US2260020A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 21, 1941. 1. H. c. GREEN ETAI. 2,260,020

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' KNITTING MACHINE I Filed March 4, 1940 l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 I I I I I I I I I I Byfib Arry Oct. 21, 1941.

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Mal 7019s: [SAACHC 6222A; iwzzvzlz'Pma;

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Oct. 21, 1941.

l. H. C. GREEN EFAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed March" 4, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet l3 Oct 1., 1941' H. c. GREEN ETAL ,0

' KNITTING MACHINE File March 4, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 .J MEI/T0133: I fix/26176169952111,

I i s weamikflzmz ing a'reverse or Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATE KNITTING momma Isaac H. 0. Green,

lmsetts Central Falls, and Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, B. 1., hill Company, Central Falls, B. 1., M w

assignors to Hemp a corporation of Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,140

'2 Claims. (or. 66-41) This case involves an invention in certain mechanism as applied to knitting machines for incorporating elastic yarn and for producing a selvage in which elastic is incorporated along with a non-elastic yarn in a particular manner more orless as disclosed and claimed in copending aplication Serial #295,095, filed September 15, 1939.

In the figures of the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of a knitting ma-. chine to which the invention has been applied;

Fig.2 is an elevation showing a needle cyl- Fig. 17 is a section taken on Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a detail view showing the elastic garn knitting cam and part of the control there- Fig.'l9- is a section taken'on the line l9l9,

Fig. 16;

Fig. 20 is a section taken through the needle cylinder and at a level below the needle cam inder and sinker assembly as well as some of the cams and their control along with selecting means as applied to one form of the invention; Fig. 3 is a section taken through the needle cylinder and showing in plan view many of. the cams functioning upon needle butts;

Fig. 4 is a detail of a knitting'cam and part of its controlling means, this knitting cam being used to draw'down needles at the elastic yarn feed;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing certain of the connections to the cam shown in Fig. 4 for withdrawing the same;

Fig. 6 is a section taken through a part of the needle cylinder and showing a jack dividing or selecting cam, its support and part of the controlling means therefor;

Fig. 'l is an elevation showing part of the cylinder and the mechanism of Fig. 6 as seen from the front of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a detail view-of stopping or limiting mear ils applicable to the cam shown in Figs. 6 and Fig. 9 is a plan of the sinker cap, parts being cut away so as to show some of the detail of the sinker cams; I a

Fig. 10 is a section taken through the line lil- -lll, Fig. 9. a

Fig. 11 is a detail of part of the sinker cap assembly adjacent the auxiliary sinker cam at this section llI-lll;

Fig. 12 is another detail of the sinker cap showing how the same is cut away adjacent the auxiliary sinker cam;

Fig. 13 is 'a diagrammatic view showing cams and needle and jack butt paths during knitting in which elastic is being incorporated in a fabric;

Fig. 14 is a similar diagrammatic view, but sl gwing knitting with a non-elastic yarn and o amentation by needle wrapping;

similar diagrammatic view showcloclrwise stroke as'i'n the heel or toe of astocking:

' Fig. 16 is a section needle cylinder and showing certain cams which function upon needle butts according toa modified form of the invention; 1

1 18.15 isa taken through part of a 2 returning jacks they have been actuated by the first group of Fig. 24 is a sectio carrying plate and showing selecting-means as. applicable to jacks, also part of the control therefor;

Fig. 21 is an elevation'showing the parts illustrated in Fig. as seen from the front of the machine; 1 Fig. 22 isaplanofthe ing the general arrangement of sinker cam can showsinker cams and .control therefor;

Fig. 23 is an elevational view of a fragment of the sinker cam cap assembly adjacent the" auxiliary sinker cam: at line 23-23; taken on the line Fig. 22; a

Fig. 25 is a section taken on the line 25-28, Fig. 22;

Fig. 26 is a section taken just in advance of the main yarn feed and showing su porting means and certain cams including both movable and fixed jack selecting and controlling cams;

Fig. 27 is a similar section but taken at a point in advance of the first jack selecting means in a modified form of the invention, and illustrating special control for some of the jack selecting and controlling cams;

