US2180707A

US2180707A - Knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US2180707A
Application number: US220422A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Houseman
Original assignee: Scott and Williams Inc
Current assignee: Scott and Williams Inc
Priority date: 1923-02-03
Filing date: 1938-07-21
Publication date: 1939-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-21

Description

Nov. 21, 119,39.

H. E. HOUSEMAN KNITTING MACHINE Filed Julyl2l, 1938 4 sheets-smet 1 Ngv. 21,. 1,939. l

H. E.l HOUSEMAN KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 21, 195s Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov; 2l, 1939. l `H E HOUSEMANv 2,180,707

I mm1-ING MACHINE f l I Filed July 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 2l, 1939.

HI E. House-MAN KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 21. 195e 4 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 2.1, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,180,707 xNI'r'rTNG MACHINE Harold E. Houseman, Laconia, N.A H., assigner to Scott & Williams, Inc., Laconia, N. H., acorporation ot Massachusetts Application July 21, 1938, Serial No. 220,422

1s claims.

and particularly to mechanism for providing yarn changes in a knitting machine of the cir- 'cular type. y

It is the general object of the present invention to provide striping control means, specific'- ally of the chain type, in a knitting machine in which yarn fingers are normally urged into active position by spring means and are adapted to be m moved out of active position' by thrust rods or the like which are positively actuated. In

general, in such machines pattern changes have been effected by the use of drums carrying cams.

Such arrangements, however, offer relatively u limited possibilities in the production of striping because of the limited circumferential space available on a cam drum andare obviously far less adaptable f or the production of patterns than striping devices in which chains of indefi- 20 nite lengths may be provided. .The fact that the yarn fingers are normally urged into active positoes during which the patterning is suspended.'v

There must also be provision for timing a pattern chain to a proper position for the formation of .striping in a new stocking after the completion of the knitting of a toe. In accordance with the present invention, the requirements imposed by the considerations outlined above are met in a simple fashion, well adapted lto a high speed of production. f

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for controlling clamping and cutting actions in time with yarn changes and for suspending the normal action of the clamp- 45 ing and cutting means at desired times.

The above and other subsidiary objects relating primarily to details of construction will be apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, 50 in which:

Figure l is a rear elevation of certain patterning devices adapted to beassociated with a cir- Acular knitting machine of substantially conven tional type; 55 Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of certain elements of the yarn changing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken on the plane indicated at 3-3 in Figure 1, with various parts broken away showing the association of the im- 5 proved striping mechanism with conventional parts of the knitting machine; y

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the broken plane indicated at 4-4. in Figure 1,showing certain details of the clamping and cutting 10 control means; I

Figure 5 is a section taken onthe plane indi,- cated at 5-5 Ain Figure 4; ,v

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated at 6-6 in Figure 1; 15

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the plane'indicated at 'I-'I in Figure 1; f

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating particularly the chain set-up devices; and

Figure 9- is a vertical section similar tol'a portion of Figure 3 illustrating the events occurring in the changing cfyarn.

The machine to which the invention is shown applied is of the type illustrated in Page Patent 1,627,337, which patent discloses various details of the machine which need not vbe described herein. 'I'he machine comprises a needle cylinderl 2 which, in the present instance, isa rotating cylinder, the needle cylinder carrying the usual independent latch needles 4 with which there` cooperate the conventional elements of machines. of this type. In thevpresent instance, the machine is shown as provided with three yarn fin. gers 6, each adapted to lead a yarn 8 lto the. needles, the yarn fingers being pivoted upon a common pin III and being lindividually urged into feeding position by springs I2. The various yarn lingers are moved to upright inactive posi-[11' tions by means of guided pushbars I4 adapted for dual actuation by cams on the main patter drum I 6 and by the striping control devices for ing the subject-mattei' of the present invent; The main pattern drum I6 is` steppedyabout supporting axis I8 in a clockwise direction',l viewed in Figure 3 by the usual devicesjgand iter carries cams of various sorts to control operation of the machine in conventional fashiorrgf;v

For each of the three thrust bars I4; there is provided an operating lever 20, thelevers y2ll'being pivotedl upon a pin 22 and each beingprovided 50 with an end 24 engaging, as illustrated, `within a notch in its corresponding thrust bany yI4.I, Springs 26 cause the bars and operating;lovers- Each operating lever 20 has a depending arm 55 to remain in engagement. f

28, engageable with a lug 80 on a corresponding detent lever 82, of which there are three, pivoted upon a xed rod 84. Each of the detent levers is provided with a depending arm 89, to which reference will be made hereafter, and is urged in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure-3 by means .of its individual spring 81.

