US2012360A - Transfer mechanism for flat knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1935. w. F, sTABERT 2,012,360

TRANSFER MECHANSM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 4, 1951 6 sheets-sheet 1 IMMMMM!!! FR ZI//fzw Fvabefr 1 iM/W7 Aug. 27, 1935. w, F. STABERT 2,012,360

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 31a/vento@ atten/eq AUg- 27, 1935. w. F. STABERT 2,012,360

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES F'led June 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 .ZZZ

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ug. 2.7, 1935. W, F` STABERT 2,012,360

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 75 l 65 s 7l gnam/nto@ Allg- 27, 1935. w. F. sTABx-:R'r

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING' MACHINES Filed June 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 rarest orties TRANSFER MECHANSM FOR .FLAT KNITTING MACHINES William F. Stabert, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to Fashionlox, Incorporated, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June Il, 1931, Serial No. 542,127

6 Claims.

This invention relates to full-fashioned knitting machines and has particular reference to a novel transfer mechanism therefor such as will enable the fabric to be fashioned in va manner different from that now in general practice.

Broadly stated, it is the principal purpose of the present invention to provide 'an attachment for fiat knitting machines which will enable the production `of transfers at different distances from the edges of a fabric being knit, such op eration resulting in two or more sets of fash ioning marks relative to the edges of the fabric.

In carrying out my broad inventive concept of producing several fashionings relative tothe edges of a fabric, it is my further purpose to provide selective mechanism such as Will automatically operate to bring the transfer points of the machine into proper position for the different fashioning operations.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanism which will operate selectively to vary the number of transfer points utilized in effecting the various'successive transfers in a fabric being knit according to my broad inventive concept.

In .its practical application to a full-fashioned knitting machine, my invention may be utilized tc produce various and novel effects relative to the fashioning of a fabric. One example of a fabric which may be produced involves two fashioned areas extending side by side adjacent the edges of the fabric, the stitches in the respective fashioned areas involving a transfer over different numbers of needles. In producing a fabric such as just described, the practical embodiment of my invention may involve the utilization of single sets of transfer points of the usual type, said tra. sfer points being adjusted according to the present invention so that'one transfer'will be effected by only a portion of the sets of transfer points and the second transfer by the ma nipulation of the complete group of transfer points, the result being the production of one fashioned area transferred over one needle and a second area transferred over two needles.

In fashioning according to my proposed practice, it is necessary that the actuation and controlA of certain portions of a knitting machine, which operate in coordination with transfer mechanisrn in known practice, be modified so as to function properly in its new association. It is, therefore, a still further object of my invention to provide an alteration and modification of such parts as is necessary to enable theircoordina tive action when thev transfer mechanism is manipulated as herein proposed.

According to general present practice, single sets of transfer points are actuated to effect a transfer of groups of stitches in successively knit 5 courses to produce a desired shaping of the fabric being knit. Usually, although not necessarily, such stitch transfers .are effected adjacent the edge of the fabric. According to my practice it is proposed to effect several transfers relative to the edge of a fabric. It will be understood that to obtain such result, it will. be necessary that the transfer mechanism operate at least twice over varying areas, instead 0f once over corresponding areas as is the general practice, the transfer points being adjusted between successive operations so that the different fashionings may be effected at the desired points relative to the edge of a fabric and be made over the desired number of needles. As has been herein above suggested, the several transfers may produce two adjacent fashioned areas in which the stitches have been manipulated by a different number of needles; thus, for example, one area may involve a transfer of stitches over a single needle and the second `area over two needles.

In fashioning by an operation involving several transfers and, more particularly, where the same are to be made in the same courses, it will be appreciated that the coordinative timing and actuation of the knitting needles and yarn carriers with the operationof the transfer points must be maintained. As will be hereinafter described in detail, I propose to modify the pattern chain which controls the operation of all of these parts of the machine so that knitting will be commenced after the transfer mechanism has operated twice instead of once, and to regulate the stops for the yarn guides so that their traverse will be coextensve with the width of the fabric as determined by the successive transfers as various courses of the fabric are knit.

