US2244331A

US2244331A - Apparatus for producing wrap stripe hosiery

Info

Publication number: US2244331A
Application number: US326074A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dickens Howard Grady
Original assignee: RAGAN KNITTING Co
Current assignee: RAGAN KNITTING Co
Priority date: 1940-03-26
Filing date: 1940-03-26
Publication date: 1941-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-03

Description

June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY Filed March 26, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 r O t n e D n 3 Q 0 t3 Hownao GRRDYDICKEIS attorneys June 3, 1941. mc 2,244,331

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY Filed March 26, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Enventor;

Howmzo GRADY DICKENS ain/M (IttornegS June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2 6, 1940 ISnventor:

HOWARD GRADYDICKEHS Cittornegs June 3, 1941. DICKENS 2,244,331

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26, 1940 Jung 3, 1941. H. e. DICKENS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 442 ri id- 3nventqr; HOWARD GRADYDICKENS I flttorncgs June 3, 1941. H. DlCKENs 4 2,244,331

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY Filed March 26, 1940 TSheets-Sheet 6 mlmmmmgp'f Zsnvcntor:

HOW RD GRADY DICKENS 'www CittorncgS June 3, 1941. 2,244,331

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP STRIPE HOSIERY Filed March 26, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 A Enventori HowARoGmrDmus GttornegS Patented June 3, 1941 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAP s'mirn nosmar Howard Grady Dickens, Thomasville, N. 0., assignor to Hagan Knitting Company, Thomasville, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application March 26, 1940, Serial No. 326,074

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine and more especially to an apparatus for producing wrap stripes in hosiery. Although the design and shape of the stripe placed in hosiery may be varied, the most common ornaments seen in hosiery are vertical strips running Wale-wise of the hose. These stripes are formed by introducing additional wrap strands to spaced selected needles which knit the same into the. fabric along with the conventional body yarn. If desired, the wrap yarn can be introduced so as to form clocks, or other ornaments in the hose, and in such cases, the wrap yarn is knitted by a pair of spaced needles which are elevated higher than the needles therebetween, resulting in the spaced high nee dles knitting the wrap yarn at intermediate needles, the yarn is floated to the exterior oi the fabric. The present patent application iorms a continuation in art of patent application, Serial Number 312,001 filed January 2, 1940.

Great'difficulty has been encountered in wrap stripe attachments heretofore used on account of the difliculty in mounting the same so as to permit accessibility to the parts during normal operation of the conventional knitting mechanism. While there have been wrap attachments mounted at an angle to the vertical axis to the knitting machine, and also others have been provided whose axes are parallel to the axes of the needle cylinders, yet all of these attachments have presented obstacles whichinterfered with the proper operation and care of the knitting machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stationary wrap yarn feeding mechanism in combination with a. knitting machine, which mechanism is mounted independently of the latch ring and in an oil-set relation thereto. By so mounting the attachment, the normal visibility of the conventional knitting machine parts will not be obstructed, neither will the raising or lowering of the latch ring foe interfered with. In other words, the present construction provides a wrap attachment which permits easy accessibility to the conventional knitting mechanism. It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the class described in which a in some instances to raise portions of the needles to a higher elevation than others, and therefore if the gap is not properly positioned and guarded in the latch ring, it will be necessary to close the same to prevent the latches of the needles from en a g the can. i

It is another object of this invention to provide a knitting machine in combination with a wrap yarn feeding attachment, said yarn feeding attachment being adapted to feed the yarn across the needle circle and at an angle to the vertical axis of the knitting machine, and said knitting machine having a clamp and cutter supporting plate, the lower surface of which is disposed at an inclined angle in the same direction as the wrap strands are inclined when they are fed to the needles so that the yarn will easily pass beneath the same.

7 Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the de scription proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved knitting machine and striping attachment, with certain portions thereof being broken away and other portions shown in section; I

Figure 2 is an elevation looking at the left hand side of Figure 1, showing the main drum in section;

Figure 3 is a view through the main drum similar to the lower left-hand portion of Figure 2 showing the cam means for actuating the thrust bar for introducing and withdrawing the body Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken a ong the line 44 in Figure 1, showing the cam means on the main drum for raising the wrap yarn at an elevation above the high needles, when the heel and toe portions are being knitted, and also showing a portion of the thrust bar for controlling the body yam cutter;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the main drum showing the cam means for operatingthe body yarn cutter mechanism when this strand is withdrawn, said cutter mechanism being shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to the upper portion of Figure 4 but showing the latch ring in a raised position;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 1, showing the driving means for the wrap strand attachment;

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 upper left hand portion of Figure 7, showing the manner in'wlhich the wrap strands clear the lower end of the clamp and cutter supporting plate when the strands pass thereunder;

Figure 10 is a developed schematic view showing the cam and needle arrangement employed in the knitting operation, said. view being taken when looking from the inside of the needle circle;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the stationary latch ring plate, the movable gap closer, and the lifting means for raising the wrap strands above the high needles, when. the heel and toe portions are being knitted;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the horn and wrap strand tension control wire which are adapted to be disposed within the members shown in Figure 12 and also within the needle circle when the parts are in assembled position;