Each ofthe operating levers is further provided -With anarm 86. provided with a notched end as indicated at 88. arranged to be engaged by the nose 40 of its operator 42. The three operators 42 are pivoted upon a common pin 44, which is secured in the upper end'of an oscillating bracket 46, Joux-nailed on the` fixed rod 84. Also pivoted upon the pin 44 is an oscillating yoke 48, which carries a transverse pin 50, located within notches 52 in operators 42, which notches are substantially wider than the pin 50, so that each operator may have a limited degree of movement with respect to the pin 50 and the bracket 48. Each'of the operators is urged to a position limited'by the pin 50 by meansof its individual spring u.

Referring to Figure 2, some of the devices associated lwith the bracket 48- are morev clearly indicated therein. The bracket 48 is' urgedin a counter-clockwise ,direction by a spring 56 to a position limited by engagement of a stop screw 58 with a lug on the bracket 48. Its clockwise movement relative to the bracket 46 is limited by engagement of a lug 60 carried by the yoke 48 with an adjustable stop screw 62, carried by the bracket 46. Additionally, the bracket 48 carries an operating screw 64 to which reference will be made hereafter.

'Ihe bracket 46 is adapted to be oscillated continuously during the operation of the machine through the medium of a link 66 pivoted to it and to a lever 68 carrying a cam follower 10 engageable by the cam 12 mounted on the shaft 14, which makes one rotation for every rotation of the needle cylinder. The follower 10 is continuously `urged in` contact with the cam 12 by means of a spring 15 engaging a .laterally extending arm 16 of the bracket 46.

To the arm 16 is pivoted a pawl 18 urged by a spring 80 into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet 82 secured to a chain drum 83 which carries chains serving for the control of the ima counter-clockwise direction, as indicated in Figure 3. vl v AnI upwardly extending lever '50 rotatably mounted on a shaft 92 journalledin a bracketl secured tothe machine frame has aturned up- 'per end 8| adapted to engage and move in av clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, thepawl guard y84. A pin 98 carried bythis same lever 88 is adapted to engage the ldepending arms Il of the detent levers 02 to lower simultaneously their active ends for the purpose hereafter described. The shaft 92 has secured to it an upwardly extending arm $4 yengageable with an adjustingscrew 86 carried by the, arm k94,.' so

that effectively the arm 90 is adjustably secured to the shaft sz. The shaft s2 alsccarries s. n cam following arm 88 engageable with suitable the block ||6 extends a pin |20.

A llearns. as hereafter described, on the main cam drum I6. v

Mounted upon a fixed pivot |02 there is a bell crank lever |00 the upper end of which pivotally carries a brake shoe |04 faced with leather or other friction material engaging a smooth portion of the chain drum 83. 'I'he depending arm of the lever |00 has threaded into it an adjust- 'able stop screw |06 engageable with a fixed member of the machine and adapted to be ad- Justed to vary the pressure upon the chain drum A88 to prevent its overrun or free movement except under the action of the pawl 18.

Adapted to selectively cooperate with the operators 42 there is a finger |08 secured to the right hand end of` arod ||0 slidably mounted in bearings ||2 and ||4 of the frame, as indicated in Figure 1. The rod 0 has fixedly secured to it a block ||8 to which is secured aspring ||1 normally urging the rod V||0 to the right, as illustrated in Figure 1. At its left hand end the rod I0 carries an arm 8 between which and This pin is free to oscillate to a limited extent in an opening |2| in the left hand bearing member ||4. A lever |22 pivoted at |24 engages the pin |20 and serves to urge it in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 under thel action of spring |26. The lever |22 has a movement limited by adjustable eccentric stops |28 and |30 which thereby define the angular movement of the rod ||0 and the finger |08.

