US2303412A - Welt turning and fabric take-up attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

- D=.1,194"2.4 FTMlwAcHTLE Em. 2,303,412

WELT TURNINGI ANJ FABRIC TAKEUP VATTACI'IMEIJT FOR FULL-FASHIONED` HOSIERYKNITTING MACHINES f Filed Nov. l5, 1939 BYSheets-Sheet 1 y Illllll A 34 5%, w I

F526/ .fda

INVENTORS:

ATTORNEY y 2 t e 9 h S s m, DO e F, h ms MNB E l MH Hc CA LAM ANG, AN E uw WTS Rml E .EKK5, LMYl T R Hcmv. ISO CR ABON AHd WFDe .DWH N MAmF F S A w WELT TURNING FULL Dec. l1, 1942. y F.M.wAcH1-LER ITAL I WELT TURNING AND FABRIC TAKE-UP ATTACHMENT` FOR FULL-FASHIONED HOSI'ERY KNITTING MACHINES Filed NOV. l5,- 1959 8 ShetS-Sheet 3 l n mr Wwf TTORNEY Dec. 1, 1942. M. wACH'rLER WELT TURNING AND FA FULLASHIONED HOS IERY Filled Nov.' l5, 4,939

BRIC TAKE-UP ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES a sheets-Sheet 4.`

lNvEN'roRs: l

ATTORNEY- Dec. 1, 1942. F. MxwAcHTLER rAL ,2,303,412

` WELT TURNING vAND FABRIC TAKE-UP ATTACHMENT FOR f FULLFASHIONED HOSIERYKNITTING MACHINES ATTORNEY AQ Y DeC- 1, 1942. F. M. wAcHTLER ETAL WELT TURNING AND FABRIC T EUP ATTACHMENT F y FULLTFASH D HOSIER NITTING MACHINES ed NOV. l5, 1,939

8 Sheets-Sheet v BYWKJM I v ATTloRNEY ACI-IMENT De@ 1,1942-V F. M. wAcH'rLER rs1-AL" 2,303,412 WELT TURNING AND FABRIC TAKE- FULLL /MACHINE UP -FASHIONED HOSIER NITT Filed Nov. 19:59` 8 Sheets-Sheet? l A lNvENTrs L 'FM Macht/ef" & D. G. Traner.

A'rToNEY 2,303,412 -FOR R EI'AL C TAKE WACHTLE FABRI -UPATTAGHMENT -FAsHIoNED HosIERY vKNITTING MACH Filed Nov. l5,

Dec. 1942.

. WELT TUNNING AND NES FULL

I N 8-Shee'r...=s-Sheetl 8 www.

se W" YPatented Dec; 1, 1942 WELT 'rURNiNG AND FABRIC "rana-urn'r-` 'rAonMEN'r Foa FULL-FASHIONED -Hosnaar xNrrrlNG MACHINES Friedrich Max Wach-tier, West New York, and `Donald G. Trutner, North Arlington,.N. J., as- Asignor-s to Alfred Hofmann, Inc., West New York, N. .i'.r v l Application November 15, 199, Serial No.

55 claims. (tcl. ese-96) The present invention generally relates to welt formingand fabric take-up attachmerits for knitting machines and, `more particularly-pertains to improvements in mechanisms for automatic weltl turning and fabric take-up in the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery.

in accordance with the usual practice in the manufacture of full-fashioned hosiery, it -has been .customary to turn the welt manually. The manual operations involved in forming thewelt require a great degree y of skill, and' consume considerable time. Erts have been made to-l -wards the' elimination of these drawbacks by providing automatic or semi-automatic welt turning attachments. However, such known welt turning attachments are `impractical in most instances and, in all instances, are very expensive, because of' their complicated and cumbersome construction and their intricate mode of operation.

lit is, therefore, one of the most important objects of the invention to provide a welt turning mechanism of simplified structure and operation which may be readily attached to existingr knitting machines, without necessitating material changes in'- the basic structure thereof and, ac-

ing of the fabric, thus rendering the device foolproof from apractical standpoint.

Another equally important feature of the inl vetion resides in the provision of a combined automatic welt turning and fabric take-up attachment having \a simplified construction andv associationof parts, and capable of being easily built into fullfashi'oned hosiery machines now commonly in use for cooperative function therewith to form welts and draw fabrics knitted y thereby during the normal operation thereof.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. Y

in order that the invention and its mode of operaton'may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, we have, in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed. description based thereupon, set, out a possible embodiment 'of the invention.

With reference tothe drawings, itJ is to be understood that there has been sh'own only those parts of a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine which are essential to a clear comprehension of the invention, the knitting machine itself j being of theusual construction and functioning cordingly, overcoming one of the serious objecv tions of the trade to the adoption of vautomatic welt turners.

Also, in accordance with the general practice followed in the prior art, it is necessary to manually engage the take-up mechanism with each welt rod rutilized to draw the fabric o the needles as knitting progresses. This operation, while not of a skillful, technical nature, demands strict and careful attention on the Ypart of the operator and, for that reason, usually requires that the machine `be stopped for the proper performance of the operation, resulting in loss Figure 1; r. of time and production. 40 Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of The invention, therefore, moreover aims to pro- Figure 3; vide combined welt turning and take-up mecha- Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of nisms cooperatively associated for synchronized Figure 3; 1

' automatic function without interruption .in the yoperation of the knitting machine, to draw the welt fabric as knitted, then' turn said fabric to form a double welt, and finally draw under 'proper Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of awelt turning and fabric take-up attachment having means to assure the accurate positioning of thelvarious operable parts'for the properturning and tension-v {Figure '7;

in the ordinary manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In these drawings: Figure l is a top plan of a portion of a fullfashioned hosiery knitting machine having the improved welt turning and fabric take-up attachment mounted thereon; certain parts being broken. away fand removed for the sake of clarity' of illustration; I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same; Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail looking in the direction of line 3-3 in Figure 6 is a top plan on an enlarged scale` of a portion of the two'welt bar carrier devices, t

one for each end of the welt bar;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line l-T of Figtension the stocking fabric knitted on the kniture 6: v y ting machine subsequent to the turning'of the Figure 8 is a. section taken on line 8-8 of welt. Figure 6;

Figure 9 is ar section taken on linelS-S `of Figure 10 is a perspective of the welt bar-supporting member included in each of 'the tw carrier devices of a welt bar: Y. t

-the rotatable hand wheel front table 2s.

' with the art, an elaborate be dispensed with herein.

Figure 11 is an enlarged cross sectional detail of another portion of the welt bar carrier devices, the section being taken on line II--Il of Figure l 1 with certain parts removed for the sake of clarity;

Figure l2 is a section taken on line |2-I2 of Figure 11; ff

. Figures 13 to g3 inclusive are somewhat diagrammatic illust-rations of thesequence of movements of the welt bar in the automatic operation thereof;

tion of a portion of Figure 23;I

Figure 26 is an enlarged detail of the welt rod 'holding and positioning device and of the fabric take-up mechanism; Figure 27 is an enlarged section taken on line 21-21 of Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a sectionV taken on line 28-28 of, Figure 27; i l

Figure 29 is a detail illustrating a constructional feature of apart of thetake-up mechanism;

Figure 30 is a top plan of a part of 'another portion of the take-up mechanism;

Figure 31 Vis an enlarged perspective of -a part. of the welt rod holding and positioning vmechanism;

Figure 32 is a section on a reduced scale takeny on' line 32-32 of Figure 27.

