US2248507A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

; July 8, 1941- M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. Nb

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KNITTING MACHINE 4 Filed Nov. 12, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I -ttzuwxx:ram-A 176 Fig. 26 v 168 166 fig 170 170 174 i 74 186 2'5; 154 184 INVENTOR ATT RNEYS Patented July 8, 1941 2,248,507 KNITTING MACHINE Max 0. Miller, Cumberland, R.

I., assignor to Knitting Machines Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 1938, Serial No. 239,984 87 Claims. (CI. 66-82) The present invention relates to improvements in flat knitting machines, and is herein disclosed as embodied in a flat full-fashioned type hosiery machine having welt mechanism arranged for mechanically setting up and subsequently closing the welt.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide in a flat knitting machine, a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the several cooperating instrumentalities together with the actuating and controlling devices therefor, which will adapt the machine for full automatic and continuous operation in the knitting of a succession of knitted articles upon the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flat full-fashioned type hosiery machine adapted for the knitting of welted fabrics which is constructed and arranged to automatically discharge each successively completed Iblank from the machine, and thereafter to set up and knit another welted fabric without interruption of the machine operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a fiat knitting machine having knitting and fabric take-up devices, a novel construction and arrangement of the several cooperating mechanisms including means for automatically discharging each knitted article from the machine upon completion thereof, whereby said devices including the fabric take-up may be applied to the knitting of a succeeding article without interrupting continued operation of the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fiat lmitting machine which is constructed and arranged for knitting, and thereafter for automatically pressing oil the finished fabric.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabrics having knitting and fabric take-up devices including a welt wire, means for supporting a plurality of such welt wires on the machine, and for bringing said welt'wires successively into active operation to take up in succession each article knitted on the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a flat knitting machine for knitting welted fabrics, a novel and improved fabric take-up device including means for automatically resetting the take-up to receive a new welt wire, and for tensioning the same against the welt fabric.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention consist also in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained thereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the upper portion of a flat full-fashioned type knitting machine having mechanical means to turn the welt, three sections of the machine being specifically shown in this figure; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the machine looking from the left, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, and illustrating additional details of the actuating connections for the welt mechanism, the automatic control for throwing the selected yarn carriers into and out of operation, and the mechanism for transferring a welt wire from the welt wire magazine to the welt wire support on the picot bar; Fig. 3 is a somewhat fragmentary view of the machine in front elevation illustrating particularly the machine drive, the fabric take-up and resetting mechanisms including the counterweights and operating controls therefor; Fig. 4 is a plan view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the machine looking from the left, and taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation illustrating particularly certain of the pattern controls of the machine and the cam shaft shift mechanism; Fig.7 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation illustrating particularly the welt wire magazine shown in Fig. 1, and the welt wires supported therein; Fig. 8 is an end view looking from the left, of the parts shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view in left side elevation illustrating particularly the picot bar and welt wire support shown in Fig. 2 Fig. 10 is a partial plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing certain of the electrical connections including the main driving motor of the machine, and the slow-down and stop switches therefor; Fig. 12 is a crosssectional view of the lower portion of the machine looking from the left, and incorporating substantially the parts shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 13 is a partial plan View of Fig. 2, illustrating particularly the needle bar and fabric take-up mechanism including the take-up straps and take-up supporting means associated with one knitting section of the machine; Fig. 14 is a detail view in front elevation of the driving roller for one of the take-up straps; Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a detail view of a portion of the take-up straps shown in Fig. 12, but with the straps in the posi-. tion taken at the time of pressing off of the fabric; Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of one of the take-up straps and the latch mechanism associated therewith, shown in Fig. 13, the parts being shown in latched position; Fig. 18 is a view in side elevation of substantially the parts shown in Fig. 1'7; Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the latch mechanism for supporting the take-up shown in Fig. 18, but with the take-up strap and hooks associated therewith at the limit of their rearward or resetting movement prior to the engagement of the latch; Fig. 20 is a detail plan view showing in full size a portion of one of the takeup straps including the resilient section thereof; Fig. 21 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation of the counterweight drums, the resetting clutch and certain of the control mechanisms associated therewith, shown on a smaller scale in Fig. 3; Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22; Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail view in rear elevation of the automatic mechanism for driving and for throwing selected yarn carriers into and out of operation; Fig. 25 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 24, looking from the right of Fig. 24; Fig. 26 is a view in front elevation of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 24 and 25; Fig. 27 is a detail perspective view of the automatic yarn carrier control slides; Fig. 28 is a detail plan view illustrating the carrier rods and automatic yarn carrier mechanism extending over two sections of the machine; and Fig. 29 is a detail plan view of a portion of the control mechanism for the take-up resetting clutch shown in said elevation in Fig. 5.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a flat full-fashioned machine of the general type which is adapted for continuous operation in the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery, only so much of the machine, however, having been illustrated, as necessary to show the connection of the present invention therewith. The machine is provided with mechanism for performing all of the operations essential to the knitting of a stocking blank, including the usual knitting devices and the several mechanisms required for performing the various operations auxiliary t knitting, including the usual narrowing machine frame, mechanism for the automatic changing of yarn carriers, and welt mechanism adapted for automatically setting up and subsequently tuming the welt. V

In accordance with the present invention, a novel and improved is employed which is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the automatic yarn changer upon the completion of a knitted fabric to cast 011 and to discharge the completed blank from the machine, whereby the take-up is freed automatically from engagement with the completed blank and may be returned to operating position without interruption of the machine operation to set up and knit a new welted fabric.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, a novel and improved fabric take-up device is employed for drawing off the fabric during the knitting of the entire blank in linear directions, so that the completed fabric when pressed off, may be discharged from the machine.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, a novel mechanism is employed for mechanically resetting the fabric take-up, so that the take-up may be rendered operative during the subsequent knitting of a new welted fabric welt wire take-up mechanism to provide a continuous take-up of the fabric during the knitting of the welt and subsequent leg portions of the blank.

Another feature of the invention consists in the novel and improved construction and arrangement of the welt wire support, fabric takeup connectible thereto, and actuating connections associated therewith, for causing a welt wire held on said support to be operatively connected with the fabric take-up to take up the welted fabric.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a welt wire magazine, and means associated therewith for positioning welt wires from the magazine in the welt wire support.

Other features of the invention relate to the provision of a number of novel actuating and controlling mechanisms, and to the novel arrangement of these mechanisms for controlling the operation of the several instrumentalities of the machine to carry out individually and in series the several operations which include the slowing of the machine, the actuation of the automatic carrier mechanism to disconnect the active carrier and to press of! a completed fabric blank, the arresting of the movement of the fabric takeup, the discharge of the blank and associated welt wire from the machine, the further actuation of the carrier mechanism and the welt hooks to throw a carrier into active operation to set up an initial course of welt fabric, the shifting of the machine to full speed operation, the resetting of the fabric take-up mechanism and subsequent automatic laying in and tensioning of a new welt wire from the magazine against the fabric, the slowing of the machine and movement of the welt hooks to close the welt, the easing of the take-up tension during said welt closing operation, and the shifting of the machine again to full speed operation for the continued knitting of the remaining portions of the blank in the usual manner.

The drawings disclose a multiple section flat full-fashioned type machine which is in many respects of well known construction, having the usual frames 30 spaced at intervals along the machine length, which are tied together by a number of rails extending along the length of the machine, these rails as best shown in Fig. 2, including a work table 32, lower rear rail 34, and sinker rail 36. Supported in bearings in the frames 30 are a number of operating shafts which extend along the length of the machine including the usual main cam shaft 38, the needle forward and back motion rock shaft 40 and the needle vertical motion rock shaft 42. The ma.- chine is provided with the usual knitting instrumentalities including knitting needles 44 supported in needle bars 46, sinkers '48 and the,

usual alternating dividers slidably supported in sinker bed 50 which has formed at its forward end the usual press edge, and cooperating knockover bits (not shown).

