US2244330A - Wrap stripe mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnnn ttorneg June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1940 l'mnentor. Hownno GRADY DICKENS (Ittorneg June 3, 1941. mc 2,244,330

WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. l2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bmaentor Hownno ERA 0v DICKENS Gttomeg l June 3, 1941. H. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Isa '36 4 5 ZZZ I25 5";- 1 453 a w 440 no 7 v n i 1 I W I Q66 Q55 7 I m M m '26? j 1 I u 3maentor:

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C (Ittorneg June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ennentor: HOWARD GRADY DICKENS Gttorneg June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 2, 1940 Hownao Grennv Dlcxzas Zmventor June 3, 1941. mc s v 2,244,330

WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 3nnentor. Hownno GRADY DICKENS Mat;

Gttorne Patented June 3, 194i 2,244, 3 -TES PATENT" oFFicE WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR.- KNITTING- MACHINES Howard Grady Dickens, ThomasvillarN. 0., assignor to Ragan Knitting Company, Thomasville, N. CL, a corporation of North Carolina 7 Application January 2, 1940, SerialNo. 312,001

11 Claims. (Cl. (i6 13 5) This invention relates to a knitting machine and more especially to an apparatus for producing a seamless hose, having lengthwise stripes or clocks therein. These stripes are usually knitted in the hose by introducing strands of Wrap yarn to spaced selected needles while the body yarn is being knitted; or if desired, the wrap yarn can be knitted in spaced wales and floated over the intermediate wales so as to pro duce a different external appearance from the stripes or clocks, in the manner such as disclosed in the patent to Lawson, Number 1,872,760 of August 23,1932.

Heretofcre, it has been the common practice to produce a hose with wrap stripes therein by means of a circular knitting machine with the wrap yarn feeding mechanism disposed above ie needle circle. In some forms, the wrap yarn feeding mechanism is mounted rotatably on an axis within the needle cylinder which is parallel and. eccentric to the axis of the cylinder, and both the feeding mechanism and the cylinder are adapted to rotate at the same revolutions pe" miz'iute; however, due to the fact that the diameter of the needle cylinder is much greater than that of the feeding means, the rate of travel of the needles is much greater than the rate of travel of the feeding means at the point of introduction. As a result, it is possible to elevate certain groups of needles so that the hooks on the upper ends thereof will engage a particular wrap strand and knit the same in the stocking, only where these needles occur. Nevertheless, by having the wrap yarn feeding mechanism on an axis, parallel and eccentric to the axis of the needle cylinder and Within the needle circle, much difficulty is encountered when inspecting the parts of the needle cylinder, as well as when inspecting the hose while it is being knitted. In other words, the Wrap,

It is another object of the invention to providev a wrap yarn feeding, mechanism so positioned that the wrap yarns do not have to be guarded from contact with the plate which-supports the tain portions of said attachment being-shown in section;

Figure 2- isa side elevation of the machine looking at the left-hand portion of Figure 1, showing the thrust-bar for actuating the body yarn feeding mechanism, and the thrust bar for actuating the slidable wire or wrap yarn tensioncontrol for thewrap yarn stitch;

Figure 3 isa view' similar to the lower lefthand portion of Figure 2 'showingcam means on the main drive for actuating the thrust bar which controls the introduction and withdrawal of the body yarn;

Figure 4; is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 -4 in Figure 1 showing the cam means on the maindrum and the thrust bar for raising the wrap yarn at an elevation above the high needles when the heel and toe portions are being knittedand also showing a portion of the thrust bar for controlling the body yarn cutter;

Figure 5 is a sectional viewshowing the cam means on'the main drum for Operating the body strand cutter mechanism when this strand iswithdrawn;

Figure 6 is a sectional View throughthe main drum showing the cam'means and thrust bar for introducing or withdrawing the double sole yarn, the upper end of said thrust bar being shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along 'theline 1-1 in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8- 8 in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to the central portion of Figure 7 but showing the position of the wrap strands as they pass beneath-the cutter and clamp supporting plate;

Figure 10is a schematic view showing the cam and needle-arrangement employed in the knittingoperationsandlooking at the inside of the needle circle; a

Figure 11 isya sectional .view taken. along the 1ine lll lv in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the gap closing ring showniin association with the wire for raising the wrap strands above the high nee dles when the heel and toe portions are being knitted;

Figure 13. is a perspective view of the horn and tension control wire which are adapted to be disposed within the gap. closing ring shown inFigur'e 12 and also within the needle circle when the parts arein assembledposition;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the upper end of the yarn tube showing guiding means integral with the upper end thereof for holding the fabric and the attached wrap strands in the proper position when the wrap yarn is not being knitted;

Figure is a View of a stocking made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l0 denotes a hollow standard of conventional type which is adapted to support the needle cylinder of a knitting machine (Figures 2 and '7). Rotatably mounted upon the upper portion of this standard is a beveled gear H, which gear is adapted to mesh with another beveled gear l2 on a main drive shaft M. The gear I has integral therewith a vertically disposed tubular portion l5, around which conventional needle cylinder I6 is mounted, said cylinder having a plurality of radially disposed grooves ll therein into which knitting needles l8, I9, and 2| are adapted to be slidably mounted.

