US2200280A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

F. KLUMPP ET A1. f 2,200,280

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 14, 1940.

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F. KLUMPP ET AL l KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 we INVENTORS W7 ,fWZ/M/ AT O R May 14, 1940- F. KLUMPP Er A1. 2.200.280

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1955 1o sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR5 May 14, 1940. F. KLUMPP ET Al.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1955 10 Sheets-shewl 4 NVENTORS ATT n NEY May 14, 1940. F. KLUMPP Er AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed N09. 13, 1935 lO Sheecs--Sheexal 5 y. INV NTORS wf( BY 7 Ma'y 14, 1940.

F. KLUMPP ET Al.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORO` F. KLUMPP ET AL KNIITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 n lNvENToRS Q/wm f/M /6 auf BY Y AT' ORNEY 1o sheets-shea e F. KLUMPP ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13,y 1955 f xm@ ATTO R N EY May 14, 1940. F. KLUMPP Er AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed NOV. l5, 1955 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 M4141 y TO R N lf.

May 14, 1940. F. KLUMPP Er AL KNITTING MACHINE 1`o sheets-sheet 1o Filed NOV. 13, 1955 Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES KNITHNG MACHINE Ferdinand Klumpp and Fritz Lambach, Weehawken, N. J.; said Lambach assignor to said Klumpp Application November 13, 1935, serial No. 40,433

Claims.

'I'he knitt g machine contemplated by this invention is provided with novel filling-weft laying or weaving instrumentalities cooperating with theknitting facilites for producing a fabric comprising filing-weft threads (which may extend either from selvedge to selvedge or partly through the fabric and which may be present in any desired courses of the warp threads) enveloped by knitting loops or chains of warp threads, the filling-weft threads connecting with the knitted rows thereby preventing both longitudinal and transverse stretching and in general distortion of the fabric.

One or more filling-weft threads or yarns may be laid in each course of the warp and by employing yarns or threads of different colors for the fllling-wefts and warps various desired designs and color effects of fabric may be obtained. The filling-weft may be either of a knitted or an unknitted construction, or of any other suitable construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a knitting machine novel, efllcient and effective means for feeding, carrying, laying and controlling the distribution of filling-weft thread in desired courses of a knitting fabric.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for coordinating, determining and controlling the movements of the warp guide lingers units in their relation to the knitting needles and filling-weft feeding,'controlling and laying mechanisms. l

For facilitating the carrying out of some of the provisions and objects herein, other yobjects of this invention are: l

To provide for the feeding of liing-weft-thread or yarn to and introducing or laying the same into the fabric as it is being knitted, by having a weft `carrier selectively connectable with and disconnectable from a exible transmission band to whichis imparted a non-uniform reciprocating motiomthe extent of which motion *being regulatable.

To provide for interrupting the laying of the filling-weft at predetermined intervals during the continuous running of the machine.

To provide friction brake means for arresting the motion of said band.

To provide a movable bank of projections or sinkers capable of receiving the weft thread directly from the carrier, of positioning the same adjacent the needles and of acting upon a preceding laid Weft thread to press the same downwardly. 10

To provide for the simultaneous use of more than one filling-weft carrier for simultaneously feeding a plurality of weft threads to incorporate the same in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the knitting machine. f

A further object of this invention is to so coordinate the instrumentalities attaining objects hereinabove mentioned, that pattern or design composition and strength of fabric may be obtained to a far greater degree and extent than heretofore.

In a straight or 'flat knitting machine stitch formation is effected through cooperation between the vertical reciprocating movement of the latch-needle bank and the shiftable oscillating (looping) movements of the warp feeding guide fingers. The pattern effects are predetermined by the selective shiftable movement of the guide lingers which may carry yarns or threads of the same or different colors across one or more of the hooks of the needles, in accordance with a predetermined fashion to produce the desired pattern or design. For this purpose a needle bank is vertically reciprocated relative to a face plate against which it slides. Where two needle banks are employed they are slightly sloped toward each other to bring the needle hooks close together and the face plates against which the needles slide are spaced apart providing room rfor passage of the knitted fabric. 'I'he warp 40 yarn or thread is directed and presented to the bank of .latch-needles by the guide fingers of which there may be several units to accommodate different yarns or threads as desired. The reciprocation of the needle bank is determined by a cam. The oscillating movement of the warp feeding guide fingers units are controlled by cams. The shiftable or endwise movements of the warp guide fingers units are respectively controlled by individual pattern chains made up of special, interchangeable cam links. The cooperation of the above various instrumentalities exist in a standard form of straight knitting machine. The invention deals, in part, with improved novel means for coordinating and controlling the movewhich support and lay the same relatively be` tween (1) a connecting link (coming from a pre- ,.ceding loop) and a succeeding loop of the same course as the connecting link and (2) a succeeding loop of a succeeding course which is carried through the said connecting link and supported thereby. One or more of these filling-weft threads may be laid in each course and by the use of more than one carrier, wefts different in quality or color may be laid in the same or different courses, The extent of the movements of the carriers are controlled so that the wefts, if desired, may be extended only partly through the width of the fabric. Active and inactive periods of the carriers are controlled in a predetermined manner by a pattern ch'ain made up of special, interchangeable cam links trained on the same drum as the pattern chain controlling the movements of ythe warp feeding guide fingers bars or units.

A plurality of simultaneously operable carriers are provided for feeding a plurality of weft threads adjacent the needles to respectively incorporate the same in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggest practical embodiments thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative rather than a restrictive standpoint.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of our knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. l seen in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.'4 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the right end of the machine;

Fig. 4A is an enlarged top plan view of a coupling mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 4B is a vertical section on line 4B-4B of Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4C is an evolution of the worm gear for driving the cam drum shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 4D is a side elevation View of said gear and the pin wheel cooperating therewith;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the lower right hand end of the machine;

Fig. 6A is an elevation of a detail of Fig. 6 shown in a different position;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8-.-8 of Fig. 6, seen in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8A is a similar sectional view to that ofl Fig. 9A is a verticalsection on line SA--SA of Fig. '7 seen in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. l0 is a sectional plan view of a safety device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation Iof the weft feeding mechanism;

Figs. 12, 12A and 13 are plan views of the weft feeding, guiding and control mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a partial vertical section similar to that of Fig. 3 of a modified form of construction;

Figs. 15 and 15A are diagrammatic views in side and front elevation of the knitting and weft feeding implements and illustrate the operations at Referring to the drawings, I0 and IIIA denotev the machine frame formed with vertically exe.;

tending arms IIlB in which are slidably supported superposed, transversely extending notched bars II carrying the beams I2 for lthe warp threads.

