US2005461A - Mechanism for narrowing flat knit full fashioned hosiery - Google Patents

Description

J3me 38 11935 G. GASTRICH E QQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w a W Jum 18 19350 GASTRICH ZAMQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Zavfim 7 A TTORNEY.

i June W35. G. GA$ i'RlCH ZAWSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR:

June 1%,, 11935. GASTRlCH ZMQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fi m1 8 a, 17 INENTOR 1: a gamm in /611 atented June l SM FUR NROWING '11 it.

FULL FASHIONED HOSIUERY Gustav Gastrich, Wyomissing, Pa..assignor to Textile Machine Works, .Wyoing, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 28, 1932, Serial No. 6%,161

J12 Claim.

whereby the formation of runs in the stockin which result from such dropping of stitches is accordingly reduced to a minimum.

The above mentioned feature is attained by increasing the number of courses in which the narrowings respectively occur, and by reducing the number of wales across which the laterally transferred stitches of each narrowing course are displaced. For example, instead of narrowing the fabric two wales adjacent to each end of every sixth course, which is common practice in the knitting art at the present time, the invention contemplates the narrowing of the fabric but one wale at each end of every third course.

By this process the narrowing of the leg of the stocking is less abrupt and more gradual than heretofore, and by transferring the narrowing stitches across but one wale, instead of two, the possibilities of dropping stitches at the narrowings is reduced to a minimum and almost, if not entirely, eliminated. 1 Abrupt narrowing at the rear lower ends of the heel tabs of a flat knit stocking blank is desirable, in order to give the proper rounded shape to the heel of the stocking, and the present invention contemplates the retention ofthe double Wale narrowing in closely adjacent courses in the production of the heel tabs.

.The invention contemplates automatic control for the narrowing points and thread guides of the machine on which the stocking blank is being produced, whereby the single wale narrowings in the leg of the stocking blank and the double Wale narrowings in the heel tabs of the stocking blank are automatically accomplished, without manual setting of the control mechanism by the operator of the machine after the knitting of the stocking blank has been started.

Another object of theinvention therefore is to provide automatic means for controlling the narrowing mechanism by which single wale narrowings in one part of the stocking blank and double wale narrowings in another portion of the stockin" blank may ,beautomatically accomplished.

As a result of the single Wale narrowings in the leg of the stocking. the obtrusive narrowing marks common to full fashioned hosiery are made considerably less conspicuous and in fact are almost entirely obliterated. Therefore, the general appearance of stockings made in accordance with the principles of the present invention is greatly improved over full fashioned stockings of the prior art. 1

. The construction and operation of the mechanism by which the improved stocking is produced will be more fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the lower portion of a stocking blank made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a stitch diagram, drawn on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the fabric designated as A" in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a portion of the fabric designated as B in 'Fig. 1;

Fig; 4 is an end view of sufllcient of a fiat full fashioned knitting machine to illustrate the cooperation therewith of the mechanism of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 with certain outermost elements broken away to illustrate more clearly the cooperation of other underlying elements of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and

Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the various relative positions of the mechanism for controlling the thread guides and narrowing points of the machine during the knitting of a stocking in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

The stocking blank illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a lower leg portionC, a narrowed or fashioned'calf portion D, an ankle portion E which includes a portion of the instep F at the opposite sides of which are disposed heel tabs G, G, re-

spectively.

The stocking blank throughout preferably comprises the usual successively knit ordinary courses of plain stitches, down to a course coinciding with the line 2:, a: at which the fashioning of the calf D begins, whereupon any desired number of stitches, for example six, lying adjacent to each of the opposite ends of the course of stitches then hanging on the needles are picked from their respective needles and moved inwardly of the blank to the extent of one needle whereupon the lifted stitches are transferred to the needles next adjacent to those on which the lifted stitches were formed, whereby, at each side of the blank two stitches occupy the one needle next adjacent to the needle upon which the innermost of the lifted stitches was formed, as illustrated at d in Fig. 2, thus reducing the width of the blank to the extent of one needle at each of the opposite sides of the blank in the narrowing course D In accordance with the principles of the present invention two plain courses P, P are preferably knit in succession after each narrowing course, whereupon another narrowing course D with single wale narrowings at is produced in substantially the same manner as above noted. This procedure is carried on throughout the formation of the fashioned calf portion D of the stocking.

