US2164119A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1939. H. M ADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1934 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hart- M ACI ams i ATTORNE S.

June 27, 1939. H MCADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 J JE.

INVENTOR.

100 HEII'IH M Adams ATTORNEY June 27, 1939. H. MCADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE Fil'ed June 14, 1934 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HBT'PH PI -Adams ATTORNEYS.

June 27, 1939. H. M ADAMS KNITTING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1934 III Ii/ 0 o INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY June 27, 1939. H. MCADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Har'r'H M AdB'ITLS ATTQRNEYS.

H. McADAMS 2,164,119

June 27, 1939.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1934 l2 Sheets-Sheet '7 Harry M Aflams ATTORNEY Jww 7 H. M ADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Lu Y I; Tx plal Jam. Saws.

INVENTOR.

H ar- EH M Ad. am 5 ATTORNEYS? June 27, 1939. H. M ADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 1111111211939. HMCADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE FORT) (.ou nsgs wmarv caonseo INVENTOR.

; EB M- 'Ad am 5 llll lllllll June 27, 1939. H. MCADAMS 2,164,119

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1934 12 Sheets-Sheet ll Jig. El.

INVENTOR.

Hal-T M Adams ATTORNEYS.

BY v

12 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1939. H. McADAMS Filed June 14, 1954 Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Harry McAdams, Reading, Pa., assignor to Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, Pa., a corporation Application June 14, 1934, Serial No. 730,666-

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines i i The primary object of the invention is the provision of an whereon a plurality of feeds are provided and which embodies improved means for knitting a wide variety of patterns in seamless tubular fabric, such ashosiery; the improved machine embodying improved means to provide selective reverse plating, horizontal striping, and selective pattern striping and designing such as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 662,351.

A further object of the invention is thexprovision of an improved hosiery knitting machine where on seamless. hosiery may be knitted; said .m'achine using a plurality of feeds in combination with selective wrapstripe color within color patterning. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved binder and cutter mechanism for knitting machines.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved reverse plating mechanism adaptable for a plural feed knitting machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine with certain parts thereof omitted, such as the bobbin support and yarn tension- ;ng means associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the knitting machine shown in Figure 1 with certain parts omitted for the purpose of clarifying the improved details of the machine.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the improved knitting machine with certain portions omitted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine at the opposite side from that shown in Figure 2, with portions of the knitting machine omitted to better illustrate other details.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the cylinder of the knitting machine, showing more particularly the improved yarn wrapping mechanism associated with the double feed knitting machine. 7

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken through the knitting machine above the wrap-ping finger supporting head.

Figure 7 is a plan View of the latch ring of the improved knitting machine, showing yarn improved knitting machine feeding, guiding, and cutting and binding details associated with the double feed knitting ma chine.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the knitting machine showing certain operating details within the machine for controlling the yarn feed fingers.

Figure 9 is a developed view of the needle, cam and yarn feed and wrapping finger mechanism.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view' of the sinker cam ring showing the cam construction for controlling the double feed of the sinkers and sinker jacks of the reverse plating attachment.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the bottom ring of the sinker ring construction showing certain guide grooves and details essential for the improved double feed knitting machine.

Figure 12 is a, perspective view of an improved binding and cutting mechanism which is used on the double feed knitting machine of this. application immediately following the second yarn feed. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the binder and cutter mechanism of Figure 12, after the same has acted to cut the yarn and bind it.

Figures 14 and 15 are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figures 13 and 12.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary rear view of the bottom of the knitting machine, showing more particularly the main pattern drum and certain controlling details of the same.

Figure 17 is a developed view of the cam layout upon the lower rear pattern drum.

Figure 18 is a developed view of the cam layout for the upper rear drum.

Figure 19 is a developed view of the cam lay-' out upon the reverse plating drum.

Figure 20 is a developed view of the pattern lay-out upon a front lower drum of the machine.

Figure 21 is a side elevation of a stocking, showing a portion of the plating and selective pattern wrapping which may be provided in a. stocking, with the improved machine of this application.

Figure 22 is a fragmentary inside view of a section of the stocking, showing more particularly the plating, wrapping yarns and the float portions of the latter.

Figure 23 is an enlarged section of the fabric of Figures 21 and 22, showing the face thereof and the knitted stitches of the various yarns forming the plating, reverse plating, and cornproved knitting machine, and by way of example a piece of fabric which may be knitted thereon, the letter A may generally designate a knitting machine which may include a frame B; cylinder means D for operating the cylinder and driving machine; a. set of needles E; a set of jacks F cooperating with the needles E. Means G may' fabric P, and it is to be understood that a. wide variety of reverse plated, wrap striped and designed seamless fabric may be knitted upon-the improved machine, as desired.

The improved knitting machine is generally of the Banner type, as disclosed in U. S. Patent 933,443. Its frame B has a supporting bed 25 upon which the cylinder 0 of .the machine is revolubly mounted, as shown in Figure 5. The means for rotating and oscillating the cylinder C are of the usual type. The means D for driving the cylinder includes a main shaft 2|, shown in Figure 3, provided with the usual gearing and clutch mechanism connected with the cylinder gear 22, shown in Figure S. The drive mechanism also controls a gear 23 conventionally known as a 104" gear.

