US2016055A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

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061i,A 1935. 4 s. R SHELMlRE 29916,@55

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 y 8 Sheets-Sheet l )e S. R, SHELMIRE KNITTNG MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 @vf/M ,26

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ct. T935.

S. R. SHELMIRE KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllii dw" i0 Oct. 1, 1935.

s. R. SHELMIRE 1 KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18J 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 sa y2 #IEM/Mfrs.

Oct. 1, 1935. R. SHELMIRE 2,016,055

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18,. 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 rm" l 1935- s. R. SHELMIRE 2,016,055

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 W/ 7' NESS @Uh L 9350 5. Ri SHELMIRE 2,916,955

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 entre STATS Matas FFEQ KNITTING MACHINE Application July 18, 1932, Serial No. 623,057

.V16 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine and specifically a machine in which patterns are produced by wrapping and a double sole is pro# duced in a stocking by the addition of a yarn in the sole of the foot portion.

It is a broad object of the present invention to provide a machine of novel construction for the knitting of stockings in which the parts are so related that a maximum degree or" simplicity is attained even though the machine is capable of producing elaborate results involving wrap designs and a double sole and gusset toe in stockmgs.

One of the subsidiary objects of the invention is the provision of a machine which may be used either for the production of Wrapped designs or the production of plain knitting, the latter being accomplished without any interference from the Wrapping instrumentalities. Specically, so far as this object is concerned the wrapping mechanism is carried by a head which may be moved upwardly away from the needle cylinder either with the latch ring or independently of the latch ring. When it is desired to gain access to the top of the needle cylinder during the knitting of work containing wrapped designs, the wrap finger mechanism and the latch ring may be raised as a unit. On the other hand during adjustment, for example or the yarn fingers, the wrapping mechanism may be raised upwardly while the latch ring remains down in it's operative position, it being thus possible to watch the operation without interference by the wrapping elements. Ac-

cess to the needle cylinder is gained in this case by raising the latch ring only.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved means for guiding and tensioning wrap yarns in their progress from supply bobbins to the laying fingers.

A .further object of the invention relates to the provision of a compact means for associating elements for transmitting controlling movements from a master cam disc or drum to the elements to be ultimately controlled. This means consists of a series oi nested hollow shafts carrying levers acted upon by the cams on the cam drum and also levers which transmit the oscillations of the shafts to the elements which are to be controlled.

Still another object of the invention relates to the provision of improved means for controlling the action of needles to selectively take or fail to take wrap yarns.

it is also the object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement for properly manipulating a double sole yarn, particularly in connection with means which will effect the feeding of main yarns and the changing of such yarns to the needles without Ainterference with the wrapping devices or the yarns trailing therefrom to the needles. In connection with the double sole yarn mechanism means are provided for clamping and cutting this yarn, these means being in addition to the clamping and cutting means for the main yarns. There is also provision to insure that the double sole yarn, when it is not to be engaged by the needles, will not interfere with the normal operation of the machine. The last involves the incorporation oi means for bringing the double sole yarn away from the needle circle within the normal face of the latch ring and for maintaining it there by the use of proper tension and take-up devices. The clamping and cutting mechanism which is used to clamp and cut the double sole yarn upon each revolution of the needle cylinder is also used to hold the double sole yarn during the knitting of those parts of a stocking in which it is not incorporated.

Other objects of the invention relating more particularly to details of construction, whereby the objects briey enumerated above are accomplished, will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a right side elevation of the machine partly in section and with other parts removed for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine from which various parts are removed, certain portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detail of the wrap yarn tensioning means;

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating more particularly the various parts acting upon the butts of the needles together with other elements located adjacent these;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on a lower plane and illustrating more particularly elements adapted to act upon needle jacks;

Fig. 7 is an inside elevation of a jack cam;

Fig. 7a is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the means for controlling the stepping of a pattern controlling trick wheel;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional View showing the wrapping mechanism and controlling devices therefor;

Fig. l0 is a horizontal section through the same; 55

the double sole yarn and the other elements is prevented when the double sole yarn is not being knit;

Fig. l5 is a similar view showing a modified ar-` rangement of the latch ring; Y

Fig. 16 is a vertical radial section through-one side of the needle cylinder showing the relationship between the needles and jacks and mechanism operating thereon;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic developed inside elevation of the cams adapted to operate upon the wrap fingers, needles and jacks respectively;

AFigllS is a plan view of the device for tensioning and taking up the double sole yarn;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section .taken on the plane indicated by IQ-IS in Fig. 18;` and Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the relationships oi the various controlling Vcams and also showing the diiferent types of needles associated in the'machine, the parts at diiierent levels being shown at different radii.

The machine which is of the rotary needle type comprises an elongated cylinder 2 mounted for rotation about a verticalaxis and provided with longitudinally extending slots adapted to slidably receive needles 6 provided with butts tof different lengths as will be hereafter pointed out, intermediate jacks l@ provided with butts i2 and lower jacks if! provided with Vremovable butts i6 and formed at their lower ends with cam engaging ledges H3. The needles and intermediate jacks are `designed to slidevertically within the slots, the needles being held in the slots by the use oi the usual spring bands, while the intermediate jacks are held therein by engagement with the cylindrical surfaces of certain cams as will -be hereafter pointed out. The lower jacks Irl are adapted to slide andalso pivot in vertical radial planes about points intermediateV their upper and' lower ends. To accomplish this the lower jacks have their inner edges formed as shown providing a point i9 about which they may pivot when acted upon by suitable cams in a manner which will be hereafter pointed out. These lower jacks are heldin position by a single spring band, which, however, is not relied upon to maintain the jacks in any definite position although as will be'obvious from the drawings there will be atendency for the spring band to maintain the jacks with their lower Yends projecting outwardly.

The needle cylinder has secured thereto the usual gear 2@ which is driven through an idler by the driving gear 5E) controlled by suitable mechanism of the usual type to provide both rotation and reciprocation. The gear` Z'is mounted in the portion 22 oi the frame.

To provide a support for various elements of the mechanism there isprovided a platform 24 which is supported fronirthe lower portion 22 oi the frame by suitable posts. A bracket 2d supported by vthe platform/26 carries a shaft 28 upon which the latchring supporting bracket 3] is pivoted, this bracket carrying a latch ring 32. The supporting bracket has pivoted to its forward portion a hookv 3d, engageable with a pin 35 carried by an upstanding bracket 38 to maintain the latch ring in its lowered position. Manipulation of the hook 34 will release the hook from the pin 36 whereby the latch ring may be raised in the usual manner, a suitable spring being provided 5 to counterbalance its weight andtend to hold it open. The usual cam ring 46 containing the cams for controlling the sinkers is provided, the cam ring having the usual freedom for oscillatory movements limited by engagement of stops with 10 the post 38.