The needles l8 and I9 are identical in all respects except for the fact that the needles l8 have short butts and the needles I9 have long butts. Likewise the needles 2!] and 2| are short and long butt needles, respectively, and are positioned at spaced intervals in the needle cylinder to take the wrap yarn. All of these needles are adapted to rest upon cam ring 22 when they are in the position shown in the extreme right hand portion of Figure 10. It will be noted that the needles 23 and 2| have short and long butt jacks 23 and 24, respectively, thereunder, said jacks being adapted to have their butts move in groove 25 in the lower portion of the cam ring 22. As the needles move to the left, they gradually approach an inclined portion 26 which serves to raise all of the needlesto the same elevation, which is somewhat higher than the elevation of the needles in the extreme right hand portion of Figure 10. At the same time, the short butt jacks and long butt jacks 23 and 24, respectively, are moved to the left and the butts from these jacks ride upwardly on inclined surface 21 of movable cam 28. The incline of this cam surface is such as to force the needles 20 and 2| thereabove to a still higher elevation than that elevation to which the needles were forced bymeans of the inclined surface 26. The cam 28 is adapted to be moved toward and away from the center of the needle cylinder. When it is desired for the cam surface 21 to engage the butts of all of the jacks 23 and 24, the cam 23 is pushed inwardlythe maximum amount as shown in Figure 11; whereas if it is desired to contact only the long butt jacks 24,-the cam is withdrawn a sufficient amount to clear the short butts of the jacks 23, but at the same time, close enough to engage the extremities of the long butts of jacks 24. Likewise, if it is desired not to raise either of the needles 20 and 2|, the movable cam 28 can be withdrawn still farther, where the butts of all the jacks will clear. This movable cam provides means whereby some of the stripes in the hose can be omitted while knitting part of the stocking, and all of them can be put in at another point in the course of knitting the stocking.

After passing the movable cam 28, the elevated needles 2E] and 2| which are disposed above the jacks 23 and 24 are adapted to have their butts contacted by a leveling cam 29 which lowers these needles to an elevation where their butts will contact right-hand stitch cam 4t. From the cam the butts of all of the needles move in contact with cams 4| and 42 which deliver them to normal knitting position.

When the needles which are disposed above jacks 23 and 24 have been raised to elevated position by the cam 28, the hooks on the upper ends thereof are in a position to engage strands 36 of wrap yarn, which strands emanate from ports or holes 31 in a rotating disk 38. Disk 38 is mounted upon a suitable shaft 39, which shaft is adapted to rotate in a clockwise manner in Figures 4 and 10. Although the revolutions per minute of the needle cylinder I6 is the same as that of the disk 38, the rate of travel of the needles within this cylinder is much greater than the rate of travel of the ports 31 in the disk 38 on account of the difference in diameter of the needle circle and disk 38; consequently the elevated needles which are disposed above jacks 23 and 24 will engage the lowermost strand 36 at a point slightly below the hooks and cause the strand to be knitted into the stocking by these needles when the needles advance to the knitting point. The low needles whose hooks do not engage this strand will not knit it.

It should be borne in mind that the conventional body yarn of the stocking is introduced at a point between the disk 38 and the stitch cam 42. In other words, the conventional yarn feeding means is disposed at a point directly above the cam 4| (see Figures 2 and 10).

A conventional sinker ring 45 is adapted to be supported near the top of the needle cylinder l6, said sinker ring having conventional sinkers 46 therein which sinkers are disposed between the needles. The sinkers are adapted to engage the loops of the fabric, such as a stocking 41 while it is being knitted.

By observing Figure 1, it will be seen that the sinker ring 45 has spaced projections 48 and 49 near the front side thereof in which bolts 50 and 5| are adapted to be threadably secured. The

proximate ends of these bolts are disposed upon opposed sides of a post 52 with the conventional clearance, which post extends upwardly from a table member 53 therebelow. Member 53 also supports another post 54 which extends upwardly and has pivoted to the upper end thereof as at 55, a latch ring 56, and this latch ring is adapted to be latched in position to the upper end of the post 52 by any suitable means such as a spring latch 51.

