US2433568A - Full-fashioned knitting machine - Google Patents

Full-fashioned knitting machine Download PDF

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US2433568A
US2433568A US470355A US47035542A US2433568A US 2433568 A US2433568 A US 2433568A US 470355 A US470355 A US 470355A US 47035542 A US47035542 A US 47035542A US 2433568 A US2433568 A US 2433568A
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needles
yarn
dividers
sinkers
carrier
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US470355A
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Sterling C Mack
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Julius Kayser & Co
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Julius Kayser & Co
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    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04BKNITTING
    • D04B11/00Straight-bar knitting machines with fixed needles

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  • the present invention generally relates to the art of widening fabrics on flat knitting-machines and, more specifically, pertains to full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines oi the kind shown and describedjn my coperiding appligationserial No. 401,1;2, filed July 5, 1941, now Patent 2.40;,206,
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation of portions of afull-fashioned knitting machine having theattachment of the invention incorporated therein:
  • Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a top plan of parts shown in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is" a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is an enlargedsecti'on taken on line 5 5 of Fi 3';
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of one of the Pawls operating the carrier nutspindle
  • Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating the pawl controlling element in one of its positions
  • Fig. 8 is a View similar tOFig; 7 illustrating the pawl controlling element in another of its posi tions; 7
  • Fig. 9 is a cross sectional detail of the cam controlled rollers.
  • Fig. 10 is a detail of the control mechanism viewed from therear of the machine;- Fig. 11 is a top plan of the same; taken on linel ill of Fig.
  • Figs. 12 through 27v i-ficlilsiv illustrate in a more or less diagrammatic manner the various stages in th operation of the machine for Wid ening the fabric;
  • Fig. 28 is a side elvatiofi illustiating the 'pre-' ferred construction of the dividers in the widening portions of a knitting head;
  • Fig. 29 is a side eievaticn illustrating the Pre Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 31 is a sectional side elevation showing a modification of the attachment
  • Fig. 32 is a front aeration of the same
  • Fig. 33 is a detail of the widening can looking in the general direction dfline 33-43 of Fig. 32.
  • the machine as shown embodies the usual frame I0 provided with bearings for the rotatable shiftable main cam shaft H, the rockable needle bar upand-down shaft l2,the rockable needle bar inand-out shaft i3, the rockable front catch bar shaft l4, and. the reusable back catch bar shaft
  • the machine frame also includes the ordinary center bed 16, front beam l1, and back beam I8.
  • Each knitting section comprises an association of knitting instrumentalities cofunctioning to form the knitted loops of the fabric through the operation of the machine.
  • These instrumentali ties include a bank of bearded needles 20 a bank of sinkers 2i and dividers 22; a' bank of knockover bits 23, and a set of yarn feeding carriers 24.
  • the banks of needles are supported in needle bar 25 adapted to have up-and-down movement for the purpose of drawing newly formed loops through previously formed loops, and in-and-out movement for the purpose of pressing ofisuch previously formed loops subsequent to the drawing therethrough of the newly formed loops.
  • brackets 26 pivotally connected-,- as at 21, to split arms 28 which are secured to the needle up-and down shaft I2.
  • levers such as indicated at 29,- each carrying a roller 38 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding needle up-and-down cam 3
  • Each bank of sinkers and dividers is supported in a sinker bed 39, the individual sinkers and dividers being arranged in alternating, relationship to extend between the needles 20 of-the-associated bank so that one needle is located between a sinker and an adjoining divider.
  • the sinkers and dividers are adapted to be advanced and retracted relatively to the needles.
  • the sinkers are advanced individually and pro' gressively through the "function of the so-called Coulier motion (not shown) which, for this pur-- pose, includes a slur bar 48 carrying slur-cocks 4
  • the dividers 22 are advanced in gang by means of a catch bar 43 having links such as that shown at 44 pivotally connected, as at 45, to an associated arm 46 fixed onto the back catch bar shaft l5. Also fixed onto the back catch bar shaft are levers such as that shown at 41 each carrying a roller 48 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding cam 49 on the main cam shaft II.
  • and dividers 22 are retracted simultaneously by means of the catch bar 42 and, for that purpose, there are provided links 50 connected at one end to the catch bar and engaged at the other end with rods such as that shown at 5! pivoted, as at 52, to an arm 53 fixed onto the front catch bar shaft l4. Also fixed to the front catch bar shaft [4 are levers such as that shown at 54 carrying a roller 55 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding cam 56 on the main cam shaft l I.
  • the knockover bits 23 are mounted in a support 51 and disposed below the sinkers 2
  • the knockover bits 23 are movable towards and away from the sinkers 2! and dividers 22 and, for that purpose, their support 51 is connected in the usual manner to the ordinary link and lever system (not shown) controlled by the ordinary cam means (not shown) on the main cam shaft H.
  • the carriers 24 are positioned to feed yarn upon thenibs of-the sinkers 2
  • the carriers 24 are arranged on carrier bars 58 mounted for reciprocation in brackets such as'shown'at 59.
  • the carrier bars 58 receive their reciprocating movement through function of the Coulier motion which, for that purpose, has a friction bar 60 which may be, and preferably is, associated with a suitable wellknown three-carrier attachment (not shown) connectable with the carrier bars to impart reciprocatory yarn feeding movements to the carriers in selective repeated sequence.
  • the reciprocating movement of the carrier bars 58 is controlled by the function of the carriernarrowing motion mechanism 6! which includes the usual double threaded spindle 52 in engagement with oppositely movable carrier nuts 63.