A bracket i2 pivoted on the shaft 28 is provided at itsV forward end with a downwardly extending portion dal providedwith openings through which project headed screws 45 designed to thread intor15 the latch ring supporting bracket 3G. A spring ill counterbalances the weight ofthe bracket 42 so that this bracket will tend to remain in the position illustrated in Fig. l except when held down by the screws 4B. When secured by these 20 scre'ws'toV the latch `ring support', however, the latch ring andthe bracket 42 may be raised as a unit by freeing the hook 34`from the pin 36. As will be hereafter pointed out, with the bracket raised and the latch ring alonedovvn in its'oper- 25V ative position, plain knitting may be produced whereas when the bracket i2 and the parts which it carries are also down in their operative position wrapping of needles'will take place with Vthe formation of designs.

The shaft d3, which carries the gear 50 adapted to drive through an intermediate idler the ring gear 2Q, projects upwardly and carries at its upper end a gear 52 meshing with a pinion 54, the shaft of which has a universal connection with one element 5% of a split shaft to which element the other element t is splined by the use of a key and slot connection. The upper element 58 has a universal connection with the shaft carrying a gear d@ and journalled in the bracket 42. The gear 6d meshes with a gear 62 which is attached to the wrap finger supporting assembly indicated generally at Sli.

The assembly @it includes a plate E6 provided with supporting pins 58 upon which bobbins 10 45 maybe mounted. Above these bobbins 'I0 there is a plate lll which formsa sheet for the support of tubes l2, the plate lll having openings therein through which the tubes extend, being held in position by clamping nuts. As illustrated most clearly in 3 each of these tubes carries at its outer end a spring tension member 'I6 the upper arm of which bears against the top of the tube to tension a yarn passing between it and the tube. Extending downwardly through the member tit are thread guiding tubes 'i8 which, as illustrated'in Fig. 9, project below the assembly to guide yarns to eyes in wrap fingers 80. These wrap iingers are carried by ahead forming the lower portion of the assembly and consisting of a @c preferably single member providing cylinders 82 and d3 having aligned vertical slots therein, there being between these cylinders a groove having a semi-circular radial cross section to receive semicircular projections t@ of the wrap fingers and G5 thereby provide a pivot for the same. The wrap ngers are held within the slots in 82 and 33 by means or" a spring band 88. Y

The 'yarns from the bobbins l5 extend upwardly through the openings in the tubes 14 thence under the springs '56 whereby they are tensioned, and then downwardly .through the tubes it and finally through the eyes of the wrap fingers. The lower ends of the wrap fingers are twisted inthe usual fashion so that as the wrap linger moves outwardly through the needle circle it passes to one side of the needle with which it is to cooperate by reason of the cam action of the hook of the needle on its end, and then on its return passes to the other side of that needle, again due to the camming action of the hook of the needle thereon.

The wrap iin-gers are provided at their upper ends with butts @il occupying in the present Inachine either of two positions, the butts in the upper position being acted upon by cam di while those in the lower position are acted upon by cam Se, these cams being pivoted upon a vertical pin 9S and being urged away from the butts of wrap fingers by springs gli, the limiting position being determined by a suitable stop. The diiferent butts Se on the wraplingers are-provided to secure a possibility of greater pattern variations, since by control of cams E12 and @il lingers be selectively rendered active or inactive as desired independently of the selective raising of needles. A greater number of butts with a corresponding number of cams of the type of $2 or ed may oi course be provided as illustrated in ny application Serial No. 469,956, led July i9, i930,

To control the action of the earns S2 and Qd these earns are provided with projections adapted to be engaged respectively by earn levers it and ltd pivoted at lili, and adapted to be acted upon by vertical levers lull and l l@ respectively. Springs l lb tend to hold these levers itil and ilil in position so that they will act the projections Hilti to maintain the cains nd in condition to act upon the butts S@ and thereby swing the lower ends of the wrap lingers outwardly. Reverse movement of the Wrap 1ingers to carry the lower ends inwardly of the needle circle are effected by the action thereon of the active edge H3 of a cam lll at peints below their pivots 36.

The levers lilll and il@ are pivoted at ill to the vertical post l'l and are acted upon at their lower ends by levers lill and lili, the former or' which is carried by a vertically extending tube l i8 journalleu in the frame of the machine while the latter is carried by a shaft l2@ journalled within the tube l l. Thel tube l i8 at its lower end is provided with a earn following lever il? arranged to be acted upon by a cani i2@ carried by the cam drum i225 while the shaft carries a lever ld adapted to be acted upon by a E25 carried by the saine drum. When the levers l22 and lil are swung outwardly by their respec tive cams H23 and E25 they cause the levers it?, and il@ to rnove the levers i632 and it@ the action of springs M and thus cause to disengage their respective earns di and "wie action of the springs M5 on the other hand wll cause the cams 92 and Se to move inwardly act upon the butts Sii. As will be clear from Fig. 2 the cams @fr and 952 are carried by the bracket l2 so that when the saine is lifted they rise therewith.

The bracket il is steadied in its active position by engagement of a tapered opening in an extension i3d thereof upon a tapered pin projecting from the upper end of the post lill. A.

leaf spring l carried by the projection i.'l

provided with an opening arranged to engage over a pin i3d carried by the post lill! thus formm ing a releasable latch to hold the bracket in its lowered position prior to the engagement of screws llt.

Referring now to Fig. 17 the layout of the carns for operating upon the butts of the needles and jacks will be briefly described. Inasmuch as only one feed point is provided, there is a single set of stitch cams at the feed point. These earns include the upper center carn 36, the lower center cam 38, stitch cams Mil and lili?, and end canis 5 lll and 453, together with the usual cams associated therewith to properly move the needles for the formation of stitches. The cains ldd and l 112 are mounted upon slides of the usual type (not shown) so that leveling of the needles rnay be effected. To provide for the formation of gusset toes, earns idd, ille and lili? are pro-vided on one side of the feed point while caries and le? are provided on the other side or ne feed point. Cams hill and MS are supported together on a single carrying member, cani idd being adapted to engage long butts only while cani is adapted to enea-ge both medium and long butts oi' needles as will be later discussed. Between the Canis M4 and Ult is a passage M5 for needle butts 20 which is provided for a purpose which will be hereafter made clear. The cam itil is adapted to raise only long butt needles while it misses short and medium butt needles. These Gains are rnc-vable and out in a manner which will be here- 25 after described. .The earns ill and lei! function not only in the production of gussets but also perform the functions of the switch cani or earns usually provided. The end cani lf3-i is spaced a somewhat unusual distance irorn the stitch cazn Ulli leaving a space i5@ through which move at a low level. This is to aoco 4vnod-.ate the double sole yarn cutting and clamp ig mechanism which, when in action, projects over the needle circle.

