US1622249A - And one-third to herman t - Google Patents

Description

1,622,249 March 22, M MILLER FEED' MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5. 1921 '7 she ts-sheet 1 225? lrwercKow.

Max'ch 22 19270 1,622,249 M. c. MiLLER FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5. 1921 7 Sheets-Shefi 2 4 4 M I/Z MM 1,622,249 March 1927 M. c. MILLER FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5. 1921 "7 Sheets-Shet 5 174 ,275' 4 0M vxuzm March 22, 1927.

M. C. MlLLER FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1921 '7 Sheets-Shela; 4

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ma ma March 22, 9270 M. c, MILLER FEED MECHANISM FOR KfiITTING MACH INES v sheezs she'et 5 Filed Aug. 5 1921 3? MIJUHHIIIVIIAH- March 2 1927.

2 M. c. MILL ER FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES '7 SXieets-Shet 6 Filed Aug. 5. 1921 March 22,1927. 1,622,249

/ w M. C. MlLLER FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5. 1921 7 sheetgwsheet 7 7f 90 89; 8 if J4 A95 79 a amaze)",

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

lJNl'lED STATES ltZLZtfi PATENT QFFICE MAX C. MILLER, E CUMBERLAND HILL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSZGNMENTS, 0F TVJO-THIRDS T0 RUDOLPH H. WYNER, 0 F BOSTON,"

IaIASSAOE-ZUSETTS, AND ONE-THIRD TO HERMAN E i. GAMMONS; OF NATICIK, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

FEED MECHANISM FQR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed August 8, 1921. Serial No. 489,441.

This invention concerns knitting machines and relates more particularly to yarn feeding and changing means for use therewith.

In the manufacture of knit goods such,

5 for example, as sweaters bathing suits, etc., it is often desirable to change the yarns at intervals whereby to produce ornamental stripes in the fabric. In amachine of the fixed needle type, wherein the yarn is fed by means of a burr-wheel, it is substantially necessary, in order to secure positive feeding of a new yarn, that the end portion of the yarn which extends beyond the guide eye be held taut as it approaches the burrwheel. It is also necessary, for efficient operation, that such run of yarn be entered radially between two of the needles and at a suflicient distance in advance of the burrwheel to permit the yarn to reach its low,

or feeding position before encountering the burr. While mechanisms of various kinds have been devised from time to time with the object of changing the yarn automatically, they have in most instances failed in one way or another to provide for all of the above-noted and necessary functions. In some of such devices the stiffness of the lightly tensioned yarn is depended upon en- .tirelv for causing the yarn end, when entered between two needles, to feed with the needles to the burr-wheel. In other mechanisms the yarn clamp employed for holding the ends of the idle yarns is so close to the sinker burr-wheel that insufficient time is allowed for the entering yarn to reach its feed ing point before encountering the burrwheel, which, in such cases, tends to lift the yarn out of engagement with the needles. In some devices, the movement of the yarn finger to feeding position is such that the run of yarn between the guide eye and clamp becomes slack and, as the sinker burr notches are necessarily small, the engagement of the yarn therewith is rendered uncertain. Thus when it is attempted to employ such appliances, there is little certainty as to the exact point in the fabric at which the overlap of the yarns will occur, while the formation of ladders and press-offs is of 0 common occurrence.

The difficulties encountered in the attempt to change the yarns by mechanical means, especially when dealing with frictional yarns, that is to say, those having an unoperation, relying upon the alertness and skill of the workman to make the change at the proper point in the width of the fabric and after the completion of the desired number of courses. Such a mode of changing the yarns not only tends to out down production but introduces an element of possible error which in many instances results in defective fabric.

The objectof the present invention is to overcome the difficulties commonly experienced in the changing of yarns for forming transverse stripes in the knitted fabric as above pointed out. To this end it is proposed to provide simple and reliable mechanism capable of manipulating yarns of any .usual character or material and operative automatically to present the new yarn with certainty to the needles while removing the old yarn to provide an overlap of minimum extent consistent with good knitting, the n'iechanism being so devised that the new yarn shall be entered with accuracy at a predetermined needle wale. It is also proposed to provide yarn changing mechanism of such a character that when employed with a stitch burr, the adjustment of the latter will have no appreciable effect upon the proper introduction and withdrawal of the yarns.

In accordance with one arrangement, such mechanism may comprise yarn guiding fingers having guide openings or eyes movable from the operative or yarn feeding point in front of the needles up and over the needles to a position behind the same and below the plane of the tops thereof at the yarn receiving point. inoperative position behind the needlesmay cooperate with yarn clamping means capable of temporarily retaining the end of the idle yarn at a position very closely adjacent its point of emergence from the guide eye. Such clamping means may be of any desirable type and if the device be employed with a burr-wheel machine having fixed Such yarn fingers when in such needles, may be mounted upon the cloth I hold-down which will be somewhat widened for this purpose. For severing the idle run of yarn subsequent to its clamping, suitable automatically operative means may be employed, such means preferably operating to caused to traverse a path in which it contacts with the other idle yarn or yarns to a minimum extent.

With this arrangement, the movement of the idle yarn guide from inoperative position within the .needle circle will serve to slice .the ingoing yarn sharply down be tween adjacent needles, and as the yarn end will still remain in-the clamp, the yarn will immediately be drawn under tension from the supply and presented in a positive manner to the stitch burr for reception by the needle hooks, whereupon the end of the yarn will "be withdrawn from the clamp by the movement of the needle cylinder relatively .to the latter.

For the proper actuation of thevarious operative instrumentalities above referred to, a pattern drum or drums may be employed having thereon suitably disposed indications for initiatin the movements of such instrumentalities m the desired order. Suitable means will also be provided for imparting the necessary movement to such drum or drums at the desired intervals for securing the pattern required. A. master pattern may be provided for operatively set ting a movable cam or similar device carried by the needle cylinder. Preferably the cam, when set, will operate merely to position certain elements of the drum moving mechanism, the cam immediately returning to inoperative position. The turning of the drum or drums may then be accomplished in an absolutely accurate manner and in perfectly timed relation to the rotation of the needle cylinder by one or more properly configurated cams fixed to the latter and rotating therewith. This arrangement permits the entrance and withdrawal of the yarns with certainty as respects predetermined needle wales and is particularly desirable in machines wherein a plurality of feeds with corresponding yarn changing (levices are employed, the actuating cams in such case serving successively to actuate the pattern drums at the several feeds in like manner. 1

A preferred arrangement of parts, well exemplifying means suitable for use in carrying the above objects into effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,-

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a neeaaao knitting machine of ordinary construction illustrating the yarn changing mechanism of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the yarn changing mechanism removed from the ma chine; V

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the partsshown in Fig. 2, viewed from the needle cylinder;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line a-b of Fig. 2, showing the construction of the actuating drum or pattern wheel;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line c-ci of Fig. t and to smaller scale showing one of the pattern ratchet wheels;

Fig. 6 is cross section on the =line-e-f of Fig. 4 illustrating another of the pattern ratchet wheels;

Fig. 7 is an elevation partly in section on the line gh of Fig. 2, illustrating the yarn clamping mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line pg of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section on the line mn of Fig. 7 i

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation to '-larger scale illustrating one of the clamp actuating cams and cooperating parts;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 10, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section of the supporting frame of the yarn changing mechanism showing the position of the yarn guides; i

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the yarn guides in feeding position with its actuating lever and a portion of the pattern drum;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the yarn cutter with its actuating lever and a portion of its pattern drum;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of a part of the needle cylinder showing an adjustable cam thereon, together with the means for controlling the operative posit-ion of such cam.

