US1932151A - Knitting machine and the production of fabrics thereon - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1933. E. J. WELFFENS 1,932,151

KNITTING MACHINE AND THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 ilgets$heet l Fig. 1.

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KNITTING MACHINE AND THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 23 36a 17 160 UU UU WU 16a H mfih p 6 6 m I INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Oct. 24, 1933. J WELFFENS 1,932,151

KNITTING MACHINE ANQ frHE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY- Oct. 24, 1933. E. J. WELFFENS 1,932,151

KNITTING MACHINE AND THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I D ?"T INVENTOR 2 k BTTORNE Y5 Oct. 24, 1933. E, J, WELFFENS KNITTING MACHINE AND THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 m W W L mw amw Oct. 24, 1933- E. J. WELFFENS KNITTING MACHINE MID THE PRODUCTION OF FABRICS THEREON Filed Feb. 15, 1932 10 SheetsSheet 1o Patented Get. 24, 1933 sir STATE KNITTING MACHINE AND THE PRODUC- TION F FABRICS THEREON Emile John Welffens, Fallowfield, England Application February 15, 1932, Serial No. 593,113, and in Great Britain February 17, 1931 21 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in knitting machines and relates more particularly Figure 1 illustrates in sectional elevation one- 16 construction of machine in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates in plan one of the many possible arrangements of cams employed in a machine according to this invention together with feeding 20 devices for the stitch-forming threads and feeding and laying devices for weft threads.

Figure 3 is a detail view in part sectional elevation of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 2, while Figure 4 is another elevational View of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a needle and shows by way of example three positions at which butts may be disposed thereon.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the weft-laying elements employed on the machine, Figure 6 showing in elevation the positions of such weft-laying means relatively to the needle carrier and knocking-over bits.

Figure 10 illustrates a method of manipulating the machine by hand.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate in elevation and Figure 13 in plan suitable warp thread and fabric pressers and knitting thread laying means with latch guard and latch opener.

Figures 14, 15, 16 and 1'7 each illustrate in elevation and plan a suitable construction of knocking-over bit or jack capable of being employed in a machine according to this invention.

Figures 18 and 19 are two elevational views at right angles to each other showing more clearly means for automatically bringing the machine to a standstill in the event of breakage or slackness in the thread.

Figure 20 is a part-sectional plan view illustrating a preferred drawing-off roller drive.

Figure 21 illustrates in sectional elevation a modified construction of machine, and

Figure 22 also illustrates in sectional elevation a further modified construction of machine.

igures 23 and 24 illustrate by way of example two types of fabric which can be produced in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 are sectional views with the various parts in their relative positions as seen on lines AB, CD, EF, GH, and J K indicated on the knitting phase diagram shown in Figure 30.

Figure 30 is a knitting phase diagram showing the threads, the camraces, the needles and the various material parts in their relative positions.

Figure 31 shows in A, B, C and D how the presence of the warp threads is taken advantage of to insure the formation and retentionof loops on the needle shanks.

Figures 32 and 33 show one arrangemnt of the starting and stopping gear.

Figures 34 and 35 show one arrangement of centering the sector carrying crown wheelaround the needle bed, and one way of fixing the sectors to the crown wheel.

In the construction of machine according to Figure 1 a circular knitting machine is illustrated having a stationary annular dial or needle carrier 1 with tricks in its upper face accommodating needles 2. These needles are reciprocated by needle-operating cams 3 which rotate relatively to the needle carrier 1, the needles accommodated by said carrier projecting radially inwards towards the dial centre.

The needle-operating or knitting cams 3 are preferably carried by slippers 4 which in turn are carried by sectors 5 suitably fixed to a crown Wheel 6, such sectors preferably corresponding in number with the number of feeds on the machine. Advantageously the needle carrier 1 is supported upon inwardly projecting Webbed arms 1a of an external housing.

The crown wheel 6 and consequently also the cams 3 rotate immediately above and concentrically around the needle carrier 1, each sector 5 carrying a set of knitting cams and the number and type or such cam sets will vary in accordance with the size of, the machine and the class or construction of the fabric to be produced.

The needles 2 are preferably but not necessarily 100 latch needles and operate in association with knocking-over bits or jacks 7 which are fixed to theneedle carrier 1 in any suitable manner, such for example, as by plates 8 and packing element 8a (Figure 6). Said packing element may be of 105 lead or any other suitable yielding material and be employed to ensure a good grip.

The crown wheel 6v preferably but not necessarily runs upon rollers 9 revolubly supported on ball bearings or otherwise on pins 10 Which are l adjustably fixed to uprights 11 of the machine frame. The crown wheel 6 with cam races 3 is kept in correct position with regard to the needle carrier 1, and this may be accomplished by providing a plurality of suitable guides 34 running around a rest provided below teeth out in the outer periphery of the needle carrier, and as illustrated in Figs. 34 and 35.

