US1855033A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Filedlpril 15, 1931 Fig. l.

10 Sheets-Sh'eet 1 3 /NVEN TOR April 19, 1932. 5 1,855,033

KNI'ITING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

April 1932. E. SPIERS 1,855033 KNITTING MACHINH Filed April 15, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V[ N TOR April 19, 1932. E. SPIERS KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 15 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Fig. 4.

Fig.l0. 84 37 87 86 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. SPIERS KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 15 1931 April 19, 1932.

April 19. 1932. E. SPIERS KNI TTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet e Filed April 15,- 1931 1......IIIIIIIII EHE! April 19, 1932. SP|ERS 1855033 KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 15, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 F ig. I5. Fig. I6.

108 MW w 107.

//VVENTOR April 19, 1932. E. SPIERS KNIT'TING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNES'I. SPIEBS, O]?

LEICES'IER, ENGLAND, A BRI'IISH COMIPANY A KNITTING MACHINE Application file(1 April 15, 1931, Serial N0. 530,383, and in Great Britain May 19, 1930.

This invention relates t knitting machines and has for its object an improved warp knitting machine of the straight bar type for the purpose of producing tubular fabric. The primary ai1n of the invention is to provide an economical 1nachine of the straight bar type capable of producing fashioned seamless non-laddering hosiery, e. g. ladies stockings, of fine quality, although the invention is not to loe regarded as limitecl in this respect as the machine 1nay be adaptecl to produce non-ladclering tubular fabric, fashionecl 01' non fashioned for underwear 01' other body garments anal ot-her purposes.

According t0 this invention there 1s provided a warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds for two independent series of individually movable needles, one o1" more series of thread guides f01' each series of needles for lapping th1eads over said' needles to produce knitted webs, auxiliary thread guides x'or lapping threacls over neeclles in both series to unite the knittecl webs to form tubular fabric, means for eflecting va'ri ations in the number of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to produce fashioned fabric, an d means for correspondingly a(ljlting the auxiliary threacl guiding means.

There is also provided according to this invention a warp knitting machine of the straightbar type furnished with curved nee dles to carry which parallel neeclle becls furnishecl with arcuate grooves or tricks are employecl. The advantage of providing curved needles is that by reason of their curvature the needles in the respective series function in paths which do not cross each other, and consequently it is possible to locate the needles in one series directly opposite to the needles in the other series wit-h a minimum of space between opposing needle heads and also to employ a greater number of needles to the inch with suflicient space between adjacent needles in each series for the passage 0f the threads for lapping purposes. In short, a fine gau.qe machine can be providecl, and, Consequentl-y work of fine quality can be procluced, especially whenas is preferred be:irded needles are used.

The invention also includes as a feature,

provision for reinforcing o1 splicing the fab- 1ie o1 desired areas or portions thereof more particularly thougl1 not necessarily exclusively in a warp knitting mach ine designed for tl1 ep1oduction of fashioned seamless hosiery as previously alluded to herein. F01 exam'ple, 111 a machine aclapted to produce fashioned fabric-the one or more series of main thread guides for each series ofneeclles may be divicled and arranged so that one division 01 group may be moved lengthwise relatively to the othe'sr division o1 group so that the threads supplied by two 01 more divisions or groups nre lapped on 01 over the same needles.

Means may also be provided for shifting one. d1Vision or grol1p of threacl guides gradually in relation to the other division 01 group in the Same series.so that the c0nfiguration of the spliced or reinforced area may loe CO1- respondingly varied.

\Vhen bearcled needles are enployed the machine includes means for pressing the beardS in association with web holders ancl knocking over bits or elements, such as of the form previously referred to herein, and means f01 actuatir1g the presser o1 pressers and Web holders.

I Will DOW describe by way of example and with teference to the accompan-ying drawings a n1achine embodying all of the features hereinbefore mentioned, such machine being designed for the production or' fashioned seamless stockings of non-laddering fabric.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional end view of ehe machine.

Figure 2 is a sicle elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the machine taken online IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure el i s a plan of one of the needle beds and the associated needle seleeting means.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the sinker bed and sinker actuating mechanism and shows a few 0f the sinkers.

Figure 6 shows a portion of' the knocking ov er bar.

Figure 7 is a plan of the needle presser and the actuating means therefor.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a pair of main thread guides and the means for actuatformed curved or ing the same, as used for knitting a nonfashioned tube of fabric.

F igure 9 is a sectional detail of said guide actuating means.

F igure 10 is an end elevation of an oscillatory carriage, thread guicles arranged for use in the production of fashioned hosiery, and means for oscillating the carriage.

Figure 11 is a plan view 0f the guides shown in Figure 10 and the carriages therefor.

F igure 12 is a sidoelevation of the guides used for splicing purposes and the means for efl'ecting relative lengthwise adjustment thereof.

Figure 13 is a side elevat-ion of aux1l1ary guides used in the product-ion of fashioned hosiery and means for adjusting tl1e same longitudinally for fashioning purposes.

Figure 14 is an end elevation and Figure 15 is a side elevation of cams for eflecting the adjustment of the splicing guides aI1d the auxiliaryguides, and tl1e means for controlling said cams.

Figure 16 represents diagrammatically a stocking as produced by means of the improved machine.