After the calf portion D has been narrowed to the desired extent plain knitting in successive courses is produced throughout the formation of the ankle portion E and instep F, whereupon the formation of the heel tabs G, G at opposite sides of the instep F are provided in the usual manner, down to the line 1/, y at which the narrowing of the heel tabs begins.

In narrowing the heel tabs a number of stitches adjacent to each of the outer edges of the blank in a course G are lifted from the needles on which they were formed and transferred inwardly to the extent of two needles, as clearly shown at g, g, in Fig. 3, whereupon twoof the needles next adjacent to those from which the said stitches have been lifted are each occupied by two stitches.

' A predetermined number of plain courses P P are successively knit after each narrowing course, whereupon another narrowing course G is formed. However, the number of stitches lifted in the second narrowing course G at each side of the blank, is one less than the number of the stitches lifted in the preceding narrowing course G the lifted stitches in the course G being transferred inwardly to the e tent of two needles, the same as in the said receding narrowing course G This procedure is followed throughout the formation of the heel tabs G, G

whereby the line of narrowing marks in each heel tab is disposed at an angle relative to the outer selvage edge of the heel tab, rather than in parallel relation to the selvage edges of the blank as in the narrowing of the calf D, whereby the narrowing of the calf is more gradual than the narrowing in the heel tabs which is more abrupt in order to produce the desired rounding of the heel of the stocking.

In Fig. 4, the main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine of conventional type is illustrated at 10; The cam shaft 10 is arranged to be shogged axially at predetermined times by mechanism controlled by a pattern chain I I, in a manner well known in the art, such mechanism being shown-and described in detail in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania.

One of the single screw spindles for controlling the longitudinal movements of the threadcarrying bars of the machine is illustrated at I2, and one of the double screw spindles for controlling the longitudinal movements of the narrowing points, by which the stitches are laterally transferred, is illustrated at I3.

Secured to the spindle i2 is the usual single ratchet wheel I l that is adapted normally to b engaged and rotated or advanced to the extent of one tooth by the usual operating element, such as an advancing pawl I5, which is pivotally mounted on the outer end of an arm I6 loosely pivoted on the spindle I2.

Secured to the spindle I3 is a pair of opposed ratchet wheels I1 and I8 respectively, the teeth of which extend in opposite directions with respect to each other.

Adapted to engage the ratchet wheel I1 is an operating element, such as the usual advancing pawl I9, that is adapted normally to rotate and thereby advance the ratchet wheel I1 to the extent of two teeth. The advancing pawl I9 is pivotally mounted on an arm 20 loosely pivoted on the spindle I3.

The pawl-carrying arms I6 and 20 are pivotally connected to vertical arms or extensions 2I and 22 of a common actuator, such as a forked link 23, having its lower end pivotally connected at 24 to one end of a subtantially horizontal lever 25, said lever 25 being pivotally'connected at its opposite end 26 to a fixed portion of the machine.

Intermediate its ends the lever 25 is provided with a roller 21 which, when the main cam shaft I is shogged axially as above noted, is adapted to be engaged by a cam 28 secure to the said cam shaft I0, whereupon the forke link 23 will be raised in a work stroke forming part of a complete cycle of operation of the common actuator which is effected once for each revolution of the cam shaft I0, whereby the pawl-carrying arms I6 and 20 will be rotated about the spindles I2 and I3 respectively, and whereby, with the pawls I and I9 normally engaging the ratchet wheels I4 and I1 respectively, the spindles I2 and I3 will be rotated and the narrowing nuts mounted on the said spindles I2 and I3 will be moved inwardly to the extent of the spacing of two needles.

The angular spacing of the teeth in the ratchet wheel I1 is half that of the spacing of the teeth in the ratchet wheel I4 and the normal movement of the link 23 by the cam 28 is such that under normal conditions the ratchet wheel I4 is rotated to the extent of one tooth while the ratchetwheel I! is rotated to the extent of two teeth, each resulting, however, in corresponding rotations of their respective screw spindles I2 and I3 to an extent whereby'the traveling nuts thereon are moved to the extent of two needles each.

