US2345914A - Yarn carrier rod operating means for straight knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

. April 1944- I G. BlTZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet l f=i==l i I AJ? INVENTOR:

ATTORN April 1944- J G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

- G. BITZER April 4, 1944.

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 4, 1944. G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORI April 1944- G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll F.T.E-J.U.

INVENTORZ ATTOR EY.

April 4, 1944. n-z "2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 95 FL 5--.L 3.1-

INVENTORZ G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES April 4, 1944.

F'iled March 2'7, 1942 ATTORN EY.

. INVENTOR.' Gafilobjiifer,

F1. 5--.LE-

557FJLE E FlE-.l

April 4, 1944. G, B-[TZER v 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 5Q are:

INVENTORI ATTOR N EY.

April 4, 1944. G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1942 1o Sheets-Sheet 9 FIE-.Efi-

INVENTORI ATTO R N EY.

P 1944- G. BITZER 2,345,914

YARN CARRIER ROD OPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KRITTING MACHINES Filed MarCh 27, 1942 I 10 Sheet -Sheet 10 INVENTOR: Gafilobfiiigcz; BY C? Q I E ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 4, 194% UNITED STATES .E ATENT OFFICE YARN CARRIER ROD GPERATING MEANS FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING FEACHINES 21 Glairns.

This invention relates to straight or full-fashioned knitting machines, and more particularly to means for determinedly controlling the action of certain selective yarn feeding mechanisms of such machines.

It is now common practice to knit full-fashioned hosiery according to the ringless principic, that is, with a plurality of yarns, usually three. For this purpose it is common practice to provide a friction box arrangement having automatic yarn carrier rod selector means for connecting and releasing the multiple yarn laying rods carrying out the ringless knitting. However, when knitting certain areas of a ringless stocking blank, only a single yarn is employed, and for this purpose a standard friction box of the full-fashioned knitting machine is ordinarily utilized to reciprocate a single yarn carrier bar. During operation of the single thread carrier, the ringless friction box is released from operation, and is disconnected from the friction rod of the machine so that the therewith asscciated carrier rod connecting and releasing, or selector means, can be moved to inactive position relative to the yarn carrier rods.

When the automatic carrier selecting mechanism for ringless knitting is put into operation, after a single rod has been operated as explained, the carrier rod connecting means associated with the friction box, must be precisely positioned for engagement with the first cooperating yarn carrier rod to be driven to lay the yarn for the initial course of the ringless portion. Certain automatic carrier selecting mechanisms hereto fore available have proven unreliable and unsatisfactcry in this respect in that their initial connection with the thread carrier bar was not effected as intended, with the result that the fabric was pressed cfi.

One object of my invention is to provide novel whereby only a certain one of the selectors can be moved to engagement with its cooperating carrier at the start of the ringless cycle.

An additional object is to provide such means whereby engagement of the ringless yarn laying attachment with the friction rod of the ma chine cannot be effected when the proper carrier rod selector and its cooperating carrier rod are not in engaging position at the start of the ringless cycle.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the yarn carrier rod opcrating mechanism comprising the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of a full-fashioned knitting machine with a portion of the length omitted as indicated by the section breaks and having one form of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the carrier rod driving mechanism shown at the center of l and enlarged relativ thereto;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Figv 6 is a side view of the mechanism of Fig. 2

seen from the left thereof;

7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 8 is a view of certain of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7, but shown in different relative positions;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9--9 of Fig. l;

10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line Iii-10 of Fig. 2;

11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line |Ill of Fig. 10;

12 is a sectional view taken substantially g the line 22-42 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-53 of Fig. 1 and turned at right angles relative thereto;

Fi 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of certain of the carrier rods and driving means therefor in one step in the cycle of operations of said driving means;

Fi 15 is a view of the mechanism as seen from the right of Fig. 14 and turned at right angles relative thereto, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing another step in the cycle of operation of the carrier rods and driving means therefor;

Fig. 17 is a View of the mechanism as seen from the left of Fig. 16 and turned at right angles relative thereto, certain parts being omitted; Figs. 18, 20, 22 and 24 are views similar to Figs. 14 and 16 showing further steps in a cycle of operation of the carrier rods and driving mean therefor;

Figs. 19 and 23 are views similar to Fig. as seen from the right of Figs. 18 and 22, respectively;

Figs. 21 and 25 are views similar to Fig. 17, as seen from the left of Figs. 20 and 24, respec tively;

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 2. of another form of carrier rod driving mechanism with a modified. form of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 26 but with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 28 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 28-28 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 29-29 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 30 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3030 of Fig. 27 and having an element in back of the line of section appearing in dot-and-dash outline; and

Fig. 31 is a view similar to Fig. 30 but showing the parts in difierent positions relative thereto.