To make clear the nature of my invention, I have in the following description and accompanying drawings illustrated one embodiment thereof as applied to a flat knitting machine of the Theodor `liieberknecht type. It will be understood that by reason of the differences in detail between various types of knitting machines that the specific construction of the present invention will vary with the particular machine with which it is to be utilized. The present description, however, it is believed, will suce t0 make clear the essential features of my invention so as to enable one skilled in the art to reproduce the same in a specic form as required for a particular machine. It will, therefore, be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to all of the details of construction hereinafter shown and described but, on the other hand, intend to limit myself only to the extent required by the appended claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a full-fashioned flat knitting machine of the Theodor Lieberknecht type with my invention applied thereto; this disclosure includes the pattern control mechanism as modied in accordance with my invention, which is indicated out of its proper position relative to the length of the machine so as to make clear its cooperative relation with the present invention;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary plan view of a section of the pattern chain according to my invention;

Fig. lb is an elevation of a special cam utilized to control the transfer mechanism of the machine so as to produce transfers alternately over varying areas relative to the edges of a fabric being knit;

A Fig. 2 is a plan View of the transfer mechanism -of the machine according to the present invention, the same corresponding to the disclosure in Fig. l;

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary elevation taken along the line 2er-2a of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig.` l-is a rear elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan View partly in section and with 'certain portions broken away looking down from about the line '5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective in fragmentary rear elevation partly in section showing a portion of the control mechanism for the transfer point carriers;

Figs. 'l to 15, inclusive, are detailed explanatory views showing in succession one manner of causing single sets of transfer points to produce Vtwo fashioned areas involving a different stitch transfer wherein a, portion of the sets of needles are utilized for effecting one transfer and the complete set utilized for a second transfer; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged diagrammatic View of a portion of a fabric produced by successive transfers relative to the edge thereof under the manipulation of single sets of transfer points operating as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 15.

" Inasmuch as it is now the general practice to utilize single sets of transfer points to effect fashioning of a flat-knit fabric, I have selected a knitting machine employing that type of transfer mechanism with which to illustrate my invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the idea of producing several fashioned areas inwardly of the edges of a fabric may be carried out by the use of plural sets of transfer points.

t will further be understood that my invention yis equally useful with such mechanism to actuate the same into proper positions for the several fashioning operations in accordance with the locations in'which it is desired that the respective fashionings co-me relative to the edge of the fabric.

Also, various known auxiliary devices such as shields, knives, or presser plates may be employed in cooperative relation with the transfer points or knitting needles to selectively regulate and vary the number and position of the knitted loops of the fabric which'will be subjected to manipulation when the transfer points come into operation. It will be understood that whereas such devices are ordinarily unnecessary when using single sets of transfer points regulated to operate selectively, as hereinafter described in detail, they may be employed; further, in any case where they are employed, the actuating mechanism contemplated by the present invention may be used to control the same in determining the location and number of fabric loops which will be acted upon by a transfer mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the reference numeral 20 indicates the main frame of a flat knitting machine; Zl, the front beam; 22, the back beam; 23, the center bed; 2d, the main cam shaft; and 25, the knitting needle bed. Such a machine is commonly formed with a plurality of .knitting sections, each of which is provided with the requisite number of yarn guides, 3G, the latter being mounted on longitudinally movable yarn carrier rods, such as 3 l, and their extent of movement controlled by rod-contacting stops adjustably controlled by a feed shaft 32 having right and left hand portions upon which are lmounted stops to adjustably determine the length of travel of the yarn carriers in both directions. The positioning of the stops is controlled through rotation of the shaft by ratchet 33 controlled by pawl 3l, actuatable from the main cam shaft 2L? through suitable links and levers including 35 and 3E, according to Well known practice.

To fashion the fabric being knit by the machine, right and left hand sets of transfer points Mila. and Mib are provided to cooperate with the needles of the needle bed 25 and transfer groups of stitches of the fabric laterally one or more needles. Such sets of transfer points are mounted, respectively, on longitudinally movable carrier rods ila and Mb, the position of these being determined by stop blocks 52a and Mb slidable on a fixed guide shaft i3 and actuatable to or from each other longitudinally of the chine by blocks ella, and ilib mounted on a right and lleft threaded rotatable feed shaft ISE. The rotation of the shaft i5 is determined by ratchet Q6 mounted thereon and controlled by a pawl ll actuatable from the main cam shaft fnl through the lever 3B.

