US2385081A - Knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 11945. H. H. -lQLMs ETA.

KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 3, 1944 I n uentors v .M25/M Miam@ Sept. 1,8, 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL 1- 2,385,081

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventorsl Sept. 18,v 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL 2,385,081

f KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Attorney sept. 1s, 1945.

H. H. HOLMES E l AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y In ventorgl A ltorney Sept. 18, 1945. H. H. HOLMES ETAL.

KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet' Filed Jan. 3, 1944 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 KNITTING MACHINE Henry Harold Holmes and Albert Henry Wlddowe son, Leicester, England, asslgnors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British v company Application January 3, 1944, Serial No. 516,788 In Great Britain January 4, 1943 14 Claims.

For the' purpose of producing horizontal striping eilects and spliced areas in knitted fabric, knitting machines are generally `furnished with mechanism comprising a plurality of independently movable yarn guides which are automatically operable suchwise as to substitute one yarn for another, and .to supply an additional yam in conjunction with a main or ground yarn.

The expression knitted fabric is to be regarded generically as including not only fabric produced in continuous lengths such as -for manufacture subsequently into garments, but also hosiery-especially half hose, three-quarter hose, sports hose and socks-'and other knitted articles or garments, or garment lengths.

The present invention has for its object certain improvements in mechanism of the character concemed whereby there 'is produced what is considered to be novel, viz. knitted fabric comprising a. section With horizontal striping eilects limited thereto and a fully spliced adjoining area, knitted together without bulky joins.

The invention is especially applicable vto cir- 'cular knitting machines furnished with independent needles, advantageously to machines of the characteristic type including double axially opposed, e. g. superimposed needle cylinders, and, in this respect, more particularly to machines furnished with double-ended needles operated by means of sliders for the purpose of producing any of the primary stitch eiects, plain, rib or purl, separately or in any desired combination, as understood by those acquainted with the art.

The mechanism included Within the present invention comprises, in combination, a plurality of movable yarn guides. one or more .for a striping yarn, or yarns, respectively, others for a main or ground yarn, and a splicing yarn respectively, and means for automatically operating the said guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main or ground yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during a course or a succession of courses of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main or ground yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both yarns are supplied to the said remainder -knitting machines adapted to produce hosiery with ribbed insteps are concerned, it is essential in order to avoid float threads which would foul the rib needles, to provide yarn cutting and trapping means in association with the splicing mechanism operable at each course of knitting so as to cut and hold the splicing yarn upon withdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, a particular illustrative embodiment thereof applicable, by way of example, to a seamless hosiery machine of the superimposed rotary needle cylinder type, and an example of fabric and of a half hose or sock capablev of being produced on such a machine will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan View of so much of the machine as is necessary to depict the striping and splicing mechanisms and the controlling means therefor,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same, showing more particularly the yarn guides and operating mechanism as seen in the direction of the arrowA in Figure 1,

Figure 2A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of that portion of Figure l enclosed in the dot and dash line rectangle R.,

Figure 3 is a detail plan view, drawn to a larger scale, showing more clearly the levers to which the two guides of the splicing mechanism are connected,

Figure 4 is a detail front view of the same, con.. stituting an enlargement of a' portion of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a further detail .view showing the yarn guides in their non-feeding positions,

Figure 6 is a side view showing cam means and intermediate connections for controlling the striping and splicing mechanisms,

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a trapping and y severing device and a yarn placing and cutting device provided in association with the striping and splicing mechanisms,

Figures 8 and 9 are two views of the said trapping and severing device with its yarn gatherer in the open and closed positions respectively, the said device being viewed inthe direction of the arrow AB in Figure l,

Figure 10 is aside viewV of the yarn placing and cutting device per se, as seen in the direction of the arrow C in Figure l, the elements of the device being shown inoperative,

Figure 11 is a somewhat similar View showing the said elements in the course of being advanced to cut and hold a yarn.

