US1770859A - Flat-knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

July l5, 1930. E. o. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 192'7` 12 Sheets-Sheet l `July 15, 1930.

E. O. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE l2 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1927 July 1 5, 1.930. E, Q NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE `Fi1 ed Deo. 12, 1927 12 sheets-Sheet 4 ZP j July 15, 1930. EQ o. NEBEI. 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1927' 12 sheets-sheet 5 July 15, 1930. E. o. NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 1927 l2 Shets-Sheet 6 82 v 78 a" slik July l5, 1930. o. NEBEL I 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 1927 lzsne'ts-sheet 7 I www@ Lm SLM E. O. NEBEL I`luly l5, 1930.

FLAT KNITT ING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 12, 1927 July l5, 1930. E. o. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING' MAHNE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 E. O. NEBEL July 15, 1930.

FLAT KNITT ING MACHINE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 July 15, 1930.

E. O. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet ll RAN.

July 15, 1930. E. o, NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed DSC. l2, 1927 l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES ERNST OSGAB NEBEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA FLAT-KNITTING MACHINE Application led December 12, 1927. Serial No. 239,554.

This invention relates to flat knitting machines, such as those employed in the manufacture of full fashioned hosiery. One object of the invention is to provide im roved 6 mechanism for formin a high splice eel reinforce of desired des gn at each side of a stocking blank.

As well understood by those familiar with the art the heel reinforce is formed by inserting an additional thread where the reinforce is desired, therefore, each needle knitting in the reinforced areas carries two threads, while the needles knitting in the non-reinforced areas each carry but one thread.

Ordinarily there is the same amount of yarn sunk around each of the needles whether they are operating in a reinforced area or in the non-reinforced area of the stocking blank,

: therefore, all the loops formed in any given course are the same size, and'when these loops are cast from the needles-the resulting stitches in the reinforced areas are more tightly formed than those il;t the' non-reinforced areas, due to the double yarn in the reinforced stitches which are of the same size as the single yarn stitches of the non-reinforced areas.

This condition causes the reinforced areas to be harsh and stiff and have a tendency to pucker. f

Another object of my invention is to provide mechanism whichin combination with the elements of a conventional type of full fashioned hosiery knitting machine and cooperating with my improved mechanism for shaping the heel reinforce will obviate the harsh and stiifened condition in the reinforced areas of the stocking, by causing more yarn to besunk around the needles operating in the said reinforced areas, Which produces longerloops therein and thus gives these areas the same softness and flexibility as the nonreinforced areas, and eliminates the puckering of the reinforced areas. l

The details ofy my invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

' Fig. lis a perspective view of the mechanism which co-operates with the thread bars and other elements. of a full fashioned knitting machine to shape the heel reinforce;

, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the knitting machine showing the reinforce shaping mechanism as applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the series of thread bars of the machine showing my improved mechanism which limits the movement in opposite directions of the two thread bars which carry the heel reinforcing threads; f

Fig.` 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 7 7, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 8 8, Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlargement of a portion of the 70 mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the thread bar limiting mechanism as being adaptedto limit vthe movement of a single thread bar in both directions; v

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation through the machine, showing the mechanism which effects a rocking movement of the needle bar to cause additional thread to be sunk around the needles in the reinforce areas, and 8 the mechanism which coordinateswith this rocking motion of the needle bar to confine the extra yarn sinking operation to the reinforced areas; Y

Fig. 12 is an enlargement of a portion of 85 the mechanism shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side elevation of the co-ordinating mechanism shown in Fig. 11

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 16-16, Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a sectional plan view taken on the line "1? 17 Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 18 18, Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of a stock- 100 ing blank illustrating one form of heel degFlig. 20 shows a variation within the scope of the invention; and

Fig. 21 shows a modification of one detail of the invention.

A knitting machine of the type above noted comprises a plurality of transversely extending frame members 1, 1 which are suitably connected by longitudinally extending beams 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine (see Fig. 11) is the main cam shaft 9, the needle raising and lowering shalt 10, the needle rocking shaft 11 and a stitch regulating shaft 12.

The needle raismg and lowering shaft 10 10 is provided with arms 13, on which the needle bars 14 are pivoted at 15. Secured to the needle raising shaft 10 is an arm 16 provided with a cam roller 17 (see Fig. 12) adapted to ride on a cam 18 secured to the cam shaft 9. A spring 19 maintains the roller 17 in operative engagement with the cam 18 at all times. By this mechanism the needle bar 14 is raised and lowered in the usual manner for the purposes well known to the art.

