US2330269A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

P 1943- R. H. COLEMAN ETAL 2,330,269

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1941 1.0 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS:

. ATTORNEYS.

2mm ii. (ole/nan 4.;

Sept. 28, 1943.

R. H. COLEMAN ET AL KNITTING MACHINEv Filed Jan. 67, 1941 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: Robert ii floleman I WITNESSES:

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T T A Sept. 28, 1943.

R. H. COLEMAN ET AL KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. '6 1941 f may p -28,1943. R. H. COLEMAN Em 2,330,

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; ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1 R. H. COLEMAN ET AL 2,330,269

- KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

P 1943- R. H. COLEMAN ET AL 4 2,330,269

KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 6, 1941 v INVEN'IORS: Robert/1. Coleman q: i BY I (we/111111012,

ATTORNEYS.

p 1943- R. H. COLEMAN ETAL 2,330,269

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1941 1'0 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 14 FIG-.11 Flam. F1611 INVENTORS:

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A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 1 R. H. COLEMAN ET-AL 2,330,269

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1941 I0 Sheets-Sheet 9 BY 0506121 an);

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P 1943; R. H. COLEMAN ET AL 7 2,330,269

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1941 l0 Sheets-Sheet l0 W l TNESSES; IN IZ ENTORS:

' Eoberifl (0167mm 4 Osbezzfi. Ham, Z/MJM; S2 M Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Robert H. Coleman and Osben D. Hunt, Hickory,

N. C., assigu'ors of one-fourth to Ernest Whisnant,

and one-fourth to Clarence L.

Whisnant, both of Hickory, N. C. Application January 6, 1941, Serial No. 373,298

' 20 Claims.

This invention relates to knitted fabrics useful for stockings and the like, in which the ornamentation is formed through wrapping of contrasting yarns about variously selected needles of the vseries used in the knitting in such a manner that the loops drawn from the wrap yarns are overlaid or plated upon those of a main or body yam from which the foundation web is cessive courses are anchored by shorter floatsv connecting corresponding loops in corresponding successive courses in the intermediate area formed from the first wrap yarn.- ornamented fabric so characterized is especially advantageous in cnnnection with stockings, since, on the one hapld, it is unnecessary to cut and remove any long floats of the wrap yarns; and, on the other Y hand, in that it precludes obstructions in which the toe nails would be liable to catch as the stockings are drawn over the feet of the wearer.

Another object of our invention is to make spective wrap yarns by the selected needles to predetermine anchoring of the long floats of one wrap yarn .by shorter floats of another wrap yarn as hereinbefore explained.

In connection with a knitting machine of the type referredto, it is a further object of our in.-

- vention to enable lateral displacement of the carrying spindle for the wrap yarn feed-to withdraw it from action, as for example during the heel and toe knitting phases of the machine, without cessation in its rotation, and without attendant axial displacement of the associated rotating wrap yarn bobbin support. This latter objective is attained in practice as also more fully explained later herein, through provision of a universal joint connection between the spindle and the bobbin support.

Another aim of our invention is to preclude entanglement of the wrap threads with the diametral floats of the splicing yarn which is used in reinforcing the high heel (and sole bottom) of the stocking, so that the ornamentation can be carried down, through the reinforcement, to the top edge of the heel proper. This objective we realize through provision of auxiliary means by which the usual yarn severing means of the knitting machine is actuated to cut each float of thesplicing yarn incident its creation.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig.1 shows, -in

possible the production of ornamented fabric of w the above character on circular knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines' of the type disclosed in a co-pending application Serial No. 307,964, filed. by us on December '7, 1939, now Patent No. 2,237,270, wherein the wrap yarns are fed the selected patterning needles by a rotary feed which has itsaxissubstantially at right angles to the needle cylinder which is driven in unison with the latter. This desideratum we attain, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, through provision of means whereby intermediate needles in a selected patterning group are advanced beyond the remaining needles in the cylinder to a greater extent than the end or boundary needles of such group; through suitably arranging in the feed, guide eyes for the individual wrap yarns at different radial distances fpom the axis of rotation to correspond with the differently projected needles of the selected patterning group; and through provision of means for controlling the knitting of the reside elevation, a circular stocking knitting machine conveniently embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 shows the top plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation, and partly in section taken as indicated by the angled arrows III-III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section looking as indicated by the angled arrows IV'IV in Fig. 3, and showing the bobbin sup- 1 port of the wrap yarn mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows V-,V in Fig. 3. v Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of theknitting' I Fig. '7 is a lineal development of the needle circle of the machine and the auxiliary controlling cams, looking outward from within the needle cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view in horizontal section showing how the wrap yarns are manipulated in the machine.