Referring more particularly to the drawing whereinlike charactersof reference will Vindicate corresponding parts throughout, the machine frame is designated at 20 and carries the vusual bearings for supporting the various shafts of the knitting machiney including the rotatable longitudinally shiftable main cam shaft 2|, and shaft 22. The machine ovided with the usual -center eam 24J frontbeam 25, and

frame is also p beam 23, back' f known in the art. Yarn is'fed to the knitting section 28 by means of yarn carriers 38 connected to the carrier-bars 4U supported in brackets 42 on the machine frame 20. V-

The elements so far described are foundv in well known knitting machines commonlyused ini-the trade and, since their construction and operation are fully understood by those familiar description thereof may In accordance with the invention, the knitf ting machine having the general construction hereinbefore set forth, is provided with an automatic welt turning and fabric take-up attachment, which may be stated to comprise essentially:

I. A welt bar for each knitting section. y II. A'pair of. welt bar carrier devices for each welt-bar. i

JII. Mechanism for advancing and retracting the welt bar 'carrier devices. f

IV. Mechanism for lifting, tilting, and lowering the welt bar carrier devices;

V. Means for guiding and for side-stepping l the welt bar carrier devices.

VI. Automatic take-up mechanism.

VII. Welt rod supporting and positioning l mechanism. For the sake of clarity herein. each essential feature above enumerated will first be described individually in the order given, and then a genl -eral statement of operation will be made, clearly setting forth the correlated function of the various elements.

I. Welt bar The welt bar, designated in the drawings by thereference character 44, essentially comprises complementary bar sections 46 and "rigidly held together by means of bolts '48, or like fastening elements, and securely yclamping therebetween a bank of welt hooks 50. The welt hooks 50, which also serve as transfer elements, are

adapted for cooperative action with the knitting needles n 32 to receive the loops of the initial course knitted by said needles and subsequently return said loops onto the needles in the formation of the welt. l 1 Each welt hook 50 preferably has the construction shown, consisting of a shank 52, a hook end 54, and a butt end 56, a portion of theshank and the butt end being respectively adapted to fit into a groove 58and hole 59 formed in one section 46 of the Welt bar 44. The portion of the shank 52 projecting outwardly of the clamp- Y ing bar sections 46 and 44'! is bent and kinked to form a double vertical bend 60, that part of the shank from a point adjacent the hook end 54 to a point adjacent the bend 60, being grooved in the usual manner for cooperation with the needle beards, as will be specified hereinafter.

'I'he essential purposes of providing the welt hook with a double vertical bend are. to form a stop for the retraction of the initial sinker loops of the welt fabric atthe bend vadjacent the grooved part of the shank in order to enable said initialv sinker loops to line up for even and accurate transfer to the needles after the knitting of the desired length of welt fabric and in order to provide for a free passage of the needle beards through` the groove of the shank for loops by the needles; and to forml a downwardv angular displacement of the grooved part of the shank as against the remaining part of the shank `welt hooks into position for the return of said sinker loops to the needles byr a reduced turning. motion of the welt bar, whereby to limit its travel towards the sinker, head, and finally,` to prevent excessive stretching or dragging of initial sinker f loops while retracting on the grooved portion of the shank.

In order that the welt hooks 50 may receive sinker loops of the initial course knitted by the needles-32, and subsequently return said loops to the needles, the welt bar 44, according to the present invention, .is capable of going through a sequence of movements. Inj"=describing the movements of the welt bar, the'terms "forward y facilitating the picking up of the initial sinker the knockover and "backwardf are used with respect to the weltbar itsel.f, the welt hooks being regarded as located at the welt Abar frontwhich normally is disposed to-face the needles from the front of the machine frame. Therefore, the term forward indicatesthe movement of the welt bar in a general direction from the front to the back vof the machine, whereas the term backward indicates the movement of the welt bar in a general directionrfrom the back towards the front of the machine frame. When referring to the placement of the welt hooks behind the needles, the term behind is used with respect to the forward movement of the welt bar, which forward movement is employed for the presentation of the welt hooks to the needles. Therefore, the term behind indicates the location of the welt hooks on the bearded*y side of the needles -betweenthe latter and the presser edge.

The sequence of thewelt bar movements is illustrated in Figures 13 to 25 inclusive.

shown in Figure 13, the welt bar rst undergoes. a rectilinear horizontal forward movement to advance the welt hooks towards the needles for bringing said hooks from an inactive to an active position, the welt bar being guided during a part of said movement for so positioning the `welt hooks in relation to the needles that during the continued rectilinear forward movement of the welt bar, the hook ends of said welt hooks the positioning of' the tially horizontal plane,

will pass between the needles in line with the sinkers at a point between the sinkers and the knockover bits to engage the initial `sinkerloops when they'are cast olf the sinker nibs.

As shown in Figure 14, the welt bar then undergoes a rectilinear horizontal backward movement to retract the welt hooks away from the needles after engaging the sinker loops and, ac-

'above the heads of the needles, the welt barbeing shifted during a part of this movement to side-step the Welt hooks for their alignment with the needles.

As" shown in Figure 16,-'the welt ber then undergoes a curvilinear substantially forward the returning of the movement towards the needles to cause'the vaulting of the welt hooks over the needles and continuing in a curvilinear substantiallyk downward movement to place said welthooks behind the needles that is, on the beard side thereof where said hooks are held stationary until the needles go' into positionpreparatory to the transfer of the initial sinker loops back onto the needles.

As shown in Figure 17, the welt bar then undergoes a rectilinearv substantially downward movement to bring the initial sinker loops adjacent to the needle heads at a point between bits and the sinkers to place' said loops in position for engagement by the needles, after which the needles rise and enter said initial loops (Figure 18).

As shown inigure 19, the welt bar then unundergoes movement away from theneedles to move the eventually bringing the loops under tension between the sinkers and the hook ends' of the welt hooks.

As shown in Figure 21, the welt bar then undergoes a thrust forward movement bringing the hook ends of the welt hooks into a substantially horizontal position preparatory to unhoking.

As shown in Figures 22 and 24, the welt bar then undergoes a slightly vertical downward movement causing the bent points at the hook ends of the welt hooks, as best shown in enlarged Figure'-24,A to slip past the rbeards ofthe needles, thus relieving the tension of the initial sinker loops Afor the instantaneous disengagement of the hooks from said loops.

`The movement separately illustrated in Figures 21 and 22 are more or'less simultaneous so that hook ends into a substansion on the transferred loops, and the unhooking of the welt hooks from said loops follow in rapid succession, in the manner represented in Figure 25.

As represented in Figure `23, the welt bar then a rectilineary horizontal backward welt' hooks out of the knittingffield; a curvilinear tilting backward Y movement away from the needles to place the welt hooks in their normal position ina substantially horizontal plane; and,

finally,` a rectilinear horizontal backward movement away from the needles to return the welt hooks to their original inactive position.`

From the foregoing, it will beunderstood that, in accordance with our improved method, the movements of the welt bar may be divided into three distinct groups, as follows:

1, Movements to effect the bringing of the welt bar from an inactive to an activeposition for the 1 hooking up of the welt hooks with the initial sinker loops, and for the drawing of the welt fabric under tension while being knitted (Figures 13 and 14) 2. Movements to effect the turning of the welt fabric and the transferring of the initial s'inker loops back onto the needles (Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19) 3. Movements `to effect the unhooking or releasing of the welt hooks from the initial sinker loops after their transfer onto the needles and welt bar to inactive position (Figures 20, 21, 22, and 23) dergoes a substantially rectilinear backward movement whereby the welt hooksfollow the movement 'of the needles for placing the same in position preparatory to the unhooking move- As shown in Figure 20, the welt bar then undergoes asubstantially rectilinear vertical upward movement cooperating with the needle motion,

, with the movement of the v limit for positioning the hook ends on a substan- `lieve the tension on the loops the needles and unhook the welt hooks from Asaid Attention is particularly called to the fact that gular relationship of the bent portions of the Shanks are suchA that the sinker head and other parts of themachine will not prevent or interfere Welt bar to its tilting tially horizontal plane, as aforesaid.-

Als'o; it is to be noted that the pivot point about which the welt bar swings in its movements tore'- transferred onto loops, is located, as shown at X, in Figure 23, in front of the welt bar properand below the center thereof, thus enabling the welt the needles gradually in a curvilinear motion with a minimum lift ofthe welt bar and, at the same time, reducing the forward'r travel of the welt hooks to a minimum to prevent possible inter- .y

the relieving of the ten-` bar to vault over l ference with exist so that it `may receive parts n the knitting ma.- chine.

