US2244870A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1941- l. H. c. GREEN El'AL 2,244,370

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet l [WE/11701815; [sync 15. 6. (beam; Evezzvzrfiaapa JTT'M ric. 1.

June 10, 1941. GREEN ETAL 2,244,870

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1941.

1. H. c. GREEN ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 10, 1941. C GREEN ETAL' 2,244,870

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 SheetsSheet 4 June 10, c GREEN ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 10, 1941.

l. H. C. GREEN ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 [All/imam: [$141016 19551]; EUIENEJZHEIP/P Byfifiw ZTriv.

June 10, 1941.

l. H. C. GREEN ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 10, c E N- ET AL 2.244 870 .KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet a tern on that fabric.

Patented June 10, 1941 KNITTING MACHINE Isaac H. C. Green, Central Falls, and Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, R. L, assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 17, 1938, Serial No. 225,314

12 Claims.

This case concerns knitting machines, and more especially, a circular type hosiery machine for incorporating elastic yarns in knitted fabrics and simultaneously superimposing a wrap pat- In the figures of drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the general construction of a knitting machine embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing similar parts of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing in detail the needle dividing cam and part of its operating mechanism;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing in detail the selecting mechanism including a pattern drum and a plain sole cam;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the so-called inlaying cam;

Fig. 6 is a section showing parts of the needle cylinder, the needle dividing cam and connecting elements and the selecting mechanism with the plain sole cam;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the inlaying cam, its operating means, and parts of the instep cam mechanism employed;

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating the instep cam as it is attached to the supporting means therefor;

Fig. 9 is an elevation showing parts of the machine such as the cylinder, latch ring, and the means for feeding and controlling the elastic yarn as well as the controlling mechanism for the cam block and stitch cam;

Fig. 10 is a section taken showing the main cam drum and the cams for controlling the elastic yarn feed;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the cams and needle and jack butt paths at the start of knitting as in a selvage;

Fig. 12 is a similar diagrammatic view showing knitting during inlaying of rubber and feeding of wrap yarn;

- Fig. 13 is a section showing in detail the latch clearing cam;

' Fig. 14 is a section showing a needle and jack, the jack being engaged by the needle dividing cam;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing knitting when instep needles are'raised as in the heel or toe;

Fig. 16is an elevation showing a typical stoc ing as knitted on this type of machine;

Figs. 17-21 are sections showing the cam set up for controlling the various cams and pattern elements which are necessary for performing the to applicants functions incidental to the knitting of a stocking top such as illustrated.

Fig. 22 is an elevation showing the instep cam assembly, bracket for the same and control means;

Fig. 23 is a view showing parts of Fig. 22, the instep cam group being in opposite position from that illustrated in the first figure; and

Fig. 24 is a section showing the means for actuating the so-called safety cam.

The machine herein disclosed and claimed is preferably of the independent latch needle type such as employed for knitting seamless hosiery and knits a. stocking of somewhat the usual characteristics except that the top is of a so-called simulated rib type. In this top elastic yarn such as the wellknown lastex is incorporated preferably by inlaying. In addition to the incorporation of the elastic yarn a true wrap pattern is superimposed upon the base fabric in accordance with desired patterns. By the term inlaying it is meant that the elastic yarn is fed below or is caused to assume a position below the latches of spaced needles before those needles take and knit the regular yarn, said elastic yarn passing behind intervening needles. Commonly the elastic yarn is fed below the latches of every other needle and passes behind intermediate needles. At the top or beginning edge the said elastic yarn is actually taken into the hooks of needles and goes through the steps' of being drawn into knitted loops.

A true wrap pattern is knitted by feeding wrap threads to selected needles, said wrap threads being fed to selected needles chosen from that group of needles below the latches of which the elastic yarn is fed. Reference is hereby made co-pending application Serial #189,874, flied February 10, 1938, in which the fabric and method are disclosed and claimed.

While the invention is described with respect to a rotating cylinder, .latch ring type of machine, the same is applicable to other types such as stationary machines and to the usual alternative types of needles; this disclosure is to be illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and not as limiting the same.

Now referring to the figures of drawings, most The cams for controlling these yarn guides 5 and intervening connections are not shown since they are well-known and are not materially different from those in the usual types of Banner machines.

A cam block 8 is slidable in the usual support on cam plate 9 and carries a center cam, stitch cams and narrowing picks all of which will be described in greater detail in later paragraphs.