Extending longitudinally of the machine and suitably journaled in the end pieces of the frame is a rock shaft I3 (Figs. l, 2 and 3). Attached to one end of the shaft is a laterallyextending arm I4 having an arcuate groove I48L in which engages a pin I5a provided on the upper end of a vertically extending rod I5. The lowertend of said rod I5 carries a roller I5 operating in a cam groove I1a of a cam I1 mounted on the main driving shaft I8 of the machine, impelled from a motor I9 or other suitable source of power through a set of gears 2 0, 2| and 22.

Suitably fixed to said rocking shaft I3 and extending downwardly therefrom are a plurality of members 23 formed with arcuate yokes 23a extending transversely of the machine and from each of which are suitably and adjustably suspended arms 24 for slidably and rockingly supporting bars 25. These bars 25 extendv longitudinally of the machineand each carries a plurality of downwardly `extending perforated loopers or guides 26 for the warp threads Wa. which are adapted to cooperate with the usual latch needles 29 carried by a verticallyreciprocating bar 30 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) in knitting operation, as will be hereinafter fully described. .At the upper edge of each bar 25 are'flxed a series of longitudinally'extending pins 21, which slid' ably pass through perforations provided inl the lower ends of said arms 24. Theends of each bar 25 are fixed to arms 28 slidably mountedy on horizontal pins I3 suitably fixed to the shaft I3. Through this arrangement each bar 25 is able to be rocked around a horizontalaxis, transversely to the machine, and ,alsoA to be displaced in longitudinal direction thereof. Rocking motion is" imparted to the shaft I3 and consequently to the looper bars 25 from the cam groove I1a through the rod I5. motion is separately imparted to each of the looper bars through the `medium of the following mechanism:

At one of its ends each looper bar 25 isfformed` with an upwardly extendingflange or, knee 25a` (Figs. l and 5) in which are `provided adjustable horizontally extending pins 25h. Slidably guided in the frame I0 opposite said pins 25b are a Longitudinal reciprocal plurality of parallelly and horizontally mounted yslides 39, corresponding in number to that of the looper bars 25. The inner end of each slide 39 has a transversely extending segment 39a adapted to be constantly in contact with the respective looper bar pin 25h. 'I'he endI of pin 25h, when rocked about rock-shaft I3 with bar 25 moves in an arcuate path on the surface of segment 39a. The opposite or outerendof each slide 39 is provided with a cam follower Jorfrz'zoller 3.91 (Figs. 4 and 5) adapted to cooperate with a set of exchangeable cam links 40 borne in well known manner in ch-ain form 40 on a rotary drum 4I.

Suitable means, such as spring 42 acting on arm 28 adjacent to the flange 25 is provided to keep the pin 25h constantly in engagement with the face of the lcorresponding segment 39a of the slide 39. As the chain drum 4 I, driven in a manner to be presently described, rotates, the roller 39b in contact with the cam links 40, displaces the slide 39 which in its turn by its segment 39ab contacting with pin 25b vcauses the corresponding looper bar 25 to be displacedhorizontally, so that the loopers 26 will cooperate with said latch needles 29 in performing the knitting operation in the manner hereinafter to be described.

'Ihe rotary drum 4I (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) is mounted on a suitably supported shaft 43, which is adaptedto be intermittently rotated. Such intermittent or step by step rotation may be imparted to shaft 43by any suitable means. However, for the purpose of effecting a positive and noiseless drive and eliminating clutches or other ,auxiliary elements we employ the following means:

Keyed or otherwise fixed to shaft 43 is a driven pin gearv 44 whose pins 44a are conically shaped and extend radially from the circumference of said gear. Two pins 44si are adapted to engage simultaneously with gear 45 suitablymounted at right angles to `gear 44 on la shaft 46, which through bevel gears 41 and 48 (Figs. 1 and 6) is driven from the main shaft I8. By reason of simultaneous engagement of vat least two pins 44a in the cam gear, the gear 44 will be held against slipping.

As previously stated the different sets of loopers 26 cooperate with a set or bank of latch needles 29 to produce the knitted fabric. In the example shown, two sets or banks of such latch needles are shown, parallelly mounted and suitably spaced from each other, each set being independently controlled, for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

'I'he reciprocation vof each of bar 36 is ee'cted by providing at its ends downwardly extending rods 3| suitably fixed thereto and slidably borne in guide sleeves 32 suitably supported in the frame. Attached to the lower end of each of said rods 3| is a collar 33 formed with an arm 34 extending laterally therefrom. (Figs. 1-3.) 'I'he arms 34 are connected to respective arms 36 of bell crank levers through respective links 35, said levers being rotatively borne on shaft 58. 'I'he other -arms 36all of said bell cranks carry rollers 31 which operate in respective cam grooves 38* of cams 38 (Fig. 1), suitably mounted on the main driving shaft I8.- By the above described mechanism purely knitted fabric can be produced. In order to permit the production of knitted fabric with limited stretch yand variegated design, by using llers of weft thread to extend across the knitted fabric, we provide the following means:

The weft thread We is adapted to be fed longitudinally of the machine and transversely of the of the band 55 may be varied at will.

lopposite end of lever 68 is connected by a link bank of latch needles 29 by means of weft feeders or shuttles 49, the latter being suitably moved in a manner to be presently described. During their longitudinal movement the said feeders are adapted to deposit the weft thread'We on tine like projections 5I!a provided on weft sinkers or guides 50 arranged in front of the bank of latch needles 29 and movable transversely thereof. (Figs. 3 and 11.) The tine shaped projections 5I)a are adapted during the knitting operation to carry the weft thread We to the back of said needles to be interlocked with the loops formed by the knitting implements. To this end a plurality of such sinkers are suitably mounted on a horizontal .bar 5I (Fig. 3) and are so disposed relative to the bank of needles 29 as to operate through the spaces between said individual needles. The bar 5I is suitably supported on the upper ends of a lever arm 52 whose lower end is fixedly mounted on a horizontally extending rotary shaft 53 journaled in stationary brackets 54and operated from the main driving shaft I8 by means of a crank 55. The latter is connected by a link 56 to one arm 51a of a bell crank rotatively mounted on shaft 58. The other arm 51b of said bell crank carries a roller 59 which engages a cam groove 60a in a cam 6I) fixedly mounted on the main driving shaft I8 (Fig. 3). By these means the weft guides are caused to reciprocate transversely of the machine in a predetermined time relationship to the needles 29, so as to carry the weft thread behind the needles during the knitting operation of the machine.

