it holds the lever 50 in a position in which through engagement with yarn-guide (Z it keeps the latter inward in an upraised idle and non-feeding position. Movement of cam-block B inward into working position for beginning to knit splitwork operates lever 50 to permit yarn-guide (Z to be moved by. its spring (Z downward and outward into feeding position. as shown.

As usual, except while split-work knitting is being performed, the sinker-projecting cam G Fig. 10, adjacent the auxiliary feed remains in its inward non-working position, and hence ordinarily the sinkers are not moved radially as they and the needles with which they operate pass such feed. For split-work knitting the said cam is moved by the pattern-connections into its outer, working, position in order that through engagement with butts of the sinkers it may move the same radially outward. An improve- 'ment in the actuation of-the sinkers during the production of split-work consists in actuating at this feed only the sinkers which cooperate with the instep needles. To this end, I employ sinkers having butts of two different lengths, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and at that side of the sinker-cam-ring G which is adjacent the auxiliary feed I employ a movable sinker-projecting cam, G shown in Figs. 10 and 10*, which is adapted to engage with the long butts only. The sinkers. 44, which are combined with the instep needles have long operating butts 44 for engagement by the'outth'row portion G of the said cam. The sinkers, 45, which are provided for cooperation with the heel and toe needles have short butts, 7L5, adapted to pass under the said outtln'ow portion G of the cam G which is at a higher level than the guard portion G thereof. In consequence of this difference in level, the. said cam has the stepped formation that is shown in crosssection in Fig. 10 Through thepatternconnections by which the radial position of cam G is controlled, it is caused to occupy during round and round knitting an inward ever, at which time the auxiliary cams are in action and knitting roceeds in connection'with the auxiliary eed as well as with the main feed, the cam Gr occupies its working position shown in Fig. 10, and its outthrow portion Gr engages with the upper portions of the long butts 44* of the sinkers 44 of the instep needles, so that in passing the said cam the said sinkers are moved outward radially. As indicated already, the other sinkers are not actuated in passing the auxiliary feed, and remain in their inward positions between the needles. After passing the cam G in either direction of movement of the needle-cylinder and sinker-ring in the reciprocating movement during splitwork knitting, the sinkers which were radially projected by the out-throw portion G of such cams are moved inward again by the appropriate retracting cam G of the sinkercam ring G, as usual.

The pattern -connections by means of which the position of cam Gr radially is controlled, and the said cam is moved outward and inward at the required times ir the working of the machine, comprise an arm 46 projecting outward from such cam and having in its outer portion a segmental slot 47 receiving the upturned inner end of a bar 48 carried by the upper arm of the lever 50. Consequently, as auxiliary camblock B is moved inward to place the auxiliary cams in working relations with the needles, the movement of the said lever which is instrumental in permitting auxiliary yarnguide d to assume its working relations with the needles, as shown in the drawings, also operates through the engagement of bar 48 with the slotted arm 47 to draw cam G radially outward into its working position shown in Fig. 10. So, also, when cam-block B is moved outward to withdraw the auxiliary cams from working relations with the needles, the corresponding movement of the lever 50 and bar 48 operates tomove cam G radially inward to its inoperative position. Slot 47 in arm 46 is elongated and segmental to permit lateral play of said arm relative to the upturned inner end of bar 48 as the sinker-cam ring G plays to and fro horizontally, as usual, in the reciprocating action of the needle-cylinder and sinkerbed n.

Since the inward and outward movement of the portion of lever 50 which carries bar 48 is greater than the required extent of movement of cam G2 radially, lost motion is provided for by mounting the said bar in a holder 49 upon the lever with capacity for endwise movement therethrough, the extent of the relative movement between the bar and the holder being defined by means of collars 52, 52, which are clamped by means of screws 53, 53, upon the bar at opposite sides of the said holder. Such extent may be varied as required by adjustment of the said collars to positions at different distances apart upon the bar.

