US2348746A - Machine for crocheting sheathings about cores - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1944. P. F. NARDULLI MACHINE FOR CRCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUT CORES med March 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1944. P. F. `NARDLJLLI MACHINE FOR CROCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUT CORES Filed March, 1942 2 sheets-sheet v2 Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE. FOR CROCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUT CORES Application March 2, 1942, Serial N0. 433,101

:zo Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and means for crocheting a sheath about a ring such as, for instance, a shade pull ring, a curtain ring, a tassel ring or the like. The particular embodiment of the present invention is exemplied in a machine for making a well known type of ring, to-wit, the ring which is the product of the machine of the Patent No. 1,965,298 issued to myself and Michael J. Nardulli, July 3, 1934.

In the crocheting of a sheathing about a ring the formation of each stitch involves a cycle of operations, many steps of which cycle are not continuous. Parts must be brought into motion, reach their maximum velocity and then brought back to rest one or more times during each complete cycle of operations. In a high speed machine the time for making a complete sheathing about a ring, from the rst stitch to the completion of the last stitch, may be appreciably less than ten seconds. There may be more than thirty complete stitches per ring which will allow less than one-third of a second for the completion of each stitch. The completion of a stitch may require from two to four successive operating steps, which would allow appreciably less than one-siXth of a second for the completion of one of the operating steps. Certain parts of the machine must be started from a position of rest, moved in a certain manner and then brought back to rest, all within a time appreciably less than one-sixth of a second. It is thus apparent that in order to obtain high speed operation the moving parts that have such motion imparted thereto must be made exceedingly light in Weight and should not be vastly out of dynamic balance. I have found that it is diicult, if not impossible, to obtain such high speeds of operation where the part which must go through such a cycle of operations during a fraction of each stitch consists of the ring and its associated holder. The very mass of the holder inhibits any such sharp acceleration and deceleration as would be required to attain that speed of motion. I have discovered that the desired movement can be obtained by turning the crocheting hook rather than by turning the ring holder. Since the crocheting hook is light in weight it can very quickly be moved from one position to another and back again.

In accordance with the principles of one embodiment of the present invention the ring to be sheathed is placed in a stationary holder and the chocheting hook is reciprocated to and from the holder, the crocheting hook passing through the ring during one forward stroke in the stitch (Cl. (i6-1) forming operation and being shifted to pass outside of the ring during the next forward stroke. The cord to be crocheted is continuously rotated in synchronism with the movement of the crocheting hook so that the cord is in a position to be picked up by the hook when the hook commences its rearward stroke from either one of its alternate positions.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following speciiication taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating four successive steps in the process of crocheting a stitch about a ring to be sheathed;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a machine for crocheting a sheathing about a ring in accordance with the process of Figures l to 4; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the machine of Figure 5.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the various gures of drawings.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. A ring to be sheathed is indicated at I. This ring is supported in the inclined position illustrated, in a manner to be more fully described as this specification proceeds, it being suiicient for the present purposes to state that the holder for the ring is stationary and holds the ring at the inclination shown but permits free turning of the ring about the central axis 2 of the holder. A Well known standard latch type crocheting hook or crocheting needle is indicated at 4. This crocheting hook comprises a wire shank 5 having a hook 6 at its forward end and a latch l pivoted thereto and freely swingable towards and away from the hook 6. This type of crocheting hook or needle is well known in the art and forms no part of the present invention except in the combination with the machine. A cord feeding tube or looper ID is mounted for rotation about its center longitudinal axis Il and has a short tubular section I2 at the end thereof and at an angle thereto, said section I2 constituting a cord feeding member. The cord to be crocheted, indicated at I5, extends from a reel, through a usual cord tensioning device, thence through the tube I0 and cord feeding member l2, through which it is pulled during the crocheting operations in a manner to `be presently set forth. The tube li) isrof appreciably greater diameter than the cord to prevent any possibility of binding of the cord in the tube. The section I2 is of smaller diameter, especially at the open end which constitutes the outlet thereof, but yet of suiciently large diameter to prevent binding the cord in said section.