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross section on the line mg of Fig. 15 showing certain of the parts therein illustrated;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on a line such as 'st of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating certain fixed operating cams carried by the needle cylinder, together with the levers actuated thereby;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the vertical relationship of the cams of Fig. 17;

Figs. 19 to 24: inclusive are diagrannnatic plan views of the yarn guides and clamping devices showing the relative positions of the parts at various stages of the changing operation; and thereafter Fig. 25 is a plan view and 26 a side elevation of the yarn clamping levers and loo associated parts to larger scale; Fig. 27 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on the line 2727 of Fig. 2 and to larger scale; and Fig. 28 is a fragmentary err section in the plane of Fig. 16 showing the method of cooperation of a movable caui device by the needle cylinder with certain. actuat ing arms for the yarn changi mcchanhau.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, and 16, the bed of the machine is indicated at 1, such bed being provided with a suitable opening within which the depending flange 2 of the needle cvlinder 3 has a running fit. The needle cylinder 3 is provided with suitable grooves for the reception of spring beard needles 4-, such needles being retained in position in the usual manner by segmental clamps. Mounten upon the bed 1 at the feeding point or points is a fixed frame comprising the base 6, Figs. 2 and 3. from which the flange members 7, 8, extend in opposite directions respectively. These flange members are provided with raised elongated bosses 9, 10, provided with arcuate slots 11, 12. h lounted for adjustment longitudinally of the slot 11 is a post 13 upon whose upper end is adiustably secured the rod 1 1 which carries the loop depresser wheel 15, such wheel being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Adjustably mounted within the slot 12 is a stud 16 which serves to secure the bracket in proper position upon the frame. This bracket carries the post 18 which serves as a support for the stitch burr or loop wheel indicated in dotted lines at 19 in Fig. 1. The post 20 is also mounted for adjustment along the slot- 12, such post having the rod 21 adjustably secured at its upper end, this rod serving as tliesupport for the beard presser 22. The supporting frame is provided with a vertically extending portion 23, Fig. 2, from which rise the spaced parallel web members 24, such web members serving to support an element providinga fiat su porting surface Secured by means of screws, as 26, to the supporting surface 25, is a bracket 27, such bracket being bifurcated to form the spaced depending arms 28, 29 respectively. These arms, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7, are united at their lower ends by the bar 30, such bar being continued to one side of the member 2'? as indicated 31, Fi 1. The bar 30 with its continuation is arranged to he immediately within the needle circle and performs the function of the usual cloth hold-down, being provided with a suitably formed under surface for this purpose. The portion 30 of this bar is substantially wider in a radial direction than the portion 31 thereof, the portion 30 having an additional function which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Between the web members 24 and beneath the supporting surface are arranged a plurality of yarn guide fingers 32, 33, 34;

respectively. These yarn guide fingers are of similar form and one of such levers, for example that denoted 32, is shown in detail in Fig. 13. This linger, as indicated in such figure, is of elongated form and is provided with a substantially vertical yarn guide eye 35 adjacent its free or inner end. From. its lower edge depends a lug 36'having an opening 37 to which is secured one end of a spring 38, the opposite end ofsaid spring being connected to a pin 39 lined in the supporting frame. The yarn finger is also furnished with an elongated cam slot l0, such cam slot serving for the reception of a pair of pins 4C1, 4-2 respectively, which extend between the web members 24: and which are fixedly secured therein. The pins ll, 12 are common to the several yarn fingers and serve to guide the latter in their movement toward and from yarn feeding position. The outer ends of the yarn fingers are provided with curved surfaces at 43 for engagement with an actuating lever hereinafter described.

For severing the idle yarn as it is withdrawn from knitting position, a yarn cutter is provided, such cutter being shown in detail in Fig. 1 1. This yarn cutter comprises a lever is having at its inner end the cutting element 45. While under some circumstancesthis element may be sharpened, it is preferred under most conditions of use to form the cutter as a blunt implement which serves to sever the yarn by impact. At an intermediate point in the cutter lever a l there is provided an opening 46 for the re ception of an end of a coil spring 47 the opposite end of such spring being connected to the frame member 6. At the point 18 the lever ie is provided with an opening through which passes a pin 49 upon which the lever is pivoted, such pin extending transversely between the webs 2 1 and being fined therein. At its outer extremity the lever l is also provided with an opening for the reception of a bolt or pin 51 secured in the upper end of a lever 52, the lever 52 being also pivoted upon the pin 19. As thus constructed, the lever 52 essentially forms an arm of the lever 4:4: and serves to actuate the latter.

For retaining the ends of the idle yarns when the corresponding arn fingers are in operative position, a suitable clamping mechanism is provided, such clamping mechanism being shown in detail in Fi gs. 7 to 10 respectively. [is indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the upper surface of the member 30-is provided with a. dove-tail slot 53 extending longitudinally thereof. At its central portion this slot is covered by plate 5% secured to the member 30 by means of screws or in other desired manner, this plate serving as a support for the ends of the idle yarn guide lingers and also providing a sur- LOU face *ag'ainst which the idle yarns may be clan'iped. li ithin the slot 53 and at each side of t'hc plate 54 are the slides 56, 57 re spcctively, such slides being provided with upstanding cars 58, These ears are vertically slotted, and within such slots are arranged the ends of theclamp levers 60, 61, respectively. These clamp levers are pivoted to "the ears 58. 59 by means of pivot pins 62, '63'respectively, such pivot pins ex tending mitwardly from the side walls of the rcsg'iective ea- 58, 59 as indicated in his. 8, these extending portions serving for engagement by operating devices hereinafter to be described.

