US2110915A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1938.

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IIIIIII II IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIllllllllllllllllllll I fllHllllllIlIlllllIlllHllllllllllHH R. s. NOGLER 2,110,915 KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet l Q w Q 'lllllllllllllllllll ll!!! z Illl l-llli' ,1,- g l l 5* v GUM/WW4 March 15, 1938. R s, NQGLER I I 2,110,915

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ymorzd J2 Mylar WWI/MAM 1 March 15, 1938. 1 R N ER 2,110,915

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 mull March 15, 1938. R. s. NOGLER 2,110,915

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 fay/270,70 J A/y/er Gnu/M11 4.

March 15, 1938. R. s. NOGLER 2,110,915

' KNITTINGMACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Kay/2700a & Neg/er Slim 1 March 15, 1938..

' R. s. NOGLER 2,110,915

7 KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 II LIQEE 44 J0 6 33% 51 52 k5 313x ,ZZ M 0 070/20 S/V'o Aer 22 J0 g 1/ I I I 25/ Y I I 1 v 33, WP

March 15, 1938. R NQGLER 2,110,915

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 illi 15, was

22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machinery andis particularly directed to combinations of elements and devices which f acilitate knitting operations and permit production of fabrics heretofore only capable of being made by hand. Although for purposes of illustration the adaptation of the invention to a fiat bed knitting machine will be described in detail, it is to be understood that various improvements and novel features embraced by this invention maybe adapted to other forms .of knitting machines, as will be readily understood by' those skilled in the art.

Generally stated, the invention provides means for automatically and mechanically knitting a cable stitch or, some modification thereof in which portions of the fabric are caused to overlap one another to form a rope-like appearance.

This result is attained by the use of a needle bed composed of movable sections and by the further provision of means for transposing the needle sections during the knitting operation.

Means are also provided for selectively connecting a drive shaft with the transposing means and for timing the devices which actuate the transposing means so that the entire operation may be automatically controlled in'a predetermined manner to produce a cable stitch of the required width, length and other characteristics. Means are also provided whereby the fabric being knitted is tensioned and released in timed relation with the formation of the cable stitch so that undue stress and breakage of threads is obviated.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a knitting machine capable of automatically, mechanically and continuously forming a cable stitch at desired portions of the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a combination of elements whereby a braided or cable-like effect may be automatically produced in knitted fabrics.

An object of the invention is to disclose and provide a novel combination of elements whereby movable needle sections are automatically and rapidly transposed during a knitting operation. I

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide means for controlling and actuating a needle transposing-device in timed relation with These and other objects, advantageaadapta- 'tions and uses of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an illustrative form of the invention.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the illustrative form of the invention will be particularly directed to a flat, double needle bed machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine, the ends of the bed being broken ofl.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken approximately along the plane II--II indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken along substantially the same plane as that represented in Fig. 2 but having certain of the elements removed.

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken longitudinally of the machine, the section being indicated at IV-IV in Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along the plane VV in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is another transverse section taken approximately along the plane VIVI of Fig. 1, this view showing the transposition mechanism in section and the fabric-tensioning means.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are sections taken along the plane VII--VII of Fig. 6, showing the various positions of the transposing means during a cycle of operations.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section through the transposing 'mechanism when said transposing mechanism is in the position illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section illustrating the movement of a needle for the purpose of opening the latch and holding the latch member in opened position.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view showing the relationships between needle sections immediately prior to transposition thereof.