'I'he weft feeder or` shuttle 49 comprises a 'tubular member 49a formed on a curved arm 49b extending transversely of the machine and slidably mounted by means of a sleeve 6I on a horizontally disposed rod 52 which extends longitudinally of the machine. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 11 there are two weft feeders 49 of identical construction. Each sleeve 6I is provided on its periphery with a projection 6Ia having a recess (ilb (Figs. 12, 12A and 13). Auxiliary parallel guide rods 62a (Fig. 11) to which the arms 49b of the feeders 49 are attached by spring clips 49, serve to properly guide the arms 49. (Fig. 11).

Suitably mounted between and engaging spikes or pins 63a provided on pulleys 63 and 64 rotatively borne at opposite ends of the machine is an endless longitudinally perforated band 65, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11) which in the present embodiment is made of a at exiblelstrip of' metal or the like. 'I'he pinned pulley 63 is driven from the main shaft I8 through gears 65a, 65b and 65C, and vertical rack I66 meshing with gear 65. -QThe lower end of the rack is joined by a link 61 to one end of a lever bar 68 which is adjustably journaled at 588L intermediate its ends in a bracket Illc of the frame (Fig. 1),' so that the stroke of the rack 66 andconsequently that 10 (Fig. 1) to a rock arm 1I (Fig. 9A) whose one end is carried on a 'rotatable' horizontally disposed shaft 12 journaled in the bracket I0 and the other end of which is formed to a journal 13 (Figs. 6A and 7), slidably and rotatively bearing a shaft 14 each end of which carries a Acam follower 15. Intermediate its ends said shaft has fixed thereonr circumferentially grooved sleeves or members 16 for the purposeA hereinafter described. Fixed to a shaft 11lsuitably extending above shaft 12 (Figs. 6A and 9A) and located at opposite sides of the cam followers 15 Theand journal 13 (Figs. 6 and 7) are cam disks 19 having cam grooves on their inner faces in which are adapted to alternately engage the cam followers 15, as will be more fully described. For the purpose hereinafter specified, the spacing between the two cams is so admeasured as to permit two positions of the cam followers, to Wit, engagement of the left hand cam follower in the left hand cam groove, or engagement of the right hand cam follower in the right hand cam groove. Shaft 11 is driven by bevel gear 18 meshing with gear 18a on shaft |8.

Selection of the particular position is automatically effected by the following means:

The rock arm 1| has pivotally mounted in it at each side, as at 8|, 82, levers 83 and 84, which are rotatable about vertical axes (Fig. '1). The inner ends of levers 83 and 84 are each provided with a pin roller engaging the grooves of the annular members or sleeves 16 at diametrically opposite points.

Transversely slidable, vertically superposed, horizontal shafts 86 and 81 (Figs. 4, 9 and 9A) are suitably supported in brackets in front of shaft 12. Keyed to the respective shafts 86 and 81 are sleeves 89 and 88, respectively having laterally extending oppositely directed vertical hook shaped projections and 90a respectively, adapted( to engage the respective ends 84a and 83a of levers 84 and 83 (Fig. 7), so that movement of the latter is thus controlled by movement of the respective shafts 86 and 81.

Also fixed to the shafts 86 and 81 by means of sleeves 93 and 94, are arms 93a and 94a, respectively, which in their free ends are formed with vertical holes and 96 respectively (Fig. 6).

Borne in the bracket I0c of the frame is a vertically extending rotary shaft 91, on which is rotatively mounted a rock lever formed with a pair of horizontally extending spaced arms 98 and 98a, and a third oppositely extending arm 98C, which latter at its free end is provided with a cam follower 99 (Figs. 8, 8A). The cam follower 99 engages in a cam groove |0021 formed on the peripheral surface of a cam |80 keyed to shaft 11. Keyed or otherwise flxed to the vertical shaft 91 and extending intermediate and in the same direction as the spaced arms 98 and 98a, is an arm |0|, and to the upper end of said shaft a crank arm |02. The latter is provided at its free end with a cam follower |03 adapted to engage in the cam groove |0|Ja at a point diametrically opposite that of cam follower 99. The movement of the pair of arms 98 and 98a and arm |0| are, therefore, aways in opposite directions. Each of said last named arms is provided at its free end with a vertical hole |04, the three holes being at the same distance from the axis or shaft 91 (Figs. 8 and 9A) The shafts 86 and 81 are thus shifted longitudinally by causing them to be coupled either to arms 98 and 98a or to arm |0|. This coupling is controlled automatically in the following manner;

There are two vertical slidably supported rods |05 and |06 of which rod |05 has fixed to its lower end a downwardly extending yoke |01 v(Figs. 6 and 6A) in which is carried a transversely slidable bar |08. This bar has two oppositely extending lateral arms ||0 and (Figs. 8 and 8A) of which arm ||0 is provided with cppositely extending vertical pins ||2 and ||2a and arm with a vertical downwardly extending pin ||3 (Fig. 8). The relative loca.- tion of' said pins is such that vertical movement of rod |05 downwardly will cause pin ||2 to engage in the hole |04 of arm 98a. Pin ||3 engages in the hole 96 of arm 94a (Fig. 6) and is so admeasured in length as to always engage said hole irrespective of the upward or downward movement of the rod |05. A similar coupling means is attached to the lower end of rod |06 comprising a yoke ||4 carrying a transversely slidab-le bar ||5 with oppositely extend; ing lateral members I6 and ||1 (Figs. 6A, 8 and 8A). Opposite vertically extending pins ||8 and ||8a on member ||6 adapted to engage respectively in the hole either in arm |0| or 99 are provided. Likewise a, pin ||9 extending vertically downward from member ||1 engages the hole 95 in arm 93 irrespective of the upward or downward movement of rod |06 (Figs. 6, 8). Bar ||5 is provided with two vertical slots |20 (Figs. 6 and 7) along one of its sides, in'any of which a suitable locking pin |2| extending from bracket |||c may engage (Fig. 6). The spacing of said slots corresponds to the aforenamed two positions of the cam followers 15 (Fig. '1) and serves to lock the bar ||5 against sliding after it has been moved into one of said positions.