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

Figure 15 is a view of a stocking made inaccordance with the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I denotes a conventional hollow standard of a knitting machine (Figure '7), upon which is mounted a beveled gear ll, said gear being adapted to mesh with another beveled gear l2 on a drive shaft l4. Integral with the central portion of the gear II is a hollow upstanding tubular collar l5, which has fitting therearound, a conventional needle cylinder I6. This needle cylinder has conventional vertically disposed grooves I! in its periphery in which knitting needles I 8, I9, 20 and 2| are adapted to be slidably mounted (see Figure Needles I8 and I9 are identical. with the exception that the needles |8 have short butts and the needles I 9 have long butts. Similarly, the

needles

20 and 2| are short and long butts, respectively, and are positioned in groups of two at spaced intervals in the needle cylinder to take the wrap yarn. When the needles are in the extreme right-hand position in Figure 10, all of the butts of the needles rest upon the cam ring 22. The machine is so constructed that the needles will move from right to left during a knitting operation. The

needles

20 and 2| have short and

long butt jacks

23 and 24 thereunder respectively, and the butts of these Jacks are adapted to move from right to left within a groove 25. As the needles move to the left. the respective butts gradually approach an inclined cam 26 which serves to raise all of the needles to a high elevation and at the same time the

jacks

22 and 24 gradually approach an inclined cam surface 21 of a movable cam-28. The inclined cam surface 21 is positioned so that the butts of the jacks will not contact this surface as quickly as the butts of the needles contact the inclined cam surface 26. By so positioning this cam, it is possible for all of the needles ll, l6, 2|! and 2| to be raised by the inclined cam surface 26 to a common elevation before the

jacks

23 and 24 raise their

respective needles

20 and 2| to a still higher elevation. This still higher elevation is the wrap yarn receiving position and is shown in the central portion of Figure 10. It is here seen that the hooks of a pair of needles' 2l are raised to a slightly higher elevation/than the adjacent needles.

The cam 28 is adapted to be moved in and out, that is toward and away from the center of the needle cylinder. when it is desired that the cam surface 21 engage the butts of all the Jacks 2! and 24 to raise both groups of needles 2D and 2| to yarn receiving position, the cam 28 is pushed inwardly by a conventional mechanism not shown, a maximum amount (Figure 11). If it is desired for this cam surface 21 to contact only the long butts of jacks 24, the cam is withdrawn 9. sufficient amount'to clear the short butts of the jack 23, but at the same time close enough to engage the extremities of the long butts of jacks 24. Under this condition, only the needles 2| will be elevated to yarn receiving position. On the other hand, if it is desired not to raise either of the groups of

needles

20 or 2|, the movable cam 26 can be withdrawn still farther from the needle circle which will allow the

jacks

23 and 24 to remain in the lowered position as shown in the right hand portion of Figure 10.

-This movable cam provides means whereby certain stripes can be knitted in one portion of the stocking and omitted in the other as in case of knitting several stripes on the leg portion and omitting some of them in the foot portion.

After the

jacks

23 and 24 pass over the movable cam 21, they are again drawn back to the lowered position which they previously occupied in the right hand portion of Figure 10. At the same time, the raised needles 2B and 2| remain in this elevated position. The elevated needles 20 and 2| are adapted to continue their travel to the left after they pass the movable cam 21 until their respective butts contact a levelling cam 25 which lowers these needles to an elevation whereby the butts thereof will be disposed slightly above cam 40. Stitch cam 4c raises the intermediate needles l6 and I! to substantially the same elevation as the

needles

20 and 2| occupy after contacting cam 29. From the cam 40 the butts of all the needles move into contact with cams 4| and 42 which deliver them to their normal knitting position.

When the

needles

20 and 2| which have the jacks 23 and thereunder are raised to a higher elevation by means of the movable cam 21, the hooks on the upper end thereof are at a position where they can engage strands of wrap yarn 36. These strands are fed to the needles by way of a plurality of holes 31 in a disk 38. This disk is disposed upon a horizontally extending shaft 39, and the face of the disk is positioned in close proximity to the side of the latch ring of the knitting machine. However, it is not close enough to interfere with the visibility or accessibility of the operating parts of the knitting machine.

It can be seen by referring to Figures 7 and 11 that the elevated needles 2| are adapted to engage the lowermost wrap strand 36 and knit the same into the stocking during a knitting operation along with the conventional'body yarn.

The shaft 39 and its associated disk 38 are adapted to rotate in a clockwise manner in Figures 4 and 10. Although the revolutions per minute of the needle cylinder are the same as that of the disk 38, the rate of travel of the needles within the cylinder is much greater than the rate of travel of the ports or holes 31 in the disk on account of the difference in diameter of the needle circle and the disk. As a result, the

elevated needles

20 and 2| will engage the lowermost strand 36 at a point slightly below their hooks and cause the strand to be moved away 63 is introduced (Figure 1) by a finger 64' in a from the feeding point before the succeeding elevated needles reach the yarn receiving position. The low needles l8 and I9 which are adjacent the needles 29 and 2|, are,not high enough for their hooks to engage the lowermost strand 36 of wrap yarn; consequently,'this strand will not be knitted by these needles.

The conventional body yarn is fed to all of the needles at a. point between the disk 38 and the cam 42, as shown in Figure 10. In other words, the wrap strands 36 are fed to the high needles and subsequently the conventional body yarn is fed to all of the needles, after which both strands are knitted into the stocking at the stitch cam 42 (see Figures 2 and 10).

A conventional sinker ring 45 is provided near the top of the needle cylinder l6. This sinker ring has conventional sinkers 46 therein, the inner ends of which are disposed between the radially disposed cylinder knitting needles and these sinkers serve to engage the loops which are also disposed around the upper portion of the needles. The uppermost loops which are held by the needles in the needle cylinder form a part of a stocking 41 which is fed' down on the interior of the needle cylinder as the stocking is being knitted (Figures '1 and 15).

The near side of the sinker ring, as shown in Figure 1, has a pair of spaced

projections

48 and 49 integral therewith, said projections having bolts 59 and respectively threadably secured therein. Between these projections is disposed a vertically disposed post 52 and the proximate ends of the bolts 50 and 5| are adapted to engage, at times, the opposed sides of the post. The post 52 extends upwardly from an upper bed plate 53, said bed plate encircling the intermediate portion of the needle cylinder I6 (Figures 1, 2 and 7), and also being adapted to support another post 54 which extends upwardly and has pivoted to the upper end thereof as at 55 a latch ring 56. The free end of the latch ring is adapted to be latched in position to the upper end of the post 52 previously described, by any suitable means such as a spring 51.

Mechanism for feeding the body yarn Pivotally secured to the latch ring 56 as at 58 is a body yarn feed finger 59, through which a strand of body yarn 6| passes during a knitting operation (see Figures 2 and After leaving the finger 59, the strand is fed to all of the needles therebelow at a point slightly in advance of the stitch cam 42.

