US2000194A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935- s. R. SHEL'MIREr 2,000,194

' KNITTING MACHINE n Filed Jul-y' 8, 1933 5 sheets-sheet 1 F/G. /WE/WR @wf/mf. i Z.

. i l L y 4770/? E73 May 7, 1935.

S. R. SHELMIRE KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1935- 1 s. R. sHELMlRE y 2,000,194

KNITTING MACHINE Y Filed July 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 7 1935 s. R. SHELMIR A 2,000,194

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Juvly 8, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F7C-5.8. 4l

Ivn/gj e1/mlb@ May 7, 1935. s. R. sHELMlRE 2,000,194

' KNITTING MAcHNE Filed July 8, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /lil lll

Patented May 7, i935 fsTAras Standard-Trump Bros.

Machine Company,

Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Delaware Application .idly 8, 1933, Serial No. 679,5l1

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine and specifically to a knitting machine for making a rotary split foot stocking having the leg and instep portions decorated by wrapping.

In forming a split foot by rotary knitting it is desirable to clamp and cut each yarn after the completion of every half course so as to avoid long transverse floats which would have to be 'Finally removed. Ordinarily this involves no difculty, the clamping and cutting means being located within the needle circle and suitable means being provided for repeatedly reintroducing the instep and sole yarns to the needles, the last means comprising merely a control for the yarn ilngers, which,when they move into active position, cut their yarns between the needles since the yarns extend outwardly from the inside clamp and cutter mechanism.

The manipulation of yarns for the production of a rotary split foot with automatic prevention of iloats is not so simple in a machine which is arranged to' produce embroidery striping by the use of wrap yarns. The Warp yarns extending from the needles to the wrap ngers form a cage within which there cannot be any main yarn handling mechanism. Consequently all of the mechanisms for clamping and cutting the main yarns and introducing them to the needles must be located outside the needle circle or at least outside the cage of wrap yarns.

It is the broad object of the present 'invention to provide a knitting machine for the production of stockings having rotary knit split foot portions in which floats of the component yarns arel avoided and at the same time having designs vformed therein by embroidery striping, which designs extend through the instep portion of the spilt foot.

Other objects of the invention, relating particularly to details of mechanism whereby the main object may be accomplished, will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the following drawings in which- Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, showing the portion of a knitting machine adjacent to the top of the needle cylinder;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section showing the elements associated with the needle cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the wrap finger carrier and controlling elements for the wrap fingers; q

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the same subject matter;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View showing the main (Ci. {i6-140) yarn fingers and the main clamping and cutting mechanism together with their actuating devices;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing controlling means for one of the main yarn fingers;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section showing particularly the main clamping and cutting mechanism and the parts associated therewith. y

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the relationship of the main yarn handling mechanism and the auxiliary cutting and clamping mechanism with the latch ring;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view showing the main yarn handling devices;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing in detail the means for introducing yarns to the needles;

Fig. l2 is an elevation showing the auxiliary clamping `and cutting mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section through the needle cylinder showing the relationships of a needle, jacks and associated mechanism, and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portion of a stocking formed in accordance with the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated there is provided a needle cylinder 2 provided with the usual vertical slots in which are slidably/mounted needles 6 having butts 8 of different length in the usual fashion so that differentiation between the needles may be made in the production of various parts of the stocking. Beneath the needles are located upper jacks Ill'provided with butts I2. Beneath these jacks and also within the slots of the needle cylinder are located jacks I4 provided with removable butts I6 adapted to be acted upon by `selecting cams l1 to cause the jacks to be rocked about their pivots indicated at I9. The cams Il serve to rock the lower ends of the jacks I4 inwardly so that they avoid engagement of ledges I8 formed at their lower ends with a cam provided to lift them for the taking of wrap yarns. A cam 2l serves to rock the jacks in the opposite direction about the pivot formed at I9. The particular selection of needles for the production ofr wrapped patterns does not form a part of the present invention and is well known, being illustrated in my prior application, Serial No. 623,057, A

filed July 18, 1932. For the purpose of the present case it will be suiiicient to state that selective wrapping is eiected by the selective raising of needles at a predetermined point to take yarns from the wrap ngers.