The cylinder C may be of the character setforth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 662,354. It is provided with the usual needle grooves for receiving the needles and jacks of the sets E and F.

The needles of the set E, individually indicated at 32 are preferably of .the latch type, and half of them are provided with long butts 40 and the remainder with short butts 4|. The short butts are indicated in solid black in Figure 9 of the 1 drawings. The set of jacks F cooperate with the needles of the set E, and of course an individual jack 3| is provided for each needle 32. The jacks are of the character set forth in my above identified co-pending application, and may be provided with 'a desired arrangement of frangible butts so'that they may be selectively actuated for elevating predetermined needles in order that various striping or design providing yarns may be fed thereto by the means G to be subsequently describeI The Jack actuating means H preferably includes a pair of cam supporting blocks 50 and shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, each of which is provided with a vertical series of slots arranged radially to the cylinder. Independently movable horizontally positioned cams are slidable therein for actuation upon the butts of the jacks 3| of the set F in order to control said jacks with relation to the needles. Preferably eight slots are provided in each cam block, although the number may vary as desired.

For the knitting of the sample of fabric P shown in Figures 21, 22 and 23, the block so is provided with upper and lower jack actuating cams 52 and 53. The block 5|, on the other hand, is preferably provided with similar cams 54 to 60 inclusive. Each of the jack'actuating cams in the blocks 50 and 5| is provided with an angular sloping head adapted to ride into and out of engagement with respect to the butts of said jacks, at difierent levels, for obvious purposes.

The cams 52 to 60 are normally spring urged into butt engaging and jack elevating position, and may be moved out of such position by means of suitable levers controlled off of pattern mechanism to be subsequently described.

' The jack actuating means H furthermore includes a pattern control drum 6!, shown in Figures 2, 3, and 16 of the drawings, having a. pattern lay-out, designated in the developed view shown in Figure 17, for the purpose of actuating the various jack cams thru a system of levers in accordance with the teaching set forth in my copending applications Serial Nos. 558,798 and 591,689. The lugs of this drum comprising the lay-out may be detachable and removable for the purpose of suiting the lay-out to any desired pattern to be knitted in the fabric.

The drum BI is actuated in a step-by-step movement oil of the cylinder driving means of the machine-in the manner set forth in my copending applications above mentioned. Briefly the drum has a ratchet wheel 64 with sixty teeth about its circumference. The gear wheel 23 is provided with diametrically opposed I lugs 65 thereon, shown in Figure 8 of .the drawings, positioned to actuate a lever 56, shown in Figure 4. This lever is keyed upon a shaft 61 which has an arm 58 keyed therewith, as shown in Figure 2,

' controlling a pawl 69. The pawl operates upon the teeth of the ratchet wheel 64 in a manner which has been set forth in my above identified co-pending applications for the purpose of intermittently advancing the drum 6 I.

Means is provided to cut the advancing mechanism of the drum 6| out of operation, that is, to prevent rotation of the drum 8|. This means may be generally indicated at S. It has been described in detail in my eo-pending applications above referred to, and will not be specifically de scribed herein. It is sufficient to say that this mechanism is actuated ofi the pattern chain 18, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, for selectively throwing the drum in or out of operation, as the pattern demands.

Referring to the yarn wrapping attachment as adapted for a double feed type of knitting machine, such as herein provided, by reference to Figure 9 of the drawings it will be seen that a main set of stitch cams 19 is provided, which may actuate the needles of the knitting machine for producing fabric knitted with one or more yarns. As shown in the drawings a feed device or finger 80 is provided for feeding a bodyyarn SE to the needles in advance of the knitting point produced by the stitch cams 19, and another feed device or finger 82 may also be provided for feeding another body or main knitting yarn 83. Other feed fingers may also be provided at this point, such as a feed finger 8| for feeding a heel and toe knitting yarn 85. Of course the usual picks may be provided in cooperation with the stitch cam arrangement 19.

Another set of stitch cams 88 may be provided in cooperative relation with the'needles of the set E, consisting of needle elevating and'needle lowering earns 89 and 90 respectively, with which may be associated yarn feed devices or fingers SI and 92, corresponding respectively to feed fingers 80 and 82 above mentioned, for needle feeding yarns 93 and 94, which may correspond respectively to the yarns 8i and 83. The

usual picks 94 and 95 may be duplicated at the tachment and means for actuating the same, substantially as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 591,689. Generally the same includes a bracket 90 rotatably supporting a bobbin stand and drive gearing therefor. The bobbin stand has a rotary spindle SH in axial alignment above the cylinder. A yarn feed finger head or support I02 is keyed to the shaft 9I as set forth in my above identified co-pending.

applications, and the yarns extend from the bobbins in the bobbin stand downwardly through suitable passageways in the head I02. The head I 02 isprovided' with slots vertically provided therein, wherein are disposed individual yarn guide and feed fingers I I I. They are oscillatively fulcrumed thereon. At their lower ends said fingers are positioned in spaced relation above the hook ends of the needles, and may move from the inner to the outer side of the circular line of needles for the purpose of wrapping the yarns thereon upon the needles. Each guide finger III at its lower end is apertured to receive the particular yarn therethrough. Other details of op eration and arrangement of these feed fingers are similar to that described in my copending application, Serial No. 662,354, and need not be specifically described herein.