The body yarn 61 is withdrawn and introduced by means of the finger 59 which is raised and lowered by means of a vertically disposed thrust bar 65 (see Figures 2 and 3), the lower end of said thrust bar normally resting upon a main well known manner. The cam means on the main drum for performing this operation is similar in principle to that shown in Figure 3, although the cam means is not shown. The heel yarn 63 remains in until the heel 13 has been knitted, at which time it is withdrawn. When withdrawal is being effected, the lower end of bar 65 rides off cam 61 into blank space 69 to again introduce the body yarn 6|. While the thrust bar 65 ison the blank space 69, the foot portion 14 is knitted, and upon the completion of the footportion 14, and at the beginning of the toe portion 16, the thrust bar 65 rides upon cam 66 to withdraw the body yarn and at the same time -a.similar operation takes place by suitable cams, not shown, to lower the finger 64 and to introduce strand 63 for knitting the toe portion 16. The thrust bar 65 continues to ride on the cam 68 after the toe portion 16 has been completed and until the top 11 is knitted, at which time the body yarn will be again introduced for knitting leg portion 16 of the next secured thereto by any suitable means such as The.

rivet or screws 89 (see Figures 1 and 2). bracket 81 cantilevers over the central portion of the latch ring 56 and has fixedly secured in' the end thereof a vertical shaft 89. This shaft supports an inclined clamp and cutter supporting plate 99 on the lower end thereof. Figures 7 and 9 correctly show the angle at which this dial plate is positioned. The purpose of positioning the plate 99 in this inclined angle is to give the necessary clearance between the wrap strands 36 and the lower surface of this plate during a knitting operation. It is essential to have this plate so that the yarn clamps and clipper can be properly supported; however, the lower surface of the plate 90 serves no function whatsoeverso far as the strand of yarns are concerned'while they are being knitted. The upper surface of the inclined plate 90 is employed for supporting clamps 92 and 93 and the yarn cutter 94, said cutter being pivoted as at 95 directly'above the plate 90 (Figures 1 and '1) The cutter 94 has a stationary jaw 94a. and a movable jaw 94b, the movable jaw having one end of a vertically disposed link 96 pivoted to one end thereof, and the upper end of this link is secured to the free end of a horizontally disposed lever 91 (see Figures 5, 6 and '1). The lever 91 is pivoted as at 99 to the upper side of the latch ring 56 and a tension spring 99 serves to normally rotate this lever in a counter-clockwise drum 66. The drum 66, at the point where the lower end of the thrust bar engages the same, is adapted to have

cams

61 and 68 thereon and these cams are so spaced upon the drums as to provide blank spaces 69 and 10 therebetween. When the thrust bar 65 is in the position shown in Figure 3, the leg portion 18 of the stocking 41 (see Figure 15) is being knitted.

When the leg portion 18 has been completed and the heel portion 13 is being knit, the lower end of the thrust bar 65 rides upon the cam 61 thereby raising the finger 59 upwardly and withdrawing the body strand 6! from the needles. At the same time, however, or slightly in' advance of this action, a suitable conventional heel yarn manner in Figure 4. By employing the spring 99, it is seen that the yarn cutter 94 in Figure 7 is normally held in closed position.

This lever ,91 and its associated parts are operated by the upper end of a thrust bar I66 which upper end engages the left hand end of -the lever 91 in Figure 4. The lower end of the bar I66 rests upon the main drum 66. When the thrust bar is positioned on the drum 66 in the manner shown in Figure 5, the knitting of the stocking is in the corresponding position in the leg portion 18 as described in connection with thrust bar 65 and blank space 16. In other words, the leg portion 18 of the stocking is being knitted at a point slightly in advance of v the heel portion when the thrust bar Hill is in the position shown in Figure 5. As the stocking is wrap yarn knitted thereinto.

being knit, the drum 66 in Figure 5 rotates in a clockwise manner and when the heel portion I3 is reached, the lower end of the thrust bar I rides upon a cam I02 to actuate'the cutter 34, so that the body yarn will be clipped as the heel yarn is introduced. As the drum continues to advance, the cam I03 passes beneath the thrust bar and at this time, the heel yarn I3 is with- 'tion I6. Upon the completion of the toe portion, the cam I 05 has moved beneath the thrust bar I00 and of course at the time of withdrawal the cam I05 will raise the thrust bar I00 to serve to clip the withdrawn toe yarn.

Upon the completion of the toe portion of the stocking, it is a common practice to knit a suitable make-up area comprised of a few courses of weak yarn so as to connect one stocking to the other, that is, to cause all the stockingsto be knitted in series. This make-up yarn and its associated feeding mechanism is not shown; however, it might be stated that it is very similar to the mechanism which has been previously described. In order to properly illustrate the operation of the clippers 34 when the make up yarn is employed, the cam I06 is also illustrated in Figure 5. When the make up section has been completed and the make up yarn is withdrawn, the cam I06, as shown in Figure 5 rides beneath the thrust bar I00 so that the withdrawn make-up yarn can be clipped. Upon the clipping of the withdrawn make-up yarn, the top yarn not shown, which is used for knittingthe top portion TI is introduced, and when the portion I1 has been knitted, another cam I01 on the drum as shown in Figure5 rides beneath the thrust bar to serve to clip the same.