\Vhen the lever 50 occupies the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with its laterally-bent upper end-portion outward far enough to permit yarn-guide d of the auxiliary feed to occupy its feeding position, the latch-ring C may be lifted and lowered again by the operator without interference of the lower portion of the yarnguide with said laterally-bent upper endportion in the descent of the latch-ring. \V hen the lever occupies its inward position, with the said laterally-bentupper end-portion acting to hold the said yarn-guide pressed inward and upward into non-feeding position, a lifting of the latch-ring by the operator will elevate the yarn-guide above and clear of the lever-end, so that the yarn-guide will swing outward above the lever-end, and when the latch-ring is lowered the knee-portion of the yarn-guide will encounter the top of the lever-end. To provide for this encounter the said knee-portion is formed with a bevel or incline (1 so that the yarn-guide will slip inward past the lever-end and into the non-feeding position again.

In the case of the upper or main series of butts, the butts 3, Fig. 5, of the instep needles are longer radially than those, 4? and 5, Figs. 6 and 7, of the remaining needles. This obviously is not for cooperation with the lower instep-cam 2' because such cam is at the lower level in the machine and butts 3", Fig. 5, are provided in the lower series of butts for cooperation with such cam. The purpose is to provide for the complete inward return of cam-block D into working relations with the needle-cyl- 105 inder and the needles after having been drawn outward, as in order to permit of leveling the needles for a transferring operation at the time of beginning a fresh stock-. ing. When the said block is permitted to 110 move inward again, it is arrested by facecontact of one or more of its cams with the outer ends of butts of the main series. As soon, however, as the first long butts come around to the top guard cam 41 in the revo- 115 lution of the needle-cylinder their radiallyproj'ecting outer end-portions enter the pas-' sageway below such guard-cam and follow the usualknitting path below guard-cam e and also below side-cam 2). so that as soon 120 as the last of the preceding short-butts passes clear of the face of the saidsidecam 4) the cam-block D, under the pressure of the expanding pressure-spring d completes its movement inward into normal 125 working relations with the needle-cylinder, and needle-butts.

The guard-cam 0 attached to one arm projecting from the upper end of stand 5* serves to prevent butts of the upper series .130

from hitting against the letthand end of upper instep cam i (which acts upon butts of the upper or main series for the purpose of depressing the needles from the elevated level to the normal working level again) in the first portion of the forward movement of the ueedle-cyliiuler in going off the toe. The pattern-barrel movement being timed to take place while upraised needles are at the rear of cam if, and the auxiliary cam-block B being pulled out after the butts have begun to pass over the front widenin picker. some of the butts are left in a high position and would catch against said end of cam if guard-cam 0 were not arranged properly to depress them sutficiently to prevent.

What is claimed as the invention is 1. A split-work knitting machine having, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knitting cams for round and round and also reciprocating knitting, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting cams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams, and an auxiliary set of radially-movable knitting cams for reciprocating knitting only, permanently located opposite the main knitting cams, and having the said auxiliary set of knitting cams located at an entirely different level from that of the main knitting cams.

2. A split-work knitting machine comprising a needle-cylinder, needles, main and aux-' iliary yarnieeds, main knitting cams, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting cams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams, and an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, and having combined with such parts means for supporting said auxiliary set of knitting cams at a different level in the machine, and means for effecting relative vertical adjustment be tween the different sets of cams to control the relative tightness or looseness of mesh of the respective knitted strips with relation to each other.

3. A split-work knitting machine com prising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knitting cams, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting cams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-Work knitting, means for supporting said auxiliary set at a different level in the machine, and means for ellecting relative vertical adjustment between the respective supports to thereby control the relative tightness or looseness of mesh of the respectlve knitted strips with respect to each other.

i. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, needle-cylinder, needles, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knitting cams, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting *ams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, means for supporting said auxiliary set at a different level in the machine, and means for effecting vertical shift of the dilierent sets of cams bodily in unison to vary the length of the stitches, and having combined with the said parts means for effectin relative vertical adjustment between the said sets of knitting cams to control the relative tightness or looseness of mesh of the respective knitted strips with relation to each other.

5. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knitting cams, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting cams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, means for supporting said auxiliary set at a difierent level in the machine, and means for effecting vertical shift of the two sup ports in unison to vary the length of the stitches, and having combined with the said parts means for effecting relative vertical adjustment between the respective supports to thereby control the relative tightness or looseness of mesh of the respective knitted strips with respect to each other.

6. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles including seam or suture needles, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knit ting cams, narrowing and widening pickers cooperating with said main knitting cams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, pickers for controlling said seam or suture needles for the production of seams of sutures, means for supporting the auxiliary of knitting cams and seam or suture pickers at a different level in the machine, and upper and lower instep cams.

7. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles including seam or suture needles, a main. and auxiliary yarn-feeds, main knitting cams, narrowing and widening pickers-cooperating with said main knitting c'ams, means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, pickers for controlling said seam or suture needles for the production of seams or sutures, means for supporting the auxiliary set of knitting cams and seam or suture pickers operating with said main knitting cams,

means for supporting said cams and pickers at one level in the machine, an auxiliary set of knitting cams for split-work knitting, pickers for controlling said seam or suture needles for the production of seams or sutures, means for supporting said auxiliary set of knitting cams and said seam or suture pickers at a difi'erent level in the machine, means for-effecting vertical shift of the different supports in unison to vary the length of the stitches, means for effecting relative vertical adjustment between the respective supports to thereby control the relative tightness-or looseness of mesh of the respective strips with respect to each other, and upper and lower instep cams.

9. A split-work knitting machine compris ing main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, a needlecylinder, main knitting cams and narrowing and widening pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams, auxiliary knitting cams at a diflerent level for split-work knitting, and needles having one complete series of butts at the level firstmentioned for cooperation with the main knitting cams, and a secondary series on the needles of one strip adapted for cooperation with said auxiliary cams and with the lower instep cam.

10. A split-work knitting machine comprising main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, a needle-cylinder, main knitting cams and narrowing and widening pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams,

auxiliary knitting cams at a different level for split-work knitting, and needles having one complete series of butts at the level first mentioned for cooperation with the main knitting cams, and a secondary series on the needles of one strip adapted for cooperation with said auxiliary cams and with the lower instep cam, said complete series of butts comprising one set of one length on needles which are not actuated by the auxiliary cams and a set of a second length on the needles which are actuated by such cams.

11. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, a needle-cylinder, main knitting cams and narrowing and widening pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams, auxiliary knitting cams and seam or suture pickers at a different level for split-work knitting, and needles having one complete series of butts for cooperation with the main knitting cams and a secondary series on the needles of onestrip adapted for cooperation with said auxiliary cams and with the lower instep earn, the needle-series including seam or suture needles having secondary butts for engagement with said seam or suture pickers. Y

12. A split-work knitting machine comprising main and auxiliary yarn-feeds, a

needle-cylinder, main knitting cams andnarrowing and widening pickers at one level in the machine, upper and lower instep cams, auxiliary knitting cams and seam or suture pickers at a different level for splitwork knitting, and, a series of needles including seam orisuture needles, said series of needles having one complete series of butts at the level of the main knitting cams for. cooperation with the latter and, a secondary series of butts on the needles of one strip adapted for cooperation with said auxiliary cams and with the lower instep cam, said complete series of butts comprising one set of one length on needles which are not actuated by the auxiliary cams and a set of a second length on the needles which are actuated by" such cams.

13. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a series of needles, main knitting cams, an auxiliary cam-block provided with an auxiliary set of cams for use in knitting splitwork, widening pickers, a second radiallymovable block carrying said widening pickers, and pattern-connections for automatically moving said widening-picker-block and said auxiliary cam-block radially to place said widening-pickers and auxiliary cams in and out of operative relations with the needles.

14. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a series of needles, main knitting cams, widening pickers, a radially-movable block carrying said pickers, and pattern-connections for automatically moving said pickerblock radially to place said pickers in and out of operative relations with the needles. 9 15. A split-work knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a series of needles, main knitting cams, widening pickers, a radially-movable block carrying said pickers, meanscarried by said block for adjustably determining the waiting position of the widening pickers, and pattern-connections for automatically moving said picker-block radially to place said pickers in and out of operative relations with the needles.