The mechanism so far described is well known v in the art. I will now proceed with a description of attachments to and modification of the transfer mechanism, above described, and the altered construction in certain other parts of the macept under repeated actuation which involves v' considerable time delay and interferes with the normal speed of production of the machine. as a whole. Hence, to produce a true repositioning of the transfer points between several fashioning operations of the same such as will shift the points and selectively determine the number of the same that will be brought into operative engagement with the needle bed, I provide novel auxiliary mechanism, automatically controlled by the pattern chain and actuatable from the Lil) main cam shaft. Such mechanism does not interfere with the gradual racking in or out of the transfer points through the controlling feed screw as the width of the fabric changes due to the fashioning operations, but, .on the other hand, cooperates with the latter and enables transfer in several areas relative to the edges of the fabric. My attachment is inoperative on one transfer which takes place from the positions of the sets of transfer points determined by the controlling feed screw in the usual manner. But when the other transfer is to be made, my device bodily shifts the sets of transfer points to new positions longitudinally of the needle bed at which the second fashioning is to be effected. After such transfer, the sets of points are allowed to shift bacl; to positions determined by the stop blocks controlled by the feed screw in accordance with the change in width of the fabric preparatory to operation in the next course in which fashioning is to be effected. I will now proceed with a detailed description of such arrangement, which, it will be apparent, permits two fashionings in selected areas relative to the edge of a fabric to be produced even on knitting machines employing single sets of transfer points. Like advantages will be attained in machines Where plural sets of transfer points, presser bars, or needle shields are employed to determine the loops of the fabric on the knit ting needles which will be transferred.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, and `considering therewith Figs. 1 and 4, a lever Eilb operated by means hereafter to be described and ccnnecting with the carrier rod Mb is provided to shift such rod and the transfer points 40h mounted thereon bodily longitudinally of the machine. To limit the amount of shift novel, adjustable, cpp'ositely disposed stop buttons SIb and 52h are provided to coact with the usual stop block 42h which is actuatable from the usual feed shaft 65. Such stop buttons may be co-nveniently mounted on the arms of a U-shaped support 53h secured to the carrier rod Mb. To absorb shock and prevent strain on the moving parts, the actuating lever 5th may lbe operatively connected to the carrier rod Mb through an arm 56th, pivotally connecting therewith and having a portion positioned between sections of a spring 55h extending between the arms of the U-'shaped :stop button support 53h.

The actuating mechanism for the transfer point shifting lever b will now be described. As best shown in Fig. 6, the lever is rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 59h actuatable by a lever Sib.

By reason of the fact that with the particular type of full-fashioned knitting machine with which my invention is illustrated, various of the carriages shift bodily during certain operations, and due to the further fact that the transfer points are gradually racked in or o-ut by the feed screw controlled stop blocks, it is necessary to mount the lactuating mechanism so as not to interfere with such movements. `Accordingly, ythe shaft @this supported at one end by a block e212 hingedly secured to the block 44h on the shaft 45, and at `the other end passes through a block '63h freely supported for longitudinal movement on a shaft M.

The lever Sib which controls the shaft 60h is actuated by a vertically reciprocal bar E5 which is provided with `a yblock 6th, mounted for free lon gitudinal movement, which connects w'i-thfthe lever i6 ib through a pin 561e.

It will be understood that while I have de scribed the actuating parts controlling the tran..- fer point carrier 4Gb, like parts Sila, Sia., 52a., 53a, 54a,`55a, 60a, 64a, 52a, 63a, 66a, and fila, are provided for the other transfer point carrier den.

Referring now to Fig. 4, actuating bars such as 10 and 'l2 are rigidly secured to the bar 65 through blocks 'il and 13. Two of such bars are desirable for the purpose of rigidity and strength, and these are connected, as shown in Fig. 5, to arms 'I4 and i5 which are in turn secured to a rocking shaft 1S journaled in blocks supported by the back beam, 22, of the machine.