Referring .to Figs, 13 and 14, thecylinder 3 h is latch needles ill working in the usual needle slots beneath which are individual jacks it. The needles have butts l2 and are divided into the usual long and short butt group for the well known purposeof separating instep and heel needles during the knitting of a heel and toe. Jacks H have a plurality (herein seven) of removable butts l3 for pattern purposes. These butts may be removed by breaking or in any other desired manner. Above these removable pattern butts is a butt i l for the purpose of raising jacks and associated needles by a dividing cam later to be described. The result is that alternate needles may be raised for taking elastic yarn in their hooks or below the latches. According to the preferred arrangement, jacks are arranged beneath these alternate needles only,

however, in some instances it may be desirable to arrange jacks beneath all needles, for example when it is desired to knit the wrap pattern solid rather than on those wales only which ap pear at the front of the fabric when it is contracted. In such event this butt id would appear on alternate jacks only so that the dividing cam would function on their needles but not on needles individual to the intermediate jacks. Each jack at the sole side has a shorter butt l5 for the purpose of engaging a plain sole cam to return partially'selected jacks to original position. A master butt it engages a cam which is essentially a part of the selecting means as will be explained more fully when describing that function.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 9, an elastic yarn feeding guide includes an arm i'l pivoted on a stud i8 which projects from a part of the latch ring extension and a curved extension iii which has a downwardly projecting finger 29 through which the elastic yarn is threaded. A spring 2i is hooked about the extension and is coiled about the stud to force this yarn feeding guide to a downward or feeding position. The said spring, its coils, and the arm H are properly spaced on the stud by collars 22, 23 and 2d. The finger Ell through which the yarn is actually threaded projects downwardly within a slot it opening in a mouthpiece 26 at the inner side of the latch ring. When in feeding position, the elastic yarn feeds through this small mouthpiece which is roughly 45 degrees in advance of the main feeding staticn or mouthpiece. This arm ii is raised at desired times by a lever 21 pivoted on a lug 28 secured to the upper end of the yarn control lever box generally indicated by numeral 29. An angularly bent end 30 engages beneath the arm I! to raise it against the tension of spring 2i. At the opposite side of the pivot a stud 3! projects inwardly from the lever 2i and is engaged bya control wire 32 which passes down inside the box 29. This wire 32 is looped at its lower end "andengages within a notch in an angularly bent extension of the bell crank lever 33, Figs. 1, 9 and 10. Another control wire 3t engages a second notch in that extension and is also connected to one end of a lever 35 pivoted at 36 to the usual stud which is fixed to a side of the frame. This lever has a toe 3i engageable with cams on the drum 6. By means of these cams which will be more thoroughly described hereafter, the iceding of elastic yarn is controlled, and furthermore, the bell crank lever 33 is rocked upon a pivot 38 projecting from the side of the box. A spring 3% connected to the lever and to the box tends to move the associated parts in a direction so that the toe ill will bear on the cams on the drum.

This lever 33 also serves by means of a connecting link til to control the withdrawal of the front narrowing pick it during certain phases in the operation. A link till connects by means of a screw d2 threaded into a sliding hook 33 to rock said narrowing pick about its pivot as the end of the hook 13 engages a projecting pin (hi extending from a part of the narrowing pick. As lever is rocked upon being raised on one of the cams in alignment therewith, wires S i and 32 are drawn downwardly raising the inner end of lever 21 and incidentally swinging the elastic feeding means upwardly to the position of Fig. 9. Through the bell crank lever 33 at which wires 32 and 3d are interconnected, the front narrowing pick at is swung suficientliy to be withdrawn out of the way of other instrumentalities with which it would interfere at certain phases of the knitting. The reasons for and exact timing of this mechanism. will be described more fully as the complete operation is disclosed.