In addition to the raising and lowering of the needle bar 14, this bar is rocked about the pivot 15, for purposes which are also well known to the art, by the following mechanism. The needle roc rin shaft 11 is provided with an arm 20 (see ig. 11) on which is rotatably mounted 'a cam roller 21 which is moved into operative engagement with a cam 22, on the cam shaft 9, by a spring 23. The arm 2()l is provided with a laterally extending pin 25. The needle bar 14 has a depending arm 26 rigidly secured thereto, to the lower end of which is piyoted a link 27 having notches 28 and 29, one of which is adapted to engage the laterally extending pin 25 of the arm 20.

The coordinated oscillations of the shafts 10 and 11 function in a manner well known to the art to operate the needle bar 14, to form the usual loops or stitches of the fabric.

The machine is equipped with means for regulatingl the length of the loops comprising, toget er with the stitch regu ating shaft 12, a lever 30 (see Fig. 11) secured to said shaft and provided with a laterally extending pin 31 which engages the needle rocking lever 20. The regulating shaft has a lever 32 loosely mounted thereon which is provided with a roller 33. The stud 34 on which the roller 33 is rotatably mounted projects laterally to one side of the said lever 32 for reasons hereinafter set forth. The roller 33 is engaged by a cam 35 secured to the cam shaft 9 of the machine. A second lever 36 is rigidly secured to the stitch regulating shaft 12 and is provided with a regulating screw 37 which engages the lever 32. By

turning the screw 37 the angular relationship between the levers 32 and 36 may be varied.

When the needles are in position to have thread sunk around them the roller 33 is riding a concentric portion of the cam 35, the regulating screw 37 bears against the lever 32 and, therefore, the lever 3G maintains the regulating shaft in a definite position, the lever 30 thereon is likewise held in a definite position and its pin 31, against which the needle rocking lever 2O bears, holds said lever and consequently the bank of needles in a definite position relative to the sinkers of the machine, thereby regulating the length of the loops of thread sunk around the needles by the said sinkers. The roller 21 carried by the needle rocking lever 20 at this time is held away from its cooperating cam 22 on the cani shaft 9. Obviously by turning the regulating screw 37 the relative positions of the needles and sinkers may be altered to any desired extent for altering the length of the loops.

The machine is provided with the usual series of thread bars 40 which are slidably mounted in suitable brackets 41 (see Fig. 2), secured to the longitudinal beam 5, and are longitudinally reciprocated by the usual type of friction box (not shown) which is operated in the usual manner by the usual Coulier motion of the machine. Each of the thread bars carries a finger 42 (see Fig. 11) which 1s adapted to lay a thread between the shoulders 43 of the sinkers 44 and the needles 45 carried by the needle bar 14.

Alternate sinkers, as is well known to the art, are operated by jacks 49 pivotally mounted on the longitudinal beam 5. The lacks 49 are operated by the usual longitudina ly slidable cam 50, which in turn is operated by the Coulier motion of the machine in the usual manner. Each sinker 44 is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 51 which is adapted to be engaged by the walls of a groove 52 formed in a longitudinally extending bar 53. The bar 53 receives a lateral or transverse motion and a slight vertical motion by mechanism not shown but well known to the art. As is well known to the art, there is a sinker between each adjacent pair of needles.

In the normal operation of the machine, the bank of needles is held in a substantially vertical position as above described to receive the threads, the thread bars 40 are moved longitudinally of the bank of needles and the thread carrying fingers 42 lay their threads between the shoulders 43 of the sinkers 44 and the needles 45. At the same time the sinker operating cam 50 successively engages the jacks 49 and moves the alternate sinkers 44, with which they cooperate, forward to sink yarn into the alternate spaces between adjacent needles, 'after which the bar 53 advances, carrying the sinkers which the spaces between the needles not previously` having thread sunk therein. This movement of the bar 53 produces a tension on the thread which causes the jack operated sinkers 44 to retreat to a point where the rear edge of their lugs 51 is engaged by the rear wall of the groove 52 therein. As the advance of the bar 53 continues, all the sinkers 44 are then advanced an equal distance and thereby equally divide the thread between the entire series of needles so that each needle will receive a like tively, in which are mounted ad] amount of yarn to form loops of uniform length, whereupon the cams 19 and 22 coordinately operate to effect the stitch forming operations of the needle bar 14, in the well known manner.