Fig. 15 is a front view of a fabric knitted on the machine of this invention.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a needle section employed in the machine of this invention.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an improved needle section- As shown in the drawings, the machine in-' eludes a suitable frame, generally indicated by the numeral l, provided with longitudinally extending guides on which knitting carriages 2 and 3 are slidably mounted. The entire machine is operated from a single drive shaft l, power being supplied thereto by means of a pulley 5 or other source. The drive shaft 4 is preferably provided with a clutch 6 which automatically disengages the entire machine when a thread breaks, although the mechanism for engaging and disengaging such clutch is not shown.- This The other end of the pitman rod is attached to a sliding sleeve member H which is slidably mounted upon a fixed longitudinal shaft l2. The sleeve H is provided with a yoke I3 which is connected by longitudinal members l4 and [4 to the carriages 2 and 3. Reciprocating motion of the carriages over the bed thus takes place when the chain 8 is continuously driven. It is to be understood that the carriages 2 and 3 slide in keyways formed in longitudinal members I5 and I6 and actuate the needles, such as the needle H, by engaging the needle butts.

Details of construction of the carriages need not be recited herein since any of the normal or usual constructions may be employed. As shown in Fig. 6, for example, each carriage may be pro-- vided with a pick-up 18 adapted to pick up the thread guide l9 which is normally left near the end of a needle bed while the carriage itself travels to a point considerably beyond the needle bed.

As shown in the drawings, the knitting machine may have two opposing needle beds, such as those generally indicated at 20 and 2|. Either or both of these beds may be provided with suitable racking mechanism. One of said needle beds, however, is provided with a plurality of separate needle sections in accordance with this invention. In the drawings the needle bed 2| is shown provided with pairs of needle sections, such as the needle sections 22 and 23, each pair being separated from an adjoining pair, such as needle sections 22' and 23', by a relatively fixed needle bed portion, indicated at 24. In the drawings it is seen that the movable needle sections 22 and 23 are each capable of holding three needles whereas the stationary needle sections 24 carry four needles. Obviously, the number of needles carried by .each of the sections, whether movable or stationary, may be varied at wil1.-'By the term movable needle section as used hereinafter, reference will be made to a needle section which is capable of moving out of the plane of the needle bed.

It is to be understood that where reference is made to stationary needle sections, such as sections 24, the term is used in a relative sense only 7 since the sections 24 may be movable within the plane of the needle bed, as during a racking o'peration. Means are provided for transposing needle sections 22 and 23 so that their relative positions with respect to adjacent stationary sections are changed. Such transposing means are generally indicated at 25. The machine of this invention also includes trip means for energizing the transposing means and such trip means are more particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Means are also provided for controlling and timing the operation of the transposing means and such controlling and timing elements are more particularly shown in Fig. 2. Moreover, means are provided for varying the tension on the fabric in accordance with the progress of the knitting operation and particularly in accordance with the transposition of the movable needle sections. and such tensioning means are. more specifically shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. In order to facilitate understanding of this invention, the transposing means per se will first be described.

Tmnsposing means portion 26 on which the needle sections 22 and 23 and the relatively fixed sections 24 are movably carried. Each of the split needle sections, such as the section 23, may be made in accordance with the-showings of Fig. 16 and includes a body or shank 21 which is appreciably longer than the body of the stationary needle sections 24. Each needle section is provided with longitudinal slots 28 adapted to slidably receive needles which are then retained in the needle section by means of a retainer 29 which is fastened to the body of the needle section by a machine screw after the needles have been inserted in the slots 28. The upper end of the needle section 23 is also provided with the hook portions 30. the lower surface of the needle section a transversely extending recess 3! is formed, this reccss being adapted to clearupstanding butts of another needle section during transposition of said sections. The shank of the needle sections is also provided with a semi-circular transverse recess .32 adapted to cooperatively engage a semicircular bead 33 formed in the bed 26. The lower end of each split n'eedle section isprovided with an upwardly and forwardly inclined face 34 adapted to rest against an upwardly and forwardly inclined face 36 formed in the edge of the bed 26, as shown in Figs. 6 and 12.

'The lower shanks of the movable needle sections extend downwardly beyond the fixed longitudinally extending guide members 15. Below the guide members I5 is a housing 35 which encloses a transporting mechanism, this mechanism including longitudinally disposed members 31 and 38 slidable within longitudinal grooves formed in stationary portions of the machine. These members 31 and 38 are connected to spacing members 39 and 39', which members 39 and 39' are spaced a distance very slightly in excess of the width of able bearings 4| supported by the movable carriage. One end of said cam shaft 40 carries a spur gear 42. The opposite end is provided with a double acting cam 43.