While the bar `||5 isin coupling position, the` said slots are clear of the Alocking pin.

A similar set of slots |22 are provided on bar |08 together with the locking pin |23 on the i 30 The levers are each.

These rollers serve to engage on respective highn l or low exchangeable selector cam links |30 and |3| on the respective cam chains |32 and |33, the latter being mounted on the rotatively borne drum |34 on shaft 43. The said drum is adapted to be coupled to said shaft in4 a manner to be presently described. The selector cam links |30, |3| automatically control the operation of said rods |05 or |06, so that according to which of them is operated, the coupling mechanism which controls the movement of the cam followers 15 into their two aforenamed positions will be operated.

'Ihe internal cam grooves 80 on the cam disks 19 (Figs. 6A and 9A) which face each other are so shaped as to move the followers 15 rapidly but not abruptly and to return them to rest in the same way, the motion beginning and ending at speeds less than the maximum in order to accelerate the followers 15 at a relatively low rate. The grooves 80 are each of the same shape but out of phase with each other for the purpose of permitting depositing of weft threads in alternate courses without. the necessityvof stopping the machine. Use of a single cam would result in. depositing a weft thread in each course with the gearing ratio used in the machine. When it is desired to insert a weft thread in alternate courses both cams are used by shifting the cam followers 15 alternately from one cam into the other and vice versa.

To insure timely entering of the cam followers 15 into their respective cam grooves and thereby prevent shifting of the former Ywhile not in alignment with the opposite cam groove which may result from an error of the operator in the 'arrangement or choice of the proper cam links.

we provide the following Asafety device:

Rods |05 and |06 have respectively mounted thereon collars |35 and |36 (Fig. 10) which latter have laterally extending, parallel arms |3511 and |36. Reciprocally and slidably supported in bracket Ii)c and extending between the said arms is a bar |31 whose inner end has a transverse member |31" through which is guided an engaging pin |38. The latter is so admeasured in length as to extend either to the right or left of said guide member |311 and engage one of the slots |351 or |361 formed in the parallel arms |35a and |36a respectively.

Reciprocation of bar |31 is effected through pin and slot engagement at its outer end with a crank |39 (Figs. 8A and 10) operatively connected to rock arm 1| at |42 through levers |40 and |4|. Movement of the rock arm thus reciprocates bar |31. Extending laterally through a suitable slot (not shown) in guide |3111 from the pin |38 is a member |383 (Fig. 8A). A spring actuated plunger |311 suitably Supported from the guide |311 and movable in the same direction as pin |38 is attached to said member |38 at one'end and its opposite end is adapted to ride on an external cam |43 which is provided on the outer face of cam disk 19. Said external cam |43 consists of two circular segments |43l and |431 (Figs. 1 and 9) concentric about the axis of the drive shaft 11, spaced 180 out of phase. I'he terminals of said segments are separated from each other by suitably admeasured spaces at diametrically opposite points. While the plunger |311 rides on the segments of the cam 43, it forces pin |38 into engagement with slot |361, locking rod |06 against vertical movement and making themechanism controlled by said rod ineffective.v Should a high link at this time engage the roller on lever |26 the movement of the latter will be ktaken up as lost motion by the spring coupling connector |24 (Fig. l). Rod |05 during this period is free. Whenever the plunger |311 rides off the cam |43 into one of the spaces between the segments thereof, pin |38 is shifted out of engagement with slot |361. and enters engagement with slot |351, freeing rod |06 and locking rod |05. By the proper arrangement of the cam segments, therefore, rods |05 and |06 can be'alternately locked, so that the mechanism controlled by them can also be locked to prevent improper shifting of the cam followers 15.

The selector drum |34 which is rotatively mounted on shaft 43 adjacent drum 4| may be removably coupled and driven from the latter in controlled manner as follows:

Rotatively borne on the shaft 43 between the two drums is a coupling collar |44 provided with an annular groove |441. Extending on opposite sides of said collar and diametrically opposite` each other are sets of coupling pins |441 and |44. Pins |441 are so admeasured in length as to permanently but slidably engage in suitably provided holes |34 in the side wall of drum |34. A plurality of suitably spaced holes 4| are provided in the adjacent face of drum 4|, and pins |44c may removably engage in any diametrically opposite pair of said holes by sliding collar |44 longitudinally alongthe shaft 43 towards them (Figs. 4A and 4B).

Longitudinal shifting of collar |44 is effected by means of lever |46 (Figs. 4, 4A, 4B, 5) fulcrumed at |41 to part |0e of frame |0 and forked at one end as at |4611, said forks engaging with pins |461 in groove |441 of collar |44. The opposite end of said lever is grooved as at |48 engaging pin |49 extending laterally from a sleeve |50 slidably borne on a bar |52 extending parallel to shaft 43 and slidably mounted in the machine frame. One end of said bar |52 is continually urged against a cam |53 keyed to shaft 46 by a suitable tensioning spring |54 attached to said bar and said part I e of machine frame. Suitable tensioning means |55 between part |0e of said frame and said sleeve |50,`urge the latter in the same direction as bar |52. Pivotally mounted at |56 (Fig. 4A) in scissors-like fashion on the bar |52 are two levers |51 and |58, the free ends of which are being contracted by suitable tensioning means, as spring |59. The other end of lever |58 engagesa suitably shaped recess |5|a formed on a member projecting from the surface of sleeve |50, and thereby transmits motion of bar |52 to said sleeve. The other end of lever |51 is forked, theftines |511 and |511 of which project upwardly at both sides of lever |58. 'I'he tine |51a carries an adjustment screw |6| or other suitable means which serves for the proper positioning of the operative end of lever |58 in the recess |5|1. Tine |511 is provided with a bearing surface on its outer face for a purpose to be presently described. l

Fulcrumed at |62' to part l0e of frame is a catch lever |62 (Fig. 4A) whose one end is provided with a projection |621adapted to engage and lock the sleeve |50 against sliding. The opposite end of said lever is attached to part |0e of machine frame by a spring |63. Lever |62 is provided with a lateral extension |621 extending parallel to and spaced from tine |511 of lever |51. Extending transversely of bar |52 above the latter and slidably borne in the machine frame adjacent to and parallel to bars 39 is a bar |64 (Fig. 5) one of whose ends is provided with a cam roller |65 adapted to follow removable links |66 (Figs. 4 and 5) borne on a chain |61 mounted `0n the drum 4|. Extending vertically from said bar |64 and between the tine |511 and extension |621 is a pin |68. Suitable tensioning means (not shown) maintain said roller in contact with said cam links. Operation of the coupling means above described is as follows:

Rotation of cam |53 causes movement of rod |52 against action of spring |54 causing lever |58 to move sleeve |50 against action of spring |55 into position whereby catch lever |62 is moved into locking position to prevent return of sleeve |50 to its initial position. In this locked position ring |44 is moved by lever |46 so that pins |441 are coupled to drum 4| and the latter then causes rotation of drum |34. If bar |64 now is moved to cause pin |68 to force catch lever out of engagement with sleeve |50, the latter will return to its initial position, under action of its spring |55 and shift pins |44c out of engagement with drum 4|, uncoupling it from drum |34.

