US1850736A - Straight knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1932. K. o. WAECHTLER STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.' K BY (C). N lbf/KMX@ Y.

TTORN I Filed Aug. l, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR WMC/M1,

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l Y Q i TT ORN March 22, 1932- K. o. wAEcHTLER STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

March 2z, ma K, @,WAECHTLER ,85o,736

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR:

KME?) w @S2/@lm Patented Mar. 1932 UNITED )STATES 1PA-T nurj oFFlcEj KURT Vosvcuinn wancnrnan, or- -BnnLrN, @Nnw 'assIGNon o1'- oNn-mm' To Lama. or naanownnoox, PENNSYLVANIA i "Applieation Il ed August 1,

1o ing devices and fabric take-up devices for the v and ununiforrn character.

production of a pluralit of like stocking lanks or parts of knit'V abrio; and, .in-the knitting of such blanksv or parts, prior to myy invention, much difuculty lhas been experienced `in preventing what is known as sleazy knittingwh-ich is the production of knit fabric whose loops vare misshapen and of irregular An object vof my invention i'sto overcome the aforesaid diicultyan'd I accomplish my object by the provisiohof a means forcansing anovel .cooperationof the needles and the 'sinkersand .dividers and the fabric being produced by the machine whereby the thread loops' ofv each succeeding fresh rowthereof vwhich 'are added to the finished portion-of the fabric are maintainedin even and uniform condition while being added to the fabric'.

Another object of the invention is to dispense with the. function of the knock over bits of supporting or moving the fabric'being i produced, while the needles operate to draw the succeeding rows of freshly formed thread loops throughthe previously formed rows of loops. y' y Another object of'theinvention is vto pro- `vide a knitting machine of novel construction which will prod uce knit fabric having even' and uniform thread loops under greatly varying conditions in the variouscharacteristics of the thread, and particularly 4silk thread, which is formed into the fabric loops.

The invention conssts in the novelO con-f struction. combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter .described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrat-v ingthe invention,I

Figure lis a transverse section through a knitting machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

. with downwardly 1930. Serial lo, 472,218.

Figure 2 is a similar view, omitting ber 'ofthe parts shown in 1. Y

Figure 3 is "a view of someof the parts shown in Figurer 2, showing another position thereof.

-Figure 4 is" a front view of some of the vparts of the machine shown in Fig. l1.

Figure 5 is aj'detail in plan, showing part of the mechanism for raising and lowering the fabric being produced bythe machine.

Figi'e 6 'm a 'side Vview of one of the sinkers. f

. .Figure viders.

'7A is aside view of me 0': che di- Figure 8 vis a frontview of severalof the needles, several of the sinkersY and dividers,

and several of the knock over bits.

" Flgures 9, 10 and 11 are greatly enlarged ,sectional views showing pro essive'ly' advancedfrelative positions of t e fabric,'the needles and the forwardend portions'frf the noses of the sinkers and dividers during the knittingv operation. f

Figure 12 is a top view of the parts' shown inFi. 10.

Re erring to the frame of the machine, 3 tli'en the thread carrier, 5' the sinkers, '6 the dividers-and 7 the fabric supporting the knockoverbits. .I l

In the ty e vofiknitting-macbine hereinV illustrated, vt e' needles 3 are arranged in a -,number of spaced and alin'ed rows, two such rows, designated A andB, being shown in -Fig.j4, and the needles are simultaneously actuated during the knitting 'operation for tlie-productionof 'a stocking blank vor part by.each row thereof.

