US1841249A - Multidesign rib knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan; l2, 1932.

w. LARKIN MULTIDESIGN RIB KNITIINGl MACHINE Filed April 6. 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 @a mb `Jan. 12, 1932.`

w. LARKgN A"MUMIDESIGN H1B KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1927 11 Sheets-sheet 3 www "Innen ha y u Filed April 6. 1927 11 sheets-sheet 5 QON Jan'. l2, 1932. w. LARKIN HYULTII'DESIGN RIB KNITTING CHINE Filed Apil e. 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 INIIHHIIIHUUHHHHIIIIHHHH.

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' w. LARKIN HULTIDESIGN RIB KNITTING MACHINE 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 6.

Jan. 12, 1932. w. LARKIN I `P-ULTIDESIGN RIB KNITTING MAC-HINE Filed April e, 1927 11 Shets-Sheet 8 Jam 12, 1932. w ARKm 1,841,249

MULiT-IDESIGN RIB KNITTING MACHINE Filed Apri1 e. 1927 11Y shets-sheet 9 Jan. 12, 1932.

W, LARKIN MULTIDESIGN RIB KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Jam. l2, 1932. w. LARKIN MULTIDSIGN RIB KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet 1l meme .1.a 12. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ort-lcs 4WALTER. LLBKIN, 0l' NORBISTOWN, 'PENNSYLVANIA ASSIQNOB T0 IIDELTY IA- GHINE COIPANY, F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0l' DELAWARE' llumrnnsmn nm xunme ncnnm application mea april e, 1927. semi 10.111150?.

According to the principles of my invention, I roduce a circular knit ribbed founda' tion fa ric which may comprise any desired number of horizontal stripes in any desired 'l and predetermined color combination; and` `""'5"-1`ponsuch fabric I form any desired number and any desired predetermined color combination of vertical stripes', either in V.the form .of a series ofA continuous parallel hnes or a plurality of selectively interrupted verticall stripes. which coordinate' with the horizontal stri es, aforesaid, to. roduce a plain or gur 'design on the ace of the foundation fabric. j v

The horizontal striping is produced by means of selective yarn change, and the vertical'stripi and design formation is effected by means o plating on the outer face of the foundation fabric.

Referring to the drawings: 3" Fi 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of suicient of a rib knitting machineto illus- Atrate thea lication of m invention as a F1 Pp y T -iielgorm of dialcam;

plied thereto; y 2 is a plan view of the structure shown zin F1g.`1;`

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view takenfon vthe Y v vli11e26--26 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 4 is a si e elevation of the 4lowerdrivinv and'controllin mechanism;

i, iig. 5 isa rear e evationof the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.;

Fig.- e is a Side elevation of upperdrfing' and thread feeding mechanism;

Fig. 7 Aisa rear elevatlon of themechani'sm 85mm.. chine-as-shown-the .-shown-in Fig. 6;-

j Fig. 8 isan enlarged sectionalelevation il lust-rating .the cylinder and `of.a1'ibknitting-macl1ine, and having my improved needle. wrapping mechanism' applied al-thereto; i-

line 25-25; Fig. 24;

Fig. 9- is a' sectional plan view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 10-10 ofFig. 8;` Y f Fi 11 is a sectional elevation taken on 55 the llne 11-11 of Fig. 8, illustrating weltforming means;

Fig.` 12 is a sectionalplan. view taken on Fig. 13 isa sectional plan view on the line 30 13-13,Fig.11; I

' Fig. 14 1s a sectional pla'n view on the-line l4-.l4, Fig. 11, illustrating the dial cam;

Fig. 15 is an inverted sectional plan view of the dial cam taken on'the line 15-15 of e5 Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of-one of the .needle wrapping fingers;

Figs. 17, 18` and 1 are respectively a diagrammatic plan view) and front elevations of one of the plating fingers cooperating with one of the cylinder needles;

Fig. 20 isa detailed sideelevation of the mechanism for Acontrolling the needle wrapp'ilg apparatus 75 g. 21 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 20; I 1

Fig. 221s a sectional elevation taken on the line 22- 22 of Fig. 20; v Fig. 23 is a sectional plan view of a detail se `of the invention;

24 is aninverted plan view'of a modiig.- 25 is .a sectional elevation taken `on. vthe Fig. 26 is a. sectional elevation taken on the 27 is a'sectional plan view of a modied rm of finger carrier, and

