US2202528A - Yarn carrier selector mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

, May 28, P. KRENKEL YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5', 1952 May28, 1940. P, K-RENKEL- 2,202,528-

YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Bnnentor PAUL KRENKEL.

dttorneg May 28, 1940. P. KRENKEL. 2,202,528

YARN CARRIER SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 38b 38a v 7 78 65 63 G E I; 7.9 1 -24 Snucntor Raw. Ifi2ENKEL.

(I Hon-neg 'umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN cannula FOR KNITTIN SELECTOR MECHANISM GMACBINES Paul- Krenkel, Philadelphia, 1a., asslgnor Textile 'Machine Works, Beading, Pa.

Application December 5, 19:2, Serial in. 645.004

39 Claims.

My invention is a yarn carrier selector mechanism for knitting machines, and particularly for full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machines of the Cotton type, and my improvements are particularly designed to facilitate the manufacture of ringless" silk hosiery in which at least three successive courses of loops are formed from yarn drawn from different sources.

' The type of 'full-fashioned-silk hosiery knitting machine -towhich my improvements are particularly applicable is characterized by a-bank of en- 'masse ,movable knitting needles along which the needles.

yarnis laid and between which the yarn is kinked. The yarn for'each course is laid by one of a series of carriers mounted on a series of carrier rods and operable selectively through a friction box and friction rod reciprocated rectilineally by a Coulier mechanism, which concurrently reciprocates rectilineally a slur bar (sometimes called 7 a flight bar) having a slur cock for sequentially advancing sinkers for kinking the yarn between Suitable stops limit the rectilineal travel of the carrier rods before the end of the throw of the friction rod and slur bar by the Coulier mechanism, and during this overthrow the friction rod slides through the friction box against the friction thereof. 1

By my improvements, the friction box may be automatically connected with a different carrier rod at the end of each'rectilineal movement so that a yarn from one source of supply may be laid along the needles-on the movement of the friction rod in one direction, a yarn from a second source of supply may be laid along the needles on the movement of the friction rod in the opposite direction, a yarn from the third source of supply may be laid along the needles on the movement of the friction rod in the original direction, a yarn from the first source of supply may-be laid along the needles on the second movement of the friction rod in the reverse direction, and so on, without any idle courses or "drawbacks."

The connection of the friction box with the respective carrier rods is effected through se- 1 lector mechanism supported, and traversed longitudinally of the mechine, by the friction box.

Actuation of the selector mechanism to effect "selection of the carrier rods is preferably effected,

after each throw or traverse of the friction box is completed, through rotary cam mechanism supported adjacent to the slur; and friction rods but independently of the friction box, and motion is transmitted, through such cam 'mechanism from the main shaft of the machine to the (Cl. 66-12'I) selector mechanism throughpositively acting parts and without the intervention of a pattern chain.

Such positively acting parts preferably include the usual coulier mechanism and slur bar and in 5 addition thereto comprise wedge-like cams on the slur bar, pawl and ratchet mechanism, a rotatable camshaft having the rotary selector cams thereon, and lever, link and spline mechanisms connecting the selector cams and selectors. The 10 wedge-like cams are so spaced that only one H thereof engages. and actuates the pawl and ratchet mechanism on each throw of theslur bar to rotate step by step the rotatable cam shaft which has its axis parallel to the axis on which ll the selector mechanism turns, rotates or armately oscillates. a

Such shaft is mounted in stationary bearings and lies adjacent to the slur bar which, together V with the fricton rod, moves rectilineally with respect to the shaft throughout the throw of the slur bar and friction rod. 'i heifriction box, to-

gether with the selector mechanism thereon, is

moved by the friction rod rectilineally with respect to the selector cama'cam shaft and pawl g andv ratchet mechanism during the laying of the yarn, and stands stationary with respect there- 7 to'during the overthrow of the friction rod and v the actuation of the selectors.