The machine is also provided with the usual yarn carrier rods designated respectively at 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 and 68 supporting yarn carriers 61, these rods extending along the length of the machine, and being supported in brackets 68 secured to the sinker rail 36. The machine is also provided with the usual narrowing machine frame comprising a rod support II extending along the length of the machine and rigidly supported along its length on forwardly extending arms 12 which are pivotally supported on a pivot shaft 14. The illustrated machine is provided with narrowing rods, two such rods only supported on the brackets 90 is a picot rod 94 having mounted thereon the usual picot bars 86,

the bars 66 being pivotally supported on the rod 84 being swung between an inoperative raised position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, and an alternative downward operating position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 12.

The machine is also provided with the usual mechanism for imparting to the narrowing frame the dipping movements employed for narrowing and similar loop transfer operations. This mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 12, comprises one or a plurality of cam levers such as that indicated at H supported at its forward end on a pivot stud I3, and provided with a cam roller I for alternate engagement with an idler cam disk 11 and an adjacent narrowing cam I9. At its rear end, the cam lever II is connected by a vertically extending link 8I to the narrowing frame comprised by arms I2, a rod support 10, and the connecting rod designated at 83. In accordance with the usual practice, the cam shaft 39 is arranged to be shogged to the right to narrowing position to position the narrowing cam 19 in operative relation to the cam roller 15. By the term dummy narrowing motion, as used in the specification and claims, is meant the shogging of the cam shaft to its narrowing position, so that the usual narrowing dipping motions are imparted to the narrowing frame as above set forth, while the narrowing points are either rendered inoperative or are located in inoperative position beyond the ends of the active needle series. motion, the machine is operated at a reduced speed in accordance with the universal practice of slowing the machine operation when the narrowing machine is functioning.

The welt mechanism of the present machine is substantially identical with that illustrated in the copending application of Lieberknecht Serial No. 212,088,'fi1ed June 6, 1938, and comprises welt hooks 90 supported on pendants 92 secured to overhead pivot shafts 94 which are in turn mounted for vertical movement on forwardly extending lever arms 96. The supporting lever arms 96 are "sleeved at their rear ends on a longitudinal pivot shaft 98 rotatably mounted in bearings formed in upwardly extending brackets I00. The welt hooks 90 and pendants 92 are tensioned forwardly to provide a take-up tension during the knitting of the welt fabric, by means of tension springs I02 connected between upwardly extending arms I04 on the pendants 92, and pins I06 on the supporting lever 96. The forward and back and vertical positioning movements are imparted to the pendants 92 and welt hooks 90 to take a settingup course of needles, and subsequently to return these loops to the needles to close the welt through operating connections which include an auxiliary cam shaft IIO rotatably supported in the overhead brackets I00, and having mounted thereon forward and back and vertical motion cams. The connections through which vertical positioning movements are imparted to the pendants 92 and welt hooks 90 comprise forwardly extending cam levers I I2 loosely supported at intervals along the length of the machine on the shaft 98, and provided at their forward ends' with cam engaging rollers I I4. The cam leversl I2 are During this dummy narrowing.

connected together by means of a longitudinally extending rod 8, and engage beneath the forwardly extending supporting levers 96 to determine the vertical position thereof. The connections through which forward and back movements are imparted to the pendants 92 and welt hooks comprise downwardly extending lever arms II 6 rigidly secured to the rock shafts 94 on which the pendants 92 are secured. Each of the levers H8 is connected by a link I20 to a cam lever I22 pivotally mounted on a forwardly extending lever arm 96, and provided at its lower end with a roller I24 for engagement with a cooperating cam on the auxiliary cam shaft H0. In accordance with the disclosure of the abovementioned Lieberknecht application, the auxiliary cam shaft H0 is driven through successive one-half revolutions to effect each of the settingup and subsequent welt closing operations through connections from the main cam shaft of the machine, which include a driving rod I26 connected at its upper end through bevel gears I29 with the cam shaft H0, and at its lower end through bevel gears I30 with a second drive shaft I32. At its lower end the shaft I32 is provided with a bevel gear I34 which meshes with a driving bevel gear I36 loosely supported on the main cam shaft 38 of the machine. The driving gear I36 is driven through successive increments of one-half revolution each, through a half revolution clutch, which is in turn controlled from the pattern chain of the machine for the actuation of the welt mechanism.

The clutch comprises a sleeve clutch member generally indicated at I39 (Fig, 2) slidably supported on the sleeve hub of and keyed by pins I31 to turn with the driving bevel gear I36. The clutch member I33 is moved into and out of clutching engagement with a driving clutch member secured to the cam shaft'33 through connections which include clutch shifting levers I39 and I40 secured to a vertically extending rock shaft I4I, and provided at their forward ends with follower rolls I42 arranged to engage with an annular groove formed in the periphery of the slidable clutch member I38. A tension spring I43 connected to a laterally extending arm I44 on the lower end of the vertical rock shaft I4I tends to move the clutch member I38, which is of the single tooth type, into clutching engagement with the driving clutch member referred to. The clutch member I 38 is however held normally in a retracted inoperative position by the engagement of a vertically extending detent lever I45 carried on a fixed pivot I46 with a rearwardly extending arm I41 secured to the upper end of the vertical rock shaft I4I. Upon movement of the detent lever I45 rearwardly out of engagement with the cooperating arm I41, the clutch member I38 will be moved under the pressure of its spring I43 into clutching position. After the main cam shaft 38 has rotated through a partial revolution, and when the welt cam shaft IIO has turned through substantially one-half revolution, the clutch member I38 is again moved to its inoperative position to disconnect the drive to the Welt cam shaft IIO by engagement of a face cam on a disk I48 on the cam shaft 38, with a roller I49 on the clutch lever I39. The detent lever I45 then moves behind the arm I41 to lock the clutch in disengaged position.

The operation of the detent I 45 to engage the part revolution clutch for each of the setting up and subsequent welt closing operations of the welt mechanism, is controlled from the pattern chain 2| 6 of the machine through suitable connections including a pattern lever which may be of ordinary construction to be actuated by a button on the chain, and link connections terminating in the link II connected at its rear end to the detent lever I45.

Inasmuch as the parts of the machine thus far described, are either well known in the art, or have been more fully described and illustrated in the pending Lieberknecht application above referred to, and inasmuch as the details of these mechanisms form no part of the present invention, further illustration thereof is believed unnecessary.