To commence the crocheting operations the cord I is looped around the hook E, as illustrated in Figure l, and the far end il of the cord is held manually. lThe crocheting hook is then rotated through an angle of approximately 180 about the axis II parallel to but spaced from the longitudinal axis of the shank 5. This brings the needle into the position illustrated in Figure 2 with the cord I5 looped around the hook of the crocheting hook. At this time the bottom of the shank 5 is slightly above the bottom opening in the ring I. The latch 'i may remain open or it may move by gravity to the closed position during the turning of the hook. The

position of the latch at this time is, however, of

no importance. If the latch is not open when the mechanism is in the position illustrated in Figure 2 it will be positively open during the next step in the operation of the mechanism. The cord feeding tube I0 rotates about its axis i! from the position illustrated in Figure i towards the position illustrated in Figure 3 and the crocheting hook G commences to move forward. In its forward movement the hook 5 passes through the -ring I, and the loop i3 on the crocheting hook slides along the shank 5, thus forcing the latch 'I to its full open position if it is not already in that position and the openl latch slides forward through the loop I8,` leaving the loop The mechanism then reaches the position illustrated in Figure 3 and the loop I8 encircles the shank 5 of the crocheting hook. The tube l2 of the looper I, in its rotation about the axis II loops the cord over the crochet hook or moves the cord into a position in the path of the return movement of the crochet hook. As the crochet hook commences its rearward stroke the hook Ii picks up the cord I5 and draws it through the ring I. The latch 'I is now in its open position, as illustrated in Figure 3, and it therefore passes above the loop I8. As the crochet hook continues its rearward motion the loop I3 on the shank 5 of the crochet hook forces the latch I to its closed position thus enclosing the loop that is in the hook vEi, and then the crochet hook is pulled through the loop i8, thus casting off the loop IS. The mechanism is now in the position illustrated in Figure 4, which is the position upon the completion of the rst stitch. The crochet hook now rotates back to the position illustrated in Figure 1 and has a loop around the hook 6. The crocheting hook E then again moves forward, this time beneath the bottom of the ring I. As it moves forward the loop 2i) in the hook rides on the shank 5, opens the latch 1 in much the same manner as did the loop i3 in moving from the position illustrated in Figure 2 to that illustrated in Figure 3. At that time the cord feeding member comes into the position of Figure l placing the cord from the member i2 in the path of the reverse movement of the crocheting hook 5. The crocheting hook then picks up another stitch from the cord I5 and is retracted to the position illustrated in Figure l. It is to bey noted that in this retracted position, which is the position of Figure l, the crocheting hook is not pulled back as far as it is in Figure 4, lIn the position of Figure l the crocheting hook is not drawn far enough to cast oif the previously formed loop onthe shank 5. When the crocheting hook rotates to the position illustrated in Figure 2, on all stitches after the first stitch, there is an additional loop around the shank 5 of the crocheting hook, so that upon the neXt forward movement of the crocheting hook, which is the movement through the ring I, there will be two loops on the shank 5 of the crocheting hook. This will be true in every subsequent forward movement of the crocheting hook through the ring i. Thus in the rst stitch the stroke from Figure 3 to Figure 4 is through only one loop I3 whereas on every subsequent stitch around the ring the corresponding stroke is through two loops.

An explanation will now be given of the construction of the machine for performing the stitching operations thus far described. The machine includes a base 4i! having a pair of standards 4I--li2 secured thereto and supporting bearings for a main operating shaft d3. This shaft is power rotated, always in the same direction, in any desired manner, as for instance, by an electric motor or by a clutch and pulley from a common driving shaft that drives a number of such machines. The main drive shaft 43 carries a cam i4 keyed thereto and having a cam groove i5 for imparting the desired motion to a roller type cam follower d5. The cam follower S6 is secured to the underside of a slide shaft 41 that is mounted for longitudinal reciproeation on the standards llI-tZ. To keep the slide sha-ft from turning during its reciprocating motion a guide roller i8 is secured thereto in any desired manner, as by a screw fig. The guide roller 48 rides between two guide rods 5ft-59 that are secured to the tops of the standards '1I-i2 as by bolts `I-5I. As the main operating shaft 43 rotates it rotates the cam 44 so that the cam groove 45 imparts a longitudinal motion to the slide shaft il while at the same time the slide shaft is defi'- nitely held against rotation. The longitudinal position of the shaft l is thus determined by the cam groove 45.

A crochet hook carriage 55 is mounted in the forward end of the shaft al so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 4l about the longitudinal axis of the vcrochet hook carriage. The crochet hook carriage 55 is slidable through a pinion 5S on the carriage. The pinion 58 is held against longitudinal motion by a pair of side plates 59-59 held between a pair of Vstationary bars It-68. The pinion 55 is splined to the crochet hook carriage 55 so that rotation of the pinion will produoecorresponding rotation of the carriage but the carriage may slide longitudinally through the pinion without moving'the pinion and without interference bythe pinion.