Figure 17 is a plan view of mechanism for enabling both series of needles to take the same threads for one or moreoourses at the commencement of knitting. said mechanism being located at the riqht hand end o1 the thread guiclesviewing 'the latter as shown in Figure 11 and being shown in the inoperative position.

Figure 18 is a plan viewof alle same mechanism in operation.

Figure 19 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism in'the position shown in Figure 18; and

Figure 20 is an end elevation of the sa1d mechanism in the same position.

Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to a smaller scale than Figures 14, 15 and 16, which latter are drawn to a-smaller scale than Figures 3, 5 anal 7, and Figures 8 to 13 and 17 to 20 are drawn to a larger scale than Fi,qures 3, 5 and 7, und to a smaller scale than Figures 4 and 6. Like parts are designated by the Same reference characters.

This machine is preferably provided with indepenclently slidable bearded needles arranged back to back, so that the needles in one series are directly the other series in two parallel needle beds 1 having concave outer surfaces in which are arcuate grooves 2 for the reception of the correspondingly shaped neodles 3 furnished with butts 4 ab their lower ends.

The hooks of the curved needles are located on the ooncave sicle so that when the needles are located in. their beds the tail ends of the opposing needles diverge. Another advantage therefore isthat adequate space is proopposite to the needles in vided for the accommodation of needle beds of ample size, and for the passage of the knitted fabric, zind, if necessary, for the accommodation of take-down mechanism in fairly cl'ose proximity 150 the point at which the fabric is knitted.

Associated With these beds are other grooved beds 5 for web holders 6, und knocking over bars 7. The web holder beds have convex portions 8 which oppose the concave surfaces of the needle beds and serve to hold the needles in their beds.

The nee.dle and web holder beds are mounted in 0r upon end frames 9 suitably braced so tl1at as shown in Figure 3 the two series of needles function in substantially vertical planes with the sinkers or web holders and pressers Operating in a horizontal plane.

The machine is furnished with a single cam shaft 11.

F or operating the needles 3 we may provide, in association with the two series respectively, corresponding selecting elements 12, bars hereinafter referred to, and jacquard clevices 01 any known or other convenient form.

Conveniently the selectors are furnished with tails 14 and there are provided jacquard bands 15 having perforations 16 formed therein aocording to the order in Which the neerlles are to be caused to knit, said bands being carried by drums 17 formed with grooves 18 with which the perforations in the bands register, whereby then the bands are presented to the associated selectors, the tails of the selectors which register with perforations pass through the latter into the grooves 18 so .that the corresponding selectors are not selected for operation upon the needles. The drums are carried by swing arms 19 mounted 0n shafts 20 extending between and fixed in the end frames 9 see F igu1es 1 and 2, said arms being actuated to carry the drums and bands towards and from the associated selector beds by means of face cams 22 on the carn shaft 11, said arms being fitted with rollers 23 carried by lugs 24 for this purpose. The drums are fitted respectively with ratchets 25 which are engaged by pawls 26 carried by fixed arms 27 so that when the jacquard devices are swung away from the selectors the drunis are racked round to irnpart the requisite movements t-0 tl1e jacquard bands. Check pawls 28 are provided to hold the bands in position after each movement. The

needle selectors are carried in beds 29 in register With the needle butts 4 so that their inner ends can be projected -under the butts as the result of the action of the jacquard device on the outer ends thereof, as shown at the left band side of Figure 3. The beds 29 are carried by arms 30 mounted 011 rockshafts 31 supported by bearings in or onthe end frames 9. Carried by tl1 e arms 30 are bars or plates 32 furnished with lips 33 arranged so as 'po extend over the butts of the needles as shown in Figure 3. The axes of the rockshafts 31 are located so that when the selector beds are oscillated the inner ends of the selectors move in a path concentric with the concave faces of the opposing needle beds. The rockshaft-s are operated by means of levers 34 and cams 35 on the aforesaid cam shaft so that the selectors, selected by the jacquards, ankl the aforesaid bars 01' plates respectively impart up and down movement 130 t-he selected needles.

The mahine is equipped with thread guide members designated 36 37, 36a, 37a, 38, f1nd represented somewhat diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 3 said members having holes such as 39 therein to guide the threads to the needles und being carried bycarriages 40 respectively pivotally mounted by means of shafts 41 011 the end frames 9. The seid guide members are arranged parallel with each other above the pivotal axis as represented in Figures l and 3, for endwise movement to lap the threads about the neeclles.

The carriages a1e oscillated by means of eccentrics 42 011 the cam shaft 11 through the medium of racks 43 associated with the eccentric straps 44 and pinions 45 keyed on the shafts 41. There is a set of main guide members for euch series of needles, and between these two sets, an auxiliary slide 38.

F01 producing non-fashioned tubular fabric I may provicle in assooiation with each needle bed, a set of two main thread guide members constituted by slides such as 36,37, 36a, 37a, Figures 1, 3 und 8, saic1 slides be1ng furnished with a series of holes 39 to gui le the threads 130 the needles. The auxiliary guide 38 may be constituted by a similar single slide furnished with a hole 01 holes 39 at eaoh end. The main'slides in each sei; are used to lap thefhreads held thereby over the seleoted neeclles in the oorresp0nding series for knitting two similar pieces of fabric and the auxiliary slide laps the threads held thereby over needles respectively at opposite ends of both series of operative needies for the purpose of uniting t-he said pieces of fabric at their edges i. e. by sutures.

