US1896686A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

w. A. !NGALLS 1,896,686

KNITTING MACHINE Feb. 7, 1933.

Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet l Wirnzss Feb. 7, 1933. w. A. INGALLS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 vrnrolr Feb. 7, 1933. w. A. INGALLS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 7, 1933. w. A. INGALLS KNITTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 28, 1931 INYEN T012 llrroli'm 6Y6 Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 w B k? 9 I L w I M M 7 3 8 R W F ATTORH E Y3 Feb. 7, 1933. w. A. INGALLS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 7, 1933.

W. A. INGALLS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet /I-IYNTOR $4M Tron/15v;

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIS ADOLPHUS INGALLS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK xmrrmo MACHINE Application filed September 28 1981. Serial No. 565,600.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in knitting machines and is supplemental to my co-pending application, Serial No. 264,582 filed March 26th,

1928, Patent No. 1,849,716.

This invention pertains more particularly to a rotaryknitting machine in which a set of cylinder needles and a set of dial or plate needles are employed and to a transfer mech- 10 anism whereby the loops carried by the needles of one set may be automatically transferred to adjacent needles of the other set without interrupting the knitting operation for the purpose of changing from a rib stitch fabric to a plain stitch fabric or for changing from a double web fabric to a single web fabric as is required, for instance, in the manufacture of certain classes .of knitted jackets, caps or other knit apparel.

If a double web fabric is to be knit as in forming an integral welt or hem, there will be employed the same number of needles in both cylinder and plate sets and each set of .needles will be utilized to knit a respective fabric until the desired welt is formed whereupon the loops from one set of needles are automatically transferred to the other set of needles for securing the welt to the body fabric and in which case both fabrics will be plain stitch fabrics.

I If, however, it is desired to knit a rib stitch fabric and to change to a plain stitch fabric, :I propose using one-half as many needles in one set as in the other and to utilize only onehalf or alternate needles of the larger set in connection with all the needles in the other set for the rib stitch fabric, and when desired to change to plain stitch fabric, to transfer the loops on the smaller set of needles to the previous idling needles of the larger set after which the previously idling needles will be caused to co-operate with the remaining needles of that set to knit the plain stitch fabric.

The main object is to incorporate in a machine of this character, simple, durable and efficient means whereby the knitting of the fabric may be automatically changed'from one set of needles to another set of needles 0 without interrupting the knitting operation.

.One of the specific objects is to associate with the knitting needles, separate relatively movable transfer members which are progressively actuated by a suitable cam for sequentially displacing the yarn loops formed by the needles therefrom and placing them in position to be engaged by adjacent needles of the other set.

A further object is to divide the cylinder into two or more segments, each shiftable relativesto the other to move its needles into alignment with adjacent needles of the other set so that the knitting operation of the needles on one segment may be continued while the transfer is being made from the needles on the shifted segment to the needles of the other or plate set.

Another object is to provide means whereby the segments may be shifted in sequence so as to effect the transfer of the yarn from needles of one set to the needles of the other set and thereby to cause a complete change of the stitch of the fabric during one cycle of operation, and thereafter to use all of the needles of the last-named set for knitting plan stitch fabric and permitting the needles of the first-named set to remain idle without stitching.

Still another object is to provide a selective shifting means for the segments whereby the needles carried by the segments may be moved circumferentially substantially the distance between two adjacent plate needles for producing half cardigan or tuck stitches when changing from a plan stitch fabric to a ribbed stitch fabric.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machinewill be brought out in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a' circular knitting machine embodying the va-. rious features of this invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are face views respectively of one of the transfer knitting needles and corresponding transfer member with which it is associated.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 5.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a face view of a fragmentary portion of the upright cylinder showing the means for effecting the circumferential shifting of the adjacent needle-supporting segment. 1 I

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the needle-supporting cylinder and cam member therefor, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-.8, Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line 99, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of the line 1010, Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 1111, Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 1212, Figure 11, illustrating a movable knittingcam for controlling the operation of alternate plate or dial needles.

Figure 13 is a detail vertical sectional vie taken in the plane of the line 1313, Figure 1, illustrating the switch cams for'actuating the knitting cam shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figures 14 and 15 are detail horizontal sectional views taken respectively on lines 14-44 and 1515, Figure 13.

Figure '16 is, an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 1616, Figure 1, illustrating the manner for operating the cylinder needle-actuating cam.

Figures 17 and 18 are enlarged detail plan views of the trip levers for automatically actuating the shogging mechanism illustrating the levers in different operative positions.

Figure 19 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 19-19, Figure 18.

Figure 20 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 2020, Figure 6.

Figure 21 is a detail sectional view taken on line 21-21, Figure 5.

Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 are perspective views of portions of one of the needles of each set, together with portions of one of the transfer members showing differentpositions ofsaid needles and members in effecting the transfer oftheyarn from the needles of one set to the needles of the other set.

Figure 28 is a face view of a plortion of the. fabric stretched out to show t e change from one stitch to the other. 1

Figures 29 and 30 are enlarged sectional views of the fabric taken respectively in the plane of the lines 29-29 and 3030, Figure 28.

Figures 31, 32 and 33 are diagrammatic views illustrating respectively the development of the cams and cam grooves for the plate needles, cylinder needles and transfer and 3636, Figure 34.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is of the conventional circular type except as to the construction of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder needles, and transfer members associated therewith, the means for effecting a circumferential shifting movement of the cylinder for bringing the cylinder needles and transfer members into vertical alignment with adjacent dial or plate needles, and the means for actuating the plate needles.

This machine is adapted to knit a rib fabric or a plainfabric, and for this reason is shown with one-half as many cylinder needles as there are plate or dial needles. The horizontal or plate needles as 1 are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation around and upon a circular guide plate or dial 2 of usual construction and which is mounted in fixed relation to the .upper inner surface of an an nular bed platev 3 also of conventional construction.

The needles 1 are adapted to be reciprocated radially by means of a cam ring 15 also of the usual construction for circular knitting machines and cam plates 16, 17 and 18. The cam plates 16 and 17, in this instance, are illustrated inFigures 5 and 11 as being secured by screws 4 at their outer edge to a suitable gear ring 5 which is mounted for rotary movement upon the bed plate 3 adjacent the outer edge of the guide plate 2, said gear ring being rotated by any suitable means such as the drive shaft 6 having a gear 7 engaging a tooth rack 8 provided on the underside of the gear ring 5.

