US2250791A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

July 29, w41.

A. x. DEsMoNDs KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. 2o, 1933 N VE NTOR ATTORNEY# Mv W 5 E X T M wo A. X. DESMONDS KNITTING MACHNE Filed Oct. 2 0, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATToRNEYs. i

113? 297 394i. A, x. DESMONDS KNITTING MACHNE Filed Oct. 20, 1958 5 sheets-sheet s (HHH gui? 29, 1941- A. x. DEsMoNDs 2,250,791

KNITTING 'MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'TOR GE/WX. DE sMa/vgs,

Patented `Iuly 29, 1941 T1 ,OFFICE KNITTIN G MACHINE Albert X. Desmonds, Indianapolis, Imi., assigner to Real Silk Hosiery Mills,

Inc., Indianapolis,

Incl., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1938, Serial No. 235,933

3 Claims.

My invention relates to full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines of the Wildman single-unit type, and more particularly to stop mechanisms for yarn carriers of such machines.

Such full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines of the single-unit type are illustrated in a number of patents, among which are the Howie and Krieble Patent No. 1,982,991 and the Howie Patent No. 1,989,232, granted respectively on December 4, 1934, and January 29, 1935.

It is an object of my invention to provide for a yarn-carrier of such a machine a centralgroup stop which both may be set in stop and non-stop positions and may be moved by suitable operating mechanism toward or away from the central line of the machine; so that when in stop position it may stop the inward movement yof the yarn-carrier at diierent distances from the center line, as to provide a tapering reinforcement, but may be moved to non-stop position to permit the yarn-carrier to travel the full width of the stocking as controlled by end stops, as to permit the reinforcement to be continued for that full width.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a special central-stop mechanism for at least one, or more if desired, of the endless bands on which the several yarn-carriers are mounted-as for the #3 and/or #4 carrier-bands in the sevenyarn machine illustrated. This special centralstop mechanism, for each carrier band for which it is provided, includes va horizontally slidable member which may be moved lengthwise of the back stretch of that carrier band; that horizontally slidable member carries a stop which is vmovable into stop position in which it is in the path of a dog on that carrier band, to stop that carrier-band when thedog strikes the stop, and which is movable also into non-stop position in which it is out of that path and soV permits the dog to pass it Awithout being stopped; and that stop has an operating mechanism to move it either to stop position or to non-stop position, which operating mechanism conveniently is one which requires the horizontally slidable member carrying the stop to be in definite longitudinal positions in order for the operating mechanism to move the stop to stop and non-stop positions respectively.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is a plan of a single-unit fullfashioned-hosiery-knitting machine equipped with my invention, with all of the mechanism above the. carrier bands and the rotary reciprocatory operating-screw or draw-bar omitted except'the stop mechanisms and their operating means, and with the observer standing at the front of the machine; Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan, on a somewhat largerscale, of the lstop mechanism embodying my invention, together `with fragments of the several carrier bands,

here shown as seven in number, with the observer standing at the rear `of the machine; Fig.

YBis a fragmentalvertical section on the Vline 3-3 'of Fig. 2; Fig. Liis a fragmental vertical section on the line 4-4'4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the upper part of the operating mechanism for the central stops; Fig; 7 is a fragmental vertical section on the line 'l-'l ofv Fig. 6, with the addition that some `of the lower parts of the operating mechanism are also shown; Fig. 8 is a lfragmentalY elevation of the vertically movable double rack and its two associated pinions that operate the horizontally movable racksiof the stop-carriers; Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are a series of fragmental views showing the different positions of a stop embodying my invention, and its carrying and operating mechanism, with Fig. 11 showing some additional associated mechanism including an associated pair of central-group stops that may be moved to stop and non-stop positions but are at fixed distances from the center of the knitting machine; Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the leg-section of a stocking blank, an illustrative product of a` machine embodying my invention, to show the movements of the diierent yarn-carriers in knitting it; and Fig. 15 is a similar diagrammatic View of the foot-section of that stocking blank, together with the lower part of the leg-section after the heel tabs have been turned. y