Referring to Figures l and 2, the reference numeral I designates.- the bottom or bed plate of the machine, while the bottom cam box is indicated at 2. In this example the splicing mechanism is combined with striping mechanism and the combination comprises ve striping yarn guides 3, a splicing yarn guide E and a guide F for a main or ground yarn. The full complement of guides is shown in Figure 5. There may, of course, be more or less than five striping yarn guides. For the sake of clarity in Figure 2 only two of the striping yarn guides are fully shown, i. e. the uppermost and the lowermost, the feeding ends or throats of the remaining guides being merely indicated by small circles 31. Each of the yarn guides 3 consists of a comparatively thin rod-like or similar member which is reduced in thickness or relieved as at 3a (Figure 5) to render the guide yieldable at its feeding -end or throat 3b.' The several guides are pivotally mounted to swing one above another on a xed support 4. The yarn guides are inserted in the ends of carrier levers 5 and secured therein by means of screws These levers are pivoted at l upon brackets 8 the formation and disposition of which are such as to enable all of the guides to swing on axes obliquely disposed in two directions. of Figure 2. The brackets 3 are secured to the support 4 and are so disposed that, as shown in Figure 2, the feeding ends or throats 3b of the yarn guides all converge towards a common feeding location somewhat in advance of the knitting location, and adjacent to the customary latch guard which is indicated at 9. The guides are normally in their respective inoperative, i. e. nonfeeding, positions, shown in Figure 2. The guide shown in Figure 1 is, however, in the feeding position P. When the guides are moved to assume the feeding position, their feeding ends or throats will follow the paths represented by the straight lines I in Figure 2. The arrangement is such that when an inoperative guide is moved to the feeding position its feeding end vor throat 3b makes Contact with the feeding end or throat of the then operative guide which later thereupon yields to make way for the ingoing guide.

The striping yarn guides 3 are normally held in their non-feeding positions by springs. For this purpose each carrier lever 5 has connected to it a tension spring i0 which is suitably anchored to an upright post I I secured in the fixed plate I2. Each carrier lever 5, moreover, has connected to it a link i3 which is slidable through one arm I4a of a pivoted yarn guide operating lever I4. A collar I5, which is secured upon the link lI3 by set screws I6, is arranged to impinge upon the arm Ma in the manner depicted in Figure 1. The tail end P427 of each guide operating lever I4 is formed for engagement at appropriate times with a shouldered portion Ila of a springinuenced catch member I'l. As will be seen in Figure 2, these catch members and the corresponding levers I4 are mounted horizontally one above another. In this connection the said catch members I'I are pivotally mounted to swing upon a common pivot pin I8, while the levers i4 are similarly mounted upon aV pin I9, the two pins being rigidly connected together at their upper ends by means of a bridge piece 20. Each catch This will be clear from a considerationmember IT is formed with a tail I'Ib to which is connected one end of a small tension spring 2l the opposite end of which is anchored to a vertically disposed pin 22 carried in lugs 23a formed on an 'upstanding plate 23. This spring serves normally to hold the catch member in its catch position, shown more clearly in Figure 1, this position being determined by reason of contact of the tail Ilb with the opposing edge of the plate 23. Normally, the yarn guide operating levers I4 are clear of the respective catch members Il-with their tail ends I4b located to the left of the position shown in Figure 1. Thus, whenever any one of the levers I4 is acted upon suchwise as to move its tail end i417 to the right, said tail end will rst press upon the protuberant portion ila of the relevant catch member.y Il and press the latter outwardly against its spring 2l, whereupon the parts will immediately snap into engagement; in this way the yarn guide operating lever will be caught and maintained in the position indicated in Figure l. During movement of a lever I4 in the sense just described the arm I4a thereof will, of course, swing to the left and, in so doing, will press upon the corresponding collar I5, thereby causing the relevant striping yarn guide 3 to move into the feeding position against the action of its spring Ill. It will be noted that the free end of each catch member I1 carries an abutment screw 24 which can be secured, after adjustment, by a set screw 25. For action upon all of the screws 24 lsimultaneously there is provided an upright pin 2B carried by a lever 2l which is formed on or secured to a hollow shaft 28. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings yin the main bracket of the attachment, and also has rigidly secured thereto another lever 29 adapted for co-operation with a cam 3B, see Figure 2, provided on a control drum 3I of reel form. As will be readily appreciated, whenever the toe of the lever 29 is acted upon by the cam 30, the

lever 2l will be turned in a clockwise direction y to trip all of the catch members Il simultaneously. Consequently any onefof the guide operating levers I4 which happens at that time to be held in the position shown in Figure 1 will be released to permit the corresponding yarn guide to swing to its non-feeding position under the influence of its spring I0. As a result of this movement of theguide, the corresponding collar I5 will act upon the lever I4, thereby causing the latter to assume its normal inoperative position-with its tail end I4b disposed to the left as aforesaid.