The needle cylinder` has secured thereto the usual gear 20 which is driven through an idler by by suitable mechanism of the usual type to provide both rotation and reciprocation of the needle cylinder. *v

The frame of the machine includes a platform 24 which supports a bracket 26 carrying a shaft 28 upon which the latch ring supporting bracket 30 is pivoted, this bracket carrying a latch ring 32. The supporting bracket has pivoted to its forward portion a hook 34 engageable Vwith a pin 36 carried by an upstandingfbracket 38 to maintain the latch ring in its lowered position. Manipulation of the hook 34 will release it from the pin 36, whereby the latch ring may be raised in the usual manner, a suitable spring being provided to counterbalance its weight and tend to hold it open. 'Ihe usual sinker cap 40 containing th cams for controlling the sinkers is provided, the cap having the usualfreedom for oscillatory movement limited by engagement of stopswith the bracket 38. 'I'he sinker dial is indicated at 4| and rotates in the usual fashion with the needle cylinder.

A bracket 42 pivoted on shaft 28 is provided at its forward end with a downwardly extending portion 44 provided with openings through which project headed screws designed to thread into the latch ring supporting bracket' 30. A spring 43 counterbalances the weight of the bracket 42 so that this bracket will tend to remain in its open position, as indicated in Fig. l, except when held down by the screws. It may, however, be raised together with the latch ring by manipulation bf the latch 34. o

There is Journalled in the' bracket 42 a Wrap yarn finger carrying head indicated at v46 which is driven in unison with the needle cylinder o through gearing and a splined shaft proovided with universal joints so that drivingl connection is not interrupted when the bracket 42l is raised. Instead of being forced to rotate continuously in fixed relationship with the needle cylinder, the head 48 may be driven through mechanism which permits its being shogged relatively to the Vneedle cylinder to produce zigzag wrapped designs.

The head 46 is provided with axially extending slots in which are mounted wrap vfingers 48 provided with projecting bearings which permit them to be rocked inwardly or outwardly between the needles of the needle circle when acted upon by cams 52 and '54 which engage butts carried by the fingers. 'I'he fingers are held in their proper positions in the'head by means of a spring band 50. The 'ca'ns 62 and 54, serve to rock the lower ends of the wrap fingers outwardly through theneedle circle. A fixed cam 56, which engages the wrap fingers below their pivots, serves to return them inwardly of the needle circle, thus completinga wrapping operation, since the lower ends of the wrap fingers are skewed to .cause them to move outwardly on one side of theirk cated in the present case merely to show the operation of wrapping, which, as will be seen hereafter, interferes substantially with a simplified control of the main yarns to form a 'split foot stocking. C x

The levers 61 indicted in Fig. 2 and referred to above are provided with tubular shafts which are nested with one inside the other. Within the innermost extends a third shaft 68 subject to control from the main cam drum and carrying at its upper end a lever 10 to which further reference will be made hereafter. 1

Referring now to Figs. -10, there are shown therein three yarn carrying ngers indicated at 12, 14 and 16. 'I'he three of these fingers are journalled independently upon a fixed shaft 1I. Finger 12 is provided'lwith a downwardly extending tail portion 80 arranged to be engaged below the lpivotal point of the finger by a lever 82, the lower end of which is engaged by an upwardly extending arm 84 urged by a spring 86. into engagement with a stop screw 88, this arm 84 being pivoted at S0 to a sleeve 92 pivoted upon a fixed stud 94. A spring 96 urges the arm 84 counter clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, to bring it into position for engagement by a cam 98 carried by the sinker dial 4| and arranged at predetermined intervals during the rotation of the needle cylinder Yto`force the lever 84 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5,

to rock the lever 82 and thereby raise the yarn finger 12 out of action. At certain times it i8 desired to avoid engagement of the arm 84 by the cam 98. To effect this result there is provided a wire |00 connected at one end to the arm 84 and at its other end to the lever v10. By the action of suitable cams on the main' cam drum theY lever may be rocked to pull the arm I4 forwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, out of .the path of the revolving cam 98.