The needles 3 f eachrow'thereof -aire 'secured to andcarried by -a horizontally,l ex?- tending bar 8'. The needle bar 8 Lis'jp`r'ovided xtending-'fbrokets '.9 which are pivoted, a A10, to armslgdflwhich. areifixedV .tm and extend [rearwardly to turn in suitable bearings on' the machine frame andit is provided with aldownwardly extending arm 13 carrying a roller'14 which. bears against a cam 15 on the cam shaft 16 which turns in bearings on the machine y from afg the drawings, 2 ldesi fates i esili` frame and which is rotated in thefusual manner during the operation lof fthe' machine. The roller 14 is held in Contact with the cam 15 by a spring 17 which is connected to the brackets 9 with the arms 11`,`and; for this purpose the bar 8 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 19 whose lower end is pivoted to a forwardly extending arm 20 which is pivoted to an arm 21 by means of a pin 22 which extends into a pocket 23,

formed in the arm 20. The arm 21 extends downwardly from and is fixed on a rockable shaft l24 which turns in bearings on the ,frame 4 of the machine. The lower end portion of the arm 21 carries a roller 25 which bears against a cam 26 on the cam shaft 16. The roller 25 is maintained in contact with the cam 26 by a spring 27 which extends between and is connected to the arm 21 and the frame bracket 18. The cam 26 acts upon the roller 25 to rock the arm 21 and cause it to operate the arm 20 to rock the arm 19 and the needle bar 8 on the pivot. 10 to move the needles 3 forwardly and rearwardly. f

Mounted to slide in suitable bearings onthe machine frame-is a' shaft 28 which extends lnngitudinally of the machine or parallel with the rows of needles A and B. This shaft 28 is connected in the usual manner to the upper end of an arm 29 which is pivoted at its lower end by means-of aT shaft 30 to a bracket 31 on the machine frame. This arm 29 is associated with the coulier cam 32 on the vcoulier shaft 33 to be actuated thereby in the usual well known manner to rock the arm 32 and reciprocate the shaft 28. The shaft 33 turns in bearings on thepmachine frame and carries a bevel gear wheel 34 in mesh with abevel gear wheel 35 on the cam shaft 16, whereby the coulier shaft 33 will be rotated when the cam shaft is rotated.

The thread carrier 4 is connected to and actuated by the shaft 2,8 in the usual manner well known in this art whereby the thread carrier is caused to travel along' the row of needles and deliver the thread 'thereto and to the sinkers and dividers, during the knittin operation. j

he sinkers 5 and dividers 6 are of usual construction, as shown in det-ail in Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, having upwardly extending butts 36 to 37, respectively, on their rearward ends, and having identical nose portions 38 and 39, respectively forming their forward ends, and having thread-engaging risers 40 and 41 rising from the nose porusual manner bythe jacks 43 which are op-V erated by the slur cocks or cams 44 carried by the cam box 45 which is slidably fitted to a bar 46 on the machine frame. The cam box 45 is secured to 'a bar 47 which, in turn, is secured to and forms part of a carriage 48 which slides longitudinally of the machine 011 a g-uide bar 49 fixed on the machine frame. The carriage 48 is connected to the shaft 28 in the usual manner to be reciprocated thereby to reciprocate the cam boxy45 and cams 44 for the actuation ofthe jacks 43 and sinkers 5 in harmony with the reciprocations of the thread carrier 4 in the usual manner.

The sinkers 5 are all moved rearwardly at the same time by a catch bar 50| which extends longitudinally 4of the machine and which is connected to and supported at, intervals by arms like the arm 51 shown in Fig. 1. Each of these arms 51 is pivoted at its forward and rearward ends to the upper ends of arms 52 and 53, respectively. The

lower end of the arm 53 is fixed on a rockable shaft 54, and the lower end of the arm `extending from the'shaft 54 is an arm 57 carrying a roller 58 which bears against a cam 59 on the cam shaft 16,' and secured to and extending from the shaft 56 is an arm 60 carrying a roller 61 which bears' against a cam 62 on the. shaft 16. rllhe roller 61 is maintained in engagement with the cam 62 by the weight of the arms 51, 52 and 55 and bar 50, and the roller 58 is maintained in engagement with the cam 59 by a spring 63 connecting the free end'of 'the arm 57 and a bracket 64 secured on the machine frame 2.