The gear teeth of the pinion 58 are in mesh with teeth on a rack 63 on the upper surface of a longitudinally slidable bar 64. Upon sliding of the bar Gil in one direction or the other the pinion 58 is rotated to rotate the crochet hook carriage. At the same time the carriage may be moved longitudinal'iy by the shaft 61 actuated by the cam 4,

The forward end of the crochet hook carriage 55v is slotted, as indicated at 65, to receive the crochet hook G. For this purpose the shank 5 of the crochet' hook has a bend therein, as indicated at E3, which fits snugly in a hole 59 in the carriage. The bend in the wire is held by a set screw against dropping from the carriage during rotation of the carriage'. Thus the crochet hook maybe reciprocated and rotated by the4 corresponding rciprocation and rotation of the carriage 55.

An explanation will now be given ofthe manner of actuating the rack bar 64 to rotate the crochet hook carriage. For this purpose the main operating shaft 43 extends lengthwise of the machine and carries a sprocket Wheel at its outer end which engages a sprocket chain 12 that drives a sprocket wheel keyed to a shaft 13, thereby driving the shaft 13. 'I'his shaft 13 is located above the shaft 43, as may be seen from Figure 7, and to the rear thereof, as may be seen from Figure 6. The shaft 13 is journalled in bearings carried by suitable standards secured to the base 40 of the machine. The shaft 13 carries a cam 16 having a cam groove 11 therein in which rides a cam follower 18 in the form of a roller secured to a fitting 19 at the end of the rack bar 64. Thus as the main operating shaft 43 rotates it imparts rectilinear motion to the crochet hook carriage by way of the cam 44 and it imparts rotary motion to the carriage by way of the cam 16 and rack 64, the rotary and rectilinear motions being thus definitely synchronized, as determined by the contours of the two cams.

The main drive shaft 43 has a driving gear 85 keyed thereto which drives an idler gear 85 that in turn drives a gear 81 through which the cord feeding tube l0 extends and to which the tube is secured. The tube U is rotated about the center of the gear 81, about the longitudinal axis of the tube as a center, said tube being journalled in suitable supporting bearings in vertically eX- tending side rails 93 secured to the base 40. The gear ratio between the shaft 43 and the tube l0 is such that the tube makes two complete revolutions for each revolution of the shaft 43.

A post 99 is secured to the base 40 and extends upwardly therefrom and at its upper end supports the means for receiving and holding the ring to be sheathed. The ring holding means includes an inclined base 9| bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the post 90. A short cylindrical tube 92 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the base 9| and extends at right angles thereto. The tube 92 is of an outside diameter slightly less than the intended inside diameter of a sheathed ring, and is of a height slightly in excess of the intended thickness of a sheathed ring. A cover plate 93 is pivoted on the base 9| and is adapted to be swung clockwise about its hinge 94 from the closed position illustrated in Figure 6 to an open position. A pair of torsion springs 95 on opposite sides of the pivot continuously urge the cover plate 93 upwardly to its open position, that is, in al direction clockwise from that seen in Figure 6. A manually operated pivoted latch 96 is provided for holding the cover in the closed position illustrated in Figure 6. The base 9| and the ring 92 and the cover 93 each have a slot formed therein, as illustrated at 98, through which the crochet hook moves.

