US2317268A - Pattern control for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

April 1943- l. H. c. GREEN 2,317,268

PATTERN CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 [Mex/r02 [M162 6'. $955M WWWTYCW Agni] 20; 1943.

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I26 M l M M M l7? MMM M M #77 I76 m M m M M AMAM M M f/vyezvrme; fsmcflzf'zzazz Patented Apr. 20, 1943 PATTERN CONTROL FOR KNITTING CHINES Isaac H. C. Green, Pawtucket, It. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls,R. I., a cor- 'poration of Massachusetts Application January 24, 1942, Serial No. 428,045

(ill. 66-135) 15 Claim.

This application concerns an invention in a means for controlling pattern means in circular, independent needle knitting machines. More specifically, the inventionhas to do with a unitary means adapted to regulate several other pattern devices on the machine, to conserve the pattern on each and to maintain proper timed relationship in the operation of each.

In the figures of drawing:

1 Fig. i is a side elevation of a typical hosiery frame to which the invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of such part of a machine of this type as is necessary for illustrating application of the invention to,reverse plating, wrap striping and wrap stripe shagging of varying controlling means;

Fig. 3 is,a detail of ratcheting means for the wrap stripe shogging control: I

Fig. 4 is a detail or the ratchet wheel and pawls for actuating the same as applied to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the pattern chain and means cooperating therewith located at the back of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of certain levers through which the pattern variations as dictated by the chain are taken and transferred to other functioning elements oi the machine;

Fig. 7 is a. sectional view taken at the line 1-1, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing that mechanism as seen from the opposite side;

Fig. 9 is another view of the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 8 but showing parts thereof as seen in plan;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of latching'means for the wrap stripe and reverse plating actuating devices; y

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are further views similar t Fig. 8 but showing control for the ratcheting means which functions periodically to move the pattern chain at the back of the machine:

Figs, 14-19 are isometric views of chain links which are used in making .up the complete chain;

Fig. is a conventional view of part of a stocking showing one pattern to be produced by the novel mechanism of this case;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic representation of a small section of the pattern in Fig. 20 and showing certain specific details thereof;

striping means involves two separate mechanisms, one, that for needle selection, and the other, that for varying the position of the wrap stripe yarn feeding means itself so as to efiect changes of pattern in that way, in other words, by so-called shogging.

The plating and reverse plating control may be of a type affecting needlesas by deflecting them. or, more preferably, may be of a type to act upon individual sinkers as in United States Patent No. 2,211,785.

Normally each of these particular pattern control means, that is, the plating and reverse plating, the wrap stripe needle selection control and the'shogging control is separately actuated, although in a specific timed relationship, and normally no one of these is stopped during the pro duction of a pattern except for the knitting of a heel or toe or some unpatterned part of the stocking being formed. That means that each of the pattern mechanisms starts at the initial point in a pattern for that particular stocking and continues in operation repeating its pattern as often as has been necessary depending upon upon the number of moves with which each of the individual controls was originally provided.-

For example, 48 moves have been adopted as standard in the particular type of machine illustrated here so that after 48 individual racking or ratcheting movements of one of the drums, the pattern must be repeated. It is often desired to conserve pattern means by stopping it at intervals, the effect then being to extend the result of an independent and individual revolution of one of the pattern drums affecting any of the pattern phases above mentioned so that the scope thereof, insofar as size of figure goes, is considerably widened. That has been done, so far as known, only with a single independent drum.

No means has been devised which would periodically stop each of several independent pattern means and yet maintain timed relation such that each of the pattern phases would simultaneously be carried totermination and then be repeated in properly timed relationship. By means herein described the three separate pattern means are simultaneously started and stopped so that a pattern which is, of course, the result of the combined efiect of all of these pattern means, would be conserved and greatly extended so that for any given number of steps in a pattern and number of moves of the various drums or other pattern means, a combined wrap stripe and reverse plating pattern may be knitted which will b of appreciably greater scope than would have been possible by the mechanism as heretofore constructed and employed.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, part of a hosiery knitter has been shown wherein a fi me is indicated by numeral I, main drive shaft at 2, cam shaft at 3, and in Fig. 2, a carrier ring 4 having the usual yarn feeding levers 5. The needles and the needle cylinder are not shown although the circular base 5 would support the usual cylinder and independently movable latch or other needles; preferably, the cylinder would be rotated by gearing from the shaft 2 driven by pulleys such as the pulley I. In Fig. 2 a part of the wrap mechanism only is illustrated, the illustration being limited to central wrap spindle I, collar 9 and a fork III which engages the collar to raise and lower it for the purpose of shogging the wrap yarn feeding fingers relatively to needles to which they feed their yarns. For

a complete showing of such wrapping means, reference is made to United States Patents No. 1,702,608 and No. 2,146,750.