. 28 and 29 are respectively a sectional V9orn elevatiand a sectional plan view of a modlied form of needle wrapping finger. My invention "constitutesan im rovement on myaboveimentioned. patent, an comprises type of rib knittin mahaving a-vbedjp ate 1 onv theunderside of which issutablyxmonb ed. l. hollow annular` cylinder su P .member'2. The cylinder su ber 2. comprises). ve1-` 100 tical wall 3, which is secured to the bed plate 1 by means of screws 4, and a horizontal base 5, which is providedwith a circular 'opening 6.' A base ring 7 is mounted on the horizontal base 5 within the cylinder surgorting member 2, and has a depending nge 8 which lies within the circular o ening 6, functioning to maintain the sai ring in axial alignment with the member 2. The base rings 7 is secured to the base 5 by means of screws 9, and is provided with an inwardly projecting circular flan e 10, havin a circular opening' llformed t erein, whic axially aligns with the opening 6 ofthe member 2. A cylinder supporting ring 12 flts within the opening 11, in the base ring 7, and is provided with an outwardly projecting an e 13 which underlies the flange 10 of the ase rin 7 and is secured thereto by screws 14. T e cylinder ring 12 is also provided with a second inwardly projecting ange 15 in the top of which'is formed a circular depression 16. The base of the needle cylinder 17 fits within the depression 16, andvls secured to the cylinderring 12 by means of screws 18. The cylinder 17, as

usual, is hollow and is provided on its outer face with vertical grooves 19 for the reception of the cylinder lmitting needles 20. Thus it will be seen that through the mechanism 'ust described vthe c vlinder 17 is nonrotatabluupported on e bed plate lvof the mac e.

vThe bed plate 1 isl rovided with a circular opemngll within w ich is rotatably mount,- ed a cy der cam plate 22. The usual form of spht cylinder cam ring 23 is attached to the cam late 22,.inA the usual manner,and

is ada with the said-cam plate 22, to be 'rota and in axial alignment with the cylinder 17,`for the p y 'of :operating the cylinder needles 20. cam plate 22 is vertlcally4 and rotatably supported by and on the base ring 7, and is circularly guided by a gear ring 24 which surrounds the base ring .and is secured to the c linder ea'm plate 22 by means of screws 25. e r ring 24 lies within the lhollow member' and projects under the platel 'around the opening 21 formed'therean. The gear ring 2 4 is operatively attached'to thecylinder cam plateA 22 by means of screws 25. Thu's the c' lindercam` plate is rotatably mounted the opemng 21 of the bed plate 1, but is held against vertical axial movement'bythe gear 24 underl gsaid bed plate.

e rffabeccilder camtel plm.26 secured to an Pos1 y m its upper face. On the posts 26 is secured a spider having an annular center rton 28 mwhich is formed a circular gui eway 29 for-a non-rotatable supporting ring 30. The non-rotatable supporting rmg 30 is integrally connected by plate 22 has 50 and 49, yrotate the tubular s aft46and precting-vertically supper ends of menate llegs 31 to a'second 'rin 32, within which is non-rotatably mounte a needle wrapping linger carrier 33. On top of the carrier 33 is secured a cap member 34. On the cap 34 is non-rotatably secured a hollow-center column 35, on the u per en'd of which is nonrotatably1 mounte a column head 36'. A dial supporting bracket 37 is secured to the head 36, and in this bracket is adjustably mounted the upper end of a dial post 38, which is axially aligned with and extends through the hollow column 35. On the lower end of the dial post 38 is secured, by means of a screw 39, the dial plate 40.

The dial plate 40 is provided with the usual radiallyv disposed grooves 41 for the recep; .Y

tion of the dial needlesy 42, each o'f which is adapted to be projected radially between each adjacent pair of cylinder needles 20, in the usual manner.

A dial cam plate is rotatably mounted above the dial plate 40, and is provided with the usual dial cams 43 and dial needle switch 44 for the operation of the dial needles 42. The dial cam plate 45 is secured to the lower end of tubular shaft v46 which is axially aligned with and revolves between the stationary dial post 38 andthe stationary center supporting column 35. A bearin 47 is formed within the lower end of the tu ular shaft 46,

. around the dial post 38, and a second bearing 48 is formed in the column head 36 and surrounds the said tubular shaft 46. A bevel gear 49 is secured to the'u per end of thetubular shaft 46 above an bearing 48.

The bevel gear 49 meshes with a. second bevelf gear 50 which is secured to the inner end of a horizontally dis osed hollow drive shaft 51. A bearing 52, or the inner endof the shaft 51, is-secured to thecolumn head 36 and a pair of s aced bearings 53 and 54, for the outer end o shaft 51, are formed in abearin bracket 55 which is secured to the upper en 'of a standard 56, non-rotatably mounted on the bed plate 1 ofthe machine.l

An upright shaft 57 is rotatably mounted in bearings 58 and 59 formed in the standard resting on the 56,and is provided at its upper and lower.

Thus it will be noted that upon rotation-ofl the u right shaft 57, the horisontalshaft 51 wi be rotated by the gears 60-62. Rotation -'of the shaft 51 wi1l,throu h the gears consequentlyvthe d'ial cam plate 45. andA its associated cams 43 and switch 44.1 p

The dial plate 40 is held instv rotation bythe dial post 38,' bracket 3 ,column head as', bearing 52, bearing bmket 55 and the standard 56, on the bed plateA 1. The column 1an o 35 is also held against rotation, being fixed lto the column head 36, and supports the ary support 30,31, 32 `by the rotation of the cylinder cam plate 22.

Synchronous rotation of the cylinder cam plate 22, which carries the cam ring 23, and the dial cam plate 45,"with its associated dial needle cams, will operate the dial and cylinder needles in the usual manner to form circular knit ribbed foundation fabric, when a thread is pro erly fed thereto.