In the seven-yarn machine shown, there are seven yarn-carriers or thread-guides 2i), fed from the usual yarn spindles (not shown) and each of them is mounted on an endless thin-sheet-steel flexible band 2l' set on edge. These endless exible bands 2| have parallel straight front stretches which are very close together and which carry the thread-guides 29, and parallel straight rear stretches which are spaced farther apart and through which the operating mechanism works to move the endless iiexible bands and their associated thread-guides, as is clear from Fig. 1; and they are mounted on edge on stationary end-plates 22, and suitably guided while kept taut, in the general manner shown 1,932,991. The individuall endless flexible bands 2| shown are numbered as #l to #l inclusive, the outermost band (the front-most band on the front stretch and the rearmost band on the rear stretch) being #L and the innermost band (the rearmost band on the front stretch and the frontmost band on the rear stretch) being #1. The number of bands may of course Vary as desired.

Each of the endless yarn-carrier bands 2| is provided with a dog 25, by which that endless band may be reciprocated along its own endless length by a rotary reciprocatory operating-screwI or draw-bar 26 through mechanism of the genhr eral character set forth in the aforesaid Howie and Krieble Patent No. 1,982,991. In that reciprocation, the thread-guides 20 are moved with y their respective endless bands 2|, to lay the de- `endless band 2'| andr thread-guide 2&1 associated with that particular dog 25, by releasing such dog from its ,operating mechanism in known manner when the dog strikes a stop.

The stops consist of three general groups. Two end groups 3| and 3-2 are selvage stops, located near the left-hand and right-hand ends respectively of the rear stretches of the endless bands 2|, to stop theA yarn-carriers or thread-guides 2l! at the right-hand and left-hand ends respectively of their movements (Fig. 1) at the locations where the selvages are to be formed. A central group of stops 33 is located between the end groups or selvage stops 3| and 32, to stop the yarn-carriers and their thread-guides 2|) at intermediate points between the selvages, and soto locate the inner edges of the heel-tabs and of the reinforcements.

The two end groups 3| and 32, of selvage stops, are simultaneously movable toward or awai7 from the center of the machine by an-operating screw 34, which has a right-hand thread zo-operating with one end group of stops and a left-hand thread co-operating vwith the other endy group of stops; so that when thescrew 34 is turned in one direction it' causes both endV groups of stops to move toward the center ofv the machine, and when it is turned in the other direction it causes both end groups of stopsto move away from the center of the machine. The screw 34 is operated under the control of suitable pattern mechanism, already known, toobtain the desired narrowing of the stocking blank at the proper points in its length. The stops-of theV end groups of stops 3| Vand 32, or at least some of them, may be suitably vraised'out of the paths of the associated dogsv 25 by releasing levers 3B, to permit the associated 'dogsto pass the end stops to their various home positions at the left-hand and right-hand'ends v(Fig. 1) oft the machine, to wait in those'home positions until the pattern mechanism again puts 1 them :and 'their associated endlessbands and yarncarriers into operation.

In general, the mechanism so far describedis known.

My invention is mainly concernedwith certain individual stop mechanisms ofthe central group of stops 33, which is not movable as a group and is not actuated by the operating screw 34; and with the new operations consequentially obtainable. I have illustrated that invention in connection with the central-group stops for both the #3 and #4 endless bands 2|; but my invention may be and commonly is used with only one of those endless bands, such as #4, and may be used with any of the endless bands and with any desired number of them.

The reason those endless bands #3 and #4 were chosen to illustrate my invention is because of a common arrangement of yarns in the various yarn-carriers or thread-guides in the seven-yarn machine. That arrangement, with the yarns numbered as are their respective thread-guides and endless bands, is as follows:

#l forms the welt 31, and is usually of silk or cotton.

#2 forms thetoe 38, and is usually of silk or cotton.

#-3 helps to form the heel-tab 39 and the reinforcement or splice 40 just abovel it, and the cradle portion 4|, at the right of the stocking blank, and is commonly of heavier silk ,or cotton.

#4 helps to form the heel-,tab 42 and the reinforcement or splice 43 just above it, and the cradle portion 44, at the. left of the .stocking blank, and is commonly of'silk or cotton of the same weight as #3.

#5, #6, #l form the main body 45 of the stocki'ng', and are commonly of silk, and for the most part each of those three yarns is used every third course. In addition, these three'yarns help form the reinforcements' 4 and 43 andthe cradle portions 4| and 44; and the #5 and #l yarns help form the heel-tabs 42 and' 39- respectively.