In order to accomplish the single wale narrowings in the calf portion D of the stocking, according to the principles of the present invention, the spindle I3 is rotated but approximately half its normal extent, in order to accomplish the single wale narrowing in each narrowing course. This is accomplished, in the present instance, by holding the pawl I9 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I'I during the first half of the upward movement of the work stroke of the operating link 23, then permitting the said pawl to engage the ratchet wheel during the second half of the upward movement of the link 23, whereby the said ratchet wheel I1 and the spindle I3 will be rotated to the extent of but one needle space. This is accomplished in the present instance in the following manner:

Pivotally attached to the link 23, at 29, is a reversing pawl 30 which is arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 to reverse the rotationof the spindle I 3 under predetermined conditions as will be fully disclosed hereinafter. During the formation .of the calf narrowing, the reversing pawl 30 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel it by a link ti which is pivoted at one end, at 32 to a timing lever 33% that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 3t. The-shaft at is secured in a fixed bearing 35 in the machine and extends substantially parallel to the spindles i2 and it. Mounted on the shaft at at the opposite side ofthe bearing 35 is a collar part 36 of lever 33 having a lateral extension 3'! projecting parallel to and in spaced relation from the shaft 3d.

Adjustably mounted on the extension 3V is a regulating block 38 which under predetermined conditions is engaged by a bearing surface formed on a lug M carried by or forming a portion of an arm M which extends outwardly from the traveling nut on the spindle l2, which nut carries the end stops ill for the thread guide bars M of the machine. The arm W is apertured to receive and slide on the shaft M, to prevent rotation of the traveling nut as the spindle i2 is rotated.

The regulating block W is adapted to be held in sliding contact with the bearing surface of the lug it by any suitable'means, such as a spring tit having one end attached to the timing lever 33 and its opposite end connected to any suitable portion of the machine.

The opposite end of the link dl is provided with an elongated notch M into which extends one laterally projecting end of a pin ts that is secured in the reversing pawl 3d, the pin d being held in engagement with one end of the elongated notch til by means of a spring db secured at one of its ends to the pin 65 and at its opposite end to a projection ill at the last said end of the link 3i.

During the narrowing of the calf portion D of V the stocking blank the regulating block tit intains contact with the bearing surface of the relatively slidable lug 3d and holds the lever till against rotation by the spring 33 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. The timing lever E533 and the link iii are thereby maintained in a fixed position and the link 38 withholds the reversing pawl til, in an inoperative position, with respect to the ratchet wheel in on the spindle l3.

Adjacent to its upper end the reversing pawl 30 is provided with a laterally extending pin it against which one surface M of a block 5% that is secured to the advancing pawl l9 bears. As a result of this construction when the common actuator 23 is raised in its work stroke by the cam 28, thereby raising the pawl 3t and sging the arm it about the axis of the spindle it, the ad vancing pawl it is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel H as the point of the pawl 09 passes one tooth of the ratchet wheel ill, but, due to therelative swinging movement of the arm it with respect to the substantially vertical movement of the reversing pawl 30 the advancing pawl i9 is permitted to engage the next tooth of the ratchet wheel H and thereby rotate the said ratchet wheel H to the extent of. one tooth during the latterfhalf of the upward Workstroke movement of the link 23.

During this upward movement of the link 23 the arm it is swung about the axis of the spindle it, in the same manner that the arm 20 swings about the axis of the spindle it, but the advancing pawl i5 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel It and, as a result thereof, the spindle it remains idle during the full upward movement of the link 23. Thus the thread guide is not moved inwardly in accordance with the inward movement of the narrowing points during the formation of the first narrowing course but continues to lay thread to the full complement of needles on which the previous non-narrowed courses were formed.

As the subsequent plain or non-narrowed courses, intermediate the first and second nar rowing courses, are knit the thread is laid, by the said thread guide, to that needle at each side of the stocking blank from which the outermost stitch was picked during the narrowing in the first narrowing course, but because of the fact that no stitch was left hanging on the said outermost needle at each side of the blank from which the outermost transferred stitch was picked in producing the first narrowing course the thread laid to these needles during the formation of the subsequent non-narrowed courses will slip out of the beards of the needles and form selvage edges at the next adjacent needles, being those onto which the said picked stitches had been transferred. This is done for the reason that it is impractical to reduce or narrow the travel of the thread guide to the extent of only one needle, due to the cooperative action between the jack-operated sinkers and the dividers of the machine in sinking the thread around the needles, and for this reason it has been heretofore considered necessary to transfer the narrowing stitches two wales at a time, in accordance with the necessitated reduction in the travel of the thread guide to the extent of two needles.