The guide operating levers I4 are selectively operated. For this purpose there is provided a selector member 32 which is movable up and down into different horizontal planes for action selectively upon the levers I4, adjacent to 4their ating lever 39. A tension spring 40'arranged as shown in Figure 1 serves to maintain the rod in contact with the said operating lever. The latter is suitably bossed at 39a and mounted for pivotal movement upon a fixed spindle 4I. By swinging the lever 39 to various angular extents the push rod 36 can be raised or loweredto .move the selector member 32 into the -appropriate horizontal plane for subsequent action upon the desired striping yarn guide operating lever I4. A lever 42 is secured upon the lower end o! the hollow shaft 31 for cooperation with the cam 35. A further lever 43 (see Figure 2) is secured upon the upper end of the shaft 31 and arranged for action upon the selector member 32. Thus, whenever the cam 35 functions to move the lever 42 outwards, such movement is transmitted, through the medium of the shaft 31, to the lever 43 which latter thereupon eilects a turning motion of the selector member 32. In this way the said member is caused to act upon 'the desired operating lever I4 so that the corresponding yarn guide 3 is drawn to the feeding position P. For operating the lever 39 and thereby varying the height of the push rod 36 in accordance with -patterning requirements, there is provided a selector bar 44 which' hasA a. pin-and-slot l connection 45, 46 with the said lever and is arranged for movement longitudinally to varying extents at the dictates of studs on the chain 34. The end of the bar 44 remote from the selector operating lever 39 is pivotally connected t0 a lever 41 which is in turn pivoted upon a-flxed bracket 48. The lever 41' is formed with an arm 41a arranged in the path `of a chain stud lever 49 which' is suitably associated with and actuated by linkage comprising a parallel movement link 50 and a link 5| formed with a toe 5|a for cooperation with the studs on the chain 34. 'I'he arrangement is therefore, such that in following studs of respectively diierent heights the linkage actuates the chain stud lever 49 and, through the medium of the lever 41, shifts the bar 44 to the extent required in the desired direction,

The control-drum 3| is normally quiescent, but is brought into operation whenever a yarn change is to be effected, through the stud-operated selector bar 44. The said drum is secured upon an axle 52 to which is also rigidly attached a rack wheel 53 having formed therein a single notch 53a to provide a shouldered portion for cooperation with a pawl 54. This pawl is carried by one arm 55a of a lever 55 which is adapted to be continuously reciprocated by a cam-actuated bell crank 56. The bell crank is formed with a boss 56a which is slidable up and down upon an axle 51 depending from the bottom or bed plate I. At its forward end the bell crank is slidably engaged with a pin 56 projecting downwards from the arm 55h of the pawl lever 55, and at its opposite end is furnished with a roller 59 adapted to be acted upon by cams bolted to the hub 66 of th'e customary cylinder-driving gear. There are three of these cams, viz. a single cam for effecting a reciprocation of the pawl lever once per revolution, and a, pair of diametrlcally opposed cams 6| lfor reciprocating the said lever twice per revolution of the needle cylinders. The single cam is located in a horizontal plane different to that in which the diametrically opposed cams 6| are arranged and the bell crank 56 is movable heightwise to bring the roller 59 into either of these planes, according to requirements. For this purpose the boss 56a is crcumferentially` recessed at 56h for reception of the appropriate end of a lever 63 (see Figure 2) operated from the main control drum CD (Figure 6), the construction and arrangement being such that aecording to the height of the roller 59, which height will be determined by cams on the main drum, the pawl 54 has imparted to it either one or two working strokes per revolution of the whenever the machine is in operation, but is normally rendered ineffective by means of a blut! 64 which, when operative as shown in Figure l,