The #5, #6, and #l main yarns or threads, of silk, are usually present not only in the body 45 of the stocking, where they are used alone, but also in those parts 33 to 44 where the #3 and #4 yarns or threads are present; so that the #3 and #4 yarns or threads are thus truly reinforcements.

The arrangement just described will' be clear from Figs. 14 and 15, which show a stocking blank, made however in accordance with my present invention, as it comes welt-rst from the machine.

By my invention I may follow the general arrangement of threads abovev noted; but in addition I can provide not only non-center-passing reinforcements of varying width but also additional andY full-width reinforcements-such as a reinforcement 41 (Fig. 15) which extends for the full widths of the stocking blank, as for any desired number of courses immediately back of the toe 38. That additional reinforcement 4`| is showny as providedv with the #4 yarn orthread', the yarn-carrier or thread-guide for which in that portion of the operation travels the full length of the stroke as determinedk by the proper end or selvage'stops 3|' andv 32; and during that full travel ofthe #4 thread-guide, the #3 thread-guide may if desired remain' at rest in its home position.

My new mechanism permits this and various other new operations to be obtained.

The central group of stops 33 as a whole is carried by a stationary frame-portion 5D, which midway of the machine extends over the rear stretches of the endless bands 2|. A plate 5| hung from'that frame-portion 50 furnishes a support on which rests two slides 53 and 54, which lie over and extend along' the rear stretches of the #3 and #4 endless bands 2|. The two slides 53 and 54 are provided respectively with racks 55 Vof the heel-splices.

and 56, whichhave their rack teethl upward to mesh with pinions 51 and 58 respectively mounted on shafts 59 and 68 suitably mountedin the stationary frame-portion 50. The shafts 59 and 68 are provided at the rear (in the machine and as seen in Fig. 1, although at the front in Fig. 2,)

Awith pinions 8| and 62, which lie in the same provided at its lower end with a roller 64, by n which it co-operates with a cam 65 on 'a selector shaft 66, which makes one complete rotation for each stocking-knitting cycle; so that by that rotati-on of such shaft 66 and cam 65 the doublerack bar 63 may be raised and lowered in c-on- I formity with Ythe contour of the cam 65, which is shown in the position at the end of the knitting Raising the double-rack bar 63 acts through the pinions and racks referred to to move both sli-des outward, the slide 53 to' the right and the slide 54 to the left as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 9 to 13; and lowering the double-rack bar '53 acts through those pinions and racks to move both slides inward, the slide 53 to the left and the slide 54 to the right as seen i:

in those gures. (It is exactly the reverse of that as to right and left as seen in Fig. 1.) The cam 65 may vary in contour in accordance with the shape o-f the reinforcements desired.

The two slides 53 and 54 carry vertically mov- Y able stops 1| and 12.

Each stop is mounted in one end of its carrying slide, and is movable to an upper or non-stop position and to a lower or stop position; in either of which positions it is held against accidental displacement by a springpressed ball 13 operating in suitable positioning notches on its edge. As seen in Figs, 2, 3, and 4, and in Figs. 9-13, (for it is exactly the reverse in Fig. l), the stop 1| is mounted in the slide 53 near the right-hand end of that slide, and the stop 12 is mounted in the slide 54 near the-lefthand end of that slide. When the stop 1| or 12 is down, or in st-op position, it is in the path of the dog 25 on the endless band which lies directly beneath it; and so is in posi-tion to be engaged by the projection on the top of that dog 25, (see Fig. 3), to stop the dog in its movement toward the middle of the machine and thus to stop the endless band 2| and the yarn-carrier or Y thread-guide 20 associated with that particular 'il dog 25. But when thev stop 1| or 12 is up, or in non-stop position, it is out of the path of the associated Adog 25, so that that dog and its assooiated endless band 2| and yarn-carrier` or thread-guide 2!! may travel for the full stroke as determined by the proper end stops4 (selvage stops) 3| and 32.