In t e present instance, a thread is fed to the said-cylinder and dialfneedles in the folf lowing manner: The spider'27 is provided with a series of vertical rods whichare connected at their lower ends to the arms 66 of saidspider and at their .upper 'ends to a thread carrying ring 67. One ofthe rods 65a is tubular and extends above the ring ,67

. as illustrated at 65?). Thefoundation fabric thread passes upward, from althread guide 650, which is'secured, to and rotates with the cylinder camring 23, through the tubular rod 65a and its extension 6517, thence through an-angularly disposed tubular extension 51a of the hollow 'shaft 51, through-the saidhollowshaftl and out the outer end thereof,

thence upward to a suitable Istop motion-v sweep arm, which isfclearly'shown in my beforementioned prior patent. The thread carrying ring 67 is rotatable around the periphery vof a circular flange (iS-formed' integral with the stationary column head 36 and a 'steadying ring 69 surrounds the outer periphery of the thread carrying ring 67 and is rigidly attached tothe standard 56, as clearl shown in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of bolts 0.

In order to guide the thread v over the stationary column head 36, the horizontal shaft, and 'their associated elements, a pair of laterally extendin bow arms 71, 71 Aare se. cured to the upper en` -of the dial post 38. As the shaft 51 makes a complete revolution, the

. ring 67 also makes a complete revolution, the. guide 51a on the Shaft 51 carriesthe thread a: upward in a vertical plane around the bearing 52,. and the tubular-rod A'extension 655 on the ring 67 Carries'the thread lml'zonimlly 'around the column head 436 andita associatedlelemente thethreadfengagesthe bowed arms 7 1 and slides over thetop'fof the column, head`36. 'Thus it *seen that in effect I produce what is' known .as a .Dgless rib knitter. 4

'lhe thread a: is adapted selectively.-

changed from one color to another, or from one class to another, as desired. Themechanism for changin the thread inthe present instance is genera y indicated at 75 on Figs.

4 and 5, and comprises a bracket 76 secured to the rear -of the standard 56. Oli-this bracket is secured the knotter 77, the se rate thread carrying selector fingers 78- eingpivoted at 79 to the bracket 76; The

thread assembling arm 80, which carries anewly selected thread and the running thread a.' to the knotter 77 is illustrated as bein pivoted at 81I to the bracket and provide with a bevel pinion 82, which 'meshes with the'bevel gear 83 rotatably mounted ona "shaft 84, secured in the bracket 76. A selector inger operating cam 85 is rotatably and slidably mounted on the shaft 84 and a pin 86 secured in and extending laterally from the side ofthe bevel gear 83 passes through the cam 85. The cam 85l has a grooved hub 87 in whichv one end of a cam sliding arm 88 operates. The opposite end of the arm 88' is secured to a rod 89, slidabl the bracket 76, which is provi ed at one end lwith a pin 90 which projects with a cam slot 91 in the selector cam 92.. The selector cam .92 is secured to and projectslaterally lfrom one arm 93 of -a bell-crank lever which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 84, the end of one arm 93 of said bell-crank bein connected by a link y94 with the free en of a lever 95, which is pivoted at 96 to a stationmounted in ary portion 97 of the vmachine frame. The

lever is provided with a roller 98 which cooperates with the different hi h links 99 of ajhorizontal striping pattern c ain 100. The

second arm 101 of the saidbell-crank 'lever connects, by means of 'a link 102, with the knotter control mechanism, which yconi-prises va constantly oscillating vtoothed lever 103 which is-pivoted at 104 to the frame of the A second lever 105 is pivotally machine. mounted on the pivot stud 104. A springpressed pawl 106 1s pivotally mounted on the lever 105, and is adapted to engage the tooth in the lever 103. The lever is operatively connected by a link 107 with the bevel gear '83. -A pawl throw-out element 108 is piv` otally mounted Aon the stud 104 and is operable to disengage the pawl 106 from the -toothed lever 103, b means ofthe-link 102.

The constantly osci ating toothed lever 103' is operatively connected to-an eccentric strap 109 which surrounds an eccentric '110` on Va constantly rotating shaft 111.,

The upright dial camdrive -shaft 57 and'y the constantly driven shaft 111'are cooperatively connected by a pair of bevel rs,- 1

and 113. On the gear 113 is secure a ki'itter operatingv cam 114 which is adapted-'to enga eeither of two arms 115 and 116 'se-'- cure to-the lower .end of a vertically slidably knotter operating shaft 117.` The shaft 117 is suitablymounted in afbearing 118 its upper end with a lever 119, which is operatively connected with the knotter operating lever 120. A lug 121 on the lever 119 rests on the top of the selector finger operating cam 85, so that, when thesaid cam is rotated to depress a selected finger the shaft 117 is lowered and the, arm 115 is engaged by the continuously rotating cam 114 to operate the knetter, and when the cam 85 returns to its normal position the shaft 117 is raised and the lever 116 is engaged by the cam 114 and the knotter therebyA reset for subsequentpperation. Thus it will be seen that the foundation thread may be changed from one color to another to form horizontalstripes of various colors in the foundation fabric being knitted. d

On the center column 35, I secure a plurality of circular plates or shelves 125, and on each shelf I place a plurality of bobbins 126, each containing a separate plating thread b.