Fig. 28 is a detail view of means for controlling plain sole cams;

Fig. 29 is a detail of a-movable cam adjacent I 'the main yarn feed, said cam being mounted in a position as illustrated in Fig. 26;

Fig. 30 is a detail of a movable cam adjacent but below the cam illustrated in Fig. 29;

Figs. 31 and 32 are n'iovable cams adapted to function. on jack butts "in advance of the main feeding station to control knitting or tucking;

Fig. 33 is a detail of a camsimilar to that illustrated in Fig. 30, but operative between the first and second selecting means;

Fig. 34 is a detail of a movable cam functioning along withthe cam illustrated in Fig. 33, but adapted to raise jacks to a sligh y h elevation;-

Fi'g. 35. ha detail of a plain sole cam;

Figs. 36 and 37 are details of a fixed cam for to non-selected position after selecting means;

Fig. 38 is a diagrammatic view showing cams and the needleand Jack butt paths as incorporating elastic according to the modified form of the invention; and

Fig.39 is a similar 'l u tic the line 11-11, I

'heel or toe.

, knitted independently needles.

" sinkers being slidable in a sinker head 5.

- station or mouthpiece.

showing knitting during a reverse stroke in the In the incorporation of elastic yarn according to St. Pierre Patent.

#2,131,'l20, the elastic is at a separate feeding station and upon spaced needles, preferably every other needle. It is. floated behind intervening A non-elastic yarn is fed at the socalled 'main yarn feeding station and is knitted on all needles at that point. In the construction of the edge of a fabric such as a stocking top,

several different types of edgehave been made, one so-called tuck" edge has been found very satisfactory, said edge-and general method of producing the same being described and claimedin co-pending application Serial #295,095.

To make this tuck edge along with continuing fabric as in Patent #2,131,720 very specialized mechanism has been developed. In one form of the invention herein illustrated and described by way of example, a Banner 8-step wrap machine has been constructed to knit such an edge, and in'a secondform herein illustrated as a modification, a so-called l9-step Banner wrap machine is illustrated. It is to be understood that such v an edge may be knitted without knitting a wrappattern either in the edge or the continuing fabric. In such event so muchof the mechanism herein illustrated as is necessary to that end may be employed. The particular combina tion does, however, make use of certain of the wrap controlling devices giving to them the dual function of serving to produce wrap omamentation, and at appropriate times, to impart the necessary needle control for incorporating the elastic eitherv in the knitted fabric such as illustrated in Patent #2,131,720 or in the edge according to the application Serial #295,095.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, such as Figs. 1, 2-and 3, enough of a typical hosiery machine has been shown to illustrate the important features of the invention. A frame I carries a base 2 in which is adapted to rotate a needle cylinder 3. This needle cylinder carries the usual complement of needles, preferably latch needles although other types such as spring heard or sliding latch needles may be employed.

drawn from engagement with needle butts or may be allowed to engage those butts in which event it will raise butts to a clearing position. The cam 18 has projecting wings I! and I9 and a v-shaped projection it between the two wings. The front stitch cam II is much thinner than usual to allow the wing to be positioned in front of center raise cam l4.

The needles, one of which is indicated at 2., Figs. 13 and 14, have jacks 2| beneath them, those jacks having a plurality of selecting butts 22, in this instanceeight such selecting butts being available since this is what is termed an 8-step machine. These butts 22 are removable at will as by breaking. The topmost one of these selecting butts is square or rectangular in shape The top butts are of two lengths, short butts 23 alternating with long butts 24. A butt 2| common to all jacks serves to lower them upon engagement with certain cams. Adjacent the upper end of each jack is a masterbutt "which is for the purpose of imparting greater movement to movementsimparted through butts 22, 23 or 24.

The needles havebutts 21, there being a moreor less equal division of long and short butt needles for the usual purpose.