  • the carrier nuts 63 are provided with stops 64 placeable in the path of movement of a pair of abutments 65 suitabl arranged on each of the carrier bars 58 so that the carrier bars are limited in--their movement in either direction.
  • each of the carrier bars 58 is supplied with a pair of projections 65 engageable with latch members 51 journalled in the carrier nuts 63 by means of a traverse shaft 58.
  • Rigid with theshaft 68 is an arm 59 acted upon by a spring 18"to normally urge the shaft 68, together with its latch members 5'! into position for positive engagement with their associated carrier projections 66.
  • the arm 69 carries a roller m in bearing engagement with a cross piece 1
  • the lever 74 carries a roller 15 disposed for riding engagement with an active cam E3 or a neutral cam 18a on the main cam shaft H, depending upon the shifting positions of'the latter.
  • the carrier bars 58 with their carriers'24 are locked securely 'to'the carrier nuts 63 by means of the spring urged latch members 61 but that, upon action of the cam 15 on the roller 15, the lever 14 is rocked to exert a downward pull on the rod 12 and its cross piece H which then presses on the roller carrying arm 69, accordingly causing the latch members 67 to disengage the projections 65 and thus freeing the carrier bars for their reciprocating motion,
  • the cam 15 is so shaped and disposed as to effect the carrier bar'release immediately before the reciprocating movement of the carrier starts.
  • the reversible threaded spindle 62 of the carrier narrowing mechanism BI is intended to be rotated in opposite directions, rotation in one direction effecting narrowing of the fabric and rotation in the other direction effecting widening of the fabric.
  • a pair of integral ratchet wheels 18 and 19 respectively having their teeth extended in opposite directions.
  • Freely mounted on said extended portion 11 is an oscillating pawl carrying arm 85 having one pawl 8
  • the pawl carrying arm is given its oscillatory motion by means of a lever 83 connected to said arm 88 through an adjustable rod 84 and mounted for rocking motion on the back catch bar shaft 15.
  • the lever 83 is provided with a fixed roller 85 and a shiftable roller 86.
  • the fixed roller 85 is adapted to have riding engagement with the peripheral edge of a neutral cam 81 or with an active cam 88 on the main cam shaft I [when the latter is shifted to its narrowing position, that is, in the direction of arrow E in Fi ure 4.
  • the shifting IIOd 96 is connectedby means of a'block 91 to a second rod 98 which is associated .withanoscillatinglink and bell crankassembly 89 suitablymounted on the machine frame to'be acted upon by buttons I on a pattern chain IOI .whichmayibe; and preferably is; the usual .main pattern" chain of the knitting machine.
  • a button I 00 whenever a button I 00 during.
  • the fabric of the blank preferably is "offfringless construction, that is, the stocking 'reinforcedand, for that purpose, two separate reinforcing yarns RI and R2 are utilized.
  • the reinforcing yarns RI and R2 are shown unshaded, the body yarn YI is shadeds'olid black, the body-yarn Y2 is lined, and the body yarn Y3 is stippled.
  • one reinforcing yarn RI is used in conjunction with the three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3 informing the desired number of reinforced loops to constitute the reinforced heel area at one side of the stocking fabric
  • the other reinforcing yarn R2 is'used in conjunction with the three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3 in forming the desired number of reinforced loops to constitutethe reinforced heel area at the other side of the 'stockin'gfabric
  • said three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3 being used alone, that is, without either reinforcing yarn RI or R2 to form the desire'd'number of non-reinforced loops intermediate the reinforced loops within the heel areas to constitute the sheer instep area.
  • the desired number of reinforced loops within the reinforced heel areas may be obtained by adjustment of the fabric widening attachment and of the well known 'pointex attachment not shown herein but usually provided on full-fashioned knitting machines, the widening attachment controlling the feeding of the body and reinforcing yarns at the outer s'elvedge edges of the reinforced areas of the fabric and the pointex attachment controlling the'feeding of the reinforcing yarns at theinner selvedge edges of said areas.
  • the sinkers 2 I and dividers 22 within each sinker head 39 are arranged in alternating relationship, the knockover bits 23 are ,so positioned that there is, one knockover bit belowlandin the vertical plane of each sinker.
  • the needles 2!] are so disposed that'one needle extends betweenevery two adjacent'knockover bits and between a sinker and an adjoining divider, and the carriers 24 are so positioned that yarn is fed upon the nibs of the sinkers and dividers and to the front (that is, the bearded) side of the needle.
  • are actuated through the Coulier motion, whereas the needles 29, dividers, and knockover bits are actuated through their respective cams provided on the main cam shaft II.
  • the friction rod 60 and slur bar 40 are reciprocated in unison and in uniform strokes lengthwise of the knitting machine, but the reciprocating yarn laying strokes of the carriers are variably controlled by means of the stops associated with the narrowing nuts '63 of the carrier narrowing mechanism 6!.
  • the operation of the carrier narrowing mechanism is such that the carrier stops are adjusted to arrest the carriers always over the divider outside the needle next to the desired end needle so that the sinker "between said end and additional needles may function to sink the yarn on the end needle for the formation of the selvedge loop.
  • the Coulier motion continues to the end of its stroke so that the slur cocks 41 continue in their movement to advance all the sinkers 2i and, for that purpose, the location of the slur cocks M with respect to the sinker heads 3'9 and end of the Couliering motion is such that by the time the Couliering motion has reached the end of its stroke in either direction, the slur cocks have passed beyond the last sinkers in the sinker head.