The cam shaft 40 is provided with cams 44 adapted to move into the spaces between adjacent members 39 and 39. When the cams 44 are in completely depressed position, illustrated in Fig. 11, they contact the upper surface of the split needle sections 22 and 23.

Positioned below the needle sections is a shaft 50 to which cams 5| and 52 are keyed. These cams are'spaced apart a required distance by means of spacing sleeves 53. The shaft 50 is also mounted in suitable bearings and is provided with a gear 54 at one end, the opposite end being provided with another double acting cam 55, which cam is similar to cam 43 but oppositely inclined thereto. The cams 52 comprise sectors adapted to enter a groove 56 formed in the lower faces of the needle sections, the cam i being spaced from the plane of the sector cam 52 so as to press against an adjoining needle section 22 when the sector 52 is engaged in the groove of a needle segment 23, as illustrated in Fig. 9. 1

Rotation, of the cam shaft 40 and the shaft 52 is obtained in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. 5, the gears 22 and 54 are in engagement with a gear mounted upon a stud shaft til, this stud shaft being driven through a spiral gear mounted on said stud shaft, the spiral gear being in engagement with another spiral gear 52 mounted upon a spindle 59. The spindle 59 is driven in any suitable manner from a regulatable source of power. For purposes of illustration, it is shown that a sprocket 62 is carried by the spindle 59, this sprocket being in operative. engagement as by means of a chain (it with a sprocket E52 mounted upon a driven member 33, which driven member is shown journaled upon the drive shaft 2..

During operation of the transposing mechanism, the shafts 22 and 50 reciprocate. Reciprocation is imparted to these shafts by reason of the cams 23 and 55, the opposing faces of each cam passing between fixed restraining rollers, such as the rollers 32 and 65. The sequence of operations which takes place will be understood from an examination of Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive. As shown in Fig. 7, the needle sections '22 and 23 are aligned directly on the bed 26 with the needle section 22 to the left of the needle section 23. Partial rotation of the shafts 22 and 50 now takes place and simultaneously the carriage, composed of the members 33 and longitudinal members 2'7 and, 38, moves to the left while shaft 50 moves to the right and also partly rotates. Direction-of longitudinal movement is indicated by the arrows and continues until the position shown in Fig. 8 is reached. It will now be seen that the member 22 is directly beneath the space to the side of member 39. The cam 52 enters the groove 52 formed in the lower surface of needle section 23 while cam 55 begins to raise needle section 22.

This operation is continued until the stage shown in Fig. 9 is reached. It will beseen that needle section 22 has now been lifted into the space immediately to the side of the member 39 while needle section 23 is restrained by reason of cam 52. Further rotationpf the shafts 20 and 52 is accompanied by an opposite longitudinal motion of these shafts, cam shaft 20 moving toward the right whereas shaft 50 moves to the left. Needle section 22 is retained within the space to the'sicle of member 39 and is moved by the carriage containing such members 39 over and above needle member 23. which is held firmly by the segment cam 52. The needle member 22 is retained in this raised position by reason of the fact that the tip of such needle member and the needles contained therein are in engagement with the fabric. Fig..14, for example, illustrates the position of the upper ends of the needle sections at the stage illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be seen that needle member 22 and the needles contained therein are holding onto the threads.

The downward pull thus exerted by the threads is suflicient to maintain needle section 22 in position within the space between members 39 of the movable carriage actuated by the shaft 22. Attention is also called to the fact that when the needle section 22 has been raised, such needle section has moved longitudinally and upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 12, such upward movement be-.

ing due to the inclined face wand its cooperation with the inclined face 35 of the bed 26.

In this manner the threads held by the needles of section 22 are placed in advance of the threads and needles of section 23, thereby permitting section 22 to move over section 23 without entangling the threads. Attention is called to the fact that in the machine illustrated the movable needle sections are loosely retained in the bed and are virtually not positively connected (as by levers or gears) to other elements, the transposition being effected by a selective engagement of cams with the needle sections.

