US2247092A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 24, w41;

F. KLUMPP Erm.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, |1937 12 sheets-sheet 1 NNN@ QN @W m. Y oww E TLA N EDM o WMM w IWZ A F. KLUMPP ETAL.

KNITTING MACHINE June 24, 3941,

12 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. '18, 1937 INVENTOR S FEAD//VA N0 /l/L UMPP FRI TZ LAMB/4CH TTOR EY .Fume 24, E941. F. KLUMPP ET Al.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1937,

12' Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR S FED/NAN Jun@ 24, E941. E KLUMPP .E1-'AL ZQZ KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS FERDINAND KU/MPP FR/T Z AIMS/4CH ATTORNEY Jun@ 24; WM.

F. IKLUMPP ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 lill- IIIL INVENToRs Fino/NAND L1/MPP ATTORNEY Jun@ MML- F. KLUMPP Erm., 2247,02

Filed Aug. 18, 193'? 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS FERDINAND KLUMPP Jun@ WM. F. KLUMPP AL, ,m

` KNITTING MACHINE l INVENTORS June 24, 1941. F. KLUMPP ETAL.

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June 24, 1941.. F. KLUMPP ETAL KNITTING MACINE Filed Aug. 18, :('193'7 l2 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTORS FERDINAND /fLl/MPP H W n c N A B R m m L June 24, 19ML A y F. KLUMPP ErAL 2,24%@952 Filed Aug. 1a, 19:57 12 sheets-sheet 1-2 atenteci Jane d. @di

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2,24%@92 KNIITEG MACD `Hersey application angina it, resi, senat no. nach (ci. ca -to This invention relates generally to improvements in knitting machines and particularly to that class thereof by which novel knitted and textile fabric comprising knitting warp with an inlaid iiller can be manufactured. A machine made in accordance with this invention also may be employed as a Warp knitting machine lfor conventional lmitting'or as a Warp knitting machine vvherein filler threads are introduced into the fabric as it is being produced.

This application includes modifications and improvements over our copending application, Serial No. t9,4l53, iiled November '13, i935, for Knitting machines.

'I'he knitting machine contemplated by this' invention is provided with novel ller laying instrurnentalities cooperating with the knitting facilities for producing a fabric comprising filler threads (which may extend either from selvedge to selvedge or partly through the fabric and which may be present in any desired courses of the warp threads) enveloped by knitting loops or chains of warp threads, the nller threads coni necting with the knitted rows thereby preventing both longitudinal and transverse stretching and in general distortion of the fabric. lfhe machine provides means for introducing a warp into the fabric for interconnecting, respectively, two or more knitted loops or connecting-links of adjacent rows or courses, which both strengthens controlling the distribution of ller thread in desired courses of a knitting fabric.v

n further object of this invention is ,to provide` improved means for coordinating, determining and controlling the movements of the warp guide nngers units in their relation to the knitting needles and ller feeding, controlling and laying mechanisms.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for incorporating a plurality of iiller threads of different extent through the width of the fabric. l

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

To provide for the feeding of ller thread or yarn to and introducing or laying the same into the fabric as it is being knitted, by having 'a filler carrier selectively connectable with and disconnectable from a flexible transmission band to which is imparted a non-uniformreciprocating motion, the extent of which motion being variable'and regulatable.

To provide for interrupting the laying of the filler at predetermined intervals, during the continuous running ofthe machine.

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

To provide a movable bank of projections or sinkers which may be of the same or different lengths capable of receiving the filler' thread directly from the carrier, of positioning the same adjacent the needles and of acting upona preceding laid filler thread to press the same downwardly.

To provide for the simultaneous use of more than one nller carrier for simultaneously feeding a plurality of ller threads to incorporate the same in separate fabrics being simultaneously produced by the machine.

A further objectof this invention is to so coordinate the instrumentalities attaining objects hereinabove mentioned, that pattern or design tween the vertical reciprocating movement of the latch-needle bank and the shiftable oscillating (looping) movements ofthe warp feeding guide fingers. The pattern eects are predetermined by the selective shiftable movement of the guide fingers which may carry yarns or threads of the same or different colors across one or more of the hooks of the needles, in accordance with a predetermined fashion to produce the desired pattern or design. For this purpose a needle bank is substantially vertically reciprocated relative to a face plate against which it slides. Where tvvov needle banks are employed they are slightly sloped toward each other to bring the needle hooks close together andthe face-plates against which the. needles slide are spacedv apart providing room for passage of the knitted fabric. The warp yarn or thread is directed and presented to the bank of latch-needles by the guide fingers of which there may be several units to accommodate different yarns or threads as desired. The reciprocaton of the needle bank is determined by a cam. The oscillating movement of the Warp guide fingers units is controlled by cams. The shiftable or endwise movements of the warp guide fingers units are respectively controlled by individual pattern chains made up of special, interchangeable cam links. The cooperation of the above various instrumentalities exists in a standard form of straight knitting machine.