Duringthe rotation of the camshaft 16 the cam 59 acts upon the roller 58 and arm 57 to oscillate the shaft 54 and thereby move the arms 53 and 51 forwardlfl and rearwardly to effect the forward an s; rearward movements of the catch bar 50, and the cam acts upon the roller 62 and arms 60 to oscillate lthe shaft 56 and thereby raise and lower the arms 55, 52, and 51 to effect the raising and 'lowering of the catch bar 50.

The catch bar 50 is of usual construction; having .a longitudinal groove 65 in the bottom thereof for the reception of the upwardly extending butts 36 and 37 on the rearward .ends of the sinkers 5 and dividers 6, and it is operated and controlled by the cams 59 and 62, in-the usual manner to effect the simultaneous forward movement of the dividers, and the simultaneous rearward movement of the sinkers anddividers at the proper times with relation to the movements of the needles 3 and the thread carrier 4 to effect the knitting operation.

The knock-over bits 7 are suitably supported beneath and slightlylspaced from the sinkers 5 and dividers 6, one for each sinker and one for each divider. These Abits 7 extend between the needles 3 in vertical alinement with the sinkers and dividers, and they serve to prevent the knit fabric 66 being produced by the machine from being lowered by and with the needles 3 when the needles are lowered or moved downwardly during the knitting operation. s

The knit fabric 66 being produced'by the mach'ine as herein illustrated, is intended to represent the leg blank of a stocking having the usual welt 67 formed on the forward end thereof. The fabric extends from the needles 3 and has a rod 68 extending through the welt 67. The respective ends of the rods 68 are connected to one end of an apron 69. The other end of the apron 69 is connected to a take-up drum 70 carried by a shaft 7l which is journaled in brackets on the machine frame.

HThe shaft 71 is provided with a wheel 72 having a cord 73 secured thereto and wound around the same'. The cord 7 3 extends from the wheel -72 to and over an idler pulley 74 and downwardly therefrom to a suitable weight 75 which is carried by the free end thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. The gravity pull of the weight 75 turns the shaft 71 and drum f 70 in the direction of the arrow, in Fig. 1,

and causes the drum to exert the desired pull upon the fabric 66 and to take up the vfabric and the apron 69 as rapidly as the fabric is produced.

During the operation of the machine for the production of knit fabric, the thread carrier 4, one being pfr'ovided for each row of needles, moves along therow of needles 3 and delivers the thread theretoabove the noses 38 and 39of the sinkers and dividers and between the needles 3 and the risers 40 and 41 of the sinkers and dividers ,5 and 6, respee-" tively. During the` movementfof the thread? carrier along the'rgrw of needles, the slur cocks 'or cams 44 operate the jacks 43 succ essivelyl to advance the sinkers. 5 and cause ltheir risers 40 to engage the thread'delivered by the carrier 4 and push the thread forwardly through alternate spaces betweenvv the needles 3, and cause the threadto be engaged by the needles 3 andthe sinker risers 4() and thereby formed into a corrugated course. the corrugations of which extend through alternate spaces between the needles. This done,

the catch bar 50 is operated to. advance all i the dividers 6 simultaneously and cause their risers 4l to engage the thread previously formed into a corrugated course by the sinkers 5, and push the thread forwardly through the alternate spaces between the needles 3 which are not occupied h'y the sinker risers 40 -while the needles 3 are moved forwardly until the thread is formed into a corrugated course, the corrugations of which extend through all the spaces between the needles 3 and are of even and uniform formation. Each needle 3 is now embraced by a corrugation of the thlead, and such corrugations form a course of fresh loops to be drawn through the last previously formed loops of the fabric. The needles 3 are now moved downwardly until the fresh loops enter the openings between-the bodies of the needles land the beards thereof. After the fresh loops thus enterthe needle openings, the needles are moved rearwardly until the needle beards are pressed into they closed position by the forward or presser surface of the bar 42 between the sinkers and the dividers. vWhile the beards are maintained in the closed position, the needles continue their downward movement until the free end portions of the needle beards are drawn down into the loops of the last previously formed row thereof of the linished fabric which embrace the needles. The sinkers and dividers are then simultaneously drawn rearwardly by the catch bar 50 while the needles continue their downward movement until the fresh loops within the needles 3 are drawn down between the nose portions 38 and 39'of the sinkers and dividers', respectively, and are" maintained by such nose portions in even and "uniform formation. The