The movement of the shaft 20 toward the right and the movement of the shaft 52 toward the left, as shown in Fig. 10, is continued until needle section 22 has completely passed over needle sec tion 23, whereupon the rotation of the shafts 23 and 52 causes the cams M to press needle section 23 down onto the bed 22. Section 23 is now released by cam 52 and it will be seen that needle section '22 is now to the right of needle section 23 and not to the left of said section as was the case originally. After the needle sections 23 and 22 are firmly placed upon" the bed of the machine in their now transposed positions, the shaft 30 moves to the left to some extent, thereby permitting the cam 22 to hold both of the sections 22 and 23 down against the bed of the machine.

It is to be understood that the transposition above described takes place while the knitting carriages 2 and 3 are at the end of a stroke and away from the needle section of the machine.

The entire operation takes place very quickly,

occupying only that period of time which is required for the lug 9 to travel around one-half of the circumference of the sprocket on which the Timing and drive means The transposing operation described hereinabove produces a fabric having acable stitch of the character illustrated in Fig. 15. The normal, substantially stationary needle sections 22 form the normal knitted panels fill but the split needle sections form the cable stitch shown in Fig. 15 between the plain sections. Attention is called to the fact that true overlapping occurs between the stitches 62 and those shown at w so that it is possible to insert a pencil, finger or other small object beneath the overlappingstitches. It is to be understood that instead of using but two movable split needle sections, three of such sections may be used and a braided effect or a three layer rope or cable effect may be simultaneously obtained. Obviously, the longitudinal distance separating points at wh ch the stitched sections 68 and 69 cross each other may be varied. In Fig. 4 the machine performs four normal stitching operations between transpositions. If desired,, only two normal knitting operations, or six, eight or any given number of such operations, may take v place; The means for controlling the periodicity of the tran'spositons and for actuating the transposing means will now be described.

Journaled upon a rocker shaft 72 is a ratchet "ll connected to sprockets (also journaled on said shaft), which sprockets support a timing chain 112. The timing chain is advanced one step with each traverse of the needle bed by the carriages 2 i and 3.

Such advance of the timing chain is accomplished by means of a pawl I3 carried upon one arm 14 of a yoke extending from a rocker shaft I5. The rocker shaft is oscillated in a usual manner by reason of contact made between a cam follower, carried by the sliding member I I, and cams I6, carried by the rocker shaft I5. Similar cam follower and cam means are employed on the well known Dubied knitting machines. The pawl I3 is yieldingly engageable with the ratchet II by means of suitable spring suspension.

A retention pawl is provided for the purpose of preventing the ratchet II from coasting.

The timing chain 12 carries adjustably positionable cam blocks 18 and I9. Opposing bell crank levers 80 and 8| are mounted upon rotatable' studs 82 and 83, these bell crank levers being provided with cam fingers provided with inclined faces adapted to contact with the inclined faces of the(cam blocks I8 and I9. The lower ends of the bell crank levers 80 and 8| are connected by means of links 84 and 85 to cam segments 88 and 81 respectively.

Mounted upon the rocker shaft 10 are ratchet segments 88 and 89 and a crank 90. Cooperating with the ratchet segments 88 and 89 are camfaced pawls SI and 92 pivoted on an arm 74' of the yoke keyed onto the oscillating shaft I5. In neutral position, i. e., when the machine is knitting in the customary manner, the two cam segments 88 and 87 are separated apart in opposite directions and bear against the faces of the cam pawls SH and 92, maintaining such pawls out of engagement with the ratchet segments 88 and 39. The cam-faced pawls 9i and 92 are yieldably urged against such cam segments 86 and 87 by means of springs and move up and down by reason of the oscillation imparted to the yoke I i by the oscillating shaft "I5.