In accordance with the present invention, all the foregoing enumerated movements are preferably automatic, with the exception of the first setup movement which may be accomplished by manual control, in the manner to be explained more fully hereinafter.

In order that the welt bar 44 may go automatically through its various rectilinear and curvilinear movements, the invention contemplates the. 'provision of devices and mechanisms cooperatively associated for synchronized automatic function, which devices and mechanisms will now be described.

II. Welt bar carrier devices For the purpose of supporting the welt bar 44 its various movements, l

66 'is held resiliently in normal horizontal position by means of a spring 'l0 constantly urging the outward end 12 of said arm in contact with a stop 14 of the associated supporting plate 64. The

inward end 16 of each lever arm 66 is provided with a pivot stud 18 passing through an opening 80 of a tiltable swingable welt bar holding member 82 preferably having the general shapev fully.

shown in Figure 10. Y

Each member 82 is formed with a rearward .extension 84 to which the corresponding extremity of the welt bar 44 is affixed, for instance, by means of afbolt 86, as more clearly ures 6 and 7. 'I'he tilting swinging movement of the members 82 in the direction of arrow represented in Figy A '(Figure 7) may be limited by providing on the lever arms 66 abutments 88 disposedV to contact with the underside of extensions 84 of said members. Each member 82, moreover, is formed with a pair offorward extensions 90 and 82 respectively having camming surfaces 94 and 96, for the purpose to be hereinafter specified.

DI. Mechanism for advancing and retracting the weltbar carrier devices Suitably fixed in relative spaced relation along the front table 26 are pairs of suoli as that represented at |00, which brackets support a rotatable shaft |02 extending throughout the length of the knitting machine. Mounted for free rotation upon the shaft. |02 within the confines of each knitting section 28 is a pair of hollow casings |04 preferablyl of circular conguration and each, as more clearly shown in Figure 12, having a bore |06 suitably formed. in the peripheral surface thereof and opening therein.

Received within the borev|06 of eachcasing,- and rigidly connected thereto,A is one end |08 of an elongated channeled rail ||0 disposed so that the `intermediate portion H2 extends transversely of the front table 26 and its free end I I4 protects towards the needle bar 30. y As represented in the drawings, the portion ||2 `of .each rail |I0 transversely ,extending over the l front table 26 may be provided with a lateral lug ||6 carrying an adjustable abutment ||6 normally adapted to rest upon said table and thus regulate the vertical normalposition of the bearing brackets;

rail I|0 in relation to the needle bar 30. The casings |04 within the confines of each knitting section 28 are so located on the shaft |02 that the free ends ||4 of the rails ||0 lie iny substantial transversal alignment with the opposite ex-i a size to fit concentrically within the hollow portion of said casing. 'I'he inner face of each disc |20 enclosed in the casing k|04 is formed with an inner groove |23 and an outer groove |236 interconnected by means of a passage |24 cut on a line tangent to the inner groove through the portion |25 separating said grooves. A ilexible cable |26-preferablyin the form of a coil spring is nested within the grooves |23 and |23a,`

one end portion |28 Aof said cable being retained securely within the inner groove |23 by means of an annular plate |30 suitably fixed to the disc,

|20, for instance, by bolts |32 orl like fastening elements.

Arranged adjacent the outer face |34 of each disc |20, andikeyed to the shaft |02, as shown at |36, is a clutch member |38 provided with a spring pressed rotatable plunger |40 normally adapted for engagement with an opening |42 cut into said disc |20, whereby rotation of the shaft.

|02 in the direction of arrow B or in the direction of arrow C will be transmitted .to said disc |20 and, accordingly, wind or unwind'the associated flexible spring cable |26. The free end |44 of each flexible spring cable |26 is introduced into the corresponding channeled rail ||I to slide freely therein, and is connected to a plunger |46 rigidly attached,-by means of pins |48 or like fastening elements, to the respective supporting slidable plate 64 o each of the welt y bar carrier devices 62.

Because of the provi'sion of the clutch arrangement, it lwill be understood that the mechanism for advancing and` retracting the welt bar devices 62 within the confines of any one of the knitting sections 28 may 'be rendered inoperative aty will. l

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when the clutch members |38 are in active engaged position, rotation of the shaft |02 in the direction of arrow B -will causethe welt bar 44 to move away from the needle bar 3l, whereas rotation of the shaft |02 in the direction of arrow C will cause the welt bar to move towards the needle bar.

Automatic rotation of the shaft |02 in the direction of arrow B, which is utilized to slide the welt bar 44 away from the needles for drawing the welt fabric as the knitting of courses progresses, may be, and preferably is,'accomplished by means of a pulley or drum |50 aiiixed to said shaft, and of a take-up'cable |52 mounted thereaboutsaid cable being maintained under constant pulling tension, for example, by passing in the usual well known manner over an overhead pulley and thence down to a counterweight (not shown). I

Automatic lrotation of the shaft, |02 in the direction of arrow C, which is utilized to slide g the welt bar 44 towards the needle bar for turntransferring the initial ing the welt fabric and sinker loops onto .the needles is had by .means of a racking mechanism |54 comprising, as more clearlyfshown in Figures 3 and 4, a pinion |56 vfor engagement with the oscillating lever |12, having when the automatic -when moving the welt 204,. affixed to the keyed, or otherwise smed, to said shaft 02 and a reciprocating rack |58 enmeshed with said pinion. The rack |58 may be guided in its reciprocating movements by enclosing the same within an elongated casing |60 conveniently supported on the shaft |02 and having la portion |62 adapted to constitute a housing for the pinion |56. vThe upper end of vided with aspring pressed plunger |51 adapted rack |58 to act thereon in the manner, and for the purpose, to be specified hereinafter.

Connected to the rack |58, for instance as shown at |64, is a rod |66 passing freely through an opening |68 in one end portion v|10 of an itslother end portion |14 affixed to a rocking shaft v|16 supported in bearing brackets |18 on the back beam 24 of the machine frame 20. A collar |80 adjustable along the length of the rod |66 is providedtov form an abutment for the lever |12 so that the latter, in its oscillating movement, may lift the vrack |58 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, as and for the purpose to be explained hereinafter. I

Also affixed to the shaft |`|6 is a second lever |84 carrying a -shift'able roller |86.adapted.for riding engagement either with an idling cam |88 or an Iactive cam" |90 on the main cam shaft.