My improvements further provide for holding 30 or biasing a plurality of carrier. rods against their 'end stops while a selectoris'moved by the mechanism above described into position for engaging one of the held rods to traverse it across the machine on the next throw of the friction rod. 35 Such holding and biasing is preferably eflected by a second selector, which remains stationary, and holds the friction box stationary, during the friction rod overthrow and the movement of the first-named selector into engaging position by the slur bar through the rectilineally stationary cam 1 When the'flrst-name'd selector has moved the selected carrier rod to the opposite end 'of the machine against its and stop, such selector remains stationary and holds the rod it has Just moved and another carrierrod against their end stops, and also, while still stationary, such selector holds the friction box stationary'through'out the friction rod overthrow and while the secondso named selector is moved, into position to engage 0. held rod, by the action of a slur bar cam through the rectilineally stationary camshaft ant. other mechanism above described during the overthrow of the friction By eliminating any move- 3 ment of the first named selector in a plane transverse to the carrier rods during the friction rod overthrow there is avoided any possibility of rectilineal movement of the friction box during the friction-rod-overthrow, such as may occur when the selector engaging a'rod is moved transversely thereto during an overthrow movement of the friction rod.

Each selector has a notched edge movable transversely to the carrier rods and forming tongues so spaced as to permit the engagement of a selector with a boss on any one of a'plurality of carrier rods or to permit the boss on any one of the carrier rods to pass through a notch aforesaid upon the movement of the selector rectilineally along the carrier rods.

The selectors preferably have splined connections with a pair of concentric shafts mounted on the friction box so that they may be independently turned, rotated or oscillated through an arcuate movement on an axis parallel with, the axis of the selector cam shaft through links and levers rocked by the selector cams on the cam sh'aft.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will further appearfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof:

In the drawings, Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the knitting head of a full-fashioned knitting machine illustrating diagrammatically the knitting of a portion of a fabric from yarns laid from three sources in sequence by the mechanism of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a conventional knitting machine equipped with my carrier rod selecting attachment; Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lines 3-3 of Figs. and 6; Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary view of the selector plate complementary to the selector plate shown in Fig. 3 and indicating its position relative tothe latter at the same point in the cycle of operation; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of the carrier rod selector mechanism looking fromthe front of the machine; Fig. 6 is an elevation of cam and lever mechanism by which the selector mechanism is operated, the view being taken from the front of the machine; Fig. 7 is a detached end view of pawl and ratchet mechanism and associated parts taken from the right hand end of Fig. 6; and Fig. '8 is an elevation of the cam mechani'sm shown in Fig. 6 but with the lever mechanism and other parts removed.

My improved attachment is shown in the drawings applied to a usual type of full-fashioned silk hosiery knitting machine having a.

series of thread carriers and thread carrier rods including the carriers 23, 24, and Z5 and carrier rods 23a, 24a and 25a to which the carriers are respectively connected and which are mounted housing 21 sleeved on the usual friction rod 28' and provided with usual friction shoes (not shown) operable by the lever 29 for clamping the friction box to the friction rod so that the friction box is moved by the friction rod when the latter is not'opposed by resistance greater than the tractive effect of the friction shoes. When the resistance to the movement of the friction box exceeds the tractive efiect of the friction shoes on the friction rod 28, the friction rod slides through the friction box in the usual manner, and when the lever 29 is thrown to position to loosen the friction shoes from the friction rod 28 the latter may slide freely through the friction box.

An extension 21 of the friction box housing 21 has journalled therein a sleeve 30 to which is fixed a radial plate 3|. A key 32 is fixed to the sleeve 3|! and this key is engaged in a spline slot 33 in the bottom of atube 34 journalled in bearings 35. and 36 mounted at the ends of the bed 25. A sleeve 31 is sleeved'within the sleeve 30 and has fixed thereto a radial plate 38 similar to the plate 3|. A key 39 is fixed to the sleeve 31 and is engaged in a spline slot 40 in a shaft 4| journalled in the tube 34. The upper side of the tube 34 and the lower portion of the sleeve 31 each have a segment cut therefrom to form an opening permitting limited relative rotation of the shafts 4| and 34 and their attached parts. Nuts 43 and 44 are screwed onto the threaded end 31 of the sleeve 31, the face of the nut- 43 engaging the face of the plate 3| so that the plates 3| and 38 may be adjusted in fixed axial positions relatively to one another by drawing up the nuts.

The plate 3| is provided with the depending tongues 33a and, 3|b spaced by the notch 3|c, and the plate 38 is similarly provided with the depending tongues 38a and 38b spaced by the notch 38'(:.

The shafts 34 and 4| have fixed to the respective ends thereof respective arms 34a. and Ma having pivotally connected therewith the respective links 45 and 46. These links are respectively connected with the levers 41 and 48 which are fulcrumed on a shaft 49 mounted in brackets 50 supported by an arm 5| attached to the frame of the machine. Links 52 and 53 connect the respective levers 41 and 48 with the lever arms 54 and 55 fulcrumed on a shaft 56 fixed in the bearings 51 of the brackets 50.