A plurality of selectmgcams or plungers 28 are slidableto and from engagement with butts 22, 23 or 24, these plungers. being slightly inclined and adapted to raise jacks, butts of which have been engaged, to such a position that the master butt 26 will beraised by a cam 29, Fig. 13, the primary purpose of this cam 29 being to elevate selected needles so that they may take a wrap yarn or yarns w fed through wrap yarn'feeding means generally indicated at 80, Fig. 14. This wrap yamfe'eding means 30 is preferably of a type illustrated in United States Patent #1,702,808 but may be of any convenient and effective construction. I

A main knitting yarn which is a non elastic yarn is shown at ,1, Fig. 13, and feeds through Slnkers of conventional type are adapted to be controlled by certain cams in a cam cap 4, said A carrier ring 0 of usual type is extended at one side to mount several y'arnfeeding levers which are controlled to drop to and be raised fromyarn feeding position at a so-called main feeding These yarn levers are controlled-as described in'United States Patent #933,443. A main cam shaft 1 carriesseveral drums thereon on whicharearranged cams for I controlling the functions of the machine throughout the cycle ofknitting a stocking. Only such cams as are employed in the operation of the mechanismherein described willbe mentioned.

A main cam block ted by'numeral 0 is mounted on a cam plate 9 supported on a post II. The main cam block is of the usual construction in that it has a front stitch cam ll, rear stitch cam l2, center guard cam I3 and a center raise cam l4, this center raise cam and the front stitch cam l'l being of rather different construction from that, usually employed.

These cams, probably best shown in Figs; 14 and 15, are supplemented by a raise cam 15 and a cam IS, the purpose ofwhich will be more fully described in due, course. The front stitch cam II is movable so that the same maybe withone of several yarn feeding guides or levers II. An elastic yarn feeding finger 32 is adapted to be moved to and from feeding position and feeds the elastic yarn e. This finger I2 is'fixed at the end of a lever 33 pivoted at 34 and spring pressed into a lower or feeding position, but movable by a contacting lever "and other mechanism controllable from certain ca'm means upon the machine, the remainder of this mechanism not being illustrated since it is shown in co-pending application Serial No. 100,908, filed September 15, 1936.

The selecting cams orplungers 20 are controlled at times by one series of discs having pattern formations thereon and at other times by another such series of discs. The two groups of these discsare indicated at II and I], Fig. 1. They are mounted for rotation upon a drum II which is ratcheted by suitable ratcheting means to efiect the necessary changes in the placement 'of the cams 2a to accomplish the knitting of the elastic top, and of the wrap pattern inthe leg or other'part. ofa stocking.- One group of these cams is employed throughout the knitting of the elastic top and another group in the knitting of thepattern in the leg of I the stocking, this all the elastic yarn cam 39, Fig. 13.

dies would clear and knit.

' and those. not so raised will take yarn,

' that element tocams on any suitable drum on the machine convenient.

, needles at the main beneath plate 9.

lug 54 which is a part of.

in their hooks. Those needles raised to a height dictated by cam 29 clear their latches while needles which are not raised by the jack selection neither clear their latches nor do they take the elastic yarn e.

Those needles which butts are guided down by the auxiliary stitch Naturally all needles are drawn down by this stitch cam 39, but'the intermediate needles which were not raised by the jacks are merely drawn down inean idle movement since they did not clear their latches. tic stitches have been drawn needles are raised by the V-shaped projection |9 on the cam l6 and thereafter by'the wing l8 which is at a common v level with the front edge of cam l4.

