US1541230A - Enitting machine - Google Patents

Description

.Vz/x/ June 9, 1925. I 1,541,230-

I v v. LOMBARDI v KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

MT/QHIOK: V/ncem lomard/ W W 4 7 June 9, 1925. I 1,541,230

v. LOMBARDI v KNITTING MACHINE 4\ Q -llll\ V/hcenf Zomba/197' 1,541,230 v Jung 9,19 v. LOMBARDI I KNITTING MAChiINE- Filed Dec. l8, 1922. .5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill) l etented done il l or U VINCENT LOMBdBJDI, G33 BEUGKLYN, WEW

KNITTING MACHINE.

Anplicstion Elecemoer 18 1922-. Serial Ho. @2554.

To all whom may concern;

I, VINCENT LOMEARXYE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to knitting I113 chines and methods, and more particularly it relates to machines and methods, ttor knit ting mniti-color fabrics.

An object 'of-this inventionis to provide automatic n eans forilmitting a Inulti-color fabric in ivhich different portions of the fabric will he of different colors, the yarn which does not determine the color 0 the front of the cloth in any particular portion being carried along with the knitting but substantially concealed from the front of the fabric.

Another ohjectis to provide adjustable income in a knitting machine for varying the pattern of the fabric at any time desired.

Another object is to provide means for producing a predetermined variation in the rise and fall olthe needles of a knitting machine to cause desired. variations in the fabric.

Another object is'to provide for causing certain needles. to rise at particular times while allowing neighboring needles to remain in their lowest positions.

Another object is to nrovide a ias-chine for knitting a two-color tahric in which the yarn not in loops will be interlocked he.- hind and between the loops of the other yarn;

Still another object is to provide an improved method of knitting whereby the re,- suits outlined above may be accomplished.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

One form of this invention will he hereinafter described in detail. in connection with a circular knitting machine for knitting multi-color fabrics, In this machine the above objects are attained by providing four diil'erent kinds of needles in case the machine is for two-color knitting. \Two types have butts at. the same relative position along their shanks, but the butts i i one type are short and in the other, long. T two types are also characterized h long and short butts with the but .3

in relative position compared to the first two types. This enables the needles having butts at one height to be operated by cams independent of other coins for opcrating the needles having butts at the other height. A further distinction can he made by coins of diti'erent sizes for operating'only the needles with long butts or all the needles. The employment of four kinds of needles is or" course only one way in. which means may he provided for selectively-"op crating the needles in a predetermined manner.

In locating the needles in a circular knitting machine those places where it is desired that the fabric be one of the colors, the needles having butts of one height are placed, the long and the short butts being alternated. At the other places where the fabric is to be of the other color the needles having butts at the other height are placed,

he other 'the long and short butts being alternated Suitable cam surfaces are provided for bringing all of the needles for one color up to form loops when that color yarn is pass ing while when the other yarn is passing alternate ones of these needles are partially raised still keeping their latches open and keeping the last formed loop around both the needle and the open latch. After the yarn of the second color is hooked by these partially raised needles they are lowered again, vi hen the first yarn comes around again all of the needles for the first color are fully raised in turn to allow each old loop ofthe first. color and the alternately hooked. yarn of the second color to slip-ha low the latch so that when each of these needles is lowered the old loops and the hooked yarn of the second color will slip over the tops of the needles and be replaced by the newly formed loops. This results in the yarn of the second color being interlocked behind the loops of other color, there" by providing a closely knitted fabric which does not have any loose dangling loops on the back side of the fabric which in previous fabrics were sources of constant trouble because of the liability of their being.

snagged and the yarnhroken, thereby destroying the fabric. The yarn of the secondoolor inthe machine'of this invention is in 73. The odd numbered'need'les have {short the above manner locked between the loops butts as shown at 55and 58,. while the-even of'the first yarn without changing however numbered have long b-utts'as at 56 and 57. toanysubstantial degree the appearance of Forconvenicnce ii1 .'-ig..,1 .the longlmtts are 1 thefront-of the fabric. r l shown shaded while the short butts are-una The above described operation of the shaded in order togrca dily distinguishthe p needles for one color is repeated by other kinds of needles. The needles operatingbe-- ci'msfor the needles offlthe second color. tween surfaces .70' and are controlled in. Certain of the cams for the needles of each their upward mid'downwa'rd motion bycams 'color'ma if desired be made adjustable 61, 62,153 and which arefixed toa'cyliw. 7g. whereby or exam le afteria certain number der rotating around'c'ylinder 60 and also b j of rows are knitted the loo forming opera: cams. 64 and 66 which are capable-of a tions are reversed so that loopsof. the first 'ustm'ent either to bein'j-the path of the color may be formed. where formerly. loops utts or entirely out ofthcway. shown t-of the second color were formed and vice in Fig. 1 cam 64 is'in'op'erative position so ersa. This invention in the form hereinwhilecam 66 is in anon-operating position. I after described in'detail rovides' for thesimilarly needles havingbutts betweensur- I I automaticadjustment of t ese cams wherefaces 72 and '73 a'retcontrolled by cams .74, by reversals of the color of the -fabric may 75, 76, 77 andoneiof theadj'u'StabIe cams 2. bemade-atpredetcrmined intervals. As will 78. or- 79, shown inthe drawing to be'cam appear hereinafter these cams maybe also .78; For 'mo'stzpurpose'sfcam 78 should be automatically adjustedto knit the', entire in operating positionwhencam; 64- is opfabric'of on y one of the two colors desired crating and: similar1yfcam--7 9 should bei'n therebyproviding a further variation in the operation positionpwlien cam 66is operat- 25v fabric to provide both a checkered color and ing for reasons described hereinafter. no r also asohd colon; p f f i (The typelof machine shown in'Fig. 1 is V Th1s invention will-be better understood of the circular knittingmachinc type for ,by reference to the following detailed Jdev knitting tubular fabric of two-colors. Fig. scription taken in connection with the 91.0- isa somewhat schematic top view of Fim; co'mpany'mgdrawmgs in Wl11Ch 'F1g- 1 repland is placed-in exact alignment with Fig. resents aview of a knitting mechanism 1. to show the character of the fabric which constructed in accordance with this invenlies justover the edge 6001: Fig. '1. The. tion;- Fig. 2 represents the fabric correctly customary sinkers 'SOseparating the needle spacedcorrespondmg to the needles of Fig. spaces are, shown, while"the-showings such --1 3 is a sectional view of the knitting as at 8 1 illustrate the top. view of needles .lnn