This invention deals, in part, with improved novel means for coordinating, regulating and controlling the movements of these instrumentalities in their mutual relation and in their relation to filling-weft feeding controlling and laying mechanisms.

According to this invention one or more carriers, to each of which is imparted a controllable non-uniform 'reciprocating movement. -feeds filler threads or yarns directly to a movable bank of sinkers which support and lay the same relatively between (1) a connecting link (coming from a preceding loop) and a succeeding loop of the same course as the connecting link and (2) a succeeding loop of a succeeding course which is carried through the said connecting link and supported thereby. The movable bank of sinkers or projections are adapted to receive the filler thread directly from the carrier and position the same Yadjacent the needles. One or more of these nller threads may be laid in each course and by the use of more than one carrier, fillers different in quality or color may be laid in the sameor different courses. The extent of the movements of the carriers are controlled so that the llers, if desired, may be extended only partly through and may be vvaried with respect tothe width of the fabric. Active and inactive periods of the carriers are controlled in a predetermined manner by a pattern chain made np of special, interchangeable cam links trained on corporate the same in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the" machine.

Certain cf the warpfeeding guide fingers may be controlled softhat iff-desired the warp threads fed thereby may not enter into the lmitting operation but are incorporated unknitted in the fabric during the knitting operation and the laying of the ller and may interconnect two or more knitted loops or connecting links of adjacent rows or courses. This unknit warp is referred to herein as an unknit warp, and the warp forming the stitch or loop as the knitting- Warp.

It is easily understood `fr oin the above that in accordance with our inventionl a fabric can be made having different and -or, uniform sections or parts of elastic and non-elastic properties produced by the employment of threads or yarn having suitable characteristics.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concepts suggest practical embodiments thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure,

advantages may be attained by the novel design, construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, constituting a feature of the disclosure, and in which:

Fig. 1 'is a broken front elevational View of a knitting machine as contemplated in this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof as viewed from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the right hand end of the knitting machine shown in Fis. 1. g

Fig. 3a is a detail of cam gear and connecting mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. e is an enlarged elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 3, other parts being broken away 'for clearer illustration.

Fig. 5 is a combined end elevational and crosssectional view as taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. v6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 'i is a similar view as taken on the line "i-li of Fig. l.

Fig. 81s a further enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view as taken along the line d d of Fis. 4. i

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the filler yar or thread carrying means.

Fig. -10 is a broken top plan view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a top plan View, to a reduced scale, of an alternate form of filler thread carrying mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view, to an enlarged scale, as taken along the line i12-i2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. i3 is a similar view as taken along the line EIS- i3 of Fig. 1l.

Figs. 1t, 15, 16, and 17 are fragmentary semidiagrammatic side elevational views of the knitting instrumentalities of the machine and successively show the steps of operation.

Fig. 18 is a. fragmentary perspective view ci',l

the above-mentioned parts in the position shown in Fig. ld.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. l?, showing another form oi yarn arrangement.A

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view, in diagram, of a piece of material formed by the parts shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. Zivis a fragmentary View of a knitted ller construction orstrand employable in the fabric produced by the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the frame of the machine comprises the end frames 25 andZ r*held in rigid spaced rela.- tion by a front tie member 21, a rear tie member 2d, and an upper centrally disposed tie membel' 29.

VEach of the end frames (Figs. 1, 2, 3)- ls preferably fitted with brackets such as 3@ which f trained a brakeband 38 having one end xed at t@ to a bracket M which is a1so supported on a and drum pinioni'd.

cross bar t3, and having its other end connected as to a coil spring il which'in turn ls adius'tably carried by said bracket as at t2. Inthis manner a varied tension may be applied to the brake drum. and thus a suitable drag is applied to the beam. lt will be noted that this arrangement obviates the use ofcumbersome counterweights and other types of drags and, as a whole, the above described arrangement of the warp beams provides an efficient and iiexibleclean-cut arrangement.

The motive power of the machine is provided by an electric motor or the like M, the drive pinion lli of which drives the gear train 15, d6, il and il@ mounted in any convenient manner and as best seen in Fig. 2. The gear it is mounted upon the main camshaft d@ and is in From the foregoing it will be apparentv that the arc of travel of the right hand end (Fig. 3)

mesh with the gear it on the hand control shaft 50 which is provided with a suitable number of hand wheels t, (Fig. 3). Similarly, through the medium of the gear di?, the gear it connects with the gear d3 on the longitudinally disposed shaft 52 on the opposite side of themachine from that of the main camshaft t9. This shaft 52 also carries a number of hand wheels d, (Fig. l). In the above manner the camshaft i9 may be inoperative, by either of the hand control shafts 5d or di?.

.As seen in'Fig. 3, the camshaft di! may be geared as at 5d to a vertical shaft 55, supported by brackets 5t and 56B. The upper end ofv this shaft preferably carries a cam-like gear El which is arranged to intermittently rotate a pin ge'ar 5t, (shown in detail in Fig. 3a) on a, transverse shaft b9. This shaft is suitably carried by a bracket bt' fixed to the frame end and supports a pattern chain drum iii (Fig. a) which in this manner, is intermittently advanced to perform functions later described.