Neither of. cams l8 nor. |4 raises needles high enough for the latches thereof to'be cleared. The front stitch cam would perform that function if it were in place, however, in order to knit tuck stitches at the edge of the fabric, or at any other place, that cam must not be in position or all nee- Taking advantage of the long butts 24 on the jacks, a selecting or guiding cam 49, Fig. 13, is movably mounted to be projected in for engagement the jacks for raising'them and their attendant needles to a latch-clearing position, that is, at least as high as they would be raised by the upper point of the front stitch cam That is, according to the arrangement of the long butts 24, any desired needles may be raised for knitting but will not knit. They will tuck the yarn thus taken, the extent of the tucking being dependent upon the time during which cam H is withdrawn.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4,5, 13, 14 and 15, the auxiliary i h drawing cam 39 is fixed to a car"- rier 6| which is in turn slidable in the bracket M. This carrier 4| has one side flattened to align with the inclined edge 46 of the bracket. this serving to maintain the cam at the desired angle. At the outer end of carrier 4| is an anguiar piece 44 having'a projection 45. A spring 46 connects to a projection on the bracket and to another depending extension 41 on the angular piece 44 normally tending to maintain the cam inwardly against the cylinder; A bell crank hav; ing arm 48, 49 and 59 pivots at and by means of the depending arm 56 which-contactsthe projection 45, is effective to withdraw cam 39 when desired. Movement is imparted to the bell crank i the butts 24 which are present oniacks beneath do take the elastic yarn are caused to draw it into knitted stitches as their After the elas- 52 is adapted to contact against this stop screw 56 and thereby limit the inward movement of cam 46 against the cylinder. A link 59 connects to the outer, end of lever arm 58 and imparts movement to the lever and thus to the cam for withdrawing the same or allowing it to move in for contacting jack butts, all in accordance with said cams on a cam drum hereinafter to be described.

Now referring to Figs.

58 of the lever 1, 2 and 9 through 12, a certain amount of the sinker and sinker cam assembly has been shown mainly for illustrating the control of sinkers at the auxiliary orelastic yarn feeding side of the machine. Sinkers 60 of more or less the-usual type are slidable in sinker head 5 and controllable by a plurality of cams in are provided the sinker cams 64 and 65 and a center sinker cam 66. The side cams 64 and 65 with said butts on machine frame. At the other end of through a link 5| and connect! as leading from a the-drum which may be bracket 55, Figs-6, 7 and 8. Ina depending part of this bracket is threaded a stop screw 56 locked or at least attached to a cam 66 whenever stitch cam cam 89, sinker cam 66 nor sinker-wave is set up at the sinker cam cap generally designated by numeral 4. These cams include side sinker cams 6| and 62 and the center sinker cam 63 functioning at the main feeding station. At the auxiliary feed at' which elastic yarn is introduced, there the sinker cam 66 is are fixed in position, but

66 is attached at the movable. This sinker cam inner end of a slide 61 adapted to move laterally of the machine and having at its outer end a depending lug 68. The slide 61 isurged laterally inwardby a spring 59. Movement is limited by a pin I0 slidable in-a cap 12. The upwardly extending arm 48 of the bell crank previously described withrespect to Fig. ,4 is bent laterally as at 13, Fig. 2, and engages lug 68 for withdrawing the center sinker 391s moved to active position. This assures that a sinker wave occurs concurrently with the needle wave, and vice versa.

Referring to and also for the jack cam 46 have been shown. The link 5| extends downwardly to connect at one end of a lever I4 rojected at the upper end of a bracket 15 ich is in turn attached to extension 16 from the lever 14 is pivoted a depending bar engageable with a cam 18 on drum 19. When the end of bar I1 drops from the cam I8, the-bell crank having levers 46, 49 and 581s swung in such .adirection' that cam 39 is pulled outwardly and sinker cam 66 is allowed to move in so that neither a needle'wave elastic yarn knitting point. when the bar moves upwardly on a cam the reverse takes place.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, link 59 for controlling cam 40 connects to one arm 89 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 8| of said lever connecting to a depending link or-rod 82 which in end to a lever 83 em on drum '85. When turn connects at its lower gageable with .a cam 84 this cam 84 raisesthe end of lever 83, cam 40' moves inwardly to engage jack butts. Upon fall-- ing from cam 84, the said cam 40 moves out-. wardly under the influence of a spring (not shown). Of course, at that time, front stitch cam II will have been moved into place by mechanism not shown, but controlled from a cam on one of the drums illustrated in Fig. Operation Now referring to Figs. 1a, .14 and 15 the 'operation of the machine will be described in-three diflerent phases of the slot H and limited by a second slot of predetermined length in the adjustable Fig. 1' the control for the stitch' the auxiliary or I 28 merely pass along Corresponding needles they 2,200,020 I needle and Jack butt pathways for knitting in an I moved down by the wing cam I'I. Neither moveelastic top are shown. The pathway l! is that ment has any effect upon the'needles themselves.