Pivotally secured to the latch ring 56 as at 58, are body yarn feed finger 59 and double sole strand feed finger 60. These fingers are adapted to have strands 6| and 62 respectively pass therethrough, and be fed to all of the needles I8 therebelow at a point slightly in advance of the stitch cam 42 (see Figure 10).

Body yam feeding mechanism The body yarn 6| is introduced and withdrawn by means of finger 59, said finger being adapted to be raised or lowered by means of a vertically disposed thrust bar 65 resting upon a main drum 66 in the manner shown in Figure 3. This drum has cams 61 and 68 thereon, said cams being so positioned upon the drum as to provide low places 69 and 10 therebetween. When the lower end of the thrust bar 65 is in the position shown on the main drum in Figure 3, the machine is knitting in high heel portion 12 of the stocking 41 (see Figure 15). When this high heel portion is being knitted by body yarn 6|, the reinforcing yarn 62 is also being introduced for a part of each course at the beginning of heel portion 13; however, the end of cam 61 contacts the thrust bar 65 thereby raising the body yarn away from the needles so that it will not be initiated. Of course at this time a suitable conventional heel yarn '63 will be introduced by a finger 6 5 (Figure l) in a Well known manner such as described in connection with finger 53, so that the heel portion 13 will be knit. After the heel has been knitted the cam 61 rides out from beneath the thrust bar 65, and the body yarn zfii and double sole yarn.62 are again introduced, at which time double sole foot portion M tFigure. .15)v is being knitted. Then the blank space .69 has been traversed, the foot portion 14 is completed and .atthat time, the'thrustbarfi5 will ride upon the cam 68 to withdraw the body yarn. The double sole yarn will be withdrawn by mechanism to be laterdescribed. Then the fingeriill will again 'be actuated by amechanism such as described in connection with finger 5i! to -again introduce yarn 63 while toe portion 18 is knitted. The thrust bar 65-continues to ride on the-carntil until top H of the next succeeding stocking isknittedat which-time thebar 65 will ifallpff cam-58 onto the low space and remain on this space until leg portion 18 is knitted.

Double ,sole yam feeding mechanism The-mechanism which isemployed for feeding the reinforcing strandBZ during knitting of the high heel portion 12 and foot portion 14 of the stocking, is shown inFigures l and 6. It is seen in Figure .1 that a thrust bar is adapted to engage thelowerintermediate portion of strand feed finger 62 and the lower end of this bar is adapted tobe disposed above the main drum 65 in Figure 6. The main drum 6 6 has cams 82 and 83 onits periphery, these cams being so spaced as toprovideintermediate low places 84 and 85.

As the. drum $6 rotatesin a clockwise manner in shownin Figure 6 or upon the low place 84, the

yarn feed fingerfill is in lowered position and feeding the-reinforcing strand 62 to the needles as the high heel portion 12- of stocking-41 is being knitted. Of course, when the cam 82 rides beneath-the lower end of the thrust'bar 89, the double-sole yarn is Withdrawn, after which the heel portion 13 is-knit by a conventional yarn feeding'mechanism. After bar 80 drops oif the cam 82 the double sole strand 62 is again introduced'while the machine is knitting the double sole foot portion i l and then as the cam 83 rides beneath the thrust bar 80 the yarn is again withdrawn and-then the toeportion I6 and the top portion "Not the next succeeding stocking is knitted.

Yam cutting apparatus It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and 2 that the latch ring 56 has a suitable bracket 3! secured thereto by any suitable means such as screws 88. This bracket has one end thereof cantilevered over the latch ring and towardthe centralrportion thereof. .At the central portion of the latch ring a downwardly extending stud 89 projects from bracket 81, said stud being adapted'to support a plate 90 on the lower end thereof. .This'plate is disposed a slight distance above the top of the sinkersand is employed for supportin clamps-92 and 93 and cutter 994, said cutter- 94 being'pivoted'as-at 95 directlyabove the plate 9!! (Figures 1 and 7') The cutter also has ec red to one end thereof, a vertically disposed operating link 96 and the upper end of this link is secured to the free end of a horizontally disposed lever 9]. Lever ,9-1 is pivoted intermediate its nds as at 98 (Fi ure 4). and is adapted to be normally rotated in a counterclockwise man-. ner in this figure by means of, a suitable tension spring 99 to hold the cutter in closed position. The other end of the lever 91, is adapted tov be contacted by the upper end of a thrust bar Hill, said thrust'bar extending downwardly and having its lower end disposed directly above main drum 66 in the mannershown in Figure 5. The reinforced high heel portion 1.2 is being knit when the-baris in the position shown in Figure5. The drum 6.6 has cams 182, I93, Hi4, IE5, IE5 and ill] spaced thereon .at the proper locations. When the drum rotatesso as to advancethe cam Y [02 past the thrust bar Hill the cutters 94 are actuated toclip, thebody yarn asit is beingewithdrawn at the beginning of the knitting of the heel portion 1,3. As the drum continues to ,ad- Vance and. the cam [03.passes the thrust bar, the heel yarn i3 is withdrawn and consequently the cutter 94 must operateto clipthe heel yarn after it has been withdrawn. Atthistime, the double sole yarn 2 and ,body yarn M are again introduced and remain in knitting position until the cam 1.6.4 moves past the thrust baratwhich time the strandstli andfilare withdrawn and clipped. Inthe meantime, the strand 6.3 is introduced for knitting the toeportion 1-6. The cam serves toclipthewithdrawn toe yarn 63 at the beginning ofa suitable .make up knitted area, not shown, which is disposed between the stockings as they are successively knitted, to serve as a tie. Thismake up yarnusually comprises only a few courses and when it is withdrawn the cam lfiii serves to operate the cutterto clip the make up yarn. Theyarn thatis used to knit the top portion 11 then introduced. When the top portion H has been knitted, the cam I01 rides past the thrust bar it .and serves to clip the top yarn just as the body yarn is introduced.