To actuate the rocking shaft i6 and, thence, through the mechanism above described, the transfer point carriers, a long arm Il is rotatably mounted on a shaft 18, which may be the catch bar shaft of the machine, and is provided with a stubl shaft supporting a truck or roller 80, intended to coact with a special cam 8! on the main cam shaft 24, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The arm il is provided with an extension which is connected by a suitable link 79a with an arm 1917 rigidly secured to the shaft i6.

The special cam 3l', the shape of which is shown in Fig. 1b, is calculated to actuate the various parts above described to shift the transfer point carriers 4ta and 4th longitudinally with respect to the needle bed of the machine. An arm 2 bifurcated at one end to ooact with the roller Se and shift the same on and off the cam 8l is provided, the same being conveniently pivotally supported on a bracket 83 associated with the arm Il, To effect such operation the roller Sil is freely supported on the stub shaft 85 so as to be movable axially thereto, or, if desired, the stub shaft may be supported for longitudinal movement relative to the arm 1l. A spring 84 is provided to hold the arm 'VF in proper position.

As is customary practice, the operation of the machine during knitting and fashioning and the change from one to the other of such operations is effected by suitable cams, not shown, on the cam shaft 24, and controlled by a pattern chain S0, shown in Fig. 1, through the usual coacting mechanism including the finger el. By the employment of buttons S5 on the pattern chain with which the finger Slcoacts, the operation of the machine is changed from knitting to transferring.

This arrangement is well understood and need not be described in detail, it being sufcient to state that While the nger 9! is held raised by the button 95, the machine operates to transfer.

The mechanism just described is not altered except that when the several transfers are to be effected in the same courses the buttons on the pattern chain are double the length of those usually employed, this enabling the usual transfer cam to cause two, instead of the usual one, operations of the transfer points, as is one capability of the present invention.

During one of the transfer operations the machine operates as usual, the position of the sets of transfer points being determined by the stop blocks 42d and 42h. For the other transfer, for which the transfer points are to be reset longitudinally of the needle bed, the mechanism above described, including the levers 69a and Gilt, must operate While the button 95 maintains the machine in transfer operation. Accordingly, I provide a second set of buttons H35, of usual size, on the pattern chain, in proper relation to the buttons 95, as shown in Fig. la. Alse'cond finger lill is provided adiacent the finger el, to coact with those buttons, 'said finger being connected through suitable rods and links, including H02 and HB4, with a rod M33. Rod ID3. extends longitudinally of the machineand, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, engages a projection 66 on the arm 82. With such arrangement, as the finger lul engages the button H35 on the pattern chain, the rod i513 moves longitudinally'to'cause the arm 82 to throw the roller 66 on the special cam 8|, which actuates the lever 'Vl and the mechanism associated therewith to shift the transfer carriers Ma, and Ib and, hence, the transfer points lila andliilb longitudinally to an extent determined by the sets of stop buttons 5ML-52a and 6th-52h in cooperation with the stop blocks 42a. and 42h. AThe extent and direction of shift can, of course, be regulated as desired by adjustment of the stop buttons and the leverage of the mechanism together with the size of thebuttcns lil5 on the pattern chain.

When the button M35 passes the finger fill, a spring itil returns the rod w3 to ordinary position and the roller 66 is pulled off the cam 8 i.

As heretofore set forth, the racking-in and out of the stop blocks mounted on screw threaded shafts 32 and l5 determine generally the'position of the yarn carriers Sil and sets of transfer points 46a and 46h, and are controlled respectively by ratchets 33 and d6 through suitable pawls or clawkers actuatable by an arm 36 controlled in the usual manner. If it is desirable that the successive transfers of the fashioning mechanism be each over only one needle, the pawl M should be adjusted to be effective over only one notch of the ratchet i6 on the feed shaft il.

Since ordinarily the stops for the yarn carriers 3i are moved with the feed shaft 32 through theratchet 33 after each-transfer to realign the yarn guides 36 with thenew width of the fabric resulting from a single fashioning, it is necessary, where there are two successive transfers during the fashioning operation, that suitable adjustment be made. The proper alignment of vthe yarn carriers may be maintained by actuating the yarn carrier stop feed shaft 32 vonly after every other transfer operation.