The lapping movements of all of the aforesaid guide members may be imparted in one direction by springs 46 onone carriage and in the other direction by o1 cams such as 47 on a spindle 48 mounted in bearings 49 011 the other oarriage und racked round by pawl and ratchet mechanism 50, 51 operated by a cam 52, Figure 1, appropriately fixed on one of the end frames 9 of the machine so as to be engaged by a roller 53 011 a pawl lever 54 as the carriages 40 rock first in one direction and then in the other direction, i. e. from the position shovvn by dot and dash lines to that shown by full lines in Figure 3, ancl vice versa, it being understood that the endwise movement of the slides is effected in appropriate timed relation to the up and down movement of the selected needles by suitable prearrangement of operation of the cams 47.

The springs 40 n1ay be constituted by resilient fingers formed with o1 applied to a plate 46a attachecl to the appropriate carriage.

The wheels or cams for the main slides are so arranged und operated that the main slides for each series of needles are shogge l respectively in oposite directions, see Figure 8, i. e. when one of the slides 1noves to the left the other moves to the right, and vice versu, the shogging movement being (afl'ected after the threads have been passecl between the operative needles, i. e. those Which ale mised by the selectors of the corresponding series, by the guide melnbers swinging from the back t0 the front of said needles so that the threads ere crossed in front of the operative needles below the hooks as represented in Figure 8. F01 example, considering Figures 3 and 8, when the carriages'40 are swung over to the position shown hy full lines the threads a and b held loy ehe guide members 36, 37 respeotively a1 e passed between the operative needles, e, g. those shovvn raised, of the adjacent bed, whereupon the guide mernbers are shogged endwise as aforesaid and the threads are orossed so that when the oarriages are swungz m er to the other position the crossed threads a, Z), are laid upon the stems of the seid needles belovv ehe hooks so as to be engag ed b v the hooks when. the neeclles are caused 130 descend Joy ehe action of the associated bar 32. Sinriilarly when the carriages take up the p0sition shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 3 the threads c, d are passed betvveen the operative needles of the other bed and then the guide members 36a, 37ap are shogged respectively in opposite directions so that when theearriages are again swung in the other direction the threads c, d are laid upon the corresponding operative needles below the bearcls and in due c'ourse are takten thereby, when they in their turnare oaused to descend. By reason of the swinging movements of the carriages und anpropriate enclwise movements of the auxiliary member 38 conj ointly with the movements of the needles, the threads held by the auxiliary guide member i. e. ab the ends thereof respectively, are lapped over the endmost rieedles of those operated in each course so that seid needles knit the said threads and thereby j oin together the courses forrned by the needleswhich knit the main threads. It will be understoocl that the thread guide members are arranged so that the thread's a, b,l1e1d by the' guicles 36, 37 pass beaween the operative neeclles of the left hand bed viewing Figure 3 anal ahnt the threads c, d hold by the guides 36a, 37 a pass between the operative neeclles of the other be l when the c arriages swing from side to side as already explained without being engaged by the said needles. Also When the guides in each set have been movecl opposite[y fo1 one course of knitting they are rnoved in the reverse manner i. e. back to their original positions for the next course.

v The Web holders 6 in each of the beds are each furnished with a notch or recess 55 nea1 one end thereof and are operated by a transversely movable bar 56 furnished with a strip 57 ior insertion into the notches. the saicl bar being mounted 0n the bed 5 ancl actuated by levers 58pivoted 0n the bed by means of blocks 59 and pins 60 und bifumated o1 slotted as shown at 61 for engagement with pins 62 in the bar 56. The levers 58 are engaged.by other levers 63 pivoted at 64 in the machine fran1e and oscillated by zroove czuns 65 on the 021m shaft 11 in appropriate time l relation wit-h the needle movements. The bar is thus positively actuatecl in both directions.

The knocking over bars 7 (see Figure 6) are furnished with openings 66 ancl fixed horizontally on the web-holder beds so as to enable the needles to W01'k through the openin srs whereby during deseent 0f the needles the old loons thereon are knockecl over.

F01 pressing the beards of the neerlles I provide transversely movable bars 67 euch suitabl v shaped along one eclge for action upon the corresponding needle beards and operable by cams and suitable intermediate connections.

Conveniently, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, each pressei bar is slidably niounted on the oorresponding be l 5, said bar having sl'ots 68 therein and being held in position by means of stud ancl nut fastenings 69 the studs of which pass through the slots 68 Whereby the requisite transverse movements of the presser bar are permitted. The transverse movements are imparted by springs 70 and levers 71 fitted With screws 72 for engagement with the bar and pivoted at 73 011 the end frames for actuation by cams 74: 011 the ca1n shaft 11.

As already alluded to herein it is mainly my intention to provicle a machine capable of producing seamless fashioned hosiery of the form represented diagra mmatically in Figure 16 i. e. having a fashi0ned toe t, a foot f, aheel h made by narrowing eind widening, a fashioned leg Z and a fashioned top T.