An automatic mechanism for driving and for throwing selected carrier rods into and out of active operation, is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 24 to 28 inclusive, for controlling the carrier rods 52 to 60 inclusive. This mechanism comprises a friction box I50 supported on the traversing friction carrier driving rod I52. Rigid-1y secured to move with the friction box, is a support I54 having mounted thereon vertically slidable driv ing members I56, I58, I60, I62 and I64 which are arranged forengagement with corresponding stops generally indicated at I66 on the respective carrier rods 52 to 60 inclusive. The bracket support I54 is also sleeved for axial movement upon a pattern shaft I68 which provides support for five pattern cams generally designated at I10 which operates through intervening connections to control the positions of the respective driving members I56 to I64 inclusive. The pattern cams I10 are slidably mounted upon and keyed to turn with the pattern shaft I68, and are mounted between upwardly extending arms of the bracket I54 to move as a unit with the bracket and friction box I50 lengthwise of the machine. The connections through which the pattern cams I10 are rendered operative to control the positions of the driving members I56 to I64 inclusive, comprise a series of pattern levers I14 supported on a pivot shaft I16 on the upper portion of the bracket support I54 for engagement with the respective pattern cams I10, and connected at their lower ends to forwardly extending slide members I16 supported in the bracket support I54. Each of the slides I18 has formed thereon a cammed rise portion which engages with a transverse pin on the corresponding driving members I56 to I64 inclusive. Tension springs I80 which are connected at their upper ends to the pattern levers I14 and at their lower ends to pins I82 on the friction box I50, tend normally to maintain each of the pattern levers I14 and associated slides I18 in a forward position in which each of the driving members I56 and I64 inclusive, are permitted to fall into locking engagement with corresponding abutments I66 on the respective carrier rods. Small tension springs I84 connected between pins I86 on the respective driving members I56 to I64 inclusive, and pins I88 on the bracket support I54, tend to move the respective driving members downwardly to operating position. Step-by-step rotational movements are imparted to the pattern shaft I68 and pattern cams I10 to cause selected carriers to be thrown into and out of active operation by means of a pawl and ratchet racking device which is actuated in timed relation to the main cam shaft 86 of the machine. These connections, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 24, include a ratchet I00 secured to the pattern shaft I68, and a pawl I82 mounted on a pawl lever I94 loosely supported to turn on the pattern shaft I68. The pawl lever is connected by means of a link I66 to the outer end of a lever I06 loosely supported to turn on the pivot shaft 14. The lever I66 is in turn connected by means of a link 266 to the rearwardly extending arm of a cam lever 262 supported on a pivot shaft 204, and provided at its forward end with a cam roller 206 for engagement with an actuating cam on the main cam shaft 88 of the machine. The roller 206 is supported for axial sliding movement on its pivot to permit movement of the roller into and out of operative engagement with its cooperating cam. Shifting movements are imparted to the cam roller 206 through connections, best shown in Figs. 6 and 12, controlled by the pattern chain 2I6 of the machine, which include a shifting fork 266 connected at one end to the grooved hub of the roller 206, and at its other end to an axially movable pattern link 2I0. Axial shifting movements are imparted to the pattern link 2" by means of a pattern lever 2I2 supported on a pivot 2, and arranged for engagement with corresponding buttons on the pattern chain 2I6.

The machine is provided with the usual cam shaft shift mechanism for rendering the narrowing machine operative and inoperative, as generally indicated in Fig. 6, including the shift roller 2I8 and cooperating face cams 220 and 222. The mechanism through which this cam shaft shift mechanism is controlled from the pattern chain 2I6 of the machine, being of well known construction, is not here shown.

The machine is driven from a variable spr 2d electric motor generally indicated at 280'in Figs. 3 and 11. The drive is taken from the motor 230 through a chain 232 to the usual hand wheel shaft 284 extending along the front side of the machine. The shaft 234 is connected to drive the cam shaft 38 through one or more gears 236 secured to the shaft 284 which mesh with gears 236 on the cam shaft 88. The starting and stopping and variation in the rate of machine operation are controlled through electrical connections which may be rendered operative to start and stop and to vary the speed of the motor .230. The construction and mode of operation of these connections will be readily appreciated from an inspection of the electrical diagram of Fig. 11, in which power is supplied to the motor 230 from a three phase power line 240. A main starting and stopping switch is shown at 242 comprising a pivoted switch contact member 244 controlled by plungers 246 and 248 which are in turn acted upon by a rocker arm 250 (see Fig. 12) secured to the usual manually operable control shaft extending along the front side of the machine.

For slowing the motor to a predetermined slow speed, there is also provided a motor slow switch 252 arranged for the closed position shown in Fig. 11, to short-circuit two motor slow speed resistors which include a fixed resistor 254 and a variable resistor 258. When the switch 252 is now thrown to the alternative slow speed open position, the resistors 254 and 256 are rendered operative to slow the motor to a predetermined slow speed determined by the setting of the variable resistor 255. It will be understood that the electrical connections for controlling the motor 260 may be of any well known description, and do not form specifically any part of the present invention. No further description thereof is believed necessary. The motor slow switch 252 comprises a contact arm 250 pivotally mounted on a rock shaft 260 which also carries an arm 262 connected through a link 264 (see Fig. 6)

"ture with a pattern chain lever 265. A tension spring 266 connected at one end to the pattern lever 265 and at its other end to a fixed part of the machine, tends normally to holdthe pattern lever and switch contact arm 258 in the closed high speed position illustrated in Fig. 11.

In accordance with the present invention, mechanism has been provided adapted for use in fiat knitting machines of the general type herein disclosed, for effecting automatic press-01f of the finished fabric, and the subsequent starting of a new set on the machine without any necessity of interrupting machine operation. In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings, applicant provides a fabric take-up mechanism which is constructed and arranged to automatically discharge the finished fabric from the machine, and thereafter automatically to be brought into position for engagement with a new set for the performance of its take-up function. As disclosed in the drawings, the fabric take-up mechanism has been particularly adapted to cooperate with means for mechanically turning the welt, for the taking up and subsequent discharge of welted fabrics from the machine. As previously stated, features of applicants take-up mechanism include a welt wire magazine, a support on which welt wires are' supplied as needed from the magazine, and means for imparting relative movements to the take-up and support to operatively connect the welt wire with the take-up to take up the welted fabric.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 12 of the drawings, there is provided with each section of the machine, a pair of endless take-up straps 218 which are supported adjacent the needle series on idler rollers 212 in the form of pin sprockets which are pivotally supported on bridges 214,

two such bridges being provided for each section at opposite sides of the needle series. The straps 218 extend forwardly around an idler take-up I roller 216 loosely mounted on a shaft 218 which extends lengthwise of the machine, and occupies the position of the usual fabric take-up shaft of these machines, the straps 218 being mounted to run in grooved portions 288 formed at the opposite ends of the roller 216. Thence the straps extend downwardly around pin sprocket rollers 282 rigidly secured to a take-up shaft 284 extending along the length of the machine, and located near the floor level. It will be noted that each of the straps 218 is provided with a. double series of grommets 286 for engagement with the pin sprocket rollers 212 and 282. Thence the straps 218 extend upwardly around idler rollers 288 supported on fixed brackets 298, and back to the idler pin sprocket rollers 212. As best shown in Figs. 20 and 21 of the drawings, each take-up strap 218 is provided with .a welt wire take-up hook 292 having an arcuate-shaped base portion 294 secured to the strap 218. Each strap 218 has also provided therein, a resilient portion formed by a series of parallel tension springs 296 connected at opposite ends to portions of the strap 218, so that the intervening portion of the strap 218 is puckered around the springs. A take-up tensioning strain is imeparted to the take-up straps 218 by means of a take-up counterweight 298 located at the righthand end of the machine and supported by a counterweight cord 388 which passes over idler pulleys 382 and 384 located on the super-struc- 188, and at its other end is secured to a counterweight drum 386 rigidly secured to the right hand end of the take-up shaft 284 at the right hand end of the machine. The idler sprocket pin rollers 212 and the take-up pin sprocket rollers 282 are connected to the take-up 'straps 218 in such a manner as to provide a sufiicient amount of slack in the return side of the take-up straps passing around idler pulleys 288, so that the resilient portions of the straps comprised by the springs 296, may be free to contract and expand under the influence of the take-up tension acting against the knitting fabric.

