US2098050A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

R. H. LAWSON E1 AL KNITTING 'MA'HINE Filed 'Au-g. 28, 193s' Flc. 1

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Patented Nov. 2, 1937Y UNITED STATES KNITTING MACHINE Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, and Arthur N. Cloutier, Lonsdale, R. I., assignors to Hemphill. Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation nf Massachusetts Application August 28, 1933, Serial No. 687,102

' 19 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to knitting machines and especially to knitting machines of the multi-feed type. In machines of this type it is essential, to knit uniform fabric, that the yarns of the several feeding stations be knitted uniformly into the fabric, i. e., that the stitches knitted at the several feeding stations be of the same length or otherwise what is commonly known as a washboard" effect is produced in the fabric.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a portionof a knitting machine having two feeding stations at each of which a yarn is fed to the needles which consequently knit two courses during each revolution of a rotary member such as a needle cylinder;

Fig. 1a is similar to Fig. 1 of a modication but not showing the needle cylinder and associated parts;

Eig. 2 is a View in side elevation, showing the automatically `controlled means for effecting the knitting of uniform fabric;

2a is a fragmentary detail view of the patterp drum for eecting automatic actuation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2;-

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of certainl parts showing controlling means for simultaneously changing the positions of stitchdrawing cams at the main and auxiliary feeding stations thereby to effect uniform variations in the stitches knitted at the two feeding stations;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of the l 4modification shown in Fig. 4;

Figs.v 6-10 inclusive are fragmentary views of the1 yarn controlling means disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 but showing the parts relatively enlarged;

Eig. 11 is a fragmentary View of a still further muncauon, being similar to Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a detail fragmentary view, in rear elevation, of a portion of the mechanism shown in'Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is likewise a fragmentary view, in rear elevation,` showing how .swinging movements of one of the yarn controlling members are effected,

as prior to the knitting of heels and toes.

Only so much of the knitting machine is shown as is directly concerned with the present inventionr rThe needle cylinder I is shown as mounted for rotary and reciprocatory' movements in a socated substantially opposite one another with respect to the needle cylinder. The needle cylinder is slotted in the usual manner and Within such slots are slidable needles. Surmounting the needle cylinder and connected thereto is a-sinker head 6 within which are mounted sinkers (not shown) adapted to cooperate with the needles in any desired manner for the formation of knitted stitches. Above the sinker head 6 is a so-called sinker cam cap l which is stationarily mounted and in which are cams for controlling the movements of the sinkers. A latch ring 8 is carried by the machine frame and is pivotally mounted so as to be swung up away from the needles when necessary. In the latch ring 8 are mounted thread or yarn guides such as 9 and I0, the yarn guide 9 being one of those located at or adjacent to the main feeding station, one of which guides feeds a thread or yarn II to the needles at the said main feeding station, the needles being actuated for knitting such thread by cams comprising the cam block l3. vLikewise the yarn lever I feeds the thread or yarn I2 to the needles at the auxiliary feeding station, the needles at such. station being controlled by cams comprising the cam block 4.

The yarns II and I2, as well as other yarnsv used during the knitting of a stocking or half hose, are supplied from bobbins mounted upon a. bobbin stand (not shown) which is mounted upon a rod I3 and adjacent to the upper end thereof. The yarns II, and I2 pass downwardly from the mentioned bobbins through suitable eyelets such as I4 and I5 and then between intermeshing rolls I6 and I'I. The rolls I6 and I'I are mounted in substantially frictionless bearings consisting of pins or screws I8 and I9 which are mounted in the arms of a bracket 20, the eyelets I being carried by said bracket. The bracket 20 is connected to and depends from an angle bracket 2| which in turn is connected to the yarn tension bracket 22 which is rigidly mounted .upon