It is also my intention 150 comrnence knting at the toe end of the article a1'1d to fashion the same by widening. Following the formation of the toe 25 and foot f and heel h ancl ankle portion, the leg portion Z is Widened by introducing additional neecllesby means of the jacquard and neeclle selectors hereinbefore described-at one end only of the groups of needles already in nction, and adjustment of the auxiliary guide member in a, manner to be hereinafter more portionlarly' described. At the commencement of means of the character described the knitting operation one 01 each series of main thread guides may be operated as will be hereinafter described so that both series of needles take the same threads, the initial courses of the toe being thereby interlocked. During the formation of the toe and foot of the article a certain number of threads i. e. those which form the part Z 0f the leg and T of the top normally would be idle. T0 economize in thread I propose 130 use some at least of these threacls for splicing o1 reinforcing purposes e. g. for splicing the toe, foot bottom, heel and. forming a high splice m which may be tapered, stepped or of some other suitable form. T0 this end the main thread guide members foreach series of needles are divided and the sections are arranged in pairs with one pair sei: back with respect to the other pair so as to enable one pair t0 be movecl endwise relatively to the other pairapart from being shogged end- Wise as a whole for lapping purposesso that the number of threads supplied to desired needles is correspondingly increased. Provision is also made for shifting the splicing sections graclually so as to enable the width of the spliced areas to be reduced gradually as for example from the full width of the t0e 25 to the foot bot-torn f, and from the heel h to the termination 0f the high splice w, by shifting the said sections back towards their original positions A convenient arrangement is shown in Figures 10 and 11 and in Figure 11 the parts 0f the guide members which actually hold the threads are shaded fox clearness. A designates in each sei; of guide members the sections which serve the needles onwhich the narrowest portions of the articles are produced, and in conjunction With A, serve needles in the product-ion of the widerportions of the article and are usecl for splicing purposes. Since the arrangemen-t and operation is the same in each set, only one arrangement need be considered for the purpose of the following description. In Figure 11 the sections are shown in position for knitting the widest portion of the article, i. e. the top T. The guide sect1ons A consist of single plates which are slidably mounted in the carriages 40a and to which lapping movements are imparted by ence to F igures 8 and 9. The guide sections B comprise respectively outer elements 7 5 and 7 5a and inne? elements 76, 7 6a carried slidably by the outer elements, e. g. b v means of angle plates o1 pins in the one of the outer element's and a slot in the other. The outer elements are slidably mounted in the carriages 40a ancl are shogged bodily for thread lapping purposesby means 0f the form described with r-ference t0 Figures 8 and 9,

of which act upon approp riate cam wheels format-1ons such as 77. For splicing pur.-

B designates the sections which,

with referposes the element 76 is moved to locate its thread holding part alongside that of the guicle member A and the element 7 6b is movecl to a position wherein the inner ends of the thread holding parts of the two elements slight-ly ove1lap so as to provide the required number of the splicing threads, the reson for this being that the elements 76, 76a hold a less number of threads than the momber A so that it i s necessary to supplement the number of the threads hold by the element 76 by some at least of the threadsheld by the eleme nt 76a. The elements 76, 76a remain in this position during the fonnation of the toe t and then for gradually reducing the widfh of the splicing e. g. along the lin'es S and S2 the elements are gradually racked back towards their original position at appropriate intervals. T0 enable the movements of the said elements in both directions to be eflecteclautomatically the following const-ruction is provided. The element 76 is formed with rack teeth 78 and pinions 79 mounted 011 a spindle 80 rotatable in bearings 81 on theouter elements 75 so as to mesh with the rack teeth. The spindle 80 also has fast thereon ratchet wheels 82, 83 engaged respectively by pawls 84, 85

pivoted on a lever 86 freely mounted on the spindle 80 and furnished with a roller 87 and operated by a cam arrangement comprising a track 88 and pivotally movable cams 89. see Figures 14 and 15, on the adjacent end frame of the n1achine, the roller being acted upon by the cam arrange- 1nent as the carriages .40a oscillate. The pawl 84 and ratchet wl1eel 82 efi'ect the movement of the element 76 into the splicing position and the other pawl 85 and ratchet wheel 83 eflects the reverse movement, the operation of the pawls being dependent upon the position of the cams 89. When the pawl 84 is caused to engage the wheel 82 the pawl 85 works inoperat-ively over a blufl' 90 forme(l by the rounded ends of the barings 81. \Vhen the pavvl 85 iscaused to engage the wheel 83 the pawl 84 Works on the blufl". The

element 76a is moved at the required time and to the requisire extent in company with and by means of the element 76, for which purpose the latter has thereon a pivoted' catch 91 adapted to engage a notched plate 92 on the element 76a. When the element 76 is being racked into the. splicing Position it first moves independently of the element a since it has to move further. Eventually however tho catch 91 comes into, register \iifli (Im notoh in the plate 92 whereupon thv Moment 76 picks np the element 761 and (mries it along with it into the r =quirerl position. \Vhex tho elemonts T6, 76a take up thei1' snlici'ng: positions the operation of the pawl 84 is interrnptocl b v nlacing the (ums 89 in 21 neutral position so tlxat said elements remain in tho splicing position nntil they are next article.