Cooperating with the fabric take-up mechanism, there is provided with each section of the machine immediately beneath the driving take-up shaft 284 and pin sprocket take-up rollers 282, a hopper 381 which is rigidly secured to the supporting brackets for thetake-up shaft 284, and extends along the length of the knitting section. This hopper is provided for the purpose of receiving the completed fabric blank and associated welt wire when the fabric is automatically pressed off, as hereinafter more fully to be described.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided mechanically operating means for resetting the take-up straps 218 and counterweight 298. The mechanism provided to this end comprises a relatively heavier counterweight 388 which is supported on a counterweight cord 318 passing over idler pulleys 312 and 314, and thence downwardly to a counterweight drum 316 loosely supported to turn on the take-up shaft 284. A clutch member 318 keyed to the take-up shaft 284 and slidable thereon for engagement with a cooperating clutch member 328 formed on the hub portion of the resetting counterweight drum 316, provides a convenient means for connecting and disconnecting the resetting counterweight drum 316 and weight 388 to reset the take-up. It will be noted that the drums and the associated counterweight cords are arranged to rotate the take-up shaft 284 in opposite directions. In order to control the rate of movement of the take-up shaft 284 and associated parts under the influence of the resetting counterweight 388, there is also provided integral with the resetting-counterweight drum 316, a friction brake which comprises a drum brake surface 322 against which a friction shoe 324 is tensioned by means of the lever, 325 and spring 326.

' The mechanism through which the resetting drum 316 and counterweight 388 are returned to the high set position shown in Fig. 3, comprises a ratchet 338 secured to turn with the drum 316 (see Figs. 5 and 22), and a pawl 332 pivotally mounted on a cam actuated pawl lever 334 supported on a fixed pivot 336. At its rear end the from the main pattern chain 216 of the machine,

which include a shifter fork 344 mounted on an axially movable control rod 346, and arranged for engagement with a grooved hub of the cam roller 338. As best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings,

the control rod 346 is connected at its left hand end to an upwardly extending arm of a pattern lever 348 which is arranged to be acted on by appropriate buttons on the pattern chain 2l6.

In order to prevent reverse movement of the drum 3l6 under the influence of the counterweight 388 while the pawl and ratchet resetting mechanism above described, is in operation, and also for maintaining the counterweight 388 in its raised set position, a latch member 358 is provided pivoted at its lower end on a fixed bracket 382, and at its upper end arranged for engagement with the teeth of a stop ratchet 354 formed on the left face of the drum 3l8 as viewed in Fig. 22.

Further in accordance with the present invention, a control mechanism is provided which is rendered operative at the completion of a set up the machine, to shift the clutch 3" from its inoperative position shown, for example, in Fig. 22, into engagement with the clutch member 328, and at the same time release the latch 358, so that the resetting drum 3l8 and counterweight 388 are rendered operative to rotate the take-up shaft 284 in a reverse direction, so that the takeup hooks 282 may be returned to operative position for engagement with the new welt wires, and the take-up counterweight 288 will be simultaneously moved to its raised set position. As best shown in Figs. 22 and 23 of the drawings, the position of the clutch 318 is controlled by means of a clutch lever- 368 secured at its lower end to a rearwardly extending rock shaft 382 which is supported at its forward end on a fixed bracket 364. The lever 388 is provided at its upper end with a forked portion and shoes 366 which engage in a grooved portion 368 of the clutch member 3l8. A laterally extending arm of the clutch lever 368, has formed therein two V-shaped stop surfaces 318 which are arranged to be engaged by a spring-pressed detent 312 mounted on an extension of the bracket 364, so that the clutch lever may be held securely in each of its alternative disengaged and engaged positions. The position of the latch member 358 is arranged to be controlled from the reversing lever 368 by means of a link 314, at one end pivotally connected to the clutch lever 368, and at its other end having a slotted portion 316 to receive a pin 318 supported on the latch lever 358. A small tension spring 388 connected between the latch lever 358 and the link 314, tends to maintain the latch 358 at the limit of its movement to the right, as shown in Fig. 22. The positions of the clutch 3I8 and clutch lever 368 are directly controlled by the movement of the counterweight 288, movement of the counterweight 288 to its bottom position serving to shift the clutch to the left to connect the take-up resetting mechanism, and subsequent movement of the counterweight 288 to its fully raised position serving to return the clutch to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 22. These connections, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, comprise the rock shaft 362 which is supported adjacent its rear end in a bearing formed in a fixed bracket 382. A downwardly extending arm 384 secured to the rear end of the rock shaft 362 is connected by means of an adjustable link 386 with the downwardly'extending arm of a bell-crank 388 pivotally supported on a machine bracket 388. A horizontal arm of the bell-crank 388 has formed thereon a pan 382 against which the counterweight 288 engages at the limit of its downward movement. The rocking movement thus imparted to the bell-crank 388, acts through the connections above described, to shift the clutch member 3l8 to the left to its engaged resetting position, and then, as the clutch members are brought into mesh, causes the latch 358 to be moved away from the stop ratchet 354. It is to be noted that the latch is not fully disengaged from its teeth until after the clutch has commenced to mesh. The release of the reset counterweight 388 and drum 3i8 as above described, causes the take-up shaft 284 to be rotated in a reverse direction to reset the take-up, and at the same time to move the take-up counterweight 288 to its raised position shown in Fig. 3. As the counterweight 288 reaches the limit of its upward movement, it engages with the offset upper end of an adjustable link 384 which is guided at its upper end in a stationary bracket 386, and at its lower end is pivotally connected to the hori zontally extending arm of the bell-crank 388. The upward movement of the take-up counterweight 288 acts through the link 384 and bellcrank 388 to shift the clutch 318 again to its disengaged position, and at the same time acts yieldingly through the spring 388 to engage the latch 358 with the ratchet teeth to prevent further movement of the reset counterweight 388 and drum 316. The lost motion connection be tween the latch 388 and link 386 permits the latch to move freely back and forth under the influence of its spring during the re-winding of the resetting counterweight cord.

Further in accordance with the present invention, a novel and improved means is provided to support the welt wire take-up in operative position, to operatlvely engage a welt wire with the take-up, and to tension the welt wire against the welt portion of the fabric. To this end the welt wire is mounted on a support which is automatically moved downwardly to trip the take-up into active operation, and to engage the welt wire in the welt hooks 282.

Inaccordance with another feature of the invention, applicant provides a welt wire magazine, in which a relatively large number of welt wires may be stored, together with automatically operated means for transferring welt wires as needed from the magazine to the support, so that a continuous operation of the machine may be secured to set up and knit a succession of welted fabrics without any necessity on the part of the operator of laying in or placing additional welt wires on, the machine during or prior to the knitting of each succeeding set.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of the drawings, there is supported on each picot bar 86, a welt wire support which comprises two brackets 388, one at each end of the picot bar, having formed therein a slotted portion 488, and a spring-pressed detent 482 for yieldingly maintaining a welt wire in the support. It will be noted that the welt wire designated at 484 is provided near each end thereof with a reduced annular portion 486 which fits into the slot 488 in order to insure an accurate positioning of the welt wire lengthwise of the needle series. It will be noted that for the raised inoperative position of the picot bar shown in Fig. 9, and in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 12, that the open ends of the slots 488 are positioned upwardly to permit the deposit of the welt wire therein. In the alternative operative position of the picot bar 86, the slots 488 open downwardly, the welt wire 484 being, however, held in position by the springpressed detents 482. The construction and arrangement of the supporting means for the welt wire take-up is such that a dummy downward movement imparted to the narrowing machine frame with the picot bar in its downward operative position, will cause a welt wire held in the supporting brackets 398 to be positioned in the path of the take-up hooks 292, and will then trip the welt wire take-up into active operation, causing the hooks 292 to strip the welt wire 404 from the slots 400, and to tension the welt wire against the fabric.

