US2411795A - Racking mechanism for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1946. R. H. LAWSON 2,411,795

RACKING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES F-ilecl Nov. 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l W/r/MS 7X F762. Q fP ierz /qLawson Nov. 26, 1946. j o 2,411,795

RACKING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MA CHII\ IES Filed Nov. 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I aim Patented Nov. 26, 1946 BACKING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Robert H. Lawson, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 10, 1944, Serial No. 562,809

19 Claims.

This invention relates to racking means for a trick Wheel or other cyclically operating mechanism of a knitting machine.

Knitting machines are commonly provided with trick Wheels which carry in axially extending slots jacks containing butts arranged in predetermined fashions to control the production of patterns. Such trick wheels are required to pass through successive cycles to form repetitions of the controlled pattern and, are subject to special controlling actions. For example, in the usual operation the trick wheel is advanced one step in each course of knitting to present a different array of butts to the controlled elements. This action generally occurs constantly during the knitting of the leg of a stocking. When the knitting of a heel begins the instep needles in the machine are thrown out of action, to be later restored to action during the knitting of the foot. Ordinarily the pattern running along the leg should be continued without interruption through the instep of the stocking. Consequently, the trick wheel should not advance during the knitting of the heel. During the formation of the foot the advance of the trick wheel should be the same as during the knitting of the leg.

Again, when the toe is reached, it is generally desirable to stop the advance of the trick wheel while the machine effects reciprocatory knitting. At the end of such reciprocatory knitting no further controlling actions by the trick wheel are generally desired unti1 the beginning of the knitting of the leg of the next stocking. Ordinarily, when the trick wheel advance is stopped at the beginning of the knitting of the toe it will not be in the desired position for the resumption of control during the knitting of the leg of the next stocking. Consequently, it is necessary that the trick wheel be timed up and then come to rest in a definite position to secure a proper pattern controlling action in the next stocking. This is generally accomplished by causing the trick wheel to be advanced during the knitting cf the loopers rounds or waste courses of the Stocking,

It will be evident that for the formation of the most elaborate patterns which are required, the trick w heel should contain a maximum number of jacks. Since this number is fixed by the slots in the trick Wheel, it will be evident that a serious limitation on the extent of the pattern would be imposed if the number of courses involved in a repeat of the pattern had to be equal to the number of slots in the trick wheel or some submultiple thereof. To secure patterns having repeats of different numbers of courses, it is de- 2 sir-able to have provision made for single or double advances of the trick wheel, desirably under the control of the trick wheel itself, so that it will complete a cycle during the desired number of courses.

The above motions and controls of a trick Wheel are known in the art.

Ordinarily, trick wheels of the type indicated are advanced by conventional ratchet and pawl mechanisms. The disadvantage of the use of such mechanisms is that coupled with the rapidity of movement which is required is a tendency toward overrunning which if it occurs will obviously destroy the intended pattern in the stocking. To prevent overrunning friction is generally applied to the pattern drum or trick wheel which is being racked and this in turn imposes a resistance to movement of the racking mechanism Which, if racking is effected by means connected to the cylinder of the machine, will set up objectionable vibration. This may be eliminated if, by prevention of overrun, the necessity of putting friction on the drum is eliminated.

Furthermore, any tendency towards overrun requires a corresponding greater distance between steps of the drum. If overrun can be prevented, the angular range of each step may be reduced, with consequent narrowing of the lap of the pattern where change occurs and the possibility of providing for more drum moves with a drum of given diameter.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a racking mechanism for a knitting machine which is positive in its action in prevention of overrunning movements and thus makes possible attaining of the advantages just noted. A

further'object of the invention is the provision of a racking mechanism of this type which is capable of controlled action to secure the necessary stopping of a rotary member, the timing thereof, and single or double advances thereof, as indicated above.

These and other objects of the invention relating particularly to details will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure lis a fragmentary plan View, partly diagrammatic illustrating the application of the invention to drive of a trick wheel of a knitting machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary illustration showing the means for eifecting control from the main cam drum of the machine;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in section, simi- 3 lar to Figure 1 but showing certain parts above those illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an elevation lookin at the right hand side of Figure 1 and the lower side of Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure l, the location of the rotary needle cylinder of a knitting machine is indicated at 2. Rotating with this, for example, by reason of its being secured to the cylinder gear, is a earn 4 which during rotary knitting moves in the direction indicated by the arrows 6. A bell crank 8 having a fixed pivot at ID is arranged to be acted upon by the earn 4 to cause its end It? to engage and move the adjustable screw i carried by the lever it having a fixed pivot at H3. A spring 69 urges the lever IS in a clockwise direction to maintain its screw H1 in contact with bell crank 8 up to a limiting position defined by contact of a stop screw 22 with a fixed pin indicated at 26.