The cam 44 is so constructed that for every complete ovolution of that cam the shaft 41 makes two complete forward strokes and two complete rearward strokes. As the cam rotates 90 from the position illustrated the crochet hook carriage makes its rearward stroke. During the rearward movement of the shaft 41 the cam 'l5 is rotated but the shape of the cam groove 11 at the portion thereof then engaged by the follower 13 is a circular arc centered about the center of rotation of the cam, so that the cam imparts no motion to the rack bar B4. When the shaft 41 reaches its limit of rearward motion there is a period of dwell of the shaft 41 before it commences its next forward motion, this period of dwell being determined by the shape of the cam groove 45 at the portion 8| of the cam 44. During this short period of dwell in the reciprocating movement of the shaft 41 the continued rotation of the cam 16 imparts movement to the rack bar 64 to move the rack 63 to turn the pinion 58 through an angle of approximately 180. The movement of the rack bar 64 is preferably completed during the period of dwell while the cam follower 46 is on the portion 8| of the cam 44, although this is not indispensable, since if the rotation is not completed during the period of dwell it may continue during the subsequent longitudinal movement of the shaft 41. The shaft 41 then commences its forward movement. During the forward movement of the shaft 41 the cam 16 is rotating, but the curve of the cam surface engaged by the cam follower is a circular arc centered about the center of rotation of the cam. Hence no motion is imparted to the cam follower 13. When the shaft 41 again reaches its furthermost limit of travel and before it commences its rearward motion there is again a period of dwell in the longitudinal motion of the shaft. During this period of dwell a cord is looped around the hook 6. The shaft then commences its rearward motion. During the forward and rearward motion of the shaft 41 the cam 11 does not actuate the follower 18, hence there is no rotation of the crochet hook. When the crochet hook again reaches its limit of rearward motion there is again a period of dwell in the longitudinal movement during which period the cam 16 actuates the follower 18 to rotate the crochet hook carriage through an angle equal to and opposite that of its former rotation. Upon completion of that rotation the forward motion of the shaft 41 again commences and continues until the crochet hook is again in the position illustrated in the drawings. This completes two forward and two rearward strokes of the crochet hook which is a complete cycle in the formation of a single stitch. This cycle is repeated for each stitch.

It is to be noted that in the cycle of operations of the machine there is one rearward stroke of i the crochet hook to withdraw the hook from within the ring and there is one rearward stroke to withdraw the crochet hook from beneath the ring. The former stroke is made longer than the latter stroke, for a definite purpose. During the rearward stroke in which the crochet hook is withdrawn from within the ring the rearward movement must be of such length as to withdraw the crocheting hook from within the loop or loops on the shank 5. This casts off the one or the two previously formed loops from the shank 5 of the crocheting hook but leaves a loop formed around the hook portion 6 of the needle. When the needle is rotated 180 after casting off the loops previously formed on the shank 5 and is then advanced below the ring I the shank 5 moves past the loop in the hook 6 so that the loop opens the latch 1 and then comes to rest on the shank 5. The next loop to be formed on the hook 6 is not to be drawn through the pre vious loop on the shank 5 and therefore upon rearward movement of the crocheting needle while it is below the ring the crocheting needle stops short of the position where it would cast 01T the previously formed loop on the shank 5.

Asa result, when the needle is then rotated up wardly and thereafter moved forwardly the loop on the hook 6 is then positioned on the shank 5 in addition to the loop previously on the shank.

In order to provide the difference in length of stroke on the two rearward strokes of the needle the cam groove d5 is not perfectly symmetrical. The portion 3l of the cam groove that determines the extent of rearward movement of the crochet hook when the crochet hook is in its upper position is further back than the portion 83- of the cam groove, which is spaced 180 from the portion 8| and which determines the distance of retraction of the crochet hook when the crochet hook is in its inverted position. This difference in distance is quite small, of the order of @5a of an inch in one embodiment of the present invention. It is this last amount of rearward travel of the needle from the position illustrated in Figure 6 which results in the casting off of the loops previously formed on the shank 5 of the crocheting needle.

To start the machine, the end of a cord to be crocheted is drawn from its reel, extended through a constant tensioning device, not shown, to maintain a proper tension on the cord, and is then threaded through the tube I6, with the end of the cord coming out through the open end of the tubular cord feeding member i2. The latch 96 is then moved to its unlatching position whereupon the cover 93 immediately opens, under the action of the springs 95. The operator then inserts a metallic ring I to be sheathed, over the tube 92,- and then manually closes the cover Q3 and latches it closed by means of the latch Qt. hook of the machine is at that time retracted from the position illustrated in Figure 6 and is in its inverted position so that the next movement of the crochet hook will be a rotation of 180 to bring the crochet hook to its uppermost position to be then followed by a forward movement of the crochet hook. With the crochet hook in the inverted position the operator loops the end of the thread around the hook as illustrated in Figure 1, holds the end i7 of the cord manually and then starts the operation of the main operating shaft 43. The operator allows only a very short length of the free end l1 ofthe cord, which short length is subsequently concealed by the crocheted loops formed by the machine. Upon completion of the requisite number of stitches, to complete the sheathing around the ring, the operator stops the machine, removes the ring, cuts off the end of the cord and knots it to prevent unraveling, all in a manner well known in the art.