The cl p'levers 60, 61 extend in opposite direction from their pivots and have their free extremities in overlapping relationship upon the plate 5 1: as indicated in Fig. 8. For normally retaining the clamping members 60, 61-inengagement with. the upper surface of the plate 5 1, springs 64-, 65 are. provided. These springs are of how form being secured, as by means of screws 66, 67, to the upper surfaces of the slides 56, 57, respectively. These springs extend upwardly and over the ears 58, 59 and are provided at their free extremities with enlarged heads 68,69, providingspaced, downwardly depending lugs which take over the upper edges of the clamp members 60, 61 respectively. Extending laterally from each of the clamp members 60, 61 is an ear 70, 71 respectively, such ears being arranged to overlie the fixed blocks 72, 73 respectively. These blocks are secured to the member 30 inwardly of the clamping members 60, 61 by means of bolts or screws 7%, 75. At their adjacent ends the members 72, 73 are provided with inclined orcam surfaces such as 76. Mounted upon the members 72, 73 are the cam carrying blocks 77, 78, such blocks being provided with openings 79, 8O respectively, see Fig. 8, for the reception of spindles as 81, upon which are secured the cam members 82, 83 respectively. These cam members, as indicated in Fig. 10, each comprise the inclined surfaces 8 1, 85, and the horizontal surfaces 86, 87. Each cam device isalso provided with a laterally extending lug or car such as 88, with which engages a coil spring; 89 having its other end seated within a socket in a cover plate 90. The members 72, 77 and 90 are all secured to nether and to the member 30 by means of the aforesaid screws 7 1, 75. The free extremity of the cover plate 90 overlies the cam surface 76 and the corresponding: movable cam member and assists in retaining the am members in operative position. Bell crank levers 91. 92 are pivoted upon the supporting members 28, 29 respectively, as by means of screws or bolts 93, 94:. Such bell crank levers comprise the oitit-wardly directed arms 95, 96 to which are attached 56 respectively. The levers 91,92 with their actuating springs 97, 98, thus normally urge.

the slides 57, 56 inwardly toward the plate 5 1 and into contact with a centrally disposed stop pin 102* extending transversely across slot 53, whereby the lugs 70, 71 of the respective clamping members are removed from engagement with the actuating cams above described. i

The rear edge of the plate 5 1 is turned up, as indicated in Fig. 9, to form a flange 103, such flange serving in a positive manner to prevent overthrow of the yarn fingers when moving to idle position, the yarn fingers being arovided with surfaces such as 10 1 for engagement with said flange. At its lefthand edge the plate is also provided with an upstanding flange 105, such flange being provided with the vertical slot or opening 106 through which the clamping member 61 with its spring extends. At its forward edge the member 105 is provided with downwardly extending lug 10'? having at its end the foot 108, such foot being spaced slightly above the upper surface of the plate 54, whereby to permit the passage of yarns between such foot and the plate. To the left of the flange 105 the plate 54: is extended, as indicated at109, Fig, 8, to provide a horizontal surface for engagement by the yarn cutting implement, such surface serving to support the yarns to be severed.

For actuating the several yarn fingers, le-

vers such as 110, corresponding to the several yarn fingers are provided, one of such levers being shown in detail in Fig. 13. These levers are pivoted to turn upon a rod 111 secured in a pair of spaced and rearwardly extending arms as 112 extending from the supporting frame. Each of the levers 110 is provided near its free extremity with a surface 113 for engagement with the surface 13 of the corresponding yarn finger and at a point adjacent its pivot each lever is alsoprovided with a lug 114: having a cam surface 115 for engagement with suitable pattern indications carried by a pattern drum 116. This pattern drum is fixed to, or integral with, a shaft 117, such shaft being; supported by arms 118, 119, extending rearwardly from the supporting frame. 'lhe journal openings for the shaft 117 are preferably provided partly in the arms 118, 119 and partly in bracket members 120,

121, respectively, secured to the arms 118,.

119 as by means of bolts 122, 123.

position to the springs 97 ,98, the levers 124, 125 are pivoted at the points 126, 127 respectively upon the upper surface of the member 25. While these levers may be integral from end to end if desired, they are herein illustrated as comprising inner and outer members secured together by the pivot pins and by screws or bolts 128, 129 respectively. The inner members of said levers extend downwardly below the supporting bracket arms 28, 29, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and at their free extremities 130, 131 the arms are arranged to engage the opposed faces of the pins or bolts 62, 63 respectively.

The outer members of the levers 124, 125 indicated at 132, 133 respectively, are provided with studs 134, 135 extending downwardly therefrom. The stud 134 is arranged for engagement with the cam teeth 136 of a pattern disk or wheel 137, such disk or wheel being arranged to turn freely upon the shaft 117 and being held in proper po sition thereon by engagement with the pat tern wheel 116 and with a lever 138 also pivoted upon the shaft and hereinafter described more at length. As indicated in Fig. 1, the cam lugs or teeth upon the pattern wheel 137 comprise the inclined faces 139 and the substantially straight faces 140, such teeth being spaced equally about the periphery of the pattern wheel. As shown in Fig. 4, the pattern wheel preferably of dished formation, and within the hollow outer side thereof is secured a ring 141 having ratchet teeth 142 thereon. This ring may be secured to the wheel 137 by means of screws 143 or in other desired manner.

The lever member 138, hereinbefore described, is arranged between the outer surface of the ring 141 and the adjacent surface of the bearing bracket arm 118. This lever member is provided adjacent its lower extremity with an opening for the reception of pin 144, upon which is mounted a pawl 145. This pawl is provided one end with a tooth 146 lying in the plane of the ratchet ring 141 and engageable with the teeth 142 thereof. At its opposite end, the pawl 145 is provided with a pin 147 extending inwardly in the plane of the lever. 138 and to which the end of a coil spring 148 is attached. The opposite end of said spring is secured to an ear 149 extending outwardly from the lever 138. At a point below the pivot 144 of the pawl 1 5, the lever 138 is provided with an outstanding pin 150 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The stud 135 of the lever member 133 is" also arranged for engagement with cam teeth 151 of a pattern wheel or disk 152, such disk being arranged upon the opposite side of the pattern drum 116 from the wheel 137 previously described, and also being loose upon the shaft 117. The wheel 152 is provided with a. ratchet ring 153 having ratchet teeth 154 engageable with a pawl 155 pivoted at 156 upon a lever 157, such lever being interposed between the wheel 152 and the bearing bracket 119.'- The lever 157 is also free to turn upon the shaft 117 and has a lug 158 to which is connected one end of the coil spring 159, the opposite end of which is secured to the pawl 155 at the point 160. The lever 157 is provided with an outstanding pin 161, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The bracket members 120, 121,"respectively, are provided with outwardly projecting arms 162, 163 having the bosses 164, 165 at their outer extremities. These bosses are provided with sockets within which are arranged pins 166, 167 respectively, such pins resting at their inner ends against coil springs seated Within the sockets and which tend to project the pins from the sockets. Secured to the respectivepins are plates 168, 169 respectively, such plat-es bearing against the adjacent faces of the wheels 137, 152 respectively, and serving as brake members to prevent accidental displacement of such Wheels or overthrow thereof when actuated by their driving pawls. Secured upon the inner face of the wheel 152 is a disk 170, which may be connected to the wheel 152'by means of screws 171 or in other desired manner. The disk 170 is provided with peripherally spaced cam teeth 172 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 14 respectively. These cam teeth are provided with inclined surfaces 173 and with substantially radial surfaces 174, and may if desired, have fiat peripheral faces interposed between said surfaces, as indicated at 175. The teeth 172 cooperate with a member 176 carried upon the lever 52 hereinbefore referred to, such cam teeth serving to actuate said lever, whereby to raise the cutter lever 44 to carry the cutting edge 45 thereof away from the surface 169 of the plate 54. As the disk 170 is fixedly secured to the wheel 152, it is constrained to move in consonance with the latter and thus at each actuation of the clamp operating lever 125, the cutting lever 44 is likewise actuated. A ratchet disk 177 is fixedly secured upon the right-hand extremity of the shaft 117, as seen in Fig. 4, such disk being secured to the shaft as by means of a pin 178 passing through aligned openings in a hub 179 carried by the disk and a transverse opening in the shaft respectively. Mounted to turn freely upon the hub 179 is a lever 180,