A lowering picker ill and raising piV and 52 all of conventional type are Below the various cams just described is a continuous ring of cares le@ which, as trated in Fig. i6, serve to hold the inte jacks lil within the slots of the needle circl upper surface of the cams forming provide the usual end cams lei and im needle butts. There is also provided a surface 252 on the lower portion of the ring it@ to act upon the butts i?? of the int jacks lll, this cani surface li: bearing to the other cams the relationship illustrated inl Figs. 17 and 20.

rlhe angular relationship between the needle cams and the cams for operating upon the wrap lingers is illustrated in Figs. 1'? and 20, the elements ed and M2 heretofore described having their active portions indicated therein.

A is adapted to act upon the shoulders I8 of the lower jacks ifi. The active surface of the earn itil is illustrated which represents the height ito which the shoulders i3 are raised thereby. A beveled upper projection E68 on this ca-:n serves to rnove the lower ends of the lower jacks inwardly thereby releasing the shoulders i3 from the cani after the jacks have been raised to the highest position for cooperation with the wrap fingers. Those jacks which have had their lower ends previously moved inwardly are not engaged by earns i653, as will be apparent hereafter. The others ride up ZiS and then itil to i 2 and Mill being inade separate for adjustment purposes as will be later discussed. A safety il is provided to prevent overrun of those jacks which are depressed by the cam itil, this cam serving to hold the jacks in position for later engage fit the carn ll4 which is provided with an independently sloping upper surface llt designed to engage the shoulders |8 and align the jacks so that the butts I6 thereon will cooperate properly with the various ngers |88 and |82.

A safety bevel |18 prevents breaking of butts by cam 2 i8 during reciprocation. A suitable cam, not shown, holds the lower ends of the jacks inwardly until they are rocked by cam |18 which serves to rock the lower ends of the jacks outwardly prior to operation of lingers |88 thereon, (see Fig. 16).

Referring now to Fig. it will be noted that the camsY |44 and |46 are carried by a lever |84 piv- Voted to the frame at |86 and having its inward movement limited by a suitable set screw adapted to engage a fixed part of the machine. The lever |84 carries a pin |88 engaging within a fork formed in a bell crank lever |68 pivoted to 'the frame at |8|. A spring |88 tends to urge the lever |98 in a counterclockwise direction. A link |82 connects an arm of the lever |88 with a lever |94 which is carried by one, |86, of a set of hollow nested shafts mounted in vertical bearings and in each other in the frame. The lower end of the shaft |86 carries a lever |88 which is adapted to be acted upon by suitable earns 288 carried by the cam drum |26.

The cam |58, the position of which is most clearly shown in Figs. 17 and 20, is carried by a plunger 282, (Fig. 5), while the cam |52 is similarly carried by a plunger 284. These plungers which are slidable radially in a frame extension and prevented from turning are normally urged outwardly by suitable springs (not shown). Cams 286 and 288 respectively, best shown in Fig. 2, act upon the plungers 282 and 284 to move the same inwardly at proper times. These cams are carried at the upper end of the posts secured to a head 2|8 normally urged downwardly by a spring 2|2 to bring an extension 2|4 which it carries in engagement either with the surface of the main cam disc or in contact with suitable cams 2|6 thereon. The cams 286 and 268 are vertically adjustable on their supporting posts Vso that the timing of the cams |58 and |52 in their inward and outward movements may be readily adjusted.

As will be seen from Figs. 7 and 7a, the cam |54 is supported by a block 2|8 being adjustable relatively thereto by the provision of suitable adjusting screws 228. The block 2|8 is carried by a slide 222 radially adjustable in the lower bracket ofthe frame, fixation of the slide in adjusted position being effected by the clamping engagement therewith of a screw passing through an elongated slot in the slide into the bracket.

The cam |18, the active portion of which is indicated in Figs. 17 and 20, is in the form of a lever pivoted upon a fixed Vertical post 223. The arm of the lever |18 opposite its active end is adjustably secured by means of a clamping screw 224 to an arm 226 through which is threaded an adjustable set screw 228 designed to bear upon the hub of the lever |18. By reason of the fact that 224 is a clamping screw the lever 226 forms van extension of the lever 228 so that in effeet there is a single lever engaged by the link 238. The arrangement just described is for the purpose of providing a relatively fine adjustment of the inward radial position of the active end of the lever |18. By freeing the clamping screw 224 the arm 226 may be pivoted thereabout relatively to the lever |18 until the set screw 228, in

properly adjusted position, abuts the hub of |18.

When such proper position is obtained the clamping screw 224 is tightened. A suitable spring 23| urges the lever |18 ina clockwise direction. To oppose this and bringv the active end of the lever |18 in position to engage the jacks |4, the link 238 is connected between 226 and the arm 232 carried by one, 234, of the Vseries of nested 5 sleeves previously referred to, the lower end of this sleeve 234 carrying a cam Vfollowing arm 236 designedrto be'engaged by cams 238 upon the cam drum |26.-

As has been already indicated, there is provided a stack of cam iingers |80 and |82, the lowermost being designated by the last number inasmuch as it has different functions and connections from the others. This iinger is connected by a link 248 to an arm 242 of another tubular sleeve of the nest heretofore described which carries at its lower end a cam following lever 244 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 246 on the main cam drum |26. Y

Springs 248 surrounding an upright iixed shaft have their ends secured to the various cams |88 to the left of their pivot 223, as viewed in Fig. 6, thus normally urging these cams to bring their active ends inwardly for engagement with the butts I6 of the jacks I4. The various cams |88 25 are provided with projections engageable with the butts of tricks carried by a trick wheel 258 which is of conventional type containing tricks provided with butts which may be Yselectively broken away in accordance with the desired patterning to be obtained. The trick wheel 258 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 252 which, with one exception, 254, extend'radially outwardly to a full extent. The exception, the tooth 254,

does not extend outwardly as far as the others for V a reason which will be made clear in the description of the operation. Adapted to act upon the ratchet teeth 252 and 254 is a pawl 256 urged inwardly by a suitable springv 251 and carried by a lever 258 connected by a link 268 to the upwardly 40 extending arm of a bell crank 282, the other arm or" which is engageable with lugs 264 formed on a pattern chain 266 which is trained about a sprocket 268 moved step by step in the conventional fashion by engagement with a ratchet secured thereto of an oscillating pawl 216 which is adapted to receive one oscillation upon each rotation of the needle cylinder.V A guard 212 is pivoted upon the shaft of the trick wheel 258. Y This guard takes the form of a plate having its outer edgeV formed in a series of stepsr214, 216 and 218. If the step 214 is brought opposite the range of the active end of the pawl 256 then the pawl is free to engage all of the teeth including the tooth 254 so that its reciprocation will impart a step by step movement to the trick wheel. If on the other hand the step 254 is brought opposite the range of movement of the free end of the pawl the pawl is held outwardly so that while it will engage the full size teeth 252 it will fail to engage the shorter tooth 254. Accordingly if this step 216 is brought into cooperation with the ratchet so long as the ratchet is activethe trick wheel will be stepped around until the tooth 254 becomes the next one to be engaged by the ratchet. When this occurs the ratchetV will reciprocate idly while the trick wheel will rest in lixed position. When the outermost step 218 is nected by a link 284 to an arm 286 carried by V the outermost of the nested tubular sleeves which carries at its lower end an arm 288 arranged for engagement with a cam 29@ properly formed to locate the guard plate 212 in its various required positions.