to be moved in the reverse direction i. e. racked out to reduce the width of the splicing for the footbottom f, whereupon the pawl 85 is caused to operate by moving the cams 89 back to their initial position and the two elements move together until the required reduction has been effected, the operation of the pawl 85 thereupon being again interrupted. Upon completion of the foot bottom and heel h the pawl 85 is again caused to operate for the production of the high splice w. VVhen during the racking out wot1on the element 7 6a reaches its original position the two elements are disconnected as the result of the engagement of .tl1e catch 90 With a cam formation 93 on one or each of the outer elements 75, a, after which the element 76 moves alone until it also reaches its original position whereupon the operation 0f the pawl is again interrupted, and the said elements remain in this position until they are to be racked in again for splicing the I1: Will of course.be understood that ehe racking in and out movements aforesaid are timed to take place when the threads are clear of the needles. The carns 89 are controlled by means of a face cam 94 racked round by pawl and ratchet mechanism 95, 9-6, 97, operated by the eccentric strap 44 through a lever 98 fulcrumecl at 99 on the adjacent end frame and fitted with a roller 100 for engagemen t with the strap. The cam 94 operates through mechani sm comprising a lever 101 fulcrumed at 102 and connected by a link 103 With another lever 104 pivoted at 105, said lever being connected by means of a pin and slot connect-ion 106 and a plunger 107 with a plate 108 in turn conneoted by pin and slot connections 109 with levers 110 attached to the pivot pins 111 of the cams 89. The cam 94 is designed so that the cams 89 are held in an inactive position as shown in F igure 14 or raised or ldwered so as to cause either the pawl 84 or t-he pawl 85 to operate according to requirements.

The heel of the article is produced by widening and narrowing on appropriate needles selected by the jacquards and needle selectors.

F or adjusting the auxiliary thread guide member in accordance with variations in the number of needles operated in diflerent courses, said member is also made in two sections 112, 113 slidably mounted end to end between outer elements 114. The sections 112, 113 are furnished with holes 39 to hold the threads and the inner sections and outer elements are moved as a whole for lappin-g purposes by means of the form already described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The. sections 112, 113 are fornied with rack teeth 115, 116, for engagement respectiVely by pinions 117, 118 in spindlesll9, 120 carried by bearings 121, 122 on the sections 114. The spindles 119, are furnished respectively With ratchet wheels 123, 124, and 125, 126 and pawls 127, 128, and 129, 130 are carried by levers 131, 132 freely mounted on the spindles and fitted with rollers 133, 134. As the carriages 40a oscillate these rollers work in cam tracks formed between arcuate members 135, 136 suitably fixed 0n the end frames and each of' these cam tracks has associated therewith a switch.cam 137. By tl1e movement of these switch cams to diflerent positions one 01 both of the spindles 119, 120 may be rotated either clockwise or' anti-clockWise, or allowed to remain stationary, depending on whether either or both of the sections'll2, 113 are to be moved outwards 01' inwards or to remain unadjusted. T hu s for the t0e portion of the article the sections 112, 113 are both moVed outwards as additional needle are brought into action at both ends of the operativ'e series in successive courses imtil the numbef required for the foot are inoperation, and then the section 112 remains unadjusted throughout the formation 015 thefoot ahd leg, while the section 113 is adjusted ou twards arid inwards in a cc0rdztnce with the gradual increase and dec r ease'f t be numb r of needles during the form'alin 0f the heel and outwards during-f;shibning i. e. whila the number of needles in action is increased at one end of the operativ "xaeries in success1ve courses t0 form tl1e yv1de'r 0x fash1oned portions of the artiCle. 1

' Each 0f the switch cams is controlled for the purpose afo1esaid by a groom cam 138 and intermediate mechanism comprising a lever 139 fast on a rockshaft 140 und furnished with a roller -141to work in the cam groove, a lever l42.ilink 143, lever 144 and a pin 145 0n which the'cam is mounted. The cam 138 i s formed in the periphery of the blank in which the face cam 94 is formed.

A feature of the machine designed produce fashioned fabric is that the threads are wound 011 separate bobbins 146 preferably f a construction similar to the bobbins emloyed in a lace machine. In this connection 1t is preferred 130 provide half as many hobbins and main thread guide holes 39 in each series as there are needles in the corresponding bed and to knit first 0n alternate needles in one bed, then on alternate needles in the other bed, then on theremaining needles of the first bed, and then on the remaining needles 0f the second bed, the jacquard band 01' equivalent a'ssociated with each bed being set out so that w hen one series of perforations is brought opposite to the selectors 12 the alternate selectors are sel ected as represented in Figure 4. ancl When the next series of perforations is brought into the selective position the other selectors are selected. T he purpose of this is to avoid the neces'sity for providing abn0rmally thin bobbins for 1156 on a fine gauge machine. Time is also saved in setting up the machine for knitting. The perforations in one series are preferably staggered in relation to Lhose of the next adjacent series and alternate selectors have their butts 14 ata higher level than the butts of the remaining selectors, as shown in Figure 3, so that for a fine gauge machine the perforations Inay be made at the re-' quired pitch without impairing the strength of a comparatively thin band.