The levers 41 and 54 have the double track rollers 58 and 59 pivoted thereto and engaged by a complementary double track cam 60 and the levers 48 and 55 have similar double track rollers 6| and, 62 pivoted thereto and engaged by a complementary double track cam 63 so that the lever motions are at all timespositively controlled without the need of springs.

The cams 60 and 63 are formed integrally with a sleeve 64 loosely journalled on the usual narrowing shaft 55 which passes through collars I 56 of the brackets 50, and these collars prevent axial movement of the cams along the narrowing shaft. A brake band 68, adjustably fixed to the bracket 5|, has its friction surface seated in the groove 69 of the sleeve 64 to prevent movement of the cams by the narrowing shaft or the overthrow of the movement of the cams.

The cam 63 has fixed thereto a ratchet wheel adapted to be rotated by a pawl 1| pivotally mounted on an arm 12 of the collar 13 sleeved on an extension 64' of the sleeve 64. An arm 14 of the collar 13 is pivotally connected with a link 15, the opposite'end of which is pivotally connected with a slide or rod 16 reciprocable reotilinearlyin the housing 11. The lower end of the shaft 16 has pivotally connected therewith a roller '18 adapted to be engaged by cams 18 and 88 fixed adjacent to opposite ends of the usual slur cock bar 8|.

In the position of the mechanism shown in the drawings, the carrier 28 is stationary at the left hand endv of the machine looking from the front, the carrier 24 is stationary at the right hand end of the machine, and thecarrief fl is being moved toward the left to complete the lay-' ing of the yarn 8 to form a course of loops. In this position of the mechanism the selector plate 88 is so set that in starting from the right it has cleared the lug 24b and its flange 88b engages the lug 25b to effect the leftward movement of the carrier rod 25a and carrier 25 as a result of the leftward movement of the friction rod 28 and friction box 21. During this leftward movement the selector plate 8| is so set that its notch 8|c will clear the lug 28b of the carrier rod 28a to permit the complete throw of the carrier 25.

When the friction box 21 reaches its extreme left position the tongue 88b of the selector plate 88 engages the end .of the lug 28b so'that the impact of the carrier rod 251: against its usual stop shall not cause the rod 28a to jump out of position. The distance between the inner faces of the plates 8| and 88 is slightly greater than the width of the lugs 28b, 24b or 25b, so that when the box 21 is in its extreme leftward position there is slight clearance between the innerface'of the selector'plate 8| and the endof the.

lug 281), so that the selector plate 8| may-be turned, rotated or arcuately oscillated onits axis without frictional engagement with-the lug 28b to such position that the notch 8lc will register with and clear the lug 25b and the tongue 8|b will be in position to engage the lug 28b upon the movement of the friction box toward the right of the machine.

This movement of the plate 8| so that its notch 8|c is shifted from registration with the lug 28b to registration with the lug 25b is effected by the action of the cam III on the levers 41 and If. The cam 88 is pref-,

erably so shaped that it effects the movement of the plate 8| only on every other upward movement of the slide 18-, so that theplate 8| is moved by its cam 88 only when the friction-box 21 is at the left hand end of themachine, looking from the front. Similarly the cam 88 is so positioned and shaped relativelyto the cam 88 and to the plate 88 that the latter is moved only on every other upward movement of the slide 18 and when the friction box 21 -is,at the right hand end ofthe machine. Each cam 88 and 88 is so shaped that it may move its corresponding plate 8| or 88 to any one of three positions, viz., to a position in which the notch in the plate will register with the lug 28b, a position in which the notch in the plate will register with the lug 28b, and a position in which the notch in the plate is behind and will'not register with any of the lugs, as for gages the end of the lug 24b to prevent itsjump ing out of its position as a result of the impact caused by the stoppageof the rod 28a.

The plate as is now shifted byitscam a so that 8lb to engage the lug 28b and move .j the right, and when the rightward its notch 88c registers with the lug 28b and its tongue 88b engages the lug 24b. The plate 8| is not shifted in this position of the friction'box.

The friction box then moves leftwardly and the 5 tongue 88b carries leftwardly the lug- 24b and leaves the carrier 28 at the right hand end of the machine. On the completion of this leftward movement the tongue 88a engages the end of the lug 28b so as to prevent its jumping out as a result of the impact caused by the stoppage, of the rod 24a, the notch 8|c having of course. permitted the plate 8| to pass the lug 28b in its leftward movement.