Lmachme illustrating how certain camsv of having -closed latcl es, the showings such as Fig. 1 may be automatically operated; F ig. at 82 illustrating needles with open latches, 4 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 3; which of course can be verified by noting the Fig. 4 is a. detail view of themechanism corresponding side views of the needles in shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 5 isva top view of a Fig. '1. Y 1 I 1 portion-of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side view of ;As explained above member GOis atom a portion of Fig. 4; Figs. 7,8, 9 and 10 ally a'stationary cylinder around whichreillustrate cam means f or the-control chain volves another cylinder carrying the cams of 4; .Fig. 11 is a top view of the knitabove describe The needles of course do ting' machine; and Figs. 12, 13 and 14 rep not move laterally butarerfsubjected only 1H resent enlarged viewsjof one type of cloth to an upward and downward movement due made by this invention; Figs. 15 and 16 t'o -the revolving. cams. 'As'is well under illustrate further the control mechanism of stood in the-art the needles undergo a cyclic this invention; and Figs. 17,18, 1'9 and 20 operation in order to forinthe desired fabric. illustrate a modification of Fig. 15 in four For convenient e, the explanation of the opdifl'erent positions. v i erationmfthe machine will start. with The manner in which cams, are arranged needles'l and which are in their lowerto selectively raise the needles will be un-. most position, and, each having its latch 'deratoodfrom Fig. 1 in which the stationary closed andholding a 10 p of, yarn 83. which I c linder 60 is flattened out for.c'onvenience, for convcn'iencewill--be calledawhite yarn. a though the zen sare injtheactual machinei since it isl showinnshaded "The otl er yfarnf oonnectedtogethertoiorm a continuous'eyl 8c'whfich-v isjs'liow'n i sliad' willbefcallcd' inden .Along itheoutsideoffthe cylinderGO; bl'ilckyarn. l fl'f-yQ- p g .fj a a suitably supported and spaced in parallel' Assuming that the cylinder'carryin 'fthe' -.-relation area pluralit fneedles numbered caln'si's' moving in a counterclockwise irec' g 1 to 54 inclusive. Need les 1 to 14, 21.to 34, .tion' or fromvleft to right across tliesh'eet,j and 41 to 54.-ha ve buttscapable of being Cami 61. is the first cam to pass along the I moved .between surfaces '70 and 71 while butts of needles-1 and 2.- Cam 61 is of such v Itheremaining needleshav butts-capable of a width that it will-contact with andraise I being moved between other surfacesj72 and only those needles having the-long butts.

1,541,230 y is' Needle 1 will not be lifted by cam 61 but will remain with its butt along surface 71 similar to needles 3, 5, I, .9, etc. j The'needle 2 however with a long butt will be raised by cam 61 and will successively take positions similar to needles 4, 6, 8, etc. Needle 2 when raised by cam 61 will not be raised to its maximum top positionbut wilL be raised an amount sufiicient to allow the latch to open and have the loop surround both the shank and the latch but not raised far enough to allow the loop to slip over the end of the latch. The even numbered needles from 1 to 14 are then partially raised by cam 61 while the odd numbered ones re main in their lowermost positions.

Cum 62 will next strike the needles 1 to 14 and the cam is of sufficient width to lower both the long butt needles and short butt needles. However. since only the long buttneedles of 1 to 14 have been raised it follows that only the long butt needles of l to 14 will be lowered by cam 62. The revolving cylinder carrying the cams also supports and carries along with it the yarn carriers shown in detail in subsequent figures. Located just above cam 62 is the yarn carrier for black yarn 84 so that thelong butt needles of 1 to 1 1- will be lowered by cam 62 after black yarn 84 has been hooked by them. After the long butt needles of 1 to 1.4 are lowered by cam 62 they will be positioned the same as needles 26 to 29. The s ort butt needles 27 and 29 which were not aised by cam 61 nor lowered by cam 62 have their latches closed and contain inftheir closed latches loops ofthe white yarn previously made. The long butt, needles 26 and 28 which were pulled down by cam (32 have their latches still open but with each book containing both a loop of the white yarn and the straight portion of the black yarn within the hook and just above the White loop. The straight portion of the black yarn will lie on top of the short butt needles such as 27 and 29.

The next corn to ali'ect the needles having butts between surfaces 70 and .71 is cam 6:3 which is of such a width as to, "raise only the long butt needles to the position shown for needles 32 and 34. This is again only a partially raiscd condition suchas that 'produced by cam 61. above described. It will be noted that due tothe raising of the long butt needles by cam 63 the long butt needles each has (as shown atS l) its latch open I with the loop of white yarn as well as the straight part of the black yarn on the side of the needle adjacent the observer while the black yarn still remains above the closed latches of the short butt needles as shown The next cam to operate the needles having butts between surfaces 70 and 71. is cam .64 which isof such a thickness as to raise 4 both the short and long butt needles and to raise them to their maximum height. (lam 64 thereby puts the needles in positions similar to 43, 44, and since cam 64 in raisingthe long butt needles will allow the loop of unlooped black yarn to follow a Zig zag path in front of alternate needles and behind the remaining needles for a purpose described. later.

The next cam to operate the needles be tween surfaces 70 and 71 is cam 65 which will meet both the shortbutt and long butt needles in their uppermost positions with all latches open and will lower both types. Supported immediately above the cam 65 is the carrier for the white yarn 83 which carrier of course rotates with the ams. The yarn 83 will thcnbe caught by these needles as they are lowered, each latch will be closed by theformer loop bearing upwards against it and after each needle has reached near its lowermost position each old loop will slip over the closed latch of the needle and over the edge of the fixed cylinder so that when the needle has reached its lowermost position only the new loop is around the needle. Due to the fact ",that the black yarn is on one side of the long butt needles and the opposite side of the short butt needles the black yarn for each long butt needle will slip over the end of the needle and will lie beside the end of the old loop and across both parts of the new loop as will appear from the position of needle 54 in Fig. 2. The fabric shown in Fig. 2 is shown of course with the back side to the observer. For the loops formed by the long butt needles the black yarn just slipped over each needle by cam will lie entirely behind each loop formed thereby. For the short butt needles however the black yarn is already on the side of the needle opposite the observer so that when the old loop is slipped over a short butt ncedleby cam 65 and the white yarn is pulled through the old loop to form a new loop the blaclvyarn is caught and locked between the new and old loops as shown for example by the fabric opposite needle 53 of Fig. 2. The exact nature of thepath taken by the black yarn through the white yarn loops will be better understood by reference to Figs. 12 13 and 1 a cycle begun by the cam 61 so that the i3" needles after being lowered by cam d5- are white yarn and the blackyarn to slip bc 3' ready to be 'operat'ed again by earns. 61 2,

-'63," 6 4 and 65'. in the order named". to term 'a vnewi'o'w ofavhitef'yarn loops.

The above description has shown how the white yarn loops 'aref'formed +Tha't portion .of the fabric knitted by needles 1 to 14; 21

" to"3'- l, and 41 ,t o '54 will" be c jtnnp'osedlot 1 white yarn loops. The remainder of the fabric knitted by needles 1 5 to 2()' 35-t0 40 will be composed of black loops with the .-white yarn'--inter1ocked betWeenfthe black butts" and the-odd numbered needles baring short butts:

loops in a'ina iner-nowtobedescribed.

Needles-1 5 to a1 1d.35"t' ")'40 have butts adapted to operatebet'wee'n surfaces T2 and,

73, the even nlllllbfll'ed needleshaving long (311111.76 corresponds to cam 61 tot raise the lon'g butt needles. After this selective. rails ingtlie neeidles encounteream '17 whichco rresponds to canr62 to .cause the whfltezyarn to becaught by alternate needles withopen latches even-after ,they are lowered by cam 77- .Aft'er the passage otcam 7 7 needles 35 to 40would'1ook like needles 2- to with the yarns reversed of course. Gain 77 isof suflicient width to lower both the long butt. needles and the 'short'butt needles, but for the arrangement shown with cam 79 not 30.

operatingonly the long butt needles are lowered. After cam 77 has passed the next cam is'7ft of such'wwidth as to selectively raise only the long butt needles. For the particular arrangement shown this selectivity is not utilized since with cam 78 in the position shown both the long butt and short butt needles will befully raised thereby.