the rod I3. Connected toand depending from the bracket 2Il is a supplemental bracket 23 tothe lower end of which is connectedan angle bracket 24 and a laterally projecting arm 25 pro-.- vided with eyelets 26 -through which yarns II and I2 pass. Pivotally connected to a depending arm of the bracket 21 also connected to bracket 23, is a lever -28', one end of winch is bifurcated, the'arms thereof straddling a rod 29 upon which are collars 30 andl 3|, collar 3| being fixed adjustably torod 29. The other arm of the A lever 28 is turned more or less at rightgangles and in the end .hereof is an eye'lf. 32 through which passes thelyarn I2. The link 29 at its upper end passes through an arm 33 which is connected to and laterally projects from the yarn tension bracket y22. Surrounding the link 29 between Vthe arm 33 and collar 30 is a coil spring 34 which normally urges the link 29 in a downward direction so that a lug 35 on a lever 36 to which'the link 29 is pivotally and adjustably connected as at 31, will be maintained in engagement with the surface of the drum 38 or cams 39 and 40 mounted thereon.

Attached to rod I3 below the bracket 22 is a bracket 4I through which passes the rod or link 29. A coil spring 42 is adjustably attached to the bracket 4I and exten-ds upwardly being connected to a yarn tension lever 43 which lever is one of a series of similar levers carried by knitting machines for the purpose of taking up the slack during the knitting of heels, toes and splitfoot fabric. At the free end of a wire arm 44 of the said lever 43 is an eyelet 45 through which passes the yarn I2.

Forming part of the bracket arm 24 are U- shaped extensions thereof indicated at 46, 41. Mounted to rotate freely between the arms of the U-shape extensions46, 41 are wheels or discs 48, 49 the same being supported upon pins such as 50, 5I which pass through and are supported by the arms of the brackets 46, 41.

In operation, the threads or yarns I I and I2 are passed around the peripheries of the discs 48 and 49 being received in peripheral grooves thereof. As will be evident from inspection of the drawings, the threads II and I2 pass around the discs in. the same directions thereby causing the overlapping portions of the discs to rotate in opposite directions. Discs 48, V49 are each provided with an equal number of equally spaced holes such as 52 and when the threads or yarns II and I2 are being knitted into the fabric by the needles knittingat the main and auxiliary' feeding stations, the frictional engagement between the said .yarns II and I2 and their respective discs 48, 49, causes the holes 52 in the two discs to move past one another at a rapid rate, the optical effect of which depends upon Whether the discs 48, 49 are rotating at the same speeds or at different speeds. If the two discs are rotating at the same speeds registering holes 52 in the two discs 48, 49 -give the appearance of black or dark spots which remain stationary. If the speed of rotation of one disc, be faster than that of another, the holes in such discs gain with respect to the holes in the other thus giving an optical illusion of spots moving in the direction of greater rotation. It is obviously desirable that the two threads or yarns II and I2 be fed to the needles at the same rate in order to produce a fabric having a uniform appearance;

consequently, if one disc be moving at a faster the needles, is elevated slightly to draw a shorter length of stitch and consequently, less yarn per `revolution of a rotating needle cylinder if the knitting machine be one having a rotary needle cylinder. Upon effecting a proper adjustment of the stitch cam as aforesaid, inspection of the rapidly rotating discs 48, 49 will show the dark cr black spots provided by the registering holes 52 to appear to be stationary or nearly so, a1- though the constant and slight changes in tension due in part to the stickiness of one yarn compared to the other, will cause a slight vibration of the dark or black spots.

In order to effect-a more or less automatic adjustment of the threads or yarns II and I2, the intermeshing gears or wheels I6 and I1 are provided. It is obvious that due to both yarns II and I2 passing between the `rolls or gears I6 and I1, that each yarn acts as a means for feeding the other yarn at the same rate that the first yarn is being fed. Thus even though the setting of the stitch drawing cams be not accurately adjusted, nevertheless thecompensating effect of the gears or rolls I6 and I1 will be such es to cause the fabric to have a uniform appearance.