The camshaft Lid is also geared as at t2 to a cross shaft td supported in brackets tl, also carried by the frame end 2t. Upon the shaft tis carried `a .cam-disk tti, the cam groove @da of which controls through the medium of a cam follower 65", the movement of an arm to pivoted at t? to a bracket te. `Adjustably arranged with and carried by the arm tt is a downwardly extending eleinent 69e to which is pivotally attached a link t@ connected to one end of a walking beam it. pivoted as at it to change the extent of movement of the other end of said Walking beam. Said last mentioned end of the walking beam lill` is pivotally connected at ithrough the rod 'l2 with a gear rack i3 guided for vertical reciprocation in the guide way it, (see Figs. d and 5).

The reciprocatory movement of the'rack i3 is utilized to impart oscillatory movement to the drum l5 through the medium ofr a gear train comprising .the rack pinion lt, idler gear lll, l A complementary idler drum. 'id is provided at the opposite end of the machine (Fig. 1) and laround both drums lb and y et on the shaft b3, through the medium of a rook arm d5 (pivoted at 35a) and a connecting link Bti, serves to disengage the'brake shoe t2 from the brake drum dd to free the band d@ for movement under the urgency of the cam-disk tb.

This beam 'lt is adapted to be selectively.

`rotated by the motor M or,when the motor is of the walking beam, the greater the reciprocatory stroke of the band. Hence, the filler thread, which through mechanism later described, ls laid in exactly the desired manner and in relation to the desired number of knitted courses.

The knitting instrumentalities of the machine are best seen in Fig. 8. A needle bar tl carrying a multiplicity of latch needles dd, is preferably mounted on a plurality of rods dit guided in sleeve bearings 9i) carried by the machine frame.

The needle bar tl! is arranged longitudinally of the machine and 4is disposed ata slight angle to a vertical plane, thus, the needles 'which are arranged to one side of the longitudinal center of the machine may be moved upward and, at their uppermostv position, intersect said longitudinal center. A xed face plate ill is provided to guide and protect the needles and it is against this `plate that the needle bar tl' slides in its reciprocating movement.- It is understood that further needles (not shown) may be arranged in ment with a cam @l on .the camshaft lid. A plu l rality of such arrangements are provided to impart to the needle bar the contemplated substantially vertical reciprocatory movement.

The looper bars 9d, in number suitable for a .particular knitting operation, each carry a plurality of loopers 9i? for guiding the Warp threads to the knitting course, (Fig. 8). These looper bars are carried by a rock shaft iti@ extending lbngitudinally of the machine. The looper bars t8 are adapted to be rocked around a horizontal axis and transversely of the machine by the following mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

A camll'll is provided on the camshaft 39, and a reciprocating pitman E102 engaged with said cam is adjustabdy connected to an arm tot clamped as at mda to the rock shaft im. Handle means such as shown at itil may be effectively employed in adjusting the parts so that proper oscillation is imparted to the rock-shaft it. in addition; the pitman may be varied in length as by means shown at itt in order to render the adjustments more exible.

The means for supporting the looper bars 9d from the rockshaft lil@ comprises a plurality oi' hanger brackets tilt on the rockshaft it, each of which is provided with adjustable guide eyes it? engaged by pins ltd carried by the respective looper bars Qt, (Fig. t). In order to steady said bars, each is provided with an upwardly extending arm its, each slotted ati l@ for engagement over a pin lil carried by extensions M2 of a bracket nxcd on the rockshaft itt.A l

It will be also noted that in addition to the previously described rocking movement of the looper bars around the axis of the rockshait ltd,

. the looper bars also are arranged to be longituthe medium of slides H3 provided with end plates lid. The slides are arranged to be moved as hereinafter described and each plate llt-is adapted to be engaged by an adjustable screw l l5 carried by a respective looper bar 98. Thus as seen in Fig. 4, movement of the slide H3 to the right will cause similar movement of the associated looper bar. A spring H6, connected between each extending arm |99 and a segmental bracket lll carried by the rockshaft, serves to eiect movement to the left of the looper bar. From the foregoing it may be seen that the loopbank and also longitudinally thereto.

Also necessary .to the knitting lfunctions arethe illler sinkers ii alternately arranged with the needles and'adapted to be reciprocated in a horizontalplane and transversely of the machine by the following mechanism.

Cams M9 on the camshaft Q9, (Fig. 1), are designed to engage and move the arms it@ ci bell crank levers also pivoted at d5. The other arms l2!! of the bell crank levers are connected by means of links M2 to arms M3 of other bell crank levers pivoted at mil. (Fig. 8). second levers are formed with arms 625 which are forked as at l2@ for blocks 21 carried lSy slides i2@ movable in guides H29. The guides are preferably carried by a longitudinal structural member i3d forming part oi' the machine frame.