."l-heseneedlcs neat encounter cam 75 which corresponds to cam for catching the black yarn and, forming new loops, the white yarn being interlocked between the black loops in just .tbe same manner as described for the white loops. After cam is encountered-tho next cam is 70 and the above described cycle will be repeated as often as. desired.

It thus will be seen {that the needles 1 to 14,21 mat, and 41 to at will knit white loops with the black yarn on the back side of the fabric but interlocked in alternate loops, while needles 15 to '20 and 35 to 40 knit black loops with the white yarn 0n the backside of the :fabric'in'terlocked -in.alter-' and8l are'of coursemerely illustrative as the two ya'rns may be of any desired colors 3 ormay be of the same color but differing in. some other characteristic. Inrertain cases, 1 in fact, yarhso'f the same color and characteri'stics may be used, it being possible to 65 produce in :this manner a fabric wherein nate wales. 'lheresulting fabric therefore .has three; broad white stripes separated by ,two narrow black, stripes.

The 'aboye colors assumed for yarns 83 a striped effect; for example, is obtained .by

' nieans ofjthebre'aks between-adjacent groups of wales'as between the wales e and d in,

areinoperatiye. If howeye'rthes'e fourv cams". are adjusted so that cams 7S andtet are lowcred; out of operating range and canis- 66 and {79f are raised until operative the result will be'that cam 66 will raise to their uppermost positions both the short butt and long butt needles .whereby the needles will be raised suilicient to; allow'lthe old loops to slip over the endigof each'latch so that each needle will catch :the black yarn 84 and make new loops thereof. Cam 78 being low-- ered out of operative range will not raise the butts between surfaces 72 and 73 suifis loops of the black yar'n.; Only the long butt needles will be partially raised by cam 'T-t and cam 75 coming along will cause the cient to cause these needles to make new black yarn to be inerely:intertwined between them insteald of being looped. Cam 7 9 being raised will cause both the long andshort buttneedles to be raised to their uppermost position" whereby when they encounter cam -77 the needles ;--15 to 20 and to so will Gain form new loops of the white yarn. being lowered out of operative position will allowthe partially raised long butt needles to encountercam-65 whereby in a-manner heretofore explained the white yarn will be merely intertwined between the needles opcrating bet'weersurfaces 70 and 71..

This reversal of cams 64:, 66,79 and 7.8

therefore results in the blaclryarn being knitted where the ,white yarn formerly. was

and-the white yarn. lgnitted where the black was. After several rowshave been knitted in this manner- cams 64, 66, '38 and Y9 t e be replaced in the positions shown in Fig whereby the col scheme will be reversed again.- T-his'cha "ging of the four adjustable cams thereforeenables a fabric to be knitted re embling a checker, board in color mafia H In viewof theabore explanations itwill be apparentthatl'if it is desired toinake several ,white rows entirely around the fab 11C,' c'ams 64: and 79 should be raised-into desired around the-whole cloth :both cases operativepositi ons" while cams (3 6 and 78 should be inoperative. On the other hand, u if'an entirely black row or rows of loops is shown. A suitable stop member 112 limits' the upward movement. of the pivoted arm 'j105 In order to maintain the arm 105 'in {its uppermost" position after disc 4 108 hasbeen passed a spring member 113 is 'madej-fto ride over a curved surface 114 server; tospring outward the 114 adjacent stop 112 which is suitably supported .by revolving cylinder 91 from apoint not shown in the sectional view of Fig. 3. The. curved and of member 114 is faced'away from the ob- Due to the tendency of 5 ring 113 spring 113 is held on the side of member when member 105 has been raised bydisc 108.

On the other hand if support 111 is in a lowered: position cylinder 91 in revolving wil-l'jcause discj108 to contact withend 1 09- 'andjcausethe ivoted arm 106 to be-lowered until sto ped 113 Wlll ride over the curved end I y the stopping member 115. t 1e lowering of arm 105 the spring During of member 114 and lie on the side of 'the curved surface adjacent stop 115.

of member 105 lowers cam 64 out .of ts operating"range.

This lowering -Anend viewof cam 79 is shown in" Fig.

. 3. This adjustable cam is held by a machine rod- 95,"located in a screw to. a rod not shownbut similar to plane beyond .rodllii and working; in a parallel hole-to that of rod 95. "This rod has a ball and 11.6with -a pivoted member117fwhich is capable ofbeing raised or loweredby'discs' 11,8 and .119 mounted on a movablefsupport 120 in the same manner as memberlOL'r.

Stop members 121 and 122' are provided 1 for the pivoted member 117 and this ilpii'otcd cam 66. This is 'for the rcason as shown in ppsition or lower member may be biased in eitheriitsjuppcr position b a springmemr such as member 113. s shown; in the drawing disc '1'1 8'has lowered pivotedmdmher 117 to its lower position whereby cam 79 is placed, in its-ino )erative position-1 Similar'arms ivoter may bepr'ovide on the rcvolving:=cylinder at points op site the other two adjustable cams 66 and IS, with this difference-however that the pivoted arm moved by f either disc 108 or should control; the lower cam 78 while the pivoted arm-moved by discs 118 und'119 should control the upper Fig. 1 thatcams 64 and 78 should be raised when cams 66 and 79 are lowered and cams 64-and 78 should be lowered when cams 66 and 7 9 are raised inordcr to get the checker board efl'cct. i

The manner in which the cylinder 91 may be revolved is not material to this invention ut may be accomplished in any of the ways known in the art. For example thelower side of base plate 92 may be provided with teeth which cooperate with a cog wheel to rotate the cylinder. The cop wheel (not shown) may be connected to a source of power such as determined links-, a plurality of cams such socket joint the revolving 'cylind 1'1 9,'while I Q or disc'shouid be pivoted-above theother'piw Lee-1.230

an electrics. motor inany sup rte 1 1 1 suitable manner.

The manner in which the and may be raised or lowerec maybe understood from Fig. 4 which is a side view of the machine taken near :the cross section, of Fig. 2. The'lower end of support pivoted to a horizontal arm pivoted at 124 and at the end 0 posit'e the j pivot is adapted to be held'up by; latch-.7 125 which is pressed against the..arm' 128 -f by a spring 126. Whenever the latch-125 is released the arm 123 .falls down until'i'the stop 127; rests on plate-90,

has "mounted on as shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 10,; Cam 1303 of the-type shownFig. 7 which has a jccti'on such surface of latch 125 holds itin place. y e (see Fig.8); has reached the position shown for earn 130; the projecting surface is such; that. i'tavill contact withthe lower surface" of arm '128 and to allow, arin 123 to fall down before arm': 128 has reached its uppermost position} where it is held by the'latch which haire- 1 turned after arm 123 has-d-ro ped g' The framework, 133 to which thearms are pivoted is attached of vcourse to the revolv-' mg cylinder 91 and with, the ports in the position shown in disc '108'lwill con act with end cause cam (A to tak shown in Fig.1;fDisc 118 on the -u' right, member 120 will co tactiwiththe'endlpmce 134 and cause cam 79, to be owered as shown' t 0' drawing p1ece'107 and =1 e the raised pos tion infFlg. 1'.