The machine is driven from a vertical shaft 12 which imparts rotary motion to the crown wheel 6 carrying the knitting cams through a pinion 13 meshing with said crown wheel. A ring 14 suspended by rods 15 from the crown wheel 6 carries weft thread supply packages 16 which supplies the weft thread 16a on the outside of a squirrel cage formation of threads constituted by a circular series of warp threads 1'? which are supplied from suitably braked warp drums 18 and which are spread and spaced by circular combs 28 and 29. A pinion 19 meshing with gear teeth out on the needle carrier 1 rotates, through a spindle 21 rotatably mounted in each of the sectors 5, two measuring wheels which feed weft threads 16a and of which the driver is 20.

Located around the circumference of the crown wheel 6 is a ring 22 preferably of L-shape in a section supported on suitable runners such as 23, said ring 22 masking the teeth in the crown wheel 6 and being itself provided on its upper edge or rim with ratchet teeth, with which teeth a pivoted pawl 24, hereinafter more fully described, is adapted to engage in the event of weft thread 16a becoming broken or unduly slack. When the pawl 24 ccacts with the ratchet teeth on the ring 22 the latter is traversed in a regular path on the runners 23 in unison with the wheel 6 and in so doing a vertical rod 25 (as more clearly shown in Fig. 32, and again later herein referred to) is displaced relatively to the machine frame and operates a suitable clutch 26 so as to disconnect the drive shaft 12 from its driving mechanism and stop the machine. In lieu of operating the clutch 26 to stop the machine the ring 22 may be so harnessed that its displacement will serve to cause stoppage of the machine, or other suitable well known contrivances for automatically stopping a machine may be availed of. Additionally the lower ring 22 may have a hand rail 91 (see Fig. 32) associated therewith for hand operation.

The warp threads 17 which are non-knitting threads are drawn from a plurality of braked drums or beams 18 which are mounted tangen tially of the machine frame or housing and said warp threads pass down through the teeth of a plurality oscillatory combs 27 loaded by springs 27a, there being preferably a plurality of such combs for each drum. These combs maintain the warp thread taut their plurality allows of same to operate individually as when required during the production of fabric. The warp threads 1'? extending from the combs 27 maintained separate and in their correctrelative positions during their travel from the drums 18 by passing throug one or inoreannular or circular combs or guide rings. Preferably two such circular combs are provided shown at 28 and 29, the'threads passing between the te th thereof to theirre uired position midway between adjacent needles 2 in the needle bed 1.

Either or both of the combs 28, 29 may be replaced by perforated rings, the thread guide holes of which may be staggered to permit of comparatively large holes being provided. Located at the upper part of the machine above and on of a fixed crown portion 34.

the interior of the cage of warp threads, the second crown wheel 30 is preferably provided supported on rollers 9a carried by pins 10a adjustably fixed in the machine uprights 11. This upper crown wheel is driven from the shaft 12 through pinion 31, and preferably, but not necessarily, same is maintained concentric with the needle bed 1 by means such as a bush 32 revolubly mounted on the central shaft 33 of the machine which is fixed to and suspended from a boss 34c Radial stays or rods 35 connect the crown wheel 30 to the revolving bush 32, and exterior of said crown wheel circumference a second L-sectioned ring 220: may be located with ratchet teeth and associated pivoted pawl 2 .05 adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose described with reference to the ring 22 encircling the crown wheel 6.

The upper crown wheel 30 carries yarn packages 06 from which knitting threads 36a are sup" plied and fed inside the circular series of warp threads 17, rotatable thread feed units 37 being also carried by said crown wheel 30 and being driven by pinions 39 which are themselves rotated by running round a stationary toothed wheel 40 fixed to the uprights ll; threads 360, being tenioned by spring-ten ioned elements 38 or similar means.

Mounted to revolve on the suspended central shaft 33 is a member 41 bearing upon another member l2 on said shaft, means such as a cam device being provided in connection with the member 42 for permitting the vertical adjustof the member ll relatively to the needles, said m mber ll. being driven from the'upper crown wheel 38 through one or more arms as or other suitable means. This member il which is preferably of wheel-like formation carries units 1 i embodying thread guides which lay the threads 36a weft-wise in the needles 2, said units is also carrying latch guards and latch openers and warp thread-pressing elements 45 and fabric pressers 45a. These variouselements are illustrated in greater detail in igures 11, 12 and 13 and will be referred to n The sectors 5 carrying the knitting cams 3 also carry units 46 which embody a rotatable mushroom spreader for spreading the warp threads 1 to permit weft laying, afinger element which carries a trailer wire for locating weft thread beneath the needles, and in some cases a detachable finger for accommodating broken ends of the weft threads, and enabling such threads to be reinserted in the fabric, the several elements embodied in said units 46 being illustrated in greater detail in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 and being referred to again hereinafter.