In addition to the control of the yarn nger 12 by the lever 82 there is an independent control for moving the yarn finger out of action in the form of a lever |02 which engages an extension of the yarn finger 12 outwardly beyond its pivot so as to force it out of action irrespective of the position of the lever 82. A detent |04, urged downwardly by a spring |83, engages within notches |06 of the lever |02 to yieldingly hold the latter in alternative positions. A downward extension |08 of the lever` |02 is engaged by a forked lever ||0 which is subject to yarn changing pattern control' to render the"nger 12 in operative at certain times. The mechanism for actuating the lever ||0 will not be described in detail, since it is identical with that disclosed in the patent to Harold E. Houseman, No. 1,161,677'.

The yarn finger 14 is provided with a gear segment ||2 meshing with a segment carried by a lever ||4 generally similar to lever' |02 heretofore described and similarly provided with a downward extension engaged by a forked lever I|8 similar to lever I0 and controlled in the same' fashion by a mechanism such as that described in the Houseman patent just referred to.

Yarn finger 18 is provided with a depending -so that the yarns carried y these fingers are tied together in the same loops in these places. The specific operation will be referred to in greater detail hereafter.

The two cams |24 and 3l A spring H26, similar to the spring 63 which urges the finger l2 normally into active position, is connected to the rear end of the linger 'i6 to likewise normally urge it into active position. A lever t28, similar to |02, is arranged to engage the finger '|65 to move it to an inactive position, this lever |726 being yieldedly held in alternative positions by a spring pressed detent |39 and having a lower extension 32 engaged by the forked upper end of a lever itil forming one of the series including levers il@ and Ht.

Located adjacent the nger 16 is the fixed blade lt of the main clamping and cutting mechanism. The movable blade cooperating with this fixed blade is illustrated at 38 and is journalled upon a stud 39 being provided with a slot |116 within which projects a pin |62 carried by the lever |99 which is urged in a counterclockwise direction,

as viewed in Fig. 8, by springs |66 about its pivot M9 which is in the form of a stud secured to the latch ring supporting bracket 36. A depending arm |58 of the lever Mii is engageable by an upwardly extending arm |52 of a lever pivoted at i955 to the frame and provided with a pin |56 engageable by a collar carried by a slidable plunger i553 which is arranged to be moved upwardly at proper times by a cam on the main cam disc of the machine. It will be seen that when the plunger is moved upwardly the pin |62 is moved downwardly and hence the movable knife |38 is moved to its open position. The main clamping devices include a clamping blade |66 carried by the movable knife blade |38 and a stationary clamping blade |62 which is arranged to extend between the two movable blades as indicated in Fig. 10 and is urged yieldingly against the movable blade |38 by adjustment of screw |63, this action being as indicated in the patent to H. E. Houseman, No. 1,942,816, dated January 9, 1934.

The interleaving action thus provided insures a.

positive clamping of the yarn.

, A carrier lever |64, supporting a hook |66, is pivoted on the fixed stud |68 and is provided with a slot H8 within which extends a pin |63 carried by a depresser |12 which is pivoted on the xed shaft lt, the connections being such that the lever it@ is swung to carry-yarn across the needle circle as the 4depresser moves down. The Adepresser |`|2 is provided with a segment |76 meshing with a cooperating segment carried by a lever Wl which has a depending extension engageable by a forked lever |18 similar to those previously indicated at H6, ||6 and |34. All four of these form a. single series adapted for control by the mechanism of the Houseman patent. A spring |19 normally urges the lever |14 in a counterclockwise direction so as to raise the active end of the depresser |12. 1

A slot is provided in the latch ring extending diagonally upwardly as shown towards the position assumed by the eye in the linger 16 when that nger is raised to its inactive position. The purpose of this slot will be brought out hereafter.