sinkers and dividers continue their rearward movement while the needles are moved forwardlyand the upper ends or heads thereof are maintained substantially tlie same distance below thetops of the noses of the sinkers and dividers over which the fresh loops within the needles extend. Before the sinkers and dividers complete their rearward movement, the needles are moved downwardly between them and near their forward ends, andthe fresh loops extending over the sinkers and dividers move downwardly 4and aroundthe free ends of the noses thereof and are Vdischarged therefrom. A The freshr loops thus discharged are then drawn by] the needles down through the loops of the last previously Y The catch bar 50 then moves the sinkers and the thread to the needles for the formation of a succeedin row of fresh loops to be added to the finis ed fabric in the next cycle rof operations of the loop forming devices.

The construction and operationof the parts of the machine thus far described are well known to persons! skilled in thisart,-

and, therefore, no additional illustration or description thereof is deemed necessary herein. i'

When the loops of the successive rowsof fresh loops are discharged from the free ends of `the noses of the sinkers and dividers, in the production of knit fabric by the old me'chanism hereinbefore described, they are also discharged from the holding influence of the sinkers and dividers which up to this point 1n the knitting operation held them in even andv uniform condition; and this discharge takes place before the needles dr, w the fresh loops down through the loops of t e last previously formed row thereof of the finished fabric.

During the time between the discharge of thefresh loops from the holding influence of? the sinkers and dividers and the drawing ofthe fresh loops through the loop of the prevlously formed row thereof, the thread forming the fresh loops is free to move independently through each needle. When the condition of the thread is such that it .does move to somel extent through some or all of the needles, due

to various causes, such a variation in its moist condition and its tendency, due to inherent characteristics, to assume shapes and bends different from the shapes and bends of the loops, theresult is that the lengthof the thread formi-ng the respective fresh loops is increased vin someftheln and decreased in others, causing the roduction of ununiform` and distorted loops m the finished fabric and the sleazy knitting which is overcome by my invention. i

I shall now describe the'constructionand operation of the mechanism and parts there- Extending parallel to the :row of needles lis a bar 76 which is formed on or secured to the upper end of an arm 77 whose lower end is pivoted to an arm 78 which 'is fixed on-and extends forwardly from a rockable lshaft 79. The arm 77' has'aslot .80 formed therein through whicha guide pin 81 extends. "The pin81 is fixed to and projets from one side of a part 'of the bracket 9 on the needle bar 8. The free end of the 'pin 81 has a collar or head secured thereon outwardly of the arm 77. The arm 77 is adapted to be raised to the position shown in Fig. 3 and to be low ered to the position shown in Fig. 2 when the shaft 79 is rocked, and the arm 77 is guided in its up and 4down movements by the pin 8 1' and by and between the bracket a .ma had O r collar 82.I

'The shaft 79 is fitted to turn in suitable bearings on the machine frame and it'is provided with a'forwardly .extending arm 83 which is fixed thereto and has its forward end pivoted to the upper end of a link 84. The lower end of the link 84 is pivoted to an arm 85 which is 'pivoted on a bracket 86 on the frame ofthe machine. The arm 85 extends forwardly from the bracket 86 and is l" vided with a pin or short shaft 87 exten 83, 8 and 77, and the bar 7,6. During the rotation of the shaftl the cam 89 raises and lowers'the arms 85 and 83 and link 84 and thereby rocks the shaft 79 for raising andi lowering the bar 76, as previously described.