The travel of -the needle bars 40 ordinarily is controlled by a well known screw and nut mechanism at the opposite ends of the ma# chine (not shown) for producing the selvage edges of the stocking blank. In the drawings of this application the thread bar 40a of the series carries the thread which produces the body of the blank and the travel of this bar in both directions is controlled in the manner and by the mechanism just described.

The thread bars 40b and 40c of the series of bars 40 carry the threads which form the solid portions of the heel reinforce at the respective sides of the blankand lay the additional reinforcing thread against certain of the needles adjacent the opposite selvag'e edges of the blank being knitted. The travel of each of these bars 40h and 40 toward the respective selvage edges of the blank is controlled in the 'manner just described in connection with the thread bar 40which carries the body thread, however, the travel of the reinforce thread bars 40h and 40c in a direction toward the center of the stocking blank is controlled by mechanism forming one feature of my invention which will here be described in detail (see Figs. 1 to 10).

Secured to the longitudinal beam 5, in the present instance, are brackets 60 which support a fixed frame 61. The frame 61 (see Figs. 1 and 2) extends parallel to the thread bars 40 .and occupies a position adjacent thereto. In the frame 61 is slidably mounted a pair of stop bars 62 and 63 provided with laterally extending arms 64 and 65 respectively. The arms 64 and 65 are operatively connected to the reinforcing thread bars 40b and 40c respectively. The stop bars 62 and 63 are provided with lugs 66 and 67, respec- V 'ustable stop screws 68 and 69 respectively. Secured to the frame 61 intermediate the stop screws 68 and 69 is a bearing 70 (see Figs. 6 and 7) in which is secured a short shaft 7l. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 71 at the respective opposite sides of the bearing 70 are ratchet wheels 7 2 and 7 3. On the outer sides of the ratchet wheels 72 and 7 3 are secured sprocket wheels 74 and 75 respectively,

whichare adapted to receive pattern chains 76 and 77.

The pattern chains 76 and 77 each compriseI a plurality of side links 78, 78 and 79, 7 9 which are spaced laterally by means of triangularly shaped blocks 80 which ride in similarly shaped cavities formed between the teeth of the sprocket wheels 74, (see Figs. 8 and 9). The chain pintles 81 pass through the side links 78, theintermediate spacer block and opposite side links 79 and bind the whole thereof together. Each pattern chain is provided with a plurality of stop blocks 82 which are removably secured to the spacer blocks 80 by screws 83.

As above described, the thread bars are reciprocated by the usual Coulier motion of the machine and their travel toward the selvage edges of the stocking blank is controlled by the usual screw and nut mechanism at the opposite ends of the machine. The travel of the reinforcing thread bars 40b and 40c toward the center of the stocking blank is controlled by the stop blocks 82 above noted.

The stop blocks 82, as seen in Fig. 4, are of various lengths and limit the successive inner movements of the reinforce thread bars stopping the thread carrying fingers 42 at difierent points relative to the selvage edge of the stocking blank. By this means the inner line of the reinforce in the heel o f the blank can be made to any design desired. In the drawings, the stop blocks gradually decrease in lengthfor the purpose of forming the solid portion of the heel reinforce shown in Figs. 19 and 20. `It will be noted that inner ends of the stop blocks 82 are in alignment and abut against the sides of the respective ratchet wheels 74 and 75 which take the shock of the impact between the stop screws 68, 69 and the pattern stop blocks 82 and prevent any endwise movement of the said blocks when engaged by the stop screws, thus the inner line of the reinforce is accurately controlled.

-The outer turns of the pattern chains pass around sprocket wheels 84 (see Fig. 1) which are rotatably mounted on a shortshaft 84a secured in a bearing formed on the outer end of an-extension 85 projecting from the bearing 70. Obviously the chains 76 and 77 may be of any desired length, and the outer turns thereof may be carried by any suitable means such as rollers suspended from any suitable support located above the machine as illustrated in Fig. 21, thus, the scope of design is practically unlimited as any desired number of stop blocks of different lengths may be carried by the pattern chains.