From the above description it is apparent that I have provided a machine of great simplicity. The crochet hook and the feeder are the only two moving parts of the machine (including, of course, the mechanisms for actuating them) Oi' these parts the cord feeding member l2 has a simple and continuous rotary motion and the crochet hook has alternate turning and reciprocating motions. The ring holder remains stationary throughout the entire operation of the machine. As each stitch is cast oii and the crochet hook draws the cord forforr-nation of thenext stitch the tension on the cord tightens thelast previously cast off stitch to a predetermined and fixed tension, and the pull upon the last cast olf stitch is suiilcient to cause the ring being' The crochet z completed stitch, by the tension of the cord itself, without the introduction of any moving parts for accomplishing this result. The ordinary reciprocating action of the crochet hook to draw the cord through the feeder tube I2, as the crochet hook moves following the casting off of the previ'- ously formed loops, constitutes the motivating force for turning the ring.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising means for supporting an element to be sheathed in the same plane throughout the sheathing thereof, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook to crochet a cord about said element, means for driving said hook and mechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated that the hook completes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of one crochet stitch, and means for turning the hook about an axis parallel to but spaced from the longitudinal axis of the hook for shifting the path of movement of the hook from one side of the element to the other side thereof for alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction.

2. A machine oi the character described cornprising means for supporting an element to be sheathed in the same plane throughout the sheathing thereof, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook to crochet a cord about said element, means for driving said hook and mechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated that the hook completes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of one crochet stitch, alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction being of a length insuflicient to cast off a previously'formed loop on the hook whereby a second loop is subsequently formed on the hook and the intervening alternate strokes in the same direction being of greater length and sufficient to withdraw the hook from the two accumulated loops thereon to cast off said loops.

3. A machine of the character described comprising means for supporting an element to be sheathed, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with ysaid hook to crochet a cord about said element, means for driving said hook andA mechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated that the hook completes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of one crochet stitch, alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction being of av length insuiicient to cast oi a previously formed loop on the hook whereby a second loop is subsequently formed on the hook and the intervening alternate strokes in the same direction being of greater length and sufficient to withdraw the hook from the two accumulated loops thereon, and means for turning the hook about an axisparallel to but. spaced from the longitudinal axisof the' crocheting hook for shifting 'the path of movement of the hook from one side of the element to the other side thereof for alterate strokes of thehook in the same direction.

4. In a machine of the'character described, a.

first on one side and then on Vthe other side of that edge of the element about which a sheath is to be crocheted while maintaining the path of movement of the feeding end of the member always on the same side of the element, means for reciprocating the hook, and means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the hook from one side to the other of that edge of the element about which a sheath is to be crocheted.

5. In a machine of the character described, a holder for a ring to be sheathed, a crochet hook, a cord feeding member the cord feeding end of which is adjacent a ring to be sheathed, means for reciprocating the crochet hook and for shifting the path of reciprocation from one side of the core to the other side of the core on alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction, and means for moving the cord feeding end of the member always outside of the ring to bring the cord into both paths of movement of the hook in correlation to the movement of the hook vto crochet a cord about the ring. y

6. In a machine for forminga sheath around a core, means for supporting a core, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook to crochet a cord about said core, said mechanism including means for reciprocating the hook and including means for rotating the hook about an axis parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the hook to shift the path of reciprocation of the hook from one side of the core to the other side of the core for alternate reciprocations so that on one to and fro movement the hook passes on one side of the core and on the succeeding to and fro movement the hook passes on the other side of the core.

7. In a machine of the character described, a holder for a ring to be sheathed, a crochet hook, a cord feeding member comprising a rotatable looper the end of which is adjacent a ring to be sheathed, means for reciprocating the crochet hook and for shifting the path of reciprocation from one side of the ring to the other side of the ring on alternate strokes of the crochet hook in the same direction, and means for rotating the looper to bring the cord thereof into the respective paths of movement of the hook in correlation to the movement of the hook to loop the cord around the hook.

8. In a machine for forming a sheath about a core, a rotatable looper, a crochet hook, means for reciprocating the hook towards and from the looper, means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the crochet hook, means for positioning a core to be sheathed between the two paths of reciprocation of the crochet hook, and means for rotating the looper to bring the cord to be crocheted into the two paths of movement of the crochet hook in correlation to the movement of the hook to crochet a cord about the core.

9. In a machine for crocheting a sheath around a core, means for supporting a core, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook to crochet a cord about said core, said mechanism including means for reciprocating the hook, means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the hook from one side of the core to the other side of the core upon alternate reciprocations thereof, a rotatable looper adjacent the foremost position of the crocheting hook, and means for rotating the looper to loop a cord around the crocheting hook each time the crocheting hook is adjacent its foremost position.

10. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, means for supporting a core, a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook, and means for rotating the crocheting hook about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocation thereof with an interval of dwell between successive rotations which interval of dwell is substantially greater than the interval of rotation and approximately the same as the time of reciprocation of the hook.

ll. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, means for supporting a core,a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook with a period of dwell at the end of each direction of travel of the crocheting hook, means for rotating the' hook about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hook during the period of dwell at one end of the stroke of the crocheting hook, andmeans for looping a cord around the' crocheting hook during thpe'rio'd of dwell at the otherend vof the stroke of the crocheting hook. f 1

12. In a machine for crocheting a sheath aboutv a core, a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook in a direction substan-y tially axially of the hook, and means for turning the crochet hook about an axis substantial-- ly parallel tothe direction of reciprocation. -f-

` 13. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, a crocheting hook, means for rotating the crocheting hook about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crocheting hook with a period of dwell between successive rotaticns, the interval of dwell being substantially greater than the interval of rotation, and means for reciprocating the crocheting hook during substantially the entire period of dwell in the rotation of the crocheting hook.

14. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook in a direction substantially axially of the hook with a period of dwell at the'end of each reciprocation in one direction, and means for shifting the crocheting hook in one direction during alternate periods of dwell and returning it from its shifted position during the intervening periods of dwell whereby the crocheting hook has two paths of reciprocation, and means supporting a ring to be sheathed with the opening of the ring intersected by only one of those paths.

15. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a ring, means for supporting a ring to be sheathed, a reciprocating crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the hook through the ring, means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the hook so that it passes to one side of the ring, and means for looping a cord onto the crocheting hook in correlation with the reciprocation of the hook in each of its two paths to crochet a cord into a sheath about the ring.

16. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a ring, means for supporting a ring to be sheathed, a reciprocating crocheting hook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook through the ring on alternate strokes of the crocheting hook in one direction, means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the hook on the intervening alternate strokes in the same direction to cause the crocheting hook to pass to one side of the ring on said intervening alternate strokes, and means for looping a cord around the crochetin.r hook in correlation with the reciprocation thereof.

17. The method of crocheting a sheath about airing which comprises reciprocating a latch type crocheting hook, shifting the path of reciprocation kon alternate strokes vof the hook in the same direction, positioning a ring between the two paths of motion so that on .alternate forward strokes the hook passes through'therng and on the intervening alternate strokes the y.hook passes the ring on the outsidethereof, looping one continuous thread around the hook each time it passes the ring, moving the previous loop on 'the crocheting hook past the vlatch upon the cornmencement of 4each forward stroke after the completion of a previous rearward stroke, making alternate rearward strokes of insuicient length to retract the needle from the loop ypreviously left past the .latch so that upon vthe next for ward-movement a second loopis left .on the crocheting hook past the latch, and making the intervening alternate rearwardstrokes of azgreater length and -sucient to draw the hook through both loops previously formed on the crocheting hook past the latch so that upon the subsequent forward'movement of the crochet hook the loop on the hook is positioned past the latch for the nextstitch.

18. The method of crocheting a sheath about a core which comprises vpassing a cord through a looper and continuously rotating the looper, reciprocating a crocheting hook through one forward and one rearward reciprocation for yevery revolution of the looper and in a direction towards and away from the rotating loc-per but in the path of movement of the cord from the looper, shifting the path of reciprocation of the crocheting hook on alternate strokes'of the hook in the .same direction, and positioning a core to be sheathed between the two paths of motion of the crocheting hook.

19. The method of crochetlng r-a sheath about a core which comprises reciprocating a crochet hook in `a direction substantially axially of the hook, rotating the hook about an axis substantially parallel Vto the longitudinal axis of the hook so that alternate reciprocations of the .hook in thesame direction are in different paths, positioning a core to be sheathed between the two paths .of motion, and looping a cord around the crocheting hook in timed relation to the reciprocation thereof.

2.0. The method of crocheting a'sheatn about a core which comprises reciprocating a crocheting hook, shifting the path of reciprocation von alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction, positioning a core to be sheathed between the two paths of motion, and rotating a 'looper to move a crocheting cord over the needle each time that the needle is adjacent its forward position.

PETER F. NARDULLI.

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