The plating threads b may b'e of various colors, and each thread b is adapted to be suitably guided through eyes 127 and led to an individual striping nger 128. There is provision for one of such striping fingers for each needle in the needle cylinder, thus I may, if I desire, plate the stitches formed by `each cylinder needle. y

The striping or needle wrapping fingers 128 are each formed of resilient material such as spring steel. as shown in Fig. 16, and comprise a notched head 129, a reduced neck 130, a body131 having a series of laterally extending butt ends 132 thereon, a leg 133, and a foot 134. The `-foot 134 is turned at an angle relative to the leg 131, for purposes hereinafter described.

The needle Wrapping finger carrier 33 comprises a cylindrical body 135 having a flange 136 on its periphery adjacent its upper end, and a second and broader flange .137 adjacent its lower end'. Within the iange 137, the interior diameteriof the carrier cylinder is increased to approximately that of the outside diameter of the body portion 135 ofthe cylinder, and forms a cavity 138 in the cyl-` inder wall. Verticallv extending parallel grooves 139 are cut in the dan es 136 and 137 to receive and to provide wor ring space for the fingers 128. The grooves 139 extend completely through the wall of the fiange 137 and form open slots communicating with the enlarged space 138 of thel carrier body 135.

The flange 136 is rovided with a peripheral groove 140. e fingers 138 are-each positioned in one ofthe vertical grooves 139, with the transverse groove 141 of the head 129 thereof in circumferential alignment with the groove 140 in the carrier ange 136. Se ental holding plates 142. are each pro- .vi ed with a rib 143 whichextends into the ves 140 and 141 of the .flange 136 and ngerheads 129 respectively, and thereby secure the fingers the carrier 33. The holdl groove 139, formed .in the lower flange 137,

and the operating butts 132 extend radially inward into the cavity 138 in the carrier 33.

A needle wrapping finger operating cam 145 issplined to thetubular shaft 46 and constantly rotates therewith. It normally rotates in a horizontal plane above thetopmost butt 132 of the fingers 128, at which time the feet 134 of the fingers remain inoperatively within the circle formed b thecylinder needles 20, 20, 'and above the 'al needles 42 in the dial plate 40. Inthe hub of the cam 145, a groove 146 is formed, in which is tted a shoe 147, which is secured to one end of an operatin rod 148. The upper endof the rod'148 1s engaged by one arm 149 of a bellcrank lever 150. The bell-crank lever 150 is pivoted at 151 tothe plunger 68 of the column head 36, and the second arm 152 of the bell-crank isprovided with a in 153 projecting into a groove 154, forme in a sleeve 155, which is slidably mounted ,on the hollow shaft 51 and on the bearing 52. The sleeve 155 is slotted at 156 forthe'rece tion of a screw 157, by means of which the s eeve is splined to the shaft. A second groove 159 is formed in the opposite end of the sleeve 155 for the reception of a pin 16() on one arm 161 of a bell-crank level` which is pivoted at 162 to a bracket 163 extending from the upper end of the standard`56. The other arm 164 of this bell-crank lever is connected Iby a link 165 to one end of a lever 166, Vwhich is pivoted at 167 to the frame of the machine and is provided with a roller 168adapted to ride on the edge of the links of a design chain 169. A spring 170 surrounds the operating rod 148 and is confined thereon lbetween a collar 171 secured thereto and one of the shelves 125, and normally supports the cam 145 in an elevated inoperative position.

The chain 169 is provided with a number of links of various hei hts by means of which the cam 145 may be owered from its inoperative plane of rotation to dierent planes along the series of butts 132 of the individual fingers 128.' The butts 132 are separated by splits v172, and for definite.. patternsdefinite butts are retainedV and the remainder rcl moved, and the high links of the design chain 169 so arranged as to cause the cam 145 to be moved into operative alignment with the retained lu s 132 to cause the individual lingers 12S-to w ich the butts belong to be moved outward, to cause the particular plating threads whichy they control to be wrapped or loo ed around the respective cylinder needles wit which the fingers cooperate.

Upon reference to Fig. 17, it will be seen I l that as the finger moves outwardly one face I a shaft 176 which is rotatably mounted in the 111, thus vto one side of the said needle. A

back of t e cylinder needle 20 and continued` outward movement causes the tntger to move r the foot 134 passes beyond the needle, it assumes its natural vertical plane and on the inward return movement the opposite face of the angularly disposed foot 134 engages'the-front of the needle 20 and the finger moves oif to the opposite side of the needle asy the linger approaches its o inner inoperative position, wherein it again assumes its natural vertical lane. Thus the thread carried bythe said ger is wrapped around the cylinder needle 20. Thus it will beseen that I am able to plat upon the cylinder needles, and thus form dots or vertical stripes, either completely or interruptedly.