The drive shaft 6 is, as illustrated in F igure 5, journaled in a suitable bearing 9 secured to the under side of the bed plate 3.

The cam ring 15 has the inner edge thereof secured by screws 10 to the inner edge of a horizontally disposed cover plate 11 positioned over the cam ring and which has the outer portion thereof secured to a second gear ring member 12 which is also mounted for rotary movement upon the bed plate 3 in the usual manner and which may be driven by the drive shaft 6 through the medium of a gear 13 secured to said shaft and having meshing engagement with a tooth rack 14 prov-i ed on the lower surface of the gearing 12, it ing understood that the gears 7 and 13 are so related in size as to drive their respective gear rings in unison so that the cam ring 15, and cam plates 16, 17 and 18 will also rotate in unison about the axis of the machine.

The fixed cam plates 16 are conventional cams which, together with the fixed cam member 17 and the movable cammember 18 are adapted to co-operate with the outer edge of the cam ring 15 to form a cam groove 19 for progressively reciprocating the needles 1 to form what is commonly known as a plain fabric, (see Figures 11 and 12).

The fixed cam member 17 and the adjacent portion of the cam plate 16 positioned at the forward endof the fixed cam 17 have the undersurface thereof cut away to form a recess 20 between said cam members and'the' adjacent upper surface of the gear-ring 5 and guide plate 2 for receiving therein the movable cam member 18, said fixed cam member 17 being maintained in spaced relation to the gear ring 5 by means of the screws 4 which, in this instance, pass through respective spacing sleeves 21 positioned between the fixed cam member 17 and the gear ring 5 and are screw-threaded in said gear ring.

The movable cam member 18 is a substantially rectangular fiat member adapted totravel in the recess 20 and is pivotally connected with the gear ring 5 by one of the screws 4 which passes through registering holes formed in the adjacent cam plate 16 and the forward end of the movable cam member 18, the hole in the cam 18 being some what larger in diameter than the hole in the cam plate 16 for receiving a spacing sleeve 21 which maintains the cut-away portion of the cam plate 16 in spaced relation with the gear ring 5 and permits the free rockin movement of the cam member 18.

The inner edge of the cam member 18 is sucli that when said member is in the inner-v most or operative position, said inner edge will conform to the contour of the cam face of the adjacent cam plate 16 and fixed cam member 17 for co-operating with said cam plate and cam member'in reciprocating all of the needles 1 when it is desired to form a plain stitch fabric,

The needles 1 are provided with the usual shoulders 22 and 22' adapted to ride in the cam groove 19 and which are of unequal length, the longer ones as 22 being adapted to extend upwardly through the cam groove 19 so as to be engaged by the fixed cam member 17 while the shorter ones as 22' are of such length as to be engaged by the lower portion of the cam plates 16 and to pass beneath the fixed cam member 17 so as to be engaged by the movable cam member 18 for causing the respective needles to be reciprocated or to remain inactive depending upon the position of the movable cam member 18.

As hereinbefore stated, I preferably use one-half as many cylinder needles as plate needles for making rib fabric or double plain fabric, and for this reason, alternate plate needles are provided with the short shoulders 22 to allow them to idle without knitting while the remaining plate needles are provided with the long shoulders 22 to cause them. to co-operate with the cylinder needles to form the rib fabric, as will hereinafter be more apparent.

The movable cam member 18 may be automatically moved from the operative position to the inoperative position or vice versa by any suitable means such as a roller stud 24 secured to the outer edge of the cam member 18 intermediate its'ends and which extends upwardly from said cam member into one or the other of a pair of concentric grooves or channels 25 formed in the undersurface of an upper needle guide plate 2 which extends over the guide plate 2 beneath the cover plate 11 and is secured in any suitable manner as by screws 26 to the bed plate 3, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 11.

The channels 25 are so arranged that when the roller stud 24 is in the innermost channel, the inner or cam face of the cam member 18 will be maintained in the plane of the cam faceof the fixed cam member 17 and adjacent portion of the cam plate 16 for causing the needles with the short shoulders 22 to be reciprocated, and when the roller stud 24 is in the outermost channel, the cam member 18 will be maintained in the inoperative position.

In order that the roller stud 24 may be moved from one channel 25 to the other for producing a corresponding movement of the cam member 18, I have provided a switch cam 26 which is positioned in a recess 27 formed in the tongue 25' between the'channels 25,

relation with the guide cylinder for the cylinder needles, as will hereinafter be more apparent. J

The switch cam 26 is pivotally mounted at one end upon a shouldered stud 29 which is screw-threaded in the upper guide plate 2 intermediate the channels 25. ,The switch cam 26 extends rearwardly from the pivot 29 across one or the other of the channels 25 with the outer or free end thereof positioned in a respective recess 30 provided in the outer vertical wall of each of the channels 25, as illustrated in Figure 15, said switch cam being yieldingly maintained in one or the other of these positions by a s ring-actuated plunger 31 mounted in a suita le recess provided in the tongue 25' adjacent the pivotal ,and which is positioned in predetermined end of the switch cam 26 and adapted, when l i the cam is in one or the other of said positions, to engage a respective recess 32 provided in the switch cam. I k

In, order that the switch cam 26 may be stud 33 secured thereto intermediate its ends and which extends upwardly through a suitable arcuate slot 34 formed in the wall of the upper guide plate 2 and made concentric with the pivot 29, as illustrated in Figure 14, the upper end of said stud terminating in a suitable annular recess or groove 35 formed in the undersurface of the cover plate 11, as

shown more particularly in Figures 13 and 14.

A second switch cam member 36 is mounted upon an upwardly extending square stud or shaft 37 at the rear of the slot 34, the shaft 37 being secured to the switch arm 36 so as to rock said arm, and extends upwardly through a suitable opening in the cover plate 11 midway between the vertical side walls of the groove 35, and has secured to the upper outer end thereof a suitable rock arm 38 for actuating said shaft.

The outer or free end of the switch cam 36 is, as shown in Figure 14, tapered from the pivoted end and adapt-ed to be positioned between the outer ends of the slot 34 and the adjacent side wall of the groove 35 so that as the switch cam 36 is carriedforwardly by the cover plate 11 to which it is secured, the stud 33 and, therefore, the switch cam- 26 may be rocked from one operative position to the other as the stud 33 is engaged by the switch cam member or arm 36.