It will be noted that the projections on the cams I8@ which are engaged by the butts on the trick wheel are located to the left of the post 223 as viewed in Fig. 6. Accordingly the presence of -a butt in engagement with any of these cams I will result in the outward movement of its active end causing it to fail to engage a corresponding butt l@ of a jack tl. It is desired not only to secure such outward movement of the active ends of the fingers it@ by the butts on the trick wheel but also by other means so that a greater variety of patterns may be btained. To this end there are provided three levers 262, 2555i and 29% pivoted vertically above each other upon an upright post and urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in plan by individual springs 298. Each of these levers is provided with a projection of considerable vertical extent designed to engage the tails of a plurality of the cams E863. It may be pointed out that the projection of the lever 2% does not engage the cam H32 although it may engage a plurality of the cams i3d located immediately thereabove. While three of these levers are illustrated, it will be obvious that more or less may be provided as desired.

The levers 292, 294 and 29e are connected by links 3d@ to arms 302, 3M and 3931i respectively, secured to three of the nested shafts forming the group above mentioned. The lower ends of these respective shafts carry arms 3%, Si@ and 312 engaging cams 311i, tl@ and 393 carried by the pattern drum l 2e. By the actuation through the medium of these cams of the various levers 292, '29d and 2%, the corresponding groups of various cams it@ may be caused to fail to engage the butts l@ of the jacks ifi irrespective of set-up of the trick wheel 25S.

Referring now to Figs. l1 to 15 inclusive the yarn changing and fee-ding arrangements will be described. The main yarn feeding, cutting and clamping devices which are of a type designed to prevent interference of the main yarns and the cutting and clamping thereof with the wrap yarns are similar to those described and claimed in the application of Harold E. Houseman, Serial No. 529,519, filed April ll, 1931 .and will not be herein described in detail except to the extent to which modification is made to secure a proper cooperation with the double sole yarn feeding, clamping and cutting mechanism. Referring more particularly to Fig. 13 it will be noted that two yarn feeding fingers 320 and Sf are provided being pivoted about a pin 334 and arranged to be raised and lowered by devices of the general type disclosed in the Houseman application. The former of the ngers may be provided with Ia plurality of eyes so that a corresponding plurality of yarns may be fed to the needles in plating relationship. A hook S24 and a presser 3253 cooperate to carry the yarns from the ngers initially across the circle of needles so as to be seized thereby at the times when yarn changes take place. A xed blade 323 cooperates with a movable blade 33%) to out the main yarn while a clamp 332 in the form of a exible plate bearing against the movable blade 33u serves to clamp the main yarns after severing takes place coincidently with their removal from action. All of the parts just described are more thoroughly detailed with respect to their formations, arrangements, and operating connections in the application of Harold E. Houseman just referred to.

Pivoted on the xed shaft 334 is the double 5 sole yarn feeding finger 336 which is adjacent the main yarn fingers Si@ and 322 and is provided with `an extension 333 engaged by the upper end of a lever 346 which carries a cam following roller 362 engageable during rotation of the needle cylinder by a cam 3M carried by the rotating sinker dial. The engagement of the roller by the cam 3M serves to raise the nger out of action when those needles which knit the instep are passing the feed point. A suitable spring shown in Fig. 4 at 343 normally urges the double sole yarn finger down into active position.

During the formation of those parts of the stocking which do not involve double sole yarn, it is necessary to keep the double sole yarn finger up in its inactive position irrespective of the continuous rotation of cam 3M. For this purpose the inner end of a lever 3% underlies the nger 336, the lever 3136 carrying an adjustable abutment screw 348 engaged by the upper end of a plunger 35u which extends downwardly through the frame of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 4 and engages suitable cams on the main cam disc.

Inasmuch as the double sole yarn must be cut and clamped during each revolution of the needle cylinder, it is obvious that the main cutting and clamping mechanism will not suice for the proper action upon the double sole yarn. Ac-

ver 352 with an arm 3G@ carried by the solid 45- innermost shaft 362 of the nested series, which shaft at its lower end is provided with a cam following arm 36d designed to engage a suitable cam 366 on the drum E26. Secured at the inner end of the lever 352 is the bracket 368 on which is pivoted about a horizontal pivot fili@ a bell crank 372 carrying at its inner end a cam follower 374 engageable by cams 3W and 31% secured to the sinker dial so as to rotate therewith during rotation of the needle cylinder. An adjustable pad 38@ secured in the upper end of the bell crank 312 is arranged to engage means for controlling the clamping and cutting mechanism so that the same is operated upon each revolution of the needle cylinder.

A fixed post 352 carried by the bracket dtd has pivoted thereon a hub 33d of a supporting bracket which is urged by a spring 335i in a ceunterclockwise direction as viewed in plan to bring an adjustable stop screw te@ carried thereby into engagement with a post 392 secured to The clamping and cutting arrangement which is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1l and 12 comprises three fixed blades 39d, 3535i and 393. Between the blades 39A'. and 395 there is ar- 70 ranged to reciprocate a clamping blade tit@ which has an inner end of L-formation so as to hook and engage the double sole yarn feeding from the finger 336. Between the blades 396 and Se@ there is a knife blade 402 cooperating with one stitch formation by the 40 of the'x'ed blades which acts as a ledger blade to sever the yarn. The blade @t2 is'also of L- formation at its inner end. The blades 405i and 4t2 which are mounted for sliding movement together are provided with butts dell at their outer ends engageable within a slot in a slide t6 which is urged outwardly by a spring liti@ to Vbring its outer end im into engagement with the pad 38d. The spring tlg by moving the blades All@ and @t2 outwardly tends to cut and clamp the double sole yarn. On the other hand, inward move- Vnient of the pad t8@ by reason of action of cams 3l@ and Slt upon the follower 374 will release the yarn and move the blades to their openpositions. As will be pointed out hereafter, one oi the movements effected by the cam 3l@ is an idle one since the double sole yarn is not then eno gaged by its cutting and clamping elements. The light spring H2 is provided to hold the pad 38d in engagement with the end il@ of the slide to maintain thesame under control. This spring,

however, is lighter than the spring fit?) and does not prevent the spring its from urgingthe slide outwardly.