Fig. 9 is a view in lineal development looking as indicated by the angled arrows IX-1X in g 1; 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9, with the needle cylinder and the feed for the wrap yarns slightly further advanced in their rotation during the production of the ornamentation.

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 8 with the needles advanced slightly beyond the position in which they are shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view in turn like Fig. 10 with the needle cylinder and the feed still further advanced in their rotation.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section like Fig. 8 with the needle cylinder and the feed rotatively advanced beyond the positions shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view in plan showing how one of the wrap yarns is taken by certain of the patterning needles.

Fig. 15 is a detail view looking as indicated by the angled arrows XVXVinj Fig. 14.

Figs. 16 and 17 are views like Figs. 14 and 15 showing how others of the wrap yarns are selectively taken by others of the patterning needles.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XVIIIXXVHI in Fig. 1, showing the means provided for actuating the cutter of the machine to sever the floats of the yarn employed in reinforcing the high heels and soles of the stockings.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows XIXX[X in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 shows a short stocking or sock with ornamentation such as may be produced in accordance with our invention; and b Fig. 21 is a view drawn to a magnified scale and showing the ornamented portion of the stocking fabric within the dot and dash line rectangle XXI in Fig. 20. 4

The knitting machine herein illustrated for convenience of exemplifying our invention is generally of well known construction, having a needle cylinder I which is'journaled for rotation in an annular bed 2 (Figs; 1-3) supported at the top of the machine frame 3. The needle cylinder l is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 by means of a bevel gear 5 on the main or drive shaft 6 of the machine, which shaft is provided with the usual tight and loose pulleys I, 8 and 9 respectively (Fig. 2). At .10 in Fig. 1 are comprehensively designated the knitting cams of the machine which may be of the usual construction, and'which are mounted on a fixed annular plate ll supported at an elevation above the bed 2. The needles of the machine are vertically slideable in peripheral grooves of the needle cylinder I as ordinarily, and, during the rotation of the cylinder, pass a series of main yarn feed fingers l2-I8 (Figs. 2 and 13) which are mounted for independent pivotal movement on a transverse axis I9 supported in an upstanding projection 20 on the shank 2I of the needle latch guard ring 22. In the present instance the finger I3' is employed as shown in Fig. 18 to feed a body yarn 23, and the finger I2 for feeding a splicing yarn 24. The needle latch guard ring 22 is hingedly conected at 25 to a post 26 (Fig. 1) upstanding on the bed II,

so that it, and the parts carried thereby, can be swung upwardly out of the way when access is desired or required to the needles from the top. The machine is provided with an intermittentlyrotated cam drum 28 which controls the heel and toe knitting phases of the knitting, and with a cam drum 29, which through a plurality of vertical thrust rods such as shown at 30 in Fig. 1, controls the usual main yarn feeds I2--I8, the last mentioned drum being rotated through gears shown at ill from the shaft 32 of the drum 28. The machine also has a third or auxiliary cam drum 33 which is adapted to be rackedby meansof a pawl 34 operated from the main drive shaft 6.

The office of selecting and elevating the needles which are to be used in the striping is vested.

in mechanism of a well known type comprising a pattern drum 35 which is rotatable about a vertical stud anchored in the bed 2 adjacent the periphery thereof, said drum being circumferentially slotted and containing interchaneable bits, which, through levers (not shown), operate lifting jacks'located in the grooves of the needle cylinder I below the needles. Selected pattern- I ing needles indicated at 36, 31, 38,39 and 36a,

31a, 38a, 39a (Figs. 8-16) are shown as being elevated to a level L above the remaining needles at a point in advance of the loop drawing region D (Figs. 7, 9-11) in the direction of cylinder rotation. By special auxiliary means later on described, the patterningheedles 38, 33a are elevated to a level L somewhat above the level L.