The inner ends of the slides 28 are arranged to carry a sinker bar mi which serves to support the sinkers l I8 above mentioned.

I'he ends of the warp yarns A are brought from the beams` 36, (Fig. l) over the resiliently mounted tubes 32 and through the loopers 99 to a point above the falce plate @I Where the knitting of the fabric occurs. The type and design of the knitted fabric is controlled by the endwise These in parallel relation to .the bars 838. Each carrier is provided with respective extensions Ml and M2, each further guided by rods M3, and l'terminating in the respective tubes IM and M6. As

is apparent, the tubes are arranged to be adjacent to and to move along and slightly above the knitting course.-

The carriage i3d, (Figs. 8 and 9) is xed to the band 80 as by means of screws or the like No and hence the carriage moves bodily with said band. The carriage, for each carrier, is provided A ers 99 may be moved transversely of the needle with a pivoted latch member lll which is adapted to engage in a notch MB in each carrier. A spring Hi8 isused to hold the. latch in its respective notch. Each latch ldl is formed with an upst'anding projection it@ which is engaged with therefore said carrier will not be moved with the l carriage. Oppofite movement of Ithe fork will similarly unlatch the carrier ll.

in orderto maintain an unlatched carrier in nondisplaceable position, each of .the rods itA and Mld, at both ends thereof, is provided with spring latches it engageable in notches 453 in the carriers and because of the rapidity of the movement of .-the carriage, buier springs ld may movement of the looper bars 9B and thus ci' the '40 loopers 99. pllshed by the slidesll i3 which are moved by the pattern cam links 'E33 arranged in grooves ltd in the chaindrum (Figs. l and 4). Thus. as viewed from the rear of :the machine, a relatively high pattern link will urge its respective looper bar d8 towards the right and a relatively low pattern` link will permit the spring lid td'move said looper bar towards the left. Hence, the makeup of the pattern chains. controlling the movement of the looper bars, control the type this function are` best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 8,

The filler thread jcarrier comprises a carriage |35, (Figs. 9 and' 10) guided for movement along the bars B36 longitudinally supported in the machine frame.` 'I'he carriage B35 is arranged to be coupled selectively with either or both iiller thread carriers ilandA H38. If only one filler thread'is to be usedaoniy one carrier is used as can be well understood.

The carriers are arranged to slide along respecnve mds las, un, each disposed above and This endwise movement is accom` be provided to counteract the moments of inertia of the carriers at the end of the movement of stroke.

The selection of movement of 4the fork i5@ and the power for performingl this function are best illustrated in Figs. i and 6. One of the slides H3 and designated MSB, is associated with a cam link chain 33 on the drum di. A spring i555 is used to maintain this slide in Contact with the chain links which like thosepreviously described, are of varying heights.

As shown, the slide l ide, is provided with-a pin i5@ eng-aged in the fork il of the arm ld pivoted at H59. The arm 58 forms a bell crank with another arm It@ which is also provided with a fork itl, (Fig. 6). The last mentioned iork is engaged over 'a lever to2 pivoted for horioonval movement at loi to a bracket ldd on the rocksh'aft idd. provided with a fork idd and in its normal and neutral position,- thls fork is occupied by a xed projection Mill.

From the above description, it is apparent that a high cam link will move the slide litPa to cause the arm idd, (through members @iid-S inclusive), and thus 4the lever 662, to swing towards the left, and that the spring E55, when a low cam link is opposite the slide, will cause the lever |62 to move towards the right. Similarly, a cam link of intermediate height will position the lever H62 at the neutral position shown-(The above mechanism forms the selection means above indicated.

When the lever G62 is swung, its fork it@ becomes engaged over either pin idd or pin.v it@ respectively carried by vertically disposed rods lillI I tioned cams lill and llt.

Now it can be seen, that with the forked lever it engaged with the pin ltd, the cam i'll, which The lever 5G52, at list-ree end is also aataoea is provided with a relatively Ihigh cam portion, will move the rod il@ up .to rock 'the shaft idd in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 6 and 9. Hence, the curved levers H8, which are carried by the rockshait it will, through the medium of tapered pins H9 carried on their free ends, engage the fork i8@ on the upper end of the tilt lever liti to uncouple the carrier i3d as previously described. Similarly, with the forked lever iti engaged with the pin ltd, the cam H5, which is provided Wi-th a relatively low cam port'iomwill cau-se movement of the rod lli down to rock the,

shaft |165 in avcounterclockwise direction. This movement of .the rockshaft, in the manner above set forth, will cause the uncoupling of the carrier itl.

Since it is desired to uncouple the carriers only at the ends of the carri-age stroke, the curved arms llt and their tapered pins il@ are posi-r tioned at each end of the said, stroke. Therefore,

once the carriage starts its movement with or without a carrier, this oon-dition will be maintained until the stroke is completed.