This may be conveniently done by providing a pin ll'i on the pawl 3l which coacts with the ratchet 33, an arm Hi8 to disengage the pawl from the ratchet after every second transfer operation, as shown ,inFigs 2 and 2a. The arm |56 may be mounted on ra shaft H69, which is in turn mounted on a bell-crank ilii so as to be verticallymovable. The bell-crank is connected to the control rod 83, which shifts the transfer points non every second transfer operation, through a link lil which connects with a collar i i2 on the rod, as shown in Fig. 4'. Thus, the feed shaft and, hence, the yarn carrier stops will be actuated so as to bring the `yarn guides in proper position relative to the edges of the fabric when two fashionings are made.

Under Vthe usual adjustment of the stops for the transfer point carriers, and according to my main purpose, groups of stitches in successive courses occupying corresponding positions are transferred so as to constitute fashioned areas extending parallel to the edges ofthe fabric. If it is desirable that the successive fashionings produced by the machine operating with my mechanism should be at an angle to the edges of the fabric, as for example, in making the fashionings in the heel portions of full-fashioned hosiery, a simplemechanismV may be provided to accomplish this purpose. The usual ratchet, designated by the numeral |20, on the transfer ,carrier feed shaft 555, operates, according to general practice, through coaction with the pawl-carrying arm i2l, to give the feed shaft a reverse rotation from that produced by actuation of the ratchet 46 Kwhen the arm l2! is set in operative position.

Where there are two transfer operations relative to the edges of the fabric, as herein contemplated, and it is desired that the line of fashioning marks run at an angle to the edges, such mechanism should operate only once for every other transfer. Accordingly, a star wheel l22, having two diametrically opposite pins supported on one of its faces is arranged on a convenient support l 23 (see Fig. 2), and a pawl i213, mounted pivotally on the arm lZi so as to engage and rotatethe wheel a quarter turn on each operation of the fashioning mechanism. The pins are so arranged that on alternate quarter revolutions of thestar wheel one or the other will engage the edge of the arm l2! and prevent the pawl thereon from engaging the ratchet 26. Thus, the feed shaft will adjust the position of the transfer point stops, and, hence, the fashioning points, only after every alternate fashioning operation.

When producing parallel double fashioning in the calf or heel of a stocking fabric, or in producing the usual single fashioning in such portions, the star wheel will be inoperative when the fashioning marks are to run parallel to the edge. To render the star wheel inoperative, a latch |25 supported on the frame cf the machine is provided to engage a pin l26 carried on the pawl arm lZl, this arrangement serving to hold the pawl arm i2! out of engagement with the ratchet 26, and hence withdrawing the pawl l2@- from vengagement with the star wheel.

In Fig. 16 I have illustrated a fabric fashioned in two areas relative to the edge, one of said areas involving a loop transfer of one needle, and the other by two needles. This may be readily pro duced by a machine provided with the mechanism of my invention. In Figs. 7-15 I have shown one way in which'my mechanism may manipulate the transfer points to produce such a fashioned fabric.

When the fashioning is to begin the fashioning points are in the position shown in Fig. 7, only a small number of the points being in operative position relative to the needle bed. Such position is determined by the stop blocks 42a and 42h in cooperation with the respective stops 52a and 52h on the transfer point carriers. The points then pick the group of fabric loops a, in Fig. 16, off the needles as shown in Fig. 8, shift them one needle as shown in Fig. 9, and then deposit them on the new needles as in Fig. l0. The fashioning points are then shifted to a new position by my mechanism as shown in Fig. ll, such position being determined by cooperation of the stops Bla and Elli on the carrier with the respective stop blocks 132e and ll2b. The new position may, if desired and as shown, be such as to render the whole group of transfer points operable relative to the needle bed. On the second transfer, the points engage the group of fabric loops b, in Fig. 16, and in addition the loops ingroup a, as shown in Fig. l2. The points then shift the loops one needle, as in Fig. 13, according to cooperation of the stops 52a. and 521i with the new position of blocks 62a and Mb, the latter having been racked in by means of the ratchet 46 following the first transfer. The loops are then deposited on the needles, as in Fig. 14, to produce the fashioning as illustrated. It will be understood that with the operation as shown and described,