' A similar framework 'may' be'mo'unted onjrf J P si en 7 8 except that the'gpivote membe' lingfcam' 66 shouldgbejthe lower 0' so: as to be o'peratedby either discs the pivoted member for the raise it. Arm 128 on be mg i'taised wirll push latch-125 out far enough thereby giving; a variation nod to be held-by the latch in its upper position and arm 128 will remain in its lower position.

However as soon as wheel 136 has revolved to a sullicient extent that eam 131 .is operative to raise arm 128 and lower arm 123 as above described cams 64 and 78 will be inoperative and cams 66 and 79 will be operative. T his results in the needles having butts on the lower level knitting loops of the white yarn and those on the upper level knitting loops of the black yarn,--whercby a checkered client is produced Cams such as 130 and 131 may be suitably spaced along the chain 129 to give the reversals when de sired. Wheel 136 should preferably he geared to the mechanism driving the revolving cylinder 93' so that chain 129 moves along one link for a dciinitc number of complete revolutions of the cylinder 93.

At certain places along the chain it may be desired to have an attachment such as that shown in Fig. 9 which has no projection sullicient to raise either arm 12 5 or 128,but merely has a horizontal projection 13? extending away from the chain on the side opposite the observer. when it has reached the position shown for earn 130 in if" 4 will contact with a special control arm m8 and tend to raise the same. This control arm is supported by the pivoted latch 125 at one end and by a pivoted member lilt at the other end. The pin 13? coin in into contact with the projection 140 will push the latch back againstthe spring a suflicicut distance to allow that arm of the two arms i133 and 128 which is held up by latch 125 to fall down so that botharms 223 and 128 are in their lower positions and remain so until a cam surh as Hi0 or 131 comes along to raise one or the fllllll'.

From the above description it will be apparent that with both arms 121- and 128 raised all cams 64, 3.6:, 1 8 anri'ill Ni 1 be operated so that both types of needles knit not only black-loops but White loops as well.

to the checkered fabric whenever desired. This would take place it cams similar to earn 175 of Fig. 10 were present on chain 129 of Fig.4.

it is of course sired the cloth may n t be made checkered but the one type of needle may continue to knit one color loo'ps while the other type knits loops of the other color.

Fin. 4 Linstratcs the manna-chi which the latch 22!: is pushed back to release one of the arms 123 or Fig. 23 she s a top view of the arms of Fig. 4 in order to make more apparent the space relation of'niunhers 123 and 128.

Fig; 6 is an end riew ot the supporting; and. operating means for the discs 108, 110, lie and iii) of Fig. i and no further expla- This projection understood that it it is do nation of the various parts is believed neces sary Fig. 11 1s a top view partly in cross section of a machine of this invention taken along several planes as will be understood by comparing Figs. 3 and 11. The various parts have been straightened out for-the sake of simplicity although as described above the machine is a circular machine with the needles arranged in the form of a circle instead of in a straight line as in Fig. 11.

the cam surface which travels over the sink- 7 ers-Sll and pulls the sinker-s in shown at position 145, which correspond to the knitting position. The arrangement of the cam 101 of Fig. 3 should be such as to pull the sinkers in in this manner at erery knitting position as is welldmown in the art. The remaining parts of Fig. 11 are obvious from the previous descriptions. The end pieces 146 and 1 17 are attached to pivoted arms 148 and 14:9 for controlling respectively cams 78 and 36"in the same manner as pivoted arms 105 andill'f control the other two adjustable canis (S -l and 79. v

These fjcnd pieces 105i, 134, 146 and HT may beet springnuitcrial if desired or they may be of sullicient thickness and material to be rigid so as not to absorb any part of the motion which would otherwise be imprcssedbn the arms operating the cams.

Figs. 1'2, 13 and 14 illustrate a fabric of a type which may he produccd by the present invention; Fig. 12 being a diagrammatic plan view of the fabric; Fig. 13' is a diagrammatic sectional view. and Fig. 14 an enlarged fragmentary view of the fabric. These figures illustrate a fabric composed of two yarns 150 and 151. the former of which is unshadcd and will be referred to as whitev yarn. and the latter of which is shaded and will be referred lo as black yarn. 'ih'c'fabric. as cxemplilicd in Fig. 12. compriscs a left-hand portion, in which the. black yarn is looped. and a right-hand portion, in which the white yarn is looped, three of the wales of the. black yarn being shown at n. b and c, and tour of the wales ot' the white yarn being shown at (l, o. f and 5 In this particular fabric, the unlooped portion of the white. yarn is interlocked with the black yarn in the ales a and 0. and is carried entirely to the rear of the black yarn in the wale Z1; while the unlooped tion of the black yarnis interlocked withthe loops oi the white yarn in the wales d and'f. and is carried entirely to the rear of the white yarn-in the wales c and g.

An arrangement of this type w'herein the unlooped portions ofthe y'arns are interlocked in alternate wales of the looped portions oi theotheryarns, gives a maximum of interlocking, while preventing the formation of dangling loops so frequently present on the inside of a two-color knitted fabric; the fabric knitted byithe present invention having no dangling loops, even at the point between the wales and d, wheret'he color ofthe front of the fabric changes. It will 1 .benoted that the fabric shown in Fig. 12 is ample, a fabric-of the somewhat different from the fabric shown in Fig. 2, in that there is an' interlock at each of the adjacent wales of different colors 0 and (l; whereas in the fabric shown in Fig. 2. therewould be an interlock only atone of :these wales, the next interlock occurring in a wale which would correspond to"the wale e. It will thus be obvious that fabrics having a variety of interlocking arrangements may be produced by the present invention, all of which are nevertheless substantially similar and capable of being readily produced by a machine of the typeillustrated. For 'cx character illustrated in Fig. 12 might beproduced by e series of needles arrangedas in-Fig. 1, except. that] the needles 20 and 40 would be omitted. Still another; arrangement might-be produced by the omission of the needles 21 and41.

It will be observed from Fig. let'that the black yarn is very tightly drawn so that very little thereof is visible from the front of that portion of the fabric fwh'ereintbc white yarn 'is looped. Thus there is prov duced a fabric wherein the unlooped portion does not substantially affect the character of the front of the fabric. It will, of course, be. obvious that there maybe produced by the present invention types, and fabrics in which the'yarns c0nstituting the samemay "be more or less tightly drawn according'to the type of fabric which it', is desired to produce.

It will be apparent from the above dcscription that the two color fabric is kniticd without the rcqnircmcnt of the 'so-callcd- I v 78 and 79 are as in the of the yarn; while being securely interlocked,

fabrics of Various trolled by flil1e discs;108, 110, 11s anal-1'10; I

As shown in Fig. 15 :the levers -123 and 128 are set to cause-disc 108 to contact with j t'hgfl lower ends of arms 148 ai1d1165 whereby; cams 6t and 78 are'rais'ed to the :operating positions shown :for them in Fig. Disc 118'however will hitthe upper. ends of'arms 149 and 117 causing cams-66 andr'i) to .be loweredout ;of operating position as shown in Fig. 1. The positions actually shownlin Fig. 16 are the positions reached after con- 1 :t'act has been made with discs.;108- and-1 18 f sfjust described. 1

Eig. 16shows lever'123 down'iand lever 128 up -wherebydisc 110 isin-position to contact with the, upp'er endsof' arms148 and 105 whereby cams-'64 and ..78 are wercd' outxof operating position. -Disc 116 is in position to contact with the lower ends ofarms 149 and 117 to raisecani's 66 and79 into operating position. Hspreviously-described the alternate setting-{of the cams as shown in Figs. and 16 will give the fabric a checkerboa' appearance. 7 i Figs. 17. 1h, 19 and 20-illustrate' four of fication of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3fflpr controlling earns 64, 66, 78 and 79', o ig. 1.