It will be undelrstood that there is a set cf bobbins for each series of mainguides am]. two or more bobbins for the axiliary guides. Preferably the several sets of bobbins are 'arranged radially with respect t0 the pivoted axis 0f the 0scillatory carriages in whieh the aforesaid slides are mounted, so that the between guide rods 150 from which the.

threads extend substantially radially with respect to ehe pivotal axis of the aforesaid carmages The selectors 12 are furni'shed with butts 12a for engagment by operable members 151 as shown in Figure 3 whereby the selected selectors are restored t0the normal position subsequent to their action upon the corre- Sponding needles. Each ofthese members 151 conveniently consists of a metal strip fixed 011 a shaft 152 furnished with cams 153, see Figure 2, and pivotally and slidably mounted in the arms 30. Associated and parallel with each of the shafts 152 is a rod 154 fixed in the same arme: 30 and furnished with cams 155 for co-operation with the cams 153 whereby when the shaft 152 is moved endwise in one direction, i. e. to the' right, the co-acting cams 153, 155 cause the shaft to turn With the result that the member 151 acts upon op1aosing selector butts 12a and restores the corres ponding selectors to their normal position as shown at the right band side 0f Figure 8. The said turning movement of the shaft-s 152 may be eifect ed 1gainst spring action and the endwise mo'vements may be efl'ected also against spring action by means 0f cam pieces, one 0f which is shown at 156 in Figute 2 on the cams 22, said cam pieces acting on rollers, one of which ap'pears at- 157 in Figure 2 on the adjacent ends respectively of the shafts.

T'o enable both series of needles to take tl1e same threads for one 01 more courses at the commencement 0f knitting f01 the purpose hereinbefore set forth, I may provide at one end 0f the pairs of main guide members 114 a plurality of teeth 158 for engagement by a pawl 159 carried by a plunger 160 slidable in the adjacent oscillatory carriages a ancl actuated by means of a cam 161 movably arranged on the adjacent end frame 9 of the machine. Conveniently the pawl 159 is pivoted on the plunger 160 and c0ntrollecl by a spring 162 operating through a poppet pin 163 in the plunger so that the pawl is held up to the teeth 158 but can yield when required to slide over same. The plunger 160 is engaged by a lever 164 pivoted ab 165 on the carriage 40a ancl furnished with a roller 166 for engagement with the cam 161 pivoted at 167 on the adjacent end frame 9, whereby when the cam is rendered operative as shown in Figs. 18 and 19 the lever is movecl againslt the action of a spring 168 to operate the plunger 160. The cam 161 is moved into the path of the roller 166i. e. from the normal inoperative position shown in Fig. 17 to the operative position shown in Fig. 18 at the appropriate time during the swinging movement of the guide members 114 by means of an eccentric 169 0n a cam actuated rockshaft 170 and by action Upon the lever 164 causes the pawl 159 to shift the guide members 114 endwise in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 17), when between the two sets of needles 3 as shown in Fig. 20 so that the said unembers, after having lapped their threads over the needles of the right band bed, are in a osition t0 engage the saure threads with the operative needles of the other i. e. the left band bed instead of passing said threads i(lly between the said needles as occurs after the initial courses as previously set forth herein. A catcl1 171 controlled by a spring 172 is provicled on the carriage 40a for engagement with the lever 164 as represented in Fig. 18 to hold the guides in this position until the .guide members have swung fron1 the back to am]. the guide n1embers are shifted back to their original position by their own springs (see 46 Fig. 8) so thac when swung in the opposite direfztion the threads becorne completely lapped round the needles. Any suitable means may of course be adopted for actuating the rockshaft 170 to renrler the cam 161 ope1'ative and inoperative in timed relation to the cycle of operations of the machine. When the ca1n 161 is rendered definitely imperative the pawl 159 is clisengage l from the teeth 158 by a bluff plate175 on the carria.qe 40a so as to prevent any interference b the pawl with the subsequent lapping movements of the thread guide membiars 114 Und81 the control 'of the cam 47 (Figures 8 and 9) as previously described herein.

VVhat I claimed then is 1. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel ne-edle beds, two independent series of individually rnovable neeclles, one or 1nore series of thread guides for each series of nee lles for lapping threads over said needles to produce knitted webs, auxiliary threacl guides for lapping threacls over neeclles in both series to unit-e the knittecl webs '00 form tubular fabric, means for eflecting variations in the nu1nber of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to procluce fashionecl fabric, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary threaol guidirig means, anal rneans for causing the needles to knit.

2. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel -needle beds, two independent series of individually slidable needles arranged back to back, one or more series of thread guides for each series of needles for lapping tl1reads over said neeclles to produce knitted webs, auxiliary th're.ad guides for lapping threads over needles in both series to unite the knitt zd Webs to form tubular fabr-ic, means for effecting variations in the number of neeclles forn1ing loops as knitting proceeds to produce fashioned fabric means for cor respondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guiding means, and I11eans for causing the neeclles to knit. Y

3. A warp knitting machine of the straight bar type which inclucles curved neeclles, means for feecling threads fo said needles, an l means for causing the needles to knit.

4. A warp knitting machine Which inclucles inclividually movable curved needles, parallel ncedle beds furnished with arcuate grooves in which said needles arc arrangecl so as to provide two series back to back, means for feeding threacls to said" neerlles, and means f rr causing the needles to knit.