The advancing pawl i5 is held out of engage ment with the ratchet wheel it during alternate operating cycles of the common actuator 23 by a pin 56 extending laterally from the pawl 55 and engaging one end of a withholding lever 52, which is plvotally mounted at 53, intermediate its ends, to a fixed portion of the machine, the opposite end of the lever being provided with a roller 56 arranged to be seated in one of a series of peripheral recesses 55 in a wheel 56 which is rotatably mounted on a fixed portion of the machine upon a. stud or shaft El.

Fixed to the wheel 56, or on the shaft 51? in fixed relation to the cam wheel at, is a ratchet wheel 5% and rotatably mounted on the shaft or stud fill is a bell-crank lever Ed, on one arm of which is 'pivotally mounted a pawl hit for operative engagement with the ratchet wheel at. Pivoted to the second arm of the bell-crank lever 5d, at ti, is one end of a connecting rod b2, the opposite end of which is pivotally mounted on the pivot element 26 by which the lower end of the link 23 is pivotally connected to the lever 25.

As the forked link 23 is raised during the formation of the first'narrowjng course the cam wheel 5% is rotated to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet wheel 58, whereby the rollerdt on the lower end of the withholding lever 52 rides out of the occupied recess 55 of the cam wheel 5& onto a high point 63 of the periphery of thecam wheel 5t, whereby the withholding lever 52 is swung about its pivot 53 and the upper end of said lever is moved inwardly, toward the spindle it, whereby the advancing pawl i5 will be permitted to engage the single ratchet wheel M on the spindle i2, upon the next upward movement of the link 23.

The roller 54 is held in resilient yielding contact with the cam wheel 56 by means of a spring 64, one end of which is connected to a lug extending outwardly from the lever 52 while the opposite end of the spring SE is connected to the stud or shaft 57! upon which the cam wheel 56 is rotatably mounted.

At the completion of one revolution of the cam shaft III, while in the shogged position, which also constitutes one complete operating cycle of the link 23, the shaft I0 moves in an opposite axial direction to resume normal knitting of plain courses of stitches.

When the main cam shaft III of the machine is next shogged to produce the second narrowing course the spindle I3 will be rotated to the extent of one tooth of 'the ratchet-wheel IT, in the same manner as above noted, but'the spindle I2 will be rotated to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet Wheel I4, which is equal to two teeth of the ratchet wheel I'I, thus the spindle I2 will move the thread guide inwardly to the extent of two needles, at which time the thread guide catches up to the two-needle'inward movement of the narrowing points.

This sequence of operations is carried on throughout the formation of the narrowed calf portion D of the stocking, the spindle I3 moving to the extent of one needle during the formation of each narrowing course while the spindle I2 moves to the extent of two needles during the formation of alternate narrowing courses. Thus the transferring of the stitches inwardly along the selvage edges of the fashioned calf portion D and the inward movement of the thread guide keep pace one with the other throughout the formation of the narrowed portion D of the stocking blank.

During this time'the arm 40 on the narrowing nut that carries the end stops II for the thread guides 42 has progressed inwardly along the regulating block 38, and as the last narrowing course in the portion D of the stocking blank is formed the edge 66 of the retaining lug 39 moves past the edge 61 of the regulating block 38, thus releasing the said block from the lug 39 and permitting the lever 33 to rotate under the action of the spring 43, thereby swinging the timing lever 33 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4) and moving the control link 3| longitudinally, whereby the reversing pawl 30 is permitted to move into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 on the spindle I3 and the advancing pawl I9 is released from the reversing pawl 30, which heretofore has functioned as a withholding or controlling member for said advancing pawl I9, and is permitted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel H on the spindle I3.

At the same time a pin 68 on the control link 3| engages the lever 52 above its pivot 53, thereby swinging the same about its pivot against the action of the spring 64 and releasing the advancing pawl I so that the said pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel I4.