In the drawings and description, only the knitting machine parts necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled-Full Fashioned Knitting Machinespublished and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1920.

2. Three catalogs entitled-The Reading Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog-published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935, and 1940, respectively.

3. Booklet entitled-The Reading High-Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machin.e which forms a supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, and which booklet is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, and was copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitledKnitting Machine Lectures-published by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly Figs. 1, 9and 13.1 have shown a knitting machine to which a ringless attachment or car-.

rier rod driving mechanism is applied and which comprises transverse end and center members I0 and H connected to each otherby a front beam 2, a back beam 3, a front bed l4 and a center bed E6. The end and'center frames l0 and H carry a cam shaft I? for operating the various mechanisms of the machine. Mounted on the center bed It are brackets [8' in which are slidably mounted carrier rods l to 8, having needles (not shown). of the machine. The carrier rcds l to 8 are actuated or driven to feed yarn to the needles by means of an actuating device 22 carried by and frictionaily engaged to a full-speed friction rod 2! of the machine.

The carrier rod actuating or driving mechanism 22 is of a selector type employed for reciprocating a plurality of carrier rods in recurring sequence and comprises a friction box housing as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and '7, which is provided with the usual friction shoes (not shown) and a camming lever 26 for frictionally engaging or releasing the box from the friction rod 21. The housing 23 is supported in sliding relation on a usual half speed friction rod 2! of the ma chine and is provided with a pivoted arm 26 for engagement with dogs 29, one of which is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, on a speed reducing rod 25.

Cooperating with the friction box for recipro catin certain of the carrier rods, and more particularly carrier rods l, 2 and 3 (Figs. 6 and 7) is a lever or selector element 28 which is slidabiy mounted on a square shaft 29, said lever 28 pro-- jecting from the shaft 26 and between projections 3i of the friction box 23 to be reciprocated with the friction box 23 by the friction rod 2!. The shaft 26 has concentric end portions 33 by means of which the shaft is carried in brackets secured to the machine frame one of which is shown at 32 (Fig. 2), said shaft having collars 33 secured thereto at opposite sides of the bracket 32 for preventing axial movement of the shaft. The lever or element 28 is provided with long fingers or elements 36 and 38, and a short finger or element 3! for alternate engagement with dogs ii, 42 and 43 carried by the carrier rods l, 2 and 3, in a manner hereinafter set forth.

The shaft 29 is rocked to engage the fingers 37, and 36 with the dogs 4!, 42 and 43 by a lever M secured to one end 38 of shaft 29 (Fig. 2) and which carries a cam follower 45 for engagement with a cam 46 (Figs. 10 and 11) carried by an auxiliary cam shaft ll rotatably mounted in one of the brackets 32. A spring 5i connected be tween an extension 38 of the lever 44 (Figs. 6 and and a pin 52 on the bracket 32, maintains the follower as on the lever'M in engagement with the cam 46. 1

The shaft 4'! and cam at are given a step-wise rotative movement by means of a ratchet wheel 53 secured to the shaft 41 and a pawl 54 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) carried by one arm E5 of a lever 56 pivotally mounted on the shaft ll between the ratchet wheel 53 and a hand wheel 5'! secured to the shaft i? for manually turning the same. The pawl 54 is maintained in engagement (Fig. 3) or out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 53 (Fig. 4) by an over-the-center spring 58, opposite ends of which are connected to the pawl 54 and lever 56, respectively. The lever 56 is given a rocking movement to turn the shaft 4'! by a link 6|. connected at one end to a second arm 63 of the lever 56 by a pin and toggle arrangement 62. and at its other end to a lever 63. The lever 33 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 64 (Fig. 9) carried on the back beam 83 and has a cam follower 66 pivotally mounted thereon'for engagement with a cam 61 on the cam shaft i! when the cam shaft is in the knitting position and with a concentric disk 68 when the cam shaft has been shifted to the right or narrowing position, as viewed in Fig. 1. A spring 7i, connected to the lever 63 and to a bracket iii on the front beam l2, maintains the cam follower 66 in engagement with the cam 67 or disk 68.