The stops 1| and 12 are provided with laterally projecting operating pins 15 and 16 respectively. which project outward through" slots in the side walls of the slides 53 and 54 respectively. The pin 15 projects toward the rear of the machine and of Fig. 1, and so toward the front of Figs. 2, 3, and 4; and the pin 15 projects toward the front of the machine and of Fig. l, and so toward the rear of Figs. 2, 3, and 4. (Inviewing these iigures, Vit is to be remembered that for Fig, 1 the observer is standing at the front `of the machine, and that for Fig. 2 the observer is standing at the rear of the but if at that time those pins are under the ends of the depressing lingers 85 and 85 (as in machine.) Itis by these operating pins 15 and 16 that the stops are moved upward or downward.

But for such upward or downward movement, with the mechanism shown, the associated slides 53 and 54 must be in their proper longitudinal positions. -The stops must be rather closeto the -center of the machine in order to obtain an :upward movement of the stop, and farther but not too far from such center in lorder to obtain a downward movement.

The upward movement of the stops is obtained by lifting levers 11 and 18. When the stops 1| and 12 are in their innermost positions, nearest Vthe center of the machine, their respectively associated pins 15 and 15 ioverlie the inwardly projecting ends of those lifting levers 11 and 1|!A f respectively. :inwardly projecting ends of the lifting levers are f then raised (see Fig. 13), they engage the pins 1,5

(See Figs. 11 and 12.) If those and 13 respectively to lift the associated stops 1| Vand 12 from their lowerm-ost or stop posi-tions to their uppermost or non-stoppositions.

The lifting `levers 11 and 18 are mounted on Vcarrying barsl-Q and 88 respectively; and they are provided with springs 8| which tend to hold their inwardly projecting ends in their lowermost positions, determined by'pins 82 mounted von said carrying bars and located in movementj limiting 'notches provided in the outer ends of ,those lifting levers. ,and 8|) are suitably mounted on and beneath the stationary frame-portion 59, as by being set in vtransverse slots thereof and held in place by attaching screws 83.

Thetwo carrying bars 19 `The lifting levers 11 and 1s have their inwardly vprojecting ends offset from the planes of the levers proper; so that those offset ends will underlie the pins 15 and 13 in position to engage them when the stops 1i and 12 are close `to the center of the machine, but so that the pins 15 and 1B may clear the bodies of the lifting levers V'l1 and 18 las the. stops 1i and 12 are moved outfrom their innermostpositions (of Figs. 12 and 13) to the intermediate position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 (although that intermediacy is not essential), theVV operating pins 15 and 13 come into position underdepressing fingers 85 and 85 respectively. These depressing fingers also have vportions 31 and '38 which respectively overlie the outer endsof the lifting levers 11 and 18 at all times. Thus whe-never the depressing fingers B5 Vand 88 are moved downward (Figs. 10 and 13) Mthey engage and move downward the outer end-s of those-lifting levers, to raise the innerv ends of 'the latter. This will cause a lifting of the stops k1| and 'i2 if at that time the pins 15 and 16 are over those inner ends (as invFigs. 12 and 13) Figs. 9 and y10), those depressing fingers will act directly on the pins 15 land 18 to push them and Y their associated stops 1| and 'i2 downward.

,The depressing fingers `85 Aand 85 are mounted on the forwardly projectingY endsof the two Youtermost stop-operating fingers 89 and 92 of a central group of four stop- operating levers 89, 98, 9|, and 9,2 illustrated in connection with the central group of stops 33. (See Figs. l, 6, and 7.)

The two intermediate` stop- operating levers 98 and 9| of this central vgroup'of stop-operating levers control stops which will beidescribed hereinafter.

The four levers 89 to 92 of the central group of stop-operating levers are mounted side by side on a common pivot-pin 93 carried by an up-,

wardly and rearwardly projecting frame-arm 94, a-nd are provided with positioning springs 95 by which their forwardly projecting ends are normally held lifted. In addition to those forwardly projecting ends, the stop-operating levers have downwardly projecting ends 99, which extend downward from the pivot-pin 93 into co-operative relation with stop- operating cams 91, 98, 99, and |99 mounted on a cam shaft |9| which makes one rotation for each stocking-knitting cycle. The cams 91 and |99 for the two outer stop- operating levers 89 and 92 have two cam protuberances |93 and |94 each, to operate those stop-operating levers twice in each stockingknitting cycleone time by the protuberances |93 to lower the stops 1| and 12, and the other time by the protuberances |94 to raise those stops 1| and 1.2.