The ratchet wheels 74 and 75 and consequently the pattern chains 7 6 and 77 are moved alternately in intermittent steps one block at a time by a pawl 86 (see Figs. 1 and 3), which is provided with a head 87. The

` head 87 is provided with a rod 88 which passes through an opening formed in one end of a. lever 89. The rod 88 acts as a means for pivotally connecting the pawl 86 to the lever 89 and permits a relative lateral movement between these elements. The rod 88 is rigidly secured at its opposite ends in lugs 87 87a formed on the head 87 and the lever 89 slides on the rod 88 between the said lugs. The lever 89 is pivoted at 90 to a bracket 91 secured to the longitudinal frame member 3 of the machine. The lever 89 is also provided with a roller 92 which engages a cam 93 on the cam shaft 9. A spring 94 (Fig. 2) keeps the pawl 86 in contact with eitherone or the other of the ratchet wheels 74, 75. The pawl 86 engages first one of the ratchet wheels and then the other and or the purpose of shifting the said pawl from one to the other of the ratchet wheels, the head 87 of said pawl is provided Y with a lug 95 which enters a slot 96 formed in a plate 97 secured to a reciprocating bar 98 which is slidably supported in bearings 99 secured to the frame of the machine. The length of the pivot rod 88 in the pawl head 87 permits this lateral shifting of the pawl 86.

The pawl shifting bar 98 is pivotally connected to one arm 100 of the Coulier motion as shown in Fig. 1, and as this lever is rocked b the Coulier cam 101 the pawl shifting ar 98 is reciprocated, and thereby shifts the pawl 86 out of engagement with one of the ratchet wheels and into engagement with the other thereof. A roller 102 (see Fig. 2) guides the upper end of the pawl 86 in its movement from one to the other of the ratchet wheels. The roller 102 is rotatably mounted in a stud 103 secured in the eX- tension 85 of the bearing 70 which supports the ratchet wheels 74, 75. The ratchet wheels and their respective pattern chains are moved alterantely for the reason that the movement of the chains must be effected while the stop screws 68 and 69 are away from the respective pattern chains with which they cooperate, and in operation one or the other of these stop screws is in engagement with its respective pattern chain when the pawl 86 is operated, therefore, the chain not engaged by a stop screw is moved.

A detent 105 is provided for each of the ratchet wheels 74, (see Fig. 2) and comprises a lever 106 pivoted to an extension 107 of the bearing 70. The levers 106 are each provided with a laterally rejecting pin 108 which engages the teeth o the ratchet wheel with which it cooperates, a spring 109 maintaining the contact therebetween and preventing any accidental rotation of the ratchet wheel and a corresponding movement of the pattern chain controlled thereby.

The pawl 86 is thrown into or out of operation at desired times by the following mechanism (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). On the outer end of the lever 89 which operates the pawl 86 is pivotally mounted a depending arm 110 havlng a shoulder 111 formed adjacent its lower end and which 7s adapted to engage a rojection 112 on the m 2. The arm 110 1s connected by a link 113 to one arm 114 of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted at 115 to a bracket 116 secured to the beam 2. A second arm 117 of this bell-crank lever is adapted to be engaged by a pin 119 projecting laterall from a lever 120 pivoted at 121 to the brac et 116. The lever 120 is provided with a lug 122 which is adapted to be engaged by buttons 123 on an endless chain 124. At one of its ends the said chain 124 passes around a s rocket wheel 125 which is rotatably mounte on a stud 126 secured to the bracket 116. The opposite end of the chain 124 passes around an idler sprocket 127 rotatably mounted in a yoke 128 having a stem 129 which passes through a bearing 130 carried by a bracket 131 secured to the beam 2. The stem 129 is adjustable within the bearing 130, and is provided with nuts 132 and 133 by means of which the chain 124 is adjusted and maintained in a taut condition.

Secured to the sprocket 125 is a ratchet wheel 135, which is engaged by a pawl 136 pivotally mounted at 13 to a lever 138. The said lever 138 is pivoted at 139 to the bracket 116. A. spring 140 maintains the pawl 136 in operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 135 and a slring 141 maintains the arm 117 of the ell-cank lever 114-117 in operative engagement with the pin 119 on the lever 120.

On the free end of the lever 138 is pivotally mounted one end of a link 142, the opposite end of which is pivotall attached to the free end of a lever 143 whic is pivotally mounted at 144 on a bracket 145 secured to the beam 3. The lever 143 is provided with a roller 146 which engages a cam 147 on the main camshaft 9 of the machine. As the cam shaft 9 is rotated, the cam 147 rocks the lever 143 which, through the link 142, rocks the lever 138, and through the pawl 136 the ratchet wheel 135 and sprocket wheel 125 are rotated, and as the chain 124 advances the buttons 123 thereon successively engage the lug 122 of the lever 120.