Wrap yarn attachment It has been previously stated that one of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved wrap yarn attachment which is used for placing vertical stripes or clocks in hose. By referring to Figures 6 and 10, it is seen that the rotating disk 38 has a plurality of wrap yarn strands 36 passing therethrough. These strands are engaged by groups of

high needles

20 and 2| at the feeding point, which feeding point is somewhat in advance of the throat plate in the knitting machine. For each strand of yarn which passes through the disk 33, a stripe may be formed in the stocking. These stripes are designated by the reference character IIO (see Figures 7 and 15). If it is desired to have stripes of a greater width than shown, it is only necessary to have more needles such as 20 and 2I in a group so that more of the wales will have the Of course it will be possible to increase the width of the stripes by merely having a pair of spaced high needles engaging the strand with a number of low needles disposed therebetween. This would effect a knitting operation by the spaced high needles of the wrap strand, whereas the strand would be floated to the exterior of the fabric at the low needles therebetween. It should be borne in mind however, that when these high needles which have engaged the wrap strand are lowered into knitting position, that the strand is knitted only by the high needles; consequently, after the knitting of the strand takes place, the wrap strand will be free to float around the cylinder I6 until it is again engaged at the feeding point by high needles. Of course, during this floating of the strands, one end of the strands will be knitted into the stripes IIO of the hose and the intermediate portions of the strands will be supported by the holes 31 in the disk 33.

The number of stripes employed in the stockings usually corresponds to the number of strands which are fed from the ports or holes 31 in the disk 33. If desired, to eliminate some of the strands frombperation during the knitting of a portion of a hose. this can be easily done by a conventional means previously described in connection with Figure 10. This conventional means comprises a movable cam 28 and certain other associated parts. For example, if it is desired that some of the stripes IIO extend the entire length of the stocking in Figure 10, and that other stripes extend only to the heel portion, then it is only necessary to manipulate the movable cam so that the high needles which control these shorter stripes will not be elevated when knitting the heel foot and toe portions. By not elevating the particular needles, theycannot engage the wrap strands 36, and consequently, if the wrap strands are not engaged they cannot be knitted.

The shaft 33, upon which the disk 38 is mounted, (Figures 1 and 7), is fixedly secured within the hub member II2, said member having integra1 therewith a beveled gear I50 to be later described. The hub member H2 is rotatably mounted in the upper end of a bracket II3, which extends downwardly and is secured to the upper side of bed plate 53. Secured to the hub H2 is a yarn disk I20.by any suitable means such as a set screw I20a. This yarn disk is secured to the shaft 33 by means of an angle member I2I, and this angle member has one leg thereof secured to the shaft 33 by means of a set screw I22 which penetrates a slot I23 in one leg of the angle member (Figure l). The purpose of the set screw I22 and the slot I23 is to permit the shaft 39 to be moved toward or away from the latch ring 56 when desired. Of course the amount of axial movement of the shaft is limited by the length of the slots I23. Therefore, it is seen that when rotation is imparted to the beveled gear I50, the disk I20 will likewise be rotated, since it is secured to the hub II2 of this beveled gear. Since the shaft 39 is, in turn, secured to the yarn disk I20 by means of the angle member I2I, it naturally follows that the shaft 39 will also be rotated.

In order to form a proper opening in the side of the latch ringrthrough which the strands 36 of the wrap yarn may be fed, the latch ring 56 is cut away as at 56a so that the strands may be fed in proper position relative to the elevated needles. The shape of this notch is clearly shown in Figure 4, in dotted lines.

A plurality of packages of wrap yarn I25 are mounted upon the disk I20 in a circle concentric with the shaft 39. A wrap strand 36 is drawn from each of these packages and this strand passes through a hole I23 in another disk I2'I, said disk I21 being also secured on shaft 33 by any suitable means such as set screw I20.

passing thereover and normally pressed against I 2,244,881 The hole :2: in the disk m, has a washer m.

disk I21 by means of a spring I80.-. The strand 7 99 passes through the hole I25 and beneath thisv spring pressed washer I29 and then on the interior of acircularring I9I secured tothe disk I21.

After passing from the ring I9 I the strand passes in hook portion I82 on the free end of atension wire I89, said tension wire being pivotally mounted in stud I35 and normally rotated so that the hook portion I82 will move away from the disk I 21. This rotation is effected by. a tension spring I98. From the hooked portion I82 the strand 25 passes through a hole I81 in disk I21 and then through hole I38 in hub II2, from whence it passes through the hole 81 of disk 98 and to elevated needles and M of the needle cylinder.

The p rpose of providing theplvoted wires "3 is to take any excess slack out of the strands of yarn 88 during the introduction of the wrap yarn to the spaced selected needles. For ex-. ample, it is seen that when the needles flrst engage the wrap yarn there is likely to be more slack in the strand than is present whenthese same needles draw the strand away from the Point of introduction. The maximum'amount of slack, possibly would be present in the strand at the time the needle or needles engage the same and the minimum amount of slack would possibly be present when the engaged strand is farthest removed from the point of introduction, namely, the notch 58a. v

Gap ring actuating mechanism.

-the knitting of the heel so as to prevent the lat'ches from engaging the sidewalls thereof. "During normal knitting however, when the needles do not pass at such a high elevation, this gap remains open because the latches travel I below the same.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a gap closing ring as it appears when it is removed from the latch ring. This ring is indicated by the reference character I90, said ring being rotat- Means are provided for supporting theshaft I 39 in addition to bracket II9. This means isclearly shown in Figure 1 and it is here seen that the extreme right hand end of the shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in the left hand end of a stud shaft 0, said stud shaft I40 being adjustably mounted in the upper end of a bracket. I ll. If for any reason, it is desired to eliminate the support for the .right hand end of the shaft 89,

it is only necessary to manipulate a set screw I42, so as to permit the stud shaft I40 to be moved to the right in the upper end of bracket Hi. This will leave the bracket H9 to support. the entire load of the striping attachment. The

lower end of bracket I! has its lower end normally supported by means of the upper side of housing I43 which is disposed therebelow and which serves to house the main shaft of the knitting machine as well as other operating parts.