The needles (not shown) would have jacks under themproyided with removable pattern butts all as shown in said United States Patent No.

2,146,750, and those jacks would serve to select such needles as were to be wrapped with the patterning threads according to the disposal of certain butts II on superimposed discs in a drum generally indicated by reference numeral I2.

This drum I2 is rotatable about a center i3 and is ratcheted periodically by a pawl i4 engageable with teeth in a ratchet wheel I5,'the latter being a functioning part of the drum assembly which rotates at the center l3. The number of teeth in the ratchet wheel i5 is preferably the same as the original number of butts II in any one disc on the drum. The pawl I4 is connected as shown in Fig. 2 at a pivot point ii to a bell crank lever I! in turn pivoted at i3 at the upper surface of the circular base. This lever I1 is connected to the link I! which extends toward the back of the machine and connects to the upper end of a bar 20, Fig. 3. This bar 23 similar to bar 2 I, Fig. l, pivots at a common pivot point 22 with the latter mentioned bar and each is guided within an appropriate slot adjacent its upper end and in the extension 23 bolted to the back of the circular base.

The l04-tooth gear 24 is rotatable about the center 25-the usual construction in machines of this type. This l04-tooth gear has at either side thereof certain cam engaging rollers, one of which is illustrated at 28, these varying in number according to the frequency with which the cam drum or drums are to be ratcheted. The l04-tooth gear makes one revolution for every four turns of the needle cylinder and thus, if a ratcheting movement is desired every revolution, there must be four rollers such as rollers 26. By that itis meant that there must be four such rollers for each bar or 2|. Bar 2i has a plate 21 attached thereto having a cam edge or surface 28 to be contacted by the rollers 26. Every time one of said rollers engages the cam surface on the plate 21, for example, bar 2i will be swung about its pivot 22. A similar plate (not shown) is provided for the bar 23 and that is engaged and the bar 20 actuated in a similar manner by other cam engaging rollers at the opposite face of the gear 24. A spring 23, Fig. 2, is connected in such a manner as to maintain the bar 20 in forward position or in position for the pawl 14 to engage another tooth. The drum I3 is frictioned as usual to prevent overrunning or unin- 75 tentional movement. The butts II are broken off according to the particular pattern desired the desired movement.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a second pattern drum 30, similar to the drum [2, has discs with butts 3|, the said butts 3| being engageable with a toe 32 of lever 33. There are a plurality of discs having butts 3| and for each of these discs. a lever 33. The series of levers 33 are pivoted at 54 in a bracket 35 disposed at such a level or height as to allow the ends of the levers 33 opposite the toes 32 to engage a series of plungers 36, there being one such plunger for each lever. These plungers are maintained in alignment so that ends thereof adjacent the s nker cam cap generally indicated by numeral 31. may engage butts at the respective levels on sinker jacks (not shown) the mechanism illustrated at this point is that of a -step sinker reverse plating selecting means and is illustrated in detail in United States Patent No. 2,211,785. The drum pivots at 38 above plates 39 and 40 attached above a supporting casting 4|. This drum 30 also has a ratchet wheel 42 by means rf which it is periodically moved, the general construction of said ratchet wheel 42 being the same as that of the wheel 15. Drum 30 is frictioned by the usual frlctioning means.

Drum 30 is ratcheted by means of pawls such as the pawl 43 pivoted at 44 to a plate 45 the latter. also oscillating about the point 38. Springs 46 maintain these pawls in engagement with the teeth on wheel 42. Plate 45 has a projecting arm 41 to which is pivoted at 43 a'link 49 which in turn attaches at 50 to a lever 5| pivoted at 52 on an extension 53 to the plate 40. Lever 5| at its opposite end has connected-at 54 a link 55 attached at 56 to the upper end of bar 2!. A spring maintains the mechanism in one position and contact of rollers 26 with the cam surface of plate 21 imparts movement in the opposite. The oscillating movement set up serves to rotate drum 30 and thereby impart patterning movements to the plungers 36 which in turn aifect the positions of sinkers, the plating and reverse plating COIltlOi thus being effected.