Mounted on the latch guard ring 22 (Figs. 1-3) is a yoked bracket 40 which alfords bearing 4| for a short vertical shaft 42 in coaxial relation with the needle cylinder I and above it. A bevel gear 43 at the upper end of the shaft 42 meshes with a bevel pinion 44 at the inner end of a horizontal shaft 45 which is 'journaled in another bearing 46 on the bracket 40. A bevel gear 41 at the outer end of the horizontal shaft 45 meshes in turn with a bevel pinion 48 at the top of a vertical shaft 49 which extends con- 0 tlnuously downward through a fixed post 50,

through the plate II, through a spacing post 5| between said plate andthe bed 2, and through said bed I. At its lower end the shaft 49 carries abevel pinion 52 which is driven by a bevel gear 53 on the main drive shaft 6 of the machine. Through the gear connections just described the vertical shaft 42 is driven in unison with the needle cylinder I,

Stationarily supported within the top of the needle cylinder I is a horizontal plate 55 whereof the upstanding axial boss 56 (Figs. 3, 18, and 19) is fixedly secured to the lower end of the hearing and the bracket 40 on the latch guard ring 22. Mounted on the plate 55 isthe thread binding and severing mechanism of the machine, said mechanism including a clamp member 51 which is pivoted on a horizontal stud 58 projecting from the boss 56, and which is subject to the influence of a depressing torsion spring 59; and a cutter, the fixed blade 60 of which is secured to an edge of said plate, and the movable blade SI of which is pivoted on a screw stud G2 projecting laterally from the fixed blade. A spring 63 tends to move the blade 6| to closed position. Also supported by the plate 55 is'a thread deflector 54 and an auxiliary clamp spring 65. of the group I2l8-e. g. the splicing yarn feed I2is lifted out of operation, the idled yarn 24 is deflected downward by the deflector 64, drawn beneath the main and auxiliary clamps 51 and When a yarn feed cutter in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 18.

During ordinary interchange of the main yarns, the cutter and the binder are actuated by meansincluding a lever 68 fulcrumed medially on the latch ring 22 and adapted to be operated by one of the thrust rods 30 from the cam drum 29.

v In the event of the" breakage of a butt of any of the needles, the machine is automatically stopped through the instrumentality of a, finger 61 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the top of a vertical stud shaft 68 journaled in the plate II. Secured to the stud shaft 68 directly above the plate II 'is an arm 69 having a lateral projection I on its hub portion which is normally held in engagement with a stop II by the action of a spring I2 to keep the finger 61 positioned as shown in Fig. 2. Pendant from the arm 69 is an adjustable extension-l3 which lies in the path of the cam end 14 of an arm fulcrumed at I6 to the under side of the plate II. By means of a horizontal rod TI, the arm 15 is coupled with a-bell crank latch member I8 forming a part of' the usual stop means of th machine comprehensively designated by the numeral I9 in Fig. 2. I

The wrap yarn feed mechanism with which the present invention is more especially con-- cerned is comprehensively designated by the numeral 80 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 of the drawings, and includes a horizontal spindle 8| whereof the axis lies in a vertical plane approximately sixty degrees in advance of the main yarn feeds .I2-I6 as considered with regard to the direction of cylinder rotation, see Fig. 2. By means presently.

described, the spindle BI i rotated in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 9-11 in unison with the needle cylinder 5, and at its inner end carries a small feed in the form of a discoid head 82 with a plurality of annularly-arranged guide eyes 83-86 and 83a86a (the respective group of which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the diameter A-B in Fig. 9) for as many individual wrap threads 87-90 and fill-90a. As shown, the eyes 83-436 and 83a86a are. circumferentially spaced to correspond in position with the needles 3639 and 36a-39a selected for wrap striping at different points around the needle cylinder I. When in active position the spindle 8| is inclined somewhat downwardly toward the needle cylinder I as shown in Fig. 3 with the edge of the disc 82 somewhat below-and closely contiguously to the hook of the needles. Bearing against the front face of the disc 82 is 3. diametral or cross plate 9| whereof the edges are rounded toward the face of said plate for a purpose presently explained. As shown, the cross plate 9| carries the guides 85, 85a which are spaced at a lesser radial distance from the spindle axis than the remaining guide eyes so as to feed their yarns only to the wrap needles 38, 3811 which are elevated to the level L in Fig. 9.