Each of the cams 98 and 99| for the two inner stop- operating levers 99 and 9| is circular for the greater part of its ci-rcumference, but is provided at one point with a depression |95; into which the inturned lower extremity of the down- -wardly projecting end 99 of the associated stopoperating lever 99 or 9| drops when such depression comes opposite that inturned end in the movement of the cam shaft 19|. Thus the two inner stop- operating levers 99 and 9| are held depressed for the greater part of the cycle, and

`are allowed to rise only when the depressions |95 come into position to permit it.

These inner stop- operating levers 99 and 9| cooperate with pins |99 and |91 projecting upwardly from the higher ends of stop-levers |98 and |99 respectively, the lower ends of which stop-levers |98 and |99 are movable vertically downward and upward respectively into and out of the paths of the stops 25 on the #6 and #1 endless bands respectively. When the stop- operating levers 99 and 9| are down, as they are during most of the cycle, they hold the pins |96 and |91 depressed; and thus hold the lower ends of the stop-levers |98 and |99 raised, in non-stop position out of the paths of the dogs 25, so that the #6 and #1 endless bands and their associated yarn-carriers or thread-guides 29 may make full strokes as determined by the end stops 3| and 32. But when those stop- operating levers 99 and 9| are up, as they are when the depressions |95 come opposite the inturned extremities of the downwardly projecting ends of those stopoperating levers, they permit the pins |99 and |91 to rise; so that the lower ends of the stoplevers |98 and |99 will drop into their stop positions, in which they are in the path of and may engage the dogs 25 on the #6 and #1 endless bands respectively to limit the movements of those dogs toward the center of the machine, and thus to prevent those dogs and the associated #6 and #1 yarn-carriers or thread-guides from making full strokes and to limit each of them to short non-center-passing strokes at one end of the normal full stroke- It is during this latter condition, with the stop-levers |98 and |99 depressed. that the heel tabs 39 and 42 are knitted.

The stop-levers |98 and |99 may simply tend to drop to their stop positions by gravity; but desirably they are provided with springs ||0, conveniently leaf springs, which tend to move them down to those stop positions.

, The two stop-levers |98 and |99 are mounted by suitable pivot pins on opposite faces of a carrying bar I, suitably mounted on and beneath the frame portion 59, as by being set in a transverse slot thereof and held in place by attaching screws ||2.

The cam shaft 9| carries other cams, for operating the stop-releasing levers 36 of the end groups of stops at proper pointsin the cycle of operation; but the arrangement and operation of those cams and stop-releasing levers may be in accordance with the standard practice of the Wildman single-unit knitting machine and with what is shown in the aforesaid Howie and Krieble Patent No. 1,982,991.

The cam shaft |0| is operated by a pawl-andratchet mechanism |29|2|, which conveniently has a suitable shield |22 for holding the pawl |29 disengaged from the ratchet |2| when that is desired. The pawl |29 is reciprocated vertically by a bell-crank |23, the lower end of which carries a roller |24 cooperating with a cam |25 on the continuously operating main shaft |26. That main shaft |26 also carries a cam |21 which actuates a roller |28 in the lower end of a bellcrank |29, the upper end of which carries a pawl |30 which cooperates with a ratchet |3| on the selector shaft 69; and the engagement between the pawl |39 and the ratchet |3| is controlled by a shield |32. The two shields |22 and |32 are suitably operated at proper times, as through Bowden wires |33 and |34 respectively, by pattern-controlled mechanism of the general types shown in the two patents referred to.

The operation is indicated generally in Figs. 14 and 15, `and is as follows: Y

The stocking welt ,31 (Fig. 14) is first knitted in the usual way, by the usual operation of the needles and sinkers on a single silk or cotton yarn supplied by the yarn-carrier or threadguide 29, that is reciprocated between the proper end or selvage stops 3| and 32; and when knitted is turned in the usual manner.