serves to prevent engagement of the pawl 64 i with the rack wheel y53. This blut! is formed on a bell crank 66 which is connected by means of a link 66 with a bluff-operating lever 61 mounted pivotally upon th'e fixed spindle 4I` aforesaid. The lever 61 has a pin and slot connected 66, 66 with the bar 44, so that whenever the latter is shifted to initiate selection of a yarn guide the bluff will be actuated and swung away from the notch 53a to permit co-operation ofthe pawl with the rack wheel and vice versa. 'I'hus it is only when a yarn ch'ange is to be eiected that the control drum 3| will be racked. For producing instep striping or similar half round striping eiects, the drum 3| will be racked twice per revolution of the machine from the diametrically opposed cams 6|. The drum has a spring return action so that, during operation, .it is automatically restored to its original position after or ground yarn is fed by the guide F. These guides *are inserted in carrier levers 51 and are connected with their operating levers G and H by links I3 in a similar way to that in which the striping yarn guides are connected with the levers I4 aforesaid.

:The pin I is either formed integrally with or is screwed into the operating lever H. In association with the levers G and H are spring controlled detents or catches |1l which are similar to the catch members I1 and adapted to engage tail formations on the levers suchwise as to hold the same with the corresponding guides in the yarn feeding position P. The lever G connected with the splicing yarn guide E is moved into the operatiVe-position by lmeans of a part `of or associated with the aforesaid control drum 3| when the4 latter is rendered operative, and, by reason of y the coupling I, J, automatically moves the guide F for the main or ground yarn into the feeding position. Means already described in connection with the members I1 are provided for tripping the detents or catches I11 corresponding with the' two guides E and F so as to release the latter to withdraw their yarns from the needles, but when only the lever G of the splicing guide E is released it moves in relation to the other lever H, this being permitted by the slot J. Consequently only the guide E is released, as represented by broken lines in Figure 3, lea-vingrthe guide F in position to continue feeding its yarn to the needles.

For effecting movement of the selector member 32 to such a height as to operate the lever G and thereby draw the splicing yarn guide E into its feeding position at appropriate times, the bar- 44 is moved to the required extent by suitable actuation of the lever 49-not from the chain 34 as previously described-but from a cam-operated positioning lever L. This lever. is shown in Figures 1 and 6 andyas will be seen, is furnished with a roller M for co-operation at required times f with a cam N secured upon a layshaft 16 running at'half cylinder speed. Normally the lever L is so positioned, laterally, as to hold the roller M out of engagement with the cam N but is adapted to be moved at required times to establish cooperation between the said roller and cam by means influenced from the main control drum CD. In this connection the lever L is bossed at L1 and mounted for lateral sliding movement upon an axle O, being controlled by a tension'spring P1. A pivoted bell crank' Q is connected to the tail end of the lever L by a link R having associated therewith a compression spring S arranged in the manner shown in Figure 1. This bell crank is in turn connected by a link T to a cam lever U adapted to be acted upon at required t'mes by a cam V on the control drum CD (see Figure 6). The forward, i.e. operative, end of the positioning lever L is arranged beneath a pin W which projects laterally from the link i. The arrangement is vtherefore such that the lever L is normally held with the roller M out of contact with the cam N by action of the spring P1. When thecam lever U is acted upon by the drum cam V, the bell crank Q is turned in an anti-clockwise direcraises the lever L to a point beyond the screw abutment 'Il to ensure contact between the lever 12 and the lug 18. The lever L is held in this potion thereby moving the lever L through the spring S, and against the action of the spring P1 which is weaker than the spring S, to establish co-operation between the roller M and the cam N. If the movement of the lever is initially obstructed by the cam the spring S can yield so that when the obstruction is removed the lever snaps into position. Then, each time alobe N1 on this cam rides under the roller, the pin W is raised to effect movement of the selector bar 44 through the levers i9 and el.