By means of the control. mechanism shown in these four figures cams 64 and 78 may be made operative for causing the upper level needles to form loops of yarn 83 and the lower level needles to form loops of yarn 84; or cams 79 and 66 operatiye to cause the upper level to loop yarn 84 and the lower level to loop yarn 83; or cams 61 and 7.) operative to cause the needles on both levels to knit loops of only yarn 83; or cams 66 and 78 operative whereby all the needles loop only yarn 84. a

Referring now to Fig. 17 the cams'64, 66,

previous figures supported by pivoted arms 156. 157, 158, and 159. The means for setting these cams however is somewhat different as-will now be dcscribed. lhe standard is similar to standard 1111of Fig. 3 except that three con-, trol discs 161, 162, and 163 are mounted. thereon. Standard 164 is also provided with three suitably spaced control discs 165, ]66, and 167. On Fig. 17 the control lever 170 1 01 support 166 is shown in its raised position and control lever 171 for support 164 is shown in' its lowcrcdposition. the posiiions foi lcvcrs l7!) and '17] being due to ihe passagc along the control chain of a cam such asthat'shown in Fig. 7. ' i'th standards 166 and 164 in the positions shown in Fig. 17 disc 162 is arranged to contact with 125 the upper end of arm 15?? and the lower end of arm' 156 to make cam 64 operative and cam 66 inoperative. \Vith standard 164 in the position shown disc is arranged to contact with the upper end of arm 157and ric the possible positions of the cams of a m'odifin render cam 79 arranged to contact with the lower end arm 1.33) and render cam 78 operative. Fig. 17 therefore shows how the cams of Fig. 1

Fig. 8 to raise lever ill and lower lever 170. This lowers standard 160 and raises standard 164. This relation is such as to permit: (a) disc 163 to contact with the lower end of agen -L55; to 'ii'iiie tlim 6 operathence) disc 3.61 to contact with the upper end of arm 15s to render earn 66 inoperative; disc 186 to contact with the upper end of arm 159 to render cam T8 inoperative; and ((2') dis. 1 56 to contact with the lower end of arm 1:37 to render cam 75) operative. The positions taken by the tour adjustable cams a tter passing by the standards 160 and 16% in the positions shown in Fig. 18 will therefore result in the upper level needles knitting yarn 8i and the lower level needles knitting yarn 83.

Fig. 19 illustrates both of the standards 160 and 164C raised and caught by the latch aswould be the case after. the passage along the control chain of a cam such as that in Fig. With both standards raised ((1) disc 162 contacts with the upper end of arm 158 and the lower end of arm 156 whereby cam 6 is mace inoperative and cam tl-l is made operative: disc 166 contacts with the upper end of arm and the lower end of arm to make cum 7%) operative and cam 78 inoperative. lhis by referring to Fig. 1 makes both the upper and lower leve needles knit yarn S3 with yarn 8t being in terlocked on the back side.

Fig. 3H illustrates both: of the. standards H and 164 lowered as would be the case after the passage along the control chain of a camksiich as that shown in Fig. 9., With both standards lowered ((1.) disc 110. contacts with the upper end of arm cam (31 inoperative; (1)) disc 163 contacts with the lower end of arm 158 to make cum ()6 operative: (0) disc 16?) contacts with the upper end of arm 157 to render cam' 79 inoperative: and ((1) disc 167 contacts with the lower end of arm 159 to render cam 78 operative. s evident from Fig; cause both the upper 1 this will level and lower level needles to' knit loops of only yarn 84-. with yarn 8? interlocked in alternate wales on the back side of the fabric.

It is obvious that with the cam control mechanism various color designs may be knitted without the requirement of the socalled yarn rhangers and without the formation of any danglinp loops. is of course understood that while only two yarn carriers are disclosed in Fig. 1 that as many inoperative while disc 167 is 'v arns,

105 to render yarn,

' to knit loops of said first yarn,

yarn carriers as desired may he thereby enabling still further he made in the design of the fat such an arrangement for example be to employ tour yarn white yarn would carriers three ot'. for instance and the fourth of black yarn. The adjustable cams opposite each yarn carrier may then be set to have the upper level needles knit loops from all three white yarns and have the lower level needles knit loops only from the black yarn. Thiswillgive a pleasing efl'ect, since each black loop will be bigger than white loops and the three white yarns interlocked.

together behind the loops of the black yarn.

Other nu'idilications of course will be evident to those skilled in the art, since the above described may have many different en'ibodiments without oi ai ns. towing;

machine and widely departing in any wise from the Spilli' invention as defined in the append It is to be understood that the claims are intended to coveral or 7 neric and specific features of the inveinion herein described, and all statei'nents ot the scope ot the invention which, as a. matter of language, mightbe said to tail therebetween.

The invention claimed is i 1. A knitting machine tionary vertical cylinder having needles arranged in grooves therein, each of said needles having a hook and a pivoted latch member at its upper end and a projecting butt along the shank of the needle. rality of yarn carriers for independent a second cylinder rotating outside oi said first cylinder, cam means arranged on said second cylinder said butts for causing certain groups o't said needles to knit loo )5 of: one yarn, similar cam means for causing other groups of said needles to knit loops of a second yarn, means this comprising a staa plutor cansingsaid second yarn to be interlocked between the'loops of alternate wales of the first. yarn while being carried to the rear of the remaining wales oil l d first and means for causing said hint yarn to be intelocked between the loops of alternate wales of. the second yarn while being carried to the rear of the remaining; wales 0 said second yarn. i

2. A knitting machine accorifiiin 0 claim l having means responsive to the. o eration of said machine tor reversing the yarns knitted by the various groups of ne dles.

3. A machine for knitting a plura independent yarns i to a fabric con D a circular row of needles, a yarn carrier, at second yarn carrier, means for causing; a relatively large number of adjacent needles means causing, arelatively large number 0 needles in a second group to knit loops from said second yarn, means for causing elterfor r f other the secon'd yarn carrier to pull back said alternate needles to their former ositions, said first means acting when said rst yarn carrier is passing to move all the needles in said first group a distance sufiicient'to catch said first yarn to form loops thereof and sufiicient to cause the second yarn previously caught by alternate needles to slip over the-f said first yarn whereby the second yarn is open end of the needle latches on to the shanks of the needles whereby said second,

yarn-is interlocked between the loops of said first yarn in alternate wales of the portion of the fabric knitted by said first group of needles andsimilar means for causing said first yarn to be interlocked between the loops of said second yarn in alternate wales of the portion of the fabric knitted by said second group of needles.