The wrapping is accomplished by any satisfactory wrap mechanism, but preferably, wrapping means of the Banner type such as disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,702,608 is to be employed. That mechanism need not be described in detail here and the showing includes a spindle eccentrically mounted with respect to the needle cylinder and rotatable at a fixed ratio therewith. This spindle carries at its lower end a disc 66 having wrap thread guiding eyelets il spaced about the periphery thereof for guiding individual wrap threads, supplies of which are mounted at the usual position at the upper end of this eccentrically rotating assembly. The latch ring t is recessed at at for the usual purpose. It will be noted that the disc (it? overlaps or interferes with certain parts of the elastic yarn feeding means, at least suficiently to prevent movement of the latter when the said disc is in its lowermost or wrapping position. For this reason the elastic yarn feeding means is lowered and raised only at such times as the wrapping disc is elevated out of the way. The usual means is employed to raise the wrap assembly for this purpose and at other times when such movement is necessary.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the selecting means for determining the wrap pattern will be described. On an extension of the circular base is mounted a post or spindle 69 which is slidable within a supporting arm or bracket 56. This bracket 5b is capable of being swung about a pivot 5! on the extension of the base and is suitably restrained by a shoulder screw 52 working within slot 52 adjacent its other end. A spring 53 is connected to the swinging bracket and to a fixed part of the machine tending to draw the pattern drurri assembly inwardly to a limit determined by the adjustable stop screw 54. Means is provided for swinging this bracket and the pattern drum assembly outwardly to an inactive position including a lever 55 fixed to the outer end of shaft 56 which is mounted to pivot within depending lugs 51 and 58. Another lever 59 is fixed to the inner end of this shaft and has connected thereto a depending rod 88 engageabie' at its lower end with certain cam means 8| on a drum 82 which is also rotatable with the main cam shaft I. The lever 55 has an adjustable contact screw 88 threaded to its outer end and engageable with the bracket 50. By this vthe amount of outward movement may be varied.

A drum including a hub 84 and flanges 85 and 68 is free to rotate upon post 40. Rotation is restrained by the usual friction elements 81 at the upper end of the post. The lower part of the hub has ratchet teeth out therein thus forming a ratchet wheel 88 by means of which the said drum assembly is rotated step by step. A plurality of pattern discs generally indicated by numeral 89 are keyed to rotate with the drum assembly, these discs having removable butts I0. some of which are shown broken away and some of which are shown intact in Fig. 4.

A plate II having projecting arms I2 and I3 is free to be oscillated, and by'means of pawls I4, will ratchet the pattern drum assembly as de-' sired. The link I5, 18 and a bell crank lever 11 are part of a mechanism for oscillating said plate and imparting this ratcheting movement. This is more or less the common construction of such Banner machines and will not be described in greater detail. Other means for retiming and also for imparting double ratcheting movements may be employed butneed not be described here.

The selections as determined by the butts I0 are imparted through a series of plungers 18, or other suitable means, to the butts I3, Fig. 14. These plungers are arranged to be spaced properly for engagement of their inner bevelled ends beneath butts I3 at the respective heights of the plungers. Plungers are to be pulled outwardly by individual springs 10, Fig. 6, but are pushed inwardly when engaged by a butt 10. If in inward position a plunger will engage any butts at its level and will raise them so that the master butt I8 will engage and ride up a cam 80, Fig. 12.

Above this group of plungers is a single plunger 8I having a cam 82 at its inner end. This plunger slides in the same supports 83 and 84 in which the plungers I8 slide and is held or urged inwardly by a spring 85. This cam 82 functions upon the butts I5 which are to be found on jacks under the sole group of needles only. This cam is projected inwardly at such times as patterning is to be discontinued on that group of needles, for example, in the high-splice or double sole. The plunger 8| has a projection 86, Figs. 4 and 6, which is engaged by a toe 81 of a lever 88. This lever is pivoted at a lug 89 projecting from the bracket which supports this portion of the selecting mechanism.- A link 00 connects at the outer end of lever 88 and projects downwardly through the circular base to bear upon the drum 62 or to be raised by certain appropriate cams thereon. When the link 80 is raised on a cam the spring 85 will be allowed to draw cam 82 inwardly so that butts I8 may-be contacted. At other times the cam will be held outwardly as link 80 is pulled down by a spring (not shown). When in butt engaging position, the cam 82 will immediately lower any jacks that have been raised by plungers I8 before butts I0 have a chance to be raised up cam. 80. Thus in the making of a. plain sole patterning may be continued throughout the instep but need not appear at the sole.

when elastic yarn is to be fed either to the hooks or below the latches of needles it is necessary to raise those needles which are to receive said elastic yarn. This is accomplished by a so-called dividing cam SI, Figs. 3, 6, 12 and 14. This cam is formed at the inner end of a stem 92 slidable in a bracket 83. The bracket 93 is attached to the circular base .and the stem of the cam slides in a slot cut in an inclined portion of the bracket and covered by a plate 04. The cam stem. projects outwardly of the 'slot and has a projection 95 which is in turn engaged by a downwardly disposed finger or arm 88. This finger is fixed to one end of a short spindle 81 free to be turned in a bearing 08 cast integrally with the bracket. At the other end of the spindle 01 is a short lever 98 to which is connected a link I00. A spring IN is connected to an angularly bent end of the stem and tends to pull the stem and cam inwardly until the cam moves up against the cylinder. The inward movement is limited by a stop screw M2. The link I00 passes downwardly and through suitable guides in bracket I03 so that its lower end bears upon the-drum 82 or a cam I04 in alignment with the lower end of the said link. The manner in which this cam functions and the timing of the same will be further described with respect to theoperation of the machine. I