The switch cam member or arm 36 is normally maintained in contact with the inner vertical wall of the groove 35 by means of a spring 40 which has one end connected with the rock arm 38 and the other end connected with the cover plate 11, as shown in Figure 1.

The rock arm 38 may be rocked to move the cam arm 36 into engagement with the opposite or outer vertical wall of the groove 35 when it is desired to shift the switch cam 26 to the opposite recess 30 by any suitable means such as a slidable bar 41 which is slidably connected with the cover plate 11 adjacent the arm 38 by means of a pair of screws 42 which pass through elongated slots 43 in the bar 41 and are screw-threaded in v the plate 11.

The slide bar 41 has the forwardend thereof provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 41 which, when the bar is drawn rearwardly, is adapted to engage the rock arm 38 for moving said arm against the action of the spring 40. The bar 41 may be moved in any suitable manner as by an automatic attachment provided on the machine or may be manually moved, and when moved to the rear position, will frictionally remain in said position for holding the cam arm 36 against the outer vertical wall of the recess 35 until said bar is moved to the forward position, as indicated inFigure 1, and there a fixed cam member 45 indicated diagrammatically in Figure 31 and which is positioned ahead of the knitting cam members 17 and 18 approximately 115. This fixed cam 45 is'of the conventional construction and, therefore, need not be further described in detail and is adapted to reciprocate all of the plate needles 1 during each revolution of the gear rings 5 and 12, but is only used for the purpose of co-operating with the cylinder needles during the transferring of the loops from said cylinder needles to the previously idle or short shouldered plate needles 1, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, and for this reason, the cam 45 is made shorter than the knitting cams 17 and 18 so that the outward movement of the needles 1 will be less than during the knitting operation to prevent the displacement of the yarn from the active plate needles.

A secondmovable cam member 46 is provided in the cam groove 19 and positioned ahead of the transfer fixed cam 45 and approximately 180 ahead of the knitting earns 17 and 18, as. illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 31. This cam 46 is for the purpose of causing the plate needles to throw off the stitches carried thereby preparatory to changing from a plain stitch to a rib stitch, as will hereinafter be more fully described, and for this reason, will be designated the throw-oft" cam, and is pivotally secured at itsforward end to the ring gear 5 by means of a shouldered screw 47.

In order that the cam may be maintained in the active or inactive position, I have provided said cam with a roller stud 48 which is connected with the cam near the outer edge and intermediate the ends thereof. Said roller stud extends downwardly from the cam into one or the other of a pair of concentric grooves or channels 49 formed in the upper face of the bed plate 3 adjacent the outer edge of the gear ring 5, see Figure 11.

The cam 46 may be moved, when desired, from the active to the inactive position, or conversely, by any suitable means such as a switch cam 50 which is positioned for rocking movement in a recess 51 provided by removing a portion of the tongue 49 formed between the channels 49, said switch cam 50 being secured like the switch cam 36 for the switch 18 at'its rear end to a rock shaft 52 which extends, in this instance, downwardly through a suitable opening in the bed plate 3 and has secured to the lower end thereof a rock arm 53 which may be automatically or manually actuated to produce the desired movement of the switch cam 50 by causing the shaft 52 to rock about its axis to bring the free tapered end of the switch cam in contact with one or the other of the outside walls of the channels 49 and thus cause the roller stud to engage said switch cam as it travels forwardly and thereby be caused to move from one channef 49 to the other through the recess 51 as said stud travels along the switch cam 50.

A second set of needles as 55 comprising the hereinbefore-mentioned cylinder needles, is mounted for vertical reciprocatory motion in a segmental guide ring or cylinder 56 to be actuated progressively by a rotary cam member 57, said cylinder needles being arranged in uniformly spaced relation in respective grooves 58 arranged circumferentially around the inside of the cylinder 56 in normally staggered relation to the plate needles for co-operating with said plate needles in knitting airib fabric.

Each cylinder needle 55 has associated therewith a pair of transfer members 60 arranged along opposite sides thereof in the same groove to permit relative vertical movement of the knitting needles and transfer members. The knitting needles 55 are provided near their upper ends with lengthwise grooves 61 in opposite faces thereof for receiving inturned prongs 62 provided on-the extreme'upper ends of the transfer members 60 for guiding the knittingneedles 55 and transfer members 60 in their vertical movement one upon the other and also for holding them against radial displacement.

Another object in providing the transfer members 60 with the pointed prongs 62 riding in the grooves 61 is to enable said prongs to enter the yarn loop formed by the needles 55 during the operation of transferring the yarn from the needles 55 to the horizontal or plate needles 1.

For this latter purpose, the transfer members 60 are provided near their upper ends with shoulders 63 projecting laterally beyond the latch side of the needles so that when the yarn loop is formed by, the needle and the latter is raised sufliciently to open the latch full open, the shoulders 63 will then be some distance below the end of the open latch, (see Figure 23) and as the needle assumes its normal down position and the transfer members are raised, said shoulders will engage opposite sides of the loop to force the same upwardly thereby closing the latch and permitting the loop to be displaced from the needles 55 into position to be engaged by the adjacent previously idling needlesl as shown more clearly in Figure 25 at which time the cylinder segment or segments will have been shifted to register its needles 55 with the adjacent previously idling needles 1. c

It is, of course, obvious that when the transfer members are applied to opposite faces of the needle 55-, the upper ends of the transfer members will be held in sufficiently spaced relation to permitthe entrance of the adjacent previously idling needle 1 between said upper ends as shown in Figure 26, and in order to facilitate the entrance of the needle 1 between the transfer members, the

outer edges of the latter are beveled as at 64: from the upper edges of the shoulders 63 downwardly a sufficient distance to permit the needles 1 to enter between the transfer members during the transfer operation.