Fixed at a suitable distance below the knitting level is a circular fabric stretcher 47, the diameter of which ensures the produced fabric being maintained circular and taut as it is drawn from the needles. An adjustable stretcher 48 suspended by one or more rods 49 from the said stretcher 427 maintains thefabric taut-and stretched whilst same is guided between suitable drawing-off rollers 59 and 51. These drawing-off rollers are mounted in bearing brackets 52 in any suitable manner and are driven from the drive shaft 12, through intermeshing bevelled gears 53, shaft 54, further intermeshing bevels 55, change speed gearing 56 and suitable d'iferential reduction gearing indicated on Figure 1 at 57. The brackets 52 carrying the rollers 5c and 51 are mounted on the machine base 58 within suitable bearings 59, on which base drive shafts 12 are rotatably mounted. Intermeshing worm gear 60 may be provided, one element of which is carried by a motor shaft 61 or any equivalent power shaft.

The particular construction and arrangement of knitting cams, thread laying devices, pressers and other elements associated with the stitch-forming mechanism may be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the present invention and in accordance with the particular type or construction of fabric required to be knitted, and the needles 2 may themselves be provided with butts of different heights or with butts located at different positions along the length of the needles. In Figs. 2 and 30 of the drawings is illustrated, by way of example, a knitting phase wherein the weft thread 16a is laid alternately above and below the needles, the laying above being effected to permit weft thread to be knitted into the web at predetermined intervals. In the example illustrated, certain of the needles advantageously constituting the major portion of said needles have end butts 2a (Figure 5), one half of the remaining needles have butts at the position indicated at 21) and the other half of the remainder have butts at the position indicated at 20, the needle-operating cam mechanism being so designed that the needles with butts 2a always knit the threads 36a but never knit the weft threads 164 while needles with butts 2b and those with butts 2c alternately knit in the weft 16a, means being provided as hereinafter described for ensuring that the needles with butts 2b and 20 when knitting in the weft thread 16a do not knit in the knitting thread 36a.

In Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 the weft-laying units are clearly illustrated. Each unit which is fixed to one of the sectors 5 embodies a rotary spreader 46a of approximately conical formation revolubly mounted in a suitable bracket fixed to said sector. Each spreader 46a has on its outer face a shoulder or flange against which a disc 46?) is fixed, thus constituting a guiding and protecting groove circumferentially of the feeder for the weft 16a. Selected of the units 46 which are adapted to feed weft thread below the needles are provided with fixed fingers 46c on the non-feeding side of the unit and partly within the circumferential groove thereof, said finger extending to the underside of the unit and carrying at its lower end a suitably shaped trailer wire or element 4611, the construction and disposition of said trailer being such that the hooked extremities of a few needles operated by'the knitting cams are always located on the top of said trailer, and by virtue of the fact that the weft 16a passes below the trailer same is positively guided below the needles.

On selection of the units 45 a second finger 466 may advantageously be fixed in a readily detachable manner, said finger being located on the feeding side of the unit and also partially within the circumferential groove thereof and terminating at the lower end in a point or prong. In the event of a weft thread 160: becoming broken such finger 46c is detached and the broken end of the yarn from the supply is wound a suitable number of times round the point and the finger replaced. In so doing the broken end of the yarn is positioned immediately in front of the trailer 46d so as to be in contact with the fabric depending from the needles, and the fibrous nature of the yarns in said fabric causes the broken end to adhere thereto and again introduce the weft thread to continue laying.

One of the units 46 employed in each knitting phase is provided only with the finger 46c, and

by reason of the finger 460 with trailer 46d being omitted it will be obvious that this unit will lay weft thread above the needles. In this unit the spreader 46a or the disk of 46b, see Fig. 27 may preferably but not necessarily be provided at its circumference with a series of fine teeth, as indicated in Figures 9 and 2'7, such teeth being adapted to coact with the needle stems and effect rotation of the spreader. In this unit, shown in Figure 9, the finger 466 may be shaped somewhat differently, and the pointed end be carried further forward so as to cause the broken end of weft thread to be brought into contact with warp threads which have moved away from the infiuence of the spreader 46a. Another of the units indicated in Figure 2 at 460 may be provided with the finger 46c and trailer 4601 but without the finger 46c. This unit does not function as a feeding unit but only to ensurethat Weft 16a previously laid over the needles and knitted at intervals is directed below those needles which knit the thread.