  • the dividers 22 are advanced in gang by means of catch bars 43 which, at times, also act to engage and simultaneously move the sinkers 2
  • the catch bars, the knockover bits motion imparting levers, and the needle'movement impart- "ing lever and link arrangements are controlled by appropriate cams on the main cam shaft, as hereinbefore stated.
  • the needles With the sinkers and dividers remaining in their advanced positions, the needles are caused to descend vertically so that the yarn .k'inked about the needle shanks becomes engaged within the needle beards to be drawn through the loops of a previously formed course, whereupon pressing oif of the loops of said previously formed course takes place in the usual manner.
  • the sinkers and dividers are withdrawn en masse to their innermost position by the catch bar, whereupon the laying of another course begins.
  • the yarn feeding is done in the ordinary manner as above described, the selected carriers being arrested as usual over the dividers outside the needle next to the ultimate knitting needle in operation while the sinkers beyond said needle are being advanced, but between the time when all the sinkers have been advanced and the time when the dividers are to be advanced, the active as well as the idle carriers, except the idle reinforcing carrier, are displaced preferably a distance of two needles passing over the extended sinker therebetween and coming to rest over the succeeding divider so that, with the advance of the dividers, that divider at either end of the knitting field over which the carriers were originally arrested engages the yarns and firmly holds the same against the needle between said divider and the immediately preceding sinker whereupon, during the subsequent operation of the knitting instrumentalities, there are formed a loop on said needle next to the original ultimate needle and a firm selvedge loop on the second added needle.
  • FIG. 12 to 2'7 inclusive there are shown certain knitting needles of a needle bar and knitting elements associated therewith.
  • the needle at each of the opposite ends of the series on which the last fabric course before the knitting of a widening course takes place is indicated at NI, whereas the first three needles in the widening area over which added loops are extended or widening courses are formed, are indicated at N2, N3, and N4, Corelated with the needles in the order mentioned are sinkers SI, dividers D2, sinkers S3, and dividers D4, with each of which are associated the knockover bits K.
  • Carriers Cl, C2, and C3 respectively intended to feed the body yarns Yl, Y2, and Y3, and carriers C4 and C5 respectively intended to feed the reinforcing yarns RI and R2, are shown in their relative positions.
  • the carrier Cl threaded with the body yarn Y! which has just been used to lay a course
  • the carrier C5 threaded with the reinforcing yarn R2 whichhas just been used to reinforce certainwloops' tof said course
  • the carrier Cl threaded with the body yarn Y! which has just been used to lay a course
  • the carrier C5 threaded with the reinforcing yarn R2 whichhas just been used to reinforce certainwloops' tof said course
  • the carrier1C3 threaded with the body yarn Y3 which is-to be used for laying the third course, lies idle over thedivider D2 at the other end of the needle series.
  • the dividers D2 engage that portion of each of the yarnsYl, Y2, R2, and Y2 which were laid across the nibs of the dividers D2 by th movement of the carrier bars to locate the carriers over the dividers D2 and thus, firmly hold the yarns against the needles N2.
  • the needles in their. usual sequence ofmovement, descend, as indicated by the arrow in Figures ldand 1'7,for.the purpose of drawing the: newly formed loops of the widened courses being made throughpthe previously formed loops of :thepreceding course. It will be understoodthat in this descending. movement of the needles, the yarnportions held against the needles N2 become engaged within the beards thereof, but that the yarn portions passing over the. needles N3 are not engaged thereby because of the angle at which said yarn portions are drawn.
  • the carrier 02 threadedg'with the body yarn Y2, and the carrier 05 threaded with the reinforcing yarn R2 are moved in the reverse direction, wrappingsaid yarns Y2 and R2 about the needles N3 ( Figures 24 and 25),Whl18j13h6 car-' rier CI remainsidle.
  • the carriersC2 and 05 travel together for that distance necessaryto form-the desired number of reinforced-loops of .one heel area, whereupon the carrier 05 is arrested while the carrier C2 continues to travel alonefor that distancenecessaryto form the desired number of non-reinforced loops of the instep area when the carrier C t-threaded with the reinforced'yarn Rl joins the movement of the carrier C2 to form the desired number of reinforced loops in the other heel area; said carriers-C2'and C4 travelling together, as illustrated in Figures 24and; 26, to the end of the yarn laying movement for the formation ofathe course the yarns being sunk between alternate needles by ;the usual function of the sinkers.
  • the dividers are advanced en-masseso that the yarns become sunk between each needle, whereupon the needles operatein their usual manner to knit in the course.
  • the carrier 03 threaded with the body yarn Y3, and the carrier C4 threaded with the reinforcing yarn RI move together in theoppositedirection for the required distance, whereupon carrier C4 is stopped while carrier C3 continues to move alone for the formation of non reinforced loops.
  • carrier Q5 threaded with-the reinforcing yarnR2 joins in the movement of the carrier C3 to the end of the yarn laying strokewhich brings said carriers C3 and 1C5'to astopover divider D4.
  • the selvedge dividers which are located in the widening area of the knitting section are each provided with a notch I23 at the leadingedge of the divider adjacentthe cutout or recessed portion H8 and immediately above the throat I20 thereof.
  • the tips of the carriers extend below the normal upper edgesof the sinkers and since, in accordance with this invention, the movement of th carriers from their positions over one divider (for instance, divider D2) to their positions over the next succeeding divider (for instance, divider D4) occurs, after the sinkers have been advanced, the upper edges of these sinkers located within thewidened area of the knitting section are provided with recessed or cut-out portions I24 so disposed that the carriers may undergo their movements fromone stop position to their other stop positions without interference.