The disc 82 and the cross plate 9| are secured to the end of the spindle 8I by a headed clamp screw 9la whereof the shank threadedly engages axially into said spindle. By virtue of thi arlournaled in astatlonary bearing 95. As shown, the axis of the sleeve 94 and its bearing 95 is slightly inclined to the horizontal to a degree corresponding to. the normal disposition of the spindle axis. Relative rotation between the spindle 8| and the sleeve 92 i 'prevented through needle cylinder axis determined by engagement of a threaded stop nut 98 (Fig. 3) at the outer end thereof with the corresponding end of said sleeve. The bearing 95 is supported with capacity for up and down adjustment by means ofa post 99 having oppositely pitched threads at it upper and lower ends, the upp r thread eng ing into a pendant boss I00 on said bearing, and the lower thread engaging in an upstanding boss IOI.on .a supplemental plate bracket I02 suitably secured to the framework of the machine. The bearing 95 is held against accidental displacement in adjusted position by means of clamp nuts |03I0.4 which respectively engage the threads of the stem 99, and which jam against the bottom of the boss I00 on the bearing and against the top of the boss IN on the supplemental plate I02. To the inner protruding end of the large sleeve 94 is aflixed a bevel gear I05 which meshes with a bevel pinion I06 whereof the front is axially socketed for rotative support by a lateral boss projection I0'I at one side of the bearing 95, see Fig. 2. As shown, the bevel pinion I06 has a rearward axial shaft prolongation I08, whereto is secured a sprocket pinion I09, said shaft prolongation beconnected to a similar sprocket pinion H3 on a rangement, it will be seen that the feed disc 82 Y friction fit in a sleeve 92 (Fig. 3) which is sup-' ported througha universal joint connection 93,

(Figs. 8 and 5) axially within a larger sleeve 84 horizontal shaft II 4 freely journaled in radial relation to the upright shaft 49 in a bearing 5. This bearing I I5 is provided by a lateral arm I I 6 on the post 50, and for the sake of greater rigidity, said arm I I6 is connected to thebearing arm III by a tie bar III, see Fig. 2. A bevel gear II8 attached to the sprocket H3 is driven as a consequence of having meshing engagement with a bevel pinion II9 (Fig. 3) on the vertical shaft 49 immediately below the pinion 48 hereinbefore referred to. The proportioning of the drive elements just described is such as to predetermine rotation of the spindle 8I in unison with the needle cylinder I.

In order that the spindle BI may be swung to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3