Striping attachment As heretofore stated, in connection with Figure 10, the'rotating. disk38 has a plurality of strands 3% .of wrap yarnernanating therefrom, which strands are engaged by the'high needles 20 and 2! at the feeding point and knitted into the stocking A! to form stripes. vIt will be noted by observin Figures 7 and 15 that each of the strands .35 leads to a vertical stripe H9 in the stocking. The width of this stripe depends largely upon the. number of high needles and the distance therebetween, which areallowed to engage the strands 3,6. :It should be stated, however, that when these needles are lowered to knitting position that the strand 36, is engaged only by the high needles; consequently, after the knitting of the strand takes place, the wrap strand will be freeto float around with the cylinder l5, one end .of'the strand bein vknitted in the stripe and the other portion of the strand extending back to the disk :38. In this manner the stripes Ill) are placed in the stocking ll. The number of stripes employed in the stocking usually corresponds to the number of strands which are fed through ports 37 in disk 33 to the spaced sets of high needles. However, it might be stated that conventional means previously described in connection with Figure 10, are provided in the apparatus-for causing some of the strandstfi to emanate from these ports to be knitted while others are caused to be omitted during the knitting of a portion of a stocking. For example, the stripes II do not all extend the entire length of the stocking in Figure 15, but instead, one of the stripes shown extends entirely through both the leg and foot portion while the other two stripes are disposed in the leg portion only of the stocking.

The shaft 39, upon which the disk 38 is mounted (see Figures 1 and '7) is fixedly secured within a hub member I I2, said hub member being rotatably mounted within bearing H3, which hearing has arcuate leg portions II5 extending laterally therefrom, said leg portions being secured as at H1 and H0 to the latch ring 56. Also secured to the shaft 39 is a yarn disk I by any suitable means such as angle member I2I and a set screw I22. This set screw penetrates a slot I23 in the outstanding leg of the angle member I2I (see Figure '1) and thereby provides means for adjusting the position of the shaft 39 axially, so as to cause the disk 36 and its thread ports 31 to be capable of adjustment relative to the latch ring 56. The latch ring 56 is cut away as at 56a to form a suitable notch for the reception of the ends of the rotating thread ports 31.

The thread disk I20 has a plurality of packages of wrap yarn I25 mounted thereon at spaced intervals. A wrap strand 36 is drawn from each of these packages which strand passes through a hole I26 in another disk I21, said disk I21 being also secured upon shaft 39 by any suitable means such as set screw I28. After passing through the hole I26, the strand 36 passes beneath a tension device I30 and then beneath a circular wire I3I and over the hook portion I32 of a wire I33. This wire is pivotally secured in a stud I35 which extends from the disk I21 and has a tension spring I36 normally rotating the portion I32 away from the face of disk I21 to thereby take up any excess slack in strand 36. After the strand passes over portion I32 it is drawn again through a port I31 in disk I21, from whence it passes into longitudinal bores I38 in hub H2, to ports 31. The end of shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in stud shaft I40, which shaft is adjustably secured in supporting member MI by means of screw I42. When it is desired to raise the latch ring 56, together with the striping attachment, it is necessary to manipulate the latch 51 (Figures 1 and 2) as well as to loosen stud shaft I40 and then rotate the latch ring together with the assembly just described about the point 55. In order to produce this rotation, it will also be necessary to loosen the screw I42 so as to slide the stud shaft I40 to the right until the end of shaft 39 is free.