In Figures 11, 12 and 13 are illustrated suitable units for feeding the knitting threads 36a to the needles. Two types of these knitting thread units are advantageously provided adapted to operate in succession. Each unit is adjustably fixed to the wheel-like member 41 adapted to re volve about the central shaft 33, and each unit embodies a bracket portion 62 carrying a latch guard 63, a latch opener 64 constituted by a brush or equivalent member, an upper horizontally disposed member or disc constituting a warp thread presser, preferably rotatable, and a lower horizontally disposed member or disc 45a also preferably rotatable and constituting a fabric presser, all of said elements operating Within the cage of warp threads 1'7. Two units are in the main constructed similarly, but whereas in the first unit to operate, the thread presser and fabric presser 45, 45a are spaced apart in a direction circumferentially of the machine so as to permit of weft thread being laid above the needles, in the second unit to operate, these two presser elements are located closely together because during the period at which said unit operates no weft is laid over the needles. Each knitting unit is provided with any suitable thread-guiding means, such for example as an eye 65a and a grooved member 65?) (see Figures 2 and 13). It is to be understood that the thread presser and fabric presser 45 and 45a function to maintain the warp threads 17 and the fabricup against the knocking-over bits 7, and the spreaders 46a operate between the levels of said presser members.

One knitting phase for the production of fabric on a machine as above and as illustrated in Figs. 2, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 will now be described by way of example.

The warp threads 1'? are maintained by the guide ring 29 at a suitable angle awayfrom or inwardly from the knccking-over bits 7 so as topermit of the warp spreader 46a associated with the first weft-laying unit 46A to run behind s the warp threads and force them to the right position for laying weft (see Fig. 25). Simultaneously with the operation of the spreader upon the warps the first weft-laying unit 46A lays the weft 16a below the needles which are just advancing over the trailer element 46d, and the needles continue to advance by cam operation until the loops thereon are cleared behind the latches. The needles are then retracted by suitable cams to a short distance far enough tocause the latches partially to close and rest against the latch guards 63 (Figures 11, 2'7 and 30). They are then advanced again to an extent sufficient to enable the toothed spreader e68 to mesh with the. needle stems behind that part of the needle having the latch pivot, so as to effect rotation of said spreader 463 which operates to lay a second weft 16a above the needles (see Fig. 27). During the laying of this second weft the needles are maintained suificiently advanced to permit of the first knitting thread unit operating to lay knitting thread 36a in the needle hooks, which thread is knitted in.

The cam slide 68 (Figure 2) which carries the knitting cams for knitting in the thread 36a embodies cam elements :0 designed and located to operate on selection of the needles having the butts 2c in such a manner that said needles knit later than the remaining needles having the butts 2a and 2b, and immediately prior to the operation of said needles with butts 20 by the cams. An auxiliary cam y operates to move such needles forward to a position wherein the laid thread 36a is drawn back by the pull exerted thereon by the just previously foriied stitches located on the other needles on either side thereof to a position at the back of the latch,

' see dotted latch in 27, thus assisting in preventing the said thread 36a from being knitted on the needle with butt 20 whilst permitting the weft thread 1611 to be taken in the needle hook of 2c and knitted in, see Figs. 28 and 29.

After knitting by the cams on slide 68 all the needles are maintained fully withdrawn within the knocking-over bits and the unit dGC then operates to push the weft thread. last laid below the advancing needles, that is to say, the weft thread which has been knitted in the needles having butts 2c, and the second knitting unit lsa then functions to lay another knitting thread in the needles which thread is knitted in by the action of a further set of cams 68a.

After operation by the cams 68a all of the needles are again located fully withdrawn until another weft-laying unit 46A operates to lay a further weft below advancing needles and begin another knitting phase or cycle of knitting operations.

The second knitting phase is the same as that previously described with the exception that the positions of the cane races 21) and 20 shown in Fig. are reversed the needles having butts 2b are in this case operated upon in a similar manner to that described above with reference to the needles having butts 2c and the needles having butts 2c are operated in. the ordinary manner, and since the needles with butts 2b are positioned midway between the needles with butts 20 it will be appreciated that the knitted loops of weft produced by the needles having butts 20 will be located midway between the knitted'loops produced by the needles having butts 2?). Also it will be understood that one plain, i. e. unknitted weft, extends between two knitteddn wefts.

In Figure 23 of the drawings is illustrated a piece of fabric such as is produced by the operations just previously described, and from this it will be clearly seen that the majority of the stitches are made in the weft thread 36a and are located on one side of the warps i7, and where stitches are produced in the weft 16s on the opposite side of said warps, as shown at 1600, no stitch is formed in the thread 3601.. Gther wefts are shown which are never knitted in, and these wefts may or may not be included as desired.

It will be clear by reference to Figure 2 that the fabric presser a is in each case so positioned as to press the fabric against the knocking-over bits '7 at the correct time during the advancing movement of the needles by the action of the knitting cams, and that the warp thread presser i5 is in each case positioned to press the warp threads 1'? against and between the thread-guiding indentations at the top of the bits 7 during the actual knitting period.