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7 and 12 the socalled inlaying cam and its operating mechanism will be described. This cam functions whenever the elastic yarn is to be fed below the latches of needles. The dividing cam raises needles to a height suflicient to allow the elastic to be fed within the hooks. In fact, the needles are slightly lowered after being raised by said dividing cam. However, when inlaying or feeding below the latches, the cam I05 is projected inwardly and as can be seen from Fig. 12, that cam will engage butts on the needles which have been raised by jacks having butts I4 to engage dividing cam 0|. The intermediate needles would pass along at a level at which their butts I2 would not be high enough to engage the inlaying cam. The inlaying cam I05 is formed at the inner end of an elongated stem I08 slidable in slots in a bracket generally indicated at I01. This stem is likewise tumed down at I08 and has a connectingspring I09 which tends to draw it inwardly toward the needle cylinder. A stop screw I I 0 is adjustable for limiting this inward movement.

To an extending part of the bracket IN is pivoted a bell crank lever having arms III and H2. The arm H2 engages an upstanding pin H3 which is threaded into the stem I06. The

other arm III is arranged to be in the pathway of'the upper end of a second or similar compound lever I I4; This lever pivots on an extending boss H5 and its lower arm I I6 which is substantially horizontally disposed connects to a link I II. The link I I1 passes downwardly and is offset so that its lower end is guided by a guiding slot within the bracket I03 to engage cam H8 on cam drum 82. As the lower end of this link is engaged to ride up the cam H8, the lever arm III will be pushed so that the second arm l I2 will engage against the pin H8 to pull said stem and inlaying cam outwardly; Thus when the link is on cam H8 the inlaying cam will be pulled out to an inactive position. At other times it will be in its operative position to engage the butts I2.

At certain times it is necessary to withdraw the front stitch cam H9, Fig. I2. This front stitch cam is of core or less conventional construction and a post I20 connected to the cam stem I2I has a link I22 attached thereto and also at the frontend of a vertical arm I28 of a bell crank lever pivoted at I24. The other arm I25 of this lever is connected to a link I26 which is also ofiset so that its lower engaging cam may be guided in a suitable slot in bracket I03. This link engages a cam I21 on a cam drum 62 and whenever it is raised by this cam, will pull the front stitch cam out to an inoperative position. This function will be discussed more fully with respect to the operation of the machine.

A clearing cam is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and the mechanism for controlling the same in Figs. 1 and 21. This clearing cam serves that purpose while the front stitch cam H9 is withdrawn. This will be explained in greater detail with respect to the operation of the machine. Now referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the cam plate 9 has an elongated cam I28 fixed thereto being slotted for vertical movement of the clearing cam I29. This clearing cam has a pin I30 projecting therefrom and through a slot I3I extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder. Another cam I32 is fixed in position above the clearing cam and serves to limit upward movement of needles by that cam and also to return them to a level convenient for being acted upon by subsequent needle cams or by the jacks. The outwardly projecting pin I30 is engagedby a lever I33, part of which is shown in Fig. 13. A rod I34, Fig. 1, extends downwardly at the back of the machine and connects to lever I33 and to one end of a lever I35, the front or toe portion of which bears upon a cam I36, Figs. 1 and 21. When the toe of lever I35 is raised on said cam the clearing cam will be lifted to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13. At other times the cam will be dropped to an inoperative position at which time the front stitch cam I I9 may be in place and will clear needle latches in the usual way. A spring (not shown) serves to maintain the elements in a position corresponding to a lower position of the clearing cam except at such times as the cam lug I36 is actually functioning to raise the toe of lever I35.