In order that the cylinder needles 55 and the-transfer members 60 may be reciprocated, each of these members is provided with a shoulder 65 and 66 respectively adapted to ride in respective conventional cam grooves 67 and 68 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the rotary cam member or wheel, 57, each of which is provided with suitable movable cam' members for causing the needles and transfer members to be progressively reciprocated for performing the stitching or transferring operations or to permit said needles and transfer members to remain in their lowermost inoperative position. For instance,

7 the cam groove 67 for the cylinder needles 55 is provided with a pair of such cam members as 70 and 71, one of which as 70, is ar-' ranged in co-operative relation with the knitting cam members 17 and 18 provided for the plate needles 1 for causing the cylinder needles 55 to perform the knitting operation and 'will, therefore, be designated the cylinder knitting cam while the other cam as 71 is positioned ahead of the knitting cam 70 in the direction of rotation a distance less than 180 or as indicated in Figures 8 and 32, substantially 145 ahead of the knitting cam 70 for the purpose of causing the cylinder needles to be progressively raised to position the yarn loop on the outside of the latch, as indicated in Figure 23 during the transfer operation. I

The cammeinber as 72 positioned in the cam groove 68 for the transfer members, is positioned intermediate the cam members 70 and 71 for the cylinder needles, or as illustrated in Figure 32,. substantially 115 ahead of the knitting cam 70. This cam 72 is for the purpose of progressively lifting the transfer members during the transfer operation, as hereinbefore mentioned.

Each of these cam members 70, 71 and 72 may be manually manipulated for causing these cams may be, asshown in the drawings,

automatically moved vertically through the operation of a disk 73, Figure 1, mounted for vertical reciprocative movement in the outer edge of the bed plate 3 through the medium of a system of levers, and as each of these actuating means for the cams is identical in construction and operation, there will be but one of these systems described, for instance, the operating means for the knitting cam 7 O.

The knitting cam 70 like thecams 71-and 72, is a substantially flat member mounted in a vertically disposed slot or recess 75 formed in the peripheral surface of the camwheel 57, in communication with the lower ed e of the cam groove 67; The cam member 0 1s secured by a screw 76 or other suitable means to a vertically disposed shaft 77 which is mounted for reciprocative movement in a vertically disposed recess or bore 78 provided in the cam wheel 57 adjacent the inner face of the cam groove 67. This shaft 77 extends upwardly a short distance above the upper face of the cam wheel 57 and is provided with a hole 78 therethrough in which is positioned one end of a bell crank lever 79 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 80 secured to the upper end of a bracket 81 which, in turn, is secured by screws 82 or other suitable means, to the cam wheel 57, as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 16.

The other arm of the bell crank lever 79 extends upwardly from the pivot 80 and is rotatably connected at 83 to one end of a horizontally disposed arm 84. This arm 84 extends outwardly from the pivot 83, with the outer end thereof terminating a short distance inwardly from the outer edge of the gear ring 12 and is pivotally connected as at 85 to one end of a rock cam 86 which has the other end pivotally connected as at 87 to the adjacent portion of the gear ring 12 to rotate therewith.

The outer vertical edge of the rock cam 86 is formed with an irregular surface, as shown in Figure 1, and isadapted to be engaged by the disk 73 when said disk is brought into the path of movement of the rock cam 86 for the purpose of rocking said cam inwardly about its pivot 87.

The cam is yieldingly maintained in its lowermost inactive position by means of a coiled spring 88 which has one end thereof connected to the arm 84 and the other end connected with the cover plate 11 while the cam member 70 is maintained in its uppermost operative position by means of a latch 89 pivotally secured at 90 to the upper face of the gear ring 12 and which is adapted to engage the rock cam 86 for maintaining said rock cam in its innermost position against the action of the spring 88, said latch 89 being yieldingly maintained in connection with the rock cam 86 by means of a spring 91 connected with said latch at one end and having the other end thereof connected with the gear ring 12.

The latch 89 extends outwardly from the pivot 90 so as to be engaged by the disk 73 when said disk is moved in the path of movement of the latch for the purpose of rocking said latch rearwardlyagainst the action of the spring 91 for releasing the rock cam 86 and permitting the cam member 70 to be returned to its lowermost position by the action of the spring 88. I

In order that the disk 73 may be brought either into operative engagement with the latch 89 or the rock cam 86, as desired, the outer end as 89' of the latch 89, is offset to bring said end into a plane below the plane of the rock cam 86 and the remainder of the latch 89, as shown more clearly in Figure 16. The plate 73 may be manually moved vertically or said plate may be moved automatically into and out of the path of movement of the cam 86 or latch 89 by any suitable means not shown and, not herein necessary to explain.

Any suitable means may be provided for supporting and rotating the cam wheel 57, said means consisting, in this instance, of a vertically disposed shaft 93 which extends upwardly through the hub of the cam wheel 57 and through the hub of a horizontally disposed yoke 94 which, in turn, extends diametrically over the cover plate 11 with the outer ends thereof secured to the upper face of the gear ring 12 to rotate therewith.

The shaft 93 is prevented from vertical movement by means of a collar 95 secured to the upper end thereof, and to permit easy relative turning movement of the yoke 94 and shaft 93, there is provided a suitable thrust bearing 96 upon the shaft 93 between the collar 95 and the hub of the yoke 94, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 5.

In order that the cam wheel 57 may be rotated by the action of the yoke 94, there is secured to the upper end of the hub as 57 of the cam wheel 57, a collar 97 which has a pair of diametrically opposed upwardly extending lugs 97 through which is adj ustably mounted a respective horizontally disposed screw 98 which has the outer ends thereof adapted to be engaged by a respective pendent lug 99 secured to or made integral with the yoke 94 at diametrically opposite sides of the axis thereof so that any rotary movement of the yoke 94 will be transmitted to the cam wheel 57 through the medium of the lugs 99, screws 98 and collar 97, and at the same time, permit a slight rotary movement of the cam wheel 57 to be made relative to the yoke 9 by the manipulation of the screws 98 for obtaining a fine circumferential adjustment of the cam members 70, 71 and 72 connected with the cam grooves of the cam wheel 57.

Any suitable means for maintaining the cam wheel 57 against downward vertical movement may be employed such as the thrust bearing 96 and a collar 95 similar to the thrust bearing 96 and collar 95, positioned at the upper end of the shaft 93 and which is mounted on the shaft 93 adjacent the bottom face of the cam wheel 57.