A machine constructed and operated in accordance with this invention has the facilities associated with moving sinkers without employing them. It is possible to start knitting on the machine with empty needles, consequently the machine can also bestarted after a press-cit without performing the tedious task of hooking on. Casting off is ensured without having to rely entirely on the fabric pull, given by drawingoff rollers and 51, for eirecting it.

Starting up and re-starting is made easy and simple because a weft thread 16a is always laid below the needles and behind the warp threads 17 (i. e. outside the squirrel cage formed by such warp threads) after a knitting thread 36a has been drawn from the inside of the squirrel cage and because so laying weft threads 16a causes loops to be always formed and retained on the needle shanks (see Fig. 31, A, B, C and D) when the needles again move forward to take knitting thread 36a for the next loop;

Casting-on" or knocking-over is ensured by the spreading and the forcing down of the fabric and of the warp threads 1'7 by mushroom 46a, as shown in Figure 25. Consequently the effect produced by the action of spreader 46ais co; parable to that of moving sinkers and fabric pull therefore does not play such an important role. It is to be understood that where in this specification mention is made of laying thread below the needles it is intended to' cover the laying of such Weft on the plain side of the needles, i. e. the side opposite to the hook.

Again by causing the needles to reciprocate in a plane at substantially right angles to the guided warp threads 1'? passing therebetween, the weft threads are retained in position below or at the back of the needles more eificiently than if the warp threads and needles were not so positioned relatively to each other, while by guiding the warp threads at right angles or substantially so to the needles the possibilityof knitting in such warp threads is reduced to an absolute minimum.

In Figure 10 is illustrated one method of operating the machine by hand and where such method is employed a manually operable device would preferably be provided in connection with each of the frame uprights 11. In the arrangement illustrated the gear 13 is a compound gear embodying a bevel portion meshing with pinion !1 on a spindle '72 which rotates in a bearing or bracket '73. The hand-wheel 74 is nor: mally free to turn on the spindle '72 and is adapted to have a clutching engagement with a part 75 fixed to said spindle 72. A suitable spring '76 normally retains the clutch out of engageinent.

It will be understood that it is a distinct ad vantage to have the needles, cam races and the weft thread laying and feeding mechanism outside the squirrel cage formed by the circular-series of warp thread, firstly, becausethey are easy of access and secondly, because by placing the knitting cams and needles outside greater freedom of cam design is obtained as also a freer and smoother cam motion. 7

Additionally, it will also be appreciated that by applying the drive to th machine well outside the knitting position a smoother drive is obtained and inertia effects minimized, Again by applying the stop mechanism. as far as possible from the centre of the-machine same will operate to the best advantage, and it will be appreciated that for any angle of. travel which may be required to bring the machine to rest, the distance traversed at the circumference at which the stop mechanism provided will of necessity be considerably greater than the distance traversed at the knitting position so that in the event of yarn breakage only a minimum of the needles will loose their thread. This is av matter of some importance in high speed machines.

In Figures 14 to 17 inclusive four different types of composite knocking-over bits are illustrated. The bits shown in Figures 14:, 15 and 16 are built up of three pieces, a, b, c, and when the bits are fixed in position in the machine the part a constitutes a prolongation of the needle trick in the carrier 1, while 1) forms a spacing piece, the upper horizontal edge, of which lies flush with the bottom of the needle trick to give support to the needle where it is most required. 0 is also a spacing piece with a forwardly projecting pointed portion. When the knocking-over bits are fixed in position at the inner circumference of the needle carrier 1 the spacing pieces 0 make contact one with another and form a rigid or unbroken ring, while the pointed portions of said pieces 0 form the indentations which during the knitting period accommodate the warp threads and maintain or assist in maintaining same midway between the needles. The knocking-over bit shown in Figure 17 which is particularly suitable for coarse gauge machines has a relatively thick tail portion and a working head of reduced thickness to give clearance for the needles between adjacent bits, the tail being thickened by fixing separate lamina to the central part of the bit. 7

Figs. l8, l9 and 32 illustrate in detail one suitable arrangement for bringing the machine to rest in the event of a weft thread 16a breaking or becoming too slack. In this arrangement a pawl catch 24 is rotatably supported in a suitable bracket 67 fixed to oneof the sectors 5 carrying the knitting cams. By means of one or more adjustable nuts or weights-168, the catch is balanced on its pivot so that should the thread 16a break. or be unduly slack said catch oscillates on its pivot from its balanced position.- Any suitable spring indicated at 69 is provided so adjusted its normal resistance sufiices to carry the ratchet ring 22 round with the crown wheel 6 when the catch 24 is moved into engagement with said ring. If, for any reason the ring 22 is prevented from turning, the spring 69 will yield and prevent breakages, while the noise of the catch 24 slipping over the ratchet teeth will call the operators attention. The head of a stud 70 associated with the catch 24 is cut away at We to allow normal motion of the catch on its pivot without spring action.