The means for actuating the fingers comprises, as is best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, a pair of cam supporting blocks I43 and I44, and a third cam supporting block I45. The blocks I43 and I44 are securely mounted upon a pivoted supporting arm I45 Each of the blocks I43, I44, and I45 are suitably slotted to slidably receive horizontally positioned cams. of these slots may vary, but as shown in the drawings four are provided in each cam block, since it is intended, in the present machine, to provide four levels of butts upon the'yarn feed fingers I I I. It is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings that the cam'block I 43, and also the cam block I44, are each provided with four cams. For the particular pattern P, however, as can be seen from Figure 9 of the drawings, only the two lower cams I46 and I41 of the cam block I43 are active; the two upper cams I48 and I49 of the cam block I44 are active, and the two upper cams I50 and I5I are provided in the two upper slots of the cam block I45 at respectively the same levels as the cams I48 and I49, for purposes to .be subsequently described.

It can readily be understood from Figure 6 of the drawings that springs normally urge the cams of the blocks I43, I44, and I45 away from the butts of the yarn feed fingers III. In order to move the cams into operating relation with the butts of the fingers III, levers I58 are pivoted at I59 for the cams of the block I43; levers I60 pivoted at I6I' are provided for the cams of the block I 44, and levers I62 pivoted at I63 are provided for the cams of the block I45. The pivoted support I45 is of the same nature as the similar support provided in my above identified co-pending application 'Serial No. 662,354, and need not be further described. The cam actuating levers I58, I60 and IE2 have pivoted therewith connecting rods I65 suitably supported or guided upon the machine. The latter are connected with suitable bell crank levers I61, shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings. The upper The number ends of these bell crank levers are offset at various distances for acting against the? pins or other means upon the ends of the connecting rods I65. The opposite ends of the bell crank levers I61 are pivotally associated with length adjustable push rods I10, or with other connecting rods HI and actuated oif of suitable patterning means upon drums of the knitting machine to be subsequently mentioned. 'For the connecting rods I10 plungers I 12 are provided, reciprocable within individual passageways of an eccentrically supporting block I13. This block is mounted to turn upon a horizontal axis, and in a manner and for a purpose more specifically set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 662,354. These plungers I12 are actuated by suitable lugs or in suitable depressions provided in an upper rear drum I 15 provided upon the knitting machine, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. On theother hand the connecting rods Ill. are pivoted to a suitable lever I16'pivoted intermediate their ends at I11 upon the knitting machine; said lever I16 being connected by a suitable connecting rod to one of a number of levers I18 pivoted at I19 upon the knitting machine, and actuable ofi' of a lower front drum I80. 7

The drums BI and I15 are synchronously actuable through gearing I82.

The drum I15 is driven in the same direction 7 and at the same speed ratio as the drum BI, and the feed of patterning yarns to the needles is cut out under certain circumstances by moving the plunger mounting block I13 in a manner set forth in my above described co-pendlng application Serial No. 591,689.

It should be particularly noted that the cams mounted in the blocks I43 and I44 are providedfor directing variously colored 'or otherwise contrasting yarns upon the needles of the knitting machine in advance of the main knitting cam set 19, for producing wrap striping or other selected pattern designing in the. fabric being knitted, such as set forth in my co-pending applications above mentioned. On the other hand the cam' block I45 is so mounted that the cams thereof actuate the yarn feed fingers of the wrap striping mechanism for the feeding of various yarns upon selected needles of the knitting machine in advance of the stitch cam set 88 and succeeding the stitch cam set 19, so that the wrap striping or patterning yarns may be fed upon the'nee dles of the knitting machine for knitting into succeeding courses of the fabric being knitted.

The operating means for each camm'ounted I in the blocks 50 and 5| includes a lever I9I pivoted at I92 upon the side of the machine, intermediate its ends, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings; These-levers I9I have one end thereof riding on the drum 6I, and the opposite end is suitably connected 'by a connecting rod I93 to an end of a bell crank lever I94. The latter levers are pivotally mounted upon suitable brackets upon the machine, in two series below the two sets of jack actuating cams, and in such position that the upper ends of the bell crank levers I94 oper ate against pins of said cams. Suitable springs are provided for normally urging the cams or other devices, which said bell crank levers actuate, in-the direction of the cylinder of the machine. The lugs on the drum 6| maintain the cams actuated off the levers I94 inoperative, and when the drum ends of the levers I9I drop into depressions on the drum 6I between the lugs, the springs of the various cams and devices which are actuated off of the bell crank lever I94 are urged into operative relation to the various parts which they actuate. Mainly the cams of the blocks 59 and 5| are provided to raise and lower the jacks and needles of the cylinder of the knitting machine into and out of operative relation with respect to the striping and design patterning yarns controlled off of the feed finger head I02. The specific sequence in which the cams are actuated to produce the specific fabric -P will be subsequently mentioned.

The levers l9! have individual springs I98 to keep the ends thereof in engagement with the drum 6|. Means I99 actuated off a lever 290, which is in turn actuated oil the drum I80, is provided for throwing all of the levers I9l out of operating relation with respect to the drum GI during certain knitting operations.