As heretofore stated, the shaft 39 and its associated parts are rotated by means of a beveled gear I (see Figures 1 and 7). The lower portion of the beveled gear I50 is adapted to mesh with a beveled pinion I53 on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft I 54. The shaft I54 extends downwardly through upper bed plate 53 ably mounted within the latch ring 55. This ring I90 has a pointed end I9l (seeFigure 7) which end is adapted to be rotated over the gap I85 at the throat plate of the latch ring during reciprocatory knitting. It will be noted by observing Figure 12 that a hole I95 is provided which is engaged by one end of a link I98, said link having its other end pivotally secured to the upper end of a lever I98 (see Figures 1 and 2). The lower end of the lever I98 is pivotedas at I99 to the intermediate portion of post 54. Lever I98 also has integral with its lower portion, a laterally extending arm 200, the lower end of which is normally engaged by a projection 20I on a thrust bar 202. Thi thrust bar extends downwardly and has its lower end resting upon main drum 58. During the knitting operation, the drum 88 rotates'in a clockwise manner (Figure 2) and due to the fact that

suitable cams

205, and 205 are placed thereon within the path of the lower end thereof, the thrust bar will be actuated at the proper time to close the gap I85 during the knitting of the heel and toe. Cam 205 is so positioned that it will close the gap dm'ing the knitting of the heel: whereas, cam 208 serves to close the gap during the knitting of the toe portion. It is seen that upon the raising of the thrust bar 202' that the leverl98 will rotate in a counter-clockwise manner in Figure 2 thereby causing the link I96 tomove to the left and rotate the gap closing ring I00 in a clockwise. mannet in Figure l, to close the gap. Of course when the thrust bar is upon the blank spaces 201 and 208, between

cams

205 and 208, the gap closing ring will not close the gap but will be normally held in the position shown in Figures! and 7 by means of a suitable tension spring 235.

Strand tension control actuating mechanism During the knitting of the heel and

toe portions

13 and 18, respectively of the stocking, it is desirable to withdraw a tension control wire 2I0 forms a common driving means for both the to prevent it from becoming entangled during the reciprocation of the needle cylinder. In other words, wire 2" which is clearly shown in Figures 1, 4, 7, 9 and 13 is disposed at the knitting point approximately at the same elevation as the tops of the knitting needles, and this wire has no function except when the wrap yarn is being knitted. Wire 2I0 is mounted in. acoil spring 2' I I. The combination of a flexible wire slidably mounted in a coil spring is commonly known as a Bowden wire. The coil spring 2 is secured to the exterior surface of an arcuate horn or plate 2I2 which has notches 2i! and 2. These notches serve to support the lowermost wrap strand 2' as it is being advanced to a position where the higher needles 2. or 2| will engage the same. The step or notch 2| 2 lowers the strand a slight amount for a short distance and then when the yarn is lowered to notch 2, it is in such a position that the hooks of the high needles will come into contact therewith. The wrap strand passes over the notch 2 (Figures 7 and 13) and then partially around the horn 2| 2 and then under the same to a point where it is attached to stripe III. It is seen that after the hooks of the

needles

22 or 2| engage a wrap strand, that the horn H2 is completely encircled by one side of the needles together with a portion of the wrap strand a. With the horn practically encircled in the manner shown in Figure horn and onto the projecting portion of wire 2|] in the manner shown in Figure 'l, the stitch becomes more taut. Of course. the length of the projecting wire 2|! beyond the end of the horn will serve to control the tension of the stitch and the amount of slack within the wrap yarn as the loops are being knitted. It might be stated here that the longer the projecting length of the wire 2|. beyond the horn 2I2, the greater will be the slack that will be produced in the knitted wrap yarn. The horn holds the wrap stripe at the proper elevation and prevents downward movement 01' the portions of wrap yarn wrapped around the needles.

The horn I|2 is adapted to be located within the needle circle and is supported by an L-shaped member 2|! (see Figures 4 and 6) which extends upwardly and then laterally. The lateral leg 01 this L-shaped member has a slot 2|! and also a' hole 2Il therein placed a slight distance from the slot (Figure l) The slot and the hole are penetrated by screws 2| 2 and 220 respectively to secure this arm to a bracket 22 I, said bracket, in turn, being supported by the latch ring by means of screws II. It is evident that when it is desired to adjust the position of the horn 2l2 relative to the needle circle that the amount of clearance that slot 2" ailords will allow this adjustment to be made.

By observing Figure 2, it will be seen that the coiled wire 2" is clamped as at 230, and that the end 01 wire 2|. is clamped as at Hi to the upper end of lever Ill. When this lever is rotated in a counter-clockwise manner in Figure 2, by the upward movement or thrust bar 202, the wire 23I will be moved to the left thereby withdrawing the exposed length of this wire into the horn 2 I2, so that it will not become entangled with the yarn during reciprooatory knitting. Since the coiled wire III, which is disposed around the wire 2", is capable of being stretched, it is possible to lengthen the surrounding coiled wire as the end of wire 2|. is being retracted into coiled wire 2| I. Since this withdrawal takes place simultaneously with the closing of the gap III, the same cams namely 2" and 208 are used for this operation.

Attention is called again to the gap closer ring as shown in Figures 1, 4, 6, and 12. As heretofore stated, the point IQI on the endof the gap closing ring serves to close the gap I25 at the throat plate during reciprooatory knitting. This end is pointed so as to either deflect any of. the outstanding latches upwardly or downwardly in case they are in an outstanding position. Likewise the other end of the gap closer ring ill has a similar point Illa which also is adapted to deflect any outstanding needle latches downwardly to a completely open position,f or upwardly to a closed position during reciprooatory knitting. Therefore, it is seen that it is unlikely that any of the needle latches will become broken even if they should be thrown to an outstanding position where they would engage the end of the latch ring. This gap closer ring I is adapted to have a limited rotation within the latch ring I in the manner which has been previously described.