It is very important that the double sole yarn be so controlled when it is not being knitted that it cannot be engaged by any of the needles. To prevent an accidental engagement of any loose loop lthereof by the needles there is provided in the inner face of the latch ring a sloping undercut slotgllil of the type illustrated in Figs. l2,

i3 and 14, in which the double sole yarn will lie when the lngerV 33t is raised out of action and the end of the double sole yarn is clamped in the cutting and clamping means. Instead of providing an undercut such as Mil, which is of relatively limited depth, a double sole yarn receiving slot maybe provided as illustrated in Fig. l5 at fil@ by the use of a separate plate H8 secured to the inner surface of the latch ring inside an undercut portion thereof. This plate is or" course designed to form a smooth continuation of the inner surface of the latch ring and in effect forms a partV of it. It is made separate only for convenience of construction of the deep slot.

In order to further insure that the double sole yarn cannot throw out a loop engageable by the needles at undesired times, there is provided a tensioning and takeup mechanism of the'type illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 18 and 19. This cornprises a lever d2@ secured to the shaft 3552 which, as previously noted, carries the lever 36) arranged to impart movements to the arm 352. A pin W2 extending upwardly from the arm 1320 is arranged to engage the lower portion of a tension disc F225. so as to move the same away from a iixed disc l carried by a xed portion of the frame 28 when the lever lili rocks in a clockwise direction as viewed in plan. When the pin @22 does not engage the disc d2@ this disc is pressed toward the fixed disc 1325 by a spiral spring 53@ surrounding a horizontally extending post on which is threaded a nut 232 which may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly to regulate the tension on the spring. The double sole yarn passes from the supply through an eye 431i, between the discs 424 and 626, thence through an eye e36, an eye Mtl carried by the arm 11120, and another Xed eye 3353, and to the nger The eye lll-El moves between the two iixed eyes 1335 and 53S to provide a takeup serving to take up slack in the double sole yarn when the arm 42E) moves counterclockwise as viewed in plan. By

Vthe arrangement just described it will be seen that as the cutting and clamping devices move outwardly by reason of counterclockwise oscillationof the arm 352 the pin 42.2 is caused to Y disengage the disc 424 whereupon the tension of spring 43@ comes into action to yieldingly clamp the double sole yarn. VAt the same time the take- 5 and 326, the tension imparted by the spring 430 being relatively light.

The various parts of the machine having been described there will now be taken Vup the operations involved in the production of a stocking. The needles which have heretofore Vbeen designated broadly by the numeral Elconsist of three series arranged as indicated in Fig. 2e. The complete set of needles consists of short buttv needles da, intermediate butt needles eb, and 2O longbutt needles 6c. The short butt needles extend through while the long and intermediate butt needles form the ,remainder of the circle being arranged as indicated with a series of intermediate butt needles forming the central portion ofY the semicircle, which needles are adapted to knit'the tip of the toe, sets of long butt needles flanking Vthis central intermediate butt series, which long butt needles are adapted to form the gussets in the toe, and then intermediate butt needles between the gusset needles and the ends of the short butt series. The short butt needles are adapted to knit the front of the leg and top of the foot while the long and intermediate butt series knitV the back of the leg, the high splice, heel, sole and toe. V The stocking which the machine is adapted to produce comprises a ribbed top, produced as usual on a rib machine and Vtransferred to the Y, needles of the present machine. VAdjacent this 40 ribbed top is an extended top consisting of a plurality of circularly knit courses. Following this is the leg in which patterns are produced in the present machine by wrapping, the patterns extending through the leg, the ankle and the 45 instep and terminating at the rear of the ankle at the top of the heel, the patterns preferably Vcontinuing through the high splice, although, if

desired they may terminate there. The ankle ofthe stocking formed on this machine is cir- 50 cularly knit, the high splice being distinguished from the remainder of the ankle by the inclusion of the yarn which has already been referred to as a double sole yarn. A heel is formed by the usual narrowing and widening operation, being, 55 asstated above, formed on the long and intermediate butt needles. The foot of the stocking ls formed by rotaryknitting in a fashion similar to the formation of the ankle, the bottom of the foot being reinforced by the inclusion of 60 the double sole yarn. At the completion of knitting of the Vfoot, the advanced toe .is knit by rotary knitting. The toe which is formed on the long andintermediate butt needles is produced by flrstjnarrowing, removing needles Vsuceussively from action, then inserting all of the long butt needles, knitting a gussetcn these needles while continuing the narrowing operation, throwingout of operation all of the long butt needles asa unit, and then widening. The stocking is then nished by the` production of the loopers rounds by rotary knitting. Following this, the needles are levelled, the latch ring is lifted, and several turns given to the needle cylinder to press the loops off theneedle's. One ringer, 322, 75

remains in active position at the end of the operation, rising, of course, with the latch ring. The leg and instep portions of the stocking may, if desired, be formed of a plurality of yarns in plated relationship.

When the machine is in its stationary condition the needles are leveled to receive the ribbed top. At this time the yarn ngers 320 and 336 are raised out of action, linger 322 being in action ready to knit the extended top, while cams Mii, |42, Mii, it, M8 and |52 are withdrawn from action so that all of the needles form a complete circle at a predetermined level. At this time the cam surface El@ of the guard plate 2'i2 engages the operating extremity of the pawl 256 whereby in spite of any movements of the pawl 256 no rotation will be imparted to the trick wheel 25e since the low tooth 25d will be opposite the pawl having been brought into this position during the finishing of a previously formed stocking. The cams 52 and are withdrawn by the action of the controlling cams on the main cam drum so that they will not engage the wrap fingers thereby avoiding movements of the wrap iingers during the initial formation of the extended top. The upper sole yarn rests within the guarding slot dit, the clamping and cutting mechanism for this yarn being withdrawn by the maintenance of lever 352 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in plan while at the same time the double sole yarn is prevented from throwing out any loop by the combined action of the tensioning and takeup mechanisms of Figs. 18 and 19.

Following the placing of the ribbed top upon the leveled needles the latch ring and wrap finger head are lowered and the machine set in operation to form the extended top, the needle cylinder rotating countercloclwise as viewed in plan.

The extended top is knit from a yarn fed through nger 322, being initially laid across the needles by hand. The cams l and M2 are put into action in the usual fashion dropping in against needles of the short butt series so that intermediate butt needles are the first to follow the knitting wave to produce stitches. The remaining parts occupy the positions already indicated. During the knitting of the extended top which consists of a plurality of rounds in the usual fashion, the pawl 25e will reciprocate idly due to the action of the lugs its of the pattern chain upon the follower lever 262. Inasmuch as the cams Si? are at this time preferably out of action the various jacks whose lower ends happen to project outwardly will ride up the cam |66 to the wrapping position. No wrapping takes place, however, in View of the fact that the wrap iingers are maintained in their inner position by reason of the inactivity of the cams 92 and ed. Cam |78, which is active only when patterning is being effected, is also out of action. As a result the majority of the lowe jacks will remain with their lower ends in inner positions, the spring band being generally not sufliciently strong to move the jacks which iit in the slots with considerable friction.