As willgmore clearly appear from Figure l, the shiftableroller |86 is associated with a forked shifter |92 pivoted, as shown at |84, on a suitable support |96 on the achine frame 20, andresiliently connected, as shown 'at |98, to a shifting rod 200 controlled by the welll known pattern mechanism of the knitting machine at the time turning of the welt is to be effected in accordance with the mode of operaadjacent end -of theY i ratchet wheel 204, as indicated in full lines in y* v the casing |60 .is proi 3 and 4 wherein a termediate portion by means tion which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The welt bar may also be moved towards the needle bar for the hook-up operation, that is, to bring the welt hooks 50 in positionadjacent the needles 32 for engaging the initial sinker loops by manually rotating the shaft. |02 in the direction of arrow C. 4'The manual rotation of the shaft |02 is possible because of the Iloose connection 'between the rack .158 and its operating lever |12. '5

For the purpose of assuring'the accurate positioning of the-welt hooks `50 in relation t the needles 32, and also prevent the tips of said hooks from injury by ramming into parts of the knitting machine, such as the presser edge 33, bar towards the needl'e bar, there may be provided a limit stop 202 preferably consisting o f a one-tooth ratchet wheel shaft A|02 andadapted to be ,206 conveniently .mounted on the'rack casing |60. This engaged by a dog a suitable portion of dog`206 may be moved manually by the operator into contact with said wheel 204 as the welt hooks 50 approach the needles 3 2 so that, with the following rotation of the shaft |02 in the direction of arrow C, the tooth 208 of said wheel.204 will abut the end 2|0 f the dog and', accordingly. arrest further movement in that direction.

In-order to assure the release of the shaft |02 for the subsequent operation of the mechanism, there may 'be' provided a rod 2I2 connected, as shown at 2|4, to the cam operated lever |12 and having a connection 2|.6 with the dog 206 whereby, upon upward movement of said lever, the dog will be lifted to'disengage the tooth 208 of the Figure 3 of the drawings.

In order that the mechanism may be adaptable widths, there may be proto form welts of various -vided means capable of limiting movement of the rack |58 which, accordingly, limits the drawing of lthe` welt bar 44 away from the needle bar 30. Such a possible means has been shown in Figures dog 2|8 is pivotally mounted in the casing |60 and adapted to be manually actuated by means of a handle 220 for positioning in the path of movement of a'recessed portion 222 on said rack |58. "1" l IV. Mechanism for` the welt bar carrier devices in the confines of each knitting section and one device being associated with each channeled rail ||0. f

Each sectional operating device 226 preferably consists of a split hub 228 formed with lan extension arm 2 30, and of a link 232 pivoted at its insaid member, to swing the same in the manner to be set forth in the subsequent description of its operation. `Also secured tothe shaft 224 isa lever 248 connected by means of alink 250 to one end 252 of an arm 254, having its other end l256 pivoted to the machine frame, as shown at 258. The intermediate portion of the arm 254 carries al shiftable roller 260 intended for riding engagement wither with an idling cam 262 or an active cam 264 on the main cam shaft 2|.. The roller 260 is associated with a forked shifter 266 pivoted, as shown at 268, on a suitable support 210 on the arm 254, i and resiliently connected, as shown at 212, to thel shifting rod200 which, as hereinbeforeI stated, also controls the shifter |92. Thus, when the roller 260 is in engagement with the active cam 264, said cam will act through the'arm 254, link 260, and lever 248 to rotate the shaft 'direction of arrow D and, accordingly, bring the roller 236 in contact with the associated chan` "neled rail I0 and lift the same, together with the -welt bar 44,` and to place angular bentnger 242 into position tocooperate with extensions 84 and 86 of the holding and turning member 82, on

which welt bar is mounted for the turning operation by the forward movement ofthe' weltbar.`

lifting, tilting', rand loweringv of a pivot stud '234,

232 is formed with a suba cam shaped the extension arm 230 to' or 82 of the associated welt bar hold-y ing member 82, depending upon the position of 224 in the' Side-stepped t align the Welt `hooks 5U with. the

y 282 rotatably bar carrier devices In order to eect the proper initial hook-up, the welt bar 44, in moving at its lowermost level towards the needle bar 30, is guided sothat the welt hooks 50 may pass between theneedles 32 in line with the sinkers 34 at a point between the sinkers 34 and the knockover bits 36, to engage the initial sinker loops when they are cast off the sinker nibs; also, in order to effect the proper return of said initial sinker loops to the needles subsequent to the knitting and turning of the Welt fabric, the welt bar 44, in moving at its uppermost level, is

needles. Although various means maybe employed for guiding and side-stepping the welt ybar, the mechanism 214 illustrated in the drawings is preferred. This mechanism 2 14 comprises supporting brackets 216 -rigidly mounted on the brackets I00 and located adjacent the path of movement of the supporting slidable plates 64. Stud-headed pins 218 and 280 are `adjustablycarried by each of said brackets 216,"the pins 218 being disposed to contact said slidable plates 64 when moving in lowered position, and the pins 280 being disposed to contact the slidable plates when moving in elevated. position. The mentioned side-stepping is made possible because of the nor` mal working clearances of the various parts'of the mechanism.

VI. Automatic/takev-up mechanismv In order to draw' the welt fabric from the eedles 32 and maintain said 35 the machine after the turning of the welt, there is provided a take-up mechanism which is intendedto cla-function with the welt turning mechanism.

'I'he fabric take-up mechanism includes a. shaft 40 |02 of the welt turning mechanism.

Freely mounted upon the shaft 282 and held by means of collars 286 within the confines of each knitting section 28, is a pair of hollow casings 288 preferably of circular configuration and each having a bore 280 suitably 'formed in the peripheral surface thereof and opening therein.

Received within the bore 280 of each casing 288 and rigidly connected thereto is one end 292 of a slotted tube 284 disposed so that its intermediate portion 286 extends transversely of the front table 26, and its free end 288 projects towards the needle bar 30. `As shown in the drawings, the portion 288 of each slotted tube 2196 extending over the front table 26 may be xed thereon by means of a clamp 300.

Associated with one of pair, and xed upon the by means of a lock screw 302, is a sleeve 304 havlng a anged portion 306. A hub 308 is freely received on' the sleeve 304 and abuts the anged portion 306 thereof. 'I'he surface of the'hub 308 abutting the anged portion 306 of the sleeve 304 the casings 288 `of each 60 shaft 282, for instance,

is formed with an annular recess 3I0 accommodating an adjustable stop 3 l2 and a xed stop 3 i4 relatively disposed at diametrically opposed points on said flanged portion 306. The hub 308 is moreoverprovided with a pin 3|6 projecting into the recess 3| 0 and adapted to contact the 'fixed stop 3H 'on theilanged portion 306 of the sleeve 304, a. spring 3|8 `being interposed between said 75 pin and adjustable stop portion. I

By reasonA of this construction, it will be ap preciated that the hub 308 is' capable of torsional resiliency,`which is desirable to assure the proper take-up operation, as will fully be pointed out carried by said flanged hereinafter.

The hub 308 with its torsional resilient constructioi cooperates with'asecond hub 320 freely mounted on the shaft 282 roller 322, said second hub being associated with the remaining casing'288. Each hub 308 and 320 is formed with a pulley-like extension 324 '1 enclosed in the associated casing and having a flexible cable 326 preferably in the form of a coil spring wound thereabout. One end portion 328 of each of the flexible cables 326 is xed to the extension 324 of the corresponding hub, as shown at 330, and the otherend portion 332 oi each spring cable 326 passes in the associated slotted tube 284. The spring cables 326 are interconnected by means of a cross bar 334 consisting of solid end pieces 336 united to the free ends of said cables, and of an intermediate tubular piece 338 engaging said end pieces. Hooks 340 are rigidly attached to the solid end pieces 336 and engageable with a welt rod 342 adapted to be laid over the welt fabric.

From the'preceding description of the take-up mechanism, it will'be understood that rotation of the shaft 282 in the direction of arrow E will wind the spring cables 326 and, accordingly, draw the hooks 340 and welt rpd 342 in engagement therewith away from the needle bar 30, whereas the turning of the shaft 262 in the direction oi' arrow F will unwind the spring cables 326 and cause the hooks 340 to move towards the needle bar. y

By reason of thev spring 318 and its association with the ware-roller construction, it will be understood that said spring will cooperate with the, spring cables 326 to maintain the fabric undel'. constant proper tension while affording sufficient torsional resiliency to assure the knitting needles 32 in the various functions thereof.