To form predetermined designs on the face of the foundation fabric, in which the horizontal stripes and the vertical plating coordinate to form the completed design, I so arrange the high links ofthe yarn change pattern chain that the yarn w is changed to the desired color before it is fed to the dial and cylinder needles of the machine, to f orm a horizontal stripe of definite predetermined color and width; and the high links of the' design chain 169, which controls the operation of the needle' wrapping fingers, are so arranged, the butts ofthe needle wrappingingers so positioned, and the plating .yarn of proper color fed to the proper fingers, that as the foundationfabr'ic is being knitted the desired stitches being formed on the cylinder needles will be simultaneously platedto .complete the design.

The design chain 169 is carried by a sprocket wheel 173 lrotatably mounted on a s aft.` 174 which is fixed in the frame of the machine, and the yarnl chan e pattern chain 100 is carried by a sprocket vw eel 175 fixed on frame of the machine.

O ratively associated with the sprocket 1731s a ratchet wheel177 which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 178 attached to an eccentric strap 179 on an eccentric 180. The eccentric 180 is securedto a constantly rotating shaft 181. v

The shaft 181 is rotatably mounted in the frame of the machine and is provided at one end with a gear 182 which is synchronously rotated, revolution for revolution, with the cylinder cam ring 23 driven by the rin gear 24. The gears 182 and-24 are driven rom a commonsource of power (not shown), as it forms no part of the present invention and is common in machines of this character. The gear 182 meshes with a gear 192 on the shaft motion is imparted to thiseshaft 111.

The shaft 176 is provided with a ratchet wheel 183 with which a pawl 184 cooperates. The pawl 184 is connected with an eccentric the frame of the machine. lweighted at' 198 and rests on a in 199 pro- `needles, effects the formation of stra 185onaneecentric186whichissecured to e constantly rotating shaft 181, consequently the shaft 176 and the'sprocket wheel 175 are constantly moving ste one for each'revolution of the shaft 181.

throw out `for the pawl 177 consists of a wheel segment 17 7 a which is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 174, and is connected to an arm 187 which is loosely ivoted on the 'shaft 181. An extension 188 o the arm 187 is provided with a shoe 189 adapted to ride on a series of pins 191 extending laterally from a controlling wheel 190, rotatably mounted on tle fixed portion 97 of theframe of the ma c me.

teeth 193, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 194 ivotally mounted on a crank 195 formed on tlie end ofthe shaft 181. vA trip lever 196 is pivoted at 197 to the fixed portion 97-of This lever is jecting'from the fixed portion 9 of the machine frame. The weighted end 198 is adapted te be engaged by a pin 200 which extends laterally from the yarn change pattern chain'100.

On the opposite end of the lever 196, a throw-out .latch 201, for the pawl 194, is pivoted at 202. A second series of pins 203 are mounted in the side face ofthe control wheel' 190 and successively engage-the pawl throw-out latch 201, to prevent-the pawl 194 from engaging the teeth 193 of the wheel 190.

In view of the fact that the particular class cf goods for which this machine is adapted is stocking tops, I provide the machine with welt-formlng mechanism which comprises means for operating the needle switch 44 on the dial cam plate 45. A s there is no invention in the welt itself, s ic reference thereto will be omitted, the escription being limited to the a paratus that controls the dial needle switc which, together with the usual welt-forming operation of the cylinder a conventional form of` welt.

The dial needle switch 44 is pivoted at 205 to the under side of the dial cam'plate 45 and is provided with a post 206 which projects throu h a slot 207 formed in the cam plate 45. he switch is movableto three in intermittent 'rho oootrol whool 19o vis provided with' different positions, in one of whichl the post 'I three positions to which it may be moved,

bearing against the opposite sides of the post when in they extreme positions and the point of the plunger entering a depression 209 in the post 206 when itis in its position, as

clearly shown in Fig. 14. A pair of superl -posed o rating bars 210, 211 are slidably mounte in a guide member 212 which is secured in the lower end of the needle wrapping finger carrier 33. The slide bar 210 carries agrooved segmental member 213 into the arcuate groove 214 of'which the up er end I- of the post 206 is adapted topass w en the dial cam plate 45. rotates. Each of the slide bars 210 and 211 is rovided with a pin 215, each of which is a apted to enter an aperture 216 formed in each side of a ring 216a which pivots around the tubular shaft 46,

I see Fig. 12 so that when one of the slide bars is moved in one direction the other slide bar will be moved in the opposite direction and the switch post 206 being at such time within the groeve 214 fin the member 212, which is attached to one of the slide bars, will be movedl to carry the switch 44 in one of its positions, as the case may be.

The slide bars`210 and 211 are each engaged v,at one of their Vends by alever 217 and 218 respectively, whichV are tively, secured to the upper ends of osci ating shafts 219 and' 220, pivotally' mounted in and projecting vertically from the cylinder cam ring 23.

`These two shafts are operatively connected bed'plate- 1 of the machine adjacent the pe' riphery of the cylinder cam plate 22.