When the Welt 31 has been knitted and turned,

and usually when the flare 31a just below the welt 31 has been knitted, the pattern and selector mechanisms permit the #I endless band 2| and thread-guide or yarn-carrier 29 to come to rest, with the associated stop 25 in home position.; and puts into operation the endless bands and yarn-carriers #5, #9, and #1 to knit the leg of the stocking, with each of those three yarncarriers supplying the yarn for every third course. This yarn may be silk. As the knitting of the stocking leg proceeds, there are narrowings |35 at the proper points, by the operation of the screw 34 to move the end groups of selvage stops I3,| and 32 toward each other, and by the operation of the usual narrowing mechanism.

At some point during the knitting of the welt and the leg (Fig. 14), for no precise pointv is essential so long as the operationv is completed before the knitting of the heel splices 49 and 43 is started, the shield |32 is moved to uncover the teeth of the ratchet |3|. This permits` the vertically reciprocating pawl |39 to operate that ratchet step by step, and through it the shaft 6B and cam 95, to raise the double-rack bar 63 andy thus-to move the slides 53 and 54 and the stops 1| and 12 outward from their innermost positions (Figs. 12 and 13), to positions that are as far outward (Fig. 11) asit is desired to have them for determining the initial inner boundaries of the reinforcements or splices 49 and 43Y to be produced at the stocking heel. When those-outer positions are reached, the pattern mechanism moves theshield |32 to lift the pawl |30 from the ratchet |3|, and thus to stop the outward movement of said slides and stops.

At one point in that outward movement of the slides 53 and 54 and stops 1| and 12, thepins 13 and 14 are carried beneath the depressing lingers 85 and 86, as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. At that point in the operation, while the pins 15 and 16 lie below those depressing fingers 85 and 8B, the pattern mechanism moves the shield |22 to uncover the teeth of the ratchet |2|. This permits the vertically reciprocating pawl |20 to operate the cam shaft |0| step by step; to cause the cam protuberances |03 on the outer cams 91 and |00 to depress the stop- operating levers 89 and 92. (See Fig. 10.) This causes the depressing ngers 85 and 83, carried by those stop-operating levers, to engage the operating pins 15 and 13 and to push them and the stops 1| and 12 downward from the non-stop positions which they have been occupying (Figs. 13 and 9) into their lower or stop positions (Fig.

Often it is desired that only one of the stops 1| and 12 -be moved vertically to stop and nonstop positions. In that case only one of the outer cams 91 and 00 is provided with protuberances |03 and |04, say the cam |00 (the leftmost one in Fig. 6) which controls the stopoperating lever 92 and the stop 12 for the #4 endless band 2|. The stop-operating lever 9| is then idle; and the stop 1| is set in its down or stop position and remains there continuously, and may even be made immovable vertically as the stops are shown in the aforesaid Howie Patent No. 1,989,232. The operation contemplated in making the stocking Iblank of Figs. 14 and 15 contemplates that only the stop 12 be moved vertically in the operation, and that the stop 1| be continuously in its down or stop position; so that only the #4 splice-yarn-carrier and endless band will at times have a full-stroke movement, and the other or #3 splice-yarncarrier and endless band will never move past the stop 1|.

As the knitting of the stocking leg proceeds after the stops 1| and 12 are both in down or stop positions, with the #5, #6, and #1 carriers reciprocating and supplying yarn for the full stroke as determined by the end stops 3| and 32, Athe point is reached where the heel-reinforcements or splices 40 and 43 are to start. At that point, the pattern and selector mechanisms cause the #3 and #4 yarn-carriers, and their associated #3 and #4 endless bands, to come into operation. But although the #5, #5, and #1 yarnearriers continue to operate for full strokes as controlled by the proper end stops 3| and 32, the #3 and #4 yarn-carriers both start with non-center-passing strokes; to which they are limited by the stops 3| and 1|, and -by the stops 32 and 12, respectively, with the stops 1| and 12 in or near their farthest-out positions, illustrated in Fig-11 for the stop 12.

The knitting continues under these conditions for the courses that form, the heel-reinforcements or splices 40 and 43. But during the knitting of these courses, the stops 1| and 12 may be and desirably are moved inward step by step for a desired distance from those farthest-out positions (Fig. 11), to produce a tapering splice that gradually widens toward the heel as is shown in Fig. 14. This is Yproduced by the cam 65; which at this stage is operated, under the 5 control of the pattern mechanism, to lower the double-rack vbar 63, and thus to move the stops 1| and 12 gradually some distance toward the center of the mechanism to lengthen the noncenter-passing strokes of the #3 and #4 yarncarriers.