Cam I28 serves as a sort of raise cam to lift needles after they have knitted upon passing beneath the stitch cam I31. It will be noted that in this machine the stitch, cams are elevated above the cam plate a greater distance than usual. The butts I6 and jacks II pass beneath this cam I28.and for that purpose the cam plate 9 is grooved as shown at I38, Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring to Fig. 12, there are certain other cams fixed to or with respect to the cam plate 9. One of these cams being the cam I39 the inner lower surface of which is operative upon the tops of butts I6 to draw jacks downwardly after they have passed up cam on being selected. Also jacks which are not selected but which pass up another fixed cam I40 will be drawn down to a common level with those which were selected. These levels will be described more fully when describing the operation of the machine. The cam I40 serves to raise all the lacks to a position in which they will be at a proper level for engagement of the butts I3 with their selecting plungers 18. Another fixed cam I4I engages butts I3 of those jacks which were raised by the dividing cam BI. That cam will lower those jacks slightly below the elevation to which cam I40 will later raise them. By this combination of cams the cam 9| raises ajack under every other needle to divide the needles. 'Once the needles are raised they pass along at the proper height to take the elastic in their hooks ii cam I05 is out, but below the latches if said cam I05 is projected inwardly. Then cam I4I lowers those jacks so that they are leveled along with the intermediate jacks which did not have a butt I4 (if there are intermediate jacks) this leveling being for the purpose of having all jacks at the right elevation for having selections imparted thereto by the plungers and butts which are expressly for that pm'pose. Those jacks which are selected by said plungers will be engaged by cam 30 and will raise needles individual thereto for receiving wrap threads. Cams I39, 140 and I are so constructed that upon starting reciprocation, jack butts will be properly guided to have no interference with cams and to have no undesired effect on their needles. The same applies to cams I28 and I32.

Now referring to Figs. '1, 8, 15 and 22-24, the group of cams constituting the so-called instep cam assembly will be described. These cams serve upon going into reciprocatory knitting such as in the heel and toe, to raise the instep group of needles to an inactive position which they will retain until rotary knitting is resumed. There are three of these cams herein designated as a top instep cam I42, a lower instep cam I43 and a safety cam I44. The cams I42 and I43 are fixed to a slide I45 which is vertically movable up and down within a guiding groove or slot in bracket I46. That bracket is attached above a second bracket I41 which is in turn fixed to the circular base of the machine.

The slide I45 is movable up and down within the bracket I40 by means of a bell crank having arms I48 and I49. The arm I40 is connected by a link I50 to the clutch shifter lever as is the usual practice in controlling instep cams of various types. The arm I49 connects to an extension of the slide I45 by means of a short link I5I. When the clutch is shifted to start reciprocatory work as-in the heel or toe, this connecting link will move in a direction to raise the slide I45 and incidentally instep cams, I42 and I43. Thecam I43 is at a position far enough from the cylinder so that it engages long butts only. Thus when moved upwardly the long butt or instep group of needles will be raised up by the cam I43 to a height sufiicient for them to pass over top center cam I52.

The .top instep cam I42 is, strictly speaking, not so much an instep cam, but serves many -purposes during rotary knitting. However,

when it is desired to return the long butt or instep group of needles to their normal knitting relation, this cam I42 will engage them and draw them down so that they may knit on the first revolution after reciprocatory knitting. Other parts of this cam function as will hereinafter he described to limit the upward movement of needles which areto take wrap thread and to bring those needles as well. as the needles ter cam. However, in this instance, there is a certain amount of lag possible upon the raising of cam I43 as the clutch is shifted by compressing a spring, whereupon complete movement of the shifting elements may be delayed slightly as is possible where connections are not absolutely positive. To overcome any difllculty in this. respect and to assure that instep needle butts do not hit the edge of the cam I52 in the event cam I43 lags slightly in its upward movement, a safety cam I44 is provided.

This cam I 44 is attached in the inner end of a stem I53 slidable in a slot in the bracket-I46. A spring I54 attaches to the bracket and to a post at the outer end of the stem normally tending to urge the cam I44 to an inner position. As illustrated in Figs. 22, 23 and especially Fig. 24, the stem I53 is slotted at I55, the edges of this slot being bevelled to engage inclined sides of a cam I56. This cam I56 attaches to the slide I45 by means of an extension I51 and is spaced therefrom by a shim I'I'. When the slide I45 is raised, the cam I56 necessarily moves upwardly with it so that the cam action within the slot I55 pushes cam I44 inwardly far enough so that it must engage the long butt needles. The height of cam I44 is fixed and is necessarily such as to assure that these long butts will be raised to a safe level above cam I52. The result is that long butts are raised up the cam I43 and if that cam is not at a height to assure safe passage of those but'ts by lcam I52, this safety cam imparts the necessary additional movement. When the slide I45 is again lowered at the end of reciprocatory work, cam I42 will be lowered to a position to draw the long butts downwardly and the cam I56 will again function in the slot I55 to withdraw the cam I44.