The flexibility of the above described arrangement should be readily apparent. For instance,

one or more filler threads may be laid with each l or the curved arms i'i may be removed so the latches l-d'i are not acted upon. Also, onecarnler may remain coupled so as to lay a ller thread 4with eachA knitting course, and the other carrier periodically coupled and uncoupled to lay a second filler at every two, three, four, or more courses. Further, the cam link chain controlling the coupling and uncoupling of the carriers may be so arranged as to lay two different kinds of colors of filler threads alternately or in any relation to suit the tastes of the designer of the fabric to be produced.

Up to this point of the specification, there has been disclosed means for knitting a fabric in varying designs with or without one or more filler threads. As will be apparent from (Figs. 19 and 20), additional unknitted warp threads may be incorporated inv the fabric by bringing them to the knitting coursebetween the needles. Still greater flexibility of design is afforded in this manner.

While the foregoing is descriptive of means for knitting a fabric with one bank ti of needles, it is apparent that two banks di may be used to provide a fabric of different character. In this event, a duplicate needle bar may be mounted on the rods 89H and associated with another face plate such as 9i, the knitted material being adapted to pass between the face-plates and to be suitably taken up on a takeup roll positioned at the bottom of the machine. In that event the feed rollsl 2M, tilt which 'maintain the fabric under suitable tension; may be carried on the shafts shown at ltiij and |32a of Figf?.

However, when only one needle bank 8l! is used, the feed roll-shafts may-be positioned in front of the face plate 9i as shown at iti and |82. The former is intermittently driven as follows:

Upon the camshaft 49 (Fig. 2) there is provided an eccentric |83; which, through the eccentric strap |84, reciprocates the rod l85 connected to the slotted end i t of a bell crank pivotecl at it?. The other arm of said'bell crank carries a driving pawlid which is engaged with a ratchet wheel i3d mounted for rotation at i296.

The ratchet wheel itil is preferably free on the shaft lddv which has affixed to it a handle isi provided with detent means selectively engageable in spaced holes idf in saidratchet wheel. Also fixed to the shaft ldil there is a pinion gear i523, which, because it is connected to the handle itil which in turn is engaged with the ratchet Wheel, is intermittently driven by the pawl itt by reas-on of the eccentric idd. A ratchet pawl idd is provided to maintain the advanced position of the ratchet wheel i d@ during the recovery moven ment of the driving pawl.

' The pinion gear tt is mated with a gear 55 on a stub shaft idd which also carries a sprocket wheel itl around which is trained one bight of a chain ist having its other bight trained around a sprocket wheel itil on the shaft itl. If desired, an idler sprocket 200 may be employed to obviate slack in the chain 98.

lrIhus, each revolution of the camshaft de, will cause advancement of the shaft iti and its feedroll Edi (Fig. l) to a degree imparted by the stroke of the driving pawl itt ascontrolled by the position of the end of the rod it in the slotted member i826. The closer to the pivot itl that this rod end is, the smaller the advancement Of the feed roll 2M, and, similarly, the further from said pivot, the greater said advancement.

The roller 2M, (Fig. 7) is associated with an idler roller 203 on the shaft i232 and this latter roller is preferably mounted on blocks tilt which are adapted to be adjustably positioned on ways tild of brackets 205 which also serve to support the roller ffii. The knitted fabric lis adapted to pass between the face plate di and the roller 2M, under said roller', over the roller 203 and then downward to a I take-up roll 2do. The take-up roll 206 is mounted on brackets 2M and is arranged to be driven from the stub shaft 596 as follows:

The upper end of an angularly disposed shaft Edt is driven from the stub shaft as by bevel gears its and supported by brackets 2 iii and 2i i. The lower end of said shaft 208 is preferably geared, as -at tlf, to a horizontally disposed stub shaft- 2id. It is preferred to drive this stub shaft at a greater intermittent speed than the feed rolls 20! and 203 and hence the gear on said stub shaft 2 i3 is somewhat smaller than the mating gear on the shaft 20d.

This overdrive is necessary so that the fabric, as it is being taken up on the take-up roll ft, is kept' taut. In order to accomplish this, a slip friction clutch 2M, (Fig. 1) is interposed between the stub shaft M3 and the take-up roll '20d Now it can be seen that as the fabric builds up on the take-up roll more slip will occur at the clutch 2 ld, whereas the advancement of the feed rollers will remain uniformly constant.