The plate 8| is now shifted by its cam so. that its notch 8 le occupies its extreme rearward position and the tongue 8|b engages. the lug 25b. On the movement of the friction box 21 to the right, the notch 880 permits the passage of the plate 88 past the lug 28b, which however, is then I en'gagedby the tongue 8|b, to prevent the lug 28b from jumping out as acre'sult of the impact caused,by the stoppage of the rod 250. f

The plate 88 is then shifted by its cam so that its notch 88c registers with the lug 28b and its tongue 88b engages the end of the lug 28b. Upon the leftward movement of the friction box 21,

the tongue 88b moves leftward the lug 28b and on the completion of the'throw the tongue 88b engages the end of the lug 24b and prevents it an from jumping out of its place.

At the conclusion of the leftward-movement, the plate 8| is shifted by its cam so that its notch 8lc registers with the lug 28b and its tongue 8|b engages the lug 24b and carries it toward the right. The notch 880 permits the plate 88 to pass the lug 28b, which, however, is

engaged by the tongue 8|a and prevented from jumping out of position as a result of the impact due to the stopp ge oi the rod 24a. At the conclusion of this movement of the friction box toward the right, the plate 88 is shifted by its cam so that its notch 88a is moved to its extreme rearward position and its tongue 88b engages the lug 25b, andthe described cycle of operation is repeated.

' My improved attachment isprimarily designed for laying yarns from different sources. 'a'ndaeach composed of continuous sections of varying thickness, one after another to permit the knitting of fabric'as shown in Fig. l.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l, the course of loops la was laid on the sinkers 28 by the carrier 28 from yarn drawnfrom the cone-IA during a movement of the carriep-tnfrom left to right, as hereinbefore described. The laid'yarn, after being acted on by the dividers in the usual manner, was knittedby the needles 22 through Y the last course of the .welt section A. -When the course of loops la was completed, thecarrier 28 was left at the right hand end of the machine and the carrier 24, was connected with the friction box as "hereinbefore described and moved toward the left. During such movementfthe carrier 24 laid on the sinkers 28 a yarn 2 drawn from a second supplyor cone 2A,- this yarn being laid from right to'left and in-position .to be interwith the course la. by thg knitting needles 22 toform the courses of loops 2a. When the: "course of loops 2a was completed, the carrier 28 was connected with thefriction box as hereinbefore described-and laid. a yarn 8 from a third cone or source of supply 8A. 'Thecarrier 28 moved from left to right and placed a section of the yarn.8 on the sinkers in position to be divided and knitted into the course ad" to form the course of loops 3a.

' sequence described.

In practice, it resultsfthat any subnormal or abnormal thickness of a section of the yarn l is The carrier 23 was then moved by the friction box from right to left to lay a section of yarn I on the sinkers in position to be knitted by the needles 22 through the course 3 a. When this yarn section had been interlaced by the needlesto form the course lb, the carrier was moved by the friction box from left to right, to the position shown, to lay a further section of the yarn 2 in position on the sinkers for-interlacingwith the course lb. The dividers and needles were then operated to form thecourse of loops 2b interlaced with the course of loops lb. The carrier 25 was then moved from the right toward the left to lay a further section of yarn 3 in position to be knitted by the needles through the course of loops 2!) as shown. Such knittingwill result in the formation of a course of loops 3b and the knitting may be continued by repeatedly forming courses'from the different-yarns in the tions in the thickness of different sections of the yarn 2 are compensated for by unlike variations in the yarns l and3; and variations in the thick:

nesses of sectionsof the yarn 3 are compensated for by unlike variations in the thickness of adja a and has a juniform average density and texture iso that fabrics containing the same. number of cent sections. of the yarns] and 2." The result is that the fabric as a whole has a uniform average sheerness free of any disfiguring bands of'notice able width of excessive-orinsufilcient sheerne'ss,

courses are of substantially the same length and shade.

- Having described my invention', I

1. Ina knitting machine, aplurality of yarn;-

carriers, a plurality of sources of yarn supply from which therespective carriers draw yarn, carrier rods with which .the respective carriers are connected, a friction boxi having connected therewith a pair of selectors, each movable into position to engage or disengage each of the aforesaid carrier rods, and means for shifting the respective selectors while positioned out of operating engagement with said rods. V a 2; In a knitting machine, the combination with 55- a plurality of carrier bars and stops therefor of a plurality of selectors for operating said bars in another bar is impacted against its stop by the movement of said selector. Y

3. In a knitting machine, thecombination with when another of said ba'rs is against its stop by the movement of said first selector, and means for positioning the second selector to check the jumping of a third carrier barwhen the first named carrier bar isimpacted against its stop by the movement of the second selector.