such lever being retained upon the shaft by means ofa plate 181 secured by a stud 182. A pawl 183 is pivotally secured at a 184 to the lower portion of the lever 180, such pawl having a tooth 185 adapted to engage ratchet teeth 186 upon the disk 177. At its opposite end the pawl has a spring 187 "secured thereto, said spring having its opposite end secured to a lug 188 projecting from point the lever 180. A pin 189 also projects laterally. trom the lever 180 at a point below the axis ot the pawl 183. As the ratchet disk 177 isi'fast to. the shaft 117, it is evident that an turning of such disk will causethe shatt 111" with its pattern drum 116 to rotate. The peripheral surface of the pattern drum 116 isprovided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which may be internally screw threaded for the reception of pins or studs 190. While separate pins or studs such as 190 may be employed, it is also contemplated that elongated pattern indications such as 191 may be secured by means of screws or other devices engaging the openings in the peripheral surface of the pattern drum. The pins 190 or the elongated pat tern cams 191 are so arranged as to engage the lugs 1140f the respective levers 110 above described, whereby, upon rotation oi the drum, suchlevers will be actuated in accordance with the arrangement of the pattern studs or cams upon the drum.

In order to prevent overdriving of the drum 116 at the end of its movement, as well as to .ayoid accidental displacement or reverse rotation of the same, a pawl 192 is provided, such pawl having a locking tooth 193 for engagement with the ratchet teeth 186 and being pivoted upon a stud 19 i engaging a boss 195 projecting from the bracket member 118. The locking pawl 192 is provided with a downwardly extending tail member 196 to which one end of tension spring 197 is connected, the opposite end of this spring being secured to a pin 198 fixed in the supporting frame. The base member 6 of the supporting frame is providedwith a series of parallel and substantiallyradial slots indicated at 199, 200, 201 respectively, see Fig. 3. Fitting within such slots are slide bars 202, 203, 20a respectively.

The slide member 202 is provided, adjacent-its outer end, with an adjustable plate 205 secured thereto by means of screws 206, such plate being provided with elongated slots for the reception of such screws wherebythe plate may be adjusted relative to the slide 202. The plate 205 has, at its outer extremity, an outstanding lug 207, said lug being provided with a downwardly extending. notch or slot for the reception of the pin 189, above described. Upon the bar 202 is also secured an adjustable plate 208, such plate being connected thereto by screws 209. The plate 208 is provided with a laterally extending arm 210, which at its outer eX- tremity, is arranged to lie behind a stud or pin211 extending upwardly from the slide 203. 'A. pivot stud 212 is secured in the base member 6, projecting upwardly therefrom, and upon said stud are pivotally mounteda pair of levers comprising the arms 213, 21 1 respectively. A stud 215 is secured, inthe outer end of the lever arm 213 and engages a laterally elongated slot in the inner end of the slide 202. A similar stud 216 projects downwardly from the end of the lever arm 21 1 and engages .a transversely elongated slot in the inner end of the slide member 203. For permitting the free movement of the studs 215, 216 respectively, the flange member 7 of the base is provided with slots 217, 218. A plate 219 is fixed upon the upper surface of the arm 213 by means of screws 220. This plate 219 extends upwardly into a plane above that of the lever arm 213 where it is provided with a cam engaging element 221, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The lever comprising the arm 213 is extended to the opposite side of the pivot 212 to provide the cam engaging arm 222, while the lever comprising the arm 21 1 is also extended to the other side of the pivot 212 providing the cam engaging arm 223. As will be noted from inspection of Fig. .3, the arms 222 and 223 lie at ditierent vertical levels.

In addition to the pin 211, the slide 203 is provided at its rear end with an adjustable plate see similar to plate 205 and hav ing an upstanding lug 224, such lug being provided with a vertical slot for the reception of the pin 150 carried by the lever arm 138 as above described. The rear end of the slide 20a is also provided with an adjustable plate having an upstanding lug 225 provided with .a vertical slot for the reception of a pin 161 carried by the lever arm 15?. Fixed in the member 8 is a pivot stud 226 upon which is mounted a lever comprising the arm 227, such arm having depending from its extremity a stud 228 which engages an elongated slot in the forward end of the slide 20 1-. This stud works in a slot 229 in the flange 8. The lever comprising the arm 227 extends to the opposite side oi the pivot pin 226, providing the arm 230, from which depends the cam engaging stud 231. Secured to the upper surface of the lever arm 230 is a plate 232 which may be attacaed to such arm by means of a screw 233, the plate also having an opening for the reception of the pin 226. The plate 233 is bent upwardly as indicated at 23 1 and is provided with a portion 235 providing a cam engaging surface 236 which lies in a plane substantially above the plane of the lever arm 230.

For one of the clamping plates 5, by

as indicated in Fig. 15.