A mechanism including the lever 56 and connected levers and links serve to stop the ratcheting of the drum 30 during desired times as in knitting a heel or toe. Other means provides for imparting double tooth movements to the drum and for retiming it. These are well known in the art and described in United States Patent No. 2,052,777.

On the shaft 51, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is fixed another ratchet wheel 58, said shaft also having fixed thereto drums 59 and 60. These drums may have series of pattern projections 6| which serve to impart selective movements to various parts of the machine. For example, one row of such projections 6! (only three such projections being shown) serves to control the shogging or other movement of the wrap stripe mechanism. The said projections engage beneath a follower 62 attached midway of a lever 53 pivoted at 64 to an upstanding post 65 at the back of the machine. A flat plate 66 at the outer end of said lever 03 engages beneath one end of a lever 51 pivoted on a bracket 63 and also connected to the outer end of lever 59, the opposite end of which comprises the fork i0.

At certain times a change of pattern is contemplated and for that purpose there will be more than the single row of pattern projections 9|. The follower 62 is shifted automatically for the purpose of deriving its pattern selections from any desired one of said rows. A spring I normally urges the hub 'II of the lever 63 in one direction along the pivot shaft 34 upon which lever 93 is free t6 swing. There is another lever 72 having a hub I3 which is also free to swing on this shaft 64 and spring is under compression as it is confined between hub I3 and collar l4 fixed at the end of the shaft.

The bell crank lever having arms and I6 pivots on an extension ll of bracket I9 and to the arm 15 is connected 8. link I9 which also attaches at pin 80 to move the huh I I The other arm I6 of the bell crank lever connects to a link 0i deriving movement through connection to a pattern drum (not shown). By movements of the bell crank lever and under influence of spring it, the hub 'II and thus lever 03 and follower 32 are moved so that they will be affected by any desired row of pattern projections such as projections til. I

The ratchet wheel 58 is periodically moved by pawls iii and 03. These pawls are projected at the extended arm 04 of a plate 03" also free to move about the shaft 5?. The plate also has a downwardly disposed arm 06 to which is attached one end of a short link B'I connecting at its other end to a pivot 90 at the upper end of bar it.

enough so that it will not engage this short tooth.

So long as said pawl 03 is held out, Fig. i. the

ratcheting of the wheel and movement of the drums 59 and 60 will be discontinued. This plate 9i has an extending arm 92 which connects at a pivot 93 to a link 94 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and extending downwardly to connect to a lever 95 pivoted at 96 to the bracket or holder 91 at the side of the frame. The lever 95 is bent as at Elli and has a follower or toe 99 which engages upon a cam I00 fixed on cam drum IN on the main cam shaft. When this cam I00 engages, follower 99 as in Fig. 1, it will pull down on the link 94 swinging the plate 9| from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4. In other words, the cam I00 controls pawl 83 so as to discontinue movement of pattern drums 59 and 60 as for retiming or for any other desired purpose.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 9, there is a special means by which ratcheting of the drum I2 and of the shaft 64 may be limited to one or to two teeth. A latch I02 .pivots at I03 and connects by means of a link I04 to a bell crank lever'l05 at the back of the machine. This lever I05 also connects to a vertically disposed link I08 which 'is also pivoted at its upper end to the lever I2,

. will be described. A,.bracket I00 extends from the back of the machine and has fixed at I09 a shaft upon which are free to turn the ratchet wheel H0 and a sprocket III. A friction means II2 prevents unintentional movement of either the sprocket or ratchet wheel which are really connected so as to move as a unit. The sprocket carries a chain II3 made up of 'any number of pattern links such as may be found necessary to impart the desired pattern movements. These links are differentiated in a manner later to be described.

The central pivot I09 has freely movable thereon an arm II4 which has pawls H5 and M0 pivoted at III for engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel IIO. Springs H8 serve to keep the pawls in engagement with the said ratchet wheel teeth. The arm II4 has an adjustable. two piece link II9 connected at H0 and attached at its other end as at I2I to a lever I22 pivoted at 623 to the extension bracket I03. This lever I22 engages by a joint I24 to a second lever I pivoted at I26 and which in turn is contacted by a series of rollers I21 adjacent the outer periphery oi the 104-tooth gear. In this particular instance there are four such rollers so that there is a ratcheting movement of the pattern chain each revolution of the machine cylindenor one for every course knitted. There may be fewer of these rollers H1 in some instances where it is not desired to provide control of the chain for each course. A spring I28 causes return movement of the pawls to engage another tooth.