4. A knitting machine for knitting a plurality of independent yarns into a fabric comprising a circular row of needles, :1 yarn carrier for one yarn, a second yarn carrier for a second yarn, means for causing certain groups to knit loops of; said first yarn, means for causing intermediate groups to knit loops of said second yarn, means for causing alternate needles in each of said certain groups to be raised a distance suilicient to catch the second yarn when passing, the said distance being insufficient to enable the previously formed loops of said first yarn to clear the-needle'latchcs, means for lowering said alternate needles after said second yarn has passed and before the next passage of said first yarn carrier, said first means subsequently causing all of said needles in said certain groups to knit loops of said first yarn, whereby the second. yarn is interlocked 'betwcen loops of said first yarn in alternate wales of the portion of the fabric knitted by said certain groups of needles and means for interlocking the first yarn between loops of alternate wales of the portion of the fabric knitted by said intermediate groups of needles.

' 5. 'A knitting machine for knitting a luralityof independent yarns into a fa ric comprising a circular row of needles, a yarn carrier 'for one yarn, a second yarn carrier fora second yarn, means for causing certain groups of said needles to knit loops of said first yarn, means for causing intermediate groups of needles to knit loops of said second yarn, each of said certain and said intermediate groups comprising a relatively large nmziber of needles, means for causing alternate needles in each of said certain groups to'l'ie'raised a distance sufficient to catch the second yarn when the second yarn carrier is passing, thev said distance being insuili cient to enable the previously formed loops of the first yarn to clear the needle latches, means acting afteithe passage of the second yarn carrier and before the next passage of first yarn carrier for lowering said alternate needles, whereby the second yarn is caught along with the previously formed 100 of the first yarn within the hook of each 0 the said alternate needles while the second yarn lies on the back side of the first yarn loops previously formed by the remaining needles of said certain groups, said first means subsequently forming another row of loops of interlocked between the loops of alternate wales of the fabric knitted by said certain groups of needles and means for similarly interlocking said first yarn between the loops of alternate wales of the portion of the fabric knitted by said intermediate groups of needles.

6. A knitting machine for knitting a plurality of independent yarns into a fabric comprising a circular row of needles, a yarn carrier for one yarn, a second-yarn carrier said first yarn the second yarn is intertwined between the shanks of the needles of said certain groups being in front of alternate needles and behind the remaining needles,

said first means subsequently causingfthe needles of said certain groups to be lowered to form another row of loops of-said first yarn whereby said second yarn is interlocked between the loops of alternate wales of said first yarn, and means for similarly interlocking said firstyarn between the loops of alternate wales of said second yarn. 7. A- knitting machine of the cylinder.

type for knitting a plurality of independent yarns into a. fabric comprising a circular row of needles, a yarn carrier for one yarn,

a second yarn carrierfor a second yarn, rotating cam means for causing all the needles in certain groups of. said needles to be raised prior to the passage of first yarncarrier and subsequently lowered whereby, loops of said first yarn are formed, a second rotating cam means for causing intermediate groups of said needles to be raised prior to the passage of said second yarn carrier and subsequently lowered whereby loops of said-second yarn are formed, each of said certain andsaid' internmdiatc groups comprising a relatively large number of needles, cam means for parsecond yarn carrier a distance suiiicient'toinsufiicient to catch the second yarn out on each enablethe previously formed loop of said alternate needles to clear the needlelatch, cam means for'subsequently lowering said alternate needles after the second yarn is caught, said first rotating cam means opcrating while said second yarn is caught by said alternate needles for raising. an lowering all of the needles of said certain cups to form loops of said first yarn whereby as the last mentioned loops are formed the second yarn is interlocked between loops of alternate wales of said first am and means for similarly interlocking saidfirst yarn between the loops 6f alternate, wales of said second yarn.

0 8. A knitting machine'of the cylindrical type for knitting a plurality of indQWndent yarns into a fabricv comprising a circular row of needles arranged to form a cylinder, a yarn carrier for one yarn, a

second yarn carrier for a second yarn, certain groups of said needles beingarranged to knit loops of said first yarn, intermediate groups being arranged to knit loops of said second yarn, each ofsaid groups comprising a relatively large number of needles, alternate needles in each of said certain) groups having long butts adefinite distance from the needle latch the remaining needles of said certain groups having short butts the same distance from the needle latch, alternate needles in each of said intermediate groups having long butts a dilferent distance away from the needle latches, the remaining needles of said. intermediate groups having short butts tlie' same distance away from the needle latches'as said last mentioned long butts, cam means operating on the butts of all of the needles in said certain groups for knitting loops of said first yarn, cam means operating on the butts of all of said needlesl of said intermediate groups for knitting loops of said second yarn, cam means operating onl on the long butts of the needles insaid c rtain groups for partially raising and lowering alternate needles to catch the second yarn without knitting loops of the second yarn but causing the second yarn to be interlockedbetween the loops of'alternate wales of said first yarn, while being carried to the rear of the remaining walesof'said first yarn, and means operating only on the long butts of the needles of said intermediate groups for partially raising and lowering alternate needles to catch the first yarn without knitting loops thereof while causing the first yarn to be interlocked between the loops of alternate wales of said second yarn, while being carried to the rear of the remaining wales of said second yarn.

9. In a machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a fabric, in combination, a plurality of yarn feeds for independent yarns, a row of needles, and mechanism for operating said needles including means for causinga group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn at one of said feeds, means for causing. another group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn at a second of saidfecds, means for causing certaimof the needles of the first group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn at said second feed while the remainder of the needles of the first group are in a retracted position, and means for causing certain of they needles of said other group to be placed in a partially advanced position to r'e'ceiv'yarn at said secondfeed while the remainder of "the: needles of said other group are in a retracted position. i

10. In a machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a fabric, in combination, a series of groups of needles, and mecha-- nism for operating said needles, said mechanism including. means fully to advance all I the needles of certaln'of said groups and 1 to retract the same, means operative intermediate successlve operations of the aforesaid means partially to advance certain of the'"n e edlespreviously actuated and toretract the same, means fully to advance all the needles of certain other of said groups and to retract the same, and means operative intermediate successive operations of the last-mentioned means partially to advance certain of the previously actuated needles and to retract the same, whereby there produced a fabric wherein each yarn' presents alooped portion and an unlooped portion, the unlooped portion of each yarn extending along the back of a section 0 the fabric wherein looped portions of certain other of the yarns are intcrknit' and being interlocked between loops of adjacent rows in certain of the wales thereof.

11. In a machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a fabric, in combination, a plurality of yarn feeds for independent yarns, a row of latchcdneedles each comprising a yarn receiving member and a shank, and being movable longitudinally o the shankto advanced positions wherein said yarns may enter said yarn receiving members, and mechanism for operating said needles, said mechanism including means to cause a plurality of adjacent needles to be placed in an advanced position to I'QC1\'(.

yarn at one of said feeds, means for causyarn at said second teed while the remainder of the needles of the first group are in an t mulvance'd position, and means sfor causing alternate needles in said other group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn at said first i'eed while the remainder of the needles of said other group are in an nnadvanced position.