When a cam block I9 raises a cam finger mounted upon the stud 83, inward motion is imparted to the link 85 and since this link 85 is connected to the cam 80, such cam moves toward the right, permitting the cam-faced pawl 93 to engage ratchet segment 08 so that upon the next oscillation of the shaft l5, the rocker shaft I is partially rotated. Partial rotation of such shaft causes partial rotation of the crank 90 and such crank then exerts a pull on a lever 00 which sets a trip mechanism into position.

The lever 90 is pivotally connected to a bell crank 95 mounted upon a rocker shaft 96. This rocker shaft carries a bell crank 91, one arm of the crank forming a trigger finger 98. The other arm of the bell crank 91 is attached to a rod 99 and the lower end of such rod is attached to the arm of abell crank I00 (see Figs. 3 and 4) The end of the crank I00 is connected by meansof a link IM to a crank I02 carried by a rocker shaft I03, this rocker shaft carrying a trigger, generally indicated at I04, the trigger being keyed to the shaft I03 but yieldably, longitudinally movable thereon and normally maintained at one end of the shaft I03 by means of a spring I05.

The drive shaft 4 is provided with a clutch including a driving member I06 provided with a circumferential lip having notches I01 formed on the internal surface of the lip. The driven member 63 comprises a disc I08 provided with a radial slide, a dog I09 being slidably carried in such slide and outwardly urged by means of a spring. The dog is adapted to engage with the notches I01 when the trigger I04 is pivoted outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3. The

trigger I04 is provided with an inclined face H0 capable of engaging with the protruding portion of the dog I09 so as to'raise the dog out of contact with the notches I01.

In the event trigger I 04 is moved into substantial contact with the face of the disc I08, said disc rotating in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig.4, the inclined face I III of the trigger I04 will raise the dog I09 out of contact with the notches I01, thereby disengaging the clutch and stopping the transposition mechanism driven by the sprocket 62. The spring I will yield slightly under the impact of the dog upon the face IIO.

When the trip arm 98 is moved into position (by reason of pawl 9| engaging ratchet segment 88 and partially rotating rocker shaft and crank 90), then upon the next movement of the carriage 2 the trip arm 98 is struck by the trip pin I I2 mounted on said carriage and the rod 99 is depressed, causing rocker shaft I03 to swing the trigger I04 outwardly, releasing the dog I09 and causing the clutch to engage. The bell crank I00 is normally urged upwardly, however, by means of a spring I I3 and in order to prevent the trigger I04 from immediately snapping back onto the face of the disc I08, said disc I08 is provided with a flange I08 extending outwardly from said disc for approximately one-half of the circumference thereof. This flange I08 engages with an extension I04 of the trigger (Fig. 3), keeping said trigger out of contact with the face of the disc I08 for about one-half of the revolutionof such disc. In the embodiment of the invention herein described, one rotation of the drive shaft 4 and one rotation of the sprocket 02 causes the performance of a complete transposition cycle in the mechanism 25.

In order to again oscillate the shaft 96 so as to lower the trip arm 98 out of engaging position with the trip pin- N2, the secondary cam block l9 raises a cam finger mounted upon the rocker shaft 82 and the rocking motion thus produced in the arm 80 swings the cam segment 81 toward the left, permitting the cam-faced pawl 82 to engage with the ratchet segment 89, pulling said segmentdownwardly. This imparts partial rotation to the crank 90 which partially rotates the rocker shaft 98 to lower the trigger arm 90 out of the path of the trip pin I I2.

Fabric tensioning means As the knitting operation proceeds, the fabric, generally indicated at II5 (Fig. 6) passes downwardly into contact with a roller I I6, which roller is preferably provided with a yielding surface. The roller is mounted upon a shaft Ill and the fabric is maintained in pressure contact with the roller IIO by means of a cooperating roller II8 mounted upon a shaft held by means of a weighted lever II9 pivoted at I and provided with adjustable weights I2I. The fabric then may pass over another roller I22 and finally fall into a suitable container. The shaft III on which the roller H6 is mounted, is driven in timed relation to the travel of the carriage over the needle bed. The shaft III is driven by means of a sprocket mounted thereon and a chain I23 (see Fig. 3). The chain passes over a sprocket I24 pinned on a shaft I25, said shaft also carrying a ratchet wheel I26. The bell crank lever I00 may be journaled on the shaft. I 25.