Obviously the displacement given to rings 22 or 22a may be harnessed in different ways to bring the machine to rest. In the arrangement according to Figure 32 rod 25 is supported against upright 11 and carries a fork engaging the top part of clutch 26 slidably fixed to driving shaft l2. Rings 22 and 22a carry projections 86 and 86a against which arm 87 and 87a fixed to rod 25 are forced by the action of spring 88. On ring 22 or 22a being engaged by pawl catch '24 or 24a they rotate with wheel 6 or 30, arm 87 is displaced by the cam- like projection 86 or 86a and this turns rod 25. Due to the action of cam 89 fixed to rod 25 upon cam 90 fixed to upright 11, red 25 and consequently fork 85 and the top of clutch 26 are lifted. This disconnects driving shaft 12 and driving wheel 60 and so stops the machine. Hand rail 91 fixed to ring 22 allows that ring to be moved by hand and consequentlyallows the machine being stopped by hand.

In Figure 20 is shown one arrangement of difierential reduction gear which may be incorporated in the wheel train which drives the draw-- ing- oif rollers 50 and 51 from the vertical drive shaft 12. In this arrangement a wheel 77 is fixed to the roller 51 and Wheel '78 to the bearing bracket 52. A box wheel 57 carries pinion 80, which meshes with both wheels 77 and 78 and runs around th se wheels and is driven from a change speed Wheel 56. The difference in the number of teeth in wheels '77 and 78 determines the magnitude of the reduction, adjusted to requirements, whilst the direction of rotation of the rollers depends upon the number of teeth in the wheel fixed to the driven roller. Instead of the differential reduction gear described, any of the several other known differential reduction gears might be used.

Figure 21 is a sectional elevation showing a modified construction of machine in which the knitting position is arranged outside the annular dial constituting the needle bed or carrier 1, the knitting cams, weft layers, weft feeds and associated mechanism being located inside the squirrel cage formed by the warp threads 1'7. In such an arrangement the knitting cams are driven by the upper crown wheel 30, the lower crown wheel 6 carrying the knitting thread feeds, knitting thread units and associated parts. The reference numeralsin this figure indicate the same parts as those previously described.

Figure 22 illustrates a further modified construction of machine in which a third crown wheel 6a is arranged and driven as explained with reference to Figure 1. use of an open shed of warp threads 17, warp thread guide rings 29 and 29a each having room for the full complement of warp threads and thereby allowing the shed to be arranged in a great variety of ways. It also allows of weft threads to be laid inside the warp shed, outside the warp threads and inside the warp threads in different sequences and to knit them in as desired. The same numerals again refer to the same parts as described with reference to Figure 1.

In Figure 24 is shown a portion of fabric produced on a machine in accordance with Figure 22. In the fabric illustrated the stitches of the thread 3551. are located always on one or front side of the two sets of warps 17 whereas the weft threads which are at intervals formed with stitches 16:1: pass alternately in front of and between the two sets of warps. In the particular arrangement shown, following the course of the stitched-in wefts 16afrom the left hand side of the figure it will be observed that they first extend to the rear of three adjacent warp threads, then in front of the next three warps, after which they extend at the front and rear of alternate warps. This affords an illustration of the fact that patterning can'be effected by a pre-arranged disposition of This arrangement allows the I the warp threads forming the warp shed. Additional wefts are shown extending at the rear of all the warps, said additional wefts not being knitted at any position.

It will be appreciated that by virtue of laying weft in a shed of warps, said warps when subsequently pulled taut in the crabbing process tightly rip the weft and cause same to become more or less crimped.

In order to facilitate the designing and the patterning of the cloths to be produced by means other than or additional to colour schemes for the warp threads, the weft threads and the knitting threads, the number of needles in the machine as well as the number of feeds for weft thread and for knitting thread may be such as to be divisible by a great number of factors. For the same puipose any of the many well-known means such as pattern wheels, pattern cylinders, pattern chains and the like may with their attendant jacks, pickers and the like be used for needle selection. Needle selection for designing by tucking and for laying weft threads in predetermined ways and.

positions may be obtained by using any of the many well known arrangements of plural cam races coacting with needles having a plurality of butts, of contrasting butts, or both.

It is also to be understood that the weft thread may be laid in a variety of Ways so that it is embodied and gripped in the knitted fabric with out itself being formed into knitted loops.

It may here be mentioned that the term weft thread has been utilized in the foregoing description as applied to the threads 16a and to distinguish same from the knitting threads 36a, but it will, of course, be understood that the knitting threads 36a are also traversed weft-wise in the fabric and, therefore, thus constitute weft threads, and where the term weft is employed in the appended claims same is intended to include any threads extending weft-wise of the fabric, that is to say, both the threads 16a and 36a.