The horizontal striping mechanism may be the same as set forth in my above identified copending application Serial No. 662,354, for the.

purpose of feeding differently colored or otherwise contrasting yarns to the fabric. The yarn variation may be selective, and a large number of yarn changes may be effected with the horizontal yarn striper or change mechanism. The striping or plating yarns may be provided in any desired numbers at the two feeds of the machine, as can readily be appreciated. Thus, at the main feed of the machine additional feed fingers than those shown at 80 and 82 may be provided, for horizontal yarn change, and similarly at the auxiliary feed other additional feed fingers than those shown at 9| and 92 may be provided for selective horizontal yarn change. In Figure 7 is shown a latch ring having a, large number of yarn feed fingers. They are pivoted upon a common pivot and spring urged in the usual manner into feeding position with respect to the needles. As shown in Figure 8 of the drawings the usual connecting wires 2l6 are provided for the yarn feed fingers upon the latch ring, the lower ends thereof being connected in the usual manner tolevers 2 I1 and actuated in the usual manner. When horizontally striping the fabric the feed fingers controlling the horizontal yarns are selectively disposed in operating and feeding relation to the needles of the machine by means of levers 220, as shown in Figures 3 and 8 of the drawings, pivoted intermediate their ends. At their forward ends they are connected with the Wires 2 i6, and at their opposite ends they are controlled ofi a pattern drum 223 for the purpose of rocking the proper levers 220 in order to throw the desired yarns into and out of operating relation to the needles, for the obvious purpose of providing horizontal striping. This horizontal striping attachment has been more specifically detailed in my above identified copending application Serial No. 662,354. It has not been brought into play in the production of the sample of fabric P.

The means for advancing the drum 223 is the same as described in my above identified copending application Serial No. 662,354, and generally including a ratchet wheel 224 keyed on the same shaft as the drum 223. The ratchet wheel 22 i is intermittently advanced by pawl 22!? mounted on a pivoted lever 229, as shown in Figure 8. The lever 229 is actuated off a lug (provided in desired numbers), shown at 239 on the "104 wheel 23. A. detent 23L in the shape of a bell crank lever, is pivoted on the machine, as

M for actuating the same.

. plating.

this detent lever 23! is maintained through an operating lever 260 ofl of suitable lugs upon a pattern chain 246. The pattern chain 246 is advanced step by step in synchronism with operation of the knitting machine, by a suitable pawl 25!, adapted to act upon the teeth of a ratchet wheel 253 keyed on the same shaft as the sprocket wheel of the chain 246. As has been more specifi- 1 cally described in my above co-pending application the pawl 25l is actuated in synchronism with rocking movement of the conventional oscillating segment 2 of the knitting machine, so that both pattern chains 18 and 246 are advanced for the shaft as the drum 223, and in a manner and for a purpose which is more specifically set forth in my last mentioned co-pending application.

Referring generally to the reverse plating attachment of the improved machine A, the same consists of a set of web-holders K and the means This reverse plating attachment is.generally the same as set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 662,354, except the same has been altered to reverse plate the yarns in those courses of stitches which are knitted in the fabric at the extra feed upon the improved double feed machine, so that reverse plating is accomplished in succeeding courses knitted in the fabric of the machine at a single revolution of the cylinder of the machine.

It will be noted from Figure of the drawings that the web-holders indicated at K are provided with butts acted upon by suitable cams provided upon the cam ring 216. These sinkers or webholders are mounted in the usual manner for radial sliding movement in individual grooves of the web-holding bed ring 211. Individual jacks 218 are provided for the individual web-holders K, in each groove of the web-holding bed ring 211 for controlling the position of the web-holders and the proper tensioning of the body and plating yarns in order to effect normal and reverse The jacks 218 each include the horizontal bar portion 280 upon which the respectively associated sinker is slidably mounted. The bar 289 has a shoulder which upon radial inward movement of the jack engages the sinker so that .it will be pushed radially inward for reversing the normal plating. This bar portion 280 is provided with a depending butt 28! which limits the radial outward movement of the jack. Each jack. also includes an upstanding butt 282 which is cam actuated off of the cam ring 216 in a manner which will be subsequently mentioned. The jack 219 also includes the depending bar or leg 294 along which butts 285 are placed at de sired levels and adapted for actuation by selective cam device of well known construction. This selective cam device consists of a plurality of longitudinally slidable plunger cams 286, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, suitably mounted for horizontal movement upon the knitting machine in the vicinity of the main knitting cam set. The cams 286 are located at different levels for actuation upon the butts 285 of the jacks 218 in order to vary the reverse plating pattern, as desired.

The cams 286 are selectively controlled by a lug arrangement upon a rotary pattern drum 281. The manner in which these lugs are placed upon the drum may vary widely, although it is preferred to fabricate the drum so that the lug arrangement may be made selective, for pattern variation. The drum 281 is mounted upon a base 288 eccentrically pivoted (not shown) so as to move the lugs of the drum out of active cooperation with the cams during knitting of the heel and toe, and partway out during knitting of the sole. These are conventional features 'and need not be further described. The drum is intermittently advanced by a pawl and ratchet arrangement comprising a ratchet wheel 290 upon the drum as a part thereof, shown in Figure l, actuated in usual manner, as has been set forth in my above identified co-pending applications Serial Nos. 662,354 and 703,483, and in a manner well known in the art to which this invention relates. It is sufficient to say that the pawl advan'ces the drum 281 a distance of one tooth for each engagement of a lug 65, shown in Figures 4 and 8 of the drawings, against the pawl advancing leverage mechanism of the reverse plating attachment, as shown in Figure 4. Thus the pattern drum 281 is advanced a distance equal to the distance between the centers of adjacent pattern lugs for each two knitted courses of the fabric. This arrangement may vary if desired.