The hub II2 has fixedly secured therearound, a beveled gear I by any suitable means such as a set screw I5I. The hub II2 likewise has a disk I20 previously described fixedly secured thereon by means of set screw I20a (Figure 1). Meshing with the lower side of the beveled gear I50 (see Figure '7) is a beveled pinion I53 on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft I54, said shaft having its intermediate portion rotatably mounted in a bracket I55 and bed 53 of the knitting machine. The lower end of the shaft I54 has a pinion I56 fixedly secured thereon which meshes with another beveled gear I51 on the main shaft I4. It can be seen by referring to Figure '1 that shaft I4 forms a common driving means for both the cylinder and the striping attachment. In other words each time striping yarn pass is rotated in timed relation to the rotation of the cylinder I6.

Double sole cutter apparatus The beveled gear I50 (Figure 8) has a stud I60 extending from the face thereof. This stud is adapted to assist in the operation of the double sole clipping apparatus, when the reinforced portions 12 and I4 of the stocking 41 are being knitted (Figure 15). Figures 1, '1 and 8 show the mechanism for performing this operation. It is here seen that the horizontal shaft 98 is rotatably mounted in an upstanding lug I59 which is an integral part of the latch ring 56. Fixedly secured to the end of shaft 98 is an L-shaped member I6I, having a plate I62 secured to the end. of its horizontal leg. Pivotally mounted as at I63 is a lever I64, one end of said lever extending to the right (Figure 8) and having a T-shaped arcuate cam surface I69 integral with the extreme right-hand end. A tension spring I10 normally tends to rotate the lever I64 in a counter-clockwise manner about point I63 (Figure 8) and against a stop III. The normal position of this lever is shown in bold lines in Figure 8 and at this time the stud I60 in the beveled gear I50, can rotate without contacting the. cam surface I69. The left hand end of this lever has a wire I13 extending laterally therefrom, which wire is adapted to rest upon I the upper end of a thrust bar I14, said thrust bar extending downwardly and having its lower end disposed directly above main drum 66. The drum 66 has cams I16 and I11 secured thereon directly in the path of the lower end of the thrust bar I14 and these cams or projections are so spaced upon the drum as to provide blank spaces I16 and I19 therebetween. When the drum 66 rotates during a knitting operation, and when the cam I16 rides beneath the lower end of the thrust bar I14 the lever I64 is rotated in the clockwise manner about point I63 (Figure 8) a suificient amount to cause the cam surface I69 on the right hand upper end thereof to be disposed within the path of stud I60. When the beveled gear I50 rotates to cause this stud to contact this cam surface, the right hand lower edge of the lever I64 will be moved downwardly against a laterally extending pin I80, which pin extends from the plate member I62. As the stud I60 continues to rotate with the beveled gear, the entire assembly, comprising lever I64, plate I62, L-shaped member I60, shaft 98 and lever 91 will be rotated a slight amount in a clockwise manner to dotted line position (Figures 4 and 8) to cause the cutter 94 to be opened, and of course immediately after the cutter is opened the double sole yarn will be drawn therein. Immediately after the yarn is drawn within the cutter, the stud I60 rides off the cam surface I69 to allow the cutter under the tension of spring 99 to be closed upon the withdrawn double sole strand 62 (Figure 7). As a result, the yarn will be clipped. It is therefore seen that for each revolution of the needle cylinder while the high heel portion 12 is being knitted, that the yarn cutter 95 will be actuated to clip the double sole yarn, as it is withdrawn from the stockings. Conventional means are employed for withdrawing the double sole yarn 62 for a portion of each course while the high heel and foot portions 12 and I4 are being knitted. This means comprises a thrust bar 80, the upper end of which is disposed beneath feed finger (Figure 4). The sinker ring 45 has a rotating ring I61 on its lower side, said ring having a cam surface It}; thereon which contacts projection I of the thrust bar upon each revolution. Upon making this contact, the feed finger 69 will be raised to withdraw the double sole strand 62 for a part of each course.

It is to beunderstood that the clipping attachment must be operated in timed relation to the double sole yarn feed finger 69 and the double sole strand '62, which is fed therethrough to the needles. While the thrust bar I14 (Figure 8) is riding on the top of cam I16, the high heel portion I2 is being knitted, but when it rides 01f this cam :onto the blank space I18, the heel portion I3 is started, and consequently there will be no necessity for the cutter to be operated by the mechanism shown in Figure 8. However, when the double sole foot portion I4 is started, the cam 11 rides beneath the thrust bar I'M to cause the cutter to be put inaction again in the same manner previously described.