during the knitting of the heel and toe pockets,

Guided for vertical sliding movement in an inwardly projecting lateral arm I20 on the shank portion I00 of the bearing is a slide rod I2I with an oifset extension I22 at its lower end between which and the bottom of the arm a compression spring I23 is interposed. By this spring, the rod I2I is normally maintained in lowered position with a stop collar I25 thereon abutting the top of the arm I20. At its upper end, the rod I2I is formed with an annulus I24 whereof the opening is amply large to accommodate a collar I21 which has horizontal trunnions I20 enga ing bearing openings in said annulus. Loosely fitting within the ring I2! is a collar I29 which is secured to the inner end of the sleeve 92. Medially fulcrumed upon a stud I30 on an upwardly projecting lug I3I of the supplemental plate I02- is a lever I32 whereof one end underreaches the offset I22 at the lower end of the pin I2I, while the other end is apertured for passage therethrough of a drop rod I33 whereof the upper end is threaded to receive an adjustable nut head I35 which bears on the top of the lever. At its lower end (see Fig. 1) the rod I33 is pivotally connected to an angular lever I36 fulcrumed at I31 on the machine frame 3. This angular lever I36 has a bevel nose end I38 arranged to be actuated by a cam edge I39 on the drum 28. When the lever I36 is thus actuated, it will be seen that through the connections just described, the slide rod I2I will be moved upward against the compression of the spring I23 to shift the spindle 8| to its inoperative position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. Still referring to Fig. 3, at its outer end the sleeve 94 carries a circular plate I40 which constitutes the carrier for bobbins I4I from which the different wrap yarns 8190 and 81a-90a are supplied. As shown in Fig. 4, the bobbins I4I are annularly arranged near the periphery of the plate I40 and suitably supported by pins I42 anchored in said plate. Mounted in coaxial relation to the plate I40 at a distance therefrom is an annular companion plate I43 which has guide apertures I45 in line with the bobbin axes for directing the respective wrap yarns. Secured to the plate I43 inward of the apertures I45 in radial alignment with the latter are individually regulatable tensions I46 by which drag is imposed upon the wrap yarns. After emerging from the tensions I46, the wrap yarns pass through a ring I41 at the outer end of the spindle sleeve 92, and from thence to eyes I48 at the free ends of individual take-up levers I49 which are fulcrumed on lugs I50 secured to the outer side of the bobbin carrier plate I40. The yarn tensions I49 are subject individually to tension springs II which tend to swing them away from the axis of the spindle 8| as shown in Fig. 3 for capacity to takeup the slack in the wrap yarns. From the eyes I48 of the take-ups I49, the wrap yarns pass through individual tubes I52 set into the sleeve 94, and after emerging from the inner ends of said tubes pass first through eyes I53 in the head I29 on the sleeve 92 and finally to the corresponding guide eyes in the disc 82 at the inner end of the spindle. As shown, each bobbin MI is protected in a transparent cylindric tube I54 composed of telescoping components which are shiftable relatively to enable replacements to be readily made when necessary.

For the purpose of elevating the striping needles 39, 40 and 39a, 40a from the level L to the level L' we utilize a radially shiftable elevating cam I55, which see Fig. 6, is carried by a slide I56 on a guide I51 mounted on the top of the bed 2, and which is arranged to act upon butts on special needle elevating jacks J (Fig. 7) in the cylinder I below the needles 39, 39a (the jacks, not illustrated, for all other needles being devoid of such butts). During knitting of heel and toe pockets, the cam I55 is retracted by a lever I58 fulcrumed at I59 on the bed 2 and controlled by a cam finger I60 actuated from the cam drum 20. The needles 39 and 39a, differ from the other needles in that they have long butts (illustrated as open rectangles in Figs. '1 be engaged by a special cam I6I radially slideable in a bracket I62 on the plate II. Through the medium of the cam I6I the needles 39 and 39a, 40a after having taken the wrap stripe threads 89 and 89a are depressed to the level L of the other striping needles in a manner which and adapted to will be readily understood from Fig. 7. Like the cam I55 the depressing cam [BI is withdrawn from action under the control of the pattern drum through the medium of a bell crank arm I63 which acts upon a cam finger I64 pivoted at I65 on the plate II, the opposite end of said finger engaging the rear end of the shank of said cam I6I which shank is pressed outward by a spring concealed in the bracket I62. From Figs. 8 and 13 it will be observed that in accordance with my invention the plate 55 is'provided with a bight I10 down through which the wrap yarns pass and within which said yarns are confined and prevented from entering the yarn clamp andcutter. As shown, the bight I10 is so shaped as to define a finger I1I.

A further feature of our invention is the provision on the hub of the bevel gear wheel 43 (see Figs. 3 and 14) of the cam edge I12 which acts upon a vertical plunger pin I13 guided in an opening in the bracket 40. At its lower end, the plunger pin I13 bears on the operating end of the movable cutter blade 6| of the yarn severing mechanism. Thus during each rotation of the needle cylinder, the cutter blade BI is actuated. The purpose of this provision is to affect the cutting of the float portion of the splicing yarn used to reinforce the high-heels of the stockings as shown in Fig. 13. The timing of the cam I12 is such that these float threads are cut at the center as shown in Fig. 13 whereby entanglement of the wrap yarns with the float is prevented.