The shaft 41 is prevented from over-travel during its racking movement by a brake arrangement (Figs. 11 and 12) including a plate 12 having a friction disk 13, such as of leather, secured thereto as by rivets 14 and a disk 16, secured to the shaft 41. Projections 11 of the bracket 32 engage in notches 18 in the plate 12 to prevent the plate and friction disk 13 from rotating. The friction disk 13 is held in frictional engagement with the disk 16 by a series of springs BI, the amount of frictional engagement between the friction disk 13 and disk 16 being adjustable by means of lock nuts 82. The disk 16 is provided with notches 63 for engagement by a detent member which is pressed toward the disk 16 by a spring 86 for holding the shaft 41 in proper angular position between racking movements of the shaft.

The reciprocating movements of the carrier rods I to 8 are controlled by end stops 81 carried by a carrier rod end stop nut 88 of a usual narrowing head mechanism N provided at both ends of the knitting machine. Also carried on the end stop nut 88 at each end of the machine is a carrier rod holding or rebound stop device, similar to that shown on pages 126 and 127 and, 204 of the aforementioned 1935 parts catalog, to hold the idle carrier rods during operation of the active carrier rods. The holding or rebound stop device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13, comprises in general a housing 9|, secured to and movable with the end stop nut 83 in which are slidably mounted stop members 92, one for engagement with a dog 63 on each of the carrier rods I to 8, only carrier rods 3, and 1 of which are shown having dogs 93 (Fig. 13). The stop members 92 are pressed toward the carrier rods by springs 84, the springs for the stop members for carrier rods I to 4 being shown in Fig. 13 and the springs for the stop members for the carrier rods 5 to 8 shown generally in Fig. l. The stop members 92 are raised, to release the carrier rods I to 4 to permit the active carrier rods to be reciprocated across the knitting field, by an arm 96 secured to a lever 61 pivotally mounted on a shaft 96, the lower end of lever 91being provided with a forked portion lill which cooperates with a projecting portion I02 of a yoke member I63, also pivotally mounted on the shaft ea. The yoke member I63 is provided with a pin I04 for engagement with the upper end of a lever I 06 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket I01 secured to the back beam 53, and carries a cam follower ifiii for engagement with a cam II I on the cam shaft l1. A spring II 2 connected between the lever i536 and a bracket ilii on the back beam I3 maintains the cam follower 500 in engagement with the cam I I I.

The stop members 92 for the carrier rods 5 to 8 are raised by an arm II4 (Fig. 1) carried by a lever II6, also pivotally mounted on the shaft 98, the lower end of lever IIii cooperating with a cam arrangement II1 carried on a plating bar I I8 secured to the usual connecting bar (not shown) of the machine, this cam arrangement being similar to that shown in the aforesaid pages I26 and I21 of the 1935 parts catalog.

Each of the dogs 4!, 42 and 43 are provided with a slot H9, at high portion I25! and a low portion I 2I at the left side of the slot I59 and high and low portions I22 and I23, respectively, at the right side of the slot II9 by means of which each of the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 are engaged and reciprocated in recurring sequence, high portions I20 all being on the front sides of the dogs and high portions I22 on the rear sides thereof.

In operation with the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 in the position of Fig. 14, in which carrier rods I and 2 are at the right against their respective end stops 81 and the carrier rod 3 is against its left end stop 81, the cam 46 actuates the lever 28 to engage the long finger 36 in the slot II9 of dog 42 and align the short finger 31, longitudinally of the carrier rods, with the right low portion I23 and the left high portion I26 of the dog 43 on the carrier rod 3, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Upon movement of the friction box 23 to drive the carrier rod 2 to the left, the