Pivoted at i l'to the lever 955 is a gear segment 26 provided with teeth at 28. An adjustable eccentric stop pin 39 is arranged behind the segment 23 as indicated to limit clockwise movement of the segment with respect to the fixed parts of the machine. An adjustable screw 32 carried by the segment is arranged to engage a lug (it on the arm it to limit clockwise movement of the segment relative to the arm about the pivot 2 A gear 36 mounted to rotate about a center 31 carries the trick wheel 38, which may be of the conventional type commonly provided in knitting machines and consisting of a slotted cylinder in which jacks 39 may be located havin butts 4! arranged at various levels and in various arrangements at said levels.

The bell crank 8 carries a lug 4E3 upstanding therefrom which has a range of movement, upon oscillation of the bell crank 8, between the position shown in full lines at 49 and the position shown in dotted lines at 38. A lever (l3 pivoted upon a fixed post 58 is provided with an opening M which has a series of steps 62, 4M and 46 which in various phases of the operation are adapted to be engaged 'by the lug 59. A spring 58 urges the lever 43 in a counterclockwise direction against the pull which is produced through a Bowden wire and a spring 51! which is of sufiicient strength to overcome the spring so. indicated in Figure 2, the opposite end of the Bowden wire is secured to an arm $32 extending from a push rod 6 3 which is adapted to be raised by the action of cams on a lever 63. The cams which act upon the lever 66 are carried by the main cam drum of the machine and may comprise, for the knitting of a conventional stocking, a cam '98 which acts upon the follower lever 65 during the knitting of a leg, a cam 72 which acts upon the lever during the knitting of a heel, cam M which is active during the knitting of the foot, earn it active during toe knitting and the space Z8 which may be provided by the face of the drum and which is effective during knitting of the loopers rounds to effect timing. 7

Referring to Figure 3, there is indicated therein a second lever Bil which is also pivoted upon the post 43 above the lever Q3. This lever is provided with a step 32 which, as will be evident from the figures, is adapted to move in the same path as the step #22 in cooperating with the lu til. A spring 8% urges the lever 8!! in a counterclockwise direction to bring an adjustable stop screw 36 carried by the lever into engagement with the downturned end 88 of a slide 98 mounted for horizontal movement in suitable guides in the machine frame.

The slide 98 is provided with a follower portion Q2, which is arranged to be engaged by butts which are located in a particular level, for example, the lowermost level 94, of butts in the trick wheel.

During the knitting of a leg of a stocking, the cam '56 on the main cam drum efiects the location of the lever 43 in the position illustrated in Figure 1.

The space between the steps 42 and Q6 is located in the path of the lug 41 so that this lug has a full range of movement without interference by the lever 43 when the bell crank 8 is swung and released by the cam 4 during each rotation of the needle cylinder corresponding to the formation of each course of the leg. Disregarding for the moment the action of the lever 86, the effect of the foregoing is to advance the trick wheel 38 through a double step upon each revolution of the needle cylinder, such double steps corresponding to the angular spacing of two teeth of the gear 56 and to the angular spacing of two jacks in the trick wheel. Starting from the position illustrated in Figure 1 this is eiiected in the following-manner: The pivot 24 is arranged to involve a substantial degree of friction. When the lever l6 occupies its extreme clockwise position as illustrated due to the extreme counterclockwise position of bell crank 8, the segment 25 will have been positioned by engagement with the stop 3%. As the bell crank 8 rides upwardly on the cam Q, the lever i6 is rocked counterclockwise and during such rocking movement, due to the friction action mentioned, the angular relationship between the segment 26 and lever I6 is maintained with the result that a predetermined meshing of the segment 28 and the gear 35 takes place. Following a completion of meshing, the continued counterclockwise movement of the levers it: will cause a widening of the angle between the segment 26 and the lever 56 resulting in there being imparted to the gear 36 a movement equivalent to the angular spacing of two teeth of the gear. The limit of this movement occurs when the screw 32 engages the lug 34 which should coincide substantially with the bell crank S reaching the top of the cam 4. Actually, the arresting action may occur just slightly prior to this, the resilience of the parts permitting the cam to pass the bell crank 8.