In the present machine, when knitting with both sets of needles, those of each set will be arranged in staggered relation to those of the other set while the knitting cams for these needles will be-arranged and timed to operate both sets of needles in the usual way for rib fabric as long as may be required. When it is desired to change the fabric from a rib stitch to a plain stitch, it becomes necessary to shift a portion of one set of needles as 55 circumferentially a sufiicient distance to register them with previously idling dial needles 1, and for this purpose, the guide cylinder 56 is divided into a plurality of, in this instance two, semi-circular segments 56 and 56 having their meeting edges normally spaced at 100 a distance apart corresponding approximately to the distance between adjacent plate needles 1 so that while one segment is shifted circumferentially to bring its needles 55 into vertical alignment with the adjacent previously idling dial needles 1, the needles 55 of the other segment may continue to co-operate with the active needles 1 to form the rib fabric.

This circumferential shifting movement of the segment as 56 is arranged to take place almost instantaneously at about the time that the knitting cam 70 for the cylinder needle 55 leaves the end of the segment to be shifted in the direction of rotation thereby allowing all of the needles of the shifted segment to! remain in their neutral positions while the continued movement of the cam continues to operate the needles 55 of the other segment as 56' in synchronism with the movement of the plate needles 1 so that both sets of needles will continue to form the fabric during substantially one-half revolution of the cam and Wheel 57 while the needles on the shifted segment 56 will normally remain in their lowermost positions out of the path of move- .ing the ment of the corresponding needles 1 with which they are then aligned.

It is, of course, understood that when the needles of the shifted segment are drawn downwardly, each needle will carry with it a yarn loop, as shown in Figure 22, preparatory to transferring these loops to the needle 1 of the horizontal set.

The cylinder cams 71 and 72 for operatcylinder needles 55 and transfer members 60 are, in this instance as hereinbefore stated, located at less than 180 in the direction of rotation from the knitting cam 7 0 so that these cams will be in registration with the same segment in which the knitting cam is in registration with at the time the other segment is shifted, and as these cams 71 and 72 reach the division 100 between the non-shifted segment and the shifted segnent, these cams will be automatically and substantially instantaneously raised to their operative positions for progressively raising first the cylinder needles 55 to bring the loo as a over the-latch of the needle as in-- dicated in Figures 23 and 24 after which the cam 72 will progressively raise the transfermembers 60 on the shifted segment to displace the yarn loop -a upwardly from the corresponding needles 55 into position to receive the respective idling needles 1, as shown in Figure 25. i

As the loops are thus progressively elevated, the registering plate needles 1 will be successively caused to enter them by the action of the transfer cam 45 by passing between the upper ends of the transfer members, as illustrated in Figure 26, and as the operating cam 72 for said transfer members successively passes the same, the transfer members will be progressively drawn downwardly to deposit the loop thereon onto the registering needles 1, as shown in Figure 27. It will thus be seen that the transferring 1 of the loops from the cylinder needles to the corresponding plate needles may be accomplished at one portion of the machine, while the knitting of arib fabric may continue uninterruptedly at another portion thereof, and as the knitting cam 70 completes the knitting operation on the non-shifted segment as 56, as it reaches the division 100 between said non-shifted segment and the shifted segment 56", said cam will be automatically returned to its lowermost inoperative position, in a manner hereinbefore described. and thereby permit the cylinder needles in the shifted segment as 56" to remain in their lowermost inactive position out of the path of movement of the corresponding previously idling plate needles 1 which will, at the same time, be brought into operation by the movable knitting cam member 18 which will, as it reaches the plane of said division 100, be automatically moved from the inoperative position, as shownby full lines in Figure 12, to the'operative position as shown by dotted lines in said figure, by the action of the switch cam member 26 in the manner hereinbefore described, and thereby cause all of the plate needles 1 to thereafter continue knitting to form a plain stitch fabric.

At about the time the knitting cam 70 reaches the shifted segment as 56 or shortly thereafter and before the lifting cam 71 ion leaves the shiftedsegment, the other segment as 56 will be shifted to bring its needles 55 into alignment with the corresponding previously idling plate needles 1 so that when the cams 71 and 72 are passing along this segment, the loops carried by saidneedles may be transferred to the corresponding plate needles in the same manner as described for the previously shifted segment 56".

The cams 71 and 72 will remain in their uppermost active positions until after they have passed beyond the second shifted segment whereupon they will then be returned to their lowermost inactive position, in a manner hereinbefore described, so as to permit all of the cylinder needles 55 and the transfer members 60 to thereafter remain in their lowermost inactive positions.

It will thus be seen that during these successive shifting movements of the segments 56" and 56 for the knitting needles 55 and the transfer members 60, all of the yarn loops previously formed by the needles 55 will have been transferred to the corresponding needles 1 during one cycle of movement of the cam wheel 56.

After the loops formed by the needles 55 of both segments have been transferred in the manner just described to the needles 1 of the plate set, the segments, needles and transfer members mounted thereon will be returned to their starting positions in a manner hereinafter described ready for a repetition and permitting all of the plate needles to continue the knitting operation to form a plain stitch fabric.

Oglimier shifting mechanism The cylinder 56 is mounted for circumferential shifting movement upon an up standing annular flange 102 of a stationary supporting frame 103 through which the upright shaft 93 carrying cam wheelv57 extends for supporting said frame, and for this purpose, the lower end of the shaft may have secured thereto, any suitable means as a collar 104 for maintaining said frame in its operative relation with the bed plate 3.

The frame 103 may be maintained against rotation in any siutable manner as by an arm, not shown, secured at one end to the undersurface of the bed plate 3 and having the other end thereof provided with a roller for frictionally engaging the periphery of the frame 103 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

The upright annular flange 102 is provided with diametrically opposite openings 105 therethrough for receiving adjacent crank arms 106 on the outer ends of a pair of rock shafts 107 as shown more clearly in Figures 5, 7 and 8. These crank arms 106 are located substantially midway. between the ends of their corresponding segments 56' and 56" of the cylinder 56 and have their upper ends rounded and engaged with corresponding recesses in suitable blocks 108 which are secured to the outer faces of the adjacent segments 56 and 56" so that rocking movement of either crank arm in reverse directions will effect a corresponding circumferential shifting movement of the respective cylindrical segments 56 or 56".

Each of the rock shafts 107 is provided on its inner end with a head 109 having oppo sitely projectin crank arms 110 provided with downward y projecting contact members 111 which preferably consist of screws engaged in threaded apertures in the crank arms 110 equal distances from the axis of the shaft 107.