An upwardly extending arm |32 pivoted at |84 to the frame is provided with an adjustable screw |36 engageable with the block ||6to impart movements to the block in opposition `to the spring ||1. An adjustable screw |88 carried by the lever |32 is engaged by the upper face of a cam block |40 secured to a lever |42 journalled .upon the pin 22 on which are mounted the thrust bar operating levers 20. A screw |46 limits the counter-clockwise movement of the lever |42 by engagement with a portion of the frame; A follower member |48 carried by the lever |42 is adapted to engage lugs |50 of various heights on the striping chain |52', which is mounted upon a sprocket |54 formed on the chain drum 88.

'I'he end |56 of the lever |42 has secured' to it the pin 88v heretofore described as connected to the pawl guard 84 through the link'86.

Arranged to engage the upper end of the mem- 'ber |60 is a laterally extending pin |66 carried bythe upwardly extending arm of a bell crank |68, thedepending arm of which is connected by a thrust link` |10 adapted to be rocked at proper times by means of the main pattern chain (not shown). f

Clamping and cutting mechanism, show n in vconventionalized fashion at |14,` is adapted to be actuated by means of a thrust bar |12 which may be actuated at suitable times by means of further movement of the bracket 48 will cause the notch in the bar |12 by means of a spring |11. The lever |18 is provided with a depend- 'ing arm |18 carrying a pin |80 on which is pivoted a lever |82 urged upwardly by a spring |83 and 'carrying a pin' |84 engaging within a slot I 86 in a depending portion of a lever` |88 pivoted at |80 to the frame. I'he forward end of the lever |88 is provided with a follower extension |92 adapted to be engaged by a pin or plurality of pins |94 projecting laterally from a chain |85 trained over -a sprocket |88 formed on the chain drum 83. When the lever |88 is in its counterclockwise position, as illustrated in Figure 4, the lever |82 presents an upper end in line with a path of movementof the operating screw 04, to which reference has been heretofore made. On the other hand, when the lever |88 is swung clockwise by the action of a pin |94 the end of the lever 82 is removed from the path of the screw 84, which may pass thereover. 4

The operation involved in the changing of yarns will be best understood from a consideration of Figures 1, 3 and 9. The ilnger |08 may be located bythe various lugs on chain |52 in four dliferent positions. One of these is an extreme right hand position in which the finger 08 lies to the right of all three of the operators 42 as viewed in Figure 1. This position occurs when the follower member |48 lies above a link which does not carry any lug |50. The lowest lug |50 causes the ngerto lie behind the right hand operator 42 while lugs of the next two successive heightscause it to lie behind the next The iinger may also be two of these operators. caused to lie to the left of the operatorsas hereafter described. If more thanv three yarn fingers are used, the finger |08 will be caused to assume additional corresponding positions under control of lugs on the pattern chain.

Assuming rst that the nger |08 lies in its extreme right hand position, as viewed in Figure l, it will not be engaged by any of the opholding its yarn nger out of action, while a rear operating lever isvin a clockwise position corresponding to the active positionof its yarn nger. Let it be assumed that a yarn change is to take place andthe front operating lever is to be caused to permit its yarn nger to go into operation and that the second yarn finger is to be taken out of operation. Under such conditions, prior to the rearward movement of the bracket 48 the finger |08 will have been positioned behind the operator 42 corresponding to the front operating lever 20. As the bracket moves rearwardly, the upper 'portion of the operator 42 in line with the nger |08 will engage thenger, and since the action of the springv |26 is made stronger` than the action of any of the springs 54 the operator 42 will iirst swing downwardly,- before moving the nger |08, into engagement with the upper end of thearm 35,

projecting from the front detent lever 32. Its downward movement being thus arrested, the

the 'nger |08 to move rearwardly against the `action oi' the spring |28 until the end 40 of the front operator 42 clears the arm 38, whereupon the spring |28 will move the linger |08 forwardly causing the end 40 of the front operator to drop below the level ofthe arm 35.' As this action takes place, furthermore, the operator 42 will engage the pin 5l, thereby swinging the yoke 48 in a clockwise direction, carrying downwardly the operators which Vhave not engaged the n ger I 08. As the forward movement of the bracket 48 now takes place, the end 40 of the front operator will move below the arm 85. while the ends 40 of the other operators will move above the arm but in lowered positions. This position of the parts' is4 illustrated in Figure 9, wherein the front operator 42 is just about to leave the nger |08, which holds it in lower position until its 'end 40 is safely below the arm 35 of the'front detent 82, which arm thereafter holds it and the other operators in their lowered positions.