When racking on cams 8l for half round striping the selector bar M is released but again caused to take up a position to determine selection of the splicing yarn guide E at each revolution of the machine. In this connection the bar it is furnished with a lug 10 for cooperation at appropriate times with a screw abutment ll carried at the free end of a pivoted lever l2. This lever is influenced by a spring 'i3 (see Figure 6) tending normally to hold the llever with the abutment- Il in the raised position indicated in full lnes in Figure 2; at this height the said abutment is disposed in the path of the lug 'I8 to check the bar 44 and temporarily maintain the latter in the position at which it determines selection of the half round splicing yarn guide. The lever 'l2 is. however, furnished with a roller l for contact with a 2-lobe cam l5 secured upon the layshaft 1S. Consequently at suitable regular intervals durng half round striping the bar d@ will be re-n leased by reason of the leverv i2 being positively cam actuated against the spring action to lower the screwabutment li clearof the lug l!! (see dot-and-dash line position in Figure 2).

`Whenever a half round spliced section is to be made the guide F for the main or ground yarn is controlled from the main drum of the machine and not from the'chain 34 as Aare the remainder of the yarn guides. To enable this to be done the bar 64 is furnished with a stop 80 which carries an adjustable abutment screw 8l adapted to be acted upon at appropriate times by a pivoted bell crank lever 82 operated from the main drum. Thus, whenever the ground yarn guide is to be selected for operation, the'bell crank lever 82 is turned in a clockwise direction, thereby shifting the bar 44 to the right, the extent of these movesition until the half round splicing yarn has been introduced, whereupon the said lever is tripped by the cam 15 to permit selection of striping yarn from the chain, or to 'cut out' the splicing yarn if the main or ground yarn is knitted in the instep by return oi the selector bar 44 into contact with the lever 82. Y

Reverting to the description of the push rod 36, the height of this and hence also of the selector member 32 at each selection is checked by means of a spring loaded indexing linger 03 which is bossed at 83a, and pivotally mounted to turn freely about the axle 52. The free, i. e. operative, end of the finger 83 is suitably formed for engagement in circumferential notches such as that indicated at V38a in Figure 4. -A lever 8f3 furnished with an upstanding pin85 is provided for actuating the indexing nger 83, this lever being made fast on the striping control drum spindle. Thev construction is accordingly. such that each time the control'drum 3l is restored to its normal position after being racked by the pawl t', the pin 85 acts upon the indexing linger 33 to swing it away clear of the push rod 36. Conversely, at each rack of the drum 3l, the nger 33 is permitted to engage the appropriate one of the grooves 36ato check the height of the selector member 32;. 4

Thus, as will be understood, when a striping yarn is to be substituted for the main or ground yarn for a partial course or a succession of partial courses, the appropriate striping guide is rendered operative and the detent or catch H1 corresponding with the lever H of the guide F for the main or), ground yarn is tripped thereby releasing the said guide to withdraw its yarn from 40 the needles N (Figure l). Thus, by appropriate rather more than half a course of knitting thereby supplying the required striping yarn to all of the instep needles and a few of the adjoining needles -`at each end of the heel and toe group to provide for desired overlap and is then withdrawn and ments being just suflicient to raise the selector" member 32`to a height corresponding with the lever H for operating the said guide. It is important to note that a lobe N1 on the cam N the other guides are operated so that for the remainder of said course or courses both occupy the feeding position and supply their yarns to the heel and toe needles and\ are then withdrawn, while in the intervening courses of knitting the splicing yarn guide is released to withdrawn its yarn from the instep needles, leaving the guide for the main or ground yarn to feed these needles, and is then restored to the feeding position so that both yarns are fed to the heel and toe needles, thereby producing a half hose or sock 4 with an instep and a foot bottom composed of the eilects already alluded to herein.

As already alluded to herein, yarn cutting and trapping means are provided and operated in timed relation with the operation of the striping and splicing guides suchwise as to be operated at each course of knitting in order to cut and hold the said yarns at the end of the respective partial courses.