Automatic rotation of the shaft 282 in the direction of arrow E which is utilized to maintain the fabric being knitted under proper tension and take up the same as knitted by the machine, is accomplished by meansof a, pulley or drum 344 affixed to said shaft a'nd having a take-up cord 346 wound thereabout, said cord being maintained under constant pulling tension by passing in the well known manner over an over-head pulley and thence down to 'a counterweight (not A handle and ratchet device 340 is shown for turning the drum 344 to wind up the cord 346 thereon in order to provide suillclent draw-off movement by weight action.

Automatic rotation of the shaft 282 in the direction of arrow F, which is utilized to release the tension on the, fabric in order to allow for the turning of the welt, is had by means of a racking mechanism 360 comprising a pinion 352 fanixed onto the shaft 282, and a rack 354 engageable with said pinion. The rack 354 is pro vided, with an extension 356 having a slide 358 yengageable with' a pin 360 rigid with the weit {bar mechanism operating arm |13 so that, upon f oscillation. of said arm,

the rack 364 will be reciprocated to rotate the pinion 352. The rack 3643 is resiliently maintained to support a warefree movement of the shaft 282. Guide member 362 is pivoted at 364 to projection 366 on extension 356, and is maintained "parallel, or in other suitable predetermined relationship, to rack 354 ,by stop pin 361 fixed in the upper extremity of guide memf. ber 362 which is constantly urged in bearing contact with the end of rack 354 by spring 368. The guide member 362 is provided with a recessed portion 312 intended t'o register with the grooved bushing 310 on the shaft 282 when the rack 354 reaches its lowermost position (Figure 2), whereby said rack will be caused to disengage the pinion 352.

The welt rod hooks 340 may also `be brought into their position adjacent the needle bar 30, that is, to the position shown in dotted lines' in Figure 26 of the drawings, by manually rotating the shaft 282 in the' direction of arrow F, which is possible because the rack 3541s then out of engagement with the pinion 352, as shown in Figure 2.

The proper position ofthe hooks 340 is assured by means of a one-tooth ratchet wheel 214 on the shaft 282, to be engagedby a dog 216 pivotally supportedv on a suitable portion of the machine frame 20, which dog 216 may be operated in the same manner'as the dog 206 hereinbefore referred to.

At this point, attention is called to the fact that the hooks 340 are maintained advantageously above the fabric and its knitting field by means of a bend 318 in the slotted tubes 234 which guides the hooks upwardly; At any time after a suiiicient amount of welt fabric has been knitted, the weltrod 342 may be brought by the operator into operative position.

VI. Welt rod supporting and postiom'n l mechanism engage the same in the manner indicated vparticularly in 'Figure 31.

Each clip 382 is carried on a head 334 having rod guiding members 386; The heads'334 are secured to a crossbar 388 supported in arms 3 30 swingable over and back to operative position, as represented in Figure 26. For that purpose, the arms 330. are mounted for swinging movement on pivots 332 in bearing supports 334 on the brackets |00 over the front table 26 of the machine frame 20, and operable to bring a series of welt rods simultaneously above lthe fabric being knitted in the various-knitting sections. In this manner, it will appreciated that the welt rods are suspended over thefabrics in the path of movement of the hooks 340 when retracted. The suspended position of the welt rods may be aocurately adjusted `by means of adjustable stops 336 on the arms 330 and disposed to contact with the bearing supports 334. 1

Operation,

' In using the improved welt turning and fabric" take-up attachment, the initialcoui-se of loops is `formed by operation of the knitting machine in the usual manner, thatis, the yarn carriers 33 feed the yarn to the needles 32 which then oofunction with the sinkers and dividers 34 to form the loops which 'remain engaged on the needles. 1|

'7 Following the formation of said linitial course of loops, the knitting is stopped. orat least slowed down, for permitting the welt hooks 50 on the welt bar 44 to enter betweenthe needles `32 in..

line with the sinkers 34 at a point between the sinkers 34 and knockover bits 36 (Figure 13), and subsequently receive the initial loops when cast off the sinker nibs. Thereafter, thev welt bar is retracted from thehook-up position (Figure 14) -to produce the desired tension, whereupon the knitting of the welt fabric can continue.

The w'elt bar 44 which, during the knitting of the initial course, laid in its neutral inactive position, thatl is, away from the needles and in a substantially horizontal plane, lis given its rectilinear horizontal forward movement towards the needle bar 30 and brought into operative hook-up position, that is, withthe hook ends 54 of the welt hooks 53 projecting slightly beyond the needles 32 in line with the sinkers 34 at a point between thev sinkers 34 and knockover bits 36. Ilhewelt bar 44 is moved towards the needle `bar for the hook-up operation by manually rotating theshaft |02 as hereinbefore stated. The movement of the welt bar towards the needle bar for the hook-up operation takes place with the.

channeled rails ||0 and the welt bar carrier devices 62 at the lowest level due to thev lowered position of the rollers 236 carried by the sectional operating members 226 on the shaft 224 under control of the cam roller 260, which at this time engages the idling cam 262 on the main cam shaft 2|. In this position, the rails H0 with the Welt bar carrier devices 62 are vertically located by the abutments ||3 contacting the front table 26.

As the welt bar| 44 approaches the needle bar 30, said welt bar is guided in its rectilinear for-' ward horizontal' movement by th'e stud-headed pins 213 contacting the slidable plates 64 which,

as already mentioned, places the welt hooks 50:

for passage between the n dles 32 in line with the sinkers 3|l at a point be Ween the sinkers 34 and knockover bits 36 to effect the hook-up with the sinkerloops -of the initial course when cast oil the sinker lnibs.

" Following the hook-up, the knitting machine operates in the usual manner to knit the series of courses forming the welt fabric, which is drawn resiliently through the welt bar 44 and asso.-

ciated spmg flexible cables |26 by means of the drum |50 and take-up cable |52 functioning to y rotate the shaft |02 in thedirection of arrow B,

which imparts to the welt bar its rectilinear horizontal backward ymovement away from the needles.

Astheknitting of the weltproceeds, the welt rodhooks 340,are brought to their position adjacent the needle bar 30, thatv is, the position shown .in dotted lines in Figure 26, by manually rotating t-he shaft 232 in the direction of arrow F. At anytime after a sumcient amount of welt fabric has been knitted,- the welt rod 342 may be brought by the operator into operating position by actuating the welt rod supporting and positioning mechanism. f

As the end of the knitting of the welt approaches, the shaft 232 is rotated manually in the direction of arrow E, which resiliently retracts -the hooks 3,40 from their position adjacent the needle bar. The hooks 340, in their retracting movement, engage the associated welt rod 342, freeing the same from the spring clips 332 and,

f through action of the bend 318 in the slottedV tube 234. draws `saidx'od342 onto the fabric. The

welt rod 342 is drawnto a point where-it underlies the welt bar 44; thus' theloops engaged on thewelt hooks are gradually retracted towards the loop'stop bend A60 of the welt hooks and be-l come finally lined up in positive engagement with said bend 60. Also, the drawing of the welt rod to the point mentioned results in resiliently exerting a pull on the welt fabric, replacing the pull exerted through the weltbar, until the full desired length of fabric is attained.