of butts 23 and 24 on the lacks 2|, those jacks first having been moved upwardly by a cam 8'! shown in dotted lines and operable on the master butts 26. By that means all Jacks are presented to the plungers 28. The topmost plunger is set to engage long butts 24 -.and raise them to the elevation ll whichalso raises the butts 28 to an elevation 89 thereby permitting cam 20 to raise those jacks to a. height sufllcient for causing the needles to cleartheir latches and to take the yarn e in their hooks. The needle butts 21 rise in the pathway as and are thereafter drawn down by cam It to a-stitch drawing level. Jacks having butts 23 not aflected by the topmost plunger in pathway 84 until pushed downwardly along with the long butt jacks in a pathway ll. ,The butts 26 incidentally move down under cam'ii as shown. The Jacks having long butts 24 will next be. contacted by the dividing cam 44 and will be raised-in a pathway 92. will rise up in pathway 83 while the remaining needles are raised-to a lesser height since their butts merely engage cam ll and-wing cam Idand along the top of'cam I4, needles taking yam at that height, but not clearing their latches. Needles which did clear their latches are drawn down by cams I3 and I2, and actually knit. The cam II merely raises needles to the usual raise cam level. All lacks are. pushed down to lowermost position In clockwise strokes needle. butts move along the raisecam ",passupcam I2, thenbeneathcam l3 and down below cam II taking yarn and drawing stitches. The v-shaped Drolection- It -then moves the needles up to a pathway IIII and wing cam I! gives an additional movement to the ordinary raise came level. In the opposite direction the butts would merely move along raise cam II from the left to the right, beneath cam 85 and over the cam I6 striking cam II by means ofv which'latches would be cleared, and thereas the needles move under stitch -cam I2'and butts 23 and 24 pass along at a level 84 until cam 81 again becomes eflectlve. A cam'." has been shown in- I these ilgures and is employed during needle wrapping as is illustrated in Fig. 14.

In .Fig. 14 knitting at the main side only in" A conjunction with needle wrapping is illustrated.

I All plungers 2! may be employed-at some time'in the wrapping and impart eight steps of selection,

Jack's first being raised by the cam II as previously described whereupon, plungers 2. effect certain selections and master cam 2! acting upon master butts 2' will raise selected needles in a pathway 0.6 so that a wrap yarn in will be taken .in the hooks of appropriate needles. Wing cam I1 pushes Jacks downwardly to a lowermost level II. ,The butts of selected needles move along at an uppermost level until they reach the dependv ing Projection 28" of .the cam II and are-moved downwardlyso as to pass beneath center guard cam I3. Incidentally, they are moved low enough sothat they are first raised slightly by cam before striking cam IS. The butts of nonselected needles move along at a level it until they contact cam I I whereupon they are raised to clear their latches. They Join the upper group at A projection us is III on a bell crank lever pivoted at III on an angular upright III. This bell crank has-a horizontal arm HI connected to a depending I24 by means of which the bell crank is moved and the cam withdrawn to an inactive position at after drawing yarn and knitting beneath cams I3 and I2.

Modification dle cylinder Ill carries a cam block III having a front stitch cam' I44. top center guard cam I05 and a rear stitchcam I06. The center raise cam I, Fig. 38,-is of slightly diflerent construction from that usually employed and has a supplemental eam Ill movably mounted and controlled by suitable mechanism to be moved in and out at desired times. The operation and function of this cam will be more thoroughly described at a later point in the specification.

. A bracket III, Figs. l6. l7 and 18, is mounted on cam plate III and carries a slideIIO to the inner end of-which is fastened an elastic stitch drawing cam III. This slide is movable inwardly and outwardly having at itsouter end a depending ex'tensionII2 being connected by a spring II:

'to a fixed part-of the bracket! so that nornially the slide and cam III will be moved inwardly against the needle cylinder. A stop screw "4 is adjustable for limiting inward movement. n aged by a depending arm predetermined times. A third arm' I2I extends upwardly and is employed for the purpose of conthispointandalineedlesarecausedtoknitas' their butts pass beneath cams I3 and I2. Then needles rise to the-ordinary their buttsriseupfcain II.