short finger 31 passes over the right low portion I23 of dog 43. As the carrier rod 2 strikes its end stop 81 the short finger 31 engages the left high portion I20 on the dog 43 to press the carrier rod against its left end stop 61, so that the slot H9 in the dog 43 is in position to be engaged by the long finger 38 of lever 28. The lever 28 is then operated by the cam 46 to move the long finger 38 into the slot II9 of dog 43 (Fig. 16) and the short finger 31 into longitudinal alignment with the right high portion I22 of the dog M on the carrier rod I. Upon movement of the friction box 23 to the right with carrier rod 3, the short finger 31 passes over the left low portion I2I (Figs. 16 and 17) of the dog 4i on the carrier rod I and presses against the right high portion I22 of the dog 4|. The lever 28 is then operated by the cam 46 to move the long finger 36 into engagement with the slot II9 of dog M on the carrier rod I, as shown in Fig. 18, and the low finger 31 is aligned, longitudinally of the carrier rods, with right low portion I23 (Figs. 18 and 19) and the left high portion I20 of the dog 42. Upon movement of the friction box 23 from right to left the low finger 31 passes over the right low portion I 23 and presses against the left high portion I20 ol the dog 42 on the carrier rod 2.

Figs. 20 to 25 are similar to Figs. 14 to 19 and together Figs. 14 to 25 show the position of the lever 28 during a complete yarn laying cycle of operation of the carrier rods I, 2 and 3.

As shown in Figs. 14 to 25, long fingers 36 and 38' are employed to engage dogs 4|, 42 and 43 on 4 the carrier rods I, 2 and 3, respectively, to drive the carrier rods to the right and left across the knitting field and the short finger 31 is utilized to engage the left high portion I20 or right high portion I22 of the idle carrier rod at the end of each yarn laying stroke to insure that the dogs on the idle carrier rods are in position to be engaged by one of the long fingers 36 or 30.

When it is desired to discontinue operation of thealternating carrier rods, the carrier rod connesting and releasing lever or element 22 moved to an inactive position relative to the dogs on the carrier rods. For this purpose there is provided a cam member I24 (Figs. 6, 7, 3, 10 and 11), pivotally mounted on a hub portion I25 of the cam 46 (Fig. 11), and having a projection I26 which carries a pin I21 and a spring I20 connected between the pin I21 and a pin I29 carried in the bracket 32. The cam member I24 is adapted to engage the cam follower iii on the lever 44 to turn the shaft 29 and lever 20 to move the fingers 36, 31 and 38 to an inactive position relative to the carrier rods. When it is desired to move the lever 28 to inactive position relative to the carrier rods, the cam member I24 is ro- I tated manually in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the spring I28 maintaining, a.

projection iii on the cam member I24 in engagement with the pin I25 until again moved to the position of Fig. 6 by the operator.

When it is desired to again operate the friction box 23 and to move the fingers 3'5, and 38 of lever 28 into the path of the dogs on the carrier rods I, 2 and 5, the cam member is retated to the position of Fig. 6. However, it is desirable to prevent engagement of the fingers St or 33 with an improper carrier rod to start the alternating sequence or, to move the fingers to such position that no carrier rod is engaged, as sometimes occurs when the shaft 41 and cam 46 is accidentally rotated while the friction box is in disengaged position. For this purpose, there is provided an arm I32 carried by the cam member 12 3 and having a follower portion 55 for engagement with a cam I33 secured to the hub portion I25 of cam 45, as shown in Fig. 5. The follower portion 1% is maintained in engagement with the cam I53 by means of a spring I34 which is connected between a pin E55 on the arm I32 and a pin I31 on the projection H25 of said cam member !24 (Fig. 6). The arm 132 also has a cutaway portion i358 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

During operation of the box 23 to lay yarn to the knitting elements, the cam member I24 is positioned, as shown in Fig. 6, with the cam follower 45 on the cam 55 to cause the lever 28 to engage with the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 in alternating sequence. When the alternating sequence of the carrier rods is to be discontinued, after the frictionbox 23 has completed a yarn layin 42 of the carrier rod 2, as shown in Figs. 14: and