The mechanism for supporting and for releasing the welt wire take-up comprises a pair of latch members 408 for each section, one such latch member being pivotally supported at on each of the bridges 214. The downwardly extending portion of each latch 408 has formed therein two V-shaped notches 2 which are arranged to be engaged by a spring-pressed plunger 4 in the bridge 214, so that the latch member is held yieldingly in either of two alternative positions. The latch member 408 also has formed thereon a rearwardly extending latch arm 6 which is arranged to ride upon the peripheral surface of a disk member 8 secured to turn with the idler strap pulley 212, and for engagement with a notch 420 formed in the surface of the disk. The latch member 408 is also provided with a forwardly extending arm 422 by means of which the latch is tripped into locking position, and a rearwardly extending arm 424, by means of which the latch is tripfied into its alternative open position to permit t e movement of the welt hooks to engage with and tension the welt wire against the fabric. The mechanism for tripping the latch member 408 into latching position, comprises a cross bar 426 secured to and connecting the two take-up straps 210 of each section which is arranged as the take-up is drawn rearwardly to its set position, to ride on the bridges 214. As the take-up approaches its extreme rearward position, the cross bar 426 rides under two cover plates 428 mounted on the respective bridges directly above the contact surface of the trip arm 422 of the latch, so that movement of the cross bar 426 beneath the bridge 214 acts to depress the arms 422, and to shift the latches 408 sufliciently towards the latched position shown in Fig. 18, so that the spring-pressed plungers 4 start to enter the right hand notches 2. Further movement of the latches is prevented at this time by th engagement of the latch arm 6 with the peripheral surface of the disk 4l8 as shown in Fig. 19. The cover plates 428 are also provided with a laterally extending stop surface 430 which engages against the bar 426 to positively limit the rearward movement of the take-up under the influence of the relatively heavy reset counterweight 308. As the reset counterweight 308 and reset drum 3| 6 are now disconnected through the opening of the clutch 3l8 as above described, the take-up straps 210 again move forwardly under the influence of the take-up counterweight 298 until the latch comes into engagement with the notch 420. The action of the spring-pressed plunger 4| 4 riding on the side of the right hand V-shaped notch 2, now causes the latch to ride into the notch 420 to lock the take-up in its retracted set position as shown in Fig. 18. In order that the take-up books 292 may be accurately positioned to take the welt wire 404 from the supports 398 and to prevent the hooks and straps from subsequently moving upwardly with the narrowing machine, each of the bridges 214 is provided at its rear end with a curved plate 432 which overlies the idler pulley 212, and engages against the arcuate base portion 294 of the hook 292.

Some time prior to the time at which the welt wires 404 are to be operatively connected with the take-up hooks 292, the picot bars downwardly to operative position. The narrowing machine is then given a dummy narrowing movement which causes the supporting brackets 398 to be moved downwardly so that the welt wires supported in these brackets engage with and depress the rearwardly extending trip arms 424 of the latch members 408, causing the latch members to be turned to their alternative release position. The take-up straps 210 and books 292 now move forwardly under the influence of the take-up counterweight 298 into operative engagement with the welt wires 404. As the narrowing machine is again moved to its high position, the welt wires held by the welt hooks 292 are stripped from the grooved portions 400- past the spring latches 402. The take-up including the hooks 292 and welt wires 404, can now move rearwardly under the influence of the take-up counterweight 298 to engage with and tension the welt portion of the fabric.

It will be understood that the dummy narrowing movement above referred to, is the usual motion of a narrowing machine which causes the picot points to take loops from the cooperating needles. For this dummy narrowing movement, the usual narrowing points are located in their inoperative positions beyond the ends of the needle series, and the picot shift mechanism is disconnected, so that the loops taken by the picot 86 are turned points are subsequently returned to the same' needles from which they were taken. It will be further understood that the parts are constructed and arranged so that the second or relatively lower dipping movement of the narrowing machine frame moving in accordance with the usual narrowing motion, is employed to effect the transfer of the welt wires 404 from their supports into operative engagement with the welt hooks 292 as above described.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, welt wire magazines are provided for the several knitting sections for the storing of a number of welt wires, together with mechanism for transferring these welt wires as needed to the welt wire supports 398 to permit of continuous machine operation in the knitting of a succession of sets on the machine. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the magazines comprise a series of brackets 436 which are rigidly secured to the narrowing machine rod support 10, two such brackets being provided for each section at opposite ends thereof. The brackets take the shape of an inverted V, one arm of which is rigidly secured to the narrowing machine rod support 10, and the other arm having formed on the face thereof, vertically extending ribs 438 and 440 between which the welt wires are supported at opposite ends. At the bottom of each rib 440 is provided a latch member 442 which is held yieldingly in position by a leaf spring 444 to retain the welt wires in the magazine. The brackets 436 also provide support for a rock shaft 446 which extends along the length of the narrowing frame, and has supported thereon depending lever arms 448 provided at their bottom ends with a wedge-shaped offset 450 which is arranged to engage above the bottom welt wire in the magazine to force the same downwardly past the latch 442 into the welt wire support 888. For the raised inoperative position of the picot bars 88. the slotted portions 488 of the supports 888 are located directly beneath the bottom welt wire supported in the magazine. It will be noted also that the magazine brackets 438 are constructed and arranged to position the welt wires lengthwise of the needle series, so that the annular grooves in the welt wires will be in register with the welt wire supports. Two such actuating levers 448 are provided for each section located adjacent opposite ends of the welt wire magazine, and between the magazine brackets 488.

The position of the rock shaft 448 and the actuating levers 448 secured thereto, is controlled through mechanism which is actuated from the pattern chain of the machine to advance the levers magazine into the slotted portions of the welt wire supports 888, and thereafter to cause the levers 448 to return to their normal inoperative position shown in Fig. 8. This mechanism comprises a downwardly extending actuating lever 48! secured to the rock shaft 448. The lever 48i is arranged to be engaged by the forward end of a link member 482 which is slidably supported at its forward end between the two arms of a forked bracket 488 on a pin 488 which extends througha slotted portion 488 of the link 482, and is journalled at opposite ends in the two arms of the bracket 488. The link plunger 482 is pivotally connected at its rear end to one arm of a bell-crank 482, the other arm of which is connected by a link 484 to a cam lever 488. A forwardly extending arm of the cam lever 488 carries an axially shiftable cam roller 488 which is arranged for engagement with an actuating cam 418 on the main cam shaft 88 of the machine. A tension spring 412 connected at one end to an upward extension of the forked lever 488, and at its other end to the actuating lever 48!, tends to rock the shaft 448 and lever arms 448 in a clockwise direction to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 8, the action of this spring also acting to maintain the roller 488 in engagement with its cam 418. The mechanism through which the above connections are rendered operative to transfer a welt wire from each of the magazines into the support, comprises a shifter fork 414 (see Figs. 6 and 12) which at its rear end engages the sleeve hub of the cam roller 488, and at its forward end is secured to a pattern control rod 418. This rod is operatively connected at its left hand end to the upwardly extending arm of a pattern lever 418 supported on the pivot shaft 2l4, and arranged to be acted upon by appropriate buttons on the pattern chain 2 i 8 of the machine.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, there is also provided means for easing the takeup tension exerted by the welt wire fabric takeup above described during narrowing or other conventional loop transferring operations, and also during the movement of the welt hooks in returning the initial course of welt fabric to the needles to close the welt. This mechanism as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, comprises a ratchet 488 secured to the right hand end of the takeup shaft 284, and arranged to be engaged by the teeth of a ratchet pawl 482 pivotally mounted at 484 upon a cam lever 488, which is in turn pivotally supported at 48'! on the machine frame. A small tension spring 488 connected at one end to the pawl 482, and at its other end to the cam lever 8 tends to maintain the pawl in engage- 448 to force the bottom welt wire from thement with the ratchet, this movement of the pawl being limited by the engagement of a tail on the pawl with a pin 488 on the cam lever 488. The rearwardly extending arm of the cam lever 488, carries an axially shiftable cam roller 482 which normally rides on a disk member 484 as shown in Fig. 8. A shifting of the main cam shaft 88 to the right to narrowing position, will act to position the roller 482 on a cam 488 which acts during the narrowing motion through the connections above described, to rock the take-up shaft 284 in a direction to ease the take-up tensioning strain of the take-up counterweight 288.