5. A warp knitting machine which includcs individuallv movable curverl needles, parallel needle be ls furnished with arcuatc grooves in which saidn-ecrlles are arranged so as to provide two serics back to back, threacl lapping means for each series of neerlles to produce two indepenclently knitted webs. auxiliary thread lapping means common to needles at the ends of both series f'or joininq said webs at the e lges to prodnce tubular fabric, and neans for causing said neelles to knit.

6. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel neerlle beds, hvoinrlependent series of imlividually movable ourved needles ar rangecl back to back respectively in arcuat3 grooves or tricks in said l:e ls. one or more series of threarl quides for each series of nee- (ll@s for lapping threads over said needles to pro lucc knitted webs. auxiliary thread guides for lapping threa'cls ovcr neerlles in both series to unite the knitted webs to form tubular fabric, means for efiecting variations in the number of needleg forming loops as knitting'proceeds toprocluce fashi0ned fabric, means f0r correspondingly adjusting y the auxiliary thread guiding means, and means for ca'usi1ig the needleS to knit. 1

7. A warp knitting machine c0mprising parallel needle becls, two inclependent series of individually movable needles, one or 1nore.

means for reinforcing 1:he fabric where de-- sired.

8. A warp knitting machine which includes individually movable curved needles, parallel needle beds furnished with arcuate grooves in which said neeclles are a1ranged so as to provide two series back to back, thread lapping means for each series of needles to produce tWo independently knitted webs, auxiliary thread lapping means common 130 needles at the ends of both series for joining said webs at the edges to produce tubular fabric, means for causing the said needles to knit, and means for reinforcing'the fabric where desired.

9. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable curved needles arrangecl back to back respectively in arcuate grooves 01' tricks in said beds, one or more series cf thread guides for each series 0f needles for lapping threads 0Ver said needles to produce knitted webs, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threacls over needles in both series to unite the knitted webs to form tubular fabric, means f01' elfecting va1imti0ns in the number 'of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to produce fashioned fabric, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guicling means, means for reinforcing the fabric where desired, ancl means for causing the needles to knit.

10. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable needles, one 01' more series of thread guides for each series of needles for lapping threads over said needles und divided into groups arranged so that one group can be moved lengthwise relatively to the other group, auxiliary thread guicles f01 lapping threads over. nee dles in both series, means for efl'ecting variations in tl1e number of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds, means ;for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

11. A warp lmittingmachine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable curved needles a1- ranged back to back respectively in arcuate grooves in said beds, one 01 more series of threa'd guides for each series of needles for lapping threads over said needles and divided into groups arranged so that one group can be moved lengthWise relatively to the other group, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles in both series, means for efl'ecting variations in the number of needles forming loops as knit-ting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles 130 kni 12. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two indepenclent series of individually movable needles, one or more series of thread guides for each series of needles for lapping threads over said needles and divided into groups arranged so that one group can be moved lengthwise relatively t0 the other group, means for shifting one group o1 division gradually in relation to the othpr group in the same series, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over neeclles in both series, means for eflecting variations in the num ber of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, and means f01 causing the needles to knit.

13. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable curved needles a1- ranged back to back respectively in arcuate grooves in said beds, one 01 more series of thread guides for each'series of needles for lapping threads over said needles and divided into groups arranged so that one group can be moved lengthWise relatively to the other group, means f0r shifting one group or division gradually in relation to the other group in the same series. auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads m er needles in both series, means for' efl'ecting variations in the nurnber of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds, means for correspondinglyadjustingthe auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

14. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds for two indep'endent series of individually movable needle s two series of thread guides for each series of needles, means to cause said series 0f guides respectively to lap in opposite directions, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads 0Ver'needles in both series to unite the knitted webs to form tubular fabric, means for effecting variations in the number of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to ploduce fashioned fabric', means for c'orresp0ndingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guiding means, and means for causing the needles to knit.

15. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds for two independent series of individually slidable needles arranged back to back, two series o'f thread guides for each series of needles, means to cause said series of guides respectively to lap in opposite direetions, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles in both series to unite the knitted webs t0 form tubular fabric, means for eflecting variations in the number of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to produce fashioned fabric, means f0r correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guiding means, and means for causini the needles to knit.

16. warp knitting machine which includes individually movable curved needles, parallel needle beds furnished with arcuate grooves in which said needles a1e arranged so as to provide two series back 170 back, two series of thread guides for each series of needles, means to cause said series of guides respectively to lap in opposite directions, auxiliary thread lapping means common to needles als the ends of both series for joinin said webs at the edges to produce tubular fa ric, and means for causing said needles t0 knit.

17. A Warp parallel needle beds, two independentseries of individuall movable curved needles arranged back to ack respectively in arenate grooves or tricks in said beds, two series of thread guides for each series of needles, means to cause said series of guides respectively to lap in opposite directions, auxlapping threads iliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles in both series to unite the knittecl webs to form tubular fabric, means for eflecting variations in the number of needles forming loops as knitting proceeds to produce fashioned fabric, and means for c0rrespondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guiding means.

18. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable needles, two series of thread guides for each series of needles and divided into groups arranged so that one group. can be moved lengthwise relatively to the other group, auxiliary thread guides for over needles in both series, means for efl'ecting variations in the number of needlesforming loops as knitting proceeds, means 'for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary threacl guides, and means for causing the needles t0 knit. v

19. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series cf individually movable needles, two series of thread guides for each series of needles, and divided into groups arranged so that knitting machine comprising one group can be moved lengthwise relatively t0 the other group, means for shifting and means for causing the needles one group or division gradually in relation means whereby for at v least one course at the commencement of the kniting action one at least of said sets of thread guides is operated so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles at the ends oi both series to unite the webs at the edges, and

means for causing the needles to knit.

21. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independentseries of individually movable needles, sets of thriaad guides for said series of needles re' spectively for lapping threads over the needles t0 produce two knitted webs, means whereby for at least one course at the commencement of the knitting action one at least of said sets of thread guides is operated so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles at the ends of both series tp the webs at the edges, means for var'ying fliilmmber of needles rendered active as knitting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

22. A warp knitting machine c0mprising individually movable' curved needles, parallel needle beds in which said needles are arranged so as to provide two series back to back, sets of thread uides for said series of needles respectively orlappin threads over the needles to produce two %nitted webs, n1e'ans whereby for at least one course at the commencement of the knitting action one at least of said sets cf thread guides is operated so that initially both series 'of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary threacl guides for lapping threads over needles at the ends of both series to unite the webs at the edges, and means for causing the needles to knit.

23. A warp knitting machine comprising individually necclle beds in which said needles are arranged so as to provide two series back to back, sets of thread guides for said series of needles respectively for lapping threads over n1ovable curved needles, parallel webs at the edges means for varying the number of needles renclered active as knit ting proceeds, meailsfofcorrpondingly ad justing the auxiliary ihread guid es an l means for causing the 'needles to knit.f.:

24. A warp knitting. machine conipris'iflgi parallel needle beds, two ;inde1 enclent series of individually m0v,ble rtaedles sets "of thread guides for' sa ids'exles .ofneedles re-" spectively for lappi'ng threads over the correspondirig needles and each divided into" groups arranged so that one group can be moved lengthwise with respect to the other group, means whereby for at least one course at the commencement of the knitting action one at least of said sets of guides is operated so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxili-ary thread gu'ides for lapping threads over needles respectively at the ends of both series t0 unite the webs at the edges, means f0r varying the number of needles rendered active as knitting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, anal means for causing the needles to knit.

25. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two independent series of individually movable curve'd needles arranged back t-o back respectively in arcuate grooves in said beds, sets of thread guides for saicl series of needles respectively for lapping threads over the corresponding needles and each divided into groups arrangcd so that' one group ca n be moved lengthwise with respect to the other group, means wl1ereby for at least one course at the commencement of the knitting action one at least ofsaid sets cf guides is operated so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threzds over needles respectively at the ends of both series to unite. the webs at the edges, means for var ing the number of needles rendered active as itting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjustingthe auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

26, A war knitting machine comprisiflg parallel need e beds, two independent series of needles, sets of thread guides for said series of needles respectively, and 'each dileast of said sets of guides is operated so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threads over needles respectively at the ends of both series to unite the webs at the edges, means for varying the number of needles rendered active as Imitting proceeds, means for correspondingly adjust ing the auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

27, A warp knitting machine comprising two indepenclent series of indiviclually movable curved needles arrahged back to back respeetively in arcate grooyes' in parallel bes,sets of thtead ""gide5- fo1; said series of needlesjrespectiyely .and;6ach 'divided into groups j arranged, 'so;tha t one ygroup can be moved lengthwise withf}rkespetzt t0 the Other group means foxishifting. one gr'oup grad- 1 1ally intelation totlie0ther g{1o1ip, means wherebyf'or at least o'necojrse at the Commencement of the kni ttirig action one at least of said sets .of guides is operatecl so that initially both series of needles are caused to take the same threads, auxiliary thread guicles for lapping threads over needles respectively at'the ends 0f both series to unite the webs at the edges, means i'or varying the number of needles rendered actiw*e as knitting proceeds, means for corresponclingly adjusting the auxiliary thread guides, and means for causing the needles to knit.

28. A warpknitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, twdseries of independently slidable bearded needles in saicl beds respectively, sets of threacl guides for said series of needles respectively, means for operating the thread guides for thread lapping purposes, auxiliary threa(l guides for lapping threads over needles at the ends of both series, means for operating the auxiliary guides, means for operating the needles, means for pressing the needle beards, web holders co-operating with the needles, knocking over means, and means for operating the pressing means-and the web holders.

29. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds two series of curvecl bearded needles arranged back to back, said needles being sliclable independently in arcuate grooves in said beds, sets of thread guides for said series of needles r'espectively, means for operating the thread guides for thread lapp1ng purposes, auxiliary thread guides for lapping threacls over needles at the ends of both series, means for operating the auxiliary guides, means for operating the needles, means for pressing the needle beards, web holders co-operating with the needles,

vided into groups arranged so that one groupi -knocking over means, and means for operatcan be moved lengthwise with respect to the other group, means for shifting one group gradually in relation to the other group, means whereby for at least one course at the commencement of the knitting action one at in'g the pressing means and the web holders.

30. A warp knitting machine comprising parallel needle beds, two series of independent needles in said beds respectively, main and auxiliary thread guide members for said

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