Gap ring and strand tension control actuatin mechanism By referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that a gap I is provided in the latch ring 59 at the throat plate. This gap is provided for the reception of the yarn feed fingers and it must be closed while the heel and toe portions of the stocking are being knitted to keep the needle latches of the high needles from closing at this point and thereby dropping stitches. This gap closing ring is indicated 'by reference character I99, said ring being rotatably mounted within the latch ring 59. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of this latch ring. It is here seen that a notch I9-I is provided in the far side thereof. which notch has steps I92 and I93 therein. It is through the notch I 9| and upon the steps I 92 and I93 that the wrap strands 36 are adapted to pass during the wrap strand feeding operation. The relative position of this notch I9I to the ports 31 and disk 38 is also clearly shown in Figures 4 and 10. While a strand 39 travels along step I92, it is disposed slightly above the hooks of the high needles 20 or 2!, but when the strand is rotated to the step I93 it is at such an elevation that the hooks of the high needles can engagethe same.

The gap ring I has a hole I therein which is engaged by one end of a link I96, said link having its other end pivotally secured to the upper end of a lever I98 (Figures 1 and 2). This lever I93 has its lower end pivoted as at I99 to standard 54. Integral with the lower portion of lever I99 is a laterally extending lug 299, and this lug normally rests directly above a projection ZOI on vertically disposed thrust bar 292. The lower end of the thrust bar 202 is isposcd directly above drum 66, which has cams 295 and 293 spaced thereon, within the path of the lower end of the thrust bar 202, said cams being so spaced as to leave low places 29'! and 298 therebetween. Since it is necessary to rotate the gap closing ring I99 a substantial amount when the heel and toe portions are being knitted, so as to cause the gap I85 in the latch ring to be closed, it is necessary to provide the previously described mechanism indicated by the reference characters I96 to 299 inclusive. As the lower end of the thrust bar 29-2 rides upon the cam 295, the knitting of the heel portion I3 is just begun, and as a result of this rise of "the'thrust bar, the lever I99 will be rotated a slight amount in a counter-clockwise manner in Figure 2 thereby pulling the link I96 to the left (Figure 2). This action will serve to rotate the gap closing ring I 99 in a clockwise direction in Figures 1 and 12 to cause the gap I85 to be closed. When cam 299 rides beneath the thrust bar 292 a similar action takes place for the knitting of the toe.

Also during the knitting of the heel and toe portions I3 and I9, respectively, of the stocking, it is desirable to withdraw the tension control wire Zlil to prevent its end from becoming entangled during the reciprocation of the needle cylinder. In other words, the wire has no function, except when the wrap yarn 36 is being knitted. This wire which is indicated by the reference character Z IO is shown in Figures 1, 4, '7, '9 and 1 3. This wire is slidably mounted in coiled spring ZI I, the combination of wire ZIG and spring ZI I being commonly known as a Bowden wire The coiled spring 2 is secured to the exterior surfaceof an arcuate horn or plate 212, which has notches M3 and I24 therein, which substantially match the notches I92 and I93 in the gap closing ring I90.

The horn H2 is adapted to be located within the needle circle and is supported by an L-shaped member 2I5, which extends upwardly and then laterally, the lateral leg of this L-shaped memher having a slot 2|! and a hole 2I9 therein which are penetrated by screws 2I9 and 229 respectively (see Figure 1). These screws also are embedded in a laterally extending leaf 22I which is an integral part of one of the arcuate legs I15 (Figures 1 and 4). The purpose of providing the slot 2I'I is to facilitate the proper adjustment of the horn member 2I2 relative to the needle circle. The coiled wire 2! I (see Figure '2) is clamped as at 239 to the upper end of lever I99, and the wire 2IIJ which is'slidably mounted within the coiled wire, is fixedly secured to this same lever as at 23I. When it is desired to withdraw the projecting end of wire 2H1 into the coiled wire 2II, that is so that it will not project out from the end of the horn during the knitting of the heel and toe, it is I necessary to rotate the lever I98 in a counterclockwise manner in Figure 2. Since this withdrawal takes place simultaneously with the closing of the gap I85, the same cams namely 295 and 205, previously described, can be used for this purpose. It should be stated that the function of this wire is to vary the amount of slack within the loops of the wrap yarn as these loops are being knitted.

Figure '7 shows a strand of wrap yarn 39 and its relation to the projecting tension control wire 2| I]. It is here seen that the center strand 35 emanates from a .port 31 and is disposed over the high portion I990! of the gap closing ring I99. It passes downwardly under the hooks of a pair of needles M which have. been previously elevated to engage this strand at the notch I9I. When the needle cylinder rotates the last named needles a slight distance farther to the left than shown in Figure '7, the strand 36 then passes over the end of wire 210, after which the needles ZI will be lowered to knit the wrap yarn 39 into the fabric, thereby forming a portion of the stripe Hill. The longer the projecting length of the wire 230 beyond the end of horn 2I2, the greater will be the slack. that will be produced in the knitted wrap yarn. By varying the projecting length of wire 2I9 the degree of exposure of the knitted stripe can be controlled. In order to normally return the gap closing plate ISO to normal position as shown in Figure 1, a suitable tension spring 235 is provided. This tension spring likewise serves to maintain the wire 2I0 in a projected position as shown in Figures 1, 7, 9 and 13.