About the time the knitting has progressed to a point approximately three-courses prior to the` end ofthe welt fabric knitting, the well known pattern chain mechanism of the machine ,operates to actuate the shifting rod 200 which pivots the forkedshifters |82 and 266, causing the roll-- ers |86 and 260 to shift on their idling cams |90 andl 264. At that same time, the pattern chain of the machine also operates to actuate a switch control (not shown) having the usual well known construction, and operating to set.the machine into low. speed, vwhich is desirable to effect the turning of the welt. The knitting machine thus set, continues to knit the last courses of the welt fabric, whereupon the patternchain mechanism operates to actuate the ordinary main cam shaft shifting mechanism to move the cam shaft I2 to 1 narrowing position and, accordingly, bring the active cams |90vand 264 into aligned relationship i with the corresponding rollers |86 and 260 of the mechanism. i

It will be understood `that the shifting of the main cam shaft likewise brings into play a different set of operating cams to work the needles 32, sinkers and dividers I3 and knockover bits 36.

With the active cams |82 `ment with the rollers |86 and 260, the machine functions to turn the welt and transfer the initial sinker loops back onto the knitting needles in the following manner: Rotation of the main camy shaftl I2 causes the 226 on the-welt bar lifting and tilting mechanism so that, during the continued forward movement of the welt bar 44, the same is given a curvilinear -movement causing the welt hooks to vault over the needles going through the successive positions shown in Figure 16 of the drawings.

The tilting of the welt bar 44 in its curvilinear movement ultimately places the welt hooks 50 in the position represented in fulllines in said Figure 16, wherein said hooks are shown as adjacent to the presser edge 33 having been hurdled over the tips of the needles 32 and brought down and held behindthem, that is, on the beard side of said'needles in preparation 'for the loop transgrooves of ythe welt hook shanks' 52 (Figure 17).

and 264 in engagel fer, whereupon the needles 32 are brought back in the rdirection of the' sinkerhead entering the The resilient mounting through spring 244 of the link 232 assures the positive interengagement of the welt hooks and needles 32during the various movements thereof to eiect the actual loop transfer. The welt hooks and needles being thus coupled, the latter are operated'to enter the loops lon the former (Figure 18), the fabric beingheld down not merely by the bends in the hooks, but also by the sinkers and dividers 34 which are then in their advanced loops engaging both the hooks 50 and needles 32, the needles and the hooks shift to the position represented in Figure 19.

Thereupon, the welt bar and hooks are lifted yto the extent that the hook ends 54 of the welt ward movement and slightly vertical downward cam through the lroller |86, lever |84, shaft |16, and lever |12 to actuate the racking mechanisms |54 and 350 in unison, causing the simultaneous rotation of the shafts |02 and 282 in the direction of arrows C and F respectively which, as hereinbefore stated, moves the welt bar 44 and welt rod 342 towards the needle bar 30. At substantilly the same time, the cam 264- the roller 260, arm 254, rotates the shaft 224 in the direction of arrow D, accordingly raising the sectional operating devices 226 so that, with the continued movement of the welt bar 44 towards the needle bar 30, the Q underside of the rails I I 0 will ride over the rollers 236, thus elevating the welt hooks 50 to the latter on a `plane above the knitting needles (Figure 15). As the welt hooks 50 are elevated to their position above the knitting needles the welt bar 44 is shifted to align said hooks with the needles.

through link 250, and lever 24B` movement to said welt bar and bringing the hook ends 5| to a substantially horizontal plane so that,'immediately upon the passing of saidsharp risers, the welt bar will snap back, bringing about the positivevdisengagement of the hooks from theloops. Immediately upon disengagement of the hooks from the loops, the welt bar starts to recede, the camming faces 94 of the 4extensions 80 on the Welt bar holdingl members 82 comingin contact with the bent ngers 242 which return f the welt bar 44v and welt hooks 60 to their original horizontal position, as shown yin Figure 23, the welt bar being then drawn away from the needles until it reaches its initial position where it remains until another welt turning operation is to This is done by means of the stud-headed pins` 280 carried by the brackets 216 and adapted to contact the supporting slidable plates 64, thus guiding. the welt bar supporting structure to positionthe welt bar hooks as stated. 1

By the time the welt hooks 50 reach theirelevated position, shown in Figure 15, -the-.sinkers and dividers 34 have ret'.`racted,"and the needles 32 start their movement from the position shown in Figure I5 to the position' shown in Figure 16.

At aboutthe same time,- the camming faces 96 of the ,forward extensions v92 of the welt bar supporting members 82 -come in contact with the bentfingers 242 'of tbe'sectional operating devices be performed.

It will be appreciated that as the welt bar 44 and welt rod 342 go through their various movements, the fabric is held constantly under proper yieldable tension due to the provision of the spring cables |26 and, 326' and also of the tor sional spring.3|8 associated with the ware-roller 322.

When the welt bar has reached its initial position following the turning of the welt, the patternchain mechanism acts to restore the ma- 'chine to normal knitting4 position, whereupon knitting of th leg portionofzthe stocking is carried out in the usual manner, the fabric' being drawn 'through the'take-up mechanismwhich then 344. v 4 In concluding, it jisto beunderstood that. the

operates by actuationvof the take-up drum position. 1 Now with thev constructionhere'in shown and described is capable of certain modifications without departing from the essence of the invention. Accordingly,

any modications coming within the scope`of the s subjoined claims are to be considered within the bar and its supporting means towards the needles;

and means operable for' placement in the path of the welt bar supporting means for imparting a tilting swinging motion to the welt bar in its advance towards the needles a fabric draw-off. device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-oi member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement;

and, means operable for automatically actuating the draw-oil' member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the welt bar inthe direction towards the needles.

2. In combination with the bank of needles of e `a iiat knitting machine, a welt turning mechato the welt bar in its advance towards said needles; and aeme'chanism under control of said main cam shaft for operating the last mentioned means; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move-said draw-off membery inadirection opposite to that of its draw-oil movement; and, means under con.

trol of the main cam shaft for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving meansv simultaneously with the movement of the welt barin the direction towards the needles.

5.' In combination with the main 'cam shaft and knitting needles of a flat knitting machine, aV welt turning mechanism comprising; a welt bar; carrier devices slidable towards andaway from the needles and on which said welt bar is mounted to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions; swinging. guides cn which the carrier devices are slidably mounted to renism comprising: a welt bar; carrier devices slidable towards and away from the needles and including pivotal members on which the welt bar ismounted to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions; swing g` guides on which the carrier devices are slida ly mounted to receive 1 their sliding movements towards and away from the needles; and cam operated devices having means in engagement with said guides for shifting Athe same to raise the welt bar above -said neeedles and further having means engageable with said members' of the carrier devices to impart tilting and swinging movements to the raised welt bar during the sliding movement of the carrier devices on said guides in the direction towards the needles; a. fabric draw-olf device including a fabric draw-olf' member and means to move said draw-ofi' member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means operable for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the ceive their sliding movements towards and away from said needles; and mechanism undei` control of said main cam shaft and engageable ywith said guides for shifting the same to raise the welt bar above the knitting needles and imparting tilting and swinging movements to the welt bar; a fabric draw-olf device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a directionjopposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means under control of the main' cam shaft for automaticallyactuating the drawoff member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the welt bar in thel direction towards the needles.y

6. In combination with the pattern control mechanism and knitting needles of aflat knitting machine, a welt turning mechanism comprising: a welt bar; supporting means therefor; means operable to advance said welt bar and its supporting means towards the needles; means operable -4 needles; and a mechanism operated by said pattern control mechanism for operating the last men- Y tioned means; a fabric draw-oil device including a.

sliding movement of the carrier devices on saidy f guides in the direction towards the needles.Y

3. In combination with the main cam shaft and l knlttingneedles of a flat knitting machine, a welt turning mechanism comprising: a welt bar; carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar, and mounted for rectilinear movements towards and away from said needles; and a mechanism under controlof said main cam shaft to impart curvilinear movements to said .carrier devices 'for causing the welt bar to move over and behind the needles in the course 4of the rectilinear sliding movements of said carrier devices towardf--the needles; a fabric draw-off device including.'- a fabric draw-olf member and means to mniesaid draw-off member in a direction oppositeito that of its draw-ofi' movement; and, means under control of the main-cam shaft for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the welt bar in the direction towards the needles.