Referring. to Fig: 15, needle and lack butt P ths .are shown in-a reverse stroke of knitting lainthe heel or toe. For simplicity of illustration short butt pathways only are shown. a The raise cam level as ,jacks do not play an elective part in this knitting and would pass along at a lowermost level V except for the influence of the cam l'|. That cam does aifect the lacks since master. butts 2i contact the cam in either direction. In reverse strokes these bum-move up I! and are moved'downwar'dlyby a cooperatcam Instrckesintheoppuitedirection #0. would butts, som

ride up the camll would-be-N-butt trollingasinkercamas wiilbeexplalnedinmore detallinduecourie.

In 20 and 21 parts for operating upon; Jacks beneath needlu have been illustrated. both the Jacks and'thejack operating devices being generally located above the circular base of the machine and beneath the camplate. III. ln l 'lg. 38 a needle I22 has a butt I23. These needles .are preferably of the usual latch type and are divided into two groups 01' long and shortbutts asisthe common practice. Beneath'each needle.

Isa jack I24 having amaster butt I28 and a plurality of selecting butts. I28. The butts I2lare removable'at will and may be broken away or otherwise detached insetting up a pattern. Each of the Jacks has a square butt above the selective .vlngshortbuttsfl'flandothers havingiongbutts I28. Iftheelasticis-mbein- 'corporatedsccordingtoa1.xidi'visiomofne'edim. alternate needletwilihave lacks withalong I2! while intermediate needles will have the opposite type of jack, that is, one with a short butt- I21. I

Since this machine is a be nineteen of the butts I26. of needles as for determining the pattern in the wrap areas, series of selecting plungers I29 and I30 are spaced as shown in Fig. 38. The employment of two sets of these plungers makes possible the knitting of "color side of color and color within color patterns. Briefly, these sets of plungers and associated cams are used for the selecting of needles which are to take elastic yarn at the auxiliary side and to determine the knitting of tuck stitches at the edge of the fabric as at the selvage or adjacent thereto.

First in selecting jacks and thereby needles to take an elastic yarn e fed at a so-called auxiliary feeding station, the topmost plunger I29 is used and functions upon the appropriate butt I26 on jacks of needles to be selected raising those jacks so that their master butts I25 will be engaged and raised by a cam I3I which normally isemployed to raise jacks and needles for determining wrap areas. This cam I3I is further shown in Figs. 20, 21, 27 and 33. The cam I3I is slidable outwardly to some extent, but is normally spring pressed inwardly by the spring I32. The outward movement is merely for safety in the event of improper contact with passing butts, and this cam might normally be considered as a fixed cam in contrast to other cams which are purposely movabl and are automatically so manipulated. For example, cam I33 slightly above and to the right, Fig. 38, is slidable along the side 19'-step type there will of the cam I3I but is automatically moved to and from butt engaging position at the proper intervals in the cycle of knitting.

In the selecting Cam I33 has a stem I34 and is maintained in slidable relationship by a shoulder screw I35 engageable, one-half in a slot in the stem of 'the cam I3I and the other half in the stem I34 of cam I33. A spring (not shown) will normally urge thiscam I33 inwardly toward the needle circle, the cam being drawn outwardly by a depending arm -I36, Figs. 21, 2'1 and 34. This arm I36 is fixed to a spindle I31 pivoted in bearings in the upstanding lugs or cars I38 and I39 which are part of. a bracket I40. Figs. 21 and 2'7. The spindle I 31 extends angularly as at I, this extension connecting at I42 to a depending link I43. The arm I36 engages an angular projection I44 which is an integral part of the cam stem I34.

The cam I33 is employed during the knitting of elastic only and serves to raise needles which are to take the elastic to a. slightly greater height than that to which they would be raised by cam I 3I alone. The cam I3I functions without cam I33 except during the knitting of elastic, that is, during the knitting of wrap yarn patterning.

Referring to Figs. 20, 21 and 27, additional controlling means with that for cams I3I and I33 is shown. This control is for the top plunger I29.