Normally t e shoulder 111 of the arm 110 lies in engagement with the upper side of the projection 112 and the roller 92 on the lever 89 is held in the position to which it is moved by the high portion 93IIL of the cam 93, preventing the said arm 89 from being rocked about its pivot and consequently preventing the pawl 86 from operating either of the ratchet wheels 72 or 73. When the bell-crank lever 114-117 is operated, in a manner above noted, the shoulder 111 of the arm 110 is moved from over the projection 112 and when the low portion 93b of the cam 93 comes under the roller 92, the roller 92 follows into the said low portion 93h of the cam and the lever 89 is thereby permitted to be rocked about its pivot 90 by means of a spring 89a, the pawl 86 is thereby moved upwardly over the teeth o'f the ratchet wheel 72 or 73, as

the case may be, -into engagement with the next successive tooth thereof. As the high portion 93a of the cam 93 comes under the roller 92 the lever 89 is rocked in the opposite direction pulling the pawl 86 downwardly, and consequently rotating the ratchet wheel with which it engages. In this manner the stop blocks 82 are-successively moved into alignment with the respective stop screws 68 and 69 and the movements of the thread bars 40h, 40c toward the center of the stocking blank are regulated in a manner to form the inner line of the heel reinforce at each side of the stocking blank.

In order to prevent the above mentioned harshness and puckering of the solid reinforced heel portions of the stocking blank, the needle bar 14 with the needles 45 thereon is rocked slightly about the pivot 15 toward the sinkers 44 see Fig. v11), during the time the sinkers are eing advanced by the cam toward those of the needles on which the reinforced stitches of the stocking blank are to be formed. During the time in which the sinkers intermediate the reinforced portions of the stocking blank are being operated, the needles 45 are returned to their.' normal thread receiving positions. `This slight momentary rockin movement of the needles 45 toward the sinkers 44 must be regulated in accordance withl the extent of the reinforced area as produced in each successive course of stitches being formed. This regulation of the same momentary rocking motion of the needles is controlled by the following mechanism The above mentioned laterally extending pin 34 on the lever 32, which is mounted on the stitch regulating shaft 13, is engaged by an adjustable projection 150 (see Fig. 12 carried by a lever 151 pivoted at 152 to a second lever 153, this secondlever 153 being pivoted at 154 to a bracket 155 secured to the beam 3. On the free end of the lever 153 is pivotally attached toone end of a link 156, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at 157 to the free end of an adjustable lever 158. The adjustable lever 158 is pivoted at 159 to a bracket 160 'secured to the beam 2. The adjustable lever 158 is provided with a pair of relatively movable projections 161 and 162 which normally lie in positions concentrically disposed with respect to the center of the cam shaft 9 by a projection 156a adjustably mounted on the rod 156 and engaging a shaft 8 mounted in the frames 1, 1 of the machine.

The cam shaft 9 is provided with roller carriers 163 and 164 on which are respectively and rotatably mounted rollers` 165 and 166 cessively engage the said movable projections j 161 and 162, the lever 158 is rocked about its pivot 159 which. through the link 156, rocks the lever 153 aboutits pivot and thereby moves the arm 151 longitudinally. The projection 150 on said arm 151, being in engagement with the laterallyextending pin 34, rocks the lever 32, which through the screw 37 and lever 36, rocks the stitch `regulating shaft 12. The lever 30 secured to the said stitch regulating shaft 12 is consequently rocked, and the pin 31 thereon effects a rocking of the lever 2O which is secured to the needle rocking shaft 11. Rocking of the lever 20 effects a corresponding rocking of the needle bar 14 around its pivot 15 through the link 27 and the depending arm 26 of the needle bar 14. The needles 45 are therebv rocked toward the sinkers 44 just as these sinkers are advanced towardv the needles bv the longitudinal'movement of the cam 50 causing the cam to lengage the sinker jacks 49.

The face of each of the tions 161 and 162 is of such a length that while the respective rollers 165, -166 are in engagement with these faces the `needles 45 are held in their advanced position for a period of time equalto that consumed bythe sinker operating cam 50 in moving relative to the sinkers 44 a distance equal to the greatest width of the reinforced areas at each side of the saidstocking blank. j

The adjustable lever 158 comprises two sections 170 and 171 (see Figs. 14l and 15) Whichare pivotally secured together at172.\

The upper section 171 of the lever 158 is provided with a laterally extending segmental flange 176 (see Figs. 14 and 16) providing a guide for the movable projections 161 and 162. A pair of slots 177 and 178 are formed in thesegmental flange 176. The

movable extensions 161 and 162 are provided with tongues 179 and 180 respectively, which project through the slots 177 and 178. To

the tongues 17 9 and 180 are respectively secured plates 181 and 182, which engage the side of the flange 176 opposite to that engaged by the movable projections 161 and 162 1 for movably securingthe said projections t0 the said segmental flange.