The motor switch S may be operated by either of the controlshafts 2id atthe front and the rear of the machine which for/this purpose are linked together as at ZIB. At the end of one ofthe shafts 2 i5, (Figs. 4 and 5) there is preferably provided a disc El? which is provided with vradially disposed abutments 2I8 to limit the rotational movement of the shafts 2 l 5, on extension 209 of the lever 220 which carries the brake shoe t2 having engagement with the abutments for this purpose. i

In the on position of thecontrol shafts M5,

the end of the extension 2|!! is arranged to seat in either depression 22| in the disc 2H and thus the spring 222 urges the brake shoe 82 into contact with the brake drum 83. Hence, the brake drum 83 is freed only by the high point of the cam 84 in synchronous timing with the other cams of the machine. sired to operate the machine by hand during setting up. etc., the brake shoe 82 may be freed from contact with the brake drum 33 by placing the relatively high portion 223 of this disc 2H,

under the nose of the extension, 2|3, (Fig. ,5). When setting up the pattern drum 3| and in order to obtain clearance for positioning the cam,

links thereon, it is desirable toretract the slides M3 and |938. This may be accomplished through the medium of a hand lever 2212 fixed to a pivot shaft 225 upon which are carried a plurality of down reaching arms 226. These arms preferably extend between said slides and are each arranged to contact a roller 221 carried by each adjacent slide. A detent 228, carried by the lever 226i, is associated with fixed teeth or serrations 223. Thus, with the lever as shown in Fig. 4, the slides may havecontact with l cam links of various heights and are free to be moved endwise thereby. Moving the lever to the left so the arms 223 move the slides to the right will afford the clearance necessary for setting up the pattern drum. In this position the leftmost tooth 223 will engage the detent to'hold the lever in this position.

In order to render the movement of the needle bar 37 more readily adjustable, veach arm 3ft is preferably provided with a slide block which may be securely set in relation to the 'arm pivot 35 as by means of a feed screw 23|, accessible from the front of the machine, (Fig. 7)

While the machine may be set up to knit one width of vfabric within its capacity, it is more often the 'case that two or more widths are simultaneously knitted. By employing as many carriages |35 as-the number of widths of fabric desired, a plurality of identical fabrics may be formed. Here again, the flexibility of the present arrangement becomes apparent when it is pointed However, when it is de-v E35 may be used for laying the filler yarn for the fabric F', it is preferred to couple the extension'arm it! with a similar arm Itla as by means of a connecting member 232. Thus the movement of the carriage |35 is imparted to said latter arm MIB and its yarn tube |448 will lay a filler thread in the fabric F in a manner identical to that performed'for the fabric F.

Also fixed to the band BIJ, there is provided a carriage 233, which is provided with a lug 234. The extent of movement of this carriage is the same as the carriage |35. At each end of the stroke of Amovement of its carriage, the lug 236| is adapted to alternately engage and move the respective slide collars 235 and 235 on the iixed rod itt.

The collar 235 is backed by a coil spring 23E `also strung on the rod hill, and the other end of said spring is adapted to engage against one end sion arm 238 provided with a yarn tube 239.

. other end of the carrier is backed by a coil out that either or both the knitted warp threads Y and the filler threads may be freely varied.

In some instances it is desired to incorporate two filler threads of different extent through the width of the fabric, i.-e., one ller thread extending for the entire 'width of the fabric and the other extending only through a medial portion of said fabric.

It is apparent from the above that one of the carriages must have a longer traverse than the other.' In that event an arrangement such as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 may be employed. In the embodiment hereillustrated, two widths of fabric F and F' are to be knitted, each to be provided with a ller thread extending through the entire width of the fabric and another filler thread through the portion of each respectively designated i and f.

. The band 3@ has amxed to it a carriage |35 which 4may move, as before described, along guide-ways 33.' This carriage may move the extension arm MI which supports the yarn tube M4, through the medium of the latch |52, (Fig.

. 13)., Since no means for moving the latch is I Vlaid at each course and for, the full width of the Y fabric F.

i While another carriage similar to the carriage spring 2t@ similar to, but somewhat shorter, than the spring 233. A xed collar` 24| is arranged as an abutment for the spring 24U. The above described mechanism is designed to lay the ller thread in the area of the fabric F which is designated f. v

The filler thread for the area ff of the fabric F is laid bythe carrier 231B, which carries the arm 238a and yarn tube 2338. Associated with this carrier are the coil springs'2368 and 240, the slide collar 235a and fixed abutment collar 26W. This latter assembly is similar to the one above described. l

The two carriers 23l and 231B are connected together as by a member 242. As can be seen, the carriage 233 may move between the collars 235 and 235a without-'imparting any movement to the carriers 237 and 237B, but the latter portion of each stroke of the carriage 233, will pick up and move said collars 235and 235a and hence the carriers so that the respective weft threads are laid inthe 'fabrics F and F. Thus when the carrier 237| is moved towards the left by the carriage 233, the carrier 231a is similarly moved towards the left through the medium of the connection 232, and similarly, when the carrier 231a is moved towards the right by said carriage, the carrier 231 is also vmoved towards the right vthrough the vmedium of said connection means It is believed that the specification, as thus far progressed, clearly sets forth the means and mechanism for providing Various types of knitted fabric as contemplated in this invention. The following description will deal with the mode of operation of the machine.