Following the formation of the extended top a yarn change taires place by the replacement of finger 322 by linger which contains one or more yarns of the desired character to form the leg. The cams 92 and 5Fl for controlling the action of the wrap yarn ngers are now permitted to come selectively into action to act upon the butts of the wrap fingers. The butts are set up in a predetermined fashion toI secure the desired patterning in connection with the needle selecting setup. The arrangement of the present machine is such that there may be provided a wrap fingerY for each needle so that, if desired, all of the needles may be wrapped with the resultant production of quite elaborate designs.

During the formation of the leg the cams |85 5 which are arranged 'to operate upon the butts of the lower jacks are permitted to come into action under selective release by the cams 292, 294 and 2%. The cams EQ2, 294i and 39S are selectively under the control of the corresponding cams on 1o the pattern drum so that by several steps of the pattern drum during the formation of the leg, and of course the ankle and foot, control may be obtained from upper, intermediate or lower sets of cams 36 with the result that a longitudinal 15 change of wrap pattern may be produced. For example, two sets of cams |36 may be in operation throughout the formation of the upper part of the leg to produce vertical stripes. If, then, a clock design is to be produced beginning halfway 20 down the leg, one set of cams may be taken out of action and the third set may come into action to control the designing for the formation of such clock. It may be noted that the operation of these cams is in a sense negative, that is, a 25 jack whose lower end is pressed in by a cam |80 will fail to take a wrap yarn inasmuch as it will fail to ride up the cam |56 to receive the yarn from its corresponding yarn finger as the finger is rocked outwardly and then inwardly by the cams 30 i 92 or 94 and H2. The layout of the trick wheel is of a character to produce patterns in view of this negative type of operation; and it also follows that the more elaborate patterns are produced when less of the cams remain in opera- 35T tion.

After wrapping takes place on those needles which are raised by the action of cams 2|8 and it@ on the lower jacks the lower and intermediate jacks are lowered by cam i t2 while the needles 40' are lowered by the upper guard cam to pass through the knitting wave with unwrapped needles.

At the beginning of the formation of the leg the guard plate 2M is moved so that the low portion 45" Elli thereof is brought opposite the path of reciprocation of the pawl 255. The pawl is thereby rendered active to step the trick wheel around in the manner determined by the chain 256.

When the position for the beginning of the high splice is reached the drum |25 is given a step to effect various new operations, the needle cylinder still rotating in the same fashion as before. First, it may not be desirable that wrapping should take place through the high splice while on the other hand wrapping must continue through the front of the ankle from the leg into the instep. In such case, those lower jacks lli which are associated with sole needles (which of course form the high splice) are provided with butts arranged for engagement by the cam |32 which is now brought into action and maintained in action during the formation of the high splice. By reason of this the various sole needles are not raised by the action of cams 2|8 65 and |54 upon their lower jacks and accordingly they will fail to move upwardly to take yarns from the wrap fingers. The wrap fingers associated with the sole needles continue to move across the needle circle as determined by cams 92 70 and 94, although, if the design is such as not to be detrimentally aiected thereby, this may be prevented by the removal of one cam, say 94, from action whereby only the wrap fingers associated with the instep needles are moved in their 75.

yarn laying paths by the cam which remains :in action, the lower butts @il in such case being omitted from all the fingers associated with sole needles. Y

If wrapping is to take place through the high splice, the cam E82 is kept out of action till knitting of the sole starts. Since formation of the high splice takes place by rotary knitting, wrapping will, in this case, take place as before.

The knitting cams retain their previous positions so that the main yarn or yarns are knit in the same fashion as before. Besides these yarns there is now introduced the double sole yarn which will be knit by the sole needles only, being cut and clamped afteriinishing the feeding of the sole needles upon each revolution of the needle cylinder. To secure an activityrofV the nger 3136 which-carries the double sole yarn and which must be moved down into action to cut the double sole yarn into the circle of needles in advance of the rst of the sole needles and which must be withdrawn following the passage of the last of the sole needles, the yarn is permitted to drop by the riding of plunger 35d off a cam on the main cam disc which has, up to this point, maintained the lever Se@ and the finger 33t raised. The finger is now subject to the action of the follower lever Still which is rocked upon each revolution of the machine by the cam 3M carried by the sinker dial as illustrated in Fig. a. This cam is -so located that by its action it will raise the finger 336 to prevent feed of the yarn therefrom to the instep needles but will permit the nger 33t to drop at the proper time to cause a feeding -of the double sole yarn to the sole needles, the

yarn being cut in between the last of the instep needles and the rst of the sole needles and being removed after feeding the last of the sole needles and before it has an opportunity to feed the advancing instep needle. Preferably, there Yis proper provision for cutting and clamping the double sole yarn during such operations. Accordingly the arm 352 which carries the double sole cutting and clamping mechanism is swung clockwise with a simultaneous release of the tension upon the double sole yarn. The timing of the cutting and clamping vmechanism is such that Vimmediately after the finger 335 is dropped into action and the first sole needle fed, the clamp VTwill release the end of the double sole yarn so that it may move about with the needle cylinder. As the finger 33t is raised out of action the yarn Ywill be drawn into Ythe Yjaws of the cutting and clamping mechanism which will be thereupon 'actuated by the spring fide following the timed release of the follower Elfi bythe cam Slt so that the double sole yarn is cut and its end held by the clamping jaws whilethe raising of the finger 33% draws it into position above the needles to prevent its seizure by any of the instep needles.

The clamping and cutting Vmechanism SSL-m2V projects across the needles at the position correspondingto tot?, Fig. 17.V It may be pointed out that while two cams 376 and 3l@ are provided,

these cams in effect act as a single cam,'the sep- VThe idle movements of the cutting and V,clamping mechanism resulting from this arrangement'produce'no result. The yielding mounting of the Icutting and clamping mechanism is to prevent damage to the machine incase a high needle should accidentally come along and'engage the cutting and clamping devices. The mounting is such that the cutting and clamping devices may swing against the tension of the spring 338 if an accident of this sort should occur.

.During the formation of the high splice the trick wheel 25! continues to step about in the usual fashion since the pattern is being continued least through the instep. The double sole yarn does not interfere with wrapping through the high 'splice if this is desired.

After the completion of the high splice, the double sole yarn feeding finger is rendered inactive by being lifted by lever 346. Simultaneously, the double sole yarn clamp and cutter is withdrawn outwardly by rocking of shaft 352 which simultaneously causes the tension 42e and takeup 134) to become effective to clamp and draw the yarn taut. Since the nger 33t is now fully raised, the yarn is drawn between the retracted clamp and the finger into the slot M4 whereit will not be engaged by the needles.