15, the lever 26 is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, 2, to release the friction box from the friction rod 23, the pawl 54 is moved from its active position of Fig. 3, to its inactive position shown in Fig. i, the lever 25 is moved out of the path of dog 25 on the rod 25 and the cam member I 2 1 is turned from its position in Fig. 6 to its position in Fig. 8. At this time the follower portion Hit of the arm 532 is in engagement with a low portion Ml of cam I 33,

the parts remaining in this position until the alternating sequence is again to be resumed, whereupon movement of the cam member 12 back to its position of Fig. 8 will again engage the finger 36 in the groove IE9 of dog 52 on the carrier rod 2. However, if for some reason the shaft 41 has been accidentally turned to a position in which the arm 232 is in engagement with the high point of cam its, as shown in Fig. 7, at the time the carrier rods i, 2 and 3 are to be alternately operated, the cutaway portion l38 of arm I32 is moved into such position relative to the pin i251 as to prevent the cam member I125 from being moved to its position of Fig. 6. Consequently, before the cam member 525 may again be moved to permit the lever 28 to move into active position relative to the carrier rod 2, the shaft 41 must be rotated to bring the low point I II of cam I33 into engagement with the arm I32, as shown in Fig. 8.

A further form of carrier rod driving and selector mechanism is shown in Figs. 26 to 31 and comprises a carrier rod alternating attachment of the two lever type, an auxiliary cam shaft associated therewith for selectively connecting and releasing the carrier rods of the alternating series, a cam lever for disengaging the attachment from the friction rod, a safety lever for preventing operation of the cam lever to engage the attachment to the friction rod when the auxiliary cam shaft is in such angular position as to prevent engagement of a carrier or to cause engagement of an improper carrier at the start of the alternating sequence and a cam on the auxiliary cam shaft for controlling the operation of the safety lever.

Referring to the Figs. 26, 27 and 28, a carrier rod alternating attachment I51, shown generally on pages 197 to 203, of the aforesaid 1940 parts catalog, comprises a frame member or friction box I52 having frictional engagement with the friction rod 2i through the usual friction shoes 7 I53, a plate spring member I54, and a cam lever I55, pivotally mounted in a yoke member I51, for engaging the attachment to or disengaging it from the friction rod 2i. The frame portion or friction box I52 also is provided with a portion E55 having sliding engagement with the half speed friction rod 21.

The frame member E52 has upright members or arms I53 between which are disposed levers or selector elements i5i and I52 rotatably mounted on a shaft I53 eccentrically carried on a shaft I64 rotatably mounted in the arms E53. The shaft I63 may be turned about the shaft I54 by means of a lever I65 which is secured to the shaft I53 and carries a detent member 551 adapted to engage an opening I53 in the shaft E M (Fig. 28), in either one of two positions of the lever I66 for reasons hereinafter set forth. The levers ltl and E62 have extensions Ill and E12, re-

' spectively, spaced by bolts E15 having jam nuts 15A from extensions I13 and I15 of cam levers I15 and I11, respectively, which are also rotat- V ably mounted on shaft I 53 and alongside of levers I 6i and I62, respectively. The cam levers I15 and I11 have cam followers E18 and I3I,'

respectively, for engagement with cams I82 and I83, respectively, disposed between the arms I58,

. on an auxiliary cam shaft fed and rotated therewith by pawl and ratchet means (not shown) operated from the connecting bar of the machine in a manner similar to that shown in the F. Autem Patent No. 2,219,733, issued October 29, 1940. Tension springs I85 connected between extensions I19 and I88 also on the levers I6I, I16 and 162, I11, respectively, transmit a pull between them to maintain the extensions I11 and I12 normally as close to extensions I13 and I14 as permitted by bolts I15 and springs 181 connected between the levers HM and I62 and the friction box I52 (Fig. 28) urge the levers Itl and IE2 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 28 to maintain the followers E13, I8I in contact with the cams H82 and I83, respectively by the clockwise torque thereby transmitted to levers I16 and I11. Said bolts I15 in extensions HI and I12 contact with extensions I73 and I14 to hold extensions NH and M2 in the desired relation to the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 which are to be driven thereby, jam nuts I15A holding bolts I15 in adjusted position. Owing to springs I85 and H81 the motions of followers I18 and I3! are transmitted through trains of parts which are yieldable irrespective of the direction of movement of levers I t! and it's, whereby no damage results in case any portion of either of said extensions strikes an obstruction, an occurrence which their manner of use renders quite possible.

Levers I5I and E52 have fingers or elements I83 and I9I (Fig. 28) for engagement with dogs I92 (Fig. 29) on the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 and are operated by the cams I 82 and I93 to alternately connect and release the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 in a manner similar to that shown in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,219,733.