Instead of using drawing-01f rollers fixed in position, same may be mounted in a cradle in any known manner. Instead of driving such rollers at a constant speed and providing a set of change wheels as before-described to adjust the drawingoff speed to the fabric being made, any of the well-known worm gear drives may be employed including an intermittent clutch gear.

Instead of warp thread guide rings having needles as separators, they may have teeth of a suitable shape cut on them, or a threaded ring with a deep thread and suitable pitch may be used. Such guide rings might be placed nearer to the needle-bed, and thereby give more acute deflection to the warp threads and so allow mushroom spreaders e60, to be dispensed with.

Additionally the central shaft 33 may be hollow and leads 82 as shown in Fig. 1 may be brought inside same and through suitable holes to one or more electric lamps 81 fixed to shaft 33 or otherwise mounted for the purpose of lighting the interior of the machine.

It will be further obvious that the construction of the machine may be modified considerably without departing from the scope of the invention. Instead of being floor supported in a framing as shown and described, the material parts may be arranged so as to allow of suspension from girders. They might likewise be arranged for the needle-bed to be driven and rotated, although in connection with comparatively large diameter machines such arrangement would not be preferred as it would necessitate the heavy fabric 'be taken away. The constructions hereinbefore described by way of example allow fabric rolls to be taken away without stopping the machine and also allow rolls. to be formed outside and away from the machine.

In some instances the detachable knockingover bits 7 may be dispensed with and in their place may be provided suitably cut or shaped tooth-like elements or portions formed integral with the needle carrier'and projecting inwardly and radially therefrom i. e. towards the hooked ends of the needles when same are projected.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine adapted for the production of Warp and weft fabric containing non-knitted warp threads, the combination of a needle bed, reciprocating needles therein, warp thread-supplying and feeding means, weft thread-supplying and feeding means, means whereby selected of the weft threads are formed into knitted stitches and means whereby the warp threads are guided between the needles so that the direction in which said warp threads extend to the needles and the direction of fabric withdrawal from the needles are both at right angles or approximately so to said needles.

2. In a circular knitting machine adapted for the production of warp and weft fabric containing non-knitted warp threads, the combination of a horizontal or approximately horizontal needle bed, needles arranged radially in said bed, means for guiding non-knitted warp threads substantially vertically downwards to pass between predetermined adjacent needles at approximately right angles to said needles, means for feeding weft thread on each side of the non-knitted warp threads and means for producing knitted stitches in selected of said weft threads.

3. In a knitting machine according to claim 2, means for successively displacing the warp threads forwardly, i. e. in a direction towards the hooked ends of the needles, during the laying of weft threads.

4. In a knitting machine according to claim 2, including means operating to feed a knitting weft thread to the needles forwardly of the warps, means operating subsequent to said feeding to retract the needles rearwardly of the warps and knock over previously formed loops on the needle shanks, means for feeding weft thread and laying same over the said knitting thread rearwardly of the warps, means operating to pass the last named weft thread underneath the needles, means operating again to advance the-needles to a forward feeding position and means whereby the relative position of the thread is maintained during such needle advancement.

5. In a circular knitting machine adapted for the production of warp and weft fabric containing non-knitted warp threads, the combination of a horizontal or approximately horizontal needle bed; needles arranged radially in said bed, means for guiding non-knitted warp threads substantially vertically downwards to pass between predetermined adjacent needles at approximately right angles thereto, means for feeding weft thread on each side of the non-knitted warp threads and means for producing knitted stitches in selected of said weft threads so operating that selected of the weft threads carried by supplies positioned rearwardly of the warps are laid under the needles, means operating to knit others of 7 said weft threads on selected needles, means opcrating to pass the last-named weft threads to the underside of the needles after being knitted and means whereby all the needles other than the aforesaid selected needles operate to knit at each feed knitting thread fed to the needles forwardly of the warps.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 2 including knocking-over bits associated with the needles and the said knocking over bits function ing to maintain the warp threads midway or substantially midway between adjacent n edles during the knitting operations.

- '7. A knitting machine according to claim 2 and including knocking-over bits removably fixed to a bed or carrier accommodating the needles, said knocking-over bits also functioning to maintain the warp threads midway between the needles during the knitting operations.

8. In a knitting machine according to claim 2, a tricked bed or carrier slidably supporting the needles, knocking-over bits located at the edge of said carrier from which the needles are adapted to be projected, said knocking-over bits functioning as warp guiding and spacing means and also to assist in slidably supporting the needles when in their projected or advanced position.

9. A knitting machine according to claim 2 and including means whereby the weft threads which are fed from supplies located rearwardly of the warps are progressively laid by rotatory feeding devices.

10. A knitting machine according to claim 2 and including means whereby the weft threads which are fed from supplies positioned rearwardly of the warps are fed by devices which operate to lay said weft threads under and over the needles (on the plain and hooked sides) at predetermined intervals.