The heel `of the stocking is produced by narrowing and widening in the usual fashion,A while the sole needles do not knit. VUp to the time of the formation of the heel the instep and sole needles, or the instep needles alone, depending on the conditions mentioned above, have been carrying the wrap pattern which is to be continued in the instep after the heel is completed and during the rotary knitting of the foot. In order to insure that the wrap pattern will continue without interruption theguard plate 2l2 is now moved to bring the high portion 278 into engagement with the pawl 255 Ypreventing it fromV acting upon any of the ratchet teeth. Accordingly the pawl 256 will reciprocateA idly while i the trick wheel 2553 will maintain its position loY of the heel at which level they would normallyV and and cam H8 is also withdrawn toY avoid engagement with the jacks during'reciprocation.

Upon the last counterclockwise movement of' the needle cylinder prior to the first clockwise reciprocation the short butt needles are taken out of action while the long and intermediate butt needles, except for the leading one of `the series, remain in position to pass through the knitting wave to take the heel yarn which is lowered into action simultaneously with removalV of the leg yarn, the heel yarn in the present machine being the same yarn which is used for the formation of theextended top. To secure the removal ofthe short butt needles from action the combined cam ille-M5 is given an inward movement so thatV the cam illi will engage long and intermediate butt needles. The cam |52 is given a full movement inwardly while the caml iil at the same time moves outwardly. TheA lowering `picker is in an inactive position between the active and inactive levels of the butts. The positioning of thecams as just Vdescribed results in a depression of the long and intermediate` butt lneedles by the cam M6 following their ele-- vation by the upward projection HSI of the cam' ring |613. The long and intermediate butt needles are thus lowered to a level below the lowermost extremity of cam 52 and they will accordingly pass upwardly over the cams |42 and |63 and below the center and stitch cams |36 and |40 to form stitches. The short butt needles on the other hand riding over the projection I6! will not be engaged by the cam |46 and will accordingly move on a higher level so as to be engaged by cam |52 whereby they are lifted above all of the cams at the main feed and thereafter during the formation of the heel remain at the inactive upper level. The leading sole needle will fail to pass through the knitting wave upon the initial clockwise movement in the formation of the heel since it will engage the raising picker |58 and be carried thereby to the inactive level. Upon each reciprocation the advancing needles of the sole series will engage a raising picker so that these needles are raised one by one out of action t-o effect narrowing. Immediately following the counterclockwise reciprocation in which the cam |52 raises the short butt needles, the cam |52 and also the cams |44 and |46 are withdrawn to inactive positions the same as cams |50 and |48. All of the sole needles therefore c-ontinue to knit except as they are raised by the picker.

Following the completion of the narrowing operation the lowering picker |54 is brought into action to lower two needles at a time while the raising pickers remain active to raise them one at a time. The widening action for the heel thus takes place, the various other parts main taining their previous positions.

Rotation of the needle cylinder is now resumed for the knitting of the foot. All of the needles including the instep needles and any sole needles which may remain in raised position are brought down into action by the inward movement of the cam |50. The other parts then take the positions which they had assumed during the formation of the high splice; that is, the plate 212 is moved to bring the low portion 214 opposite the pawl 256 which again becomes active to step the trick wheel around, cam 92 again becomes active to move the wrap fingers associated with instep needles, and the double sole yarn feeding iinger and clamping and cutting mechanism again becomes eiective to cause the double sole yarn to be knitted by the sole needles, the main yarn being changed to bring the previous leg yarn or yarns into action. Cams |18 and |80 are again rendered active.

Following the completion of the sole the advanced toe is knitted, the extended top yarn again replacing the leg yarn by the lowering of finger 322 and the simultaneous raising of the finger 320. The double sole yarn is withdrawn as before into the slot 4|4. At this time both cams 92 and 94 are withdrawn from action to stop wrapping. The guard plate 212 is moved to bring the intermediate surface 216 opposite the path of reciprocation of the pawl 256. Accordingly, the trick wheel 250 will continue to step around under the action of the pawl until thev low ratchet tooth 254 comes opposite the pawl whereupon the movements of the trick wheel will stop while the pawl will continue to reciprocate idly. This position may not be attained during the knitting of the advanced toe but will be attained sometime prior to the finishing of the stocking so that the trick wheel is brought into proper initial position for the formation of designs in the next stocking to be knit.

Cams |18, |80 and |82 are now again taken out gusset needles are lowered, the

of action so that the lower jacks do not rise over cams 2 |8 and 264 except accidentally as already indicated.

Following the completion of the advanced toe by a plurality of rounds of rotary knitting narrowing for the toe takes place with the parts assuming the same position as were assumed dure ing the narrowing for the heel. Following the carrying out of the narrowing to such extent that all of the long butt needles as well as the end series of intermediate needles have been removed from action while the central series of intermediate butt needles alone remain knitting the tip of the toe, a movement of the cam disc takes place to initiate the formation of the gusset. The parts in Figs. 17 and l20 are shown in the positions assumed during the bringing ot the gusset needles down into action. To obtain the proper positioning of these needles the cam |50 is moved inwardly and then outwardly during the same movement of the main cam drum, the inward movement being of such extent that it will engage only the long butt needles and taking place at the time the central series of intermediate butt needles are passing it. The position of the parts shown in Figs. 17 and 20 correspond to a condition in a counterclockwise reciprocation immediately following -this operation. It will be noted that the central series of intermediate butt needles together with the trailing series of long butt needles are passing through the knitting cams, the picker |56 having just lifted to inactive position the last of the leading long butt needles. Before the leading seriesof long butt needles reach the position of the cam |44 this cam is moved inwardly to such extent that itwill engage these leading long butt needles and lower them to a position such that their butts will pass through the opening between the cams |44 and |46. The cam |44 will not engage the short or intermediate butt needles. On the next counterclockwise reciprocation it will be clear that there will remain down in active position all of the long butt needles together with the central series of intermediate butt needles while the short butt needles and the end series of intermediate butt needles will continue to move at the inactive level.

The cams |44 and |46 are again moved outwardly to their previous positions as soon as the same being true of the `cam |50.

As reciprocation now takes place the gusset will be knit while narrowing continues to remove the gusset needles from action one by one.

Following the completion of the necessary courses to form the gusset, cams |48 and |52 are moved inwardly to a sulcient extent to engage the butts of all of the long butt needles which may remain down in action. Accordingly all of the gusset needles will be raised to the inactive level whereupon the continued motion of the main cam drum will withdraw the cams |48 and |52 from action and the parts will be in those positions which they occupied at the beginning of the widening of the heel. The lowering picker will now be brought into action to lower two needles at a time while the raising pickers continue to raise them one ata time so that widening of the toe will take place.