As the bracket continues to move forward, two events occur in succession. First the end of the front operator engages the seat portion'of the arm 35 of the front detent 82 and rocks it downwardly against the action of spring 31. This releases the corresponding operating lever 20 and its yarn nger drops into action urged by its spring l2. Immediately thereafter, the end 40 of any operator corresponding to a yarnnger which has been in action engages within the notch 38 of the corresponding lever 20 moving it counterclockwise to carry its yarn ilnger upwards out of action. During this movement the end 28 of any such operating lever cams downwardlythe retaining lug 30 on its corresponding detent and after passing such lug the detent snapsupwardly restraining the operating lever from clockwise movement, and thus preventing the corresponding yarn nger from coming intoaction during the next rearward movement of the bracket 48. Thus it will be seen that one yarn nger corresponding to the position of the iinlger |08 is put into action and any other yarn nger or iingers previously in action will be moved upwardly out of action.

It is to be noted that the sequence of events is such` that an overlap will be provided, since a yarn nger previously in action is moved out of action only after a slight intervalifollowing the introduction of a substitute yarn nger. By the arrangement illustrated, this can be readily timed so as to secure a predetermined overlap of denite amount. It will also be noted that the yarn 'change will take place. on substantially the same needles because of the rotation of the cam 12 in time with the needle cylinder. Due to the fact that the pawl 18 operates on the forward stroke, the selective positioning of the linger |08 will take place while the operators are`in their forward position and hence clear of its path. 1

As is usual in machines of this type, it is necessary to control the pattern chains in a two-fold manner. First, during heel knitting, the advance of the pattern chain or ,chains must be discontinued and then, during thev knitting of the ring toe and perhaps a portion o'f the toe, the pattern chains must be timed, that is, afdvanced td their proper positions for the beginning of the patterning in the leg of a subsequent stocking.`

' When the heel is reached, ahigh cam on the main pattern drum engages thefollower Il. causingtheendll oftheleverltomovethe pawl guard 84 around its pivot into a position to prevent engagement of the ratchet 82 by the paw11l. Atthesametimathelinkliraises the lever |42 and thus moves V the linger` l to Aon extreme left hand position as viewed in liig` i4 willbeunder thecontrol of cams onthe main.

camdrum|6,sothattheywlllbeoperated whollyA independently of the chain set-up. In general, of course. striping yarns will be removed from action at this time, and the main cam drum will permit to-come into action a suitable yarn for the formation of the neel. (The heel yarn nger, not shown, may be solely under control of the'pattem drum I6.) At the conclusion of the formation of the heel, the pawl guard is released as the follower 98 drops olf its actuating cam, and yarn`changing is resumed for the formation of instep patterns.

`A somewhat different action occurs at the beginningofknittingoftheringtoe. Alower -camonthemainpatterndmmlithenengages the follower Sl causing the pawl guard 8 4 to be swung to some extent clockwise, as viewed in Fisure 3,but not to a suiiicient extent to prevent the normal action of pawl 'Il of the ratchet l2. 'Ihis partial movement of the guard llcauses the lever |42 toberaisedtosuchextentasto move the linger Ill to the left of the operators 42, but not as far as in the previous instance. The turned end |52 of the member III is now raised to a position to be engaged andunderrir'ldenby the set-up camming .lug |64. Again the main camdrum iiassumes controlofthepushrods I4, the detents 32 being again lowered so as to release the operating levers 2l.