The non-narrowed portion E--F of the stocking is then knit in the usual manner, and when the course at the line y-y is reached the pattern chain II again functionsto effect shogging of the shaft II], to start the narrowing of the heel tabs G, G, whereupon each rotation of the shaft.

III in its axially shogged position will rock the lever 25 and raise the link 23 whereby the arms I6 and 20 will be swung in unison about the spindles I2 and I3 respectively and the advancing pawls I5 "and I9 will rotate the spindles I2 and I3 to the extent of two needles, narrowing of the fabric in the heel tabs G, G to the extent of two needles at each narrowing course.

As the link 23 is lowered, during the return stroke of the link on each complete operating cycle thereof, the reversing pawl 35 will engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 and turn the spindle I3 in a reverse direction, preferably to the extent of one needle. As a result of this reverse movement of the spindle I3 the innermost narrowing points are stepped outwardly to the extent of one needle each time, after making the two-needle transfer of the narrowing stitches, so that the transferring of stitches inwardly from the selvage edges of the heel tabs G, G will be formed on a line at an angle to the selvage edge of the heel tabs rather than on a line parallel to the selvage edge as in the narrowing of the calf portion D of the stocking.

During the formation of the heel tabs the withholding lever 52 is held out of engagement with the advancing pawl I5 and the reversing pawl 30 is disengaged from the advancing pawl I9 so that the spindles I2 and I3 each receive a synchronized two-needle movement upon each upward stroke of the link 23.

When the traveling nuts on the spindles I2 and I3 are backed out manually, in the usual manner, for starting the knitting of a new stocking blank the timing lever 33 is rocked manually in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, until the lug 39 carried by the arm 40 on the nut traveling on the spindle I2 again passes into position in line with the regulating block 38, whereby the pin 68, by which the controlling members for the advancing pawls I5 and I9 are interconnected for simultaneous release from their respective withholding means, is moved away from the lever 52 permitting the spring 64 to again move the roller 54 of the lever 52 into operative engagement with the periphery of the cam wheel 56 and the opposite end of the lever 52 into operative contact with the pin 5| on the pawl I5. At the same time the reversing pawl 30 is moved out of operative engagement with the ratchet wheel I8 and the pin 48 moves into operative engagement with the block'50 on the advancing pawl I9 whereby the machine is again made ready for the formation and counting of the single narrowing courses in the portion D of the next stocking blank to be made on the machine. 2

The dipping and raising of the narrowing points is performed in the usual manner by the usual mechanism commonto flat knitting machines, and is therefore not described herein although generally illustrated in Fig. 4 in a manner which should be readily understood by those familiar with the art.

Fig. 7 illustrates the relative positions occupied by. the various elements prior to the formation of the first narrowing course in the calf portion D of the fabric, wherein the thread-carrying bar I0 is in engagement with an end stop II carried by the traveling nut I2 on the spindle I 2 from which the arm 40 projects, the nuts 12, 12a at the opposite ends of the machine on the threadcontrolling spindles I2 and We being in the outermost position to lay thread to a full complement of needles for the full width of the widest portion of the blank being formed, such position being indicated at zero on the upper scale 0-2'4-6 at the left side of Fig. 7.

The traveling nuts I3, 14, and 13a, 14a on the right and left hand spindles I3, I3a, at the opposite ends of the machine are in a corresponding outermost position indicated at a on the scales arbcd/-e at the bottom of Fig. 7. The nuts I3, 13a control the narrowing bar I5 on which are supported the narrowing points 18 which operate along one edge of the fabric, for example the left hand edge, and the nuts I4, Ma

till

control the narrowing bar ll upon which is mounted the narrowing points '33 which operate along the opposite or right hand edge of the bar. Fig. 8 shows the thread nut it in the same position as occupied in Fig. 7 while the narrowing point nuts l3 and it have moved inwardly toward each other to the extent of one needle each, occupying the position in line with the scale markings b, b.