The bob-disc 226 is moved vertically to v different horizontal planes by a series of turning The iframe of the machine, which en 228, slidablyA and vertically guided in the pains '227 extendin Alaterally from the side` ce of the contro wheel 190 adjacent the ge a shoe frame of the machine and having an arm 229 on which the lower end of the stem 230 of the bob-disc 226 rests. Y

For preventing the vdrifting of the sprocket 17 5 between its intermittent movements, a

' brake is provided -which consists of a suitably sha d resilient yoke 232 which surrounds an engages the hub 175a of the s rocket, friction material 'being' attached to t e yoke arms and inte osed between-the. arms and the said hub. e said yoke 232 is prevented by'apin 233 projecting from the xed position. M

spbrocket 173 is prevented from 'drifting in e followin formed in one side 'of said ratchet wheel and within'the cup 235 a friction.' washer; 236

isplaced,aud this washer aidisc f/the vmachine frame.

j `manner,'-set'rFig, -The sprocket has Aub 234.*on which is secure'the ratchet wheel 177. Aicup" 235 is `nausea the disc 237, which isheld from lon tudinal or rotary movement on the stud 1 4 by thc collar 240. i

If it be necessary to repair or replace any of the cylinder needles, the entire cylinder 17 may be dropped through the machineby removing the screws 14 which secure the ring -12 in lace and thereafter move the said ring 12 and) said cylinder 17 downward clear of the cup 2. The outer ri hery of the ring 12 snugly fits withint e circular aperture 11 of the flange of the ring 9, thus when the 3linder 17 and ring 12 are re laced these ements are automatically axi y aligned with Ythe dial plate and the cylinder cam ring 23.

In operation, consideringthe machine as completing a stocking todp,l shaft 181 is continuously rotating an through the pawl 184 and ratchet whee 183, the sprocketwheel 175 and consequently the yarn change pattern chain 100 are bein moved intermittently step by step, One of e pins 200 on the pattern chain 100 first g1-f: and raisesthe weighted end 198 of the trip lever 196, which lowers the opposite end thereof 'suiciently to permit the pawl thro out plate 201 toslip oi the pin 203 on the ntol wheel 190. This `permits the pawl 184-to suvel7 engage the teeth 193 of said wheel 190, an thereby rotate it step by ste which causes the bobdisc 226 to be mov successively to the var1' ous horizontal positions, relative to the weltforming slide bar controlling levers 223, 224 or 225, to cause the dial needle switch 44 to operate the dial needles in a manner to eect thlflormtitn gf a dividing coltxlse of at een o t estocking' top ingcompe ed, and su A uently forma welt for the start ofanew. gtop.

`The high'links 99 1n the Ayarn change patl' tern chainlOO have been roperly arranged therein to eveet c ertain enite chan in the color of the yarn to be run to the cy der and dial needles ofthe machine to knit a foundation fabric to form a-predetermined number of desirably spaced stripes of colors adapted to coordinate with a number of m- -terrupted or continuous vertically arranged sgots or stripes lated -ondesired stitches of t e foundation abric to effect the formation of a predetermined and definite design on the face ofthe fabric.

The hi links of the lating` or design chain 169 ave been .proper y arranged therein, and a needle wrapping finger 128 has been laced in the carrier-33 over each needle 20 in thecylinder 17 with said finger-is to -butts 132 are removed in accordance with the design to be produced, therefore, the positions of the active butts are such that the point of the c am 145 can be moved from its inactive position to its active position in the places where the butts have been removed.

Most designs do not require aplating finger for every cylinder needle, thus the space for the slides 111 and 112 is provided, however, by substituting thestructure shown inFigs. 24, 25 and 26 for that shown in Figs. 1, 8, 11 and 12, a plating finger may be provided for each cylinder needle, as thedial needle switch is operated bv the cam 145, which operates the' plating fin rs, v'within the space completel surroundede by said lingers.

After t e welt hasl been completed, one of the pins 202 engages throw-out plate 201 and moves it into a position to preventcooperative engagement between the pawl 194 and the teeth 193 of the control wheel 190, Whereby said wheel is stopped.

The machine now proceeds to knit foundation fabric of a deinite color until one of the high links 99 of the chain 100 strikes the rollerto be tied to the running thread to form a horizontal` stripe in the stocking top. This horlzontal striping is selectively rep-eated in any desired order depending upon the placing of the dii'erent height high links 99 in the chain 100.

When it is desirable to operate the needle wrappingI lingers 128 t'o assist in the formation of a design on the foundation fabric, the control wheel 190 is again operated by the pawl 194 until a space is reached in the circular line. of pins .191 thereon, into which the shoe 189A moves and thereby rocks the arm 187, moving the pawl-throw-outmember 177 a from under the pawl 178 permitting it to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 177, which causes the design chain 169 to be moved in a manner to-bring certain definite hign links thereof under the roller 168, which moves the finger-engaging cam- 145 downward to the horizontal plane of the butt of th finger or fingers it is desired to effectuate. The operation of the cam 145 thus continues, being moved 'from one horizontal plane' to another according to the design ybeing formed, and the desired fingers are moved n outwardly and inwardly to lay their plating threads aroundthe desired cylinder needles` 20 for each course of stitches being knitted.

- 178 to cause it to become ineffective, by the control wheel 190 again being moved and the shoe 189 being forced out ofthe said space in the circular line of pins 191 onto the outside of the circle formed by said circular line of pins. The machine then proceeds to complete the stocking top in desired color or colors, after which the dividing course of stitches is produced asabove noted.