It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and 12 however that the gap closer ring I" does not extend entirely around the interior of the latch ring. A portion of the interior of the latch ring is lined by a stationary arc'uate plate which is designated by the reference character I". This latch plate has an outstanding flange I6 I integral therewith, said flange havingslots Il2 therein which are penetrated by suitable screws I62 for securing the arcuate plate in position within the latch ring. The slots I62 merely provide a means for adjusting the position of this arcuate member within narrow limits. Likewise the ends of this arcuate member are pointed as at I and I so that any outstanding needle latches will be deflected upwardly or downwardly especially when reciprooatory knitting is taking place. It will be observed that the upper edge of the armate member I" is cut away thereby forming steps or notches I62, I 61 and I 62. These notches are so cut that they will guide the wrap yarn 26 upon its downward travel from holes 21 so that the strand will be in the proper position for the elevated needles 2| or 2| to engage the same when the strand falls into the lowermost step or notch iii. The notches I86, I61 and I" are adapted to work in conjunction with notches 2 I3 and 2 ll in the upper side of the horn 2I2 during the guiding of the strand 3 to an engaging position with the elevated needles. The step notches previously described substantially coincide with the notch 55a cut in the upper side of the latch ring. Due to the fact that the pointed ends I62 and IE5 are provided in connection with the arcuate member I it is unnecessary to close the gap 56a or the step notches I8, I61 and I6! during reciprocatory knitting. By providing the pointedcam ends I and I6! any needles or latches which happen to be in outstanding position at the time they reach this arcuate plate during reciprooatory knitting will either be deflected upwardly or downwardly,

therefore, it will be unlikely that any latches will become broken should they be at such an elevation as to allow them to enter the same, such as when the heel and toe portions are knitted.

Wrap yam lilting mechanism During the knitting of the heel and toe it is necessary to raise the wrap strands 36 upwardly away from the gap 56a so that these strands will not be tangled bythe high needles as they reciprocate back and forth. This lifting of the strands is eilected by an arcuate wire 231 which is substantially in a horizontal position and which has integral therewith a vertically disposed leg portion 22! (Figures 1, 7, 5, 6 and i3) said leg portion having its upper end secured to one end of a lever 22!. The lever 22! has a hole 240 through the other end thereof, which hole is penetrated by a shoulder screw 2, and this shoulder screw serves to pivotally mount the lever 229 on the free end 01'. another lever 242.

In order to normally rotate the lever 23! in a the knitting of the heel and toe is efiected and it is necessary to raise a certain number of the needles to a higher elevation than normal, and at this time it is necessary to raise the wrap yarn strands 38 to a point where they will not be engaged by these high needles because it is not desired to place the wrap yarn in the heel and toe of the stocking. 4

This yarn lifting lever 242 has one end thereof pivoted as at 65 on the same bolt upon which the latch ring is pivoted (Figure 4) Extending from the side of the lever 242 is a stud 246 which stud is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a thrust bar 241, the lower end of the thrust bar 241 resting upon main drum 65, said drum having cams 258 and 25i placed thereon at spaced intervals in the path of the lower end of the thrust bar. When the lower end of the thrust bar 201 rides-upon the cam 250 during the knitting of a heel portion 13 of the stocking, the lever 242 together with the arcuate wire 231 is raised from the position shown in Figure 4 to such an elevation that the strands which emanate from the holes 31 will be raised sufilciently high to allow the high needles during reciprocatory knitting to pass thereunder without engaging the same. Likewise when the thrust bar 241 rides upon cam 25l, the toe is being knitted and. the strands 36. are again raised in the same manner as when the heel portion is knitted.

It is very desirable that arcuate portion 231 remain in a substantially horizontal position while it is being raised so that all of the strands 36 which are lifted will be held at the same elevation. In order to produce this result, it is necessary to pivot the lever 239 in the manner previously described to the end of lever 242. The vertical leg 238 is adapted to contact the projecting end of a plate 255 (Figures 1 and 4), during the raising of the arcuate portion 231. When the lever 242 is raised upwardly and rotated about its pivot point 65, the vertical leg 238 will be held in contact with the end of plate 255; consequently, the leg will remain substantially in a vertical position during the raising operation and the arcuate portion will remain substantially in a horizontal position,'even though thelever 242 is swinging in an arc. In other words, as the free end of lever 242 raises upwardly, the lever 233 will remain practically in a horizontal position which of course will mean that the lever 239 will have to turn a slight amount upon it pivot 24L,

The plate 255 has a slot 251 therein, which is penetrated by a screw 220 previously described. This slot is provided so that the proper adjustment of the plate can be effected relative to the vertical leg 238.

When the wrap yarn is not being knitted, it is necessary to hold the same in such a position that by raising needles slightly above their normal elevation in knitting the heel and toe, the wrap" strands will not be engaged. Of course the wrap yarn continues to rotate around the needle cylinder when it is not knitted, even though it is being held at such an elevation by the arcuate member 231 that the hooks of the high needles cannot engage same. When the wrap yarn floats around during knitting, it passes beneath the inclined plate in the manner shown in Figures 7 and 9. In order that the wrap yarn may be sufficiently removed from the needles, it is necessary to provide a fabric support at a point adjacent the notches or steps I61, I 68 and I69 at the point where the yarn is introduced. This supporting mechanism is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 14 and comprises a pair of

wires

2 and 252 which are bent in a substantially inverted U- shaped manner with-their ends secured to the upper end of a tubular member 263. The upper portions of these wires are adapted to be disposed directly beneath the fabric to support the same at the point where thewrap strands are introduced. In other words, it can be seen by referring to Figure '1 that the fabric is held in a substantially horizontal position for a considerable distance from the needles at the point where the strands are first introduced to the

high needles

20 and 2|.

This tubular member 263 is telescopically mounted in the upper end of a fabric tube 285. The fabric tube, in turn, extends downwardly within the needle cylinder and has integral with its lower end a vertically disposed rod 265, said rod being adjustably mounted in a stud 251 which extends inwardly from the interior of the hollow standard "I. A set screw 268 is provided so that the height of the fabric tube 285 and its associated tubular member 253 in the upper end thereof can be varied.

Particular attention is called to the independent mounting of the wrap stripe attachment. Figure 1 clearly shows the relation that this attachment occupies relative to the remainder of the conventional knitting parts. The disk 38 is disposed in close proximity to the side of the latch ring, but here it is seen that sufiicient clearance is provided betweenthe edge of the latch ring and this plate so as to allow the latch ring to be raised or lowered without any interference. Figure 6 shows the latch ring in raised position when the attachment is threaded up for making wrap stripe hosiery. By providing this separate attachment disposed at a right angle to the axis of the needle cylinder and acting as an independent unit, it is not only possible to operate the conventional parts in the conventional manner but also greater accessibility andvisibility of these parts can be had during the operation and maintenance of the machine.