Movement and selection of the shuttles 49 is effected as follows:

selectively xable to the endless band 65 at an opening or perforation thereof is an upright support or carriage |69 extending upwardly between the sleeve supporting bars 62 (Fig. 11). Pivotally supported from said upright |69 are toggle levers and |1| having vertically extending arms |101 and |.1I respectively, each adapted to engage in the recess 6|1 of one of the shuttle carrying sleeves 6|. Suitable tensioning means as springs |12 and |13 attached to the respective upright arms and to suitable laterally projecting members from the upright |69y tend to rotate the respective arms in opposite dilections. 'I'he levers are also provided with arms |10b and |1|b which project towards each other and have parallelly upwardly extending projections |10c and |1|. Pivotally mounted to the upright |69 above the toggle levers is a rock lever |14 whose lower end is forked and between the tines |14a of which the projections |10c and I1 |c of the toggle levers extend. The free end of rock lever |14 is provided with a vertically extending slot |141.

Keyed to an oscillatable shaft |15 (Figs. l and l1) extending longitudinally of the machine frame and which is suitably journaled in the end pieces thereof, is a crank arm |16 whose free end projects into the path of the rock lever |14. Ex-

tending longitudinally from said end and suitably supported therefrom is a pin |11, onto which the slot [14b may ride. During engagement ofsaid pin on said slot clockwise rotation of the crank on |16 will cause counterclockwise rotation of toggle lever |1| against the action of spring |13 causing upright arm |1|a to rotate free of the engaging recess 6|b on the corresponding sleeve 6|, uncoupling the latter from the band 65. In like manner, counterclockwise rotation of the crank arm |16 will cause clockwise rotation of the upright arm |10a against the actionof its spring |12 releasing the said ar'm from the corresponding recess 6 Ib. In neutral initial position both toggle levers are free to engage in the respective recesses. Through proper rotation, therefore, either of the desired shuttles (two being shown) may be uncoupled or coupled to the driving band 65.

The desired rotation of the crank arm |16 is obtained by a lever |18 (Figs. 3 and 1l) one end of which is keyed to shaft |15 and the other end of which is connected through suitable tensioning means as spring |19 to the machine frame. A suitable cam roller is borne in one edge of the crank |18. A cam lever |8| is rotatively supported from the end piece |0 on a shaft |82 and near its lower end is provided with a laterally projecting cam surface |83, on which the roller |80 contacts, whereby rocking of lever |8| will cause rotation of crank |18 as the cam surface sweeps past the said roller. Rocking of lever |8| is eifectedthrough a crank |84 keyed to shaft |82 Whose free end engages the outer end of a slide bar |84a (Figs. 3 and 5) the latter mounted parallel to the bars 39 and provided at its inner end with a`roller |85 which is adapted to follow exchangeable cam links |86 on a cam chain |81 borne on the drum 4 Suitable tensioning means as spring |88 attached to the free end of lever |8| and to the end piece serves to urge continuous engagement of a roller |85 with the cam links |86. Through said cam links, therefore, properly timed rotation of the crank |16 and consequent selection of the shuttles 49 may be effected. As shown in Figs. 12 and 12A, selection is made at each end of the stroke of the shuttles by providing duplicate sets of crank arms |16 one at each end of said stroke, the only difference in structure being the extension of the pins |11 in opposite direction. In the modification of Fig. 13 two shuttlel slides are shown mountedv on each of the guide bars 62. Likewise a pair of uprights |15 halfway between the extreme cranks |16 are provided, the pins |11a thereof extending in opposite directions. 'Ihereby selection of any of the desired sleeves at the stroke ends of the band 65 may be effected.

Suitable braking means to overcome the inertial effects at the end of each stroke of the reciprocally moving band 65 are provided in the form of a brake drum |89 (Fig. 4) attached to the pulley 63 with which a brake |90 cooperates. The latter is suitably operated through a brake rod |9| and'bell crank lever |92 (Figs. 6 and '1) controlled by a cam |93 on shaft 11.

The rock arm 1| is adapted to be automatically locked in the two extreme positions of its reciprocal rotary motion about the shaft 12 to prevent undesired motion during non-weft feeding periods of the machine operation, by means of a downwardly extending sector |94 (Fig. 9A) attached to said arm and having two spaced notches |95 and |96 separated by a distance equal to the angular displacement of said rock arm. Slidably mounted in a support extending from the base of the frame |0c is a spring actuated plunger |91 (Figs. 6A, 9, 9A) adapted to engage in either of said slots, and when so engaged serving to lock the arm 1| against rotation. Cam controlled release mechanism timed to properly move said plunger out of engagement withk the respective slot during rotary movement of arm 1| is provided and may comprise the following mechanism:

Slidably borne on a transversely horizontally extending shaft |98 (Figs. 6, 6A, 7 and 9) are two spaced slidably keyed collars |99 and 200 provided with laterally extending arms |99f and 200 respectively, projecting on opposite sides of said plunger. Laterally extending from the respective arms are projections |99b and 200b, which may engage respective projections |91 and |91b extending from the said plunger |91. Suitable tensioning means as springs 20| and 202 serve to urge the respective projections out of contact. Keyed to the shafts 86 and 81 are the respective collars 203 and 204 having the respectively downwardly extending arms 203 and 204a which engage respectively the arms 200 and |999. Thus shifting of either of the respective rods 86 or 81 will cause corresponding shift of the respective arms 2008L or |99, causing one of the latter at a time to engage by means of its projection |99b or 200b, one of the respective projections |91xi or |91b of plunger |91. Rotation of the arms |99a or 200a downwardly while such engagement exists will force the plunger |91 out of engagement with the engaged slot in the sector |94. Such rotation is effected by means of the crank arm 205 keyed to the shaft |98 and provided at its free end with the cam following roller 206 which engages the cam 201 keyed to the shaft 11.