In Figs. ll, 12 and 13 different positions of the pawls are shown as aifected by a retiming control. A plate I29 is also pivoted. at I09 and has an arm I30 extending at the other side of the pivot. This plate I29 has a cam edge with the surfaces WI and I32. This cam edge works upon a roller M3 on pawl IIB. By means of the cam surface l32, roller I33 and pawl H5 are pushed away from engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. In the heel, the pattern is simply discontinued and the cam surface I32 is effective as just described to stop ratcheting of the chain. see Figs. 5 and 12.

To move the plate I29, a link I35 is connected at the end of the arm I30 and continues upwardly as in Fig. 1 to connect at I36 at one end of a lever I31 pivoted at I38 on the upstanding post I39. A second link I40 connects at the other end of lever I31 and extends down at the side of the machine to attach at one end of a lever I4I pivoted at I42 on bracket I43 at the side of the machine frame. This lever I4I has a toe I44 which is engaged by cams such as the cams I45 and I48 on drum IN.

The plate I29 is slotted as at I41 so that the connection I20 extending out from arm II4 may project through said slot and that the plate and the arm may work separately'without interference. When the toe I44 is in the position of Fig. 1-, that is, on the drum, the plate assumes the position of Fig. 11, in that position neither cam surface I3I nor I32 is effective to lift the pawl. In the heel cam I45 will engage toe I44 of lever I 4| and will move the plate to the position of Fig. 12. At that time the cam surface I32 will be effective upon roll I33 to raise pawl II5 well away from the ratchet wheel teeth, also pawl I I5 will engage pin I34 and move the pawl II6 far enough away so that it will not contact any of the teeth. When the toe I44 drops from cam I48, the parts wi1l.return to the position of Fig. 11 and the pattern will continue and knit throughout the foot of the stocking.

In the toe it is desired to discontinue the pattern, also to retime the chain. To do that the pattern is stopped by appropriate links on the chain or by control from the main cam shaft, while the chain continues to move until a deflnite point thereon is reached. Cam I45 will engage beneath toe I44 and will move the plate I29 so that earn surface I3I will engage beneath roller I33 lifting pawl II as in Fig. 13. However, that does not render pawl II6 inactive. The pawl II6 will continue to ratchet the chain until a special link, Fig. 17, having a lug I41 is encountered. Then that special lug will engage beneath a roller I48 on the pawl II6, see Fig. 5, and will lift it away from the ratchet wheel so that both the wheel and the chain sprocket will stop. That condition prevails until it is desired to start a pattern again at which time the toe I44 of lever I will drop from the cam and will allow pawl II5 to start the chain and of course when that is done, the special lug I41 will move out from under roller I48 so that both pawls become active.

As in Figs. 14-19, each of the chain links I49 has one or more lugs or projections I50 at the side thereof opposite the special lug I41 mentioned above. These lugs I50 may occupy the different positions illustrated, or there may be no lug at all as in Fig. 16.

These lugs I50 are adapted as shown in Figs. 5, 6 or '7, to engage beneath a toe I5I on a lever I52 pivoted at I53 on the extension I54 to bracket I06. Above this lever I52 are two bell crank levers having horizontally disposed arms I55 and I56. These pivot at I51 on angular piece I58 and have springs I59 tending to draw them downwardly so that they bear against the top of the lever I52 and maintain toe I 5I down on the chain except when it is raised by one of the lugs.

The bell crank levers have more or less vertically disposed arms I60 and I6I which attach to the links I62 at I63. Link I62 connects to a latch I64 pivoted at I65 while the link I63 connects to latch I66 pivoted at I61. Each of these pivots at the said latches I64 and I66 is about midway of the latch so that when links I62 and I63 push against them upon being moved to the left, Fig. 9, the bars 20 or 2I, as the case may be, will be locked in position as in Fig. 10. Of course, that occurs whenever a lug I50 moves to the position of Fig. 6 swinging the bell crank levers against the tension of spring I59. The actual height of a chain lug is such that there would be an overtravel of the latching means except'for springs I66 and I69 which merely elongate since the connections for these links I62 and I63 provide for sliding.