A pair of slide plates 114 is mounted for reciprocative movement upon the surface of the bottom of the frame 103 directly under the corresponding heads 109 and each sliding plate is provided with a pair of opposite reversely inclined cams 115 on its upper face at opposite sides of the axis of the corresponding shaft 107 for alternately engaging the contact members 111 as the plate 114 is moved in reverse directions; that is, when either plate 114 is moved its full distance of travel in one direction, the engagement of the cams 115 with the contact members 111 will effect a corersponding rocking movement of the adjacent head 109 and resulting rocking movement of the corresponding crank arm 106 for shifting the adjacent segment as 65 or 65', as the case may be, circumferentially a distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent needles 1 of the plate set for the purpose of transferring the fabric from the plate needles to the cylinder needles when changing from a plain stitch fabric to a rib stitch fabric, as hereinafter more fully described.

It will be noted that each cam 115 of the plate 114 is stepped, as illustrated in Figure 9; that is, provided with a flat horizontal portion as 1-15 intermediate its ends so that if the slide plate 114 is moved only a part of its distance of travel, say one-half, the contact members will come to rest upon the portions 115 which will effect a corresponding rocking movement of the adjacent head 109 and resulting rocking movement of the corresponding crank arm 106 for shifting the respeetive segment 56 or 56 circumferentially a distance substantially equal to one-half the distance between adjacent plate nedlcs for permitting the transfer of the yarn loops a from the cylinder needles to the plate needles, as previously described.

The mechanisms for shifting each segment 56' and 56" are substantially identical and, therefore, the description of one mechanism will serve for both.

Any suitable means may be provided for slidably reciprocating the cam plates 114 and, in this instance, consists of an upright spindle 117 mounted upon the cam wheel 57 in a radial plane extending substantially midway between the cams 71 and 70, see Figure 1, at one side of its axis to rotate therewith about the axis of the shaft 93, see F igure 8.

Jfhe lower end of the spindle 117 is provided with a disk 118 which is movable into and out of the plane of a pair of shoulders 119 and 120 on the cam plate 114 as the spindle 117 is adjusted endwise in a manner presently described.

The cam wheel 57 adjacent the upper end of the spindle 117 has secured thereto a vertically extending bracket 122 similar to the bracket 81 for the cylinder cams 70, 71 and 72. In the upper end of this bracket 122 is journaled a bell crank lever 123 having a horizontally disposed arm extending through a suitable slot 124 provided in the upper end of spindle 117, see Figure 20. The other arm of the bell crank lever extends upwardly at substantially "right angles to the horizontal arm and has adjustably secured to the upper end thereof a collar 125 to which is pivotally connected by a screw 12?, one end of a horizontally disposed arm 12 The arm 127 extends outwardly from the bell crank lever 123 over the upper face of v the cover plate 11 and has the outer end thereof pivotally connected by a screw 128 to one end of an arm 129 which is adj ustably secured by a screw 130 at its other end to a rock lever 131.. The lever 131 is, as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 17, 18 and 19, pivotally secured in spaced relation to the gear ring 12' by means of a shouldered screw 132 which passes through an opening in the lever 131 ahead of the screw 130 and through a spacing sleeve 133, and is screw-threaded in the adjacent portion of the gear ring 12, see Figure 19.-

A second rock lever 134 is positioned in a plane below the lever 131 and is pivotally secured in spaced relation to the gear ring 12 by means of a shouldered screw 135 which passes through an opening in the lever 134 intermediate its ends and a spacing sleeve 136 and is screw-threaded in said gear ring. A third lever as 137 is pivotally secured to the lever 134 by means of the screw 135 so as to lie in a plane over the lever 134 between said lever and the lever 131.

The inner end of the lever 134 is slidably connected with the first-mentioned lever 131 by means of a screw 138 which passes.

through an elongated slot formed in the lever 131 and is screw-threaded in the lever 134. Each of these levers 131,134 and 137 extends outwardly from its respective pivot over the outer peripheral edge of the gear ring 12 so as to be lntercepted by a suitable disk 139 for rocking said levers about their respective pivots for producing a corresponding movement of the bell crank lever 123. This disk 139 as shown in Figure 19 is secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed spindle 140 which is slidably mounted in the bed plate 3 adjacent the outer peripheral edge thereof and the spindle 140 and, therefore, the disk 139 may be moved vertically .by hand or may be moved automatically by any suitable actuating mechanism not shown to bring the disk 139 into and out of the path of movement of these levers 131,134 and 137.

It will be noted by referring to Figures 17, 18 and' 19 that the connection between the levers 134 and 131 is at the inner side ofthe pivot 135 for the lever 134 and intermediate said pivot 135 and the pivot 132 for the lever 131 so that any rocking movement of the lever 134 will produce a corresponding rocking movement of the lever 131 but in the reverse direction so that when the disk 139 is moved into the path of movement of the lever 134 and said lever is rocked rearwardly about its pivot 135 as said lever engages the disk 139, the outer end of the lever 131 will rocked forwardly about its pivot 132. This forward movement of the lever 131 will cause the arm 127 to be moved inwardly through the action of the arm 129 which wi produce a corresponding rocking movement of the bell crank lever 123 and, therefore, an upward vertical movement of the spindle 117. This forward movement of the lever 131 will swing the outer end thereof outwardly so as to be in position to be en aged by the disk 139 when said disk is moved into the path of movement of the lever 131 which will produce a rearwardly rocking movement of the arm 131 as it engages said disk- 139 and thereby cause the spindle 117 to be returned to its normal downward position through the action of the bell crank lever 123, arms 127 and 129.

It will be noted by referring to Figures 17 and 18 that the outer end of the lever 137 terminates a short distance inwardly from the outer end of the lever 134 to which it is pivotally connected so that When the disk 139 is brought into the path of movement of the lever 137 the lever 134 will be caused to rock rearwardly by the lever 137 as said lever engages an upwardly extending lug 134' provided on the lever 134 but to a less degree thanwhen the lever 134 directly engages the disk 139 which will of course, produce a corresponding movement of the lever 131 and of the spindle 117.