  • an ordinary full-fashioned knitting machine may be operated to knit single unit fullfashioned stocking blanks with widened heel s ctions by providing such' machine with the attachment herein shown and described.
  • the cam 90 includes a neutral part 90a and an active part 902).
  • the neutral part 90a is round, whereas the active part 901) comprises four-sectors, that is, a neutral sectorextendingfrom point a to point 6, a rising sector extending from point I) to point 0, an idling sector extending from point to point (1, and a lowering sector extending from point it to point a.
  • the roller 86 riding on the neutral part 99a idles at its lowest level, as indicated at L, sothat the spindle actuating-pawl and ratchet mechanism remains inoperative.
  • the operation of the chain mechanism causes the shifting of: the roller 86, from the neutral part 90a ontothe active part 9012. This shifting is timed to take place.
  • the cam 90 is so disposed on the main cam shaft that the sector d-a becomes operative at a time following the advance of the outermost selvedge sinker of the widened heel area in the direction of Couliering as for instance during the advance of the sinkers beyond the widened heel area but always at a time prior to the advance of the dividers.
  • the sector d-a may, and preferably does, become operative in the interval of time subsequent to the projection of the outermost selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, and during the continued operation of the Couliering motion, and previous to the start of th dividing motion.
  • shifting the roller 86 there is preferably provided a shifting lever 9
  • the shifting rod- 96. is. associated with the oscillating link and bell crank assembly 99- ( Figures 1 and I0) mounted on the machine frame to be actedupon by the pattern chain.
  • the cam 90' comprises three sectors, that is, a neutral sector extending from point e to point 1, a rising sector extending from point i to point 91, and a lowering sector extending from point g to point e.
  • the shifting of the roller 86 to engage the cam 90' is timed to take place when said cam, rotating inthe direction of arrow R, brings the neutral sector e-J in line with said roller.
  • the rising sector fg is brought in alignment with the roller elevating the same from its lowest level L'to its highest level U, thus causing the pawl and ratchet mechanism to be racked back in readiness for actuating the spindle for widening.
  • the lowering sector ge With continued rotation of the cam, the lowering sector ge is brought in engagement with the roller which then, guided by the track 89, rides down to its lowermost level L causing the pawl and ratchet mechanism to b racked forward, ac-' cordingly operating the carrier nut' spindle to effect widening.
  • the cam 90' is so disposed .on th main cam shaft II that the sect-or ge becomes operative at a time following the advance of the outermost selvedge sinker of the widened heel area in the direction of Couliering, but always at a time prior to the ad- Vance of the dividers.
  • the sector g-e may, and preferably does, become operative in the interval of time subsequent to the projection of the outermost selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, thecontinued operation of the Couliering motion, andprevious to the start of the dividing motion.
  • cam 9i! and the cam 90 operate in substantially the same manner, although their construction differs slightly. The differences are occasioned by the modified construction of the spindle actuating pawl and ratchet control mechanisms.
  • What I claim is: 1;
  • a fiat knitting machine having carriers operable to feed yarn for the formation of'successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine: a carrier nut mechanism for arresting the carriers; a pawl and ratchet device operable tomove said carrier nut mechanism to effect narrowing; a pawl and ratchet device operable to move said carrier nut mechanism to effect widening; an operating arm common to both pawl and ratchet devices to actuate the'same; means for operating said arm to impart tothe narrowing pawl and ratchet device its movement; means for'operating saidarm to impart to the widening pawl and ratchet device its movement; and mechanism operatively associated with the pawland ratchet devices to set the same in operation in timed relationship with respect to the operation of said arm by either of said means.
  • U 2 In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having a shiftable main cam shaft, a pattern chain mechanism,.and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a pluralityiof yarns inrepeated operating said arm to impart to the narrowing pawl and ratchet device its movement; a cam on the main cam shaft engageable with said shiftable roller for operating said arm to impart to the widening pawl and ratchet device its movement; and pattern chain controlled mechanism operatively associated with said shiftable roller to bring the same in engagement with its cam on the main cam shaft and operatively associatedwith the pawl and ratchet devices to set the same for operation in timed relationship with respect tothe operation of said arm for widening.
  • a fiat hosiery knitting machine having; needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sinkyarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selec-- tively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loopsin the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means-for the movement over a number of additional needles subsequent to the movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent to such additional needles but prior to the movement of the dividers to dividing position, of the carrier which has fed its yarn for the formation of a first course, of the idle carrier at one side of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a second course, and of the idle carrier at the other side of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a third
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feed'the same to the needles in repeated sequence for the for-i V mation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted pnthe machine, and a plurality of car riers threaded with reinforcing yarn and oper. able to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said, courses: displaceable means. for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal to the numberof wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the movement over a.
  • a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feed the same to the needles in repeated sequence for the-formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine, and a plurality of carriers threaded with reinforcingyarn and operable to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said courses: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displac said means for the movement over two additional needles subsequent to the movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent said additional needles but prior to the movement of the dividers to dividing position, of the carrier which has fed its body yarn for the formation of a first, course, of the carrier which has fed its reinforcing yarn to reinforce loops of. said course, of the idle
  • a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to. sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feedthe; same to the needles in repeated sequence'for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine, and a plurality of carriers threaded with reinforcing yarn and open able to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said courses: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding'yarn to aseries. of needles equal to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and means for moving. the feeding body yarn carrier and. the idle body yarn carrier over a number of additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time the sinkers adjacent said additional needles have been advanced and the time when the dividers are advanced.