When the toe I5I is not held on a lug I50 the latches I64 and I66 will be moved to the positions they occupy in Fig. 9, but only upon a slight rearward movement of the bars 20 and 2 I. It can be seen that the latches have lips I and I which engage the upper endsof the bars and prevents unlatching until'one of the rollers on the 104-tooth gear causes a slight rearward movement of the said bars 50 that under the fairly heavy springs, the bars and attendant mechanisms do not snap from one position to the extreme position, possibly causing damage.

In Fig. 20 a stocking is shown wherein there is a pattern formed by plating, reverse plating and by wrap striping. This stocking has a top I12 which may be the usual rib top or an elastic top of any desired form. The leg portion I16 has what we will call areas of plating such as I14 and wherein the cross-hatching is by vertical lines, and adjacent areas I15 which represent reverse plated fabric, the latter being characterized by horizontal hatching. The diagonal lines I 16 are wrap stripe lines and it is to be understood that preferably, the plating and reverse plating are from different colored yarns as is commonly understood in the art, while the wrap stripe lines are from still another color of yarn. The particular pattern here is what is generally termed an Argyle pattern. Of course, the stocking has the usual heel and toe.

In order to produce a pattern such as this wherein the figured areas are very large, the expedient of starting and stopping the pattern drums in such a manner as to conserve their moves is most desirable. As shown in Fig. 21, a small section of fabric I11 corresponding to the same area at the intersection of two wrap stripe lines, Fig. 20, has the wrap stripe lines such as the line I16 made up of wrap stitches in nonadjacent wales and courses. By conserving or holding back the pattern, it is possible to do this wrapping in non-adjacent courses and thus to open 'up or enlarge the area included within diagonal lines produced by the wrapping mechanism.

If the wrapping were to be continued at each course, on revolution of the drum I2 would make it necessary after a relatively short time to repeat the pattern. By stopping the drum, and at the same time stopping the other drum 30 and those on the shaft 51, the entire pattern is correspondingly enlarged and yet the same simple pattern controlling means may be employed. Of course, only one particular pattern has been illustrated here, but the invention is adaptable to all practical variations of pattern size or contour and it is to be understood that one skilled in the art would have no difficulty in seting up a pattern chain adapted to bring about the desired holding of the pattern and prolonging its effect so that for any particular number of steps originally provided in a pattern, corresponding increases in the effect thereof may be realized,

In operation it may be assumed that at the .start of a pattern as in the leg of a stocking, the

bars 20 and 2| will be periodically moved as the 104-tooth gear rotates while the drum I2 for the wrap stripe pattern 30 for the reverse plating control and 59 and 60 for controlling the relative shogging or placement of the wrap stripe feeding means, will be ratcheted. Now without further control, this ratcheting of said drums would tend to continue at some predetermined rate depending upon the number of rollers 26 on the gear 24, Fig. 1. Then depending upon the number of butts or other pattern conformations on the several drums, the pattern would be repeated at fixed intervals.

Depending upon the set-up of the pattern chain, lugs I50 will periodically move lever I52 so that the bell crank levers bearing thereon and connected to the levers I64 and I66 will be caused to hold the bars 20 and 2| or to release them according to the dictates of the particular pattern. When released the pattern will progress, and when latched, will be held back so that the pattern will be repeated at the same move of the drum or drums for a predetermined number of courses. When it is desired to stop the patterning entirely the ratcheting control for the several pattern drums is as usual taken from the main cam shaft. However, the chain is also to be stopped at that time and for that purpose the cam I45 will act upon mechanism described in Figs. 1, 11, 12 and 13, to move both pawls H and H6 out of engagement with teeth on the ratchet wheel. For retiming the chain as at the knitting of a toe and preparatory to starting off in another stocking, pawl I I5 is moved away from active engagement with ratchet wheel teeth but movement of the chain continues until the link having special lug I41 gets around to a position in which it will engage roller M8 on pawl H6 raising the pawl and thereby stopping the movement of the chain. The other pattern drums will have been retimed in a manner now known so that the entire pattern may start oil? in proper timed relationship at the desired point in the next knitted article.