It will thus be seen that the spindle 117 may be moved upwardly into either'one of tWo positions by the action of the disk 139 upon the levers 134 and 137 and that the disk 118 may be returned to its normal down position from either of the upper positions by the action of the disk 139 upon the lever 131 and thereby obtain the desired shogging movement of the cylinder 56 for the needles and transfer members 60 connected therewith through the medium of the crank arms 106 and cam plates 114. I

In other words, When both sets of needle are employed for knitting the ribbed fabric, the spindle 117 will be adjusted to bring its disk 118 in its lowermost normal position in a plane below the shoulders 119 and 120 provided on the cam plates 114, but when it is desired to change from the ribbed stitch t0 the plain stitch, the spindle 117 will be adjusted automatically through the medium of the disk 139, lever 137 and levers 134 and 131, arms 129 and 127 and bell crank lever 123 to bring its disk 118 in the plane. of the shoulder 119 of both cam plates 114. Then,

as the ,cam wheel 57 continues its rotation,

the disk 118 carried thereby will successively engage the shoulders 119 and thereby effect a corresponding shifting movementof the adjacent slide plates 114 from the full line position to the intermediate dotted line position b-, Figure 10, which in turn will produce a corresponding rocking movement of the shafts 107 and crank arms 106 for shifting the'segments 56' and 56" circumferentially resulting in the successive shifting movements of the corresponding knitting needles and the transfer members into vertical alignment with the adjacent idling needles 1 of the plate set ready for the transfer of the yarn from the needles 55 to said needles 1 in the manner previously explained.

Associated with the camplates 114 is a respective pawl 142, Figures 9 and 10, each being pivoted at 143 to the bottom of the frame 103 directly below the corresponding cam plate 114. Each of these pawls is provided with an eccentric radial slot 144 for receiving a pin 145 on the adjacent cam plate 114, the slot 144 and contact end of the pawl 142 being located at opposite sides of its pivot 143, as shown more clearly in Figure 10. Each pawl 142 is, therefore, connected b a slot and pin with its corresponding cam p ate 114 the object of which is .to move the contact end of the pawl from a neutral position into an active position to be engaged by the disk 118 on the lower end of the spindle 117 for returning the shifted segment to its normal position.

' That is, when it is desired to return the previously shifted segments 56" and 56 and their corres onding needles to their normal ositions a er the loops have been transerred to the upper set of needles 1, the spindle 117 may be moved axially by the disk 139 engaging the lever 131 to bring the disk 118 connected with said spindle 117 out of the plane of the shoulder 119 and into the plane of the pawls 142 so that as the disk 118 continues its rotary movement, the pawls 142 will be moved inwardly which will return the respective cam plates 114'to their normal position which will cause the segments 56" and 56 and the needles and transfer members carried therewith to be restored to their normal positions. I

If, however, it is desired to change from a plain stitch fabric to a rib stitch fabric, it is desirable that the needles 55 and transfer members 60 carried by the cylinder segments 56 and 56 be moved substantially the distance between two plate needles 1 in which case the shogging disk 139 will be brought into the path of movement of the longer lever 134 which will produce a correspondingly greater movement of the lever 131 and bell crank lever 123 which will cause the disk 118 carried by the spindle 117 to be moved from its normal down position into the plane of the upper shoulder 120 connected with the cam plates 114 so that as said shoulders 120 are engaged by the disk 118 as said disk is rotated by the cam wheel 57 a corresponding rotary movement of the shafts 107 will be produced which will cause the segments 56" and 56 to be shogged a distance sufliciently to bring the needles and ,transfer members carried thereby from a position midway between ad acent plate Operation Assuming that the segments 56 and 56 and their corresponding needles 55 are in their normal positions, as shown in Figure 8, to co-operate with the active plate needles. 1 for knitting a ribbed fabric and that the spindle 117 is in its normal lowermost position with its disk 118 in the plane of the pawls 142, the lift cam 71 and transfer cam 72 are in their lowermost or inactive positions, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32; the cylinder knitting cam is in its uppermost operative position, as shown, and thatthe movable knitting cam 18 and throwoff cam 46 for the plate needles 1 are in their outermost or inactive positions, as indicated by dotted lines and full lines respectively in Figure 31, and that it is desired to transfer the yarn from the needles 55 to the idling needles 1 for producing a plain fabric, then the shogging disk 139 will be moved manually or automatically into the path of movement of the shorter lever member 137 so that during the time disk 118 is passing from the vicinity of one slide or cam plate 114 to the other cam plate, the spindle 117 will be operated by the lever 137 coming in contact with the shogging disk' 139 to move the disk 118 upwardly in the plane of the shoulder 119 so that as the cam wheel 57 continues to rotate, the disk 118 will engage the shoulder 119 and thereby shift the cam plate 114 a sufiicient distance to rock the shaft 107 through the medium of the crank arms 110 thereby causing the corresponding crank arm 106 to shift a segment as 56 and cylinder needles thereon a distance corresponding to one-half the distance between the plate needles 1 or into vertical alignment with the corresponding idle needles as iliustrated in Figure 22 and the right-hand half of Figures 31, 32 and 33.

This shifting of the segment 56 will take place after the knitting cam 70 has passed segment 56 and before the lift cam 71 leaves the segment 56 due to the relative positions of the disk 118, cam 70 and cam 71 so that the knitting operation will be continued as the knitting cam 70 passes along the cylinder needles 55 carried by thesegment 56' as the segment 56" and the needles carried thereby are shogged from the normal position into alignment with the idle needles 1 carried by the plate.

As the cylinder cams 70, 71 and 7 2 are moving along the segment 56 and before the cam 71 reaches the division between the segment 56 and the segment 56', the needle and transfer-actuating disk, member 73 will be automatically moved into the path of movement of the respective latch members 89 for the cylinderlift cam 71 and transfercam 72 in the manner previously described so that as the lift cam 71 and transfer cam 72 are passing through the intervening space between the ends of the segments 56" and 56' or at about the instant each cam reaches the plane of the line N'N, Figures 31, 32 and 33, they will be shifted automatically fromv one position to theother; that is, as the cam 71 approaches the end of the segment 56, said cam will be moved from the lowermost or neutral position indicated by dotted lines, Figure '32, to the uppermost or operative position shown by full lines in the same figure for successively lifting'the needles 55 to bring the loops acarried by said needles below the needle latch, as illustrated in Figure 23 and at A, Figure32, and then to return said needles to their normal inactive position, as illustrated in Figure 24, which will bring the loop -a over the latch of the needle in position to be removed by the transfer members 60.