As the bell crank is released by the cam, the lever i5 moves clockwise under the action of the spring ill, to a position limited by engagement of the screw 22 with the stop pin 26. At the beginning of this movement the segment 26 moves, due to the friction at the pivot 25, as an integral part of the lever I6, out of mesh with gear until it engages the stop 30 whereupon it is arrested, and further movement of the lever it to its final position results in decrease of the angle between the segment and the lever. The parts are thus returned to the original position first described preparatory to the next action by the cam l which results in meshing of the segment with the gear. In moving outwardly the segment so moves that its teeth leave those of gear without tendency to impart either backward of forward movement to the gear.

This result is attained by such relative arrangement of the parts that movement occurs substantially along a line joining the center of gear 36 with the center of curvature of the segment.

The above action occurs so long as a butt 94 pin 28. Under these conditions the angle b-e-- tween the segment'ZG and the lever is will be greater than before so that when the lever it next -moves counterclockwise, due I to the action of cam 4, meshing will not occur two teeth behind the previous point of meshing but only one tooth behind that point. As a consequence, there will be imparted to the gear 36 an angular movement through the spacing of only a single tooth,

or in other Words, the trick wheel Will have imparted thereto a single step.

The result of the above is that, by reason of a predetermined arrangement of butts M, a particular-succession of single and double steps may be imparted to the trick wheel to result in its complete rotation during the occurrence of various numbers of courses of knittingwiththe result that within wide limits the cycle of repetition of the pattern may be'varied. It will be noted'that in either case it is impossible for the gear 36 to overrun the movement imparted to it by the segment 26, since at the end of the advancing movement, the segment and the gear are in mesh and the gear is definitely brought to rest before release of the gear by the segment can occur. The gear 36 cannot possibly force the segment 23 out of mesh since the segment is effectively rigid with the lever It at the end of the racking movement by reason of engagement of screw 32 with the lug In order to arrest the motion of the trickwheel I during the knitting of the heel, the cam 12 probell crank 8 rides up the cam 4 so that the lug 40 clears the step so, the step will then besnapped behind the lug so that counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 8 is prevented even though it is released by the cam 4. Asa result, during the formation of the heel, the segment 26 isheld in mesh with the gear 35 retaining the trick wheel in fixed position despite continued movement of the needle cylinder, which during, formation of the heel, will be reciprocatory.

When circular knitting is resumed through the 'i root, the follower 66 drops off cam l2 upon the cam M resulting in return of the lever 43 to the identical position which'it occupied during the knitting ofthe leg. Normal advances of the trick wheel through single or double steps may then take place to continue the pattern through the foot. v r

When the, knitting of the toe' is reached, the cam I6 acts identically as would the cam 12 during the heel formation. Accordingly, the advance of the trick wheel is again "arrested, the trick wheel being locked in position by the segment.

' Following the knitting of the toe and beginning of the knitting-of the loopers rounds, the lever lifidrops upon the drum face at 18. This drop' would be sufi'icient to permit the step. to be brought into the path of the lug 40. However, movement'of the lever 43 does not occur to this extent inasmuch as the pin 52 carried by it will drop to the position 52' into engagement with the circular edge of the cam disc 54. When this occursthe step 42 is brought into the path of the lug40.

As previously pointed out, the step 42 bears the same relationship .to the lug do as the step 82 of the lever .80, preventing the bell crank t from moving to its normal counterclockwise position and thus limiting the extent to which the lever [B maymove clockwise. As a consequence, irrespective of the butt arrangement at 9 on the trick wheel, and irrespective of the position of the lever 80 which may be moved by the action .of

strained from free angular movement relative such butts, the movements of the parts are such that only single steps of the trick wheel may occur. Such single steps are for the purpose of advancing the trick wheel toward its initial position for the beginning of the pattern in the leg of the next stocking. It may be noted that cam 16 may be omitted, in which case this retiming phase of the operation may begin simultaneously with the beginning of knitting of the toe.

The. single step advances continue until the notch 56 reaches the position 52' of the pin 52. As soon as the pin 52 is free to drop into the notch, the spring 59 moves the lever 43 further in a counterclockwise direction tobring the step 44 into the path of the lug 49 as soon as the bell crank 8 is moved clockwise after the pin drops into the notch. The step 44 then occupies the same position as the step 43 occupied during heel and toe knitting, with the result that the racking is completely interrupted, the trick wheel being locked in position by the segmentfi, in preparation for properly timed control in the knitting of the next stocking.

This locked condition continues until the follower rises on the cam 10, whereupon the lever 43 is again moved clockwise to clear both steps 44 and 42 from the path of the lug [iii so that the racking operations may be resumed.