The mechanism may and preferably does include a device adapted, whenever a yarn change is euected, to engage and introduce to the needles the portion of the ingoing yarn extending between the feeding end of its guide and the cutting and trapping means and thereupon to cut the said yarn with the object of producing neat joins in the knitted ,fabric. 'I'hisfdevice is preferably so tion of the yarn projecting from the trapper for eventual removal as waste. This, of course, 1s in contra-distinction to yarn feeding and changing mechanisms of the form most commonly employed heretofore, wherein whenever a yarn guide was moved into its feeding position the ingoing yarn was caught by certain needles and the whole of the appreciable length of yarn then extending between the said needles and the trapper was pulled out from the latter and turned back or doubled, thereby contributing to the formation of a bulky join. A

In the example illustrated, the yarn placing and cutting means are embodied in a device now to be described with reference, more particularly,

'to Figures 7-11. This device comprises a pair of thin, nat cutter blades 88 and 01 and an associated blade-like placer and trapper element 88 which are slidably mounted at one. side of arrupstanding part a on a bracket 8d attached to the bottom cam box 2. The three elements of the placing and cutting device are arranged side by side with the cutter blades 86 and 01 on the outside and the placer and trapper element 00 disposed immediately adjacent to the said upstanding part. Each of the two cutter blades and also the placer and trapper element has formed therein a slot through which extends a pin 00 pro-l jecting laterally from the upstanding part 89a; the slots will be hereinafter described. The outer end of this pin is screw-threaded for engagement with a nut 0| and an associated lock-nut 02. As shown in Figure l, a light compression spring 08 is interposed between the nuts and a washer 0d located on the pin adjacent to the outer cutter blade 01; in. this way the co-operat-1 ing elements are spring-pressed together.` The device extends in a substantially radial direction with respect to the needle circle. At its operative end each of the cutter blades 00 and 01 is of a generally pointed character, being outward-v ly bevelled and inwardly curved on its underside. The operative end of the placer and trapper element 88 is of a somewhat similar shape with the exception that it has therein a small recess 80a so formed as to provide at the inner extremity of the element a yarn engaging formation.

with each other in such a manner as to engage, trap and cut an ingoing yarn such as that indicated iy in Figure 7. These independent movements and the timing of the elements are achieved by reason of the lpin 90 working in the aforesaid slots. As shown in Figure '7, the slot |00 in the outer cutter blade 81 is of V form so that as the said blade is projected towards the needles n it first rises sharply and then quickly moves downwards again to co-operate with the inner cutter blade 86 after the manner of a pair of scissors. The slot |0| in the inner cutter blade 86, on the other hand, comprises practically straight end portions and an intermediate slightly upwardly curved portion, so that during projection of the said blade towards the needles it first moves forward in a straight low path to miss the yarn z'y then rises slightly before proceeding to the full extent of its movement. The placer and trapper lelement 88, although adapted to rise together with the outer cutter blade 81, moves downwardly a little earlier than the latter to trap the engaged ingoing yam iy before it is cut. This movement isl achieved by forming in the placer and trapper element a V-shaped slbt |02 (see Figures 10 and 1l) which is somewhat shallower than the sloil |00 formed in the outer cutter blade 81.