Likewise the cam 72, upon approaching the end of the segment56', will be moved from the neutral or lowermost position, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32, to the active or uppermostposition indicated by full lines to successively lift the transfer members 60 and thus remove the loops 'a from the corresponding needls 55 of the shifted segment and bring them into alignment with the path of movement of the corresponding idling needles 1, as indicated in Figure 25 and at" B, Figure 32, at about which time the idle plate needles will be progressively moved between the corresponding transfer members 60 by the action of the fixed cam member 45 provided in the'plate groove 19, as shown in Figure 26 and indicated at C, Figure 31.

The continued movement of the cam wheel 57 will now cause the transfer members 60 to return to the normal position and to complete 7 0 and 17, as indicated at -D and -E, Figures 32 and 31, respectively.

During the time the knitting cam 7 O is passing along the needles carried by the cam segment 56, the switch cams 36 and 50 will be manually or automatically shifted in the manner previously described, so that as the knitting cams 17 and approach the proximal end of the segment 56" and after the last needle on the segment 56 has completed its stitching operation, the knitting cam 70 will be automatically moved downwardly from the active to the inactive position, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32, and at the same time, the movable knitting cam member 18 beneath the fixed knitting cam 17 for the plate needles 1 will be automatically moved from the inactive position, as indicated bydotted lines in Figure 31, to the active position with the inner edge thereof in the plane of the inner edge of the fixed cam 17.

These movements of the knitting cams 7 0' and 18 will cause the cylinder needles 55 to remain in their lowermost or inactive position, and at the same time, bring the previously idling plate needles 1 into operation for 'co-operating with the remaining plate needles to form a plain stitch fabric, as the plate needles 1 are successively engaged by said knitting cams 17 and ls'during the continued rotation of said cams.

At about the time the knitting cams 17, 18 and 7 O reach the shifted segment 56 or shortly thereafter, the disk 118 will engage the shoulder 119 on the cam plate 114 for the segment 56' and thereby cause the shogging of said segment a distance substantially equal to one-half the distance between two adjacent plate needles 1 for bringing the needles 55 carried thereby into vertical alignment with corresponding idling plate needles 1 so that as the lift cam 71 and transfer cam 72 sucmembers 60 therefor the yarn loops a carried by said needles will be automatically transferred to the corresponding previously idling plate needles 1 in the manner hereinbefore described for the segment 56".

' As the liftcam 71 and transfer cam 72 travel along the needles carried by the segment 56, the needle and transfer actuating disk. 73 will be moved into the path of movement ofthe rock arms 86 so that as said cam members leave the needles carried by the segment '56, these cam members will be automatically returned to their lowermost or inoperative positions as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32 which will permit said cylinder needles and transfer members to thereafter remain idle and permit the plate needles 1 to uninterruptedly perform their knitting operation in making a plain stitch fabric.

The disk 118 may now be returned to its lowermost position in the plane of the pawls III 142 by the shogging disk 139 being brought into the path of movement of the rock lever 131 which will cause the shifted segments 56 and 56 to be successively returned to their normal positions by the disk 118 engagin g the pawls 142 in the manner hereinbefore described.

Yarn having *now been transferred from the cylinder needles 55 to the plate needles 1, it is evident that the continued operation of the machine will produce the plain knit fabric by the operation of the plate needles 1 while the cylinder needles 55 will remain inoperative and, therefore, will have no effect upon the yarn.

When it is desired to transfer from the plain stitch back 'to the rib stitch, the segments 56" and 56 will be successively shogged circumferentially adistance substantially equal to the distance between two adjacent plate needles 1, and this may be accomplished in the manner hereinbefore described for transferring from the rib stitch to the plain stitch by bringing the disk 118 into the plane of the upper shoulder 120 con-- nected with the cam slides 114 after which the cylinder needles 55 are brought into operation by the moving of the knitting cam from the inactive position, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 32, to the uppermost of operative position, as indicated by full lines in said figure. This will cause the needles 55 to successively engage the yarn as the plate needles 1 are actuated by the cams 17 and 18 to form a loop upon the cylinder needles causing them to take what is com monly known as a half cardigan or tuck stitch at the same time the plate needles 1 are making the plain stitch.

This may continue for two or three cycles of movement of the machine, after which the cylinder segments 56" and 56' will be successively returned circumferentially to their normal positions by the engagement of the disk 118 with the pawls 142 in the manner previously described.

As the throw-01f cam 46 approaches the first shifted segment as 56" at the end of the .third cycle, for instance, said throw-off cam will be moved in the manner hereinbefore described from the outermost or inoperative position, as indicated by full lines in Figure 31, to the innermost or operative position as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. This will cause all of the plate needles in advance of the knitting operation to be successively actuated as in making a stitch for moving the loop carried thereby back of the latch of the needles so that as said needles again return to their normal inactive position, the loops will be passed over the ends of the needles and bedropped therefrom.

This will continue until one cycle of movement has been accomplished which will throw off the fabric from all the plate needles after which the cam 46 will be returned to its normal inactive position and the fabric will now be held by the cylinder needles 55 only.

As the knitting cams 17, 18 and 7 0 reach the first shifted segment 56 where the loops a llfiNe been transferred from the plate needles to thecylinder needles 55, the movable knitting plate cam 18 will be automatically moved from the active to the inactive position leaving half of the plate needles or long shouldered needles only actuated by the fixed cam 17 which will then co-operate with the cylinder needles 55 in making the rib stitch, as hereinbefore described.

The machine is now in the position described at the beginning for making the ribbed stitch fabric, which knitting operation may continue as long as desired and then be shifted to the plain stitch fabric by transferring the loops from the cylinder needles 55 back to the previously idling plate needles 1, as hereinbefore described.

It will now be evident that I have shown and described a circular knitting machine which is adapted to knit both rib stitch fabric and plain stitch fabric and wherein there is provided a simple, durable and positive mechanism for automatically transferring the yarn from one set of needles to the other set of needles for successively making the rib stitch fabric and the plain stitch fabric or vice versa, and although I have shown and particularly described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, as various changes in the form and the relation of the parts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, co-operative sets of knitting needles, the needles of each set being normally arranged to align with the spaces between the needles of the other set, and selective means for sequentially shifting portions of the needles of one set to bring them into alignment with needles of the other set or with the next adjacent spaces.

2. In a knitting machine, co-operative sets of knitting needles, the needles of each set being normally arranged to align with the spaces between the needles of the other set, selective means for sequentially shifting portions of the needles of one set to bring them into alignment with needles of the other set

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