Referring again to feed of the striping and patterning yarns upon selected needles of the machine, off of the fingers I II, thesaid yarns are assisted in being wrapped upon the needles in a manner similar to that set forth in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 591,689; 619,779, and 662,354. A latch ring I30 is pivoted in the usual manner at I3I. As shown in Figures 5, 7 and 9 of the drawings a guide wire I33 is attached upon said latch ring and curved closely along the inside of the line of knitting needles at a location below the hooked ends thereof, when the latter are lowered, to prevent the yarns fed from the fingers III, as actuated ofi of the cams of the blocks I43 and I44, from becoming entangled with the web-holders and needles other than those intended. Yarn guide wires or bars I34 and I35 are respectively provided upon the latch ring for the series of cams in the blocks 50 and I, in order to cooperatively assist the yarns in Wrapping upon a desired number of needles elevated by any of the cams of the respective blocks 50 and 5|, in accordance with the selective arrangement described in my above identified co-pendihg applications. Each of these wires is mounted upon a plunger I36, slidable in suitable bearings provided upon the latch ring, and spring urged.

to a normally retracted relation with respect to the feed of yarn to the needles. These plungers are of the nature set forth in my above mentioned co-pending application Serial No. 662,354. The yarn guide wires I34 and I35 are adapted for simultaneous operation into either operative or inoperative relation to the knitting needles. This may be controlled by means of a bell crank lever I40 having a top plate I42 operable against the plungers I36. The bell crank lever I40 is pivoted on the same axis as the bell crank levers I94 abovedescribed and actuated thru a.suitable lug arrangement upon thelower front pattern drum I80, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Inasmuch as it is desired to provide means for for the said striping and patterning yarns must be provided to cooperate with those yarn feed fingers I I I which are actuated off of the cams I50 and I5I of the cam block I45. Accordingly I provide a guide wire 300 which is similar to the wire I33 abovementioned, having a curved bar portion extending closely along the inside of the line of needles at a location below the hooked ends of the needles-when the latter are lowered, to prevent yarn from the feed fingers III becoming entangled with the web-holders and needlesother than those intended. Similarly, a yarn guide wire or control member 30I is provided, r'eciprocably mounted upon a suitable plunger I36 similar to the plungers I36 above mentioned, and actuable by means to be subsequently described into and out of operating relation upon those striping and patterning yarns which are fed to the-needles of the knitting machine off the feed fingers III as controlled by the cams I50 and I5I. and guide or control wires or members may be provided for the knitting of the patterning yarns with. a color within color arrangement at the extra feed of the knitting machine, in the same manner as is provided for the knitting of color are produced at the regular feed of the knitting machine. Only one set of yarn finger controlling cams and yarn guide wire controlling arrangements have been provided at the auxiliary feed of the knitting machine, to avoid a complicated illustration and description of the knitting machine.

As is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the plunger I36 is actuated by a bell crank lever 302 and a connecting rod 303 operating off one of the levers I18 of the pattern drum I80. The lug arrangement on the drum I80, to be subsequently mentioned, throws the plunger I36 inwardly for the purpose of moving the control wire 30I into -yarn guiding position in order that the yarns which are fed onto selected needles by means of the cams I50 and I 5| will be properly held in position to take the required elevated needles. Thus, it can 'be seen that striping and other design producing yarns may be selectively provided in the courses of fabric which are knitted at the auxiliary or extra feed of the knitting machine.

Referring to the reverse plating mechanism, and particularly the cam construction of the sinker ring cam plate 216, the same is altered over conventional construction in that means is provided to reverse plate in the knitted courses produced by the yarns at the extra feed in the same manner as'the previouslyknitted course produced by the knitting yarns at the main set of stitch cams. .In Figure 10 is shown a cam arrangement upon the under side of the sinker ring cam plate 216. The direction of rotation is designated by the arrow, and the position of the reverse plating cams 266 for actuating the sinker jacks 218 is also shown. The cam ring 216 is of course held stationary in the usual manner, and the butts 282 of the sinker jacks 21-8 are guided through a channel 3I5 between the cams BIG and 3I1 to bring said jacks to a position where the butts 282 are positioned equi-distant from the center of the cam ring. The dot and dash line3I8 designates the path that the butts If desired additional cam sets within color in those courses of the fabric which will travel after riding through the channel 3|5. Of course the reverse plating cams 286 are then selectively actuated off of the lugs of the pattern drum 281, and this throws the jacks whose sinkers are to reverse plate into the groove 320; the remainder of the jacks riding with their butss on' the are designated by the dot and dash line 319, The sinker cam 32| of course radially moves the sinkers outwardly, and at the cam projection 322 those jacks which were pushed in by the reverse plating cams 286 will be actuated (by the cam projection 322) for a radial inward movement, which will likewise move the respective sinkers therewith and cause reverse plating of yarns to be accomplished at the knitting point, due to yarn tension variation. Those sinker jacks which were acted upon by the cam projection 322 to cause reverse plating upon predetermined needles will then ride along an arcuate line, designated by the dot and dash line 324 in the drawings, and the jacks not actuated by the cams 286 will continue to ride along the path indicated by the previously designated dot and dash lines 3| 8. The jacks riding along the path 324 will then enter a cam groove 326 and continue along this path until they are actuated by the cam projection 32'! where reverse plating is again efiected of those yarns 93 and 94 fed onto the needles at the knitting point succeeding the extra feed fingers 9| and 92. Thus it should be noted that the same jacksactuated upon by the reverse plating cam projection 322 in the same revolution of the knitting machine cylinder will also be acted upon by the cam projection 327, so that the stitch loops of the yarns at both feeds of the knitting machine will be similarly reverse plated in those two courses which are knitted during any revolution of the knitting machine cylinder. Of course the usual pressure cams are provided for depressing the jacks whose butts are not actuated upon for reverse plating, that is, those that ride along the dot and dash lines 3|8. The cams 3|6 and 3|l will then bring all of the butts into the groove or channel 3| 5 in readiness for a selected actuating of the jacks by the reverse plating cams 286 for a selected reverse plate knitting of'stitches in succeeding courses of the fabric.