The ratchet I26 is operated by means of a cam I30 carried upon the drive shaft 4, the cam cooperating with a roller carried by one end of a pivoted as at 836 and provided with spring means l3'l for yieldably urging said pawl into engagement with the ratchet lit.

The bell crank lllll is provided with an arm I38 bearing a lug 939 adapted to cooperate with the pawl H35 and lift said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet E26 when the bell crank lever bell crank lever HM and arm ltd disengage the pawl I135 from the ratchet lit, discontinuing the advance of the roller II it and permitting the tension in the fabric. l to take it up.

During transposition, therefore, the fabric is not subjected to any unusual stress and breakage of threads is prevented. The fabric pickup is maintained negative for about one-half of the period of time required for the completion of the needle-transposing operation. In this manner tension is relieved on the fabric (I it until the needle sections 22 and it are in their maximum displaced position, i. e., in the position which the needle sections assume while passing from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 10. Immediately thereafter, however, the flange portion Wt which has been holding the trigger tilt in an outwardly directed position, re-

leases such trigger finger, thereby raising crank m2, pulling the link lltfl and raising bell crank Hill. This immediately drops the pawl H35 onto the ratchet H26, permitting such pawl and ratchet to again drive the roll Ht during the last por tion of the transposing cycle so that when the transposition is complete, the fabric is under normal tension. In'other words, the tension on the fabric M5 is preferably relieved only for the first half of the transposition cycle and the last half of the cycle is utilized in again tensioning the fabric to a normal knitting tension.

It will' 'be readily seen by those skilled inthe art that the machine of this invention includes a number of novel arrangements of elements whereby highly desirable and novel effects can be attained. It is to be understood that the various operations described and the various units illustrated and referred to operate in timed relation to one another. The oscillation of the rocker shaft I5 is synchronized with the passage of the carriages over the needle bed. The setting of the trip finger 98 takes place at a desired point in the travel of the carriages and while the carriages are moving away toward one end of the machine. On the return stroke, the trip pin M2 engages the trip arm 93, causing the transposition of the needle sections to take place while the carriages are away from the needle bed and reversing their direction of travel. All of theoperations and units are capable of taking place rapidly so that the knitting machine may be operated in a continuous, unentrapped manner, producing just as many yards of knitted fabric embodying the cable stitch of this invention as is normally the case with usual types of machines.

Attention is called to the fact that the needle carriages 2 and 3 may be provided with an auxiliary cam section of the character indicated at I50 (Fig. 1). These cam sections are for the purpose of moving the needles into the position shown in Fig. 13, the needle being advanced only sufficiently to permit the threads to hold the latch of the needle down, thereby placing the latch in such position that subsequent movements of the carriage over the needles will not snap the latch ofi. In many knitting operations the latch portion of the needle is left open in a position substantially normal to the plane of the needle bed so that upon the return stroke of the carriage, the latch is broken off by providing a separate cam section, such as the section 850, capable of moving the needle a predetermined and minor distance just sufiicient to permit the threads of the fabric to press the latch down into full opened position. Attention is called to the fact that such auxiliary cam section is not duplicated in the opposing carriage. I

A modified form of needle section is shown in Fig. 17. This form differs from that shown in Fig. 16 in that a member 29', preferably made of a resilient material such as spring steel, is positioned beneath the retainer 29. The member 29' extends forwardly to within relatively close proximity with the hook portions M. The member 29 is adapted to contact with the latches carried by the needles so as to close such latches and positively prevent them from being left in a vertical position or in an upright position so that during transposition there is no tendency for the latches to be broken off by reason of the passage of one needle section over another. V

Although a complete knitting machine has been described hereinabove' and various preferred forms of construction have been described, including a particular transposing means, a specific drive, timing means, trip means, tensioning means, needle section construction, etc., it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments shown and described. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other constructions performing substantially the same functions and capable of obtaining the same results may be designed and built. Moreover, the invention is not limited to a machine in which all of the phases of the invention are embodied. Any needle bed, for example, may be sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, means on the transposition carriage adapted to receive desired needle sections, means for moving desired needle sections into said receiving means, means for moving said transposition carriage longitudinally of the needle bed, and means.

for moving transposed needle sections from the transposition carriage onto the needle bed.

2. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover,

the combination of: a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam shaft extending longitudinally of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary cams carried by said cam shaft, said primary cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, means for moving said transposition carriage longitudinally of the needle bed,

means for moving said cam shaft longitudinally of the needle bed, and means for moving the transposed needle sections from the transposition carriage onto the needle bed.

3. In a knitting machine of the character described in claim 2, the provision of means for moving theraised needle sections lengthwise to permit said raised needle sections to clear fabric held by other needle sections.

4. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of: a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, transposing means for moving a needle section out of such bed and into the position occupied by another needle section while simultaneously shifting said other section in the plane of the bed, a driving shaft, and a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said transposing means.

5. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover,

the combination of a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, transposing means for moving a needle section out of said bed and into the position occupied by another needle section While simultaneously shifting said other section in the plane of the bed, and timing means advanced by said carriage, trip means positionable by the timing chain and adapted to be tripped by the carriage, a driving shaft, a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said transposing means, means actuated by said trip means for engaging said clutch, means actuated by the timing means for restoring the trip means to normal position, and means for automatically disengaging said clutch.

6. In an apparatus of the character described in claim 5, the provision of means for releasing tension on the fabric in said machine synchronously with the engagement of said clutch.

'7. In a lmitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover,

the combination of a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam shaft extending longitudinally of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary cams carried by said cam shaft, said primary cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, means for moving said transposition carriage longitudinally of the needle bed, means for moving said cam shaft longitudinally of the needle bed, and means for moving the transposed needle sections from the transposition carriage onto the needle bed, said means for moving said cam shaft longitudinally including a double-acting cam mounted on said shaft, and roller means in contact with said double-acting cam, said roller means being journaled on a fixed axis.

8. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam shaft extending longitudinally .of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary cams carried by said cam shaft, said primary cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, means for moving said transposition carriage longitudinally of the needle bed, means for moving said cam shaft longitudinally of the needle bed, means for moving the transposed needle sections from the transposition carriage onto the needle bed, and means for rotating said cam shaft and simultaneously moving said cam shaft and transposition carriage longitudinally, said last-named means being periodically actuated in timed relation to the movement of the knitting carriage.

9. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam shaft extending longitudinally of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary cams'carried by said cam shaft, said primary cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, means for rotating said cam shaft and for moving the same longitudinally of the needle bed, means for moving said transposition carriage longitudinally of the needle bed in a direction opposite to that in which said cam shaft is moved, a driving shaft, and a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said means for rotating and moving said cam shaft and transposition carriage in timed relation to the movement of the knitting carriage.

10. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of: a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam shaft extending longitudinally of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary-cams carried by said cam shaft, said primary cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, means for rotating said cam shaft and reciprocating the same longitudinally of the needle bed, means for reciprocating said trans anionic position carriage longitudinally oi the needle bed, a driving shaft, and a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said means for rotating said cam shaft and reciprocating said transposition carriage and cam shait,

11. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of: a plurality oi movable needle sections in the needle bed, a transposition carriage movable longitudinally of the needle bed and positioned above the plane of the needle bed, said transposition carriage being provided with slots adapted to receive needle sections, a cam. shaft extending longitudinally of the needle bed and below the plane thereof, primary and secondary cams carried by said cam shaft, said flit. cams being adapted to move desired needle sections out of the plane of the needle bed and into slots of said transposition carriage, said secondary cams being adapted to engage other needle sections, another cam shalt extending longitudinally of the needle bed and carried by said transposition carriage, cams carried by said shaft and adapted to periodically extend into slots in said carriage to move trans posed needle sections from the carriage onto the needle bed, means for rotating both cam shafts, and means for moving said shafts and transposition carriage longitudinally of the bed in timed relation to the movement of the mitting carriage.