When the knitting has reached the point where the heel- splices 40 and 43 are completed and the heel- tabs 39 and 42 are to be started, the cam 65 will have moved the stops 1| and 12 inward about far enough, or slightly farther (in the stocking shown), to aline them with the stop-levers |09 and |08 respectively. (This is where Fig. 7 shows the parts.) At that point the pattern and selector mechanisms do several things, including the following:

a. They cause the stop 25 for the #5 yarn-carrier and endless band to move to home position, and go out of action;

b. They cause the pawl |20 to actuate its ratchet 2|, and so the cam shaft |0|, to bring the depressions |05 of the two middle cams 98 and 99 into action, to raise the middle stop-operating levers and 9| and so to'lower the central-group stop-levers |08 and |09 for the #6 and #1 yarn-carriers, and thus to limit those two yarn-carriers to non-center-passing strokes; Y

c. They cause the pawl |30 to actuate its ratchet |3I, and so the cam 65, to move the stops 12 and 1| as necessary to aline them with the now-lowered stop-levers |08 and |09 respectively-which with thestocking shown involves moving the stops 12 and .1| slightly outward.

The central-group stop-levers |08 and |09 are at a fixed distance (fixed in any stocking-knitting cycle) from the center of the machine, and the stops 1| and 12 at this time are thus at that same distance from the center of the machine; so that together the stops 1| and |09 for the #3 .and #1 yarns, and the stops 12 and |08 for the #4 and #6 yarns, determine the inner edges of the heel- tabs 39 and 42 respectively.

At this stage, and before starting the heeltabs, the loops between those inner edgesv are taken from their needles, on a suitable comb, in the usual manner.

'Ihen the heel-tabs are knitted; with yarn from both the #3 and #1 yarn-carriers forming every course of the heel-tab 39 at the right of the stocking blank (Fig. 1.4) and yarn from both the #4 and #6 yarn-carriers forming every course of the heel-tab 42 at the left of the stockingblank. In the knitting of the heel-tabs, the stops 1| and 12 remain stationary, in line with the central-group-stops |09 and |08 for the #1 and #6 yarn-carriers, so that the inner edges of the heel-tabs will be straight. But during the latter part of the knitting of the heel-tabs the pattern mechanism desirably causes operation of the screw 34 to move its end stops 3| and 32 inward and of the transfer mechanism to produce the narrowings |30. Y

When the heel-tabs have been knitted, they are turnedin the usual manner, to put the loops forming their inner edges on the proper outer group of needles; and the loops which during the knitting of the heel-tabs were held on the comb above referred to are returned to the centralgroup of needles from which they were taken. (See Fig. 15.) At this stage the screw 34 is operated to set the end stops 3| and 32 the proper distances from the center of the machine for starting the knitting of the stocking foot;

the cam .65 is operated to move the stops 1| and 12 as necessary (slightly inward in the stocking shown) to locate the beginnings of the inner edges of the cradle portions 4| and 44; and the pattern and selector mechanisms cause the #5 yarn-carrier to return into operation, and the middle cams 98 and 99 to operate the middle stop-releasing- levers 90 and 9| to raise the central-group stop-levers |08 and |09 for the #E and #1 yarn-carriers so that those two yarncarriers may resume making full strokes.

Then the stocking foot is knitted, as is indicated in Fig. 15. The procedure is desirably substantially like that of knitting the lower part of the stocking leg where the heel splices 40 and 43 are provided; desirably with all three of the #5, #6, and #1 yarn-carriers supplying silk yarn for the full stroke, each in every third course (although a smaller or larger number of yarn-carriers and yarns may be used), and with the #3 and #4 yarn-carriers supplying silk or cotton yarn for the reinforcing of the cradle portions 4| and 44 respectively. y

In knitting the stocking foot there'may be any desired narrowings |31; by pattern-controlled movements of the screw 34 to move the endY stops 3| and 32 inward, and of the narrowing mechanism to produce the proper narrowing stitches. In addition, there is pattern controlled movementfof the cam 65, and so movement of the stopsv 1| and 12, first outward and later inward as shown, to produceanyV desired shape of thevcradle-portions 4| and 44, as is clear from Fig'. "15. The early outward movement of the stops 1| and 12 in knitting the cradle-portions is wholly optional, and sometimes is omitted; but the inward movement of these stops 1-| and 1-2, to provide cradle-portions which extend gradually `closer toward the middle as the stocking toe is approached, is probably always or nearly always desirable. i