It is therefore seen that a simple striping attachment has been provided which can be associated with a knitting machine without obstructing the visibility of the operating parts, or without interfering with the accessibility thereto. It is also seen that I have provided a means for feeding the wrap yarn to the needles which does not require any guiding means for causing the wrap yarn to pass beneath the clamp and cutter support plate. This is effected by disposing the plate 38 at an angle which is inclined in the same direction as the wrap strandsare inclined while floating around the needle circle.

Briefly, the operation of the wrap striping mechanism is as follows: The disk 38 rotates at the same number of revolutions per minute as the needle cylinder and this causes the wrap strands 36 to be lowered in front of selected raised needles28 or 2|. After taking the wrap yarn, the needles move towards the knitting point and at the same time the associated hole 31 in the disk 38 through which the engaged wrap strand is passing, rises upwardly as the disk rotates and therefore removes this particular wrap yarn up wardly out of the path of the succeeding low needles so that before the particular needle. having the wrap yarn reaches the knitting point, the wrap yarn carried thereby defines practically a straight line from the knitting point to the high side of the cam member I" in the latch ring. From the time the wrap strand is taken by the high needles until the time of knitting, the strand emanates from the fabric. passes along the lower and inner sides of the born 2 I2 and rides over the top of the horn toits hole II in the disk II. This horn holds the wrap yarn in elevated position on the high needle or needles to prevent the wrap yarn from moving downwardly below the latches of the needles. I

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 limitas ,au,asr

- chine including a latch ring having a slot with tion, the scope-of the invention beingset forth in the appended claims.

I-ciaim: V l. A latch ring for use in a circular knitting machine having thread wrapping mechanism.

said latch ring having means for feeding yarnsto the needles, the latch ring being cut away to facilitate the wrapping of selected needles, a stationary arcuate member supported in the latch ring and having a notch cut therein sub stantially coinciding with said cut-away portion, and cam means disposed at each end of said arcuate member for preventing the. needle latches from entering said notch during knitting.

2. A latch ring for use in a said latch ring having a slot therein with means normally disposed in said slot for feeding a body yarn to the needles and a stationary arcuate latch controlling portion located in advance of the slot, the latch ring and latch controlling portion being partially recessed to facilitate the wrapping of selected needlesysaid arciate, portion having cam means associated therewith for preventing the needle latches from entering said recess and an arcuate gap closing member in the needle wrapping and cam means disposed on each side of said recess for preventing the needle latches from entering said recess during knitting.

4. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and a feed finger in the latch ring for feeding a yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, rotary means disposed entirely outside theneedle circle at a point remote from the body yarn feeding means, and independent of the latch ring for wrapping threads around selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to accommodate the wrap threads to facilitate needle wrapping, and means for preventing needle latches from entering said recess during knitting. j

5. A circular, independent needle knitting macircular knitting machine having thread wrapping mechanism,

a yarn finger mounted therein for feeding yarn to the needles and also having a recess in adv'ance of the slot to facilitate needle wrapping, in which recess threads may be wrapped around selected needles, a wrapping mechanism disposed outside of the needle circle, a fixed arcuate bar having a gap therein substantially coinciding with said recessv and forming a partof the latch ring, means on said-bar for preventing the needle latches from entering the recess during knitting, a supplemental bar which remains retracted during th knitting of wrap stripes but is movable to close said slot during reciprocatory knitting when some of the needles are elevated above others.

6. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and means associated therewith for feeding a body yarn to the needles of the knitting mathat the wrap threads will pass unassisted under said Plate. v

7. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and a feed finger in the latch ring for feeding a yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, rotary means disposed entirely outside the needle circle'at a point remote from the body yarn feeding means and independent of the latch ring for wrapping threads around selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to accommodate the wrap threads to facilitate needle wrapping, means for preventing needle latches from entering said recess during knitting, and a clamp and cutter supporting plate supported by the latch ring and having its lower surface inclined downwardly and away from said recess so that the wrap threads will pass unassisted under said plate.

8. A circular, independent needle knitting machine including a latch ring having a slot with a yam finger mounted therein for feeding yarn to ring, means on said bar for preventing the needle latches from entering the recess during knitting.

a supplemental arcuate bar which remains retracted during the knitting of wrap stripes but is movable to close said slot during reciprocatory knitting when some of the needles are elevated above others, and a clamp and cutter supporting plate supported by the latch ring and having its lower surface inclined downwardly and away from said gap so that the wrap threads will pass unassisted under said plate.

9. In a knitting machine having a latch ring and means for feeding a regular yarn, rotary means for feeding a'striping yarn, a rotatable needlecylinder, meansfor 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 needle wrapping and cam means disposed on feed means being disposed outside the needle circle and 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, and a plate carried by the latch ring for supporting a yar'n clamp and cutter on .the upper surface thereof, the-bottom portion of said plate being inclined downwardly and away from the striping yarn feeding means to allow the strands of striping yarn to pass unassisted thereunder during a knitting operation.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination, a circular series ofneedles, an inclined plate within the circle of needles and havyarn to all of r the needles, means within the needle circle for clamping and severing withdrawn yarn, means in advance of the body yarn feeding means and disposed at all times outside the projectedneedle circle for wrapping one or more threads around a needle, an arcuateflnger disposed inside the needle cylinder and in parallelism with a substantial portion thereof and having itsfree end extending to apoint adjacent the' knitting point of th vmachine which finger supports wrap threads to prevent their moving downwardly on the needles, 9. member slidably supported by the finger on the side of the finger next to the needle circle and extending normally beyond the free end of said finger in parallelism with the needle circle and means for telescopically moving said member with relation to the.

they will finger to vwithdraw its free end behind the free end of the finger during reciprocatory knitting.