4.- In a knitting machine,'actuating means including a friction box for causingtraverse in rotation of three or more carrier rods, stops for the rods at the ends of their traverse, and means traversely movable with said friction'box for confining and holding each rod against its stop at each end of its active traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, and at the same time for confining and holding against rebound at the same end any idle rod resting there.

5. A knitting machine having at least three yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn laying traverse movements, and end stops limiting the left and right traverse movements of the rods, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocating frictlon box, and rod-engaging means carried by and traversely' shiftable with said friction box; with control connections operating to vary methodically the position of said rod-engaging means tocause said rod-engaging means to engage selectively the carrier rods to thrust them leftward and rightward in rotation in successive traverses and to cause said means to hold each rod against its stop at the end of its each traversing shift to prevent rebound thereof and at the same time to cause said means to engage and hold positively against displacement at the same end of each traverse an idle carrier rod resting there.

' 6. In a knitting machine, actuating means including a friction box shiftableleftward and rightward for causing traverse in rotation of ing parts, one of such partsengaging and traversely shifting an active rod in each traversing operation and thereupon confining and holding the shifted rod against its stop at the end of its active traverse, and another of such parts at the end of the same traversing action engaging and holding against its stop another rodv resting idly at the same end, whereby each traversed active f. rod and adjacent idle rod are prevented from rebound'or displacement from their stopped positions.

7. In a knitting machine, actuating mechanism including a friction box for causing traverse in rotation of three or more carrier rods,

stops for the rods at each end of their traverse, said actuating mechanism'including means traversely movable with said friction box for confining and holding each rod against its stop at each end of its active traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, and for confiningand holding 7 against rebound at the same end any idle rod sequence, one of said selectors being positioned to check the jumping of a bar aforesaid when resting there.-

8.-The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said bars respectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto and including rotary means provided with a plurality of dog-eng n parts and intermediate dog-clearing spaces, and means for intermittently actuating said rotary means to align predetermined parts and spaces with predetermined dogs for selectively coupling said bars to said means;

9. mm combination in a flat knitting machine of 'a. plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said bars respectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto and including a pair of rotary laterally V spaced elements provided with a plurality of dog-' engaging lugs and intermediate dog-clearing spaces, and means for actuating said elements 9 selectively coupling said bars to said driving I intermittently for aligning predetermined lugsv tently for aligning predetermined lugs and spaces thereof with predetermined dogs on said bars for 11. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said bars respectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto and including a pair of rotary laterally spaced elements adapted for independent rotation and each provided with a plurality of dog-engaginglugs and intermediate dog-clearing spaces, I

and means for alternatelyactuating said elements intermittently for aligning predetermined lugs and spaces thereof with predetermined dogs on said bars for selectively couplinglsaid bars to said driving means.

12. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knitting machine, of

a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar-clearing spaces for selectively coupling said bars to said driving device.

' 13. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a fiat knitting machine, of apair of rotary elements carried by said driving device and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs, and intermediate bar-clearing spaces, and a cam adapted for reciprocation parallel to, with, and in excess of said driving device to actuate said rotary elements for.

selectively coupling said bars to said driving device. v 14. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat'knitting machine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device and respectively provided with a plurality of bar-engaging lugs and intermediate bar-clearing spaces, means carried by said driving device for intermittently rotating saidelements, and means operable independent of said driving device for actuating said element rotating means.

ing spaces, means carried by said driving device for intermittently rotating said elements, and a cam adapted for operation parallel to, concurrently with, and in excess of said driving device for actuating said element-rotating means.

16. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knitting machine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device and respectively provided with a plurality of bar-engaging lugs and intermediate bar-clear ing spaces, means carried by said driving device for intermittently rotating said elements, and means operable independent of said driving device for actuating said element-rotating means.

17. The'combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrierbars, a friction box drive rod longitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrier bars, a friction box mounted on said drive rod, a pair of rotary elements carried by said friction, box and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate carrier bar clearing spaces, and ratcheting mechanism for intermittently rotating said rotary elements for selectively coupling said carrier bars to said friction box.

18. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rod and a slur cock bar longitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrier bars, a friction, box mounted on said'drive rod, a pair of rotary elements carried by said friction box and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate carrier-bar-clearing spaces, ratcheting mechanism for intermittently rotating said rotary elements for selectively coupling said. carrier bars to said friction box, and a cam carried by said slur cock bar for actuating said ratcheting mechanism. I

19. In a full fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a set of thread carrying bars, a pair of friction rod-operated actuators therefor, a shaft upon which said actuators are slidably keyed, and flight bar operated means for rotating said shaft in step by step fashion in the operation oithe machine to selectively engage said actuators with different thread carrying bars.

20. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn -carriers.'a separate course ofyarn supply from plurality of selectors'for operating said bars' 'in sequence, and means for automatically shifting one only of said selectors relatively to said carrier bars after a movement of a bar in one ldirectlonand. shifting-another only of-said selectors relatively to'said carrier bars after movement ofa second bar in the opposite direction. 21. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn carriers, a plurality of sources-of yarn supply from r which the respective carriers draw yarn, carrier rods with which the respective carriers are connected, a friction box having connected therewith a pair of-slectors for operatingsaid rods, ,friction bar on which said box ismounted,

operable by a moving part of said knitting machine for automatically shifting one of said selectors relatively to said carrier rods during the overthrow of said friction bar. at one end only of the machine and for automatically shifting the other of said selectors relatively to said car-- rier rods during the. overthrow of said friction bar at the other end only of the machine.

22. A knitting machine comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, carrier rods with which the carriers are respectively connected, a reciprocable friction box, a pair-of selectors carried by the friction box, and means for automatically operating said selectors alternately and respectively after the movement of said friction box -said bar having an overthrow beyond the maxiv 'mum overthrow'of said carrier rods, and means 23. In combination, in a knitting machine, a set of knitting elements, first and second yarn carriers disposed in starting position at one and the same side of said set, a third yarn carrier l disposed in starting position at the opposite side of said set, and means comprising a pair of selectors shiftable at different times and each having a plurality of carrier actuating tongues for operating said first and second carriers to alternately lay courses across the set in one direction and'the third carrier to lay a course across the set in the opposite direction between the 8.11 ternations of the first and second carriers. I

24. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarn carriers, a separate source of supply from which each carrier lays yarn, carrier bars with which the respective carriers are connected, means including a reciprocating friction-box rod for moving said bars, a pair of selectors connecting the respective bars in. sequence with said frictionbox rod, and means for turning one of said selectors on an axis only after each movement of the friction-box in one direction and for turning the other of said selectors on an axis only after each 55 movement of the friction-box inthe opposite direction.

25. In aknitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars and a reciprocable friction-box rod for effecting movements of said carrier bars, of means comprising mechanism having a member operatively connecting the friction-box rod with a carrier bar and transmitting movement to said carrier bar from the friction-box rod during movement thereof in one direction, said selector mechanism having a second member shiftable to operatively connect said friction-box rod with a. second carrier bar at the end of the movement of thefirst carrier bar and while said first member remains stationary, relatively to said first carrier bar,

said first member being shii'table to operatively engage a third carrier bar with said friction-box red at the end of the movement of the second named carrier bar while said second member remains .stationary relative to said second carrier bar, said second member being shiftable to operatively connect with said friction-box rod the first named carrier bar at the end of the moveselector ment ofthe third named carrier bar and while said first member remains stationary relative to the third carrier bar, means for shifting said selector mechanism members in the sequence set forth, and means for moving said friction-box rod between the shifts of said selector mechanism members. i

,26. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars of reciprocable selector mechanism comprising a. pair of selectors, one of said selectors being movable to ositions for engaging one or another of a plurality of carrier bars at the end of the movements of said selector mechanism in one direction only, and the other of said selectors being shiftable to positions for engaging one or another of a plurality of carrier bars at the end of the movement of said selector mechanism in.

said driving means with carrier bars for the selective operation thereof, said mech-' anism including a pair of selectorsonly one of which is operated by said:slur ;;bar on its throw in one direction and the other, offwhich only is operated by said slur bar onitsgthrowin the oth-' er .direction.