The sinker cam 32| is duplicated at a diametrically opposed point on the cam ring 216, at 32M, This cam 32, however, is radially movable so that it may be radially cammed inward during knitting of the heel and toe in order to miss the sinkers, or rather the butts thereof, so that the sinkers will held the stitch and prevent the riding thereof upwardly upon the needles. This sinker cam 32| is shown in its proper position for knitting during full circular rotation of the cylinder, but when knitting the heel and toe it is moved to the dotted position.

shown in Figure 10, in a manner to be subsequently described.

The cam 32| has a top plate or bar 339 designated in Figures 1, 2 and of the drawings. which at the free end thereof .has a depending pin 33| spring urged at 332 so that the sinker cam 32| is normally positioned inoperative, that is, in the dotted position shown in Figure 10. The

, supporting bar 330 has a notch 334 therein, shown The yarn feed fingers 9| and 92 have outwardly projecting ends, and below them the free end of an operating lever 340 is disposed. This operating lever 340 is pivoted at (MI and upon upward movement at said free end it will throw the feed fingers 9| and 92 into position for feeding yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, that is, in the position shown in Figure 9. Upward movement of the outer ends of the feed fingers 9| and 92 will also throw the aforesaid lever 336 upwardly, since a portion thereof is disposed in resting relation above the outer ends of the feed fingers 9| and 92, and this in turn will throw the cam 32| into operating relation upon the sinkers, that is, in the full line position shown in Figure 10 of the drawings. The parts thus affected are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 10 of the drawings. As is also shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the lever 340 is connected for operation through a connecting rod to one of the drum actuated levers H8. In addition to this dual function of the lever 340, the same has another function, namely, in throwing the pick 94 'disposed at the additional stitch cam arrangement 88 from its normal operative position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9, to an out of the way position indicated by the full line position thereof, in Figure 9. This operation is performed through the intermediary of a bell crank lever 356 actuating against a pin 35| on the arm of the pick 94; the other end of the bell crank lever being connected by a rod 352 to the operating lever 340 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thus actuation of the lever 340 will perform the triple functions of moving the feed fingers 9| and 92 into inoperative position; move the sinker cam 32! into inoperative position, and move the pick 94 into operative position with respect to the butts of those needles active during cylinder reciprocation.

The additional stitch cam block 88 is pulled out of operating relation with respect to the needle butts during knitting of the heel and toe of the stocking. To that end said stitch cam device 88 is radially movable with respect tothe cylinder. It has a depending pin end 368, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, actuated by means of a lever 36L shown in both Figures 1 and 2 of the drawthe cam block assemblage 99 into operating relation with the butts of the needles, that is, into the position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.

An improved yarn cutting and binding device T is provided, shown in detail in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings, and in position upon the machine in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, for the purpose of cutting and binding the yarns 93 and 94 during the knitting of the heel and toe of the stocking, although this improved yarn cutter and binder may be used in any other environment upon a knitting machine or wherever desired. It includes an additional safety factor in the secure binding of the yarn without injury or liability of breakage thereof. It consists of a supporting frame 400 fixedly secured upon a block 4|l| which may be detachably connected to any part of the knitting machine. In the present invention it is connected upon the top of the latch ring, as shown in Figures l, 2 and 7 of the drawings. A vertically slidable frame 403 is in turn carried in the frame 400.. This vertically slidable frame is shown in Figures 12, 13 and 15 of the drawings. It has attached thereto a horizontal bar 405, which is channeled on one side for slidably receiving a reciprocating bar 406. At its inner endthe bar 405, which is secured to 40'1, shown in Figure 15, is provided with a depending cutter and binder portion 410, which is shown in cross section in Figure 14. Portion 410 has a sharp cutter edge 411, and upon its side facing the inner periphery of the latch ring it is provided with a binder groove 412. Upon vertical movement of the slidable frame portion 403 the portions 405 and 410 move therewith. The said parts are limited in their downward movement by an adjustable screw 415, shown in Figure 15, so that the lower cutting and binding end of the cutter and binder mechanism may be lowered or elevated to any desirable level suitable for the purpose for which the cutter and binder mechanism is adapted, in any particular case.