In accordance with the present invention, a mechanism is provided controlled from the pattern chain 2" of the machine, for rendering the connections above described operative to ease the take-up tension during the operation of closing the welt. These connections comprise a shifting fork 488 which is connected at one end to the sleeve hub of the cam roller 482, and at its other end is secured to a control rod 888 extending along the length of the machine. At its other end the control rod 888 is operatively connectedto the upwardly extending arm of a pattern lever 882 pivotally supported on the pivot shaft 2i4 which is arranged to be actuated by appropriate buttons on the pattern chain 2l8. Actuation of the pattern lever 882 causes the control rod 888 to be shifted to the right to move the roller 482 into engagement with a cam 884 on the cam shaft 38 during the welt turning operation. The construction and arrangement of these parts including the cam roller 482 is such that the pawl 482 is rendered operative to rock the take-up shaft 284 to ease the take-up tension just prior to the time when the welt hooks are automatically moved rearwardly over the needles at the commencement of the welt transfer. Rocking movement imparted to the take-up shaft 284 is just sufllcient so that the take-up tension is lightened without being entirely removed during the welt transfer operation as the welt hooks reach the limit of their rearward movement toward the press edge of the machine prior to the transfer. The fabric will be lightly tensioned by the action of the springs 288 in the take-up straps to insure proper control of the initial course of welt fabric loops, the tensioning strain exerted by the counterweight 288 will have been entirely eliminated. Inasmuch as the mode of operation of the welt hooks to effect the closing of the welt, has been fully described and illustrated in the copending application of Max C. Miller, Serial No. 726,285, filed May 18, 1934, and in the application of Karl Richard Lieberknecht, Serial No. 212,088, filed June 6, 1938, a detailed description of the operation of the welt mechanism herein is believed unnecessary. The continued racking of the pattern chain 2I8 will operate at the end of the welt transfer operation to remove the button from beneath the pattern lever 882, thus permitting the roller 482 to return to its normal inoperative position in engagement with the idler disk 484.

The operation of the several cooperating instrumentalities of the machine above described for the automatic pressing off of a completed set, and the starting of a new set on the machine without any necessity for stopping the machine, or for any particular attention on the part of the operator, will be briefly described as follows:-

Most of the several figures illustrate the machine in the position which will be taken immediately after the previous set has been pressed oif fi j idied icarrier int press oii' stroke, be an and anion;

and dropped into the hoppers 301. For thepurpose of this description of the operation of the machine, however, it will be assumed that the machine is in operation during the knitting of the last few courses of a set. Under these conditions the take-up counterweight 98 will have moved downwardly from the high position shown in Fig. 3, to a position only pan 392. The reset counterweight 398 will occupy its high position shown in dot-and-dashlines in Fig. 3, being locked in this position by the latch 350. The reset clutch member 318 occupies its disengaged position to the right as shown in Fig. 22. The take-up hooks 292 will have been moved substantially to the limit of their downward movement adjacent the take-up sprocket rollers 282 as shown in Fig. 16.

As the active carriers 61 now make their last traversing stroke, an appropriate button on the pattern chain 2I6 acts upon the pattern lever 2l2, thus shifting the cam roller 206 into alignment with its actuating cam, so that during the next revolution of the cam shaft 38, a racking movement is imparted to the pattern shaft I68 which serves to bring the pattern shaft and pattern cams thereon into their press-off position in which all of the carriers are disconnected from their driving mechanism, and are left in idle position at the ends of the several knitting sections. It will be understood that any carrier stops which may have been in active operation to limit the length of carrier stroke will at this time have been automatically moved to inoperative position, thus permitting all of the carriers active during the knitting of the last course,to move to their extreme idling positions. On the next knitting cycle of the machine, the fabric is automatically pressed oil, inasmuch as no new yarn is being fed to the needles.

As the fabrics being knitted on the several sections are freed from the needles by this pressing-oif operation, they tend under the influence of the fabric take-up. The welt wires 404 in the take-up hooks 292 tend to fall downwardly away from the hooks 292, thus pulling the fabrics oil the table. The fabrics and welt hooks associated therewith fall into the hoppers 30'! which, as previously described, are pro vided near the floor level to catch these fabrics. As the fabrics fall off the needles, the yarn or yarns of the last course still attached to the fabrics, will either unravel a few courses, or will be drawn through the carriers so that the pressedoff fabrics in the hoppers 391 will still be con nected by such yarn or yarns with their associated carriers.

It will be understood that the last active carriers having the yarn still operatively connected to the pressed-oil fabric, may now be employed for the knitting of the first or setting-up course of a new set. However, where it is desired to use a different set of carriers in setting up the new slightly above the tern lever and the "slowdown switch to snap forwardly fabric, it will be understood that the connecting yarns leading from the idled tern control from the pattern ch'ain 2| 6 is 'isigs'iii place, or

therewith, will prefer ab'iybe ifitaiiiedi slow speed position during; a r'iiinibe'rv of tivejrevolutions oftheimain 'cain shaft,- v series of appropriate buttons? on the pattern chainfZ I 16 As the e s mp le iiief' i mnle ds a pressed oil, the take-up 'counterweightfl 298" is permitted to fall against the 1:ian'392, nd 'acts through intervening connections to"' s h1 ft the clutch 3|B tothe left fromthe'position shownijin Fig. 22, into its engaged reset position'. the clutch meshes, the latch 350 ismoved 'aw'ay from the stop ratchet 354, so that the-reset 3H5 and counterweight 308 are'r'eridered jopera'ti've to rotate the-take-up shaft 284' in a reverse direction. As previously pointed out, thedownward movement of the relatively heavy counterweight 308 'is regulated by the operationofthefriction brake 324. It will benoted particularly that the operation of the resetting mechanism-is such: as to automatically reset the entire take-up mechanism including the'straps lll and the take-up counterweight -2'98. j As the takeup mechanism approaches its fully reset position, the counter weight 298 engaging-against theoffset upper end of the link 394, operates through the connections previously described, to" again-shift the clutch 3 I8 to its disengaged position,- and to re-engage the latch 350'with the stop ratchet 354: "The latch mechanism comprisingfthe latches, 498 is now rendered operative to lock the take-up in its reset position. I As previously p'ointed outythe rearward movement of the cross bar'426 beneath the cover plates 428, shifts the latch towards its latching position. The mechanism including particularly the stop surfaces 439 engageable "with the cross bars 426 is'so arrangedthat the take-' up straps 210, hook; 292 and cross-bar 42.6 "are permitted to'move beyond the normal" latch position, so that thelatch arms 426 over-ridethe notches420. As the reset clutch 3l8 is now disengaged, the subsequent forward r'rioven ent of these parts under the influence of the regular take-up counterweight 298, causes the'latch arm 4| 6 to be forced into the notches'f420 under the influence oi. the spring-pressed" plungers 44 2.: During subsequent operation of the. mathine, an appropriate button on the pattern chain'ZIB is arranged to act upon the pattern lever 348 'which through control link 346 and shifter" fork 344' operates '-to shift'the cam mus; 3 38 into 'alignment with its actuating cam to startreciprocation of the pawl 332, to rewind the reset drum-3m and reset counterweight 308. It will reset counterweight 308 to I the high position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3, a' row of' buttons on the pattern chain 2l6 being provided for-"this purpos 'Subsequenttothe press-oil? operation, thep rendered operative through the engagement of an appropriate button with the pattern lever 2I2 to rack the pattern shaft I and to cause selected carriers to be rendered operative to feed yarn for the first or settingp course of the next fabric or stocking. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this course will be the initial course of the next stocking welt.