mgs corresponding to the two slots 237, 238 respectively. Shafts 242, 243 are arranged to turn in the respective journal openings, such shafts having circumferential grooves with which engage the edges of a retaining plate 2421 secured to the car 241 by means of a screw 241. Below the plate 241 the shafts are of cylindrical form as indicated at 2%, 2 3"), being journalled at their lower ends within brackets 2 247 secured to the blocks 239, 240 respectively. The cylindrical portions 2%, 24.5 of the shafts are provided with helical cam slots 248, 2&9 respectively, such cam slots being opposite the incline Frojecting outwardly from the bracket members 2 16, 24.7 are teated screws, such as 250, which engage the respective cam slots, the arrange ment of parts being such that upon rotation of the shafts 242, 2&3, in opposite directions, the screws 250 and therewith the blocks 239, 2&0 will simultaneously be raised or lowered. Secured to the upper ends of the shafts 2 l2, 2 1-3 are spur gears 251, 252 respectively, such gears intermeshing for simultaneous operation, Fast to the shaft 21 2 is a lever member 254i and fast to the shaft 2&3 is a lever member 253, such lever members providing cam engaging elements 255, 256 respectively, at their outer extremities. i1 cam ledge 257 is secured by means of screws 258 to the slides 23, 2 10, such slides thus serving to raise or lower the member 257 in accordance with the actuation of the levers 25 i, r spectively. This cam ledge 257 normally occupies the position indicated in Figs. 15 and 16, wherein itlies below the level of the cam engaging surfaces 221, 236 above described, and is provided with peripheral cam surfaces 259, 25h which, when properly positioned, serve to actuate the members con'iprising the cam elements 221 and 236 respectively. For op erating the lever a vertically movable rod 260 is arranged for sliding movement in a vertical opening in a boss 261 projecting upwardly from the bed 1 of the machine. lhis rod 260 may be prevented from turning in the boss 261 by means of an outstanding pin engaging a slot in the boss and is normally retained in depressed position by means of a coil spring 26% seated in an enlargement of the opening in said boss and which bears at its lower end upon a transverse pin 260 fixed in the men'iber 260. The lower end of the rod 260 is pro vided with a cam surface 265 which may be engaged by cam lugs 266 carried by a master pattern chain 267, such chain passing over a drum 268. The upper end of the pin 260 normally lies below the horizontal plane of the lever 25%, but when lifted to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 15, as by the passage of the cam lug 266 beneath the same, such pin is engaged by the surface 255 of the lever 254 as such lever is carried around with the needle cylinder in its rotation. When the surface 255 strikes the relatively liner pin 260, the lever 25% is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1., thus rotating the shaft 242 and throu h the ears 251 252 rotatin b o 7 b the shaft 243 in the opposite direction. Such movement of the respective shafts, with their helical cam slots, serves to elevate the-cam 257 whereby to bring the surfaces 259 into a position such as to contact with the surfaces 221, respectively as the needle cylinder continues to rotate. For restoring the cam 257 to its normal position, there is provided a post or support 268 secured upon the bed of the machine by means of screws 269 or in other desired manner. This post extends upwardly to a point substantially above the level of the cam lever 253 and is provided with an overhanging portion 270 having a depending pin 1. This pin lies in the plane of the lever 253 and in a position to contact with the cam engaging surface of the latter. Thus, as such surface is brought into contact with the stud 271, the lever 253 is caused torotate in a countercloclzwise direction, thereby, through the gears 252, 251 and the helical cams, serving to restore the cam 257 to its normal depressed position.

Fixed to the needle cylinder is a cam 272, such cam providing a peripheral cam rise 273 followed by a second rise 274 and by a further rise 275, the cam then terminating in a radial drop 276. in a plane somewhat above the plane of the earn 272, there is provided a second cam 277, such cam having the peripheral rise 278 and the radial drop 279. A cam 280 is also fixed to the needle cylinder at a level somewhat above the cam 7, such cam having the cam rise 281 followed by a second rise 282 and terminating in the radial drop 283.

The operation of the mechanism above de scribed is as follows, it being assumed that the yarn linger 32 is in operative position (Figs. 13 and 19), feeding the yarn to the stitch burr wheel and that the yarn lingers 33, are in idle position. As indicated in Fig. 13, the yarn finger 32 is in position to deliver its yarn Y at a point below the beards of the needles, such yarn extending to the left of the yarn changing apparatus toward the stitch burr wheel 19 which serves to place the yarn against the needle shanks and beneath the needle beards. noted from inspection of Fig. 13, the yarn finger 32 is so positioned that the forward portion of the cam slot 40 engages the sup porting pins 41, 41-2, the lug ll l of the actuating lever 110 resting against the peripheral surface of the pattern drum 116, the yarn linger having been brought to this position by the action of spring 38 upon passage of As will be the pattern cam 191 from beneath the lug 115. At this time the yarn cutter 1:5 rests upon the surface 109 of the plate 5 1 as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 1, the member 170 of the lever 52 lying in the space between adjacent cam teeth 172 01 the wheel lZO. The idle yarn guides 33, 3A are positioned as indicated in Fig. 19, having their ends resting against the ledge 103 of the plate 54: and having their yarns lying in contact with the upper surface of said plate. The idle yarn guide 3 L lies between the flange 105 and a pin 28 1 upstanding from the plate 54-, while the idle finger 33 lies between the latter pin and a second pin 285 also upstanding from said plate. A third pin 286 is spaced fromthe pin 285, and between the latter pins the yarn guide 32 extends when moved to idle position. In lieu of the pins 284, etc., thin plates might be employed, such plates extending between the idle yarn guides and forming partitions therebetween. With the parts as thus described, the ends of the idle yarns leading through the eyes of the yarn guides 33, 3st lie upon the upper surface of the plate 5 and beneath the spring clamp arms 60, 61 respectively, the extremities of such yarns extending laterally and beneath the foot member 108 and to a position adjacent the cutter blade 45. If it is now desired that the yarns be changed, as for making a colored stripe in the fabric, a pattern lug 266 of the master pattern chain may be caused to lift the pin 260. As the needle cylinder rotates the lever 254, striking such pin is caused to swing in the manner above described, thereby lifting the member 25:- with its cams 259, 259 to its upper position. As the member 257 moves past the surface 221 of the plate 219, the cam 259 strikes the surface 221 and the lever arm is thereby caused to swing in a clockwise direction, thus pushing the slide member 202 outwardly. The outward move ment of the slide member 202 serves to swing the lever 180, thereby causing the pawl 183 to engage a new tooth 186 of the ratchet disk 177. At the same time the arm 210 of the plate 208, by engagement with the pin 211 or slide 203, causes the latter to move outwardly, thereby swinging lever 138 and carrying pawl 1A5 into engagement with a new tooth 142 of the ratchet disk 141. During the latter part of such movement, the arm 210 strikes the tail member 196 of the locking pawl 192, thereby raising the tooth 193 from the ratchet disk 177, whereby turning of the pattern drum shaft is freely per mitted. As the member 25'? continues to rotate, its cam 259 strikes the surface 236 of the plate 232, thus swinging the lever arm 227 in a clockwise direction, thereby moving the slide 20A outwardly. The outward movement of the slide 204 serves to carry the pawl 155 into engagement with anew tooth 15A of the ratchet disk 153. The tune tion of the member 257 having now been completed, it may be restored to normal position by engagement with the stud 271, which stud may be located at any desiredposition upon the bed of the machine suchzthatz it will restore the levers 253, 254 to normal. position before they reach the pin 260 again. As the needle cylinder rotates, the cam rise- 27 3 of the fixed earn 272 first comes into; engagement with the stud 231. of the lever. arm 230, thereby positively swinging such arm in a counter-clockwise direction; As the other end ofthis arm isiconnected tothe: slide 20 1, the latter is moved inwardly. and thereby, through the engagementv of pawl 155, with the, ratchet disk: 154:, thepattern: wheel152 is advanced one step. This movement of the pattern wheel 152, acting through the stud 135 and the clamp operating lever 125, serves to move the clamping: slide 57 outwardly in its slot against the action; of thespring 97, thereby withdrawing the clamp 61 laterally from above the. idle yarns. At the same time the rotation of the cam disk 170 actuates the lever 52,. whereby to raise the cutting lever 14 and to carry the cutting element 15 thereof away from the surface 109 of the plate 5st. 7 the needle cylinder continues to rotate, the cam rise 281 of the fixedcam 280 comes into contact with the lever arm 222, rotating such. arm in acounter-clockwise direction... Sucln movement of the lever arm222 serves to move the slide 202 inwardly by the connec-- tion of the latter to the lever arm 213. This. movement is permitted without affecting the position of the slide 203 by reason. ofthe t'act that the arm 210 of the slide 202 merely. contacts with the pin 211 and has no positive connection therewith. The outward movement oi: the slide 202, through the lever arm 1.80 and the pawl 183, serves to impart, a forward movement to the pattern drum. 116. As the pattern drum is moved, the pins or cams tilt-112011 111 accordance with their predetermined arrangement, serve to swing the levers 110 and thereby to impart movement. to the yarn guide fingers 32,33, 3 1. It, for example, a pattern cam which; has been holding the yarn guide 33 out of action, terminates during such forward movement of the drum, the lever 110 corresponding to such yarn guide 33 willbe per? mitted to swing under the action of the cor responding spring 38 inwardly toward the pattern drum. As the yarnguide finger 33 moves outwardly under the action of its spring, the pins or rods 11, 1-2, which engage the outer portion of the cam 40 of the idle yarn guide, will cause such guide to move in such a manner as first. to elevate its guide eye above the plate 5 1, then to carry such guide eye outwardly over-the tops of the needles and then downwardly to a position As. i