Operation Figures i4 to 17, inclusive,` indicate in semidiagrammatic form, several steps in the knitting operation as associated with the ller laying operation of a carriage such as shown in Figures 9 and 10, it being assumed that the movement of said carriage is for the entire width of the fabric to be knitted.. It is-also assumed that only one of the carriers i3? or |38 is to be used. In this instance the inner carrier |38 will be employed. It is further assumed that the carriage it is at the left end of its stroke.

Several courses of fabric having been already knitted as shown in Figure 14:, the needles at are at their lowermost pcsiti'onand the fabric is supported on them by means of the loops A! formed in the warp threads A. The sinkers iid are retracted and the tube M35 isdisposed so as to deposit the filler thread B upon the upper edges of said sinker. Now, the sinkers are moved to the rightV (Figure 15) so that the shoulders lita of the sinkers move the laid filler thread to the right of the needles. In this condition` the tube M5 has moved to a point beyond the needle bank so that the needles may now be moved upward.

This latter condition is shown in Figure 16, the

loops A1 having opened the latches of the needle as shown. The filler thread is now positioned between the needles and the oncoming warp yarn A. The loopers @il now move from a position to the right ofthe needles to a position to their left, preparatory to forming new loops A2 immediately beneath the needle hooks and around the needles. The compound rocking and oscillatory movement of the loopers serve to first move the warp threads between the needles to the position shown in Figure 16 and then back in one of the directions shown by the two-head arrow M3 (Fig. 18) so that the threads are passed around 1 the needles. As the loopers are rocked back to the position shown in Figure 17 the loops A2 are formed. It will be now seen that the ller thread B is disposed between the loops A1 and A2. As the needle-s are moved down and the sinkers are again withdrawn, the loops A1, which had previously been pulled free of the needle latches by the pull exerted on the knitted fabric, now lift the latches to close them. These loops will now slip oi the end of the needles which now support the loops A2. From the position shown in Figure 17, the parts move to the position of Figure 14. From this position, the knitting operation is repeated with the filler thread now laid from right to left as viewed from the rear of the machine. As can be seen, the knitting of the warp thread iswnot affected by the filler thread which may be variably laid as previously described. It will be remembered that the filler thread need not be laid at every knitting course despite the fact that the carriage 135 moves across with each course of knitting. Hence the previously stated means for obtaining wide variations in the knitted fabri may be more clearly understood. v Asseen in Fig-s. 8 and 14 to 18, inclusive, the sinkers iid are preferably formed with extended finger portions iib so that in any position of said sinkers the ller threads B are suitably supported thereon. However, it is not essential that all of the sinkers be provided with said extended porwarp threads A which are carried by said endwise moving loopers are knitted by the needles. The other warp C is therefore unknitted.

One form of material formed in this manner is shown in Fig. 20 and the exibility of design of fabric, with the further addition of this unknitted warp thread, may be readily imagined. Fig. 21 discloses a knitted or chain-stitch filler D, which may be employed as a ller thread. This knitted filler may be combined with unknitted fillers during the making of the fabric, or any combination of knitted and unknitted warp and/or ller yarns may be incorporated in the fabric by the means heretofore set forth.

lt can be readily seen by the above description that a plurality of simultaneously operable cary riers may be provided for simultaneously feeding a plurality of i'lller threads adjacent the needles to respectively incorporate the same in separate fabrics simultaneously produced by the machine. For this purpose warp threads are omitted from the warp feeding guide iingers at predetermined intervals leaving spaces, the widthV of a fabric produced being fixed by the distance between two successive inactive guide linger spaces. One or more of the filler thread carriers can be made to selectively operate between these successive spaces since the length of the carrier travel may be tions so longas a suflicient number of them are th'e loopers S9 are moved endwise to form the loops A2 and the loopers 99a are not, only those varied.

While the structural details of the invention as disclosed are at present preferred, it can be well understood that skilled persons may substitute mechanical equivalents therefor without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to be secured by.Lettcrs Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine for forming warp and filler threads into a fabric, the combination with knitting elements including a bank of needles, of a longitudinally reciprocable carriage for feeding filler thread substantially parallel to the needle bank, a flexible perforated band for moving said carriage, and filler sinkers movable transversely of the machine for receiving filler thread directly from said carriage, said sinkers being adapted to place said filler thread in position to be incorporated in the courses of the fabric during the knitting operation.

2. In a knitting machine for forming warp and ller threads into a fabric, the combination with knitting implements including a bank of needles, of a longitudinally reciprocable carriage for feeding filler thread substantially parallel to the needle bank, a flexible perforated band for moving said carriage, said carriage comprising a portion removably attached to said band and a carrier portion dapted to be separated from the fixed portion, and filler sinkers movable transversely of the machine for receiving filler thread directly from 'said carrier portion, said sinkers being adapted to place said filler thread in position to be incorporated in the courses of the fabric during the knitting operation.