In the foregoing description of operation, the yarns II and I2 alone have been mentioned. I'hese yarns are operative during the knitting of the circular leg portion of the fabric. invention be applied to the knitting of so-called split-foot fabric, at the beginning of the high splice, gears I6, I1 and discs 48, 49 are not operative due to the yarn II being thrown into the clamping and cutting mechanism (not shown) by the elevation of a yarn lever 9, in the usual manner. Furthermore, the yarn I2 is moved from its position between the gears I6, I1 by the described operation of the lever 28. For the yarn II one or more heavier yarns II' is or are substituted, the said yarn or yarns being for the purpose of knitting the high splice while at the same time the yarn I2 is being knitted into the instep half or portion of the half hose, knitting of the two yarns continuing until the heel is reached, at which time lthe yarn lever I0 swings to an upper, inoperative position, the yarn I2 be- If the ing then held above the needles and consequently not being knitted. .At the main side of the k'nitting machine, a heel and toe yarn, preferably, is substituted for the yarn or yarns used to knit the high-splice. The heel or toe yarn may constitute a single yarn or plurality of yarns knitted as one-yarn.

In Fig. 1a. is shown a modification wherein the discs 48, 49 are dispensed with, the gears or wheels I6, I1 alone functioning to provide for the knitting of uniform stitches at the two feeding stations.

In Fig. 3 means are shown for automatically and simultaneously controlling the movements of the main and auxiliary cam'blocks 3 and 4 whereby variations in the length of stitch as for fashioning, etc. may be effected. Upon the auxiliary cam shaft 53 upon which the drum 38 is also mounted, is mounted a fashioning drum or wheel 54, the said wheel being provided with fine, peripheral .ratchet teeth 55 adapted to beperiodically engaged as by means of a pawl 56 mounted upon and actuated by a shaft 51 of the IM gear. Fast to one face of the drum or wheel 54 is a segmental cam 58 the same being attached to the said wheel 54 as by means of screws 59 and 6U. The screw 60 passes through an elongated slot 6I in the cam 58 whereby the said cam may be adjusted with respect to the periphery of the Wheel or drum 54. Maintained in contact with the outer face of the cam 58 is a lug 62, the said lug'being part of a plate or frame 63 adjustably fastened to a bracket 64 itself made fast to a depending arm 65 of the bell crank lever 66 connected to which is a spring 66 for maintaining pawl 56 in operative engagement with ratchet teeth 55. The bell crank lever 66 is loosely mounted upon a pin or. shaft 61 carried by the arm of bracket 68, being prevented from endwise movement on the said shaft as by means of a collar 69 made fast to the shaft 61 as by means of a screw 10. Ihe other arm of the bell crank lever 66 is provided with a shoe 1I in contact with which is a screw or pin 12 which latter lis fastened to a vertically extending rod 13. The rod 13 is slidably mounted in bracket 68, fastened to the circular base 2, and fastened to the lower face of the rod 13 is a depending pin 14 which passes through a plate 15 connected to and forming part of the bracket 68. A coil spring 16 surrounds the pin 14 and bears against the lower face of the plate 15 and also against one face of a nut 11 adjustably fastened to the pin 14. Thus by the means just described, the pin 12 is maintained in constant engagement with the upper face of the shoe 1I. The rod 13 is made fast to the cam plate 5 which carries auxiliary cam block 4.

One face of the plate 63 constitutes a shoe 18 with which a screw 19 is maintained incontact. 'I'he said screw 19 adjustably passes through a lug 80 which is fastened to one arm 8| of a bell crank lever which arm is provided with a hub 82 made fast to a shaft 83 as by means of a screw! 34. The shaft 83 is loosely mounted in any suitable manner in the machine frame or a bracket connected thereto. Also xediy mounted on the shaft 83 is a second lever arm 85 which-is provided with a laterally extending pin 86-which engages under a lever 81 pivoted at 88 to the machine frame. Resting 4upon the lever 81, intermediate its ends,'is a roll 89 which is made fast to and laterally projects from a rod 90, the latter being guided at its. lower end in a bracket 9|. At its upper end the rod 901s fastened to the main cam plates.