corresponding to the position indicated in I full lines in Fig. 13. As the cam 280 continues to travel with the needle cylinder, the cam rise 's brought into engagement with the lever arm 222, thus musing a further moven'ient of the slide 202, thereby turning the pattern drum. through a further arc of movement. E-luch movement may be sufiicient to bring a pattern cam or pin 191 into engagen'ient with the lug 114 of the lever 110, thus swinging such lever in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 13, where by moving the yarn guide to idle position. As the yarn guide 32 moves inwardly toward idle position, the formation of the cam slot 10 is such as to cause the yarn delivery eye first to rise substantially vertically to a plane above the tops of the needles and then to move inwardly over the needle tops and then down into a position such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13. where the now in active yarn Y (Fig. 22) is caused to lie over and slightly above the surface of the plate 54. As the idle yarn is drawn upwardly from the stitch wheel and inside the back line of the needles. it is caused to pass over the surface 109 of the plate 54 and beneath the cutting blade 45. The run of yarn between the cutting blade and the guide eye lies against the vertical member 107 and substantially above the surface 300 of the foot member 108, being prevented from overthrow by the overhanging edge 10? of the member 107; this run of yarn thus overlies theactive clamp member 60. As the needle cylinder continues to rotate. the cam rise 27% of the cam 272 causes a further rotation of the pattern wheel 152 and the pattern disk 170. thus allowing the stud 135 to drop 01d the tooth of wheel 152 and thereby permitting the previously retracted clamp block 59 to return to clamping position. During such movement of the wheel 152. the member 176 of the cutter actuating lever rides on the flat face 175 of the cam tooth with which it en- !Iages. thus retaining the cutter in elevated position. As the needle cylinder continues to rotate. the rise 275 of the cam 272 causes a slight further rotation of the pattern wheel 152 and the disk 170. such movement having no effect on stud 135 but permitting: member 1 6 to drop from the surface 175. thereby allowing" the severing; element to drop upon surface 109 of blade 54. Such action severs the now idle run Y of yarn extending between the needles which have passed the stitch wheel and the yarn finger 32. During the movement of the clamp block 59 inwardly alone its guide groove, the lug: 71 of the claimpin arm travels up the inclined surface 85 of the corresponding cam block 83. thereby raisins the end of the inactive clamp 61 to a point above the surface of the plate 64 and over all of the idle yarns. The lug 71 then travels over the upper horizontal surface of the cam block and then drops from the end of the latter, whereupon the spring 65 carries the clamp arm 61 down into contact with the plate 54-, securely holding the idle run Y as well as the other idle runs of yarn thereagainst (Fig. 22). The stud 231 then runs'olf the end 276 of the cam 272, thus permitting the free actuation of the lever 230 in subsequent operations. The surface 222 also runs off the end of the cam 280 at substantially the same. time whereby the lever 213 is free for further adjustment. Immediately thereafter, the fixed cam 277, having the cam rise 278. comes into contact with the surface 223 of the lever comprising the arm 214. The slide 203 is thus moved. inwardly thereby through the pawl 145 and the ratchet 142 actuating the pattern. wheel 137. This wheel is moved through a sufiicient distance by the cam rise 27 8 to carry one of the teeth 136 completely past the stud 134. This serves to swing the lever 124 about its pivot, whereby to carry its free extremity 130 outwardly, thereby moving the clamp block 56 outwardly in its slot. see Fig. 7. e

As the member of the clamping finger 60 engages the cam surface 7 6 of the fixed block 72, the finger is raised slightly from the plate 54.. thus preventing the clamping arm from dragging across the yarns thereon. it being understood that in the withdrawal of, clamp block 59 to inactive position. a similar elevationof clamp finger 61 takes place. As the block continues to move outwardlv the member 70 passes into contact with theinclined surface 8 1 of the block 82, thereby raisins! such block against the action of the spring 89 and permitting. the member 70 to pass beneath the lower surface 86 of said block and into a position such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10. As the tooth 136 passes from beneath the stud 134. the

spring: 98 'is permitted. through the lever 102. to move the block 56 inwardly. thus first raising! the clamp lever by engagement of the member 70 with the surface 85. and then permittingsuch clamp lever todrop into contact with. the inclined surface76. thus permitting it gradually to engage the yarns without subjecting them to a blow such as might sever them. The movement of the clamp lever is thus such as to withdraw it from beneath the newly positioned idle run of yarn Y and then to project such clamping; member over such varn as well as other idle yarns and thereafter to drop it upon the same (Figs. 23 and 24).

As the yarn guide 33 moves toward its active position. it will be observed that the end m of the yarn X'extending from its guide eye is held securely beneath the active clamp member 60. As the yarn finger moves out and over the needle and then down into ac tive position, such previously idle run of yarn is caused to slice sharply down between two adjacent needles and as the yarn is caught between such needles, it is immediate- 1y drawn out from the newly positioned yarn guide eye and carried into position for en gagement by the stitch wheel (Fig. 21). By reason of the fact that the guide eye moves from within the needle circle and adjacent the yarn clamp to a. position without the needle circle, it is evident that the yarn must, of necessity, be placed under a certain amount of tension, and such tensioninc: of the yarn serves in a highly eiiicient manner to make certain its engagement by the blades of the stitch wheel. It is also clear that by reason of the fact that the movement of the idle yarn guide from inactive to active position is occasioned by a cam fixed as respects the needle cylinder. the position of entry of the yarn is accurately defined. this action being further assured by the moving of the previously inactive yarn guide across the needle circle in assuming active position. As the yarn guide assumes its active position and its yarn commences to feed to the needles, the free end m of such yarn which is held beneath the active clamp 60. is drawn out from beneath the same by pull of the needles (Fig. 22). As however. such yarn is constrained to move outwardlv around one of the posts. 284. 5285 or 288. it is prevented from contacting with the other idle yarns to a suiiicient extent to drag the latter from beneath the clamp. while at the same time during the movement of the yarn guide to idle position the posts 284. 285. etc, serve to localize the position of the idle run of yarn extending from the yarn {guide eye in such a manner as to prevent the superposition of such yarns beneath. the clamping members such as might prevent the proper engagement of the latter with one or more of such yarns. It is evident that by arranging the pattern indications upon the drum 116 in the desired manner, any proper succession of operation of the yarn guides 32, 33, 34 may be obtained. and by permitting the pattern pin 280 to remain in its upper position, a movement of the pattern drum 116 may be caused to take place at each successive rotation of the needle cvlinder. Thus the fabric may be provided with stripes of various colors and. of one or more courses, such stripes beingfollowed by plain fabric for as great an extent as may be desired. It is thus possible by the use of a relatively small pattern drum 116 to provide colored stripes of complex pattern interposed between relatively wide sections of plain fabric, while at the same time the overlap of the yarns at the changing .point may be confined to relatively few needle wales and within sharply defined limits.