Cutting and binding arms 416 and 411 respectively are pivotally attached upon a pin or shaft 418 at opposite sides of the cutting and binding tion 410, and the cutter arm 416 is provided with a sharp edge 420 cooperating with the edge 411 to sever yarn as the cutter bar 416 is moved from the position shown in Figure 12 to the position shown in Figure 13. The binder arm 4", on the other hand, is provided with a rounded edge 421- in a co-operating relation with an adjacent rounded edge 422 of the bar 410 to squeeze the yarns 93 and 94 therebe'tween in a binding relation', in contrast to a cutting action. A spring, shown at 425 in Figure 7 of the drawings, may assist on the pivot pin 418 in maintaining the cutting and binding arms 416 and 411 into proper position against the opposite sides of the cutting and binding bar 410. The bar 406 is connected at its forward end by a pin 42! to the upper ends of the cutter and binder bars 416 and 411, on a fixed axis, so that forward sliding of the bar 406 will open the arms 416 and 411 with respect to the bar 410, and rearward sliding of the bar 406 will bring the arms 416 and 411 into cutting and binding relation with the yarn of the bar A spring 430 assists in pulling the cutting and binding arms into the cutting and binding positions shown in Figure 13.

An auxiliary binding arm 435 is pivoted uponthe pivot pin 418. Below the pivot 418 it operates in the binder grgwve 412 of the bar.4l0 in order to more securely birfd the yarn against release, as is shown in Figure 14 of the drawings. The upper end of the auxiliary binder-arm 435 is spring urged at 431 into the binding position shown in Figures 13 and 140i the drawings. As is shown in Figure 13 the portion of the auxiliary binder arm 435 above the pin 418 is provided with a large opening 436 which' will permit the spring ,431 to bring about the binding action ward sliding of the operating bar 406.

With respect to the matter of actuating the binder and cutter mechanism T, inflthe particular environment in which it is used upon'the im- They are movable proved machine A, it is to be noted that the slide bar 406 which actuates the cutting and binding arms is provided with a laterally extending pin 440. This pin, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, is operated upon by a lever 441 pivoted at 442 upon the frame of the machine A. A lever 443 is pivoted between its ends upon a post 443 at a'pivot 444 in order to operate against the lever 441 for forcing the cutting and binding bars and arms 416 and 41! and 435 from a closed to an open, and then to a closed position for cutting and binding yarn when the said lever 444 is actuated through suitable linkage 446 off one of said levers 118, by

riding of the latter from a low point on the drum 180 upwardly upon a lug and then down to the low point again.

Referring to the fabric, P, as generally shown in Figures 21, 22 and 23 of the drawings, the same represents a seamless knitted stocking. The general design, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, is to provide reversely plated diamond-shaped areas 500, which are stepped from course to course to provide diamonds extending forty wales or needles in width and eighty courses in length or height. those skilled in the art the knitting yarns 81 and 83, which may be designated as gray and black yarns respectively, are used to knit stitches in the fabric in one course, the needles for such course being manipulated off the main stitch extra stitch cam arrangement 88. As previously explained, due to the fact that the cam arrangement on the under side of the sinker cam plate is adapted to reverse plate at the two points adjacent the main stitch cams l9 and auxiliary feed stitch cams 98, the reverse plating of the sets of plating yarns B1-83 and 93-414 will be the same in the two courses knitted during any single revolution of the cylinder. It is thought unnecessary to dwell in detail upon the lug arrangement of the reverse plating control drum 201 but such has been shown in a developed view in Figure 19. The direction of rotation of this drum is shown in Figure 19. With reference to Figure 9 of the drawings, the butt lay-out upon the sinker controlling jacks is shown, wherein the butts of the sinker jacks shown in solid black are short butts and the remainder, showing open squares, are full length butts. The lugs shown in solid black in Figure 19 are full length lugs and those shown in cross section have been cut. The full length lugs of the drum 281 will through the plunger cams 28E actuate both the long and short butt sinker jacks, but the short lugs of the reverse plating control drum will only act upon the long sinker jack butts, by limiting the throw of the plunger cams 286. In the layout shown in Figure 19 the drum 28'! rotates in the direction of the arrow. ,The lug 501 will actuate the uppermost presser cam 206 for operating against the jack butts 285 shown in Figure 9. The timing is so set that the fabric willbe knitted through .two courses while the lug 501 is active. This starts the reverse plating at the top of the diamond at 502' (see Figure 21). Two courses are knitted at each revolution of the cylinder and then the drum 281 is advanced so that the next lugs operate upon the two uppermost presser cams for actuating the sinker jacks having butts at the two uppermost As can readily be understood by levels. The reverse plating of the diamond proceeds in this manner, as well understood in the art, and since the lugs on the drum increase in number and in stepped relation, the width of the reverse plated diamond will increase until the point 505 is reached (see Figure 19), at which point the lugs of the drum are actuating all of the presser cams 286 forreverse plating upon all of the sinkers of the machine (in the particular fabric shown). It has been set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 703,483 that an increased throw of the intermittent advancing of the reverse plating drum is necessary at times in order to bring the pattern drum even, in its rotatable relation with respect to the fabric being knitted. This need not be further described. It is sufllcient to say that the invention so far as the reverse plating mechanism of the present invention is concerned inheres in the ability of the cam mechanism upon the sinker cam cap to permit the sinker jacks which have been actuated by the'presser, cam to maintain their position after reverse plating at the main knitting cams, so that a similar reverse plating of the yarns may occur at the second feed in the next course, during the same revolution of the cylinder.