After the completion of widening the parts are again brought into position for circular knitting, rotation of the needle cylinder being resumed while the stitch cam movesinwardly to bring down all of the needles to knitting positions. The

loopers rounds are then knitted using the same main yarn as was previously used for the formation of the extended top, the heel and toe. After the completion of the loopers rounds the needles are levelled by withdrawal of the various cams, the latch ring is raised, and continued revolution causes the loops to be pressed off the needles.

By the provision of the main and double sole yarn feeding mechanisms which have been described, there is avoided any interference between these feeding mechanisms and the wrapping devices which, particularly in the case where each needle is wrapped, form a cage of wrap yarns extending upwardly and inwardly from the needles. Furthermore, by the provision of the double sole yarn receiving Slot in the inner face of the latch ring the taking of the double sole yarn at undesired times is prevented.

The above description of the operation has take into account the more elaborate operation involved when wrap yarns are fed to the needles for the production of designs; VIn the simpler case when nowrap yarns are used and the wrapping head is lifted while the latch ring remains in its lowered position the operation is similar with the Vexception of those operations involved in the wrapping process. Even throughout a period of knitting,` for example, during testing, when no wrapping is taking place the proper angular relationship between the wrap fingers and needles is preserved by the uninterrupted drive through the shaft 56-58.

One feature of the invention to which particular reference may be made is the use of nested levers to provide simplicity of connections between the controlling cam` drum and the ultimate parts to be operated. The shafts H3 and llZll form one set of nested shafts while those including shaft 362 form another set, thereby avoiding a multiplicity of levers and link connections.

It will be clear that numerous variations may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

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

1. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn tothe needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, means for clamping the auxiliary yarn, and means other than a clamping or cutting means located outside the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn at predetermined times to prevent its accidental engagement by needles, said last means consisting of an element provided with a yarn receiving slot located at the level of hooks of needles Which arel not knitting the auxiliary yarn.

2. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles during the formation of each of a plurality of courses, and a latch ring, 4said latch ring being provided with yarn Vguarding means, wholly outside the needles, behind which the auxiliary yarn is located at predetermined times to prevent its accidental engagement by needles.

3. A circular-knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with` the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn'to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, and a latch'ring, said latch ring being 5 provided with an elongated upwardly extending yarn receiving slot extending across the inner face of the latch ring within which the auxiliary yarn may be located at predetermined times to prevent its accidental engagement by needles.

4. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, a latch ring provided with a yarn receiving slot, clamping and cutting means for the auxiliaryV yarn, and means fortaking up slack in the auxiliary yarn when held by the clamping means to cause it to engage the slot in the latch ring.

5. A circularA knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certainrof the needles, a latch ring provided with a yarn receiving slot, clamping and cutting means for the auxiliary yarn, and means for taking up slack in the aux- 3o Y iliary yarn when held by the clamping means to cause it to enter the slot inthe latch ring.

6. A, circular knittingmachine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, a movable iinger for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, means for clamping the auxiliary yarn and means other than a clamping or cutting means located whollyl outside the needles at the level of hooks of needles which are not knitting the auxiliary yarn for receiving the auxiliary yarn when its linger is moved to an inactive position to prevent its accidental engagement by needles.

7.I A circular knitting machine including a circular-series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn tojthe needles, a Vmovable finger for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, clampingl and cutting means for the auxiliary yarn, and means other than a clamping or cutting means` located outside the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn when its ringer is moved to an inactive position to prevent its accidental engagement by needles, said last means consisting of an element provided with an elongated yarn receiving slot vapproximately aligned between-x'tjhe clamping and cutting means and the G0 inactivel position of the Vauxiliary yarn feeding linger.

8; A circular knitting machine including a circular seriesy of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn tothe needles, a movable finger for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, clamping and cutting means for the auxiliary ya-rn, means located close to the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn when its finger is moved to an inactive position to4 prevent its accidental engagement by needles, saidv last means consisting of an'element providedY withl an elongatedyarnL receiving slot approximately aligned 75 between the clamping and cutting means and the inactive position of the auxiliary yarn feeding finger, and means for taking up slack in the -auxiliary yarn when held by the clamping means to cause it to enter the slot.

9. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain` of the needles, said last means including a nger movable either to an active or inactive position, clamping and cutting means movable either to an active or inactive position simultaneously with the auxiliary yarn finger, and means providing an elongated slot outside the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn when the nger and clamping and cutting means move to their inactive positions.

10. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles forthe formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles, said last means including a finger movable either` to an active or inactive position, clamping and cutting means movable either to an active or inactive position simultaneously with the auxiliary yarn finger, means providing an elongated slot outside the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn when the finger and clamping and cutting means move to their inactive positions, and means for taking up the auxiliary yarn to cause it to enter the slot.

l1. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating With the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles during the formation of each of a plurality of courses, clamping and cutting means for the main yarn only outside the needles, and clamping and cutting means for the auxiliary yarn outside the needles operative upon the auxiliary yarn during the formation of each of said plurality of courses. 12. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of. needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, a latch ring, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles during the formation of each of a plurality of courses, said last feeding means being located above the latch ring, means located below the latch ring for holding the auxiliary yarn at predetermined times, and means guarding the auxiliary yarn when so held to prevent its accidental engagement by needles.

13. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, a latch ring, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles during the formation of each of a plurality of courses, said last feeding means being located above the latch ring, means lobetween the needles and the portion of the auxiliary yarn extending between the holding means and the last feeding means.

14. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles in the formation of successive courses, means for clamping the auxiliary yarn, and means other than a clamping or cutting means located outside the needles for receiving the auxiliary yarn at predetermined times `at the level of hooks of needles which are not knitting it to prevent its accidental engagement by such needles.

15. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain of the needles in the formation of successive courses, means for clamping the auxiliary yarn, means providing a slot at the level of hooks of needles which are not knitting the auxiliary yarn for receiving it at predetermined times to prevent its accidental engagement by such needles, and means for taking up slack in the auxiliary yarn when held by the clamping means to cause it to enter the slot, said last means including a tensioning device between the auxiliary yarn feeding means and the auxiliary yarn supply.

16. A circular knitting machine including a circular series of needles and mechanism cooperating with the needles for the formation of stitches; said mechanism including means for feeding a main yarn to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to only certain or the needles in the formation of successive courses, means for clamping the auxiliary yarn, means providing a slot at the level of hooks of needles which are not knitting the auxiliary yarn for receiving it at predetermined times to prevent its accidental engagement by such needles, and means for taking up slack in the auxiliary yarn when held by the clamping means to cause it to enter the slot, said last means including a tensioning device between the auxiliary yarn feeding means and the auxiliary yarn supply, and means for effecting release of the yarn by the tensioning device during knitting thereof.

STANLEY R. SHELMIRE.

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