12. In a circular knitting machine having a notched latch ring with a throat plate spanning the lower portion of thenotch, a yarn feed finger mounted for movement in the notch, a gap closer mounted to rotate between the latch ring and a needle cylinder for closing the notch at the throat plate during reciprocatory knitting, rotary wrap thread feeding means disposed outside the needle circle and supported by the body of the machine free from the latch plate and having a horizontal axis traversing the needle circle thereby forming an angle of approximately 90 degrees between said horizontal axis and a line bisecting the needle circle and passing through the throat plate, the latch ring being recessed to permit wrap threads to be placed in front of selected raised needles and cam means disposed on the inside of the latch ring and also disposed on one end of the movable gap closer for preventing damage to the latches of the raised needles.

13. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and means associated therewith for feeding a body yarn to the needles of the knitting ma-. chine, rotary means disposed entirely outside the needle circle at a point remote from the body yarn feeding means for feeding wrap threads to selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to v accommodate the wrapping means to facilitate each side of said recess for preventing the needle latches from entering said recess during knitting, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles durin reciprocatory knitting.

14. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and a feed finger in the latch ring for feed-' ing a yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, rotary means disposed entirely outside. the needle circle at a point remote from the body yarn feeding means, and-independent of the latch ring, for wrapping threads around selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to accommodate the wrap threads to facilitate needle wrapping, means for-preventing needle latches from entering said recess during knitting, and

.means' for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

15. A circular, independent needle knitting machine including a latch ring having a slot with a yarn finger mounted therein for feeding yarn to the needles and also having a recess in advance of the slot to facilitate needle wrapping, in which recess threads may be wrapped around selected needles, a wrapping mechanism disposed outside of the needle circle, a fixed arcuate bar having a gap therein substantially coinciding with said recess and forming a part of the latch ring, means on said bar for preventing the needle latches from entering the recess during knitting, a supplemental bar which remains retracted during the knitting of wrap stripes but is movable to close said slot during reciprocatory knitting when some of the'needles are elevated above others, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting. 4

16. A circular knitting machine having a latch ring and means associated therewith for feeding a body yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, rotary means disposed entirely outside the needle circle at a point remote from the body yarn feeding means for feeding wrap threads to selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to accommodate the wrapping means to facilitate needle wrapping, cam means disposed on each side of said recess for preventing the needle latches from entering said recess during knitting, a clamp and cutter supporting plate supported by the latch ring and having its lower surface inclined downwardly and away from said recess so that the wrap threads will pass unassisted under' said plate, and means. for raising the wrap threads above the path of-the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

17. a circular knitting machine having a latch ring and a feed finger in-the latch'rlng for feeding a yarn to the needles of the knitting machine, rotary means disposed entirely outside the needle circle at a point remote from thebody yarn feeding means and independent of the latch ring for wrapping threads around selected needles, the latch ring being recessed to accommodate the wrap threads to facilitate needle wrapping, means for preventing needle latches fromentering said recess during knitting, and a clamp and cutter supporting plate supported by the latch ring and having its lower surface inclined downwardly and away from said recess so that the wrap threads will pass unassisted under said plate, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of. the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

18. A circular, independent needle knitting ciding with said recess and forming a part of the latch ring, means on said bar for preventing the needle latches from entering the recess during knitting. a supplemental arcuate bar which remains retracted during the knitting of wrap stripes, but is movable to close said slot during reciprocatory knitting when some of the needles are elevated above others, and a clamp and cutter supporting plate supported by the latch ring and having its lower surface inclined downwardly and away from said gap so that the wrap threads will pass unassisted under said plate, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

19. In a knitting machine having a latch ring and means for feeding a regular yarn, rotary means for feeding a striping yarn, a rotatable needle cylinder, 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 outside the needle circle and 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 elevatiom'and a plate carried by the latch ring for supporting a yarn clamp and cutter on the upper surface thereof, the bottom portion of said plate being inclined downwardly and away from the striping yarn feeding means to allow the strands of striping yarn to pass unassisted thereunder during a knitting operation, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

20. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a circular series of needles, an inclined plate within the circle of needles and having a-yarn cutter and clamp mechanism on its upper surface for the main knitting yarn, means for introducing the main knitting yarn, means disposed outside the needle circle for presenting one or more wrap threads to selected needles to produce wrap stripes, the point of feeding the reciprocatory knitting.

pass unguided beneath the inclined plate and will not interfere with the cutter and clamp mechanism, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during 21. A knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder and means for feeding at least one body yarn to all of the needles, means within the needle circle for clamping and severing withdrawn yarn, means in advance of the body yarn feeding means and disposed at all times outside the projected needle circle for wrapping one or more threads around a needle, a rigid arcuate finger disposed inside the needle cylinder and in parallelism with a substantial portion thereof and having its free end extending to a point adjacent the knitting point of the machine which finger supports wrap threads to prevent their moving downwardly on the needles, a member slidably supported by the finger on the side of the finger next to the needle circle and extending normally beyond the free end of said linger in parallelism with the needle circle and means for telescopically moving said member with relation to the rigid finger to withdraw its free end behind the free end of the arcuate finger during reciprocatory knitting, and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needies din-ing reciprocatory knitting.

22. In a circular knitting machine having a notched latch ring with a'throat plate spanning the lower portion of the notch. a tram feed finger mounted for movement in the notch, a gap closer mounted to rotate between the latch ring and a needle cylinder for closing the notch at the throat plate during reciprocatory knitting, rotary wrap thread feeding means disposed outside the needle circle and supported by the body of the machine free from the latch plate and having a horizontal axis traversing the needle circle thereby forming an angle of approximately degrees between said horizontal .axis and a line bisecting the needle circle and passing through the throat plate, the latch ring being recessed to permit wrap threads to be placed in front of selected raised needles, cam means disposed on the inside of thelatch ring and also disposed on one end of the movable gap closer for preventing damage to the latches of the raised needles,- and means for raising the wrap threads above the path of the needles during reciprocatory knitting.

HOWARD GRADY DICKENS.