4. In combination with the main cam shaft.

and knitting needles of a ilat knitting machine. a welt turning mechanism ccmprising: arwelt bar; supporting means therefor; means .operable to advance the welt bar and itssupporting means'towards said needles; means operable for placement in the path of the weltbar supporting means for imparting a tilting, swinging motion fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-oil member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-'oil movement; and; means under con-'- trol of the main cam shaft for automatically actuating the draw-of! member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the welt bar in the direction towards the needles.

7. In a nat knitting machine: a welt bar; a pair of welt bar carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar, each of said carrier devices including a welt bar holding member, a lever arm carrying said member for tiltable swingable motion, and a plate supporting said arm; a mechanism lfor advancing and retracting said welt barffcarrier devices and including a, exible cable for,

. and attached to, each supporting plate of each welt bar carrier device, an elongated channeled rail partly enclosing said cable, a casing mounted for rocking movement arid carrying said rail, a drum within the casing and connected tosald cable for winding and unwinding the same,`ea racking device for operating said drum to -wiAnd and unwind the cable, and a power driven means for actuatingsaid racking device; a mechanism for lifting, tilting, and lowering the welt barcan'ier devices including. welt bar operating device for each welt bar carrier device and having means engageable with thewelt bar holding member thereof for tilting and swinging said member to@ -gether with the welt bar, and means in engagement with the corresponding rail of the welt b ar carrier advancing and retracting mechanism for lifting and lowering the same; and a power driven means for actuating said welt bar actuating devices; a fabric draw-oil device including a fabric draw-oil member and means to move said v draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-oil movement; and, means for automatically actuating the draw-01T` memberl moving means simultaneously with the operation of*` the racking device 'to unwind the cables.

8. In a multi-section at knitting machine:v a plurality of Welt bars, one for each section; pairs of. welt bar carrier devices, one pair for each welt bar and including welt bar holding members, lever. arms carrying said members for tiltable swingable motion, and plates supporting said arms; a mechanism for advancing and retracting said welt bar carrier devices and including flexible cables, one attached to each supporting plate of the bar carrier devices, elongated channeledrails partly enclosing said cables, casings mounted for rocking movement and carrying said rails, drums within said lcasings and connected to said cables for winding and unwinding the same, a racking device for operating said drums to wind and unwind said cables, and a power driven means for actuating said racking device; a mechanism for lifting, tilting, and lowering the welt bar *carrier devices inclgding welt bar operating'devices hav-v ing means .engageable with the welt bar holding members of the welt bar carrier devices for tilting and swinging said Imembers together with the welt bar, and means in engagement with therails of the welt bar carrier advancing and retracting mechanism for lifting and lowering the same;

and a power driven means for actuating said welt d bar actuating devices; a, fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-oir member and means to move said draw-oir member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-oil. movement; and, Ymeans for automatically actuating the draw-oil member moving means simultaneously with the operation of the racking device to unwind the cables.

9. In a multi-section flat knitting machine: a'v

plurality of welt bars,A one for each section; pairs of welt bar carrier devices, one 'pair for each welt bar and including welt bar holding members,

.lever arms carrying said members-for tiltable swingable motion and having a, pair of camming surfaces, and `a plates supporting said arms; al

mechanism for advancing and retracting said welt bar carrier devices and including flexible cables, one attached to each supporting plate of the bar carrier devices, elongated channeled rails partly enclosing said cables, casings mounted for rocking movement and carrying said rails, drums within said casings and connected to said cablesfor Winding and unwinding the same,`a racking device for operating said drums to windy and unwind said cables, and a power driven means for actuating said racking device; a mechanism f or lifting, tilting, and lowering the welt bar carrier devices including welt baroperating devices having cam fingers engageable with the cam surfaces of the welt bar holding members of the welt bar carrier devices for tilting and swinging said members together with the weltbar, and means in engagement with the rails of the welt said draw-off member in a direction opposite to .that of its draw-off movement; and, means for automatically. actuating the draw-of! member moving meanssimultaneously with the operation 'of the racking device to unwind the cables.

l0. In combination with the main cam shaft and knitting instrumentalities of a at knitting machine: a4 welt bar; carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar, and including welt bar holding members, lever arms carrying said mem bers for tiltable swingable motion, and plates supporting said a'rms; a mechanism for advancing and retracting said welt bar carrier devices towards and away from said knitting instrumentalities and including flexible cables, one attached to each supporting plate of the bar carrier devices, elongated clLanneled rails partly enclosing said cables, casings mounted for rocking movement and 4carrying said rails, drums within said casings and connected .to said cables for winding and 'unwinding the, same, a racking device for operating said drums to wind and unwind saidcables, means for actuatingvsaid racking device, and a cam on said main cam shaft,

for the operation of said racking device actuating means; a mechanism for lifting, tilting, and

lowering the welt bar carrier devices in relation I last mentioned means; a fabric draw-ofi.' device including a fabric draw-olf member and means to' move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of itsdraw-off movement; and, means under control of the main cam shaft for automatically actuating the draw-off member' moving means simultaneously with the 'operation of the racking device to unwind the cables.

11. In combination with the main Icam shaft and knitting instrumentalities of a fiat knitting machine: a welt bar; carrier devices, one for eachend of the welt bar, and including welt bar holding members, lever arms carrying said members for tiltable swingable motion, and having a pair of camming surfaces, and plates supporting said arms; a mechanism for advancing and retracting said welt bar carrier devices towards and away from said knitting instrumentalities and including flexible cables, one attached to each supporting plate of the bar carrier devices, elongated channeled rails partly enclosing said cables, casings mounted for rocking movement and carrying said rails, drums within said casings and connected-to said cables for winding and unwind ing the same, a racking device for operating saiddrums to wind and unwind said cables, means forv actuating said racking device, .and a cam on said main cam shaft for the operation of said racks2 ing device actuating means; a mechanism for i lifting, tilting, and lowering the welt bar carrier A devices in relation to said knitting instrumentalibar carrier advancing and retracting mechanism -for lifting and lowering the same; and a power driven means for actuating said welt bar actuating devices; a fabric draw-,off device including ties and includingwelt bar operating devices hav 4-ing cam fingers engageable with the cam surfaces of the welt bar holding members of the welt bar carrier devices .for tilting and swinging said meina fabric draw-ofi member and means to move bers together with the welt bar, and means in engagement with the railsv of the w'elt bar carrier advancing andlretracting mechanisms for lifting welt bar actuating devices; and a cam on the vmain cam shaft for operating said last mentioned Imeans; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-'off member and means to move said drawoff member in a direction/opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means under control of the main cam shaft forv automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the operation oi the racking device to unwind the cables.

12. In a flat knitting machine: a. welt bar; separate carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar, and operable to impart welt engaging, drawing, and turning movements tosaid welt bar, each of said carrier devices including a welt bar holding member, a lever arm carrying said member for tiltable, swingable motions, and a sliding plate supporting said arm to reciprocate the same together with said holding member and welt bar; a fabric draw-oli device including a fabric ,draw-off member and meanstomove said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means for automatically actuating the draw-off member vmoving means simultaneously with the operation of the carrier devices to lmpart welt.turning movement to the welt bar. 13. In a at knitting machine: a welt bar; separate carrier devices one for eachend of. the welt bar; and a mechanism for advancing and retract- 1 1 tween said movement imparting means and welt bar carrier devices for pulling and pushing the latter, and rigid guide members associated with said connecting cables for guiding the same in a predetermined direction in their pulling and pushing of thewelt bar carrier devices; a fabricV draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultanecusly with the pushing of the welt bar carrier devices by said mechanism.