12. In a machine for combining a plurality ot' yarns into a t'abric. in combination. a plurality of yarn feeds for independent yarns. a rowof needles each comprising 'a yarn receiving member and a shank. and being movable in a direction longitudinal ot' the shank to advanced po-' sitions wherein said yarns may enter said yarn receiving members. and mechanism for operating said needles. said mechanism including means to cause one. group of adjacent needles to be placed in an advanced position to receive yarn at one of said feeds, means for causing another group of: adjacent needles to be' placed in: an advanced position to receive yarn at a second of said feeds means' for causing only certain of the needles of the first grotto to be;placed in an advanced position to receive yarn at said second teed; and means for causing only certain of the needles of said other group to be placed in an advanced position to receive yarn atsaid first i'eed. 1

13. in a machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a' fabric. in combina-,

tion; a plurality'ot yarn feeds for independent yarns. a row of knitting;needles. and mechanism for advancing and retracting said needles. said mechanism including means to actuate a plurality of adjacent..needles to cause them to interknit loops of certain of said yarns. and to interlock un-- looped portions ol certain other ot'said yarns between loops of said certain of said yarns in adjacent rows in alternate wales thereol' while. being carried to the rear of the loops in the remainingwales. andv means to actuate another needle of said row to cause the same to interkuit loops of said certain other pendent yarn. means to raise and lower certain grout-is of said needles to knit loops of the first of said yarns, means to raise and lower other groups ofrsaid needles to knit loops of said second yarin means partially to raise and loiver alternate needles of said certain groups to cause the unlooped )ortion of said Second yarn to bttpltlcfl in position to be interlocked in substantially alternate wales of the loopsoof said first yarn between the two sides of a loop in one? row and the two sides of a loop in an adjacent rowv/hile causing the unlooped portionof said second yarn-t0 be carried entirely behind intermediate walesoof said firsteyarn. and means partially to raise and lower alternate needles of said other groups to cause the'unlooped portion of said first a row of needles. a plurality of separate yarn carriers for independent yarns, means for causing a group of ad acent needles to be tally ad 'anced to receive the yarn from one of said ya ncarriers, means for causing anotherHgroup of adjacent needles to be fully advanced to rece ve yarn from a set: end of said yarn carriers. means for cans ing alternate needles of said first group to v be partially advanced to receive yarn 'from said second yarn carrier while the remaining needles of-said first group are retra ml and means for causing alternate ,needlesot said other group to be partially advanced to receive yarntrom said first yarn tairrier while the remaining needles of said other group are retracted. v

lti. In a knitting machine, in combination; a plurality of yarn carriers for in-.

dependent yarns; a series ofogroups of needles, all of the needles in each group being adapted to be advanced and retraeted'to interl-tnit loops of certain of said yarns and alternate'-'ueed|es in eaclr group being a .lapted'-'to to advanced and retracted to place certain other ol' said yarns in positioulto be interloclual with the looped yarn without being knitted llltltlllltlllgll. n illls forming a pint of said machine teaoperate v. i all the needles of one group when certam ol' 'said yarn fcarr ers are passing andto operate alternate needles of said group? when certain other of said yarn carriers are passing. and means also forming a part ot' said machin'e fto operate-all the needles of an adjacent group when said certain other of .said yarn carriers 'arepassing and to operate. alternate needles of said adja cent group when said certain'ot said yarn" 1?. In a machine forincorporating a plus rahty of yarns into ajfabr c. in combination.

a series of groupsof latched needles. means to fully intranet all the needles of cert ai-n of said groups and to retract the same. means operative subsequent to each operation. of' Said aforesaid means partially to advance alternate ones of the needles previously actuated and to retrzet the same. means fully to advance, all the Ht'ctllcs of c rtain other of said groups and to retract the same,

[fin

yarns, row ofi knitting units comprising yarn receiving members, each of said units mechanism ciation not i received thewliy theres iherefroin nearest) Qand means operative subsequent to each operation the last-mentioned means partially to advance alternate ones of the needles previously actuated and to retract is produced a fabric wherein each yarn presents a looped portion and a'relat'vely straight portion, the relatively straight portion of each yarn extending alon the rear of a portion of the wherein certainof said yarns are looped, and being interlocked between ccr tain or" the loops thereof. 1 I 18. ln machine for combining a plural ity of yarns to a fabric, in combination, a

having latch associated therewith, and 'mechanism for operating said units, said including means to advance and retract the yarn'receiving members of a group of adjacent units to cause the yarn carried by one of said yarn carriers to be received t ereby and to be placed in assothe latches of the respective subsequently to advance and to yarn receiving members of units to cause the yarn car units, it retract 5 1., said group 0.

ried by a so k to be placed in association with the latches of the respective units, said latches being adapted to retain first yarn during the operation of the last-mun l means, and means operative r to actuate said units to cause the 'r'ned by said latchcsto be removed and to be incorporated into the and 'n'icains operative substantially n rubric, simultaneously with the aforesaid means to e and retract thegarn receiving members o a nd group of said units to cause the yarn d by said second yarn carrier lf'thcrehy and to associated hes 'ot' the respective units, uently to advance and retract n receiving members of said to cause saidl'irst yarn to be i, and to be placed in associalatches of the respective units, adapted to retain said second. yarn the operation of the last-nan'ied 'nu' ns, and means operative tl'iercattcr to in uate said units to cause the yarn retained by said latches to be removed icliinc for incorporating a plu- ,eimndent yarns into a fabric, a or latched needles, means the v:m cdles of one.

19. in a. rality of if series of g oups nil retr ct i one o A id ;groiip yarns but xe a second oi s I low the to escape therefrom, means independent id of said yarn carriers to be yarns and to:

yarn previouslyyarn being interlocked with the looped yarn in certain of the wales thereof.

20. In an independent needle machine for combininga plurality-of independent yarns into .a fabric, in combination, a row ting units, each "comprising a yarn receiving member and a latch, and means including said yarn receiving members and said latches to manipulate said yarns to produce a fabric wherein each yarn presents a looped portion and an unlooped portion, the unloopcd portion of each yarn extending along the back of a section of the fabric wherein the looped portions of certain other of the yarns are intcrknit and being interlocked between the loops of adjacent rows in certain of the wales thereof. I

21. In a machine for combining a alural ity of yarns into a fabric, in combinzition, a plurality of yarn tee ls for independent yarns, a row of knitting needles, mechanism for causing bodily movement of said needles, mechanism including means for causing a group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn at one of said feeds, means for causing another group of adjacent needles to, he placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn at'a second of said feeds, means for causing certain oi the needles of the first group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive'yarn at said second teed while the remainder ofthe needles of the first group are in a retracted position, and means for causing, certain of the needles of said other group to be pla "ed in a, partially advanced position to rec yarn at said second teed while the remainder or" the needles of said other group are in a retracted position, and

mechanism operative periodically on the of said feeds and placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn at the first ofsaid feeds, and whereby the operation of said mechanism on said other group of needles-is reversed in asiinilarinanner.

A hinting. mac iine,,including a' row of needles each comprising;

memb l a shank, pl

are receiving V separate :or independe i ar'ns, mecha- Y i menu for 1 13g and an unof knit of said shank including means adapted to cause all of a group of adjacent needles to catch the yarn at one teed and knit loops thereof, means adapted subsequently to cause alternate needles but, not the remaining, needles of said group to catch the yarn at a second feed without the formation of loops, means adapted to cause all of a second group of adjacent needles to catch the yarn at said second feed and to knit loops thereof, and means adapted subsequently to cause alternate needles but not the remaining needles of said second group to catch the y; en at a yarn teed other than said second feed without the formation of loops.