We have also provided for the automatic stopping of the machine in the event of breakage of any of the wrap stripe yarns. This provision includes (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) a lever I15 which is pivoted medially of its ends on a stud carrier I16 by a small angle bracket I11 attached to the bearing boss I00. The outer end of this lever I15 carries an adjustable finger I18 which, when the take-up finger I49 released by a broken wrap yarn is engaged by such take-up finger as the bobbin carrier I40 revolves. The movement induced in the lever I15 under these conditions is communicated, through a Bowden wire I19 connected at its rear end to the bell crank lever 18 of the automatic stop mechanism 19, with resultant stoppage of the machine in the usual way.

Assum ng the needle cylinder I to be rotating in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 7 with the mam feed I3 in action and supplying the body yarn 23 to all the needles in the formation of the leg portion of a stocking or sock such as shown in Fig. 20, the operation of the machine is as follows: During each rotation of the needle cylinder I, the patterning needles 36-39 and 36a.- 39a selected under the control of the pattern drum 35 are successively elevated to the level L in Fig. 9 well above the remaining needles before they reach the wrap yarn feed disc 82. Upon engagement of the butts 7' of special acks J b neath the patterning needles 38, 38?: with Hie cam I55 as instanced in Fig. 7, said needles are elevated to a higher level L above the patternmg needles 31. Due to the circumferential spacing and relative location of the guide holes 83-86 and 83a86a in the feed disc 82 (which, as previously pointed out, rotates in unison with the a needle cylinder in the direction indicated b arrow thereon in Fig. '7) said holes are sun sively reached by the needles 3639, and 36a, 39a. In Fig. 9, the wrap yarn 81 has already been taken by the leading one of the two needles 36, and during continued rotation of the cylinder 4 point of anchorage said yarn will, as a matter of course, be wrapped about both said needles, with said yarn exten'dv ing in a straight line or chord C between them as shown in Fig. 14, said chord lying rearward of the centers of the rounded hook tops of the two interposed regular needles I80. Consequently, as the needles 36 are retracted by the regular knitting cams at the loop drawing point D in Fig. 7, the chord C will fall to the rear of the interposed needles I80. Repetition of this procedure in successive courses of the knitting results in the formation of a double stripe such as shown at SS in Fig. 20, in which the chords ,C of the yarn 81 are floated at the inside of the fabric between the stripe wales. Again referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the eye 84 has reached a position in which the wrap yarn 88 is about to be taken by the first of the patterning needles 31; while the eye 85 (which is closer to the axis of the spindle 8 I) has reached a position in which the wrap yarn 89 is about to be taken by the first of the higher patterning needles 38. With continued concurrent rotation of the needle cylinder I and the disc 82' through the positions of Figs. 10 and 11 to the position of Fig. 12, the yarns 88 and 89 will also be taken respectively by the second needles of the pairs 37 and 38. As a consequence of the lateral spacing of the eyes 84 and 85 in the direction of the axis of the feed spindle 8!, by reason of the intervention of the thickness of the plate 9|, it will be seen from Fig. 11 that, through change in 'the angularity of the threads 88 and 89 as the needle cylinder rotates, the thread 89 will fall bebind the second of the patterning needles 3'! and will therefore not be taken by the latter needle, whereas the thread 88 will be taken by said second needle 31. In this connection it is to be noted that if the needles 38 should be bent outwardly as in Fig. 3, their hooks will readily pass over the rounded edges andacross the face of the supplemental plate 9! on the wrap feed disc 82 and be thus safe-guarded against the possibility of breakage. As the needle cylinder continues in its rotation, the yarns 88 and 89 will be wrapped respectively about the second needles of the groups 31 and 38 as shown in, Fig. 12.