Operation Now referring to Figs. 11, 12, 15 and 16, the the operation will be described with respect to knitting a stockingtop to which the mechanism is applicable. In Fig. 16 a sock, such as worn by children, has been illustrated having a short leg I58, a foot I59, heel I60 and toe I6I. These parts are more or less standard, but the top is of a type knitted by the mechanism herein described, that top being disclosed and claimed per se in application Serial #189,874. This top in cludes a beginning edge I62 and a continuing portion I 63, these being knitted plain in contrast with rib work, but having incorporated therein elastic under tension whereby certain plain loops are drawn together in spaced wales so as to simulate a rib appearance. At certain predetermined areas a true wrap pattern is knitted, one figure being shown at I64. The elastic yarn is incorporated in each course so as to avoid floats across the needle circle to interfere with the wrap yarns which are incidental to knitting the true wrap pattern. The elastic yarn is preferably incorporated at alternate needles by feeding the same below the latches. Ks a-mdifi'cation it is contemplated to feed above the latches and then to clear said elastic yam before the needles arrive at the knitting point sathat in either instance it will be cast of! without knitting or being drawn'into the usual knitted loops. The elastic yarn will then be held at sinker wales at every other stitch in each course so as to draw the fabric together suiiiciently to push those wales on the needles of which the elastic was fed below the latch, to the front of the fabric and to draw the intermediate wales to the back. The result is a fairly close approximation of 1 x 1 rib. The wrap threads are to be fed to selected needles and within reasonable limits, patterns of almost any desired type may be obtained. Preferably the selected needles are from only that group of needles to which the elastic yarn is fed, that is, those wales which appear at the front of the fabric. The absence of wrap loops on the intermediate wales is an advantage in that a smoother top and a smoother pattern is obtained than would be obtained if the wrap threads were fed to all the needles throughout a desired patterned area. Of course, in certain instances it might be desired to feed to all needles and it is not to be inferred from what has been said above that such a practice may not be practicable. Normally the pattern may be started at any point after the beginning edge is completed and may be continued throughout the knitting of said top so long as discontinued prior to withdrawing the elastic yarn.

At the termination of knitting a stocking, the main pattern drum makes a move incidental to which the said completed article is dropped from the needles. At this same move the needle -dividing cam 9| is projected to active position and a latch opener of any desired description, pref erably one such as illustrated in Gagnes Patent 2,123,551 could be movedto an activeposition. The machine would have just completed knitting the toe and thereafter the loopers rounds so that all parts would have been in a position for knitting in plain rotary work. The front stitch cam H9 would have been in active position and the clearing cam I29 in its lowermost or inactive position. Of course, the pattern mechanism, the elastic yarn feeding means, the inlaying cam I and the wrap yam feeding mechanism would all be in withdrawn or inoperative positions.

On the next move of the machine the elastic yarn feeding means will drop to a feeding position, that is, a position in which the finger 20 will occupy its lowermost position and wherein the elastic yarn will be held in a feeding position; at that time all the main yarns are held within a binder. The stitch cam is withdrawn at this time and the elastic yarn will feed to the hooks of alternate needles. The knitting pathways are illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein the dividing cam 9| is raising alternate jacks up to their highest point -of elevation and incidentally raising needles so that the butts take the pathway I65 and are levelled by the lowermost part of cam I42. cam I4! immediately returns those jacks until they meet the intermediate jacks in a pathway as they are raising up the cam I46. Both sets of jacks are then elevated to the pathway I 66 in which they continue on passing down under cams I39 and I26. The description here assumes that a full complement of jacks are employed but if only alternate jacks are used then the intermediate pathway would nct be present. There is no selecting mechanism in at this time and these jacks are merely serving the purpose of dividing needles so that alternate needles will pass along at the pathway I65, will take the elastic yarn, and thereafter will be drawn down by center cam I52 and stitch cam I31. 0n the first two revolutions of the machine'there is no clearing of the latches since the pathway I65 isnot high enough for latches to be cleared, and neither the front stitch cam .nor the clearing cam is operated. The said two revolutions serve to load up the hooks of needles with two turns of elastic yarn.