3. In a knitting machine for forming warp and filler threads into a fabric, in combination, means for feeding 'warp thread, means for knitting 4said warp thread to form a fabric. means for feeding filler .thread for incorporation into said fabric,

means for reciprocating said filler feeding means, said ller feeding means comprising a carriage lattached to said reciprocating means and a filler thread carrier-portion, and means for disassociah means and a filler thread carrier member, means for maintaining said carrier member couplled to.

said carriage, and means for uncoupling said carriermember from said carriage at either end of the travel of said flller feeding means.`

5. In a knitting machine for Aforming war-p and iiller threads into a fabric, in combination, means for feeding warp thread, means for knitting said means for actuating said coupling means, said means including cam operated selector means synchronized with the operationv of the machine,

y. and an oscillatory member at each 'end of the carried means at each 'of said ends of said filler feeding means.

warp thread to7 form a fabric, means for feeding ller thread for incorporation into said fabric, said filler feeding means including a carriage anda filler thread carrier, means carried .by said cartravel of said filler feeding means, said oscillatory 4 member being adapted to engage said carriage travel of 10. In a knitting machine for forming Warp and ller threads into -a fabric, in combination, means for feeding filler thread for incorporation into said fabric, said fil-ler feeding means comprising a carriage adapted to reciprocate continuously during the operation of the machine, a filler thread carrierV coupled with said carriage,

vmeans for uncoupling said carrier at either end of the travel of said carriage, and means for holding said carrier immovable duri-ng its uncoupled condition.

riage having engagement with said carrierwhcreby said carrier may be selectively coupled to or uncoupled from said carriage, and means for actuating said coupling means. A

6. In a knitting machine Vfor forming warp and 4filler threads into a fabric, in combination, means for feeding warp thread, means for knitting said warpthread into said fabric, means for feeding filler thread for incorporation into said fabric,

said last-mentioned means comprising a. carriage and a pair of filler thread carriers, means carried by said carriage having engagement with said carriers whereby said carriers may be each selectively. coupled to and uncoupled from said carriage, and means for actuating such coupling means.

1l. In a knitting machine for forming warp and ller threads into a fabric, in combination, filler feed means for incorporating filler thread into said fabric, means for actuating said feed 1 means, and selector means for coupling said feed means with said actuating means, said coupling, means including a pair yof members and cam means for moving one of said pair of members to one side of a neutral position and for moving the other of saidmembers to the other side of said 7. In a knitting machine for formingv Warp4 and filler threads into -a fabric, in combination, means for feeding Warp thread, means for knitting said lfrom said carriage at either end`of the travel of said ller feeding means, whereby the feeding of iiller thread is interrupted;

8. In a knitting machine for forming Warp an filler threads into a fabric, in combination, means for feeding warp thread, means for knitting said warp thread in'to a fabric, means for feeding ller thread for incorporation into .said fabric, said filler feeding means comprising a carriage and a pair of ller thread carriers, means carried by said carriage having engagement with said carriers, whereby said carriers may be eachl selectively vcoupled to or uncoupled from said carriage, and means for actuating said coupling means, said last-mentioned means including cam operated selector means synchronized with the .operation of the machine.

9. In a knitting machine for forming warp and ller threads into a fabric, in combination, means for feeding Warp thread, means for knitting said warp thread into a fabric, means 4for feeding ller thread Afor incorporation into said fabric, said filler `thread feeding means comprising a carriage and a pair of'filler thread carriers, means carried A by said carriage having engagement with said carriers, whereby said carriers may be each selectively coupled to or uncoupled from said carriage,v

neutral position 12. In .a knitting machine for forming .warp and ller threads into a fabric, in combination, a. filler thread eedeL'means for` reciprocating said feeder including a perforated endless band,

a pair of pulleys around which'hthe end bights of the band are trained, means for oscillating one of said pulleys, and brake means associated with one of said pulleys for arresting the movement of said band and said feeder.

13. In a knitting machine for forming warp and ller threads into a fabric, in combination, a`

i-lller thread feeder, means for reciprocating said.

v feeder including a perforated endless band, a

pair of pulleys around which the end bights of the band are trained, means for oscillating one Vof said pulleys, means for varyingthe degree of oscillation .of said pulley and thus varying the degree of reciprocatory travel of the feeder, and brake means associated with one of said pulleys for arresting-the movement of said band ateach end of the. travel of said feeder.

14. In a knitting machine for forming warp and filler threads into a fabric, in combination, a filler thread feeder, means for reciprocating said feeder including a perforated endless band, a pair. of pulleys around which the end bights of the band are trained, means for varying'the degreeof travel of said feeder including operating means for oscillating one of said pulleys, and cam meansfor controlling said operating means.

15. In a knitting machine for forming. warp and filler threads into a fabric, in combination,"

means for feeding warp thread, meansfor knitting said warp thread to form a fabric, said knitting means including a bank of needles, warp thread looping means, automatic means for controlling the position of said looping means, a

flexible means for moving said filler feeder, ller guides movable transversely of said needle bank Y to position said ller thread for incorporation incourses of the warp 'during the knitting operation, automatically controlled courseselectormeansfor

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