Thus it will be seen that by definite arrangement of the high-links 99 in the chain '100 and the high links inthe chain 169, and

by properly. arranging the pins 191 on the wheel 190 and thepins 200 on the chain 100, I can. form a variety of designs on the face of the fabric. Such designs can be formed entirely by operation ofthe needle wrapping n fingers or coordinately by the needle' wrapping ngers and the yarn changing mechanism. I may, if desired, form horizontal strips alone, or vertical strips alone, in continuous or interrupted form, or I may. form a combination of the two.

In Figs. 24.l 25- and 26,1I have shown a modified form of dial needle switch which is adapted to be operated by the hub of the needle wrappingnger operating cam 145. With this type of switch, I employ anumber of dial needles having butts of Vaheight greater than those of the usual or ordinary dial needle. The ordinary dial needles are shown at 42 in Fig. 26 while the 'high butt needles are shown at 42a in said figure. There is but a` few, probably ten, of the high butt needles 42a grouped together, and the remainder of the needles 42 have the usual height butt. The high butt needles act as 'leaders as will be' later disclosed.

The dial needle cam plate is illustrated at 45a. A cam groove 43a formed thereon carries all the needles 42 and 42a through a regular stitch forming operation, the needles receiving the knitting thread when their butts are in the peak 436 of the cam groove 43a. At times during the welt-forming operatlon, it is desirable to prevent the dial needles from receiving the knitting thread, as is commenly known to those familiar with` the knitting art. At such times, the butts of the needles are carried i'nto an inner path 43e, the needle ,switch 44a being moved vertically out of the path of the needle butts 42vand 42a, and the said needle butts then vtravel in the groove 43a-43e. When itis desired to have the needle butt again move into the peak path er 168 riding on low f 431) forthe needles to again receive the knithigh butt needles 42a, and immediately thereafter to a still lower position to engage the butts of allithe needles 42 and 42a.

To effect the operation of the switch 44a, which in the present instance is a fiat plate vertically and slidably mounted in the dial cam plate45a,I`provide one edge of the switch 44a with gear teeth 250 which mesh with the teeth of a gear Wheel 251 rotatably mounted in the dial cam plate 45a on a shaft 252. The

oppositevside of the wheel 252 is engagedl by teeth-253 formedl in one side of a vertically movable plunger 254 slidably mounted in the camplate a. A spring 255 confined with the p unger 254 moves the .plunger upwardly and the switch 44a downwardly, by means of the interposed cooperating gear25l. The

plunger 254 is moved downwardly, to raise the switch 44a, by the hub of the finger operating cam 1,45; In this instance, the normal inoperative horizontal plane of rotation 'of the cam l145 is adjacent the lower ends of the' vertical lines of butts 132 ofthe needle wrapping in rs 128, and the highlinks are so arrange on the design chain 179 that the cam 145 is moved upward :fromv its inoperative plane to the proper planes to operate the needle Wrapping' fingers, after which it moves downwardly to its inoperative plane. To

operate the switch 44a, the cam 145 is moved downwardly below its inoperative horizontal -Blane of rotation and the lower end of the ub thereof strikes-the upper end of the plunger'254, thereby lowering-the plunger and consequently raising the switch 44a to a position' to permit the low butt-needles 42 to passthereunder, or to a position to permit both the high and low butt needles 42a and 42 respectively to, pass thereunder into the cam groove 43o. When the hub of the linger operating cam 145 is returned to its -A normal inoperative plane4 of rotation, the

sgring 255 restores both the plunger 254 and t e switch 44a to their respective normal operations.

- Thus it will be seen that the design chain 179, in addition to effecting the operation of the needle wrapping fingers, may also be employed to effect the operation of the weltforming mechanism.

While I have described the operation of the machine as pertainin to the; production lof stocking tops, it will e understood that lcam 145.1the object o the machine is, equally applicable to the roductionof neckties, or any other form o tubular knit ribbed fabric.

- In Fig. 27, I have shown a sectional plan view of a portion of the needle wrapping finger carrier33, in which the slots 139a are cut atY a. slight angle relative to a radial line drawn through the center of vthes id-'carrier .and-'the center of the cylinder nee e 20 with which each in'gercooperates, thus o bviating any tendency of tlelinger's to twist when the butts thereof-are en aged bythe operating t e modication .being to placethe butts of the iin ers as close toa perpendicular relative to t e-lead angle of .the cam 145 as it is possible to do.

Fi 28 shows a sectional elevation through the oot portion 134m of one of the needle Wra ping lingers having two pair of thread gui e holes 1345 and 1340 therein. The metal Aof which the finger. is composed is pressed out to one side of the general lane of the foot portion intermediate the sai two thread guide holes of each pair, thus the plating thread b is-not requiredto bendaround permitted to move in substantially a straight ine through the thread guides formed in the lingers.