Starting at any Vdesir-ed pointbefore the stock ingY toe is reached, but vusually about 1-5 to 50 courses before, my. invention permits an -entirely new operation -to be obtained, in knitting the f-ullewi'dthA-reinforced portion 41l just back Vof the toe-portion 33. -At this stage, the cam `(i5 has moved the stops 1| and' 12 so close to the centerof- Ithe machine that. the operating pins 15 andy 1|V lie over the` inwardly projecting ends `oli-the liftinglevers. 11 and A18\respectively;V as is shown in Fig. 12.V TheA shield |22- is -then moved, lunder pattern control, touncover the ratchet I2|, and' the vertically reciprocating pawl |20 operates the` cam-shaft so that the cam vprotuberances |04= onthe outer cams 'l'lland |00 depress the stopoperating levers. 89- and 82- to -tiltf the lifting levers 11 `and 1.8 Yto raiserthe stops 1| and 12y from their. loweror stop positions (Fig. `12) to their .upper or non-stop positions (Fig. 13).

If sdesired, this maybe done with only one of these stopsll. and.12;.and the-operation indicated, in Fig. 15 .contemplates it only for the stop 12, and contemplates putting` the #3 yarncarrier out of action at this point.

Whenthe stops 1| and 'Izar-e thus raised, the associated #3 and; #4r yarnfcarriers can have full-stroke operation. only the stop1i."v lis thus raised, as contemplated in Eig. 15, it is onlythe` #,4-,yarng-ca5rrier which is permitted :full-.stroke operation; and the #3 yamn-carrier is .caused to move to its -horne position, and to 4become .inactive, Aunder controlof the pattern and rselector mechanisms; and .it will b egassumed thatthat is.

Whathappensf;

- be desired per coursethe full-Width reinforcement 41 may have cotton threads supplied by both the #3 and #4 yarn-carriers, each operating every stroke.

When the full-width reinforcement 41 is completed, the pattern and selector mechanisms put out of operation the #3. #4, #5, #6, and #1 yarn-carriers, or as many of them as desired, and puts the #2 yarn-carrier into operation; and the toe portion 38 is knitted4 in any desired or usual manner.

Many variations 1n this general operation mayr be made. My invention makes it possible, for the iirst time in this type of knitting machine, for a yarn-carrier to have both a full-stroke operation and a non-oenter-passing operation and at the same time to have both ends of both types of operations variable in position.

I claim as my invention:

l. In, a single-unit knitting mach-ine having yarn-carriers mounted on endless bands provided with dogs by which they are operated andv stopped, va central-group stop which is movable horizontallyy toward and away from the center of the knitting machine ,and which has vertically separated. stop and non-stop positions respectively 'in and .out of the path of a dog on one of' said endlessbands, and a stop-operating member thatv shifts said stop vertically in one direction if. actuated while the stop is inv one position in its horizontal movement and in the other di'- rection` if similarly actuated while the stop isY in another? position in its. horizontal movement.

2. 'In a single-unit knitting machine having yarn-carriersV mounted on endless bands pro` separated from each other transversely of one of said endless bands and respectively inv and out ofv the path o'f a dog on that endless band, and a stop-operating member that shifts vsaid stop in one.. is in vone position in 'itsmovement longitudinally ofthe endless band andin the other direction if .similarly actuated while thestop is in another position` in its movement longitudinally of saidl endless band.

with dogs by which theyare-opera-ted and stopped,

a slide which is -shiftable longitudinally ofanz, endless band, a stop carried by saidA slide and' shiftalole transversely thereof into and out of the path `Aofa .dog .on that endless band, yand a stopoperating member which whenA actuated in onev direction Vwill shift said stop to stop .position if the slide is. in one longitudinal. location but will shift Ithe .stop `to non-stop rposition if vthe slide is.

in another longitudinalzlocation.

AALBERLII X. DESMONDS.

direction if actuated while the stopV

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