The invention has been described by reference to one particular embodiment of the same, but

it is to be understood that modifications may be resorted to and that the scope of the invention is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means operable simultaneously at any desired course or courses throughout the pattern and to maintain timed relationship thereof.

2. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means includ-' ing control for some of said instrumentalities to select them for plating and reverse plating yarns and another pattern means for selecting knitting instrumentalities to receive a wrap stripe yarn or yarns, and a separate pattern means functioning upon the said pattern means for controlling plating and reverse plating and that for controlling selection of instrumentalities to receive wrap stripe yarns, so constructed and operable as simultaneously to start and stop said means at any desired course 01 courses throughout the knitting of a pattern and to maintain timed relationship thereof.

3. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feeding yarns to said instrumentalities and for feeding wrap stripe yarns thereto, pattern means periodically movable for controlling said sinkers to vary the plating relationship of said first mentioned yarns and another pattern means separately operable for selecting means to receive said wrap stripe yarns, another pattern means including a periodically movable pattern element with different pattern conformations thereon and means controlled thereby for causing the starting and stopping of said first mentioned pattern means simultaneously in any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a pattern and maintaining timed relation thereof.

4. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feedingyarns to said instrumentalities and for feedingwrap stripe yarns thereto, pattern means periodically movable for controlling said sinkers to vary the plating relationship of said first mentioned yarns and another pattern means separately operable for selecting means to receive said wrap stripe yarns, another pattern means including a periodically movable pattern element with different pattern conformations thereon and means controlled thereby for causing the starting and stopping of said first mentioned'pattern means simultaneously in any desired course or courses. throughout the knitting of a pattern and maintaining timed relation thereof and means for retiming said last mentioned pattern element.

5. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feeding yarns to said instrumentalities and for feeding wrap stripe yarns thereto, pattern means periodically movable for controlling said sinkers to vary the plating relationship of said first mentioned yarns, other pattern means separately operable for selecting needles to receive said wrap stripe yarns and a third pattern means for varying the feeding of saidwrap stripe yarns, and a separate pattern means periodically movable for simultaneously at any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a pattern starting and stopping each of the independent pattern means and for maintaining timed relationship between them.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feeding yarns to said instrumentalities and other means for feeding wrap stripe yarns thereto and for shagging said wrap stripe yarns to be fed in difierent relationship relatively to cooperating instrumentalities, pattern means including three separate pattern drums for affecting the instrumentalities so as to vary the plating and reverse plating, the selection of instrumentalities to receive wrap stripe yarns and the shogging of the wrap stripe yarn feeding means, ratcheting means for periodically progressing each of said pattern drums above mentioned, and another pattern device including a periodically movable pattern element with different pattern conformations thereon and means affected by said conformations operable at any desired course or courses in the knitting of a pattern for simultaneously stopping said pattern drums and for simultaneously allowing the starting thereof.

7. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feeding yarns to said instrumentalities and other means for feeding wrap stripe yarns thereto and for shogging said wrap stripe yarns to be fed in different relationship relatively to cooperating instrumentalities, pattern means including three separate pattern drums for affecting the instrumentalities so as to vary the plating and reverse plating, the selection of instrumentalities to receive wrap stripe yarns and the shogging of the wrap stripe yarn feeding means, ratcheting means for periodically progressing each of said pattern drums above mentioned, and another pattern device including a periodically movable pattern element including a chain with different pattern conformations thereon and means affected by said conformations operable at any desired course or courses in the lmitting of a pattern for simultaneously stopping said pattern drums and for simultaneously allowing the starting thereof.

8. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers and means for feeding yarns to said instrumentalities and other means for feeding wrap stripe yarns thereto and for shoggirm said wrap stripe yarns to be fed in different relationship relatively to cooperating instrumentalities, pattern means including three separate pattern drums for affecting the instrumentalities so as to vary the plating and reverse plating, the selection of instrumentalities to receive wrap stripe yarns and the shogging of the wrap stripe yarn feeding means, ratcheting means for periodically progressing each of said pattern drums above mentioned, and another pattern device including a periodically movable pattern element and a chain with different pattern conformations thereon and means operable at any desired course or courses during the knitting of a pattern affected by said conformations for simultaneously stopping said pattern drums and for simultaneously allowing the starting thereof and means for retii'ning said chain.