' 23. In a machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a fabric, in combination, a plurality of yarn 't'eeds for independent yarns. a row of needles each comprising, a yarn receiving member and a shank, and being movable longitudinally of the shank to advanced positions wherein said yarns may ,enter said yarnreqeivihg members, and

mechanism for ,ppecat-ing said needles, said mechanism including means to cause one group of adjacent needles to be placed in an advanced position to receive yarn at one of said feeds, n'icans for causing another group of adjacent needles to be placed in an advanced position to receive. yarn at a second of said feeds, means for 'ausing interspersed needles of the first group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn at said second t'ced while the remainder of the needles of the rst group are in a retracted 'position,and means for 'ausing interspersed needles of said other group to be placed in a partially advanced" position to receive yarn at said first feed. while the remainder of the needles 'of said other group are in a retracted position, and means peri-' odically to vary the-operation of said mechanism whereby at least certain of the needles of each group .Will be operated in a reverse manner at each of saidtecds. v

2-1. In an independent needle knitting machine, in combination. a row ,of needles,

means adapted successively to feed tosaidneedles yarns of at least two diti'erentcharacterlstics, means periodically to mpart bodily movement to one group of adjacent needles tocause saidjnecdles 'to' interknit loops of' yarn of one character, means intermediately to impart bodily movement to certain of the needles of said group to cause said ccrtaln needles to place yarn ot' a second ,-character in position to be interlockedwith the looped yarn while remaining: unlooped,

means periodically to impart bodily movement to, a second group of adjacent needles to cause said needles to inter-knit loops of a yarn of said second character, and means intenlmidi'ately to impart bodily movement tocertam ot' the needles of said second group in combination, a group of needles, mechanism for causing bodily movement of said needles, said mechanism including means to actuate said needles to cause them to interknit loops of certain of said yarns and to interlock unlooped portions of certain other of said yarns between the loops of said certain of said yarns in adjacent rows in certain of the wales thereof, and means to actuate said needles to cause them to interknit loops of said certain other of said arm and to interlock unlooped portions 0 said certain of said yarns between the loops of said certain other of said yarns in adjacent rows in-certain of the wales thereof, and including adjustable members whereby each of said means may be rendered operative upon said needles to the exclusion of the other of said means, and'means periodically to adjust said adjustablemembers.

longitudinalmovement of said needles. said mechanism including means to actuate said 4 needles to cause them to interknit loops of certainof said yarns and to interlock un looped ,portions of certain other of said yarns-between the loops of said certain of said yarns-in adjacent rows in certain of the wales thereof, and means to actuate said needles in a different. manner, and including adjustable .-inembers whereby each of said means may be rendered operative upon said needles to the exclusion of the other of said means, and means periodically to adjust said adjustable members. i

27. In an independent needle machine for combining a plurality of yarns into a fabric, in combination, a plurality of yarn feeds for independent yarns, a row of, needles, means cooperating with said needles to manipulate said yarns to form a series of rows of interknitted loops of certain of said yarns inoue'sect-ion of the fabric and to interlock unlooped portions of certain other of said yarns between loops in adjacent rows nally of certain of the wales of the first sec? iae said certain of said yarns tion and to interlock unlooped portions of between loops in adjacent rows in alternate wales thereof, and to form a series of rows of interknitted loops of said certain of said tion of the. fabric disposed longitudinally of certain of the Wales ot' said second section, and to interlock unlooped portions o' said certain other of said yarns between loops in adjacent rows in alternate \vales thereof.

28. In a machine for incorporating a plurality of independent yarns into a fabric, a row of needles, means to impart longitudinal movement to said needles to cause a pinrality of adjacent needles to knit loops or certain of said yarns and to interlock unlooped portions of certain other of said yarns therewith and to cause a plurality of other adjacent needles to knit' loops of said certain other of said yarns and to interlock certain of said yarns therewith, said means comprising adjustable members whereby the particular needles knitting loops of each of said yarns may be varied, and means adapted to be operated continuously to cilcct an adjustment of said adjustable members from time to time.

The method of combining into a tabric the yarns carried by a plurality ol' yarn feeds, which comprises placing all of a group'of adjacent members oi" a row o knitting needles in an advanced position to receive ya, 1 at one of said l'ceds, placing only certain of the needles of another group in an advanced position to receive yarn at said teed, placing all the needles ol said other group in an advanced position to receive yarn at a second of said 5 eeds. am placing only certain of the needles of the lirst group in an advanced position to receive yarn at said second feed.

30. The method of combining a plurality o'li independent yarns into a fabric which con'iprises caus ng a group ot ndpiccnt,

members of a rovv oi knitting needles to be fully advanced to receive one of said yarns, causing alternate needles of a secoi'id group to be, partially advanced to receive said yarn, while the remainder of the needles of said second group are in a retracted position, and retracting the advanced needles, and thereafter cihlsing all the needles of a second group to be fully advanced to re.- ceive another/lot said yarns, causing alternate needles .oF the l'irst group to be partially advanced to receive, said other yarn, while the remainder of the needles of the iirst group aredn arctracted position, and retracting the advanced needles.

ill. The method of combining into a fabric the yarns clllr led by a plurality of yarn feeds which cempriscs advancing and retracting a. grotiip oi latched needles to cause them to catch iihe yarnat one ol' said l'ccds yarns in a sec-- and to knit loops thereof, subsequently advancing certain of the needles of said group a distance sufficient to catch the yarn at a second of said feeds but insufficient to permit the yarn previously caught to escape from. the latches thereof and retracting the same, and thereafter again advancing lll'lt retracting all the needles of said group to catch the yarn at client said feeds and to knit loops thereof; substantially simultaneously' advancing and retracting all the needles of a second group to catch the yarn. at said second feed and to knit loops thereof, subsequently advancing certain of t e needles ot' said second group a distancesuftieient to catch the yarn at the first, mentioned feed but insufficient to permit the urn previously caught to escape from the latches thereof and retracting the same an thereafter advancing and retracting all the needles of said second group to cause them to catch the yarn at one of said feeds and to knit loops thereof;- and at a later period of operation advancing and retracting all.-

the needles of the first group to cause them to catch the yarn at said second feed, subsequently advancing certain needles of said first group a distance sufiicient to catch the yarn at the first mentioned feed but insufficient to permit the yarn previously caught to escape from the latches thereof and retracting the same, and thereafter again advancing and retracting all the needles 0 said lirstgroup to catch the yarn at one Of said l'eeds and to knit loops thereof; and substantially simultaneously advancing an retracting all the needles of said second group to catch the yarn at the first mentioned feed and seouently advancing certain needles in said second group a distance sullieicnt to catch the yarn at said second food but insullicient to prevent the yarn' previously caught to escape from the latches thereof and retracting the same and thereafter advancing and retracting all the needles of the second group to cause them to catch 'the yarn at one of said feeds and to knit lo'o ps thereof.

The method of knitting into a, fabric the yarns carried by a plurality of yarn carriers, which comprises advancing -an retracting a group of latched needles to cause them to catch the yarn carried by one rot said yarn carriers and to knit loops thereof, subsequently advancing alternate needles of said group a distance sufficient to catch'the yarn carried by a second oi said yarn carriers but insuflicient to permit the yarn previously caught to escape from the latches thereof and retracting the same, and thereafter again advancing and retracting all the needles of said group to catch a yarn from one oi said yarn carriers and to knit loops thereof, and substantially simultato knit loops thereof, sub-' lIlO

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