The stepping about of the pattern chain continues until the camming lug |84 engages the inturned lower end |52 of the member lil. By the action of the lug |64 the lever |42 israisedto a heightvwhich, as before, will cause the pawl guard I4 to prevent the pawl 1I from engaging the ratchetv l2. Thereafter, as operation continues the bracket 46 will swing idly. When patterning is to`be resumed again, in the next stocking, the

follower ll is released and the thrust rod lll is forced rearwardly under control of the main chain of the machine, and the pin lit wlllthen rock V the member .IBI to release its end |52 from the lug |64. Thereupon the lever |42v will drop, removing the pawl guard from beneath the pawl 1l, and the pattern chain will again assume command of the yarnchanges. When Ayarn changes are made under the control of the chain |52, there are, of course, no cams on themaincam drum about its pivot 44, the screw I4 thelever Illandoonsequently numeroments to the p"and cutter operating leser |16. Ontheotherhandwhmayarnchangeistotakeplaoe',thescrewt4wlllm8a8ethelever |82,therebymovingtheoperatinglever|1lpcoun terclockwise,causingan achrationoftne clamping and cutting mechanism in timed relationship with the substitution of yarns.

Ifchmmngandeuttingisnottotakeplaceat any particular yarn pin |94 projectiuglaterallyfromtheehain |96 mgagesthe readngca'mlastheyunehangebracketmoves forward for'the yarn change and during auch engagement rocks the lever |22 downwardly so thatthescrewmovesaboveit. Tbepin Il4 then immediately clearsthecam liLwhichdrops off it sothat the lever |82 snail upwardly under the screw 64, which is then above and overlappingit. Thusnothrustingactiontakesplace and clamping and cutting does not occur.

Itissometimes desirablenottoopentheclamp if'ayarnisgoinginto actiomandnoneisgoing out. Idleym arefrequently partially dragged out by one which is going into action, but a tendency in this regard is'usually counteracted,

if a yarn is going out of action,'as thev latter draws under the clamp. But, for example, a

-clamp and cutter.

It will be clear that variational!! thespeciiic embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles of the invention. While only three yarn ngers have been illustratedundercontrol ofapatternchaimitwillbe obvious that `duplicate yarn linger controlling means may be provided to provide for operation of a larger number, for example, six lingers. Addionally, yarn lingers not under control of the pattern chain may be provided, as, for example, iingersearryingheelandtoeyarnsoramain backing yarn over which platingis effected by the striping yarn.

WhatIclaim and direfnprotect byLetters Patent is: 1. Inacircularknittingmachine,a needlecylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn lingers, spring means for urging said yarn lingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each yarn linger, arranged to hold their respective yarn ngers out ofyarnfeeding position againsttheacticnofsaid spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move during the formation of every course of the fabric in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its tent to render the corresponding yarn linger active to feed iis yarn, and means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said devices.

2.In a circular knittingvmachine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn lingers, spring means for urging said yarn lingers towards their yam feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each linger, arranged toholdtheirrespeciiveyarnnaersoutofyarn means for selectively controlling the paths of ders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said devices.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers., spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move during the formation of every course of. the fabric in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which it positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, and means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said devices.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move `in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn fingers active to feed its yarn, in another of which it -positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and `in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, and,

movement of said devices.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder rcarrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarnfeeding plositions', a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn ngers out of yarn feeding positions against the action of saidspring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to'move during the formation of every course of the fabric in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which it positively rendersl its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means,

and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, and

means for effecting the first mentioned path of movement for one device and simultaneously effecting the second mentioned path of movement for each of the'- other devices.

6. Inv a circular knitting machine, aneedle vcylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring `means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn lingers out of yarn feeding positions against the action of said-spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move during the forma-l tion of every course of the fabric in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which ity positively renders its corresponding yam finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and in still another of which it failsl to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, and means for effecting the first mentioned path of movement for one device and simultaneously effecting the second mentioned path of movement for each of the other devices, and for alternatively effecting the thirdl mentioned paths of movement for all of said devices.

7. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding positions against the action of said spring means, devices, one foreach detent, each arranged to move in one of alternative paths in one ofwhich it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which it positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, and means for effecting the first mentioned path of movement for one deviceand simultaneouslyeffecting the second mentioned path of movement for each of the other devices.

8. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn lingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards theirryarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers A.' f

out of yarn feeding positions against the action of said spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move in one of alternative paths in one of which it vengages and tripsfits detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of .which it positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action ofv its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the positionvof its corresponding yarn finger, and means for effecting the first mentioned path of movement for one device and simultaneously effecting the second mentioned path of movement for l arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged to move in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render thecorresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which it positively renders its correspondingv yarn ngerv inactive against the action of its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, means for effecting the first mentioned path of movement for one device, and means arranged so that movement of said one device in the first mentioned path of movementv causes each of the other devices to move simultaneously in the second mentioned path of movement.

10. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one foreach finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn ngers out of yarn feeding position against the action ofV said spring means, devices, one for each detent, each arranged tomove in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to' feed its yarn, in another of which it positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against thev action of its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, means for effecting the first mentionedpath of movement for one device, and means arranged so that movement of said one device in the first.

mentioned path of movement causes each of the other devices to move simultaneously in the second mentioned path of movement, and means for alternatively effecting the third mentioned paths of movement for all of said devices.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each yarnnger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one f'or each detent, each arranged to move in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said devices, and means for rendering said `detents inoperative and for controlling the positions of said yarn fingers while said devices are inactive to control said yarn fingers, v

12. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions,

a plurality of detents, one for each iinger,

arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the vaction of said spring means, devices, one foreachdetent, each arranged to move in ,one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, in another of which it positively renders its corresponding yarn finger inactive against the action of its spring means, and in still another of which it fails to affect the position of its corresponding yarn finger, means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said devices, and means for effecting control of the yarn fingers independently lof said detents and while said devices are moving in the third mentioned paths. i'

13. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, clamping and cutting means for the yarns, means for selectively effecting striping changes of yarns, means for operating the clamping and` cutting means when yarn changes are effected, and pattern controlledl means timed with the means for selectively effecting-said striping changes of yarns for preventing the operation of the clamping and cutting means when certain striping yarn changes take place.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a needlev cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each yarn finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices. one for each detent, each arranged to move during the formation of every course of the fabric in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn iinger active to feed its yarn, means for selectively ,controlling the paths of movement of said devices, clamping and cutting means for the yarns, and means for effecting operations of the clamping and cutting means only when one of said devices moves in said path to render a yarn finger active to effect a. yarn change.

-15. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn Vngers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarnfeeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each yarn iinger, arranged to Vhold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one vfor each detent, each arranged to move in one of alterna- ,tive paths in 'one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn iinger active to feed its yarn, means for selectively controlling the paths of movement of said de- Vices, clamping and cutting means for the yarns, 4

and means for effecting operations of the clamping and cutting means only when one of said devices moves in said path to render a yarn finger active to effect a yarn change'.

16. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying Vindependent needles, a plurality ofvyarn ngers, spring means for urging said yarn fingers towards their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of detents, one for each yarn finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one foreach detent,

each arranged to move in one of alternative paths in one of which it engages and trips its detent to render the corresponding yarn finger active to feed its yarn, means for selectively controlling,

the paths of movement of said devices, clamping and cutting means for the yarns, and means for effecting operations of the clamping and cutting means only when one of said devices moves in said path to render a yarn finger active to effect a yarn change, and means for preventing said operation of the clamping and cutting means when certain yarn changes take place.

17. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder vcarrying independent needles, a plurality of yarn fingers, spring means 'for urging said yarn fingers toward their yarn feeding positions, a plurality of holding means, one for each yarn finger, arranged to hold their respective yarn fingers out of yarn feeding position against the action of said spring means, devices, one for each finger holding means, each arranged. .to1;imove during the formationof every course ofthe fabric in one of alternative paths in Vo'ne'of whichit operates its finger holding means to lrender the ity of yarn lingers, spring means for urging said yarn ngers toward their vyarn feeding positions, devices, one foreach yarn nger; each arranged to move during the formation of every course of fabric in either an inactive or an active path,

10 means for selectively controlling the ypaths of movement of said devices, and yarn nger holding means interposed between said devices and y said 'yarn fingers, said devices and yarn finger holding means being arranged so that when a device moves in its active path it causes a corresponding holding means to'release its inactive finger so that a spring may render it active, and so that simultaneously a linger which had been active is removed from active position.

f n HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.