When it is desired to discontinue operation of the attachment IEI at the end of the last yarn laying stroke of the alternating attachment in which the carrier rod I is moved from left to right, the cam shaft I69 is operated to connect the levers I6I and I62 to the carrier rod 2. At this time the detent member I6? is withdrawn from the right side of the opening I66, in the shaft I64 and the lever I66 rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 28, to a position in which the detent member I6? is engaged in the left side of the opening I69, which action moves the levers IBI and I62 to inactive position relative to the dogs I 92 on the carrier rods. Also at this time, the pawl and ratchet means on the auxiliary cam shaft is disabled to prevent further rotation of the auxiliary cam shaft and the cam lever I56 is moved to the position of Fig. 27, to release the attachment II from the friction rod 2I. The attachment is maintained in this condition until the carrier rods I, 2 and 3 are again to be alternately operated.

In order to prevent engagement of any carrier rod except carrier rod 2 at the start of the next sequential operation of the carrier rods, there is provided a cam I93 mounted on the shaft I84 to rotate in fixed relation with the cams I92 and I93. The cam I93 cooperates with a projection I94 of a lever I96 pivotally mounted on a pin or bolt I97 carried by a bracket I93 secured to friction box I52 as shown in Figs. 30 and 31. The lever I96 has a second projection 20I, which overlies the path of movement of an end 209 of the cam lever I56 when it is in the position shown in Fig. 27, and a spring 262 connected between the lever I96 and one of the arms I58 biases the projection I94 toward the cam I93. A bracket 293 (Figs. 30 and 31) limits the counterclockwise movement of the lever I96 if the spring accidentally becomes disconnected from the lever With this arrangement, when the cam lever I56 has been moved to the position shown in Fig.

27, and the pawl and ratchet mechanism (not r shown) for the shaft I64 has been disabled to prevent rotation of the shaft while the alternating attachment is inactive, the projection I94 of lever I96 will be in engagement with a low part 294 of cam I93 and the projection 29I positioned out of the plane of movement of cam lever I56, as shown in Fig. 31, whereupon the cam lever I56 may be turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 27, to reengage the friction box I52 to the friction rod 2 I, and when the lever I66 is turned again to its position of Fig. 28, to lower the levers I6I and I62, the levers will be in position to engage the dog I92 of the starting carrier rod to start the ringless knitting. I However, if for some reason the shaft I84 and cam I93 are accidentally rotated to the position in which the projection I94 is in engagement with the high portion of cam I93, as shown in Fig. 30, the projection 29I of the lever I96 will be in the plane of movement of the cam lever I56, so that it cannot be moved from its position of Fig. 27 to reengage the friction box I52 to the friction rod 2I until the shaft I84 is again turned to engage the low part 294 of cam I93 with the lever I96.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which I obtain the said results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn carrier rods, driving mechanism for said rods, and a selector mechanism comprising selector elements forming part of said driving mechanism and effective to connect the latter with the rods in determined order beginning with a selector element and a certain carrier rod, of means for rendering said driving mechanism ineffective until said selector element is in position to engage said certain carrier rod.

2. In a straight knitting machine having a plurality of yarn carrier rods, driving mechanism for said yarn carrier rods, selector means for said yarn carrier rods associated with said driving mechanism for operating the rods in predetermined order starting with a certain carrier rod, and means for rendering said driving mechanism ineffective when said starting yarn carrier rod to be operated is not in engaging position with respect to said selector means.

3. In a straight knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, mechanism including a friction box for driving said yarn carrier rods, a device for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box starting with a certain carrier rod, and means for preventing operation of said friction box to drive said yarn carrier rods when said connecting and releasing device is not in cooperating relation with respect to said starting yarn carrier rod.

4. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a yarn carrier rod, mechanism including a friction box for driving said yarn carrier rod, means for connecting said yarn carrier rod to and releasing it from said friction box, and means for preventing operation of said friction box to drive said yarn carrier rod when said connecting and releasing means i not in position to engage said yarn carrier rod.

5. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a yarn carrier rod, driving mechanism for said yarn carrier rod having an element for connecting said yarn carrier rod to and releasing it from said driving mechanism, means for moving said carrier rod connecting element from active to inactive position when said connecting element is in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rod and means for preventing return of said connecting and releasing element to active position relative to said yarn carrier rod when said connectin and releasing means is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rod.

6. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said yarn carrier rods comprising, a friction box, an element for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary cam shaft, cam means on said auxiliary cam shaft for operating said element to connect and release said carrier rods, means on said auxiliary cam shaft for moving said element from active to inactive position when said element is in a predetermined position relative to said carrier rods and means for preventing movement of said element from inactive to active position relative to said car- .said carrier rods comprising rier rods when said element is not in said'predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

7. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said yarn carrier rods comprising, a friction box, an element for connecting said yarn carrier rods to'and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary cam shaft, cam means on said auxiliary cam shaft for operating said element to connect and release said carrier rods, means on said auxiliary cam shaft for moving said element from active to inactive position when said element is in a predetermined position relative to said carrier rods, and means including a cam member on said auxiliary cam shaft for preventing movement of said element from inactive to active position relative to said carrier rod when said element is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn car- 'rier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

8. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said yarn carrier rods comprising, a friction box, means associated with said box including an element for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary cam shaft, means including a cam on said auxiliary cam haft for controlling operation of said element to connect and release said carrier rods, means on said auxiliary cam shaft for moving said element from active to inactive position when said element is in a predetermined position relative to said carrier rods and means including a cam elementon said auxiliary cam shaft and a cam follower member cooperating with said cam element for preventing movement of said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from inactive to active position when said element is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

9. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, a main cam shaft, means for driving said carrier rods comprising, a friction box, means associated with said friction box including an element for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary cam shaft, means including a cam on said main cam shaft for operating said auxiliary cam shaft, cam means on said auxiliary cam shaft for operating said element to connect and release said carrier rods, means on said auxiliary cam shaft for moving said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from active to inactive position when said connecting and releasing element is in .a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods and means including a cam element on said auxiliary cam shaft and a cam follower member cooperating with said cam element for preventing movement of said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from inactive to active position when said element is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

10. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, a main cam shaft, means for driving a friction box, means associated with said friction box includingazr. element for connecting saidyarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence; an auxiliary cam shaft, cam means on said auxiliary. cam shaft for operating said element to connect and release said carrier rods, means including a cam on the main cam shaft for operatingsaid auxiliary cam shaft, means on said auxiliary cam shaft for moving said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from active to inactive position when said connecting and releasing element is in a predetermined'position relative to said yarn carrier rods and means for preventing movement of said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from inactive to active position when said connecting and releasing means is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

11. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, a main cam shaft, means for driving said carrier rods comprising a friction box, means associated with said friction box including an element for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box, an auxiliary cam shaft, cam means on said auxiliary cam shaft for operating said carrier rod connecting and releasing element, means including a cam on the main cam shaft for operating said auxiliary cam shaft, means on said auxiliary cam shaft and independently movable relative thereto for moving said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from active to inactive position when said co-nnecting and releasing element is in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods, a stop member for limiting the movement of said independently ,movable means and means including a cam rotatable with said auxiliary cam shaft, a follower member for cooperating with said cam member, said follower member cooperating with said cam member and said stop member to prevent movement of said carrier rod connecting and releasing element from inactive to active position when said element is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said yarn carrier rods, comprising a friction rod, a friction box, means for connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box alternately in predetermined -sequence, means for engaging said friction box to and disengaging it from said friction rod when said connecting and releasing means is in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods in said predetermined sequence, and means for preventing engagement of said friction box to said friction rod when said yarn carrier rod connecting and releasing means is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods to be connected in said predetermined sequence.

13. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a group of carrier rods, a reciprocating friction box rod, a friction box on said rod, a lever adapted to selectively connect said carrier rods to said friction box, a pivoted member on which said lever is mounted, said lever being adapted and arranged to follow the movements of said box, a cam shaft having step-bystep rotative movement and having a cam fixed thereon arranged to determine the position of said lever to select said carrier rods for movement, a normally stationary hand operated cam member pivoted on said step-by-step'shaft and adapted when in one position to hold said lever out of contact with said cam and to prevent connection between said lever and said carrier rods and in its other position to permit operation of said lever by said cam for selecting said carrier rods, means for holding said manually operated member in one position or the other, a latch member pivoted on said manually operated member, and a second cam fixed on said step-by-step cam shaft and adapted to hold said latch member inoperative or to permit it to latch said manually operated member in position to prevent connection of said lever to said carrier rods depending on the angular position of said cam shaft.