'I'he cutter? blades` and associated placer and trapper element are intended to be moved towards and away from the needles n simultaneously, for which purpose they are pivotally mounted at their ou'ter or tail ends upon a common actuating lever 05. For instance, all three elements may,l as shown, be of the same lengthor `approximately so-and each have in its tail end a small hole through which extends a pin 08 projecting laterally from the actuating lever in the manner depicted more clearly in Figure l.. The said actuating lever 85'is operated through ythe medium of a link 91l and a lever 98 from a lthey are also moved independentlyto coeoperate The main trapping and severing device in this example .comprises a pivoted cutting member |03, a co-operating ,fixed cutter plate |04, spring inuenced yarn gripping plungers |05 (Figure 10) and a pivoted placer element |06 adapted to engage an outgoing yarn for the purpose of placing it into the trapper. The -plungers |05 are of the saw tooth typeto permit movement of yarn in one direction only. As will be seen from a consideration ofv Figure 1, the pivoted cutting member |03 and the yarn placing element extend more or less tangentially' to the needle circle NC substantially at right angles to the herebefore described yarn placing and cutting device, and are both rigidly secured to a common pivot pin |01 mounted to turn in a block |08 on the bracket 00. An upstanding plate |09 secured to the block |08 functions as a guide to facilitate entry of an outgoing yarn into the 'main trapper. In association with -the main trapping and severing device there is provided a yarn clearer consisting of an element |0 which is mounted on the inner -end of the pivot pin I 01 and adapted to function in conjunction with the device to clear waste portions of yarn therefrom. In this connection the clearer is formed with an angularly disposed extension |0a which is forked for engagement with a pin i inserted in the end of the pivot |01. The waste yarn may be received in a receptacle of channel form (not shown) attached to the underside of the bracket 89. 'I'he tail ends of the cutting member |03 and the yarn placing element |06 are slotted for engagement with a cranked portion |I2a of a. rod 2 mounted to turn in the bracket 89. Appropriate turning movements are imparted to this rod through the medium of a lever ||3 which is pivoted at ||4 and adapted to be actuated by a cam ||5 provided on the control drum 3|. A link ||6 connects the lever ||3 witha forked arm ||1 which is adjustably secured upon the rod I 2. As shown in Figure l, the lever |3 is furnished with a piv- ,oted detent I8 which is formed with a nose |8a lever H3. The arrangement isltherefore such that actuation of the lever H3 is permitted upon movement of the control drum 3i .in one direc-- vice has just cut the ingoing yarn y at a point h near tothe first needle n1 to receive it, and is holding the portion iyl of the said yarn for introduction to the needles. The free portion i112 of the yarn projecting from the main trapper is left for removal as waste in the manner previously described. Figure l0 shows all three elements 86, 87 and 88 of the device fully withdrawn from action, whereas in Figure l1 the elements 8S and @d are shown as they appear in the course of .being advanced to cut and hold an ingoing yarn.

In Figure 2 the plain needle cylinder and the superimposed rib needle cylinder are indicated at i2! and |22, respectively. The reference numeral i235 indicates the top cam box of the machine. As will be seen in Figure 2A, the machine illustrated is of the type including double-ended needles i2@ for operation in the cylinders and sliders such as |25 and mi in said cylinders for operating the needles and transferring the same from one cylinder to the other, according to requirements.

What We claim then is:

l. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yam respectively, and means for automatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles While the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the Said remainder of the needles.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, said' last mentioned guides being arranged for movement conjointly and also one in relation to the other for the purpose of introducing the relative yarns to and withdrawing same from the needles in the required manner in appropriate timed relation with the operation of the striping yarn guide, and means for automatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, striping mechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, splicing mechanism including other movable yarn aasaosi guides for a main yarn and asplicing yarn respectively, and means for automatically operating the yarn guides and for controlling same from a common source suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section oi the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

4. In aknitting machine,l in combination, a series of needles, striping mechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, splicing mechanism including other movable yarn guides for a -main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, levers associated with the guides in the splicing mechanism, said levers being coupled together to permit of their movement conjointly to supply the relative'yarns to the needles and to enable the splicing yarn guide to be withdrawn without interference with the main yarn guide whenever the main yarn only is to be supplied to the needles, and means for automatically operating the yarn guides interchangeably suchwlse that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course or knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the 'main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, striping mechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, splicing mechanism including other movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively. means for automatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course oi knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles, and, in association with the splicing mechanism, yarn cutting and trapping means operable at each course-of knitting so as to cut and hold the splicing yarn upon withdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course.

6. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, splicing mechanism including two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and s splicing yarn'respectively, striping. mechanism in cluding a plurality of interchangeable guides for multi-colour striping, said striping yarn guides being such that when a change is made an ingoing guide takes up substantially the feeding position previously occupied by the guide to be withdrawn so that as the yarns are interchanged each iseventually fed from the same feeding location as its predecessor, and-means for automatically operating the yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically,

colour striping, said striping yarn guides being such tha't when a change is made an ingoing guide takes up substantially the feeding position previously occupied by the guide to be withdrawnlso that. as the yarns are lnterchanged each is eventually fed from the same feeding location as its predecessor, splicing mechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides are respectively connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot and coupled by a pin and slot connection so that when the lever connected with the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position it automatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feeding position, but when the said lever is released it moves in relatirn to the companion lever, as permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for the main yarn in the operative position, and

means for automatically operating the various yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course ot knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main'yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

8. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicing mechanism including two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, means for operating said mechanism, striping mechanism including a plurality of movable yarn guides for respectively dierent striping yarns, levers for operating said striping yarn guides, a timing mechanism having contrasting elements thereon, a selector member movable into diierent positions for action selectively upon the operating levers at'the dictates of the said contrasting elements, and cam means rotatable in timed relation with the motion of the cylinder for effecting actuation of the selector member, the combined means for operating the various yarn guides interchangeably functioning automatically and in such a manner that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles While the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

9. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicing mechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides are respectively connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot and coupled by a pin and slot connection so that when the lever connected with the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position it automatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feeding position, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation to the companion lever.

as permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for the main yarn in the operative` position, striping mechanism including a pluralityof movable yarn guides for respectively different striping yarns, levers for operating said striping yarn guides, a timing mechanism having contrasting elements thereon, a selector member movable into diilerent positions for action selectively upon theoperating levers at the dictates of the said y contrasting elements, cam means rotatable' in timedl relation with the motion of the cylinder for effecting actuation of the selector member, and a part which is associated with the rotary cam means` and adapted to move the aforesaid lever connected with the splicing yarn guide into the operative position at required times, the'means for operating the various yarn guides interchangeably being such that a striping yarn isL supplied to a section f the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and -in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

10. In a knitting machine, in combination, a series of needles, stripping mechanism including at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarnysplicing mechanism including other movduring at least one course of knitting, periodically,

and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles, yarn cutting and trapping means in association with the splicing mechanism, said last mentioned means being operable at each course of knitting so 'as to cut and hold the splicing yarn upon withdrawal at the end of each appropriate partial course, and a device adapted, whenever a yarn change is effected, to engage and introduce to the needles the portion of the ingoing yarn extending between the feeding end of its guide and the cutting and trapping means and thereupon to cut the said yarn.

1l. A combination according to claim 10,

wherein the said device is so arranged and operated that the ingoing yarn is cut as near as is practicable to the appropriate side of the first needle to receive it, for the purpose specied.

12. In a circular knitting machine, in combination; a rotary needle cylinder, a series of needles for operation in said cylinder, splicing mechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides are respectivelyV connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot and coupled by a pin and slot lconnection so that-when the lever connected with the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position it automatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feeding position, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation to the companion lever, as permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for `the main yarn in the operative position, striping mechanism including a plurality of movable yarn guides for respectively diil'erent striping yarns, levers for operating said striping yarn guides, a timing mechanism having contrasting elements thereon,

a selector member movable into different positions for action selectively upon the operating levers at the dictates of the said contrasting elements, cam means rotatable in timed' relation with the motion of the cylinder for eecting actuation of the selector member, and cam means for controlling the aforesaid lever connected with the splicing yarn guide, which lever is adapted to be operated by the selector member for the striping yarn lguides, the means for operating the various yarn guides interchangeably being such that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles While the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarnand supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both fthe main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

13. ln a knitting machine, in combination, ay series of needles, at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, splicing mechanism comprising two movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, levers with which said two guides are respectively connected, said levers being mounted on a common pivot and coupled by a pin and slot connection so that when the lever connected with the splicing yarn guide is moved into the operative position it automatically moves the guide for the main yarn into the feeding position, but when the said lever is released it moves in relation to the companion lever, as

- permitted by the slot, thereby leaving the lever of the guide for the main yarn in the operative position, and means for automatically operating the various yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to a section of the needles while the main yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainderof the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and

in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles,

14. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle cylinder, a superimposed rib needle cylinder, double-ended needles for operation in said cylinders, sliders in said cylinders for operating the needles and transferring same from one cylinder to the other according to requirements,

'at least one movable yarn guide for a striping yarn, other movable yarn guides for a main yarn and a splicing yarn respectively, and means for automatically operating the said yarn guides interchangeably suchwise that a striping yarn is supplied to aY section of the needles while the main l yarn and the splicing yarn are substituted for the striping yarn and supplied to the remainder of the needles during at least one course of knitting, periodically, and in the intervals the main yarn only is supplied to the said section of the needles and both the main yarn and the splicing yarn are supplied to the said remainder of the needles.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. ALBERT HENRY WIDDOWSON.

Images