The finished knitted material F (Fig. 3) which passes down through the space between the two sets of latched needles 29 is carried between tensioning drums 208 and 209and on to a receiving drum 2|0.

Drum 209 is driven through a pinion 2|2 (Fig. 1) keyed to shaft 209 which supports the drum. Said pinion meshes with apinion keyed to a shaft 2|3 rotatively supported on the end piece |011. Keyed to the latter shaft are ratchet wheels 2|4. A split driving pawl 2|5 (Fig. 2) is pivotally mounted to a member 2|6 and has spring means urging one of its halves against each of said wheels. The member is pivotally supported by pins 2|6 in a slot 2|1 of a bracket arm 2|1 mounted on the end piece I0". Said member is oscillated by an eccentric 2 I8 on shaft I8 through a connecting rod 2I9, so as to cause the ratchet Wheel it engages Ato be advanced a single tooth or more per revolution of shaft I8 and cause corresponding rotation of roller 209. A crank handle 220 keyed on shaft 2I3 serves for manual rotation of said roller if desired. A split locking pawl 22| suitably supported from the machine frame prevents unwinding of the roller during the return stroke of the feeding pawl by engagement with either one of the other of said two ratchet wheels.

The receiving roller 2 I 0 is driven from the shaft 209a by a bevel gear 222 (Fig. 1) on said shaft which meshes with a gear 223 on a vertically supported shaft 224 on which a second bevel gear 225 is keyed, the latter meshing with a bevel gear 226 on supporting shaft 2|0a of roller 2I0. The latter has a suitable clutch 221 and slip coupling 233 so that the fabric may be kept tightly rolled on the roller 2|0 and that the latter may be coupled or uncoupled at will from the driven shaft 2|0a.

Manual drive for the entire machine is provided by mounting shafts 228 and 229 (Figs. l and 3)' between the end pieces at the front and back of the machine respectively. Hand wheels 230 (Fig. 1) are keyed to the respective shafts which respectively also have the gears 228 and 229a keyed thereto. The latter mesh respectively with gears 22 and 2|.

A control S for the power source is mounted to end piece Ia and may be operated either from front or back of the machine by means of longitudinal rotatable rods 23| (Fig. l) mounted respectively to front and back of the machine and provided with cranks 232 connected by suitable links (not shown).

The modication of Fig. 14 provides for the knitting of differing designs on the front and back faces of the fabric. This is effected by duplicate shuttles and shuttle feed mechanism arranged at the front and back of the machine, the movement of the front' shuttles being effected through feed band 65, and the movement of the rear shuttles being effected through feed band 65d. The bands are adapted to be drivenalternately each from a. mechanism similar to rack 66 or'the like. Selection of desired shuttles on the rear band is effected through the selector mechanism carried on an upright band 65d exactly similar to that carried on band 65 and controlled through pins |11d on crank arms 'I16d which are keyed on shaft I15d. Rotation of the latter is controlled from cam links (not shown) similar to link |86 on a chain (not shown) borne on the drum 4I through the follower bar like bar |84a and cam lever I8I, and roller I 80d on crank |18cl which serve to properly rotate the levers |18d in the same way as levers |18 are rotated. The subscript d following a numeral in this figure indicates that the part is identical in purpose with the part denoted by the corresponding plain reference numerals in Fig. 3 and serves in the opera-v tion of duplicated shuttles and shuttle feeding means atthe back of the machine.

Likewise, corresponding weft guides 50d and associated mechanism to carry the rear weft thread, forwardly .behind the rear set of latch needles 29d during the knitting operation, is provided.

The front set of weft guides and shuttles cooperate with the front set of latch needles 29 and the rear set of weft guides and shuttles cooperate with the rear set of latch needles 28d. 'I'hus a fabric can be produced in which the front and rear faces diiTer in pattern, both faces being simultaneously knitted whereby the operation is expedited.

The mode of operation:

The operation of the machine in producing' knitted fabric with fillers is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 15 to 18 inc. It is assumed that the weft thread shuttle 49 supported on the inner of the two sleeves 6I is to be employed and that the weft thread is to extend over the whole course width of the knitted fabric. To this end, the links I 86 which engage roller |85 are so shaped as to cause the toggle lever |10 to be disengaged from the sleeve of the outer shuttle while toggle lever I1I engages the recess of inner sleeve, thereby coupling it to the band 65. Assuming also that only a single weft thread is deposited per course and a single warp thread for each latch needle is used, then only a single one of the bars 25 with its downwardly extending Warp loopers or guides 26 is employed. Further, assume that the shuttle in use is at the extreme left end of its stroke (Fig. 1) and further, thatv the cam follower is engaged in the cam groove 80 of the front cam disk 19.

` When the motor is started, the locking plunger |91 releases arm 1| through the afore-described cam 201 and associated mechanism and permits rack 66 to move upwardly under action of the follower in the active portion of cam groove 80, moving band 65 to the right and causing shuttle 49 to correspondingly move and deposit the weft thread on the weft guides 50, transversely of the latch needles. Upon completion of this movement, through action of cam 201, plunger |91 relocks arm 1| against further movement, the follower. 15 now riding into the inactive portion of the groove 80.

Movement of the followers in cam grooves 60a of cams 60 now cause movement of the guides 50 to carry the weft threads behind the latch needles 29 and they remain in this position.

'Ihe latch needle 29 in the hooked ends of which are loops A of the Warp thread which have been threaded through the loopers or guides 26, now are moved upward between the weft guides 50 by action of cam followers 31 in cam grooves 38a of -cam 38, the loops sliding downwardly on Vthe needles,rotating the latches 29" out of engagement'with the hooks and resting in recesses behind the lowermost positions of said latch needles when the latter arrive at the limit of their upward stroke.

Rock beam I3 now is'rotated by movement of cam follower I6 in cam groove I6EL of cam disk I1 to move the looper vguides 26 carried on bar 25 forwardly between theneedles 29 carrying the warp threads over the weft thread carried on guides 50.

Bar 25 now is shifted longitudinally by action of cam links 40 on bar 39 causing looper guides 26 to move longitudinally and to carry the thread across the front of the open latch needles, below their hooks, the drum 4| being drivenv through engagement of pins MIa in the active portion of the annular groove of driven gear 45.