14. In a full-fashioned knittin machine, the combination of a group of carrier rods, 2, friction box rod having a friction box thereon, means whereby said box may be connected to said rod, a cam shaft, means to give said cam shaft a step-by-step rotative movement, a cam splined to said shaft and arranged to move with said friction box, a pair of levers pivotally mounted with respect to said friction box and arranged to move therewith for connecting said box to said carrier rods in predetermined sequence, means whereby said cam on said stepby-step shaft moves said levers into position to operate said carrier rods, means associated with the pivot of said levers whereby said levers may be thrown into position in which said cam does not act thereon and in which said levers are out of driving position with respect to all said carrier rods, a second cam on said step-by-step shaft, and means cooperating with said second cam and adapted when said first cam is inactive with respect to said levers to either permit or prevent the operation of the means whereby the friction box may be connected to its friction box rod depending on the angular postition of said step-by-step shaft.

15. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a yarn carrier rod, means for driving said yarn carrier rod comprising, a friction a friction box, means on said friction box for connecting said yarn carrier rod to and releasing it from said friction box, means for engaging said friction box to and disengaging it from said friction red when said connecting and releasing means is in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rod and means for preventing said engagement of said friction box to said friction rod when said carrier rod connecting means is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rod.

16. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having yarn carrier means for driving said carrier rods comprising a friction rod, a friction box, means on said friction box for connecting said carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box, a cam lever carried by said friction box for engaging said friction box to and disen gaging it from. said friction red when said connecting and means is in a predetermined positicn relative to yarn. carrier rods and means for preventing movement of said cam lever from disengaged position to said engaged position to engage said friction box to said friction rod when said connecting and releasing means is not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods.

17. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said carrier rods comprising a friction rod, a friction box, a pair of elements for alternately connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predeterminedsequence, a cam lever for engaging said friction box to. and disengaging it from said friction rod when said connecting and releasing elements are in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods, an auxiliary camshaft, cam means on said auxiliary camshaft for operating said elements to connect and release said carrier rods, and means for reventing movement of said cam lever from said disengaged position to said engaged position to engage said friction box to said friction rod when said carrier rod connecting and releasing elements are not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

18. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said carrier rods comprising a friction rod, a friction box, a pair of elements for alternately connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary camshaft, cam means on said auxiliary camshaft for operating said elements to connect and release said carrier rods, a cam lever for engaging said friction box to and disengaging it from said friction red when said pair of carrier rod connecting releasing elements are in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods and means including a cam on said auxiliary camshaft for preventing movement of said cam lever from said disengaged position to said engaged position to engage said friction box to said friction rod when said pair of carrier rod connecting and releasing elements are not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

19. In a knitting machine having yarn carrier rods, means for driving said carrier rods comprising a friction rod, a friction box, means carried by the box including a pair of elements for alternately connecting said yarn carrier rods to and releasing them from said friction box in predetermined sequence, an auxiliary camshaft, cam means on said auxiliary camshaft for operating said elements to connect and release said carrier rods, a cam lever for engaging said friction box to and disengaging it from said friction rod when said pair of elements are in a predetermined position relative to said yarn carrier rods, and means including a cam on said auxiliary camshaft and a lever adapted to be positioned in the plane of movement of said cam lever by said cam for preventing movement of said cam lever from said disengaged position to said engaged position to engage said friction box to said friction rod when said pair of elements are not in said predetermined position with respect to said yarn carrier rods at the start of said predetermined sequence.

20. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn carrier rods, driving mechanism for said rods comprising a reciprocating member and a selector mechanism including at least one selector element and effective to connect said member with the rods in a determined order beginning with a selector element and a certain carrier rod of means for preventing a connection between said member and any of said carrier rods except when the selector mechanism is position to engage properly with said certain rod.

21. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of yarn carrier rods, driving mechanism for said rods comprising a reciprocating member and. a selector mechanism inand said rods for preventing a connection be- 7 eluding at least one selector element and effective tween said member and any of said carrier rods to connect the latter with the rods in a deteroperable only when said selector mechanism is mined order beginning with a selector element out of th position to engage properly with said and a certain carrier rod of means responsive to 5 certain rod.

the relative position of said selector mechanism GOTTLOB BITZER.

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