  • a mechanism for arresting the carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles'for the formation of successive courses in a hosieryblank knitted on the machine: a mechanism for arresting the carriers; a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and B4 mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advanceof certain of the sinkers by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the dividers by said divider actuating mechanism, each of the dividers within the widening areas having a yarn engaging notch immediately below its leading edge, a yarn engaging slot immediately above its nib, and yarn engaging throat intermediate said notch and said slot.
  • a mechanism for arresting the carriers a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and a mechanism operable for displacing said, carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advance of certain of the sinkers by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the di viders by said divider actuating mechanism, each of the sinkers within the widening areas having a recessed portion upon its leading edge, and each of the dividers within the widening areas having a yarn engaging notch immediately below its leading edge, a yarn engaging slot immediately above its nib, and a yarn engaging throat intermediate said notch, and said slot.
  • reciprocating mechanism including means for feeding yarn, to a cer-* tain number of said needles, and means for pro. jecting the sinkers individually and progressively; means operable to project the dividers in unison subsequent to the operation of said mechanism; and means operable for the actuation of said yarn feeding means for feeding yarn to an additional number of needles in the interval of time subsequent to the rojection of the outer most selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, during the continued operation of the reciprocating mechanism, and previous to the projection of the dividers by the divider projecting means.
  • a fiat knitting machine comprising a cam shaft which is axially shiftable to change the machine from knitting to fashioning phases of operation, and viceversagia narrowing head with a stop controlling screw spindle, and a pair of different ratchet wheels on said spindle; racking mechanism including a member oscillatable about the axis of said spindle and individual pawls for the ratchets carried by said member on opposite sides of said axis; normally quiescent means for actuating the pawls, and a pair of rotary cams'on the cam shaft corresponding rel7 spectively to the different ratchets and having faces efiecting, through influence upon the pawls, partial rotations of said ratchets to move the spindle in opposite directions; and control mechanism determining selection as between the pawls and selective actuation of the pawl actuating means by th respective cams during different fashioning phases.
  • a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles; mechanism for arresting the carriers; mechanism for actuating the sinkers to sink yarn between some of said needles; mechanism for actuating the dividers to divide the sunk yarn, and a mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the sinking of an aforesaid yarn and prior to dividing the same sunk yarn.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having a main cam shaft, needles, sinkers, dividers and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; a mechanism for arresting the carriers; mechanism for advancing sinkers between needles; mechanism for advancing the dividers between needles after the advance of the sinkers; and a mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism after the advance of at least some of the sinkers to sinking position and prior to the next advance of the dividers to dividing position.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having a pattern chain, a main cam shaft, needles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; a mechanism for arresting the carriers; a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and a mechanism controlled through said pattern chain and operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advance of some of said sinkers to sinking position by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the dividers to dividing position by said divider actuating mechanism, all of said mechanisms being activated through the main cam shaft.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the movement of a carrier over a number of additional needles subsequent to the sinking of the yarn fed to said former group of needles but prior to the dividing of such yarn for widening the heel section of the blank.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; displaceabl means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the I8 movement of the carriers over two additional needles subsequent to the movement of the sinkers to sink the yarn fed, to the former group of needles but prior to the operation of the dividers to divide the sunk yarn.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable .to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; means for moving the feeding yarn carrier and the idle yarn carrier over a number of additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time when the sinkers adjacent the additional needles have been moved to sinking position and the time when the dividers are moved to dividing position.
  • a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; means for moving the feeding yarn carrier and the idle yarn carrier over two additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time when the sinkers adjacent to a selvedge have been moved to sinking position and the time when the dividers are moved to dividing position.
  • a yarn carrier in combination, a yarn carrier, a group of sinkers, a group of dividers, a bank of needles, and means automatically manipulating said carrier, sinkers, dividers, and needles to draw a sinker loop around a yarn section connecting selvedge loops of successive courses, said means including carrier control mechanism halting the carrier during the advance of a sinker beyond the carrier halting point and releasing the carrier for further movement in the direction of its movement before halting and before the complementary ad vance of the dividers.

Description

Dec. 30, 1947 s. c. MACK 2,433,568
FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 28, 1942 9 she s-she 1 Dec. 30; 1947.
S.- C. MACK FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 9 She ets-Sheet 2 A rromva'i' Dec. 30, 1947. s. c. MACK FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHI'NE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet a Fl II 7 a A m MW E m Dec. 30, ,1947. s, MACK 2,433,568
FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 I gull/111m INVENTORI snswL/zva C WAC/p WWW ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1947.
s. c. MACK 7 2,433,568 FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 28, 1942 Y 97 im:ojte
9 Sheets-Sheet 5 E y 7W Dec. 30, 194-7. s. c. MACK FULL-FASHIONED KN I TTII IG MACHINE 9 Sheets-Shae; e
INVENTOR A TT HW'E Y- k C M a M n n 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1942 Dec; 30, 1-947.
Filed Ded. 28, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR K. m h C M L W 5 ATTOlZ/VEY Dec. 30,1947. 5. c. MACK FULL -FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 Y :YINVENTOR STBPLI/VG C, Max.