Rock beam` I3 then is rotated in opposite direction, carrying the warp thread behind the latch needle and thus serving to loop the warp thread about said latch needles under their hooks. Then the latch needles move downward said hooks' engaging the newly formed loops and the latter are carried through the old loops A which latter lift the latch 29into place and slide off the closed needle ends. y

The knitted course thus formed is drawn toward the receiving drum 2|0 through rotation of the tensioning and winding drums 208, 209 and 2|0.

The process is now ready to repeat itself knitting the next course. With the gearing ratio employed, the band 65 is now moved back to its original position because cam follower 15 now re-enters an active portion of the cam groove and the next course will also be knitted with a weft thread i. e. the gearing ratio istwo rotations of the main drive shaft |8 to one of the cam driving shaft 11.

In order to exclude a weft thread, the cam follower 15 must be moved out of the cam groove it engages and the other follower 15 moved into cam groove 80 of the other cam 19, the latter groove being, as described, degrees out of' phase with the groove of the front cam.

At this time, therefore, the pin |38 engages slot |35b locking rod |05 and releasing'rod |06. The latter is raised through action of the cam links |29, causing the coupling pin ||0 on bar ||5 to engage in the perforation on arm 98, thereby coupling bar 86 to it. Rotation of arm 98 under action of cam |00 slides the sleeve 89 forwardly rotating lever 84 clockwise and carrying the rear cam follower 15 into the cam groove 80 of the rear cam 19, the safety device including cams |40, preventing this from occurring as described unless the follower is in proper position to enter said groove.

Since the follower 15 is in an inactive portion of said groove, the rack 66 remains stationary and no weft thread is deposited on the weft guides prior to the knitting of the course, which now proceeds in the same manner as before.

Through control of the rods |05 and |06 by links on drum |34 and selective coupling of the latter to the driving drum 4| by the cam controlled coupler ring |44 and associated mechanism afore-described, any desired selection of courses in which weft threads are to be deposited may be made.

For example, if with the initial setting described, the drum |34 were to remain stationary, .being uncoupled from drum 4|, the shift of the cam followers 15 above described would not occur and all courses would have weft threads.

Further, for example, if it were desired to knit a fabric in which every third course contained no weft thread, drum |34 would be uncoupled during the knitting of the first and second courses so that the cam follower remains in the groove 80 of one of the cams during the knitting of these two courses, and a weft thread is .deposited by the shuttle in each course. The drum would then be coupled at the conclusion of the second course to cause a shift of the follower 15 to the other of the two cam grooves which is 180 degrees out of phase with the first and would enter an inactive portion thereof whereby no w'eft would be deposited in thethird course.- Then the drum would be uncoupled again remaining so during the knitting of the fourthand fifth courses, the follower remaining in itsshifted position, so that the shuttle would deposit weft threads in the fourth and fifth courses. Thus the first and second courses would have a weft, the third would have none and the fourth and fifth would again have wefts.

In other words, the drum remains uncoupled during the knitting of courses'in which weft threads are to be deposited and is coupled just prior to the course in which a weft is to be omitted i. e. the camifollower 15 is shifted just prior to the knitting of courses in which wefts are to be omitted.

Any other desired combinations could be ar-. I

ranged by suitable choice of the cams |66, and |30 and |3|.

By employing separate drums 4| and |34 instead of mounting the cams |30 and |3| on chains on the drum 4|, it is possible to perform the course selection without resorting to long, cumbersome, unwieldly chains which would otherwise have to be employed and also to effect the desited selection for any course without stopping the machine.

An alternative means of operating the crank arm |16 used in coupling or uncoupling shuttles, to replace the mechanism heretofore described which is more positive in its action may be provided by eliminating the link |18, cam lever |8|, crank |84 and slide bar |04a and substituting the following, as shown in Figs. 19, 19A and 20: A slide bar 232 whose inner end is provided with a cam following roller 232a adapted to engage the cam links 233 suitably carried on va chain on the drum 4| is substitutedfor bar |84a. end of said bar 232 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 232|. Suitable tensioning means (not shown) urge said roller against the cam link.

Rotatively journaled in the end piece |0 on a suitable support 234 is a shaft 235 to which a crank arm 236 is keyed, its outer end being slotted at 236a for engagement with said pin 232|. Also keyed to shaft 235 is a downwardly projecting lever 231 whose end is bifurcated and adapted to engage between its tines the lever 238 carried on a vertical pivot 233a suitably supported from a collar 239 keyed to shaft |15. The free end of said lever 238 is slotted as at 238 for a purpose hereinafter stated.

Slidably supported in journals 240 and 240B from the frame of the machine are two vertical rods 24| and 242, whose upper ends are provided laterally extending pins 243 and 244 respectively, on to either of which the slotted end of lever 238 may ride and thereby couple either of said rods to said lever. rods 24| and 242 are provided with cam following rollers 245 and 246 respectively, which -engage the` respective cams 241 and 248, both keyed to the suitably driven shaft' 249. Suitable tensioning means as springs 250 and 25| serve to urge said cam rollers against the respective cams.

Operation `is as follows:

The slide bar 232 whose movement is controlled by cam links 233 is capable of rotating lever l238 either into engagement with the pin 243 of rod 24| or the pin 244 of rod 242. If it engages pin 243 vertical movement of said rod under the action of cam 241 will cause reciprocal rotary motion of. shaft |15 through lever 238 and consequent rotation of crank arm |16 to the right side of neutral position shown in Fig. 19. Likewise, engagement of the slotted end of lever 238 with pin 244 of rod 242 will cause the latter to transmit reciprocal rotary motion to the crank |16 to the left of said neutral position. The cams 241 and 248 being so shaped as to cause the required movement of the respective rods. The support 240 is provided with a member 240b eX- tending between the two rods and over which the slot in lever 238 rides. In the neutral position shown the lever is thus locked against rota- The opposite The lower ends of, the respective tion. During engagement of said slot with either 75 ascenso of the pins 243 or 244, it clears said member 2Mb and lever 238 is free to rotate.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 18 inclusive, the latch needles are mounted in successive, adjacent groups each group being iixedly borne in a. cast holder, the respective holders being removably carried on the support 30. If a single needle in one of these groups breaks, the whole group must be replaced, causing waste oi the unbroken needles. To eliminate this dimculty individual mounting of the latch needles may be provided as shown in the modification of Fig. 21 wherein the vertically reciprocating bar 30 for latch needles may be supplanted by the vertically reciprocating support 250 to Whose upper end a needle bed 25| may be removably attached, the said bed being transversely grooved to receive latch needles and provided with eyelets 25!a along its inner edge into which the laterally bent ends 252EL of latch needles 252 may engage and when so engaged prevent rotation of said needles about their longitudinal axes. A sectionalized suitable cover plate 253 transversely grooved to correspond with the transverse grooves in the needle bed 25| may be removably attached to the support 250 and serves to clamp said latch needles in the bed. Thus, if an individual needle breaks, the section of the cover plate 253 over it may be removed, the broken needle replaced, and the cover plate refastened. Only broken needles need be replaced and only a few needles are loosened when the short section of the cover plate is removed.