16. A split-work knitting machine com prising, 1n combination, a needle-cylinder, a series of needles, main knittmg cams, widening pickers, a radially-movable block carrying said pickers, a tapering gaugeblock adjustably mounted on said block for determining the waiting position of the widening pickers, and pattern-connections for automatically moving said picker-block radially to place said pickers in and out of operative relations with the needles.

17. In a. split-work knitting machine, the combination with a needle-cylinder, needles including seam or suture needles, main knitting cams and widening pickers at one level, of a radially-movable auxiliary cam-block at a different level in the machine from that of the main knitting cams and widening pickers, auxiliary cams for use in knitting split-work and seam or suture pickers carried by said auxiliary cam-block at the latter level, and adjustment-screws for said seam or suture pickers carried by said auxiliary cam-block.

18. In a knitting'machine, in combination, the needle-cylinder, upper and lower cam-supports H and 2, main and auxiliary cam-systems carried bythe said cam-supports, a pattern-controlled bar,-as 1 connected with said support H, a holder connected with said bar 9 a depending bar, as 10, connected with said support 2 and entered into said holder. and means for 'varying the height of said bar and the su port 2 with relation to said holder and t e support H.

19. In a knitting machine, in combination, the needle-cylinder, upper and lower cam-supports H and 2, pattern-controlled bars 9 and 10 respectively connected with the respective cam-supports and also with each other, a bed-plate having a recess-which is occupied by said bar 10, and means for adjustably taking up side-play betweenbar 10 and the walls of said recess.

20. In a knitting machine, in combination, the needle-cylinder, upper and lower cam-supports H and 2, pattern-controlled bars 9 and 10 respectively connected with the respective cam-supports and with each other, a bed-plate having a recess which is occupied by the bar- 10, and adjustable wedges at opposite sides of bar 10 for taking up play between the latter and the walls of th recess. I

21. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, aneedle-cylinder, needles, a main cam-block carrying narrowing pickers and a block carrying widening pickers, said blocks radially movabie with relation to the needle-cyiinder, and adjustable stops for the respective blocks limiting the inward movement of the same toward the surface of the needle-cyiinder.

A knitting niiliifii combination, a need" lower l comprising,

needle-cylinder, and a stop for preventing ling the position thereof, the auxiliary yarn-guide, and the movable sinker-cam adjacent said cam-block, of means intermediate said cam-block and the said sinker-cam and movable yarn-guide whereby as the camblock goes into working position the sinkercam and yarn-guide are caused to assume working positions, and when the cam-block is moved to non-working position the sinkercam and yarn-guide are likewise moved to non-working positions.

25. The combination with the auxiliary cam-block, pattern-connections for controlling the position thereof, the auxiliary yarnguide, and the movable sinker-cam adjacent said cam-block, of a lever intermediate said cam-block and the said sinker-cam and yarnguide whereby all three simultaneously assume working positions or non-working positions, as the case may be. i

26. In a knitting machine having main and auxiliary feeds, the combination with a sinker-cam I ring having sinker-actuatingcams corresponding with said feeds, at least one of the latter movable into working and non-working positions respectively, of sinkers comprising a set having butts adapted to pass said movable sinker-cam without being engaged thereby, and a set having butts adapted to be engaged and actuated by the said cam when in working position, and pattern-connections for controlling the position of the said movable cam.

27. In a knitting machine for split-work and the like, having main and auxiliary feeds, the combination with a sinker-cam ring having opposite sinker-actuating cams, that for the auxiliary feed of stepped formation and movable into working and nonworking positions, respectively, of sinkers comprising a set cooperating with the instep needles and having long butts, and a set cooperating with the other needles, and having short butts, and pattern-connections for controlling the position of the said movable cam.

testimony whereof I afiix my signature presence of two witnesses.

ALDEE LAN 3?.

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