While but a single yarn changing device has been indicated, it is contemplated that similar devices may be positioned at any desired interval about the circumference of the needle cylinder in which case the movable cam ledge 257 and the various fixed cams carried by the needle cylinder will serve to actuate the several changing; devices in proper order. Thus in a machine using; sinteeds, a yarn changing: device may be employed at each of suchfeeds w th the pattern indications so arranged as to change the yarns at each feed correspondinitly. although it is obvious that if desired for any reason,the changing of the yarn at the ditferent feeds could be made to talre place in different orders. y

Having" thus described the invent on in a preferred embodiment of the same together with the mode of operation thereof, what l claim and desire to secure bylietters Patent of the United States is:

l. A circular knitting): machine cou'iprising a row of relatively fixed needles. means for continuously moving said row of needles in a predetermined path while maintaining their tops in a predetermined plane. and a yarn guide movable from idle position at one side of the needle row and. below the plane of the tops of the needles to a yarn feeding position upon the other side of the needle row and also below said plane.

2. Yarn feeding mechanism. for use in a knitting; machine having a row of needles. comprising); a movable yarn presenting member provided with a guide element and. means for moving such gruide element from a position at one side of the needle row and below the plane of the needle tops at yarn receiving; position, to a similar point upon the opposite side of such needle row, and for causing such guide element in its movement to pass above said plane.

3. A yarn feeding. mechanism for knitting:

machines of that type employing a row of hooked needles. comprising a member h avinir a guide eve normally positioned below the plane of the needletops for presenting" yarn to the needle hooks, and means operable successivelvfor lifting; said guide eye to a point above the plane of the needle tops at yarn rccei'viim position, for ll'lOYlllQ said eye transversely over the top of the needle row. and for depressing: said {guide eye to a position to the rear of the needle row and below the tops of the needles.

at. A yarn feeding mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a movable yarn. finger having a yarn presenting; element, and means fonactuating said. finger whereby tomove said element through a path of substantially inverted U form extending:

from a point without the needle circle across the needle row to a point within the same.

in combination with a rotary needle cylinder having fined needles therein, a yarn USU guide finger having a guide eye, and means for imparting bodily movement to such yarn finger whereby to move said guide eye from a feeding position outside the needle circle and below the plane of the tops of the needles to an idle position within the needle circle and below the plane of the tops of the nec- (lles.

G. In combination in a knitting machine having a series oi relatively fixed needles, a yarn finger for presenting yarn to the needles, said finger having a guide eye and means for in'iparting bodily movement to said yarn finger whereby to carry said guide eye from a position at one side of and below the tops of the active series of needles, over said needles and to a position below the tops of and upon the other side of said needles.

7. In combination in a knitting machine, a needle cylinder having needles therein, an elongate radially disposed yarn finger having a yarn guiding element adjacent to its inner end movable from a position inside the needle row and below the level of the tops of the needles to a position outside thereof, means engageable with the yarn finger for moving it bodily in a longitudinal direction toward and from the needle cylinder, and cam means constraining said yarn finger to move bodily in a direction perpendicular to its firstdirection of movement.

8. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a bodily slidable yarn finger for presenting yarn thereto, said finger having a guide eye, a cam element carried by the said finger, said element comprising a plurality of distinct curved portions, spaced members engaging the curved portion of said cam ele ment and collectively constituting the sole support for the finger, and means for imparting relative movement to said finger and said supporting members.

9. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles. a yarn guide finger movable in a plane radial of said needle circle, said yarn finger having a cam slot of substantially W shape and a pair of fixed and spaced pins engaging said cam slot.

10. In a knitting machine, in combination a series of needles, a bodily movable yarn finger having a guide eye, and cam and spring means alternately operative respectively for imparting movement to said finger whereby to carry said guide eye from a position behind the needles and below the tops thereof, upwardly over the tops of said needles and to a position. upon the other side thereof and in a plane below their tops.

11. In a knitting machine, in combination a rotary needle cylinder supporting a series of relatively fixed needles, and means for feeding yarns to the needles, said means comprising a bodily movable yarn finger, pattern means for moving said linger to an inoperative position wherein its delivery end lies behind and below the tops of the needles, and spring means for restoring such finger to normal "feeding position, with its delivery point on the other side of the needles.

12. In combination with a'circular rot-ating cylinder knitting machine having fixed needles, a movable yarn linger having a yarn guide eye, said guide eye when inoperative occupying a positionwithin the needle circle and below the plane of the needle tops at the yarn. feeding point, and means rotating with the needle cylinder for determining movement of said guide eye to an. operative position outside the needle circlewhereby to introduce its yarn at a certain and predetermined needle wale.

' 13. A fixed needle, rotary cylinder knitting machine having a rotatable stitch burr arranged outside the needle circle, a movable yarn presenting finger having a guide eye which in inoperative position lies within the needle circle and below the plane of the tops of the needles, and clamping means arranged closely adjacent such eye when in inoperative position for holding the end of the idle yarn, whereby upon movement of such guide. eye to operative position outside the needle circle the yarn is pre ented to said burr under substantial tension. 7

14. A feed mechanism for circular knitting machines having a yarn clamp comprising a varn engaging element. a plurality of movable yarn carriers for placing yarns in engagement with said element. and a plurality of members outstanding from said element and constituting separators for said carriers and their respective yarns.

15. A feed mechanism for knitting machines comprising a yarn clamping device having a yarn supporting table, a movable yarn carrier for laying a yarn across said table. and a pair of spaced and substantially parallel. members upstanding from the surface of said plate and providing between them a channel for the reception of said carrier.

16. A feed mechanism of the class described comprising a yarn clamping device having a yarn supporting surface, a plurality of movable yarn fingers, means for moving said yarn fingers whereby to lay yarns across said surface and a plurality of partition members associated with said surface and defining independent compartments for the reception of the respective fin gers.