It can be readily seen by the above description that a plurality of simultaneously operable carriers may be provided for simultaneously feeding a plurality of. weft threads adjacent the needles to respectively incorporate the same in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine. For this purpose warp threads are omitted from the warp feeding guide ngers at predetermined intervals leaving spaces, the Width of a fabric produced being fixed by the distance between two successive inactive guide finger spaces. One or more of the filling-weft thread carriers can be made to selectively operate between these successive spaces since the length of the carrier travel may be varied.

Our invention may be modified by suitable substitution of mechanical equivalents for structural details described Without departure from the spirit thereof, and we therefore do not Wish to be limited to the details shown and described.

What we claim is:

1. In a. warp knitting machine, means for laying filler thread comprising a carrier, a flexible transmission band having openings, a carriage for said carrier, said carriage being selectively xable on said band at openings thereof to determine the stroke of said carrier in accordance with the length of nller desired to be laid, means for imparting a non-uniform reciprocating motion to said band, means for limiting the extent of said motion, and means `for selectively connecting and disconnecting said carrier from said band.

2. In a warp knitting machine, according to claim 1, friction brake means for arresting the motion of said element.

3. In a warp knitting machine having means for feeding filler thread, a ller thread carrier, a transmission flexible band having openings, and means for connecting and disconnecting said carrler from said band comprising a support element selectively fixed to said transmission band at said openings, a control element, a lever pivoted on said support element, a portion of said lever being adapted to engage a recess in said carrier, and another portion of said lever being adapted to be actuated by said control element to cause disengagement of said carrier.

4. In a warp knitting machine having filler thread feeding means, means for selectively actuating said feeding means comprising a rotary cam link feeding drum, a continuously driven grooved gear and a pin gear meshing with the latter and coupled to said drum, the grooved gear being so shaped as to permit intermittent rotation of said pin gear without cessation of rotation of said grooved gear.

5.. In a warp knitting machine of the character described, a set of filler thread feeders, a flexible band to which said feeders are adapted to be coupled and means for uncoupling undesired feeders from said flexible band, said uncoupling means including a rockable lever member and an oscillatable crank member adapted to be oscillated to each side of a neutral position for operating said uncoupling means, and drum-operated cam means for oscillating said crank member.

6. In a Warp knitting machine, a set of filler thread feeders, a flexible band to which said feeders are adapted to be coupled and means for uncoupling undesired feeders from said flexible band, said uncoupling means including an oscillatable crank member adapted to be oscillated to either side of a neutral position, and drum-controlled means for oscillating said member.

'7. In a Warp knitting machine, the combination Iwith knitting implements including a bank of needles, a bank of looping means cooperating with said needles for forming loops, means for,

rocking said looping means transversely of said bank of needles and means to reciprocate said looping means longitudinally of said bank of needles, said last-named means including ex-. changeable cam links and means for intermittently moving said links, said intermittent moving means comprising a continuously driven grooved gear and a pin` gear meshing with said grooved gear, the groove in the latter being shaped to permit intermittent rotation of said pin gear without cessation of rotation of said grooved gear.

8. In a warp knitting machines, a bank of needles; means for feeding warp threads to the needles; and means for feeding filler thread adjacent the needles to incorporate the filler thread in fabric produced by the machine, and comprising a. filler thread carrier, a flexible band, a carriage for said carrier and selectively fixable on said band, means for imparting a non-uniform reciprocating motion tof said band, andv means for varying the length of the carrier travel.

9. In a warp knitting machine, a bank of needles; means for feeding Warp threads to the needles; means for feeding filler threads adjacent the needles to incorporate the ller threads in fabric produced by the machine, and comprising filler thread carriers, a flexible band, a carriage for each of said carriers and selectively iixable on said band, and means for varying the length of carrier travel; and means for selectively actuating said carriers.

10. In a warp knitting machine, a bank of needles; means for feeding warp threads to the needles; means for feeding filler threads adjacent the needles to incorporate the ller threads in fabric produced by the machine, and comprising ller thread carriers, a flexible band, a carriage for each of said carriers and flxable on said band,

means for imparting a non-uniform reciprocating motion to said band, means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said carriers from said carriage, and means for varying the length of carrier travel.

11. In a Warp knitting machine, a bank of needles, a transmission iiexible band and a plurality of simultaneously operable carriers selectively connectable to said band for simultaneously feeding a plurality of filler threads adjacent respective needles to respectively incorporate the threads in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine.

12. In a warp knitting machine, a bank of needles, a reciprocatable transmission exible band, carriages on said band; and a plurality of simultaneously operable carriers selectively connected to said carriages respectively for feeding a plurality of iiller threads adjacent respective needles to respectively incorporate the threads in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the y machine.

13.` In a warp knitting machine, a bank of needles, and a plurality of carriers for simultaneously feeding a plurality of ller threads adjacent respective needles to respectively incorpo* rate the threads, in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine, a reciprocatable element, and carriages on said element to which said carriers may be operably connected.

14. In a warp knitting machine, a bank of needles, and a plurality of carriers for simultaneously feeding a plurality of filler threads adjacent respective needles to respectively incorporate the threads in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine, a reciprocatable element, carriages on said element to which said carriers may be operably connected, and means to impart a non-uniform motion to said element.

15. In a warp knitting machine, a set of filler thread feeders, a flexible band to which said feeders are adapted to be coupled and means for uncoupling undesired feeders from said flexible band, said uncoupling means including an oscillatable crank member adapted'to be osciliated to either side of a neutral` position, and means for oscillating said member.

FERDINAND KLUMPP FRITZ LAMBACH.

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