- The section 171 of the lever 158 has a depending portion 173 which lies intermediate a pair of lugs 174-174 (see Fig. 14) formed integral with the section 170 of said lever. Adjusting screws 175 are positioned in the -lugs 174, and are adapted to engage the depending portion 17 3 of the upper section 171 of the lever in order that the said upper section 171 of the lever may be adjusted to and maintained in .a position wherein the segmental guide 17 6 for the movable blocksA 161,

162 is concentric with the center of rotation of the cam shaft 9.

Gear segments 183 and 184 are secured to the plates 181 and 182, respectively, and mesh with gear wheels 185 and 186 respectively (see Fig. 14). The gears 185 and 186 are secured to short shafts 187 and 188 rotatably mounted in bearings 189 and 190 formed on the section 171 of the lever 158. Also secured to the shafts 187 and188 is a pair of intermeshing gear wheels 191 and 192 (see Fig. 15). The shaft 188 is also provided with a worin wheel 193 which meshes with a worm 194 rotatably mounted on a substantially vertically extending shaft 195 which is nonrotatably supported in a bearin 196. The bearing 196 is rotatably mounte on a stud 197 rigidly supported in a bearing 198 formed integral with the upper section 171 of the lever 158. Rotation of the shaft 195 is prevented by means of a set screw 195'l tapped into the bearing 196.

Rigidly attached to the worm 194 and rotatable therewith is a ratchet wheel 199 (see Fig. 18) which is adapted to be enga ed by a pawl 200 secured to the upper end o a short shaft 201 which is rotatably mounted in 'a bearing 202 formed on a swinging bracket 203. The swinging bracket 203 is provided with a hub 204 (see Fig. 15) rotatably mounte'd on the vertical shaft 195, and supported thereon by a collar 205 rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 195. The swinging bracket 203 is provided with a strikin plate 206 adapted to be engaged by the rol er 207 rotatably mounted on the needle raising lever 16. The pawl 200 is maintained in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 199, by a spring 200".

To the lower end of the short shaft 201 is secured a hook 208 which is adapted to engage a'shoulder 209 formed on the collar 205 for the purposes hereinafter described. The bearing 196, in which the shaft 195 is secured, is adapted to pivot around the stud 197 whereby the worm 194 may be removed from operative engagement with the worm wheel 193, but the said shaft and said worm wheel will be automatically returned to their normal positions by means of a spring 210 (see Fig. 12) which normally maintains the said shaft 195 in the base of a notch 211 formed in the outer end of a finger 212 which is secured to the section 171 of the lever 158. A

hook 213 is also pivotally mounted on a stud 197 for purposes hereinafter set forth. A

'j' During'the knitting of the leg portion of the 'stocking blank,'the hook 214 engages the needle raising'shaft 11, thereby maintaining the projection 150 of the arm 151 in a position above and out of engagement with the laterally extending pin 34 of the lever 32 of the' stitch' regulating shaft 12.- The hook 213 llar 205.

As is well known to those familiar with the knitting of full fashioned hosier there are more needles and cooperating sin ers in each head of the machine than are ordinarily required for the knitting of a stockin blank. The width of the blank being knitte is controlled by the travel of the thread laying fingers across the needle blank. The blank is ormed on the needles in the center of the needle blank and, therefore, there are extra needles and sinkers at each side of the blank which ordinarily are not in use.

When employing in invention in the knitting of a stocking blan ,the leg portion of the blank is formed in the ordinary manner and when the point is reachedin the knittin of the stocking blank in which it is desire to start the knitting of the reinforced areas the hooks 208, 213 and 214 are released permitting the elements controlled thereby to -assume the osition substantially as` shown in Fi 12 e shaft 195 is swung on the pivot 19g until the worm 194 is out of mesh with the worm wheel 193 whereupon the worm wheel is turned b hand in a direction to cause the movable projection 161 to assume a position at the upper end of the slot 177 in the segmental flange 176 of the lever 158, and the movable projection 162 assumes the position i.if the lower end of the slot 178 of the said an e.