17. A feeding meehanisn for circular knitting machines comprising a support within the needle circle, a yarn severing device mounted upon said support immediately behind the needles, a radially movable yarn feeding element, a clamping finger cooperating with said support, said finger being disposed inward. of said sex-*ering device and normally intersecting the radial plane of movement of the feeding element, and yarn separating elements llpSlltlIlfllllg from said support and terminating cloely adjacent to said linger.

1.8. A feed mechanism for circular knit ting machines comprising a support within the needle circle and imn'icdiatcly behind the needles, a yarn severing device mounted upon said sum ort, a plurality of yarn feeding elements movable into cooperative relationshi p to said -=upport whereby to lay yarns radially thereacross, an elongate movable clamping element normally extending acro the radial planes of movement of the several feeding elements for simultaneously 'ng yarns resting on said support, and means 101' limiting movement of yarns in a direction loi'igitudinal of said clamping element.

1.9. ll. feed mechanism for knitting machines comprising a clamp {or idle yarns having a yarn engaging surface, a plurality of substantially parallel pins upstanding from said surface. and a plurality of yarn manipulating devices receivable within the spaces between adjacent pins and operative to place yarns into engagement with said surface.

20. A feed mechanism for a circular knitting machine having a feed point external to the needle circle, comprising a support within the needle circle substantially radially inward of the feed point, a yarn severing device innnediately within the needle circle carried by said support, said severing device being beyond said feed point inthe direc ion of knitting, a yarn clampingjaw carried by said support substantially opposite the feed point, a plurality of yarn feed lingers movable radially from without the needle circle across the latter to carry their respective yarns radially across the clampin; jaw, and mean carried by said support to prevent the improperwithdrawal of yarn from engagement with said clamping jaw.

21. A knitting machine having yarn clamping means comprising a clamping lever pivoted adjacent one of its ends and a bow spring having one extremity engaging said lever at a point removed from its pivot, said how spring extending over said pivot and having its opposite extremity fixedly secured respects said pivot, and a movable feeding linger for introducing an idle run oi yarn into the clamping means.

Yarn clamping mechanismlor a knittine machine comprising a slidable block. a yarn clamping lever pivotally secured to said block and a spring for actuating said lever. said spring having one extremity secured to aid block and extending transversely across the pivot of the lever, and having its free extremity engaging the clamping lever at a point between its pivot and the end of said lever.

- 28. A yarn clamping device for knitting machines comprising a pivot-ed clamping lever and a spring for actuating the same, said spring being of elongated form and supported at one extremity, the opposite end oi said spring being provided with spaced ears lying upon opposite sides of said clamping lever.

2%. A circular knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder, yarn manipulating instrun'ientalities con'iprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, a pattern controlled cam mounted upon said needle cylinder and optionally movable into position to advance the pawl into engagement with a new toot-h of its ratchet, and a fixed cam rotatable with the needle cyliuoer for moving the pawl to impart movement to the ratchet.

25. A circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, yarn manipulating instrumentalities including a pattern drum, means including a pawl and ratchet for intermittently rotating said drum, reciprocable means connected to the pawl, a cam mounted upon the needle cylinder and optionally movable into a position for moving said reciprocable means in one direction, and a fixed cam upon said cylinder for moving said reciprocable means in the opposite direction. l

26. A circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, a cam mounted upon said cylinder and adjustable thereon in an axial direction, a second cam fixed upon said cylinder, yarn manipulating instrun'ientalitics including a reciprocable slide, and means whereby said slide may be moved in one direction by said first cam and in the opposite direction by said second cam.

27. A circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, yarn manipulating instrumentalities carried bva fixed support arranged outside the needle circle, and actuating mechanism for said instrumentalities including a cam carried by said cylinder and movable from operative to inoperative position and vice versa, a movable pattern controlled element for moving said cam to operative position, and a fixed element for restoring said cam to normally inoperative position after each actuation thereof by said pattern controlled element.

28. A circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder and fixed needles therein, yarn manipulating instrumentalities including yarn presenting, yarn clamping and yarn severingmeans, and mechanism for actuating said instrumentalities in properly timed relation. comprising a plurality of cams fixedly secured to the rotating cylinder, said cams being normally inoperative to ell ect movement of the respective instrumentalities, and means including a cam movably mounted upon the cylinder for rendering and ratchet means in timed relation to the rotation of the needle cylinder.

30. In combination with a rotating cylin-- der knitting machine, yarn manipulating instrumentalities, and mechanism for actuating said instrumentalities, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pattern drums, means including pawls and ratchets for driving the several drums, a pattern controlled cam carried by the needle cylinder and optionally movable into position whereby to cause engagement of the several pawls with advanced teeth of their respective ratchets, and a plurality of fixed cams mounted upon the cylinder and operative to actuate the respective pawls to rotate the corresponding drums.

31. A knitting machine comprising a rotating needle cylinder, yarn changing means fixedly positioned outside said cylinder, said means comprising a pawl actuated pattern shaft, a pawl carrier oscillatable about the axis of said shaft, a pawl carried thereby, a rectilinearly movable slide engaging said pawl carrier, a lever having connection with said slide, said lever comprising a pair of oppositely directed arms, a pattern controlled cam carried by said needle cylinder for actuating one of said arms, and a fixed cam carried by said cylinder for actuating the other of said arms.

32. A knitting machine comprising in combination a rotating needle cylinder, a fixed support arranged adjacent said cylinder, rotatable pattern means carried by said support, an oscillatory element for actuating said pattern means, a slide bar arranged within said support and having one extremit-y engaging said element, a two armed lever pivoted upon said support to turn about a vertical axis, said lever having connection with the other end of said bar, and cam means carried by said cylinder for engaging the respective arms of said lever, whereby successively to move said slide bar in opposite directions.

33. A knitting machine comprising in combination a rotating needle cylinder, at yarn changing mechanism comprising relatively movable parts, and means carried by said cylinder for imparting movement to certain of said parts, said means comprising a cam ledge movable vertically of the needle cylinder, a shaft journalled upon said cylinder and movable therewith, a helical cam groove on said shaft, means carried by said cam ledge for engaging said groove, and means whereby said shaft may be turned during the rotation of the needle cylinder.

In combination of a knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder and yarn feeding mechanism, a cam carried by said needle cylinder and movable vertically as respects the same, said cam having studs projecting therefrom and a pair of paral lel sha'l'ts having oppositely inclined cam grooves therein, said grooves respectively engaging the studs projecting from said movable cam, and means for turning said shafts in opposite directions whereby to move said cam vertically.

35. A knitting machine having in combination yarn changing mechanism and a rotatable needle cylinder, means for in'iparting movement to said yarn changing mechanism comprising an adjustable cam ledge carried by the needle cylinder and means for adjusting said cam ledge, such means comprising a pair of substantially parallel shafts, means connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation in opposite-directions, oppositely inclined cam elements carried by said shafts,

said elements being constructed and arranged to impart movement to said cam ledge and means whereby one of said shafts may be caused to rotate alternately in opposite directions.

Signed by me at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, this 22nd day of July, 1921.

MAX C. MILLER.

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