After the first two courses another move re-' The , normally would.

sults in bringing in cam, I so that the alternate or divided needles will then be raised to an inlaying position. The elastic yarn will then feed below the latches. At this time the regular or plain knitting yarn goes into active position and will feed to all needles. The clearing cam is still down throughout the third and fourth courses but will rise at the fifth course. The front stitch cam remains out throughout the knitting of the entire stocking top.

In Fig. 12 various pathways are shown, the

. dividing cam functioning as before, but in addition to dividing the needles so as to take elastic yarn on alternate needles, the pattern mechanism is shown functioning so that some needles are raised to take wrap thread or threads. The only needles which are clearing latches on the third and fourth courses are the alternate needles which pass up cam I05. The clearing cam I29 rises at the fifth course so that thereafter all the needles will'have their latches cleared and will knit under stitch cam I31 at each rev lution. Assuming that no wrap pattern were to be knitted, needle butts on alternate needles would pass along the pathway I65, would rise up cam I05 in the path I65, then down under a itself, but the timing or arrangement of cams is such that a particular sequence is followed.

After the wrap mechanism has been raised, the

inlay cam I05 is withdrawn, then the dividing cam Si is withdrawn. If the opposite were true or if they were withdrawn at the same time some needles would be partially'elevated to the pathway I05 and would smash against cam I05. The

tip I42 of the cam I42 and would knit after passing below both cams I52 and I37, The intermediate needles would move along in the pathway I61, under cam I05, would take yarn at the main feed and would knit under cam I31. All needles would clear at the height I 68 passing between cams I29 and I32.

The pattern may be started at any time after the beginning edge is fully'completed. Obviously there would be no object in starting it sooner, and in actual practice, there would be a few courses knitted betweenthe edge and the first course in which no wrap yarn would be taken. The pattern mechanism would be allowed to come in toward the cylinder so that plungers I8 would engage butts I0 on jacks. Selected jacks would then rise so that the butts I6 would take the pathway I69 and would thereafter be elevated by cam 80. The corresponding needles would be elevated to a pathway I10. At that height needle hooks would receive a wrap yarn from one of the wrap yarn feeding guides It is evident that those needles which take the wrap threads would also take the elastic yarn.

The pathway I10 intersects the pathway I 65' so v that those needles which are raised merely engage the cam I05 at a' higher point than they If a plain sole were bein knitted the the cam 02 would be projected inwardlyso that any jacks selected in the sole portion of the cylinder, would have that selection cancelled before .the butts I. could engage cam 00.

The wrap feeding mechanism, --a portion only of which is shown herein would probably come down to an active position before the pattern was started. The only limitation onthe movement of these elements is that the wrap head can not drop before the elastic yarn feeding finger is moved downwardly. Once the finger is moved down, the wrap head may move to a feeding position at any time. Thereafter wrapp ng will commence raised. One move is responsible for all of the functions occurring at the end of knitting the 9 stitch cam H9 then moves in to the usual position for knitting plain work. Just after the stitch cam is in clearing cam I 29 may drop.

The pattern would have been withdrawn at the termination of wrapping. If wrapping were continued to the very last course, the pattern would be withdrawn at that time, but the wrap head would have to be raised prior to discontinuing the feeding elastic yarn. Preferably, a special binder is used for the elastic yarn which will be held in that binder except when being fed to needles. A binder such as employed in application Serial #100,908 filed December 15, 1936, may be used.

, As the elastic yarn feeding finger 20 is lowered to active position, the front narrowing pick 4| will be withdrawn by mechanism previously described. The reason for this is that cam I05 if moved inwardly would conflict with the position of said pick and the pick would also tend to act upon needles at that time. When in withdrawn position, the said pick will be above the pathway of any of these needle butts and can not have an effect thereon.

In Figs. 17-21 the various cams have been shown including cams I04, 6|, H8, I27 and I36. The positions and extent of these cam surfaces is substantially that" necessary to carry out the operation of the machine in a manner just described. Of course, these cams may be varied slightly to modify the operation of the machine, and in many instances changes may be made without departing from the general scheme and method sought to be carried out.

' Referring to Fig. 15, the position of cams upon going into a heel or toe has been shown. The instep ,cams I42, I43 and I are shown in active position so that long needle butts passing in the pathway I61 will be raised to a pathway III in which they will pass above center cam I52. Thereafter the short butt needles will be reciprocated to and fro through cams H9 and. I31

knitting beneath one of the cams in alternate courses. The usual picking of needles *occurs to narrow and widen the heel and/or toe pockets. At this time the jacks will reciprocate idly, neither the dividing cam nor the selecting plungers being in a position to engage jack butts.