9 Sheets-Sheet 8 WW ATTOFFE Y Dec. 30, 1947. s. c. MAI-CK 2,433,568
FULL-FASHIONED .KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, .1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I INVENTOR 512 941: 6: fine Patented Dec. 30, 1947 staring; c. track, Bange rat; assig'fi r to Julius Kayscr a on, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Application-December 28, 1942, Serial fin. 4763 55 l The present invention generally relates to the art of widening fabrics on flat knitting-machines and, more specifically, pertains to full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines oi the kind shown and describedjn my coperiding appligationserial No. 401,1;2, filed July 5, 1941, now Patent 2.40;,206,
or which the present application is a continuatigninpart The invention' i s particularly concerned with that type of widening wherein; loops are added onto the ends of courses, as distinguished from that type of wideningwherein loops at the selvedge portions of the fabric are transferred out= wardly, and has for one of its primary objects the provision of means capable of being readily incorporated in afull-tashione'd hosiery knitting machine whereby the machine may be operated to' produce combination leg and foot hosiery blanks with widened portions; especially widened heel portions.
It is also a most important object of the in: vention to provide a simple attachment capable of being conveniently incorporated inordinary full-fashioned knitting machines Without bur dening the knitting machine with complicated and intricate mechanism and without necessitating any material changes in the basic coristruw tion of the machine and, further. Without reqhir: ing detrimental changes in the relative actuation and timed function of the various knitting in strumentalities, such as the bearded needles, the sinkers, the dividers, the knockover bits, and the yarn carriers.
Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious andin part pointed out hereinafter;
In order that the invention and its made of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art; -I have; in the" accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set outa possible embodiment of the invention. I
In these drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of portions of afull-fashioned knitting machine having theattachment of the invention incorporated therein:
Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan of parts shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is" a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;
Fig; 5 is an enlargedsecti'on taken on line 5 5 of Fi 3';
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of one of the Pawls operating the carrier nutspindle Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating the pawl controlling element in one of its positions;
Fig. 8 is a View similar tOFig; 7 illustrating the pawl controlling element in another of its posi tions; 7
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional detail of the cam controlled rollers; I V
Fig. 10 is a detail of the control mechanism viewed from therear of the machine;- Fig. 11 is a top plan of the same; taken on linel ill of Fig.
Figs. 12 through 27v i-ficlilsiv illustrate in a more or less diagrammatic manner the various stages in th operation of the machine for Wid ening the fabric; I
Fig. 28 is a side elvatiofi illustiating the 'pre-' ferred construction of the dividers in the widening portions of a knitting head;
Fig. 29 is a side eievaticn illustrating the Pre Fig. 4;
Fig. 31 is a sectional side elevation showing a modification of the attachment;
Fig. 32 is a front aeration of the same;
Fig. 33 is a detail of the widening can looking in the general direction dfline 33-43 of Fig. 32.
Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the machine as shown embodies the usual frame I0 provided with bearings for the rotatable shiftable main cam shaft H, the rockable needle bar upand-down shaft l2,the rockable needle bar inand-out shaft i3, the rockable front catch bar shaft l4, and. the reusable back catch bar shaft The machine frame also includes the ordinary center bed 16, front beam l1, and back beam I8.
About the center bed are arranged the multiple knitting sections designated in their entirety for convenience herein by the reference character Each knitting section comprises an association of knitting instrumentalities cofunctioning to form the knitted loops of the fabric through the operation of the machine. These instrumentali ties include a bank of bearded needles 20 a bank of sinkers 2i and dividers 22; a' bank of knockover bits 23, and a set of yarn feeding carriers 24. The banks of needles are supported in needle bar 25 adapted to have up-and-down movement for the purpose of drawing newly formed loops through previously formed loops, and in-and-out movement for the purpose of pressing ofisuch previously formed loops subsequent to the drawing therethrough of the newly formed loops.
To impart up and-downmovement to the needle bars,- there are attached to the latter various brackets 26 pivotally connected-,- as at 21, to split arms 28 which are secured to the needle up-and down shaft I2. Also secured to said shaft I? are levers, such as indicated at 29,- each carrying a roller 38 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding needle up-and-down cam 3| of the main cam shaft I I.
To impart in-and-out movement to the needle bars, there are attached to the latter bearing brackets 32 pivotally connected, as at 33, to arms 34 which, in turn, are pivotally connected, as at 35, to levers such as shown at 36 secured to the needle in-and-out shaft I3, each lever carrying a roller 31 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding in-and-out cam 38 on the main camshaftll.
Each bank of sinkers and dividers is supported in a sinker bed 39, the individual sinkers and dividers being arranged in alternating, relationship to extend between the needles 20 of-the-associated bank so that one needle is located between a sinker and an adjoining divider. l
The sinkers and dividers are adapted to be advanced and retracted relatively to the needles. The sinkers are advanced individually and pro' gressively through the "function of the so-called Coulier motion (not shown) which, for this pur-- pose, includes a slur bar 48 carrying slur-cocks 4| for reciprocation within the knitting sections, and shaped to act successively and progressively on series of jacks42, one for each-sinkenand operable to push the same outwardly of the sinker bed 39.
The dividers 22 are advanced in gang by means of a catch bar 43 having links such as that shown at 44 pivotally connected, as at 45, to an associated arm 46 fixed onto the back catch bar shaft l5. Also fixed onto the back catch bar shaft are levers such as that shown at 41 each carrying a roller 48 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding cam 49 on the main cam shaft II.
The sinkers 2| and dividers 22 are retracted simultaneously by means of the catch bar 42 and, for that purpose, there are provided links 50 connected at one end to the catch bar and engaged at the other end with rods such as that shown at 5! pivoted, as at 52, to an arm 53 fixed onto the front catch bar shaft l4. Also fixed to the front catch bar shaft [4 are levers such as that shown at 54 carrying a roller 55 disposed for riding engagement with a corresponding cam 56 on the main cam shaft l I.