At the same time that the carriers are again rendered operative, the half revolution clutch associated with the welt mechanism of the machine is caused to be thrown into operation moving the welt hooks into operative position to take selected needle waie loops from the needles for the setting-up of the initial welt course of the new fabric. Inasmuch as the construction and mode of operation of this welt mechanism together with the pattern controls for actuating the same, have been fully described and illustrated in the copending Lieberlmecht application Serial No. 212.088, it is believed suflicient to state that pattern connections operated from the pattern chain 2|8 acting through the pattern link ISI, shifts the latch I45 from behind the clutch actuating lever arm I41 to shift the clutch into operative position (see Fig. 2).

During continued operation of the machine, the welt fabric is knitted in the usual manner, the through the take-up spring I02 to take up the fabric as knitted. Subsequent to the setting up of the new fabric, the last button rides out from under the pattern lever 265, causing the slow speed switch to :be returned to its high speed position. After a few courses of welt fabric have been knitted, the picot bars are turned down from their dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 12, to the solid line position therein shown, it being understood that a welt bar 404 has been previously placed in the supports 398 through the operation of the magazine transfer mechanism above described. Prior to the operation of closing the welt, and while the welt hooks 90 are still actively in operation taking up the fabric, the cam shaft is shifted to its narrowing position, and the narrowing machine goes through a dummy motion. At this time the racking mechanism for the picot bar is disconnected, and the usual narrowing fingers are positioned in inoperative position beyond the ends of the needle series. The second or lower dipping movement comprised by the narrowing machine motion, acts as above described, to move the welt wire supports 398 and welt wires 404 supported therein, downwardly until the welt wires are brought into contact with the rearwardly extending trip arms 424 of the latch levers 408, so that the latches are moved to their disengaged position, and the welt hooks 292 are permitted to move forwardly into active engagement with the welt wires 404. At this time further forward movement of the take-up mechanism is prevented, through the engagement of the welt wires 404 in their slotted portions 400 of their supports 390. As 'the narrowing machine again rises to its inoperative position, the welt hooks 292 held down as above described, by the engagement of the cover plates 432 therewith, strip the welt wires from their supports. The welt wire take-up straps now act under the influence of the takeup counterweight 290 to move the welt wires 404 forwardly into engagement with the welt fabric.

when sufficient welt fabric has been knitted, the welt pendants 92 are again rendered operative by the engagement of the pattern controlled half revolution clutch I38 to close the welt. Inasmuch as this operation has been fully described and illustrated in the copending application of Lieberknecht, above referred to, it is believed sufficient to state that the welt hooks II are now moved rearwardly over the needles, and then down to replace the initial course of fabric loops back of the needles. During this welt closing operation, and just prior to the course in which the pendants move towards the needles, an appropriate button rides under the pattern lever 502 to shift the control rod I00 to the right, thus aligning the roller 402 with its cam 004 to relieve the fabric take-up tension. At the end of this welt closing operation, the roller 492 is permitted to again return to its normal inoperative position in engagement with the idler disk 4'4.

When the picot bar is no longer required in its downward operative, that is subsequent to the knitting of the usual picot course, and prior to the welt transfer, it is again shifted to the high inoperative position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 12. Subsequently, an appropriate button on the pattern chain 2| is arranged to actuate the pattern chain lever and control rod 416 to bring the cam roller 4" into alignment with its cam 410, thus causing the welt wire transfer mechanism to be rendered operative to transfer the bottom welt wire from each magazine to the welt wire supports 300. Just prior to the welt closing operation, the slow-down switch 252 is again shifted to its slow position through the engagement of an appropriate button with the pattern lever 2l2 to ,cause the machine to be driven at the slower rate during this operation. At or immediately following the completion of the welt closing operation, the pattern lever and slow speed switch associated therewith, are again shifted to their high speed positions.

Subsequent to the closing of the welt, the welt mechanism comprising the welt hooks 90, pendants 92 and the cam lever system associated therewith, are preferably moved to the high inoperative position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. It is contemplated that this movement of the welt mechanism may be performed manually or through the agency of automatic mechanism such as that more fully set forth in the copending application of Lieberknecht above referred to. It is assumed also that the pendants will be again moved downwardly either manually or through the agency of such automatic mechanism prior to the next setting-up operation.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flat full-fashioned hosiery machine having knitting devices including a needle series and welt devices for knitting welted fabrics, the combination with a welt wire, of a fabric take-up arranged to be operatively engaged with the welt wire to take up the fabric, means to cause the completed fabric to be pressed off from the needles, and means acting thereupon to impart relative movement to the take-up and welt wire to disconnect the completed fabric from the take-up and thereby to discharge the completed fabric from the machine.

2. In a flat full-fashioned hosiery machine having knitting devices including a needle series and welt devices for knitting welted fabrics, the combination with a welt wire, of a fabric take-up arranged to be operatively engaged with the welt wire to take up the fabric, means to cause the completed fabric to be pressed off from the needles, means acting thereupon to impart relative movement to the take-up and welt wire to disconnect the completed fabric from the take-up and thereby to discharge the completed fabric from the machine, and a hopper to receive the discharged fabric.

3. In a fiat full-fashioned hosiery machine having knitting devices including a needle series and welt devices arranged for mechanically turning the welt, the combination with a welt wire, of a fabric take-up constructed and arranged for engagement with the welt wire to take up the fabric, and subsequently to discharge the fabric and associated welt wire from the take-up, means to cause the completed fabric to be pressed on from the needles, means acting thereupon to impart relative movement to the take-up and welt wire to disconnect the completed fabric from the take-up and thereby to discharge the completed fabric from the machine, and a hopper arranged to receive the pressed-off fabric and welt wire discharged from the take-up.

4. In a fiat full-fashioned hosiery machine having knitting devices including a needle series, and welt devices for knitting and for pressing off welted fabrics, a take-up device comprising a welt wire, a pair of straps, welt wire engaging hooks on the straps, tensioning means for exerting a takeup tension on the straps, supporting means for said straps arranged for moving the welt wire and fabric supported thereby continuously away from the needles during'the knitting of a fabric, means to cause the completed fabric to be pressed off from the needles, said hooks being constructed and arranged upon pressing off of the fabric to disconnect the completed fabric from the take-up and thereby to discharge the fabric and welt wire from the machine.

5. In a flat full-fashioned hosiery machine having knitting devices adapted for knitting and for pressing off welted fabrics, the combination with a welt wire, of a welt wire take-up device including means operative upon pressing of! of a completed blank to discharge the welt wire and attached fabric from the take-up.

6. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having knitting and welt devices for knitting and for pressing off welted fabrics, a take-up device comprising with a welt wire, a pair of straps, and supporting means for said straps arranged for moving the welt wire and fabric supported thereby in substantially linear directions during the knitting of a fabric, and connecting means between the welt wire and straps arranged upon pressing off of the fabric to discharge the fabric and welt wire from the machine.