- On the counterclockwise strokejacks willmove up camIdII, down cam I39, then under cam I28.

' on thereverse strokes those jacks will be moved before the elastic yarn feeding means can be down by cam I28, then'up the opposite side of cm I40 and beneath cam Ill. Whiletherelis some movement in the jacks duringreciproca;

tory work that movement haslnoilefict ,on;

needles.

Certain changes will be evidenti such Jas; pro

means movable to a position to engage and raise divided needles to additional height whereat elastic yarn fed thereto will be fed beneath needle latches, and means selectively to position said cam means for raising divided needles in operative and inoperative positions.

3. In a knitting machine the combination of a main feeding station and means for feeding yarns thereat, an elastic yarn feeding station in advance of said main feeding station, means for feeding elastic yarn at said last mentioned station, means for dividing-needles, and means for feeding wrap threads between said needle dividing means and said elastic yarn feeding station.

4. In a knitting machine the combination of a main feeding station, means for feeding yarns thereat, an elastic yarn feeding station in advance of said main feeding station, means for feeding an elastic yarn at said last mentioned station, needle dividing means for raising needles to take said elastic yarn, an inlaying cam at said elastic feeding station for raising divided needles to take elastic yarn below their latches, means for feeding wrap threadslocated between said needle dividing means and said elastic yarn feeding station, and .selecting means functioning to select divided needles subsequent to their passage through said needle dividing means but in advance of the said wrap thread feeding means.

5. In a knitting machine the combination of a main feeding station and means for feeding yarns thereat, needles and jacks for said needles, an elastic yarn feeding station in advance of said main feeding station, means for feeding an elastic yarn at said last mentioned station, needle dividing means engageable with jacks for raising needles to take the elastic yarn, an inlaying cam at said elastic station for raising divided needles to take elastic yarn below their latches and means for determining whether or not said inlaying cam shall be active or inactive, means for feeding wrap threads to selected needles between the needle dividing means and the elastic .yarnfeeding "station, selecting means functioning on divided needles only in advance of said wrap thread feeding means and subsequent tosaid needle dividing means, and means for bringing jacks for divided needles and needles not aflected by the dividing means to a common level prior to their being engaged by the selecting means.

6. In a knitting machine the combination 'of an elastic yarn feeding means, needle dividing means to determine those needles which are to receive an elastic yarn, wrap thread feeding means in advance of said elastic yarn feeding means and selecting means for determining which needles are to receive wrap threads, said needles having jacks individual thereto and means between said dividing means and selecting means for bringing jacks to a common level.

7. In a knitting machine, cam means vertically movable for engaging and raising knitting instrumentalities to a predetermined height and safety cam means operable by said vertically movable cam means for moving at right angles thereto and for raising said instrumentalities to the predetermined height in the event said vertically movable cam means fails to reach its intended height at the proper time.

8. In a knitting machine, an instep cam group ,slide operable in conjunction with said safety cam for moving the same to and from an active position.

9. In a knitting machine the combination of a main cam set including a top center cam, a cam functioning in advance of said main cam set to raise needles to a height above the top center cam, instep cams including an upper instep cam having an extension thereof above said cam for raising needles and a cam depending from said extension and between said needle raising cam and center cam for lowering raised needles to be engaged by the top center cam.

10. In a knitting machine, an instep cam group including upper and lower instep cams and a so-called safety cam, a support for said cams including a vertically movable slide, a stem on said safety cam slidable in said support to move at right angles to the movement of the vertically movable slide, and means functioning on said cam stem and movable with said vertically movable slide and the upper and lower instep cams to impart to the slide and safety cam movements substantially at right angles to thevertical.

11. In a knitting machine, the combination of a main cam set including a top center cam, cams functioning on knitting needles in advance of said main cam set and acting so as to leave needle butts in a raised position so that they are moving in a pathway above said top center cam, instep cams one of which has an extension and a. cam portion depending from said extension in advance of said top center cam, constructed and operated to lower needle butts so that they will engage and pass beneath said top center cam.

12. An instepcam assembly for a knitting machine including in combination a support, a cam movable in a single direction only and a second cam movable only in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the first mentioned cam, and interconnecting means between the two cams so constructed and arranged that movements of one impart similar movements to the other.

- ISAAC H. C. GREEN. EUGENE ST. PIERRE.

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