Fig. 9 illustrates the narrowing point nuts l3 and iii as having moved inwardly to position 0, two needles" inwardly from position a designating the widest portion of the fabric, while the thread nut l2 has moved inwardly, from. the zero position, to the position 2 on the scale, corresponding to a movement of two'needles inwardly from the zero position at the outermost edge of. the widest portion of the fabric, thus completing one cycle of knitting involving the formation of two narrowing courses, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 10 illustrates the thread nuts it, 72a in the zero position, corresponding to the outermost edges of the portion E of the fabric, at-or prior to the reaching of the first two wale narrowing course on the line 1 y. The narrowing point nuts iii and i l, i311 and Ma are in the corresponding zero, or outermost position with respect to the portion E of the stocking.

Fig'll illustrates the thread nut l2 as having moved inwardly from the zero position to the position 2 on the scale, to the extent of two needles, during the formation of the first'narrowing course in the heel tabs G, G, the narrowing point nuts l3 and M having moved inwardly to a corresponding extent of two'needles, from position a to position 0 on the scale.

Fig. 12 illustrates the narrowing point nuts it? and iii as having subsequently moved outwardly to the extent of one needle from the position 0 to position b in accordance with the reverse rotation of the spindle is to the extent of one needle as above described, while the thread nut it remains in position indicated at t in Fig. 12, in

readiness to move from position 3 to position ii;

and described, by which i obtain the above results, can be changed and modified invarious ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator for said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles to corresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said common actuator, means for withholding one of said operating elements during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for withholding the second of said operating elements during a portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, and means for interconnecting the withholding means of both operating elements for simultaneous operation to permit said normal operation of said operating elements by said common actuator.

2. The combination of a pair of narrowing Sp dles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator for said operating elements adapted normally to rotate such spindles to corresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said common actuator, means for withholding one of said op-- erating elements during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for withholding the second of said operating elements during a portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, means for interconnecting the withholding means of both operating elements for simultaneous operation to permit said normal operation of said operating elements by said com- -man actuator, and means for withholding the interconnecting means for a predetermined number of successive operating cycles of said common actuator.

3. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator mon actuator, means for withholding the inter-- connecting means for a predetermined number of successive operating cycles of said common actuator, and means operable by said common actuator for effecting rotation of one of said spindles in a reverse direction and to a predetermined portion of the extent of said normal rotation in the first direction by said common actuator during each operating cycle of said actuator subsequent to the simultaneous release of said operating elements for said normal operation by said common actuator.

i. The combination of a pair of narro spindles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator for said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles to corresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said common actuator, an individual control member for each of said operating elements, means for actuating the control member of one of said operating elements to withhold said one operating member during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for actuating the control member of the second operating element to withhold said second operating elem ent during a predetermined portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, and means for interconnecting the first said control member with the operating means of the second control member for simultaneously throwing both of said control elements out of said withholding relation to said operating elements to permit said normal operation of said operating elements.

5. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator for said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles'to corresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said common actuator, an individual control member for each of said operating elements,

means for actuating the control member of one of said operating elements to withhold said one operating member during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for actuating the control member of the second operating element to withhold said second operating element during a predetermined portion of eachoperating cycle of said common actuator, means for interconnecting the first said control member with the operating means of the second control member for simultaneously throwing both of said control elements out of said withholding relation to said operating elements to permit said normal operation of said operating elements, and means for withholding the said interconnecting means from operating during a predetermined number of successive operating cycles of said common actuator.

6. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operating elements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuator for said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles to corresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said common actuator, an individual control member for each of said operating elements, means for actuating the control member. of one of said operating elements to withhold said one operating member during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for actuating the control member of the second operating element to withhold said second operating element during a predetermined portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, means for interconnecting the first said control member with the operating means of the second control member for simultaneously throwing both of said control elements out of said withholding relation to said operating elements to permit said normal operation of said operating elements, means for withholding the said interconnecting means from operating during a predetermined number of successive operating cycles of said common actuator, said control member of said second operating element comprising means for rotating the spindle controlled by said second operating element in a reverse direction and to a portion of the normal extent of rotation by said operating element during each operating cycle of said common actuator subsequent tothe release of said operating elements from their respective control members.

7. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawl pivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheels respectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms for normally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a work stroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said' com- -mon actuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles with teeth projecting in an opposite direction to the first said ratchet wheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuator for engagement with the second said ratchet wheel on said spindle for normally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a return stroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holding said second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, and means on said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for said spindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchet wheel on said spindle during a portion of each work stroke of said common actuator.

8. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawl pivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheels respectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms for normally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a work stroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles with teeth projecting in an opposite direc tion to the first said ratchet wheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuator for engagement with the second said ratchet wheel on said spindle for normally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a return stroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holding said second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, means on said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for said spindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchet wheel on said spindle during a por-; tion of each work stroke of said common actuator, a lever for withholding the single pawl of the other spindle from engagement with its ratchet wheel, and means operable by said com-' mon actuator for effecting withholding of the said single pawl by said lever during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator.

9. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawl pivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheels respectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms for normally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a work stroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said common actuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles with teeth projecting in an opposite direction to the first said ratchet wheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuator for engagement with the second said ratchet wheel in said spindle for normally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a return stroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holding said second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, means on said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for said spindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchet wheel on said spindle during a work stroke of said common portion of each actuator, a lever for withholding the single pawl of the other spindle from engagement with its ratchet wheel, means operable by said common actuator for effecting withholding of the said single pawl, by said lever during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, and means for interconnecting said lever with the withholding means of said pawls for the first said spindle, and means for releasing said withholding means to permit said normal operations of said pawls by said common actuator.

10. The combination of a thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle, a traveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing point control screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point control screw spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, a pair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle, a single pawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl for engaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for said pawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extents during a word stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator for engaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle in an opposite direction during a return stroke forming another portion of the said complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaft parallel to said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a link having its opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawl and said timing lever respectively, a withholding lever for said single pawl, means operable by the common actuator for operating said withholding lever to hold said single pawl from operating said single ratchet wheel during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means cooperatively connecting the advancing and reversing pawls associated with the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing ,pawl engages its ratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of the common actuator, an extension from the timing lever parallel to said shaft, and a lug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the said extension of said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out of engagement with its said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancing pawl in said relation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predetermined number of complete operating cycles of said common actuator and to then release said timing-lever topermit said normal operation of said advancing and reversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of said common actuator.

11. The combination ofa thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle, a traveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing point control screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point control screw spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, a pair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle, a single pawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl for engaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for said pawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extents during a work stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator for engaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle in an opposite direction during a returnstroke forming another portion of the said complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaft parallel to said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a link having its opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawl and said timing lever respectively, a withholding lever for said single pawl, means operable by the common actuator for operating said withholding lever to hold said single pawl from operating said single ratchet wheel during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means cooperatively connecting theadvancing and reversing pawls associated with the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing pawl engages its ratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of the common actuator. an extension from the timing lever parallel to said shaft, a lug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the said extension of said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out of engagement with its said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancing pawl in said relation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predetermined number of complete operating cycles of said common actuator and to then release said timing lever to permit said normal operation of said advaricing and reversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of said common actuator, and means for interconnecting the withholding lever of said single pawl with said timing lever to throw said withholding lever out of action simultaneously with the release of said advancing and reversing pawls to permit said normal operation of said single pawl together therewith.

12. The combination of a thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle, a traveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing point control screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point control screw'spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, a pair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowingpoint spindle, a single pawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl for engaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for said pawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extents during a work stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of the common actutator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator for en gaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle in an opposite direction during a return stroke forming another portion of the said complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaft parallel to said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a link having its opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawl and said timing lever respectively, a withholding lever for said single pawl, means operable by the common actuator for operating said withholding lever to hold said single pawl from operating said single ratchet wheel during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means cooperatively connecting the advancing and reversing pawls associated with the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing pawl engages its ratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of the common actuator, an extension from the timing lever parallel to said shaft, a lug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the said extension of said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out of engagement with its said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancing pawl in said relation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predetermined number of complete operating cycles of said common actuator and to then release said timing lever to permit said normal operation of said advancing and reversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of said common actuator, means for interconnecting the withholding lever of said single pawl with said timing lever to throw said withholding lever out of action simultaneously with the release of said advancing and reversing pawls to permit said normal operation of said single pawl together therewith, and a block intermediate said lug and said timing lever extension and adjustably secured to one thereof to vary the timing of the actuation of said timing lever as desired.

GUSTAV GASTRICH.

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