By means of the construction just described, the

advancing movements imparted to the wheel ,or4

drum 54 by means of the pawl 56, as during the fashioning of the leg, rocks the lever arm 65 which effects the raising or lowering of the rod 13 and consequently the auxiliary cam block 4; `and at the same time, the face y180i the shoe 63 which is in constantfengagement with the pin 19, effects a rocking of the'bell crank lever l8| whereby, through the connections hereinbefore described, the rod 90 and consequently the main cam block 3 are simultaneously raised or lowered with the auxiliary cam block 4. Thus the mechanism disclosed specifically in Fig. 3, comprises automatic means for simultaneously eecting like movements of the main and auxiliary cam blocks whereby the same length of stitch can be knitted at the main and auxiliary cam blocks notwithstanding periodic changes in the length of stitches every four courses or as desired.

fication of the means for automatically maintaining uniform the feeding rates of two yarns or elements, hereinbefore described. In this form ofv the invention, the discs 48, 49.are mounted upon brackets 92 and 93, the latter being free to swing so that the disc48 may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 4 for and during heel and toe knitting. To -eiect the swinging of the bracket 93 and disc 48 to the position shown in'Fig. 4, the cams 39 and 40 act upon the lever 86 in the manner hereinbefore described to elevate the link 29 which, in this form of the invention, has attached adjacent to its upper end a laterally extending shoe 94 which engages a pin 95 carried by and laterally projecting from a disc 96. The disc 96 is fast lto shaft 91 which shaft is supported in its turning movements by means of a bracket arm 98 being prevented from moving longitudinally in the bracket 98 by a sleeve 99 forming part of disc 96 and a collar |00, the sleeve and collar being made fast to shaft 91. The bracket arm 98 is part of bracket I0I which is'carried by the bracket 22.

The shaft 91 has a slotted arm I 02 .within which slot is received a pin |03. The pin |03 is rigidly connected to the bracket 93 and as a consequence thereof the swinging ofthe arm |02 causes the Ibracket 93 to swing upon its pivot |04. One arm of the bracket 93 is pivotally connected by means of the said pivot pin |04 to the fixed bracket 92 which is made fast to the bracket |0| as by means of screw |05.y In order'to limit the swinging movements of the bracket 93 and disc 48, an arcuate slot |06 is provided in one arm of the bracket 93, a stop pin |01 passing through the said slot and into engagement with one arm of the bracket 92. A coil spring |08 is fastened to the bracket 93 and also to the bracket 92, said spring tendingl to maintain the two brackets in the relative posiand toe or other reciprocatory knitting if desired.

During circular Work the discs 48, 49 operate` in a manner hereinbefore described, to effect the knitting of uniform fabric by the yarns knitted at the two feeding stations, and in cooperation therewith there maybe provided supplemental or auxiliary means carried by a bracket |09 made fast to the bracket. I0|. The bracket |09 terminates in a. U-shaped portion |09 through the arms of which pass pinsI I0 which serve as bearings for a supplemental bracket I I I which thereby swings upon a vertical axis. The bracket II I consists of two arms I I2, I I3 each having a series (three being shown) of arms II4, |I5. The arms I I4, II5 are provided with aligned holes therethrough, through which are adapted to pass the threads or yarns I I, I2 which yarns pass through eyelets I4 provided in the bracket 22 and then through the holes in the arms I I4, I I5 and from there through eyelets I I6, ||1 then around the discs 48, 49 in the peripheral grooves thereof and then through eyelets such as |I8 and finally to the'needles of the knitting machine. Between the arms II4, II5 are, respectively, pins II9, |20 which are carried by arms I.2I, |22 respectively, said arms being part of the U-shaped bracket |23 which is fastened to the bracket |09 as by screws |24. The pins I I9, |20 are grooved near their ends which grooves are, at times, in vertical alignment 'with the holes in the arms II4, IE5.