11. A knitting machine embodying in combination an annular needle carrier, radial tricks in said carrier, a series of needles, said needles being mounted to reciprocate in said tricks, means for feeding knitting thread to said needles, knocking over bits, said bits being associated with said needles and arranged around one circumferential edge of the annular carrier between adjacent ne dles, needle-operating cams, means for imparting relative motion between said cams and the needle carrier, a series of warp threads, feeding and tensioning means for said warp threads located above the needle carrier, means for maintaining the warp threads of said series of threads suitably spaced in their travel to the needles, the said knocking-over bits operating to maintain said warp threads midway or substantially midway between predetermined adjacent needles during stitch formation so that said warp threads are not themselves stitched, weft thread feeding and guiding mechanism located on the opposite side of the warps to the aforesaid knitting thread feeding means, said weft thread feeding mechanism being associated with the needle-operating cam mechanism, and means whereby said weft thread feeding mechanism operates to lay the weft threads progressively across the needles.

12. A knitting machine according to claim 11 and wherein the annular needle carrier is supported'by a stationary frame, while the needle operating cams are carried by and rotate with a crown wheel revolubly supported by said frame.

13. A knitting machine according to claim 11 and including a stationary frame, said frame supporting the needle carrier in a non-rotatable manner, a crown wheel revolubly supported by said frame, needle-operating cams carried by and rotating with said crown wheel, said revoluble crown wheel also carrying weft thread feeding and laying means, a second revolubly mounted member located interiorly of and at the opposite side of the series of warp threads and said second revolubly mounted member carrying guiding and feeding mechanism for knitting thread.

14. A knitting machine according to claim 11 and including means whereby the machine is automatically brought to a stand-still in the. event of breakage of thread and in the event of such thread becoming unduly slack.

15. A knitting machine according to claim 11 and includin a crown wheel rotatably carried by the machine frame, a pivoted catch associated with said crown wheel, a ratchet device adapted to be engaged by said pivoted catch, means whereby said pivoted catch is normally retained out of engagement with said ratchet by weft thread fed to the machine needles and means whereby in the event of breakage of or undue slackness in said weft thread said pivoted catch co-operates with said ratchet device and through said device operate means for bringing the machine to a standstill.

16. In a knitting machine a needle bed, a series of needles in said bed, means operating to reciprocate said needles for stitch production, two series of warp threads with separate supplies therefor, means for simultaneously feeding said two series of warps to the web being knitted, said warp threads being guided between predetermined adjacent needles without being knitted, means for feeding knitting thread to the needles at a position forwardly of the warps, i. e. on the opposite side of the warps to that at which the needle bed is situated, means for supplying weft thread and laying same across the needles between the two series of warps so as to be em braced thereby, and said weft thread being at predetermined times formed into knitted stitches.

17. An knitting machine according to claim 16 wherein the two series of warp threads extend at an angle to each other and furnish a permanently open shed of warps into which weft thread is laid.

18. A knitting machine according to claim 16 and including means whereby knitting threads are fed to the needles on both sides of the warp shed constituted by the two series of warp threads sic; as to produce stitches on both sides of said s ed.

19. A circular knitting machine embodying in combination a machine frame, an annular needle carrier within said frame, needles mounted to reciprocate in tricks within said carrier, needleoperating cams, means for effecting relative r0- tation between said cams and the needle carrier, a crown wheel associated with the needle-operating cams, means for transmitting rotation to said 1-" crown wheel from a suitable drive shaft, weft thread supplies, said supplies being carried by a member suspended from and rotating with said crown wheel, a circular series of non-knitting warp threads, supplying, feeding and tensioning 2i, 1

crown wheel, knitting thread supplying, tensioning and feeding means mounted to rotate within the aforesaid circular series of warp threads, the knitting thread feeding means being carried by and rotating with a Wheel-like member within and substantially in the plane of the annular needle carrier, said knitting thread feeding means also incorporating warp thread pressers and fabric pressers which travel round with the feed, a fabric stretcher located below the knitting level, means for drawing-off the knitted fabric, and means for automatically bringing the machine to a standstill in the event of breakage or undue slackness of thread fed to the needles.

20. A circular knitting machine according to claim 19 with this difference that the knitting position is arranged outside the annular needlecarrier, that the needle-operating cams, weft laying and feeding means are located inside the circular series of warp threads, that the needleoperating cams are driven by the upper crown wheel and that the lower crown wheel carries the knitting thread feeds and associated parts.

21. A circular knitting machine according to claim 19 with this addition that two circular series of warp threads are provided together with warp supplying, tensioning and guiding means, said two series of warps extending to the needles at an angle to each other, and weft thread being fed into the open shed between said warps.

EMILE JOHN WELFFENS.

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