T e knitting of the reinforced areas is started at the highest point thereof above the heel tabs, and in the resent instance increases in width progressively until the eatest width of these areas is attained which is at the bases of the heel tabs of the stocking blank. Therefore, at the start of the knitting of the reinforced areas the pattern chains 76 and 77 aremoved until the longest of the stop blocks 82 thereon are in alignment with the stop screws 68 and 69 of the sto bars 62 and 63. By this means the thread ars 40 and 40 receive the least possible movement inward from the selvage edges of the stockin blank. The movable projections 161 and 162 eing at the opposite ends of the respective slots 177,

17 8 in the segmental guide 176 on thelever' 158, means that at the beginning of the formation of the hi hest oint of the reinforced areas the movab e rojectionsll and 162 are so positioned relative to each other and with respect to the rollers 165 and 166 that the sipplemental rocking of the needles thereby a ects cnly the sinking of yarn around the needles immediately adjacent the selvage lill edges of the stocking blank in conformity with the travel of the thread bars 40b and 40.

In operation, as the cam shaft 9 rotates, the rollers 165 and 166 engage the movable projections 161 and 162 respectively and successively and thereby rock the needle bar 14 .and the needles 45 thereon at the same time as the sinker cam is passing the sinkers operating in the reinforced-areas of thestocking ad# jacent the selvage edges of the blank and those of the unused sinkers which lie outside and immediately adjacent the selvage ed es of the stocking blank being knitted. At t e start of the lmitting of the reinforced areas, when the sinker operating cam 50 is operating the sinker at one selvage of the stocking blank, the roller 165, having previously engaged the movable projection 161 and rocked the needle bar 14, is just riding oii' the point 161"L of the said movable projection 161. The sinker cam 50 passes on across the width of the blank, and just after it engages the sinker adjacent the opposite selvage edge of the stocking blank the roller 166 engages the point 162n of the movable projection 162, therebyrocking the needle bar in the manner above noted and maintaining the said needle bar in this position until the roller 166 rides off the point 162b of the Said movable projection 162. It will here be noted that the roller 165 engages the oint 161b of the movable projection 161 be ore the sinker cam 50 arrives at' a point adjacent the rst mentioned selvage of the stocking blank and passes off the point 161a of the said movable projection 161 just as the sinker cam 50 arrives at a point adjacent the selvage as above described, after which the needle bar assumes its normal position while the sinker cam 50 travels across the entire width of the stocking blank to a point adjacent the opposite selvage thereof, at which time the roller 166 engages the point 162a of the movable projection 162 and again rocks the needle bar 14 and maintains it in the rocked position until the roller 166 rides of the point 162b of said movable projection.

As the needle raising and lowering arm 16 is moved outwardly by its operating cam 18, the roller 207 engages the plate 206 on the swinging bracket 203 swinging said bracket on its pivot 195 and thereby causing the pawl 200 to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel199. Rotation of the ratchet wheel 199 causes the wormwheel 194 to be rotated a like amount which effects a partial rotation of the worm wheel 193, and a like rotation of the shaft 188 to which it is secured. Rotation of the shaft 188 causes a like rotation of the gear 192. The gear 192 rotates the gear wheel 190, and consequently the shaft 187 is rotated. Equal rotation of the shafts 187 and 188 causes a like rotation of the gears 185 and 186 secured thereto, and a consequent movement of the segmental racks 183 and 184 relative to the segmental flange 176 of the lever 158. By this means the movable pro'- jections 161 and 162 are caused to advance toward each other and the points 161 and 162 respectively are moved to such positions that on the next revolution of the shaft 9 the roller 165 will not ride olf the point 161'* of the projection 161 to release the needle bar 14 until the sinker cam 50 has moved a distance substantially the width of two needles inward from the adjacent selvage edge of the blank, and the roller 166 will engage the point 162 of the movable projection 162 when the said sinker cam has arrived at a point substantiall equal to the width of two needles inward iii-om the opposite selvage edge of the stocking blank.

Each time a course of stitches is formed the mechanism just described operates to advance the points 161L and 162* of the said movable projections toward each other. Thus the needle bar on each successive course is released from the roller 165 a little later, `and the points 162 of the movable projection 162 is engaged by the roller 166 a little earlier than on the previously formed course. The pawl 86 at the same time, and for each successive course knitted, advances the pattern chains 72 and 73 to bring the shorter stop plates 82 into alignment with the stop screws 68 and 69 permitting the thread laying fingers 42 on the thread bars 40b and 40 to travel a progressively increasing distance toward the center of the stocking blank and awayr from the respective selvage edges thereof. Therefore, as the knitting of the stocking blank progresses land the thread bars 40b and 40c which carry the reinforcing threads are stopped at points closer together, the reinforced areas are progressively increased in width, and at the same time the movable projections 161 and -162 are advanced toward each other in accordance with the increase in the width of the reinforced area on each successively formed course of stitches, and the needle bar is momentarily rocked as above described to increase the length of the stitches formed in the reinforced areas as controlled by the pattern chains 76 and 77.