A lever |82 is pivoted at |84 to the frame and is connected by a link |86 with a lever |88 actuated by cams on the main cam drum of the machine. A spring normally urges the lever |82 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 against the normal tension of the link |86. Secured to the lever |82 is an upwardly extending post |83 on which is clamped a bracket |90 carrying a pivot pin |92l on which is mounted a lever |94 provided with a cam following end |96 arranged to be engaged by cams |98 carried by the sinker dial di, these cams being located approximately apart to effect operation as described hereafter. The upwardly extending arm of the lever |94 carries an adjustable pad 208. .A light spring 202 normally urges this lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 to take up play although a stronger spring referred to later tends to hold the lever in a clockwise position so that the follower ,|96 is normally engageable by the cams |98. l

' Journalled on the post |83 isa sleeve 28d which carries a bracket 266 carrying the auxiliary clamping and cutting elements. A spring 368 urges the sleeve 2M in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in plan to bring an adjustable stop screw 2|2 into engagement with a post 2|@ carried by the bracket |99. The purpose of this, as will be evident hereafter, is to prevent damage in case of the accidental engagement of a high riding needle with the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism.

A slide 2id is mounted in the bracket- 29 and is urged to the right as viewed in Fig. 12 by a strong spring 2|@ capable of overcoming the action of the spring 282. At its forward end the slide 2|@ is provided with a finger" 2|@ which engages butts 228 carried by movable blades 222 and 224| associated with fixed blades 220 and 226. The blade 222 is a clamping blade having an end of L formation so as to hook and engage yarns as hereafter described. The blade 225 is a knife blade cooperating with the fixed blade 226 to sever the yarns. During the formation of the high splice and splitfoot portions of the stocking the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism just described is actuated twice during each revolution of the needle cylinder. At other times it is taken out of action while clamping and holding a yarn by the movement of the lever |82 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 by which action the follower |96 is taken out of the path of the rotating cams |98.

The present machine has many features in common with the machine of my prior application referred to above. It is, for example, designed to form gussets in the toes of stockings and for this purpose is provided with suitable cams indicated at 238 in Fig. 2. Since, however, the formation of the gusset has no substantial relationship to the present invention, the action of the machine in this respect will not be described in detail but reference may be made to said prior application for such features of operation.

The product of the present machine is indicated in Fig. 14. The leg portion of the stocking indicated at A is decorated by embroidery striping as indicated at B, this striping extending from the leg into the instep. A high splice is pro- 'duced at C by rotary split fabric formation, the

leg yarn being continued into the instep while the sole yarn is used to form the high splice, these yarns being alternately brought into action and being tied together by a relatively slight overlap as indicated at F preferablyon about three needles on each side. Following the formation of the high splice C a yarn change is effected and the heel D is knit. Thereafter the foot portion of the stocking is formed by the same rotary split knitting as was previously used to form the high splice. Following the formation of the foot the advanced toe is knit after a yarn change to the heel yarn and then the toe G is formed including the gusset indicated at H.

The operation of the machine to produce this product will now be described, The yarn nger 12 carries the main leg yarn. The yarn nger i4 carries the heel yarn used for the knitting'of the heel and toe. The finger 16 carries the sole yarn which is usedfor the formation of the high splice and sole.

During the formation* of the leg the nger l2 alone is active. In order to prevent its being vibrated the lever 84 is withdrawn, by the action of the lever 10, from the path of the cam 98. The finger 14 is held inactive by the position of the lever H4 under the control of "||6. The heel yarn extending therefrom is hldby the main clamping mechanism consisting of the blades i6@ and |62. The sole yarn finger 16 is held inactive by the action of the lever |28 under the control of |34. The yarn from this nger lies within the slot |80 and is held by the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism which is retracted by the counterclockwise position of the lever |82. By reasonof this retracted position the follower |96 is held out of the path of the cams |98. The location of the sole yarn infslot |86 insures against its accidental engagement by the needles which pass close to the inside of the latch ring, being depressed in the stitch drawing operation below the active position of the auxiliary clamping and cutting' mechanism. During the formation of the leg both cams 52 and 54v are in active position to produce embroidery striping both at the front and back of the stocking.

. When the highsplice is to be made, one of the cams actuating the wrap fingers, say 52, is rendered inactive, this cam being the one which acts upon the butts of wrap fingers associated with vthe needles which knit the heel and soleof the to take wrap yarns by a failure to elevate them are imparted to the yann finger 12 as determined by the action of the' cam 98. The main clamp and cutter still holds the heel yarn carried by the inactive iinger 14.