28. In a full fashioned knitting gmachine, the combination of a plurality of yarn jcarriers, a friction rod and a friction box therefor, a rotatable and axially shiftable carnfshaft, means comprising apair of selectors movable with and relative .to said friction box for selective-operative engagement with any. of said carriersrand an actuating device comprising an'element bodily reciprocablyshiftable longitudinally-of the ma ;chine and independently of said friction box for transmitting anflactuating'impulse to said means to efiect a selective operative engagement of one only of said selectors on the movement of said element in onedirection and of the other only of said selectors; onthemovement of said element in the opposite direction;

29. A knitting machine comprising a plurality of yarn carriers, carrier rods with" which the carriers' arev respectively. connected, a reciprocable friction box, a pair of selectors carried by said .frictionbox and each adapted to engage and move one of said rods and to hold said moved rod and another of said rods concurrently at the end of the movement of the first named rod and without movement of said selector relatively to said first named rod at the end of the throw thereof.

30. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn carriers and stops therefor, of a plurality of selectors for operating said yarn carriers in sequence, one of said selectors havinga member checking the jumping of ayarn carrier aforesaid when [another'yarn carrier is moved to its fstop-position. "I V g 31. In a knitting machine hiaving three or more carrier rods, stop means for theseveral rods at each end of" their traverse, and; aplurality of thrusters to cause the shifting traverse ofv each rod in rotationwith the other, rods-means for moving all the thrusters concurrently in. each traversing operation, and means for selectively controlling on one traverse the position 'of'one thruster and on thenext traverse the position of another thruster as between operative and idle} positions, with methodical change of control to cause the saidoperation' of rods in'rotation, each thruster after being shifted being adapted tocause the traverse "of a rod; and at, the endof and hold the'rod against said traverse to confine said stop means. r

32.111 a knitting machine, the combination with a'plurality of carrier bars, of two selectors for moving said bars in sequence, and means for moving each of said selectors into position for engaging a member' of one of said rods while 7 such member is biased by the other of.

tors in stationary relation'thereto;

- 33. In combination, in a knitting machine, several yarn carriers, a corresponding number of yarn sources for several connection to the carriers, carrier rods to which the respective carriers are connected, selector mechanism for operating said rods in sequence, and comprising a pair of selectors each having a plurality of tongues movable into positions for engaging a plurality of carrier rods, the tongues of each se-. lector being spaced to permit such selector to said selecpassalong a carrier rod without engagement therewith;-

of the stocking web, one of said selectors being 34. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars each having a member forengagement by a selector, of a plurality of selectors each having a plurality of spaced tongues and each movable into positions for engaging one after another the members of a plurality of bars, and means. for shifting said selectors to operate said carrier bars in sequence.

35. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars each having a member engageable by a selector, of a plurality of selectors each having .a notcher edge permitting rectilineal movement of the selector relatively to a bar member, and means for shifting said selectors to move the notches thereinitransversely relatively to said bars.

36. In a knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of carrier bars each having a member for engagement by a selector, of a pair of selectors for moving said bars rectilineally in sequence, said selectors having one of said members between them during the rectilineal movement of a bar and being so spaced that when one of said members is stationary relative to one selector at the end of its ,rectilineal movement the for automatically connecting said box with each of said carrier rods so that its particular yarn carrier will only feed yarn to the knitting 40' needles during the knitting of every third course stationary and holding the friction box against movement during the. overthrow of said friction rod and the shift of the other of said selectors.

38. The combination, in a flat knitting machine, having means for knitting yarn into courses of loops, of a group of three longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bars each having a driving dog thereon, driving means for said bars reciprocable parallel thereto, and selecting means including dog engaging means traversing v with said driving means and also operating to and fro transversely of said bars generally parallel to the plane of said bars for changing the driving connection from one bar of said group of three to another between every two succeeding courses for selectively operating the bars of said group seriatim to effect a complete cycle of operations thereof, said selecting means also including dual cam means delivering positive thrusts some in one direction and some in the reverse direction for effecting three selective movements of a single member of said dog engaging means and for moving said single member in unilateral continuous steps of varying lengths so that said single member drives each of said bars.

39. In aflat hosiery knitting machine provided with a reciprocable friction rod, a friction box thereon; and a multiplicity of carrier rods each having means thereon adapted to be engaged by 'a driving member, the combination of a member pivotally mounted on said box to move transverselyto the path thereof and having means adapted for driving engagement with said means on each of said carrier rods, selector cams arranged to move said pivoted member into driving engagement with said rods in predetermined sequence and means to move said cams stepwise always in the same direction. 'PAUL 1mm

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