The mechanism above described is employed in producing the solid portion of the heel reinforce illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20.

In addition to the solid reinforced areas, by a slight variation of the mechanism which controls the inner line of the reinforce area, I may produce the design illustrated at in Fig. 19. This variation of the pattern mechanism is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, and comprises merely the substitution of a single stop bar 62a for the pair of stop bars 62 and 63 illustrated in Fig. 4. The single stop bar 62a is provided with a pair of lugs 66a and 67 which in turn arev provided with stop screws 68a and 69 respectively. In this case a single thread bar 40d is provided for carrying the pair of threads for the production of the designs :z2-:v shown in Fig. 19. In this case the movement of the thread bar 40l is limited in each of its directions of reciprocatory travel by pattern chains 76-77, and the single stop bar 62'l is provided with a single projecting arm 64" which is operatively connected to the stop bar ld only. The

m operation of the device shown in Fig. 10 is accomplished in exactly the same manner and by mechanism the same as that illustrated for operating the device shown in Fig. 4. The device shown in Fig. 10 is employed in addltion to the device shown in Fig. 4, for producing the designs --m on the stocking blank in addition to the solid portion of the heel reinforce.

Fi illustrates a variation of the heel 20 in w ich the additional designs i1-w1 are each produced by a separate unit such as that illustrated in Fig. 10. In this case a separate thread bar is employed for producing each of the designs m1, and the movement of each of these thread bars in both directions is controlled by a device such as that illustrated in Fig. 10.

It will here be noted that the mechanism which lengthens the stitch in the solid portions of lthe reinforced areas does not alter the length of stitch in the supplemental design areas. However, these supplemental design areas are of such slight proportions that puckering or harshness in the fabric is not perceptible. These variations are illustrated for the purpose of showing that by a slight change in the mechanism whichactually c'ontrols the outline of the heel reinforce proper, this mechanism can be utilized to produce va- 40 rious supplemental designs on the stocking in addition to the solid heel. reinforce.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the structure illustrated in Fig. 4 controls the thread bars which carry the reinforcing threads in a manner to-produce the solid reinforced areas such as illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20, and the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 12 coordinately functions therewith to rock the needle bar at such time in as the sinker cam is advancing the sinkers 44, which are operating within these reinforced areas, to lengthen the stitches therein for the purpose above noted.

I claim:

u 1. In combination, with a ilat knitting machine having a rotary shaft, a bank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means for laying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, means for holding said needles in a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving said sinkers toward said need les to form said thread into loops of uniform length between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said shaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said needle holding means, a pair of relatively spaced projections on said lever, a palr of relatively spaced elements on said shaft adapted to engage said projections successively to move'said needles toward said sinkers as the said sinker cam is advancing predetermined groups of said sinkers toward said needles, for the purpose of elongating the loops formed by said predetermined groups of sinkers.

2. In combination, with a at knittino ma; chine having a rotary shaft, a bank o needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means for laying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, 'means for holding said needles in a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving said sinkers toward said needles to form said thread into loops of uniform length between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; a lever pivotally mounted adjacent saidshaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said needle holding means, a pair of relatively spaced projections on said lever, a pair of relatively spaced rollers carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said projections respectively and successively to move said needles toward said sinkers as the said sinker cam is advancing predetermined groups of said sinkers toward said needles, for the purpose of elongating the loops formed by said predetermined groups of sinkers.

3. In combination, with a at knitting machine having a rota shaft, a bank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means for laying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, means for holding said needles 1n a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving said sinkers toward said needles to form said thread into loops of uniform length between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said shaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said needle holdlng means, a pair of relatively spaced projections on said lever, a pair of relatively spaced rollers carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said projections respectively and successively to move said needles toward sald sinkers as the said sinker cam is advancing predetermined groups of said sinkers toward said needles, for the purpose of elongating the loops formed by said predetermined groups of sinkers, and means for changing the positions of said projections relative to said lever, whereby the timing of the advancing movements of said needles may be varied to coincide with the advancing movements of different predetermined groups of said sinkers.

4. In combination, with a iiat knitting machine having a rotary shaft, abank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means for laying a thread between the needles and

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