the groupa of fabric loops will be transferred two needles, by reason of successive transfers over one needle, and group b will be transferred over only one needle. Two fashioning marks will thus be produced relative tothe edge of the fabric. Of course, b-y suitable adjustment of the stops 5l, w and b, 52, c and b, the stop blocks 42, a and b, and the shifting mechanism, the several transfers may be made at any desired distances from the edge of the fabric, and of course may be spaced so that each group will include a transfer by only onefneedle. After the second fashioning, the transfer points are adjusted back, as shown in Fig. l5, to a new position relative to the edge of the fabric corresponding to that shown in Fig. 7.

For convenience in enabling a change from double to the usual single transfer relative to the edge of the fabric being knit, I provide a stop I3 l, as shown in Fig. 5, on the arm 'l'l which may be manipulated to prevent the roller Bil from engaging the special cam 8l Linder actuation of the roller control arm 82 by the pattern chain controlling rod N93. To this end the collar H68 on the rod (see Fig. Ll) is mounted loosely and seats against a spring held against longitudinal movement relative to the shaft.V When the stop I3! is in position, the collar lllS will compress the spring, the result being that the lost motion thereof will keep the arm 82 from pulling the roller on to the cam.

By my invention above described, it will bei appreciated that several fashionings relative to the edges of a fabric may be readily produced. Successive fashioned areas, where adjacent, may be over a different number of needles. The positions of the several fashioned areas with respect to the edges of the fabric and each other may be varied as desired. Also, the number of transfer points employed in the several transfers are subject to variation. It will be apparent, too, that the machine may readily be adjusted by one skilled in the art to render my mechanism inoperative and permit fashioning according to known practices.

What I claim is:

i. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bed, a cam shaft, longitudinally movable transfer point carriers, means including an arm having swinging movement connecting with each of the carH riers and operable between transf-er operations lfor shifting the carriers in either direction to re position the transfer points longitudinally of the needle bed, and means on the cam shaft for actuating said carrier shifting means alternately in opposite directions.

2. In a fiat knitting machine, a needle bed, longitudinally movable transfer point carriers, means for effecting a plurality of transfer operations between knitting operations, and means including a pivoted arm connecting with each of the transfer point carriers and actuating means therefor for effecting longitudinal adjustment of the trans- ,fer point carriers between transfer operations.

3. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bed, longitudinally movable transfer point carriers, a screw-threaded spindle, stops cooperative with the carriers to cause longitudinal movement thereof, a ratchet on the spindle, pattern chain controlled means cooperative with the ratchet for adjusting the stops a distance of at least one needle on each transfer operation, a second ratchet on the spindle, and means cooperative with the second ratchet on alternate transfer operations to adjust the stops a distance of at least one needle in the opposite direction, whereby the loop transferred areas in a fabric being knit will be angularly related to the edge of the fabric.

4. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bed, longitudinally movable transfer point carriers, means for positioning the carriers longitudinally of the needle bed means for shifting the carriers to reposition the transfer points longitudinally of the needle bed, stops for limiting the shifts of the carriers, and lost-motion connections between the shifting means and the carriers tol prevent strain on the actuating means when the carriers contact with the stops.

5. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bed, longitudinal transfer point carriers, means for positioning the carriers longitudinally of the needle bed means for shifting the carriers to reposition the transfer points longitudinally of the needle bed, and a shock-absorbing connection between said carriers and said shifting means, said connection comprising a resilient element secured to one of said members and means secured to the other of said members connected with said resilient element.

6. In a nat knitting machine, a needle bed, a longitudinal movable transfer point carrier, means for positioning the carriers longitudinally of the needle bed means for shifting the carrier to reposition the transfer points longitudinally of the needle bed, a U-shaped bracket secured to the transfer point carrier supporting opposing springs between the arms thereof, and an arm connecting the carrier to the shifting means dicposed between said opposingsprings.

WILLIAM F. STABERT.

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