The knockover bits 23 are mounted in a support 51 and disposed below the sinkers 2| and dividers 22 in the vertical plane thereof, so that a needle extends between two adjoining knockover bits.. The knockover bits 23 are movable towards and away from the sinkers 2! and dividers 22 and, for that purpose, their support 51 is connected in the usual manner to the ordinary link and lever system (not shown) controlled by the ordinary cam means (not shown) on the main cam shaft H.
The carriers 24 are positioned to feed yarn upon thenibs of-the sinkers 2| and dividers 22 and to the front (that is, the bearded) side of the needles 20. For that purpose, the carriers 24 are arranged on carrier bars 58 mounted for reciprocation in brackets such as'shown'at 59. The carrier bars 58 receive their reciprocating movement through function of the Coulier motion which, for that purpose, has a friction bar 60 which may be, and preferably is, associated with a suitable wellknown three-carrier attachment (not shown) connectable with the carrier bars to impart reciprocatory yarn feeding movements to the carriers in selective repeated sequence. 1
The reciprocating movement of the carrier bars 58 is controlled by the function of the carriernarrowing motion mechanism 6! which includes the usual double threaded spindle 52 in engagement with oppositely movable carrier nuts 63. The carrier nuts 63 are provided with stops 64 placeable in the path of movement of a pair of abutments 65 suitabl arranged on each of the carrier bars 58 so that the carrier bars are limited in--their movement in either direction.
Moreover, each of the carrier bars 58 is supplied with a pair of projections 65 engageable with latch members 51 journalled in the carrier nuts 63 by means of a traverse shaft 58. Rigid with theshaft 68 is an arm 59 acted upon by a spring 18"to normally urge the shaft 68, together with its latch members 5'! into position for positive engagement with their associated carrier projections 66. i
The arm 69 carries a roller m in bearing engagement with a cross piece 1| adjustably affixed to a vertically extending rod l2 pivotally connected, as at 13, to a lever 74 mounted for rocking motion-on the back catch bar shaft l5. The lever 74 carries a roller 15 disposed for riding engagement with an active cam E3 or a neutral cam 18a on the main cam shaft H, depending upon the shifting positions of'the latter.
From the foregoing, it will be understood that the carrier bars 58 with their carriers'24 are locked securely 'to'the carrier nuts 63 by means of the spring urged latch members 61 but that, upon action of the cam 15 on the roller 15, the lever 14 is rocked to exert a downward pull on the rod 12 and its cross piece H which then presses on the roller carrying arm 69, accordingly causing the latch members 67 to disengage the projections 65 and thus freeing the carrier bars for their reciprocating motion, The cam 15 is so shaped and disposed as to effect the carrier bar'release immediately before the reciprocating movement of the carrier starts.
In accordance with the present invention, the reversible threaded spindle 62 of the carrier narrowing mechanism BI is intended to be rotated in opposite directions, rotation in one direction effecting narrowing of the fabric and rotation in the other direction effecting widening of the fabric. For that purpose, there is rigidly attached to an extended portion ll of the spindle G2 a pair of integral ratchet wheels 18 and 19 respectively having their teeth extended in opposite directions. Freely mounted on said extended portion 11 is an oscillating pawl carrying arm 85 having one pawl 8| disposed to engage the ratchet wheel 18 and one pawl 82 disposed to engage the ratchet wheel 19. The pawl carrying arm is given its oscillatory motion by means of a lever 83 connected to said arm 88 through an adjustable rod 84 and mounted for rocking motion on the back catch bar shaft 15. The lever 83 is provided with a fixed roller 85 and a shiftable roller 86. The fixed roller 85 is adapted to have riding engagement with the peripheral edge of a neutral cam 81 or with an active cam 88 on the main cam shaft I [when the latter is shifted to its narrowing position, that is, in the direction of arrow E in Fi ure 4.
Thus it will be understood that whenever the main cam shaft II is shifted to its narrowing position, the cam 88 is brought in contact with the roller 85, thereby causing the lever 83 to exert a rearward pull on the pawl carrying arm 83 and, accordingly, move the pawl 8| to act on its ratchet wheel 18 for rotating the spindle 62 in the direction to move the carrier nuts 63 for effecting narrowing of the fabric. The roller 86 is engageable 83 an-dhaving one end portion83 in engagement with a groove 98 suitably formed'withsaidroller 86" and having its other end 95' in. engagement with a shifting rod 96. The shifting IIOd 96 is connectedby means of a'block 91 to a second rod 98 which is associated .withanoscillatinglink and bell crankassembly 89 suitablymounted on the machine frame to'be acted upon by buttons I on a pattern chain IOI .whichmayibe; and preferably is; the usual .main pattern" chain of the knitting machine. Thus, whenever a button I 00 during. the progressive movement of the :pattern chain 'I0'I comesin position to acton the link and bell .crank lever arrangement 99, the lattermo'ves' the rods 98 and'98 in a left "direction', Figure l', for causing the shifting'lever BI to' shiftthe roller Biiintoengagement with the tra'ck"89 of the cam90; "In this manner, the track 89 acti1'ate's the lei/ch83 to exert'aforward thrust totheipawlicarryin arm 80, accordingly moving the pawl 'BZ to'act 'on'its ratchet wheel I9 for rotating'rtlie spindle=62in the direction to move 'th'eearrier nuts 83f0r widening of the'fabric.