That plunger has an extension I45 which is engaged by the end of a depending arm I46 of a bell crank lever pivoted at I41. This bell crank also has a more or less horizontally disposed arm I48 and is in turn connected to the link I411. Upward movements of the link will withdraw both plunger I29 and cam I33; movements in the oppcsite direction allow the plunger and cam to move inwardly for the engagement of such jack butts as are designed to contact them. The plunger I29 tends to be moved inwardly against the cylinder by a spring (not shown).

I50 and I52 both being grooved at the inner or adjacent sides and being retainedin the above mentioned slot by a; shoulder screw I53. These cams are likewise movable inwardly to butt engaging position and outwardly to an inactive position, the cam I49 functioning during wrapping along with another cam I54. The cam I54 raises needles which have been selected by plungers I30, that is, completes the second stage of selection as employed for such purposes as knitting color within color patterns. The cam I49 is a latch clearing cam for all needles during the knitting of wrap patterns. This cam ismovable inwardly and outwardly at desired times and assures that all needles clear after wrapping has taken place and prior to taking yarn beneath the center cam I05 and knitting beneath stitch cam I06. Ob-

viously the cam I49 will not be in active position during knitting. th elastic top; Cam I54 is springv pressed and is what might normally be termed a fixed cam similar tothe cam I3I. The cam I5I is controlled to be radially movable to and from butt engaging position and functions along with two other cams I55 and -I 56, Figs. 20, 21, 26, 31, 32 and 38. Cams I55 and I56 are radially slidable in a bracket I51 at the upper end of a post I58. The cam I55 is radially movable by a lever I59 pivoted at I60 and further connected to the cam stem bya screw I6I. Movements of the lever I59 draw the cam outwardly or allow it to move inwardly at appropriate times. The cam I56 has a spring I62 which connects at the outer endof the cam stem and tends to urge that cam inwardly. The cam I55 connects to the cam I56 by means of a depending extension I63 at its outer end engageable in a notch at the outer end of the stem of cam I 56. Thus the spring I62 tends to urge both cams inwardly and the lever I59 serves to pull both of them outwardly when that action is desired.

A wire link I'64 is connected to lever I59 and also to one arm I65 of a bell crank which pivots at I66 and has a second arm I6'I connecting to a depending link I68. Movements of this bell crank will withdraw the two cams I 55 and I56 'or allow them to be moved inwardly to butt engaging position. Cam I55 merely serves as .a leveling cam acting upon butts I27 and I28 for that purpose. Cam I 56 is similar to the plungers' I29 and I30 and engages the top selecting butts I26 which were engaged by the uppermost plunger I29 thereby selectingjacks I24 beneath those needles which are to be raised at the main cam block for taking yarn and knitting during the production of a tuck top or other tuck area in the elastic portions of a fabric. Such lacks as are selected by the cam I56 will be raised to a height so that master butts I25 will engage cam I5I, this latter cam having been moved inwardly at that time, and thereby raise needles to aclearstitch cam I 08.

- at desired times.

are not in position at any other part of the kniting.

Cams and "I, Fig. 38, are merely employed as jack raise cams while the cam I I2 is for the purpose of pushing jacks downwardly to a lowermost level prior to a time when they would be pushed down by needles knitting under The cam I13, Figs. 36, 37 and 38, is a fixed cam and serves the purpose of pushing jacks downwardly after they have completed the selection and raising of needle at the first station, that is, by plungers I29 and cams I3I and I33. This cam functions both during the knitting of elastic work and during wrap patterning.

Referring to Figs. 28, and 38, cams I14 and patterning as in the high-splice or sole and instep areas to inhibit the knitting of a pattern in the high splice and sole. on long butts I28 and push down certain selected -jacks before they may contact either of cams I 3| or I54. These cams I14 and I15 have stems I18 and I" which have projections I18 and I19 engageable by levers I and .I8I and which are automatically moved so as to hold these plain sole cams outwardly except at the particular phases in the knitting cycle at which they are to function. Their action is well-known and need not be described in detail in this case.