It may be noted that, if desired, by a proper shaping 0f cam l the lever 8 may be rocked to effect advance of the trick wheel during both forward and reverse strokes of the needle cylinder during reciprocation. In this fashion patterning may be accomplished, for example, during the knitting of split work.

What I claim and desire Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine,rotary means including a toothed member, a first lever, means for imto protect by Letters parting oscillatory motions to said lever, a second lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the second lever being pivoted to the first lever but being rethereto, a stop engageable by the second lever to 1 limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movementof thesecond lever relative to the'first in one direction, so that during an oscillation of thefirst lever in one direction the second lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to; a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the first lever in the reverse direction the second lever first moves therewith to disengage the toothfrom'the toothed member I 7 and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the levers at the end of the movement of the first lever.

2. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, a first lever, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said lever, a second lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the second lever being pivoted to the first lever but being frictionally restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the second lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the second lever relative to the first in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the first lever in one direction the second lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the first lever in the reverse direction the second lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the levers at the end of the movement of the first lever.

3. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element.

4. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, and means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of the toothed member.

5. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of the toothed member, and means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means.

6. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillating element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, and means including an element rotating with the toothed member for interrupting oscillatory motions of the first mentioned element.

'7. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but beingrestrained from free angular movement relative thereto and a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse directionthe lever angular relationship betweenthe lever and ,ele-.

ment at the end of. movement of the element.

8. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element,

means for impartingbscillatorymotions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engage, able with teeth of the toothed member, the lever.

being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, and means for varying the extent of oscillation ofrthe element to contro the advance of the toothed member.

9. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to caus its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengagethe tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby 10 interrupting oscillatory motions of the first mentioned element.

11 In a knitting machine, rotary means includinga toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained .fromlfree angular movement relative thereto, a

stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed to establish a definite angular relationship be- I tween the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of the toothed member, and means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means.

10. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element,

means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and elementat the end of movement of the element, and means including an element rotating with the toothed member for member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction th lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of the toothed member,

means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means, and means for overruling the last mentioned controlling action to effect uniform advancing movements of the toothed member.

12. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillator motions to said element, a lever having at least. one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so thatduring an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member. and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to effect single or double advances of the toothed member upon each complete oscillation of the element, and means for overruling the last mentioned means to insure only single advances of the toothed member.

13. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element havin at least one tooth. engageable with said toothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto and to prevent overrun thereof, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the extent of ad- Vance of the toothed member, and means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means. l

14. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element having at least on tooth engageable with said toothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto, means for imparting oscillatory movements to said element, and means for interrupting such oscillatory movements, said element, during periods of interruption of its movements, being located to lock said toothed member against movement in both directions by engagement of said tooth between teeth of said toothed member.

15. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element having at least one tooth engageable with said toothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto, means for imparting oscillatory movements to said element, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the advance of the toothed member, and means for interrupting such oscillatory movements, said element, during periods of interruption of its movements, being located to lock said toothed member against movement.

16. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element having at least one tooth engageable with said toothed member to impart step by step advancing movements thereto and to prevent overrun thereof, means for varying the extent of oscillation of the element to control the extent of advance of the toothed member, means rotating with the toothed member for controlling the last named means, and means for overruling the last mentioned controlling action to effect uniform advancing movements of the toothed member.

17. In a knitting machine, rotary means including a toothed member, a first lever, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said lever, a second lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the second lever being pivoted to the first lever but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the second lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the second lever relative to the first in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the first lever in one direction the second lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing move ment to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the first lever in the reverse direction the second lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member without imparting a rotating force to said toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the levers at the end of the movement of the first lever.

18. In'a knitting machinarotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement relative thereto, a stop engageable by the lever to-limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, and stop means for limiting angular movement of the lever relative to the element in one direction, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh with said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to a position limited by said stop means to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage the tooth from the toothed member without imparting a rotating force to said toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element.

19. In a knitting machine'rotary means including a toothed member, an oscillatory element, means for imparting oscillatory motions to said element, a lever having at least one tooth engageable with teeth of the toothed member, the lever being pivoted to said element but being restrained from free angular movement rela tive thereto, and a stop engageable by the lever to limit movement thereof away from the toothed member, so that during an oscillation of the element in one direction the lever first moves therewith to cause its tooth to mesh With said toothed member and then moves angularly relatively thereto to impart an advancing movement to said toothed member, and so that during an oscillation of the element in the reverse direction the lever first moves therewith to disengage thetooth from the toothed member without imparting a rotating force to said toothed member and then engages said stop to be retarded thereby to establish a definite angular relationship between the lever and element at the end of movement of the element.

ROBERT H. LAWSON.

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