Here, as in the formation of the stripes S, the yarn 88 will extend as a chord 0' between the spaced needles 37, and will thus fall behind the needles 38 as well as behind the intervening regular needles I81 as will be readily understood from Figs. 16 and 17. From this action there result clock stripes S'., S2 (Figs. 20 and 21) in which the floats C of the yarn 88 cross the inner stripe wales S2 at the back of the fabric and floats C2 of the yarn 89 similarly extend crosswise of the flanking stripe wales, with plain wales a of the latter yarn intervening. Attention is directed to the fact that incident to the feeding of the yarns 88 and 89 in Figs. 9-12, the portion of the yarn 89 extending from the point of its anchorage in the fabric at the knitting level to the front of the needles 38 will be crossed over the portion of the yarn 88 extending from its in the fabric at the knitting level to the first of the needles 31, so that in the completed fabric, the floats C of the yarn 88 are tied in or anchored by the shorter floats C2 of the yarn 89 as shown in Fig. 21. In this way we avoid catches which would resist ready entry of the toes into the stocking as the latter are drawn over the wearer's feet. The same procedure takes place as regards the feeding of the wrap yarns 810-98 to the needles 36c'-39a to form corresponding wrap stripe effects at the opposite side of the stocking. Thus in the clocks, the wrap stripes of the yarn 89 lie within the field bounded by the wrap stripes of the yarn 88. Eventually, as the needle cylinder and the disc 82 continue further in their synchronous rotations, the yarn 90 extending from the feed eye 85 of said disc will be taken by the spaced needles 39 with resultant formation of another double stripe S3 in the stocking of Fig. 20. Throughout the knitting, the wrap yarns extend down through the bight in the plate 55 so as to be kept out of the way of the cutting and binding mechanism of the machine. During the reinforcing of the high heel portion H of the stocking, thestripes S3 are continued down to the top of the heel packet H. This is made possible through provision of the auxiliary means shown in Figs. 18 and 19, for actuating the severing element 6l of the yarn cutting mechanism by which the floats of the splicing yarn 24 are cut to prevent interference and entanglement with the wrap yarns. The splice yarn cutting action also takes place during reinforcement of the foot bottom during which time, the stripes S-S only are continued through the instep. At the beginning of the heel pocket, the wrap feed spindle 8! is automatically lifted to. the dot and dash line posi-' tion .in which it is shown in Fig. 3 to Withdraw the disc 82 from feeding position, under the control of the cam drum 28. At the completion of the heel pocket, the spindle is automatically restored to its normal full line position, likewise under control of the cam drum 28. When access is required to the top of the needle cyliiider, the wrap feed spindle 84 is first lifted and then drawn outward of the friction sleeve 92by grasping the head 98 at its rear end, to

the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the latch guard ring 22 may be swung up and out of the way about its-pivot 25 as ordinarily.-

. By proper selection as between the needles employed for wrapping purposes, the clocks at the sides of the stocking may be provided at the top with arrow heads as shown at I83 in Fig. 20, and at the bottom with tails I84 extending partway into the instep of the stocking. 'Th described ornamentation is, of course, to be considered as exemplary of other designs which may be produced in the machine by suitable arrange- ,ment of the patterning bits in the patterning drum 35. Other variations in the patterning may be had by changing the allocation of the feed eyes in the disc 82, or by increasing the number of such eyes and elevating needles for P tte at corresponding points around the needle cylinder.

In any event, it will be apparent from the foregoing that through our invention it is possible to produce a field of one color which is surrounded by, or enclosed within, th field of another color, with wrap striping mechanism in which the spindle is arranged at right angles to the axis of the needle cylinder or substantially Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder, means for selecting a group ofsupported adjacent the needles on an axis at right angles to the needle cylinder and having two guide eyes for individual wrap yarns; ancl means determining knitting of one of the yarns only by an intermediate needle of the selected group and the other yarn only by the outer needles of said selected group.

2. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said head is external to the needle circle.

3. In a knitting machine having a rotatin needle cylinder, means for selecting a group of predetermined needles and projecting intermediate needles of such group beyond the remaining needles in the cylinder and the outer needles of said group to a lesser extent; wrap yarn feeding means including ahead supported adjacent the needles with its axis substantially at right angles to the needle cylinder and driven in unison with the latter, said head having two eyes for individual wrap yarns at difierent distances from its rotative axis for feeding their yarns respectively to the differently projected needles of the selected group; and means determining knitting of said wrap yarns only by the selected needles to which they are respectively fed.