The pins I|0 provide substantially frictionless bearing supports for the bracket I I thereby permitting the same to oscillate freely on a vertical axis. It will be obvious that when the arms ||.4 and pins II9 or the arms |I5 and pins |20, are in substantial vertical'alignment, the threads II or I2' as the case may be will be relatively freely movable through the holes in the arms II4, II5 and past the pins II9, |20; however,

both the arms I|4 and pins II9, and the arms II5 and pins |20 are never in alignment at the same time, and as a consequence thereof the,

arms II4 or II5 not in alignment with their pins I|9 or |29 will cause the yarn II or the yarn I2 as the case may be to pursue a more or less tortuous path thereby imposing a greater tension on the yarn than would be the case if 'the arms and pins pertaining to said yarn were in alignment. As a consequence of the greater tension imposed upon the yarn as just described, the said yarn is retarded somewhat which retardation oithe said yarn tends to swing the bracket III to such a position as to release the increased. tension on the aforesaid yarn which causes a greater tension tobe imposed upon the other yarn due to the 'movement of its arms I I4, I I5 as the case may be, out of alignment with their respective pins II9, |20.

The arrangement just described acting -in conjunction with the discs 48, 49 eects the knitting' of uniform fabric when simultaneously knitting a plurality of yarns at two or more feeding stations as for exampley at the feeding stations adjacent to the main and'auxiliary cam blocks 3 and 4; v

The bracket I I I, etc. may be used independently of the dises 4a, 49 if desired. i

As shown in Fig. 5, rod 2 9 is urged in a downward direction to maintain the toe 35 of the lever 36 in engagement with the surface of the drum 38 or the cams 39, 40 thereon, by means of a coil spring one end of which is made fast to a pin or screw |26 carried by the bracket 4I, the other end of which spring. is fastened by means of a screw |21 to a collar |28, the said collar being maintained adjustably in position on rod 29 by means of the screw |21.

Maintaining the disc 48 in constant engagement with the thread I2 vduring heel and toe or other reciprocatory knitting is open to vsome objection in that if the free rotation ofthe disc 48 be retarded or impeded to'some extent, the take-up acting on the yarn I2 does not operate to pull the yarn I2 back through the eye of the yarn lever I0 as it should during each oscillation of the needle cylinder which results in the yarn I2 not being under proper tension upon the resumption of circular knitting. Furthermore, the constant to and fro movements of partial rotation imparted to the disc 48 by a yarn tends to fray or cut the said yarn. In View of the objections just noted, the hereinbefore described mechanism forcausing the disc 46 to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 for reciprocatory knitting was adopted.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 there is shown a further modification `in which the gears or two r`olls I6 and II are used in conjunction with the mechanism just described for moving the disc 48 to an inoperative position for 'reciprocatory knitting.

In this form of the invention elevation of the rod 29 causes the arm |02 to rock in the manner hereinbefore described which causes the bracket 93 tg move to a position suchas that shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, elevation of the rod 29 causes vshoe 94 to rock a lever I 29 through the instrumentalitycof a pin or screw I 39 which engages within a bifurcation |3I provided in the outer end of one lever |29. The lever |29. is pivoted at |32 to a plate |33 itself connected to bracket arm 98.V The other arm of the lever |29 has therein an eyelet |34 through which the thread I2 passes. Consequently, upon elevation of the'rod 29 the disc 48 is moved outwardly, l

i. e., away from the companion disc 49, and at the same time the lever |29 is rocked and the eyelet |34 is moved to such a position as to withdraw the thread I2 `from between the rolls I Ii and I1 which are supported in bearings carried by a bracket |35 itself fast to bracket |0I.

The movable bracket 93 is pivotally connected to the fixed bracket 92 at I 36, a spring |31 being attached at one end to a pin |38 connected to the bracket 93 and at its other e'nd to a screw |39 fastened to bracket 92.