During the formation of the high splice portion of the stocking by rotary knitting the two fingers 12 and 16 are alternately brought into vaction, the cams 98 and |24 being so arranged as to produce this alternate action but, nevertheless,

permit both fingers to feed the same limited number of needles on both sides of the-stocking to produce the necessary overlap indicated at F in Fig. 14. This overlap, as stated previously, is

preferably on about three needles on each side.

- The auxiliary clamping and cuttingmechanism vis operated in timed relationship' to the movements of the yarn fingers 12 and 16 to cut and clamp andv properly releaselboth of the yarns at the -proper times. This action is effected by a proper disposition of the cams |88 carried `by the sinker dial. y

Even though the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism and also the yarn lingers 12 and 1.6 are substantially entirely outside the needle circlefalthough the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism may extend to some slight degree ^over the needles which. are being drawn' yarns extending from the wrap fingers to the needles, no diicultyV is experienced in securing a proper engagement of. the yarns by the needles due to the fact that in View of the angular spacing of the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism from both yarn fingers the yarns extend in chordal relationship to the needle circle and are hence readily engaged.` During the formation of the high splice the needles forming the front of the stocking are wrapped to form a continuation of the pattern of the leg through the instep.

When the heel is to be formed reciprocatory motion isimparted to the needle cylinder and the instep needles moved out of action, the sole needles alone continuing to function in the usual manner producing narrowed and widened segments to form the heel. A yarn change takes place 'at thisv time. During this yarn change which involves the bringing of the finger 14 into action and the taking of the finger '12 out of action, in order to properly introduce the yarn from the finger 14 to the needles, use is made of the yarn placing mechanism indicated in Fig. 11. The heel yarn extending between the finger 14 and the main clamping mechanism is engaged by the forward end of the presser |66 and engages Within the hook |66 carried thereby. This hook carries the yarn across the needle circle to ,Y

a slight extent whichvis insuflicient to permit interference with the cage of Wrap yarns. The depresser |12 simultaneously lowers the portion of the yarn extending from the finger 14 to the hook |66 and thereby insures its engagement by the proper needle. As the last course of the instep (prior to the knitting of the flrst heel courseYis being knit by the yarn from finger 12, lever 84 is withdrawn. Finger 12 is then under the control of the main yarn changing mechanism, and after heel yarn in finger4 14 has been introduced, the instep yarn is Withdrawn to-pass into the main clamp andcutter. As finger 12 is raised, sole nger 16 is also elevated by the main yarn changing mechanism to pass into the auxiliary clamp and cutter, after which this clamp and cutter is swung outward to draw the sole yarn into slot |80 where it will be guarded from needles during-heel and toe knitting. Wrap nger controlling cam 54 is now rendered inactive in addition to cam 52 which was rendered inactive at the beginning of the high splice. 4The formation of the heel then takes place in the usual fashion. Y

After the heel is completedA the parts are brought back into the positions assumed during the formation of the high splice, patterning being continued thrdugh the instep and the fingers 12 and 16 being alternately brought into action as in the formation of the high splice. When the leg yarn finger 12 is initially brought into action the placing mechanism of Fig; 1l is again utilized to insure initial engagement of this yarn with the needles.

When the advanced toe: is to be formed yarn changing and operation of the parts takes place as at the beginnin of formation of the heel with the exception tha rotary knitting takes place on a number of courses before the beginning of reciprocatory knitting of the toe.

It will be clear that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention .with-1V out departing from its scope as defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect-by Letters Patent is:

l. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles arid devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs, means for alternately feeding main yarns to the needles during the rotary knitting of each courseof a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, and means for clamping and cutting the main yarns as they are taken out of action during the formation of each course.

A2. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs, the wrap yarns extending at all times in substantially straight lines from the wrap fingers to the needles, means for alternately feeding main yarns to the needles during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operyarns on each side of the fabric, and means for clamping and cutting the main yarns as they are taken out of action during the formation of each course, said last means being located outside the path of wrap yarns extending from the wrap fingers to the needles.

3. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arrangedto feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs, means for alternately feeding main yarns to the needles during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, a main clamping and cutting mechanism, and an auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism for clamping and cutting the main yarns as they are taken out of action during the formation of each course of the split portion of fabric.

4. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including' wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs, the wrap yarns extending at all times in substantially straight lines from the wrap fingers to the needles, means for alternately feeding main yarns to the needles during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, a main clamping and cutting mechanism, and an auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism for clamping and cutting the main yarns as they are taken out of action during the formation of each course of the split portion of fabric, both of vthe clamping and cutting mechanisms being located outside the path of wrap yarns extending from the wrap fingers to the needles.

5. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith forA the formation of stitches, said deviccs including wrap fingers arranged to feedv wrap means for alternately feeding main yarns to the needles during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, saidmeans being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, a main clamping and cutting mechanism, and an auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism for clamping and cutting the main yarns as they are taken out of action during the formation of each course of the split portion of the fabric, one of the main yarns being also held at certain times by the main clamping and cutting mechanism.

6. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs, a pair of yarn feeding fingers, ain outside main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, and an outside auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism located beyond both yarn fingers in the. direction of movement of the needles relative to'the fingers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms.

7. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles for the production of designs; a pair of yarn feeding fingers, an outside main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, an outside auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism located beyond both yarn fingers in the direction of movement of the needles relative to the fingers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms, and means for alternately bringing said fingers into action during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric.

8. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including wrap fingers arranged to feed wrap yarns to the needles Dfor the production of designs, a pair of yarn.feeding fingers, an outside main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, an outside auxiliary clamping and' cutting mechanism located beyond both yarn fingers in the direction of movement of the needles relative to the fingers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of 'the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms, and means for alternately bringing said fingers into action during the ro- `tary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said meansK being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, the yarns being clamped and cut by the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism during the last mentioned action.

9. A knitting machine comprising' a circular series of'needles and devices cooperating-therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including a pair of yarn feeding fingers, an outside'main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, and an loutside auxiliary clamping and cutting Vmechanism located beyond. both yarn ngers in the direction of movement of the' needles relative to the fingers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms.

10. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including a pair of yarn feeding ngers, an outside main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, an outside auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism located beyond both yarn fingers in the direction of movement of the needles relative to the fingers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms, and Ameans for alternately bringing said fingers into action during the rotary knitting of each course of a split por-- tion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric.

11. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices. cooperating therewithfor the formation of stitches, said devices including a pair of yarn feeding fingers,v an outside main clamping and cutting mechanism located between the yarn feeding fingers, an outside auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism located beyond both yarn fingers in the direction of movement of the needles relative to the ngers during rotary knitting, the yarn from one of the fingers being engageable by both clamping and cutting mechanisms, and means for alternately bringing'said fingers into action during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, the yarns being clamped and cut by the auxiliary clamping and cutting mechanism during the last mentioned action.

12. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating there-' with for the formation of stitches, said devices including a yarn feeding finger, a cam movable therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including a yarn feeding finger, a cam movable with the needles, a universally pivoted lever engageable by the cam and movable thereby in one direction to control vibration of the yarn feeding finger between active and inactive positions, and means for moving the lever at right angles to said direction to a position in which it is not engaged by the cam. i,

14. A knitting i' machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including a yarn feeding finger, a cam movable with the needles, a universally pivoted le'ver engageable by the cam and movable thereby in one direction to control vibration of the yarn feeding fingers between active and inactive positions, means forI moving the lever at right an gles to said direction to a position in which` it is not engaged by the cam, and independent means for rendering the yarn feeding finger inactive.

15. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices including a pair of yarn feeding fingers, clamping and cutting mechanism outside? the needle circle, means for alternately bringing said fingers into action during the rotary knitting of each course of a split portion of fabric, said means being operated to produce a limited overlap of the main yarns on each side of the fabric, and means for actuating the clamping and cutting mechanism during the last mentioned action toclamp and cut yarns from both fingers when they are removed from action during the formation of each course.

16. A knitting machine comprising a circular series of needles and devices cooperating therewith for the formation of stitches, said devices

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