Now referring to Figs. 16, 19, 38 and 39-, cam I 08 is slidable inwardly and outwardly on the cam I01, having a stem at I82 with a pin I83 projecting upwardly at the outer end of that stem and to which is connected a spring I84 under tension and connected to a hook I85 fixed to top center cam I05. A second stem or screw I88 projects downwardly and is engaged by the end Now referring to Figs. 22-25, the sinker cap I90 has sinker cams I92, I93 and a center sinker cam I94 at the main side of the machine, these being the usual cams employed. The second sinker cam I95 is pivoted at I98 and has an extending arm i88 to a fixed part of the sinker cap mechanism so that, in effect, this is a sort of fiopper cam which may be moved inwardly by means of a I contact element I99 engageable with a pin 200 in an extension 20I of the cam itself. These parts are also common to the Banner 19-step wrap machine and their function is well understood. At the elastic yarn feed the sinker cap is supplemented by ,a plate 202 beneath which slides a stem 203 carrying at its inner end an auxiliary center sinker cam 204. At either side of this cam are fixed sinker cams 205 and 208.

The ends of the center sinker cam 204 are guided by extensions or plates 201- and 208, these being fixed to maintain sinkers downwardly in their slots since a considerable part of the cap itself is cut away at this particular point. A spring 209 urges the stem 203 inwardly, it being pulled outwardly at the desired times by contact of the lever I2I', Fig. 17, with a lug 2I0 at the end These cams function I9! connected by means of a spring of the cam stem, the action at this point being practically identical with that previously described with respect to similar parts performing a similar function in the first described form of the invention. Of course, the cam 204 is moved outwardly to active position during the knitting of the elastic yarn, butis allowed to move inwardly at other times.

I I5 are plain sole cams and work only during .dependent elastic yarn stitches.

Operation Now referring to Figs. 38 and 39, a brief discussion of the operation will be given, this being specific to theform described as a modification. In Fig. 38-the pathways of needle and jack butts have been shown as when. knitting an elastic top and tucking atcertain wales during that process. The jack butts I25 are levelled by the raise cam I I0 and the plunger I29 put in position to engage such of the butts I28 as pass it; jacks affected thereby will be raised from a pathway 2 to a pathway 2I2 whereupon the cams. I3I and I33 will elevate those selected iacks to a considerably greater height, needles being raised correspondingly to the pathway 2I3. This pathway 2I3 assures that the elastic yarn e will be taken in the hooks of needles. Cam I3I is suflicient to raise needles to a height for clearing latches, but since the elastic yarn is preferably fed at a relatively high level, cam I33 imparts the additional movement necessary to take the elastic'yarn at that relatively elevated position. The cam I 33, as has been described, is movable and is employed for the purpose above explained. During ordinary knitting at which a wrap pattern is being made cam I33 will be withdrawn.

Needles that have taken the elastic yarn are drawn down by the cam I I I and knit drawing in- The .other needles which were merely moving along 'at a raise cam level as determined by the cam 2 move down this cam III, but have not taken yarn nor cleared their latches so that this is more or less an idle movement. Of course, the same control which moved stitch cam III into an effective position has drawn the auxiliary sinker cam 204 out so-that a sinker wave is set up along with cooperating stitch wave. After these elastic stitches are drawn cam 2I5 immediately raises all needles to a raise cam level at which they move along beneath cam I05 until they contact the stitch cam I 08, except for the fact that in tucking, certain needles are raised to a latch clearing and yarn taking level 2I8, this being done by jack control as will be presently described. The plungers I30 will not be in position for affecting jacks during the knitting of the elastic top and cam I54, although the same is in active position, will have no effect since no jacks are raised by said plungers. The cams I55, I58 and I5I will be moved inwardly to active position, cam I08 being withdrawn. The cam I'II raises jacks and levels them prior to selection by the cam I58. That selection is similar to the selection determined by the plunger I29. The cam I49 which is employed during wrap stripe knitting only and which is a standard part of Banner 19-step wrap machines is withdrawn by mechanism not shown herein. Those jacks selected by the cam I58 are-raised by the mastercam I5I thereby elevating needles so that their butts travel in the pathway 2I8. Those needles thus raised will take a main knitting yarn y and will knit. The remaining needles also take the yarn,

but since they did not clear their latches, will merely tuck. This tucking will continue so long

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