I claim:

l1. In combination with a circular rib knitting machine having a stationar needle cylinder a stationary dial needle p ate, a rotating -cylinder cam ring, and a rotating dial sharp corners in the thread guide hole, but is t cam plate; a needle wrapplng finger for each i cylinder needle; a stationary carrier for said ers; a stationary dial post extending axfin Vialy through said carrier for non-rotatably means or rotatingsaid tubular shaft;

cpmbination with a circular rib imit- I cylinder needle; a stationary carrier for said fingers; a stationary dial post extending axially through said carrier for non-rotatably `suppt rting said Adial needle plate; a tubular sha rotatably mounted in said carrierv around said stationary dial post and adapted to rotate said dial cam plate; a needle wrappin' finger o erating cam on said tubular sha means or rotating said tubular shaft; means for non-rotatablg7 su' porting said dial post; a thread guide, or ceding a foundation fabric forming vthread to said cylinder dial needles', carried by said rotating cylinder cam ring; and -means for delivering said thread to said thread carrier and around the means `which nonrotatably carrier. Y 3. 4In combination with a circular rib knitting machine havin a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary ial needle plate, a rotat-.,l

able cylinder cam plate and a rotatable dial cam plate;needle wrapping fingers cooperating with the cylinder needles; a carrier for said .ingers, supported by said rotating cylinder cam plate; means for maintaining coy ide, including mechl ,anism for carrying sa1d thread around said support said diall'post and said A operative alignment between said lingers and said shaft for operating said fingers.

4. In combination with a circular `rib knit `ting machine having a stationary bed plate; a

stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial needle plate a rotatable cylinder cam plate,

and a rotata le dial needle camplate; needle vac wrapping fingers cooperating with said cylinder needles; a vertically extending carrier for said fingers; a spider on said rotatable cylinder `cam plate adapted to vertically support said carrier; means for preventing the rotation of said carrier comprising a vertically extending standard secured t'o said bed plate;va horizontal member operatively connectin 'said standard and said carrier; means carrie by said spider and means carried b said horizontal member andcoo erating with the means carried by said spi er for carrying a foundation thread around said stationary carrier and around said horizontal element.

5. In combination with a circular rib knittingmachine having a stationary bed plate, a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial cam plate, a rotatable cylinder cam plate, and a rotatable dial cam plate; needle wrapping fingers cooperating with the needles in sai needle cylinder; a stationary carrier for said fingers; a foundation thread guide rotatable with said cylinder cam plate; a thread carrying spider rotatable with said cylinder cam plate and adapted to support said carrier; a thread carrying rin o ratively connected with said spider'amv adpted to carry a 'foundation thread around sa1d stationary carrier; means for preventing the rotation of said carrier; and means cooperating with said thread carrying ringto carry said foundation thread around the mechanism which prevents the rotation of said carrier.

' 6. In combination with a circular ribvkniti ting machine having a stationary bed plate, a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial needle plate, a rotatable cylinder cam plate and a rotatable dial cam plate; needle wrapping fingers cooperating with the cylinder needles; a `stationary carrier for said fingers; a supporting ring for lsaid carrier, mounted on sa1d rotating cylinder cam plate; a hollow central column secured to said carrier shelves secured on said column for supporting platingthread bobbins; a head secured to said column; a dial post extending through said column for non-rotatably s upporting said stationary dial needle plate; means on said column head for non-rotatably supporting said dial post; a tubular shaft around saiddial ost within "said column, for rotating said) 4 dial, cam plate; a

needle wrapping finger operating cam on said tubular shaft; a standard secured to said `bed plate; a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said standard and said column head and cooperativel connected to said tubular shaft.

7. In com ination with a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary bed plate, a

stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial needle plate, a rotatable cylinder cam plate anda rotatable dial cam plate.; needle wrapping ingers cooperating with the cylinder needles; a stationary carrier for said fingers; a supporting ring for said carrier, mounted on said rotating cylinder cam plate; a hol-l low central column secured to said carrier; shelves secured on said column for supporting plating thread bobbins a head secured to said column; a dial` post 'extendingtlirough said column for nonrotatably supportingv said stationarydial'needle plate; means on said column head for non-rotatably supporting said dial post; a tubular shaft around said post within said column, for rotating said dial cam plate; a needle wrapping finger e operating cam on said tubular shaft; a standard secured to said bed plate; a drive shaft rotatabl mounted in said standard and said column ead and cooperatively connected to said tubular shaft; means for guiding the plating threads from their' bobbins to their respective fingers; a foundation fabric thread guide on said cylinder cam plate;

means on said cylinder cam plate and means on said drive shaft for carrying said foundationthread, around the stationary-elements `supportedby said cylinder cam plate and around said drive shaft, inpassing from its source of supply to the thread guide on said cylinder cam ring.

8. IIn combination with a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary bed plate, a stationary needle cylinder, a stationary dial needle plate, a rotatable cylinder cam plate and a rotatable dial cam plate; needle wrapping ingers cooperating with the cylinder needles; a stationary carrier for said lingers; means for vnoli-rotatably supporting said carrier; a hollow centralrcolumn secured to said carrier for su porting plating thread bobbins; a circular ange on the upper end of said column; a thread carrying ring surrounding said circular ilange ;a dial post extending through said column for non-rotatably supporting said stationary dial needle plate; means on said column for non-rotat-

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