Wrap yarn lifting mechanism During the knitting of the heel and toe, it is necessary to elevate the wrapping strands 36, so that the same will not be engaged by high needles as they pass by the disk 38. This action is produced by an arcuate shaped wire 231 which has a vertically disposed leg 238 integral therewith, the upper end of which is secured to a lever 239 (Figures 4 and 12). The arcuate portion 231 is disposed between the horn 2| 2 and the back of the needles. It is also positioned directly beneath the strands of warp yarn 36 and at a position adjacent the notches I92 and I93 in the gap closing ring I90 and the notches 2 I3 and 2I4 in the horn 2I2. The lever 239 has a hole 240 therein which hole is penetrated by a screw 24I (see Figure 4). The screw 24I is secured to the free end of a lever 242 which, in turn, is pivotally secured as at 58 to the latch ring 56. The free end of the lever 242 has a laterally extending stop 244 integral with the upper portion thereof. and positioned directly above the right hand end of the lever 239, said lever 238 being normally rotated in a counterclockwise manner about pivot point 24I against said stop by means of a spring 245. Also extending laterally from the lever 242 is a stud 246, the lower end of which is normally contacted by the upper end of a vertically disposed thrust bar 241, and the lower end of this thrust bar normally rests directly above the drum G6, which drum has at this location, a pair of cams 250 and 25I on its periphery. These cams are so spaced as to provide low places 252 and 253 therebetween. When the lower end of the thrust bar 241 rides upon the cam 250 during the knitting of the heel portion 13, of the stocking. The lever 242 together with the arcuate Wire 231 is raised from the position shown in the drawings andto such an elevation that the strands 36 which emanate from. the ports 31 will be raised sufiiciently high so as to allow the high needles 2!] and 2I to pass thereunder without engaging the same. Likewise whenthe thrust bar 241 rides upon the cam 25I, the toe is being knitted and the strands 36 are again raised in the same manner as when the heel portion is knitted. When the thrust bar rests on the low places 252 and 253, the other portions of the stocking are being knitted and at that time the wire 231 is lowered along with the wrap strands 36 so as to be in a position for being engaged by the high needles 20 and 2| to be knitted into the stocking.

It is very desirable that the arcuate portion 231 remain substantially horizontal while it is being raised. In order to produce this result, it is necessary to pivotally secure this member to the lever 239 as at 24I as previously described. Also the vertical leg 238 is adapted to contact this projecting end of a plate 255 (see Figures 1 and 4). During the raising of the arcuate portion, it is necessary to rotate the lever 242 upwardly, but since the vertical leg 238 normally contacts the end of plate 255, this leg will be held in a substantially vertical position at all times. The plate 255 has a slot 251 therein which is penetrated by the screw 220 previously described. This slot is pro vided so that the proper adjustment of the plate can be effected relative to vertical leg 238.

Fabric tube guiding mechanism When the wrap yarn 36 is not being knitted, it is necessary to hold the same in such a position that by raising selected needles slightly above their normal elevation at the feeding point the strand can be engaged. Of course, the wrap yarn continues to rotate around with the needle cylinder I6 when it is not knitted, at which time it merely floats beneath the plate in the manner shown in Figures '7 and 9. In order that the wrap yarn may be sufiiciently removed from the needles, it is necessary to provide a fabric support at a point adjacent the notch ISI in the gap closing ring I 96 and adjacent notches 2 I3 and 2 I4 in horn 2 I 2. This supporting mechanism is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 14, and comprises a pair of wires 26I and 262 which are bent in a substantially inverted U-shaped manner with their ends secured to the upper end of a tubular memher 263. The upper portions of these wires are adapted to be disposed directly beneath the knitted fabric to support the same at a point where the wrap strands are introduced. In other words, it can be seen by referring to Figure 7 that the fabric is held in a substantially horizontal position for a considerable distance from the needles at the point where the wrap strands are first engaged by the high needles 20 and 2|.