In the foregoing description levers 28 and 29 have been described as being for the purpose of withdrawing the yarn I2 from between the rolls or gears I6, I1. Such withdrawal is especially desirable prior to the knitting of split fabric, immediately preceding the knitting ofwhich the yarns II and I2'are both knitted into the fabric in alternate courses, but as the split-foot, high splice and double sole are preferably knitted with a yarn or yarns other than the yarn II, the said yarn II is withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles immediately preceding the'beginning of the knitting of the high splice, the withdrawn thread II being carried by the needles into the clamp or binder. Obviously if the yarn I2 were not withdrawn from between the rolls I6, I'I the yarn II, which is maintained between the rolls, would be drawn from the source of supply by the rotation of the rolls I9,

I'I occasioned by the traction exerted bythe yarn I2.

The gears o r rolls I6, I'I have been shown in Fig. la as being used independently of the discs 48, 49; likewise the tension members, shown in Figs. 4-10 inclusive, are not necessarily used in conjunction with the discs 48, 49.

The gear or rolls I6, I1, and the tension bracket serve so to control the feeding of two or more yarnsas. to cause them to be knitted intothe fabric in such a manner that the"lengths of the loops knitted with one yarn are substantially of the same length as the loops knitted with another yarn. Both the rolls I6, II and bracket'member III act as yarn tension mem' bers in that they serve to equalize the tensions exerted on the yarns which are subject to constant changes due, in part, to uneven windings of the yarn cones, e. g. if one yarn be subjected to a greater drag, due to a relatively tight cone Winding, than another yarn, the first yarn will tend to retard the rotary movements of the rolls I6, I1, or to swing the bracket I, in either case equalizing the yarn tensions. If the rolls I6, I'I be employed, a relatively tightr cone winding of one yarn will tend to retard the rotation of the said rolls which will subject the other yarn to a somewhat greater tension from the needles,

which will tend to rotate the rolls I6, -II some what faster than they would rotate under the influence of the iirst yarn only. If the bracket member I II and associated parts be used, a relatively tight cone winding will cause the bracket III to rotate in a direction to decrease the tension exerted by the said bracket upon the said yarn which will, at the same time, cause an increased tension to be placed upon the other yarn; in other words, the tension bracket I|I serves as a tension equalizer. Furthermore, the other conditions being equal, if the stitch drawing cam at onefeeding station be set to draw a slightly longer stitch than lthe cam at the other feeding station, the iirst yarn will tend to rotate the rolls I6, Il somewhat faster than they would be rotated if vthey were under the influence of the closed the same reference characters are used to4 designate identical parts, and prime characters are used to designate corresponding but not identical parts.

Although in the foregoing description the parts y and combinations thereof have been specifically described, such specic description has been for illustrative purposes only and not with the intention of limiting the invention to the precise details of construction or combinations thereof,

it not being the intention to limit the invention` by the specific recitations inthe claims themselves.

We claim:

1. In a multi-feed knittingmachine havirfg at j least two feeding stations, means fo-r separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with yarn controlled elements so associated that the tendency of one such yarn to be fed to .theneedies at a faster rate is resisted thereby causing two adjacent courses of a resultant fabric to be substantially uniform with respect to each other.

2. In 'a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with" yarn controlled elements so associated with one anotherthat the tendency of one such yarn to be fed to the needles at a rate different from that of the feeding of the other yarn is resisted thereby causing two adjacent courses of a resultant fabric to be substantially uniform with respect to each other.

3. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with yarn controlled elements consisting of opposed rotary members, the yarns passing between the opposed members and soY controlling the rotary movements thereof that any tendency of one yarn to be fed to the neerate.

4. In a multifeed knittingv machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with yarn controlled tension elements so acted upon by the yarns that a tendency to change the tension on one such yarn is resisted whereby adjacent courses are substantially uniformly knitted. l Y

5. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means vfor separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with Vyarn controlled elements consisting of intermeshing rotary members, the lyarns passing between the intermeshing members and so controlling the rotary movements thereof that any tendency of lone yarn to be fed to the needles at a faster rate than another yarn is resisted thus causing both yarns to be knitted into loops of substantially length.

the same 6. In a multi-'feed knitting machine, meas ,fm-.1 j Separately knitting two or more yarns at 'their same time, means'for indicating which of two yarns'is being fed at the faster rate 'whereby'v adjustments can bereadily made to ca use anja-lE cent courses to be uniformly knitted', in'combination with auxiliary means for automatically effecting the knitting of adjacent coursessubstantially uniformly.