9. In a knitting machine the combination of independent pattern means and actuating means therefor including ratchet wheels, pawls and means for moving said pawls independently so as to ratchet each of the pattern means once during each course of knitting, and another pattern element periodically movable and having connected between it and the means for movin said pawls, devices whereby the movements of the pawls may be stopped or started simultaneously and at any desired course or courses in the knitting of a pattern thereby to maintain timed relationship between the movements of said independently movable pattern means.

10. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means operable independently and functioning independently, but at a predetermined timed relationship throughout the knitting of a plurality of courses, to impart patterning movements to the instrumentalities in the knitting of a pattern effected by combined action upon more than one type of instrumentality thereby to cause repeated patterned figures to be.knitted, and a controlling means constituting a separate and independent pattern device functioning to stop both of said means for imparting patterning movements simultaneously and at any desired course or courses in said plurality of patterned courses and to start said means simultaneously at any course or courses therein.

11. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means for controlling some of said instrumentalities to select and cause them to knit plated and reverse plated stitches, another pattern means for selecting others of said instrinnentalities to cause them to receive and to knit wrap stripe yarns, a separate pattern means for controlling the pattern means effecting plating and reverse plating and wrap striping, the latter including a periodically movable pattern element and connections affected thereby and leading therefrom to cause the first mentioned pattern means to be stopped simultaneously at any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a patterned area and to start said pattern means at any desired courses in that patterned area.

12. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, a pattern means operable upon some of said instrumentalities for selecting them to determine the knitting of plated and reverse plated stitches, a second pattern means operable upon others of said instrumentalities for causing them to receive wrap striping yarns and to knit said yarns in plated relationship to the other yarns, a separate and independent pattern controlling means including a pattern chain with pattern conformations spaced thereon, ratcheting means for moving said chain periodically and connections operable upon contact with conformations on said chain for controlling latches to stop the movement of the first and second mentioned pattern means simultaneously at any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a patterned area and other means for controlling the movements of said chain to retime it at the completion of knitting a complete knitted article.

13. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in plating relationship by said instrumentalities, a pattern means operable on some of said instrumentalities for selecting them to determine the knitting of plated and reverse plated stitches, a second pattern means operable upon others of said instrumentalities for causing them to receive wrap striping yarns and to knit said yarns in plated relationship to the other yarns, a separate and independent pattern controlling means which includes a pattern chain with pattern conformations thereon, ratcheting means for moving said chain periodi-- cally, means affected by the conformations on said chain and connections leading therefrom to the first mentioned pattern means for stopping movement of said pattern means, the construction being such that the said separate and independent pattern controlling means may stop the first mentioned pattern means at any course or plurality of courses throughout a patterned area and may permit starting of said pattern means at any course or courses therein, and means to retime the said chain after the knitting of a complete knitted article.

14. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means operable independently and functioning independently, but at a predetermined timed relationship throughout the knitting of a plurality of courses, to impart patterning movement to the instrumentalities in the knitting of a pattern effected by combined action upon more than one type of instrumentality thereby to cause repeated patterned figures to be formed in the fabric, actuating means for each of the above mentioned pattern means and a latch, one for each of the actuating means, a controlling means constituting a separate and independent pattern device and connections leading therefrom to the latches for causing the stopping of each of the pattern actuating means, the construction being such that each latch can be disengaged only when the actuating means has been moved in a direction such that the latch is free from the said means.

15. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding yarns to be knitted in patterned relationship by said instrumentalities, pattern means operable independently and functioning independently, but at a predetermined timed relationship throughout the knitting of a plurality of courses, to impart patterning movement to the instrumentalities in the knitting of a pattern effected by combined action upon more than one type of instrumentality thereby to cause repeated patterned figures to be formed in the fabric, actuating means for each of the above mentioned pattern means and a latch, one for each of the actuating means, a controlling means constituting a separate and independent pattern device and connections leading therefrom to the latches for causing the stopping of each of the pattern actuating 'means, the construction being such that the latches are released so as simultaneously to start the knitting of the combined pattern and then are again caused to engage the pattern actuating means so as to stop the pattern at any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a patterned area,

IsAAc H. 0., GREEN.

CERTlFICATE 0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,517,268. April 20, 1915.

ISAAC H. c. GREEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 11, claim 14., for 'in" read -at-; lines 2'? and 28, claim 5, strike out "at any desired course or courses throughout the knitting of a pattern and insert the same after means", line-29, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 9th day of November, A. D. 1914.5.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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