4. In a knitting machine having a. rotating needle cylinder, means for projecting predetermined selected needles at spaced points in the cylinder to diiferent extents relative to the remaining needles; and wrap yarn feeding means including a head which revolves in unison with the cylinder about an axis at right angles to the latter and which has guide eyes annularly arranged and differently distanced from the head axis so as to feed individual wrap yarns respectively to the selected needles differently projected as aforesaid.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein the wrap yarn feed head is external to the circl of needles.

6. In a knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder, a bobbin support for wrap yains revolving about a positionally fixed axis; .a guide head for the wrap yarns; a spindle with its axis normally in substantial alignment with the axis of the bobbin support and carrying the guide in. feeding relation to the needles; and means for rotating the spindle with capacity for lateral displacement relative to the axis of the bobbin support to withdraw the guide from feeding position.

7. In a knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder a bobbin support for wrap yarns revolving about a positionally fixed axis; .a guide for the wrap yarns; a spindle with its axis normally in substantial alignment with the axis of the bobbin support and carrying the guide in feeding relation to the needles; and driv means connecting the spindle to the bobbin support with capacity for'allowing said spindle to be displaced laterally to withdraw th' guide from feeding position;

8. In a knitting machine ha needle cylinder, 9. bobbin support or wrap yarns revolving about a stationarily pported axis; a feed for the wrap yarns; a sp e normally coaxial with the bobbin support and carrying the feed in feeding relation to the needles; and means for rotating the spindle with capacity for allowing said spindle to be displaced laterally to withdraw the feed from feeding position.

9. A knitting machine according to claim 8, including means for rotating the bobbin support and the wrap feed spindle in unison with the'needle cylinder.

10. A knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the wrap feed spindle rotating means is in the form of a universal joint connection with the bobbin support.

11. A knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the bobbin support is mounted on a sleeve which rotates in a stationary bearing; and wherein the wrap feed spindle rotating means is in the form of a universal joint connection with the sleeve.

12. A knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the axis of the bobbin support is substantially at right angles to the needle cylinder.

13. A knitting machine according to claim 8. wherein the axis of the bobbin support is sub stantially at right angles to the needle cylinder; and wherein said support and said feed spindle are external to the needle cylinder.

14. A knitting machine according to claim 8,

for producing seamless stockings with wrap yarn ornamentation, including interchangeable main yam feeds, a rotatable cam drum for controlling the formation of heel and toe pockets, and a. second rotatable cem drum for controlling the main yarn feeds; and wherein means actuated from said second cam drum displaces the spindle of the wrap yarn feed to prevent feeding of the wrap yarns during formation of the heel and toe pockets.

16. In a knitting machine having a rotating needle cylinder, drive means therefor, and automatic stop means, wrap yarn mechanism including a rotating feed head with guide eyes for the wrap yarns, a rotating support for wrap yarn bobbins, and individual spring-influenced take-up fingers for controlling the wrap yarns; an element adjacent the bobbin support adapted to be engaged and operated by any one of the take-up fingers in the event of rupture of the corresponding wrap yarn; and a connection between said element and the automatic stop means whereby upon such yarn rupture. said stop means is actuated to stop the machine.

17. A knitting machine according to claim 3,

. in which the two guide eyes lie in different planes spaced. in the direction of the rotative axis of the head.

18. In a knitting machine. having a rotating needle cylinder, means for selecting a group of predetermined needles and projecting intermediate needles of such group beyond the remaining, needles in the cylinder and the outer needles of said group to a lesser extent; wrap yarn feeding means including a head supported adjacent the needles with its axis substantially at right angles to the needle cylinder and driven in unison with the latter, said head comprising two components respectively having eyes for individual wrap yarns at different distances from the rotative axis of the head for feeding their yarns respectively to the differently projected in which the two guide eyes lie in different planes spaced in the direction of the head axis.

20. In a circular knitting machine of the type having a rotating needle cylinder, drive means therefor, a rotary wrap yam feeding means and automatic stop means; in combination therewith a. rotating support for wrap yarn bobbins, individual spring-influenced take-up fingers for controlling the wrap yams, an element so posi-

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