'7. In a multi-feed knitting machine, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the Sametime, means for indicating which of two".v

yarns is being fed at the faster rate whereby adjustments can be readily made to cause adjacent courses to b'e uniformly knitted, inv combi- 'n nation with auxiliary means consisting of rolls between which the yarns pass for-automaticallyl -'e1ectingthe knitting of adjacent courses substantially uniformly.

8. In -a multi-feed knitting machine, means for` l' separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, means for indicating whichvofl two yarns is being fed at the faster rate whereby ad.-H justments can be readily made to cause adjacent courses vto` be uniformly knitted, in ycom`- ,i

bination with auxiliary'means consisting of'yarncontrolled tension members for automatically effecting the knitting of adjacent courses'fsub-A stantially uniformly.

9. In a multi-feed knitting machine, means for elements consisting ofopposed rotary members,

the yarns passing'between the opposed members and so controlling the rotary movements thereof that any tendency of one yarn to be fed'tothe needles at a faster rate than another yarn causes the -two yarns to be fed at substantially the Vsaine rate in combination with means for, at times, withdrawing one such yarn from between the rotary members.

10. A multi-feed knitting machine having a plurality of feeding stationsat which yarns are independently and simultaneously knitted into the fabric, means for detecting when two of such yarns are not being fed to the needles of the knitting machine at the same rate, said means consisting of yarn movable members in contact with the respective yarns, in combination with means for moving one of such members out of contact with its yarn following the knitting of fabric at the two feeding stations simultaneously.

11. A multi-feed knitting machine at which feedyarns are independently fed to the needles of the knitting machine, thecourses knitted at each feeding station alternating` with the courses knitted at another feeding station,4

-ing a detector means out of contact with its yarn. a

12. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time including a stitch drawing cam at each feed, in combination with yarn controlled elements so associated that if one stitch drawing cam draw slightly longer stitches than another stitch drawing cam, the yarn controlled elements will cause the second yarn to be knitted into loops slightly longer than would be drawn by the second stitch cam, thereby effecting the knitting of substantially uniform fabric.

13. 4In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with means for causing all of the said yarns to be fed to the needles of the knitting machine at substantially the same rate so that two adjacent courses are uniformly knitted.

14. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for sepa- -rately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with yarn controlled means for causing all of the said yarns to be lfeci to the needles of `the knitting machine at substantially the same rate so that two adjacent courses are uniformly knitted.

15. In a multi-feed knitting machine, means for feeding two or more yarns to the needles, two feeding stations at each of which, one, at least, of the yarns, is knitted in combination with means for causing all of the said yarns to be fed to the needles of the knitting machine at substantially the same rate so that two adjacent courses are uniformly knitted.

16. In a multi-feed knitting machine, means for feeding two or more yarns to the needles, two feeding stations at each of which, one, at least, of the yarns, is knitted in combination with yarn controlled means for causing all of the said yarns to be fed to the needles of the knitting machine at substantially the same rate so that two adjacent courses are uniformly knitted.

17. In a knitting machine in which two or more yarns are each in position to be fed to all the needles thereof,V and in combination ltherewith yarn rotatable means so acting upon the yarns that the tendency of one of the yarns to feed faster than the other is compensated for by the traction exerted on the other of the yarns by the yarn rotatable means.

18. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least -two feeding stationsmeans`for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with automatic means including opposed and freely rotatable members for causing the two or more yarns to be drawn at the same rate. I

19. In a multi-feed knitting machine having at least two feeding stations, means for separately knitting two or more yarns at the same time, in combination with yarn controlled means including opposed and freely rotatable members for causing the two or more yarns to be drawn vat the same rate.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. ARTHUR N. CLDUTIER.

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