This tubular member 263 is telescopically mounted in the upper end of a fabric tube 265, said tube extending downwardly within the needle cylinder and having integral with its lower end a vertically disposed rod 266. This rod is adjustably mounted in a stud 261 which extends inwardly from the interior of hollow standard I0. A set screw 268 is provided so that the height of the fabric tube 265 and its associated tubular member 263 in the upper end thereof can be varied. I

It is therefore seen that a simple striping attachment has also been provided which can be mounted upon a knitting machine which attachment will not obstruct the visibility of the operating parts or interfere with the accessibility thereto. It also has a very desirable function in that the yarn will travel beneath the plate 90 and the clamping and cutting members 92 and 93 and 94 thereabove of its own accord without the necessity of any guiding mechanism.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine having means for feeding a body yarn to the needles, a clamp and cutter for the body yarn mounted within the needle circle, means disposed outside the needle circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles, and means for engaging the wrap yarns and raising them out of the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting,

2. In a circular knitting machine having a throat plate provided with yarn feed fingers and also having a clamp and cutter disposed within the needle circle, rotary means disposed at all times wholly outside the projected needle circle and in advance of the throat plate for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough to pass in a straight line below the clamp and cutter between the point where the wrap yarns are knitted in the fabric and the point of feeding, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting,

3. In a circular knitting machine having a clamp and cutter disposed within the needle circle, means for feeding a main knitting yarn to the needles, rotary means disposed at all times wholly outside the projected needle circle and in advance of the point where the main knitting yarn is fed for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles, the wrap yarns being fed at a point outside the needle circle sufliciently low to travel in a straight line from the feeding means to the fabric as it revolves so that it passes unassisted beneath the clamp and cutter, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

4. In a circular knitting machine having means for feeding a main knitting yarn to the needles, and having a clamp and cutter for the main yarn disposed inside the needle circle, a member mounted in advance of the main yarn feeding means for rotation on an axis at substantially a right angle to the axis of the needle circle, feeding means carried by the member and having feed eyes disposed at all times outside the projected cylinder defined by the needles for passing successively a plurality of wrap yarns into contact with selected needles of the knitting machine, the feeding means being disposed low enough so that the wrap yarns will pass unassisted beneath the clamp and cutter while defining a straight line between the feeding means and the point where the wrap yarns are knitted into the fabric, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

5. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged in a circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel and toe yarn and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clamp and cutter for said yarns arranged within the-needle circle, rotary means disposed outside the circle and having feed eyes disposed at all times outside the projected cylinder defined by the needles for feeding 'a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as they move with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutter, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

6. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged in a circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel and toe yarn and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clamp and cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, means disposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as they move with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutter, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

'7, A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged in a circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel and toe yarn, and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clamp and cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, means disposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as they move with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutter, and means for supporting the fabric being knitted to prevent the wrap yarns from pulling it into con tact with the needles as they pass the wrap yarn feeding means.

8. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged in a circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel and toe yarn, and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clamp and cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, means disposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as they move with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutter, means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knit ting, and means for supporting the fabric being knitted to prevent the wrap yarns from pulling it into contact with the needles as they pass the wrap yarn feeding means.

9. In a knitting machine having means for feeding a regular yarn, means disposed substantially a quarter circle in advance of the regular yarn feeding means and all portions of which are at all times outside the projected needle circle for feeding a striping yarn, a rotatable needle cylinder having a circle of needles, a clamp and cutter plate disposed within the needle circle, means for elevating all of said needles to the same elevation as the cylinder rotates, additional means for elevating spaced selected needles to a still higher elevation into the path of the striping yarn, said striping yarn feed means being disposed at a right angle to the axis of said cylinder whereby the yarn emanating therefrom will traverse the path of said needles raised to a still higher elevation, the point of feeding of the striping yarn being low enough so that the striping yarn will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutter plate and will not interfere with the clamp and cutter disposed thereon.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination, a circular series of needles, a plate supported within the circle of needles and having a yarn cutter and clamp mechanism for the main knitting yarn, means for introducing the main knitting yarn, means disposed at all times outside the projected needle circle and in advance of the means for introducing the main knitting yarn for presenting one or more lap threads to selected needles to produce lap stripes, the point of feeding the lap threads being low enough so that they will pass unguided beneath the plate and will not interfere with the cutter and clamp mechanism.

11. In a circular knitting machine having means for feeding a main knitting yarn to the needles, and having a clamp and cutter for the main yarn, a member mounted for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the needle circle, feeding means carried by the member for passing successively a plurality of wrap yarns into contact with selected needles of the knitting machine, the feeding means being disposed low enough so that the wrap yarns will pass unassisted beneath the clamp and cutter while defining a straight line between the feeding means and the point where the wrap yarns are knitted into the fabric, said feeding means being at all times outside the projected needle circle and being located approximately degrees in advance of the means for feeding the main knitting yarn.

HOWARD GRADY DICKENS.

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