4At certain times durlng the operation of the machine in producing stocking blanks it is desirable that the bar 76 shall not be raised and lowered by the cam 89, and,therefore, I

provide the cam shaft 16 with a plain wheel 90 adjacent to the cam 89, and I provide a means for movin the roller 88 longitudinally on the pin 87 Into and from a positionin which it will `rest upon the wheel 90 away from the influence of the ca m 89. .The means for moving the roller 88 onthe pin 87 to rest either uponthe cam 89 or upon the wheel v90 is as followsz- Fulcrumed at 91, on a projection 92 on one side of the arm 85 is a lever 93 having a pin 94 on the forward end thereof `which extends into an annular groove in the -hub 95-l of the roller ,88. The

rearward end of the leverv93 extends between two collars 96 fixed on a rod 97 whichextends longitudinally of the machine parallel l tothe cam shaft 16 and is fitted to slide longiudinally'insuitable bearings on the machine rame.

the collars98 is the lower free end of an arm 99 which is fixed to and extends downwardl from the rearward end of a horizontallshafi or rod. 100 which extends transversely .of the'machine and is fitted to turn in suitable bearings in the frame thereof. The forward end o f the shaft 100 is providedffwith an arm or handle 101 by means of whichthe shaft A100v may be turned by hand to causerythe The rod 97. has two additional col lars 98 secured thereon, and` located between' arm 99 to move the rod 97 'longitudinally and thereby move the lever 93 -on its fulcrum 91 to move the roller' 88 longitudinally von the pin 87. Thus itwill be understood that by'moving the handle 101 in one direction the rol1er'88 may be set in al position to rest upon the cam 8810 operate the bar 76, and that by moving the handle 101 in the reverse direction the roller 88 may be set in a position to rest u onV the wheel 90 to stop the-operation of t e bar 76. The` rod 97 is provided `with two collars 102 on` the respective sides of a part of the machine frame to engage the same and limit the extent of movement of the handle 101 in either direction.

The bar 76 isy located forwardly of the needles 3 and beneath the fabric 66 being produced by the machine. The length of the bar 76, is equal to the width of the fabric and the function ofthe bar is to engage the fabric and raise it with relation to the needles The sinkers 5 and dividers 6 and the needles v3 are movedwith relation to each other,

during, the knitting operation, in my 11nprovedlmachme, the same as they are moved with relation to each other in the well known class of knitting machines. which my Ain-v vention relates.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, I'have shownY the relation of the needles 3 to the free -end portions of the noses 38 and 39'of the sinkers and the dividers 5 and 6 indifferent posiforming devices,

tions ofthe needles; and in F-igs. 9, 10 and 11 I have indicated by arrows adjacent to the parts the direction of movement thereof when they occupy the relative positions illustrated in the several views.

' The cam shaft 16 is turned one revolution during each cycle of operations of the loop and the operation of the bar 76 by the cam 89 is so timed with relation to the movements of the needles 3 andl the sinkers 5 and dividers 6 that the cam 89 will raise the bar 7 tif/and fabric 66v when the needles 3 reach the regionshown in Fig. 9 with relation to the 'sinkers and dividers while the needles are moving forwardly and downwardly between them; and that the cam 89 will lower 'the bar 7 6 land fabric'66 when the needles 3 reach the region shown in Figli; f 0 y to the finlshed fabric, as above described, the

11 with relation to1the-sinkersand dividers, while the needles" moving rearwardly below them; and' that thej'bar 76 and fabric A1.66 will 'remain in theloweied position until the needles again reach'V theleregion shown in Fig. 9 with relation to the vsinkerszand dividers, during of the loop forming devicesf' -While the the raised position shown in Fig. 3, the fabric extends upwardly as Wellas forwardly from the needles 3. and it is drawnA upwardly on e5 the needles 4and into `contact with the botand. dividers 6, .during each 'cycle of opera-A the next cycle of operations toms of'the sinkers' 5 and the-dividers 6; i

and, while the bar 76 is in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 2, the fabric 66 extends horizontally from the needles 3 substantially at right angles thereto ,or parallel to the plane of movement of the sinkers and the dividers for purposes presently explained.