A16. In a welt forming attachment `for knittingv machines of the character described: a welt bar;

' carrier devices, one foreach end of the welt bar;

ing the welt bar carrier devices in unison, said mechanism including yieldable, flexible cables attachedV to the .i welt bar carrier devices. rigid guide. members associated guiding the same in a predetermined direction, drums connected with said cablesfor winding and unwinding the same, a rack device for operating said drums to wind and unwind the cables, and a power driven means for actuating said rack device; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric with said cables for draw-off member and meansA to move said drawolf member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the operation Vof the rack device to unwind the cables.

14. In a flat'knitting machine: a welt bar; sepi arate carrier devices. one for each end of the welt bar; and a mechanism for advancing and retracting the welt barcarrier devices in unison, said mechanism including yieldable, flexible cables attached to the welt bar carrier devices, rigid guide members associated with said cables for guiding the same in a predetermined direction,

drums connected with said cables for windingv and unwinding the same, a rack device for operating said drums to wind and unwind the cables, a power driven means for actuating said rack device, and means adjustable for .engagement with said rack device to limit the drum operating movement thereof; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and,` means for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the opera-l tion of the rack device to unwind the cables.

15. In a welt forming attachment forrknitting machines of the character described: a welt bar; carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar; a mechanism operable forV moving said welt bar carrier devic s to draw and turn the welt fabric, said mechaA sm including movement 'imparting means, yieldable, nexible connecting cables beup mechanism comprising,

rotatable to wind and unwind the same;

tion in their pulling and pushing of the welt'bar carrier devices; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move f said draw-off member in a direction' opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means for 'automatically actuating the draw-off memberV moving means simultaneously with the pushing cf the welt bar carrier devices by said mechanism.

17. In a flat knitting machine: a welt bar; separate carrier devices, one for each end of the welt bar; mechanism for advancing the welt bar carrier devices'in unison; mechanism for lifting and lowering the welt bar carrier devices inunison; and mechanism for guiding the carrier devicesin unison movement into a definite path when lowered and advancing, and for side-stepping said carrier devices in unison for movement Vinto a definite'path when lifted and advancing,

said guiding and side-stepping mechanism in, cluding supporting brackets, and projecting elements on said brackets, certain of said elements carrier devices when moving in lowered position, 'andcertain of said elements being disposed to contact the carrier devices when moving in lifted position; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-offmovement; and, means for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means neously4 with the advancing of the welt bar carrier devices. i

18. In a fiat knitting machine, a fabric takein combination with a welt rod: welt rod engaging elements; yieldable flexible cables attached to said elements; rigid guide members associated with saidcables for guiding the same in a predetermined direction; a ware-roller engaging said cables and rotatable to wind andunwind the same; a rack device rotating' said roller to unwind the cables; and a power driven means for actuatingl said rack flexible. cables attached to said elements; rigid guide members associated with said cables for guiding the same in Va predetermined direction; a torsional ware-roller engaging said' cables and simultadevice rotating said torsional ware-roller to unwind the cables; and a power driven means for actuating said rack device.

20. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft and the bank of bearded needles operated thereby: of a bank of welt` hooks; mechanism operating to move said bank I means associated with said mechanism for automatically actuating the draw-off member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the bank of welt hooks towards the needles.

21'. In a flat knitting machine, the combination d with the main cam shaft and the bank of bearded needles operated thereby: of a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operating tomove said bank of welt h ooks in a combined continuous rectilinear horizontal path towards the needles and Aa curvilinear vertical path over and behind the needles on the bearded side thereof; and means operatively lconnecting said mechanism to the main cam shaft whereby said mechanism is operated in timed relation ,with the operationiof said bank of needles; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means associated with said mechanism for automatically actuating the draw-oil! member moving means simultaneously. with the movement of the bank of welt hooks towards the needles.'

2.2. In a flat knitting machine; the combination with the main cam shaft and the bank of bearded needles actuated thereby: of a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks in a combined rectilinear path towards said needles and a curvilinear path overl the needles to bring the welt hooks into engagement with the bearded side of said needles; and cam.

means on the main cam shaft for operatingy said mechanism to actuate the welt'- hooks in timed relation vwith the actuation of said needles by the with said mechanism for automatically `actuatingl the draw-off .member moving means simultaneously with the movement ofthe bank of welt hooks towards the needles.

24, In a flat knitting machine, the combination -withvthe main cam shaft, the bank of bearded needles, a set of knitting cams on the main cam shaft to actuate said needles during the knitting cycle of the machine, and a set of narrowing cams on the main camshaft to actuate said needles during the narrowing cycle of the machine: of a bank of welt hooks; a mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks in acombined rectilinear path .towards the needles and a curvilinear path to bring the-welt hooks into engagement with the bearded. side ofsaid needles: and cam means on the main cam shaft for operating said mechanism to actuate the weltV hooks in timed relation vwith the actuation 0f said needles during the `narrowing cycle of the machine by said set of narrowing cams on said main cam shaft; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric draw-olf member and means to'move said draw-oil member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and, means associated with said mechanism for automatically actuating the draw-oil member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the bank of welt hooks towards the needles.y

25. In a flat knitting machine, the combination witnthe main cam shaft. the bank of bearded needles, a set of knitted cams on the lmain lcam shaft to actuate said needles during the knitting cycle of the machine, and a set of narrowing cams on the main cam shaft to actuate said needles during the narrowing cycle of the machine; of a bank of welt hooks; a mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks in a `combined rectilinear path towards the needles anda curvilinear `path over and behind the needles on the 4bearded side thereof; and cam meanson the maincam shaft for operating said mechanism to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation with the actuation of said needlesl during the narrowing cycle of the machine by said set of narrowing cams on said main cam shaft; a fabric draw-off device including a fabric drawoff member and means. to move said draw-oil member in a direction opposite to that of its.

draw-off movement; and, means associated with said mechanism for automatically actuating the draw-oil` member moving means simultaneously main cam shaft; a fabric draw-off device including a, fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-off member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement; and,-means associated, with said mechanism for automatically actuating the draw-of-member moving means simultaneously with the movement of the bank of welt hooks towards the needles. A A

23. In a flatknitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft and the bank of bearded needles actuated thereby: of a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operable to actuate said welt` hooks in a combined continuous rectilinear .horizontal path towards said needles and a curvilinear vertical path over and behind the needles 1 on the bearded side thereof; and cam means on the main cam shaft for operating said mechanism to actuate'the' welt hooks in timed relation of its draw-oi! movement; and. means associatedv with the movement of the bank towards the needles.

26. In a flat knitting machine having a bank of welt hooks `of bearded needles and a main cam shaft for y actuating said needles, a welt forming attachment comprising: a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operatively associated with said hooks te actuate the same in a rectilinear path towards said. needles and in a curvilinear path to bring the weit hooks into engagement with the bearded side of said needles; and cam means on the main cam shaft operatively associated with said mechanism for operating the same to actuate the welt hooks` in timed relation with the actuation or" said needles by the main cam shaft; a fabric draw-off; device including a fabric draw-off member and means to move said draw-oi! member in a direction'opposite to that of its draw-'off movement; and, means associated withsaid mechanism for v automatically actuating the draw-oli .member` moving means simultaneously with the movement of the bank of welt hooks towards theneedles.

27. In a iiat knitting'machine having a bani:

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