12. In a knitting machine of the character described in claim 11, a double-acting cam carried by each of said longitudinally disposed cam shafts, and roller means in contact with said double-acting cams, said roller means being mounted on a fixed axis, said double-acting cams and cooperating roller means being adapted to reciprocatingly move said transposition carriage and cam shafts.

13. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, transposing means for moving a needle section out of such bed and into the position occupied by another needle section while simultaneously shifting said other section in the plane of the beds. driving shaft, a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said transposing means, means for maintaining fabric made by said machine under tension, and means for releasing said tensioning means when said clutch is engaged.

14. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of: a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, means cooperating with said needle sections for transposing the positions of said sections on the needle bed in timed relation to the movement of the carriage, means for maintaining fabric made by said machine under tension, and means for releasing tension on said fabric when said transposing means are actuated.

15. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and a knitting carriage movable thereover, the combination of: a plurality of movable needle sections in the needle bed, transposing means for moving a. needle section out of such bed and into the position occupied by another needle section while simultaneously shifting said other section in the plane of the bed, a driving shaft, a clutch for selectively connecting said driving shaft with said transposing means, means actuated by said knitting carriage for engaging said clutch, and means connected to said last-named means for releasing said tensioning means when said clutch is engaged.

16. In a knitting machine of the character de-= scribed in claim 15, the provision oi means for maintaining said tensioning means in released position during a part only of the period when said clutch is engaged.

l'l'. In a knitting machine provided with a needle bed and knitting carriage movable there= over, the combination of a plurality of spaced, relatively stationary needle sectionsga pair of movable needle sections between adjacent relatively stationary sections, transposing means for moving one movable needle-section out oi the needle bed and into the position occupied by an adjoining movable needle section while simultaneously shifting said other section in the plane of the bed; a driving shaft, a clutch for selectively connectihg said driving shaft with said trans posing means, and a timing cans for controlling said clutch in timed relation to the movement of the knitting carriage. 18. In a knitting machine oi the character described in claim 17, the provision of means for moving the movable needle sections longitudinally while they are being moved out of the needle bed to permit said movable needle sections to clear fabric held by other needle sections during transposition thereof.

19. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed subdivided transversely, in part at least, into a plurality of movable needle sections, each section being provided with knitting needles, and means cooperating with said needle sections for moving predetermined needle sections out oi? the plane of said needle bed and other sections longitudinally in said bed to transpose the positions of said sections on the bed.

20. In a, knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed subdivided transversely, in part at least, into a plurality of movable needle sections,

. each section being provided with knitting needles, a knitting carriage movable longitudinally of said needle bed and adapted to operate said needles, and means cooperatingwith said needle sections for moving predetermined needle sections out of the plane of said needle bed and other sections. longitudinally in said had to transpose the positions of said sections on the bed in timed relation to the movement of the carriage.

21. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed subdivided transversely, in part at least, into a plurality of needle sections, each section being provided with knitting needles, said needle sections being movable into and out of the plane of said needle bed together with needles carried thereby and also movable longitudinally ofthe needle bed while out of the plane of said needle bed, a knitting carriage movable longitudinally of said needle bed, and means cooperating with said needle sections for transposlng the positions of said needle sections on said bed in timed relation to the movement of the carriage.

22. In a knitting machine, a plurality of loosely retained substantially unconnected needle sections in a needle bed, each section being provided with knitting needles, said sections being movable together with other needles into and out of the plane of the needle bed, and transposing means adapted to cooperatively engage said needle sections to move predetermined sections out of the bed and other sections longitudinally within the bed whereby said'needle sections are transposed on said bed.

RAYMOND S. NOGLER.

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