7. In a flat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine provided with means for automatically performing the several operations essential for pressing off a completed hosiery blank and for starting the knitting of a new blank, in a continuous cycle, said means comprising knitting devices including knitting needles, a fabric take-up arranged to draw oil the fabric as knitted and upon pressing oil. of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up, means to cause the completed blank to be automatically pressed off from the needles and thereby to discharge the fabric from the take-up, yarn carriers, and means for rendering a selected yarn carrier active to feed an initial course of yarn to the needles to start the knittingof a new blank.

8, In a fiat full-fashioned knitting machine provided with means for automatically performing the several operations essential for pressing off a completed hosiery blank and for starting the knitting of a new blank, in a continuous cycle, said means comprising knitting devices including knitting needles, means to cause the completed blank to be automatically pressed off from the needles, a welt wire support, a fabric take-up device comprising with a welt wire, a fabric takeup attachable to the welt wire and arranged upon pressing off the completed blank to discharge the completed blank and associated welt Wire from the take-up, means for rendering, a selected yarn carrier active to feed an initial course of yarn to the needles to start the knitting of a new blank, a welt mechanism arranged for mechanically setting up and for closing the welt portion of the fabric, and means for relatively moving the takeup and welt wire support to operatively connect the take-up with a welt wire from the support to take up the welt portion of the new blank.

9. In a fiat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine provided with means for automatically performing the several operations essential for discharging from the machine a completed hosiery blank and for starting the knitting of a new blank, in a continuous cycle, said means comprising knitting needles, yarn carriers, means for automatically throwing selected carriers into and out of operation operable to cause the completed blank to be pressed off and to feed yarn for the initial course of a new blank, and means for mechanically setting up and turning the welt, a welt wire support, a fabric take-up mechanism comprising with a welt wire, a fabric take-up attachable to the welt wire and arranged for drawing off the fabric as knitted, means for resetting the fabric take-up, and means for operatively connecting a welt wire from the support with the take-up to take up the welted portion of the new blank.

10. In a flat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine provided with means for automatically performing the several operations essential for discharging from the machine a completed hosiery blank and for starting the knitting of a new blank in a continuous cycle, said means comprising knitting needles, yarn carriers, means for au-. tomatically throwing selected carriers into and out of operation operable to cause the completed blank to be pressed initial course of a new blank, and .means for mechanically setting up and turning the welt, a welt wire support, a fabric take-up mechanism comprising with a welt wire, a fabric take-up attachable to the welt wire and arranged for drawing off the entire length of the fabric as knitted in linear directions, means for resetting the fabric takeup, and means for operatively connecting a welt wire from the support with the take-up to take up the welted portion of the new blank.

11 In a fiat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine provided with means for automatically performing the several operations essential for discharging from the machine a completed hosiery blank and for starting the knitting of a new blank, in a continuous cycle, said means comprising knitting needles. yarn carriers, means.

for automatically throwing selected carriers into and out of operation operable to cause the completed blank to be pressed off and to feed yarn for the initial course of a new blank, and means off and to feed yarn for the control means operative to for mechanically setting up and turning the welt, a welt wire, a welt wire magazine, a welt wire support, means for transferring a welt wire from the magazine to the support, a fabric take-up attachable to the welt wire and arranged for drawing of! the entire length of the fabric as knitted in linear directions, means for resetting the fabric take-up, and means for operatively connecting a welt wire from the support with the take-up to take up the welted portion of the new blank.

12. In a flat knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including a needle series, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, selecting means for rendering selected carriers operative and inoperative to feed yarn, a fabric take-up arranged to draw off the fabric as knitted and upon the to discharge the fabric from the-take-up, and control means operative during continued operation of said knitting instrumentalities to render active carriers inoperative to cause a finished fabric to be pressed off and to discharge the fabric from the take-up, and thereafter to render a selected carrier operative to form a new set on the machine.

13. In a flat knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including a needle series, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, selecting means for rendering selected carriers operative and inoperative to feed yarn, a fabric takeup arranged to draw off the fabric as knitted and upon pressing off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up, control means operative during continued operation of said knitting instrumentalities to render active carriers inoperative to cause a finished fabric to be pressed off and to be discharged from the takeup, and thereafter to render a selected carrier operative to form a new set on the machine, and control means operative to slow the operation of said knitting instrumentalities during said pressoff.

14. In a flat knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including a needle series, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, selecting means for rendering selected carriers operative and inoperative to feed yarn, a fabric takeup arranged to draw off the fabric as knitted and upon the pressing off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up, control means operative during continued operation of said knitting instrumentaiities to render active carriers inoperative to cause a finished fabric to be pressed off and to be discharged from the takeup, and thereafter to render a selected carrier operative to form a new set on the machine, and slow the operation of said knitting instrumentalities during said press-off and subsequent setting-up operations.

15. In a flat knitting machine having knitting devices including a needle series, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, traversing means for said carriers, control means for operativeiy connecting and disconnecting selected carriers from said traversing means, a fabric take-up arranged to draw off the fabric as knitted and upon the pressing-off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up, and pattern means for controlling the operation of the machine to press off a completed fabric to discharge the completed fabric from the take-up, and to set up a new fabric during continued machine operation which comprises means to disconnect all active carriers from said traversing means during a full reciprocation thereof to pressing off of the completed fabric cause the finished fabric to be pressed off and to be discharged from the take-up.

18. In a flat knittingmachine having knitting devices actuated therefrom including a needle series, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, traversing means for said carriers control means for operatively connecting and disconnecting selected carriers from said traversing means, a fabric take-up arranged to draw of! the fabric as knitted and upon the pressing off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up and pattern means for controlling the operation of the machine to press at a completed fabric to discharge the completed fabric from the take-up, and to set up a new fabric during continued machine operation which comprises means to disconnect all active carriers from said traversing means during a full reciprocation thereof to cause the finished fabric to be pressed off and to be discharged from the take-up, and thereafter to operatively connect a selected carrier to form a new set on the machine.

1'1. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine, knitting devices including a needle series, mechanically operating means to set up and to turn a welt, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, traversing means for said carriers,

control means for operatively connecting and disconnecting selected carriers from said traversing means, a fabric take-up, arranged to draw of! the fabric as knitted and upon the pressing off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up and pattern means for controlling the operation of the machine to cast off a completed fabric and to set up and to close the welt during continued machine operation which comprises means to disconnect all active carriers from said traversing means during a full reciprocation thereof to cause the finished fabric to be pressed off and to be discharged from the take-up, to connect a selected carrier for feeding an initial course of yarn to the needles, and for actuating said welt mechanism to set up and to close the welt.

18. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine, knitting devices including a needle series, mechanically operating means to set up and to turn a welt, a plurality of yarn carriers traversable to feed yarn, traversing means for said carriers, control means for operatively connecting and disconnecting selected carriers from said traversing means, a fabric take-up, and pattern means for controlling the operation of the machine to cast off a completed fabric and to set up and to close ,the welt during continued machine operation which comprises means to disconnect all active carriers from said traversing means during a full reciprocation thereof to cause the finished fabric to be pressed off, to connect a selected carrier for feeding an initial course of yarn to the needles, and to cause said welt mechanism to set up and close the welt, and means for slowing the operation of the machine during each of said press-off, setting-up and welt closing operations.

19. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine, knitting devices including a needle series, a yarn carrier, traversing means for the carrier, control means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the carrier, a fabric take-up device arranged to draw off the fabric as knitted and upon the pressing off of the completed fabric to discharge the fabric from the take-up, means to arrest the take-up action of the fabric take-up, and control means operative upon completion of

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