It will be readily understood that many varied reverse plated designs may be provided upon the fabric knitted upon the machine A, since obviously the lug arrangement of the drum 281 is capable of wide variation, and the butt'arrangement upon the sinker jacks of the sinker ring are capable of practically unlimited variation.

The needle wrapping yarns controlled. by the attachment G are shown as red and yellow. The yellow yarns are diagonallyknitted to provide wrap stripe diamonds, and the red yarns are spotted in the centers of the diamonds, producing the so-called color within color effect.

Referring further to the needle wrapping of yarns upon selective needles, a plurality of series or groups of needle operating jacks are provided for producing the striped diamonds and other patterning. A typical group of jacks in such a series is indicated in Figure 9 wherein two jacks 525 are provided with long butts 526 at the uppermost level; jacks 521 at each side thereof being provided with similar long butts 528 at the next lower level. The next outermost jacks 529 in each series areprovided with long butts 530 at the next lower level. The next outermost jacks 53I are provided with long butt jacks 532 at the next lower level. The next outermost jacks 533 are provided with long butts 534 at the next lower level. The series is completed with -a pair of jacks 535 having long butts 536 at the lowest level. All of the jacks in this series with the exception of the two jacks 525 are provided with short butts at the same level as the long butts 526. Similarly all of the jacks in each series with the exception of the jacks 535 are provided with short butts at the same level as the long butts 536 of said jacks 535.

The cams mounted in the blocks I44 and I45 control those fingers III of the wrap yarn finger supporting head I 02 which direct the yellow striping or patterning yarns tothe predetermined elevated needles for producing the striped diamonds shown inthe fabric P. The cams I48 and I50 are positioned at the same level, and the cams I40 and I5'I are positioned. at a lower level. The cams I48 andl50 actuate yarn feed" fingers I I I for directing the feed of yellow striping yarn therefrom onto the long butt needles.

The said fingers III are provided with butts at the level of the cams I48 and I50 in order to accomplish such feed of the yarn to the long butt needles. The lower cams I49 and I5I are for the purpose of directing and feeding the yellow striping yarns from feed fingers III onto the short butt needles which are out of operation during knitting of the sole. That is the reason for providing separate feeds of yellow striping yarns to the long and short butt needles.

The cams I46 and I4! are disposed in the,

block I43 at levels below the levels of the cams for the feed of yellow striping yarns. The cam I46 actuates those yarn feed fingers of the striping mechanism, designated at III**, which have butts at the level of said -cam I46, for the purpose of feeding the red spotting patterning yarns from said feed fingers III onto the long butt needles. The cam I 41 at a level below the cam I46 is adapted to actuate those feed fingers III which have butts at the level thereof, for the feed of the red spotting or patterning yarns to the short butt needles. The patterning mechanism for actuating the cams I46 to I 5| inclusive is such that the cams I46, I48 and I50 will be pushed in to actuate the yarn feed fingers controlled thereby for feed of yellow and red patterning yarns to the long butt needles during knitting of the instep of the stocking, and at such time the remaining cams I41, I49 and I5I will be withdrawn in order to avoid placement of the patterning effects produced by. the yellow and red yarns in the sole of the stocking being knitted. The patterning cams for actuating the said cams I46 to I5I inclusive are shown in Figures 1'7 and 20 of the drawings, and will be subsequently mentioned.

It will be obvious from Figure 9 that each typical jack series is provided with three fingers for feed of patterning yarns thereto, to produce striping, spotting, or other design effects. The central of these three yarn feed fingers controls the red yarn, and the two at each side thereof control yellow yarns. Of course it will be understood that any other colored yarns may be used in lieu of those mentioned, since yellow and red have been selected merely by way of contrasting example.

The cam 52 mounted in the block 50 is actuated off of pattern mechanism on the lower drum 6| of the machine, and when thrown in engages only the long butts 526 of the jacks 525 of each typical jack series for the purpose of elevating saidjacks 525and respective needles in the cylinder grooves thereabove,'as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, so that said elevated needles will cooperate with the cams I46 and I 41 and the feed fingers III and III and the guide member or wire I34 for the feed of red spotting yarns, to produce the knitted stitches 600 in the fabric, indicated in Figure 23 of the drawings. The lower cam 53 in the block 50, on the other hand, only actuates the long lower butts of the jacks 535, for the-purpose of elevating the needles thereabove in order to take the red spotting yarns from the yarn feed fingers III and III ascontrolled, by the cams I46 and I41, and in accordance with the feed of such striping yarns to needles, in cooperation with the yarn uide wire or member I34, as has been set forth in my co-pending applications above referred to,

'for the purpose of producing red spotted areas I 60I, in patterning effects in the fabric P, in other striped diamond areas at different courses other than those courses in which thestitches 600 oc-

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