When, during the knitting operation, the needles and the sinkersand dividers reach the relative positions shown in Fig. 9, the last row of loops, indicated at 103, of the finished fabric embracingl the needles 3 are drawn upwardly on the needles and the rearward end portion of the finished fabric is in engagement with `the bottoms of the sinkers `and dividers, and the fresh loops, indicated at 104, formed by the thread extending through the needle openings, are embracing the noses '38 and 39 of the sinkers and dividers and are therebybeing maintained in. even and uniform condition.

As the needles 3 move forwardly andy downwardly and the sinkers and dividers move rearwardly from the relative positions thereof, illustrated in Fig. 9, tothe relative" positions thereof illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12,- the forward and upward pull of the finished fabric 66 draws the last row of loops 103 thereof upwardly between the sinkers 5 and dividers 6 and-forwardly over the u per ends ofthe needles 3 while the needles diawA the fresh loops 104 down through the loops 103 and before the needles move out of the spaces between the sinkers and dividers.. Immediately after the fresh loops 104 escape the upper ends of the needles, the pull of the fabric 66 draws theA fresh loops completely through the loops 103. The discharge of the fabric loops 103 from the needles 3, and the drawing of the-fresh loops 104 through the loops 103, an'd the drawing ofy theloops 10??V by the pull of the 'fabric 66 to iina'lrposition i embracing the freshloops 104 takes place. whlle the fresh loops -104 are held in even and uniform condition by the sinkers and dividers. Therefore, the sinkers and dividers prevent the thread forming the fresh loops .104 from moving'through the needle o lngs while they are beingadded to the ished fabric 66 and thereby prevent sleazy.l knitting. h After the fresh loops 104 have been added need1es`3 arermoved downwardly from the sinkers l.and [dividers and rearwardly below the. same' 11nd, 'when the needles enter the zone with relation to the sinkers and dividers asillustratedlin,Figli-11, the bar 76 lowers -ithe fabric 66 tothe horizontal position. The l, fabric 66 remains in horizontal position untilA bar 76 holds the fabric 66 in 66 is lowered from the position shown in Fig. l

3 to the position shown in Fig. 2 to permit the sinkers 5 and dividers 6 to be moved over the fabric and into the space occupied by it when elevated as shown in Fig. 3, during the operation of the loop forming devices after the arts leave the relative positions shown in ig. 11 and until they again reach the relative positions shown in Fig. 9.

In knitting machines of the character herein illustrated it is desirable at times to move the needle bar 8 forwardly from its working position in the machine for renewing broken needles, and for other purposes the arm 20 is provided with an additional pocket 105 forwardly of the pocket 23 for the reception of the pin 22. By raising the arm 2O to free the pin 22 from the pocket 23 the arm 20 may be moved inwardly to engage the pocket 105 with the pin 22, and, when this is done, the needle bar 8 will be moved forwardly on the pivotal connections of the brackets 9 with the armd 13. The pin-andslot connection between the arm 77 and bracket 9 permits the forward movement of' the needle bar 8 without disturbin the proper working relation ofthe arm and the needle bar bracket 8.

Some knitting machines of the character herein illustrated have stationary fabric supportingor knock over bits, and others have movable bits which are operated tol assist the needles when they draw -the successive rows of fresh loops down through the previously. formed loops of the fabric. My invention will operate equall well when applied to either t e of vmachine because the assistance of the its is not required in my invention when the needles draw the successive rows of fresh loops down through the previously formed loops of the fabric.

My invention permits the presence of a greater space for the fabric between the tops of the fo-rward end portions of the bits and the bottoms of the sinkers and dividers; and my invention will produce knit fabric having even and uniform lthread loops long after many of the parts of the :machine have become worn to an extent which would require them to be renewed in machines not provided with my improvements.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a-,- straight knitting machine, 1 the combination/of a row of needles, actuating mechanism for. the needles, take-up means for .knit fabric extending from the needles, supporting bits for the fabric, lsinkers anddividers for cooperation with the needles forthe production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers and dividers, said needles during the actuation thereof operating to draw a course of fresh thread loops down through the last previously formed row of loops of the finished fabric embracing the needles and means for raising said last previously formed row of loops under tension into the spaces between thefsinkers and dividers.

2. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a row of needles, actuating mechanism for the needles, take-up means for knit fabric extending from the needles, supporting bits for the fabric, sinkers and divlders for cooperation with the needles for the production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism lfor the sinkers and dividers,- the sinkers and dividers operating to maintain a course of freshl loops in uniform condition as such fresh loo s are advanced by the needles to be thereby drawn through the last previously formed row of loops of the finished fabric embracing the needles and means for raising said last previously formed row of loops under tension above the needles while said fresh loops are in operable contact with the sinkers and dividers to maintain said fresh loops in uniform condition. v

3. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a row of needles, actuatin mechanism for the needles, take-up means or knit fabric extending from the needles, supporting bits for the fabric, sinkers and dividers for cooperation with the needles for the production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers anddividers, the sinkers and dividers operating to maintain a course of fresh loops in uniform condition as such fresh loops are advanced by the needles to be thereby drawn through the last reviously formed row of loops of the finishe fabric embracing the needles and means acting on the finished fabric for ldrawing said last previously formed row of loops under tension upwardly and forwardly over the needles while said fresh loops arein operable Contact with the sinkers and dividers to maintain said fresh loops in uniform condition.

4. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a row of needles, actuating mechanism for the needles, take-up means for knit fabric extending from the needles, supportin bits for the fabric, sinkers and dividers or cooperation with the needles for the production of'knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers and dividers, a fabric engaging bar below the fabric for-'- wardly of the sinkers and dividers and means for raising and lowering the bar, the barbeing raised to draw the knit fabric under tension upwardly and `into contact with the bottom of the sinkers and dividers while the needles are moving downwardly within the spaces between the sinkers and dividers and thereafter being lowered to lower the fabric below the plane of movement of the sinkers `and dividers.

in a straight knitting machine, the com-V bination of a row of needles, actuating mechanism for the needles, take-up means for knit fabric extending from the needles, supporting bits for the fabric, sinkers and dividers for 'cooperation with the needles for the production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers and dividers,a fabric engaging bar below the fabric forwardly of the sinkers and dividers, a movable arm provided with a roller, a cam engaging the roller for moving the arm, actuating means for the cam, a rock- Y able shaft, means operated by the arm for rocking the shaft, and means operated by the shaft for raising and lowering the bar, lthe bar being raised to draw the knit fabric under tension upwardly and into contact with the bottom of the sinkers and dividers while the needles are moving downwardly Within the spaces between the sinkers and dividers and thereafter being lowered to lower the fabric below the plane of movementof the by the cam for raising and lowering the bar the bar being raised to draw the `knit fabric 'under tension upwardly and into contact with the bottom of the sinkers and dividers while the needles are moving downwardly within the spaces between the sinkers and dividers and thereafter being lowered to lower the fabric below the plane of movement of the sinkers and dividers, and means operable to move the last named means into and out of operative relation to the cam.` s

7 In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a row of needles, actuating mechanism for the needles, take-up means for knit fabric extending from the needles, supporting bits for the fabric, sinkers and'dif viders for cooperation with the needles for the production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers and dividers, a fabric engaging bar below the fabric forwardly of the sinkers and dividers, an arm supporting the bar and extending downwardly therefrom, a rockable shaft, an arm secured to and extending from the shaft and pivoted to the first name-d arm, means for rocking the shaft to raise-and lower the arms and the bar and guiding means for the arm which supports the bar. A

8. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a needle bar carrying a row of v needles, actuating mechanism for the needle bar, take-up means for knit fabric extending from the needle, supporting bits for the fabric, sinkers and dividers for cooperation with the needles for the production of knit fabric, actuating mechanism for the sinkers and dividers, a fabric engaging bar below the fabric forwardly of the sinkers and dividers, an arm supporting the fabric enga 'ng bar and ex- I tendin downwardly there om and having a slot t erein, a pin carried b the needle bar andextending into said slot or guiding said arm and means pivotally connected to said arm for raising and lowering it and the fabric engaging bar.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

KURT OSWALD WAECHTLER.

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