In 'order to provide means for disengagingthe pawl 8l or 82 'from its associated ratchet wheel lil or 'lli; to' permit rotationflof'the spindle 62 when acted on by the reinainingpawl and'ratchet wheeLfithere' is :preferably: provided for free oscillatinglmotion on the spindleextension-"ll an annular disc I03having acut-out portion I04 on a sector of its peripheral edge, thus providing a pair of diametrically opposed camming surfaces I05 and I08 respectively. 'Thepawls 8| and 82 'carry'pins I01 and I08 respectively disposed for association with the camming surfaces I05 and I06 so that, upon-oscillation of the disc I03 in onedirection, that is, in the direction of arrow I, the pin I81 will ride down the surface I05 allowing the pawl 8I to engage the ratchet wheel.
I8, and the pin I08 will ride' up'the surfac'eYIBG forcing the pawl 82 out of engagement with'the ratchet wheel 19. However, upon oscillation "of the disc I03 in'the opposite direction, that is, in the' direction'of arrowJ, the pin "I01 willride up the surface I05 'forcin'g'the pawl8l out of "en- 'g'ag'ement with the ratchet wheel I8,'and' the pin 1I08 will'ride down the surface I 06"allowin'g the pawl 82 to engage the ratchet wheel =79. In order that the oscillation of the disc I03 for the relative displacement of the pawls' 8| and '82 may be controlled in timed'relation with respect tbth'e operation of 'the knitting *machine ltofeffec't narrowing or widening "ofthe fabric; said disc is connected by means of "a. rod 1l09ito'a lever ll0'pivotally supportd'as'at III inibra'cket I12 conveniently mounted on'the back beam .I8. The lever IIO carries a roller II3 disposedfor engagement'witha' cam H4 on the camshaft II and is. controlled by a latch II5;pivoted:to the bracket H2, for instance, asshown atv [16,;a1f1d connected toan extendedlportioncof the :rod 98. so that upon shifting of the: latter, the latch H5 is moved out of engagement with the lever I I0, thus freeing the same ,for vitsactuation by the cam. IE4. In this manner, it will be appreciated that when the shiftingrod 88 is .in its inactive position,.that is, in the positionshown in? the .drawings, .the pawl 8I engages itnrachet wheel :18 .while the pawl 82 is out; of engagement 6 with 'it's' rachet wheel-I9 so that narrowing'may takeip'lace; whereas when the shifting rod 981s in. itsactive position, that is, shifted to the left (Figure: ;1),: the pawl 8| is out of engagement with its ratchet wheel I8 while the pawl 82 eng'agesiits ratchet wheel I9 so that widening of the fabric may take place.
The operation of the knitting machine accordingttothepresent invention will now be described in. connection'with the fabrication of a single unit stockingiblank of the type diagrammatically shown: inFigure ,3 wherein the heel fabric is formed by. widening courses in the areas between line::X:"Xi' and line Z-Z to form widened heel sections \Wicontinuations of the high spliced heelsections S. -..In:ac'c'0rdance. with the present practice in the industry, the fabric of the blank preferably is "offfringless construction, that is, the stocking 'reinforcedand, for that purpose, two separate reinforcing yarns RI and R2 are utilized. For convenience herein, the reinforcing yarns RI and R2 are shown unshaded, the body yarn YI is shadeds'olid black, the body-yarn Y2 is lined, and the body yarn Y3 is stippled.
In accordance with the usual practice in the art, one reinforcing yarn RI is used in conjunction with the three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3 informing the desired number of reinforced loops to constitute the reinforced heel area at one side of the stocking fabric, and the other reinforcing yarn R2 is'used in conjunction with the three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3 in forming the desired number of reinforced loops to constitutethe reinforced heel area at the other side of the 'stockin'gfabric, said three body yarns YI, Y2, and Y3being used alone, that is, without either reinforcing yarn RI or R2 to form the desire'd'number of non-reinforced loops intermediate the reinforced loops within the heel areas to constitute the sheer instep area.
It will be understood that-the desired number of reinforced loops within the reinforced heel areas may be obtained by adjustment of the fabric widening attachment and of the well known 'pointex attachment not shown herein but usually provided on full-fashioned knitting machines, the widening attachment controlling the feeding of the body and reinforcing yarns at the outer s'elvedge edges of the reinforced areas of the fabric and the pointex attachment controlling the'feeding of the reinforcing yarns at theinner selvedge edges of said areas.
Inorder to fully and clearly understand the present invention, the association, actuation, and timed function of the. various knittin instrumentalitiesand associated parts as they occur in the .usual operation of an ordinary full-fashioned knitting machine must be borne in mind.
As is well known in the art, and as hereinbefore stated, the sinkers 2 I and dividers 22 within each sinker head 39 are arranged in alternating relationship, the knockover bits 23 are ,so positioned that there is, one knockover bit belowlandin the vertical plane of each sinker. and
divider, the needles 2!] are so disposed that'one needle extends betweenevery two adjacent'knockover bits and between a sinker and an adjoining divider, and the carriers 24 are so positioned that yarn is fed upon the nibs of the sinkers and dividers and to the front (that is, the bearded) side of the needle. The yarn carriers 24 and sinkers 2| are actuated through the Coulier motion, whereas the needles 29, dividers, and knockover bits are actuated through their respective cams provided on the main cam shaft II.
The friction rod 60 and slur bar 40 are reciprocated in unison and in uniform strokes lengthwise of the knitting machine, but the reciprocating yarn laying strokes of the carriers are variably controlled by means of the stops associated with the narrowing nuts '63 of the carrier narrowing mechanism 6!. The operation of the carrier narrowing mechanism is such that the carrier stops are adjusted to arrest the carriers always over the divider outside the needle next to the desired end needle so that the sinker "between said end and additional needles may function to sink the yarn on the end needle for the formation of the selvedge loop. While the carriers are arrested, the Coulier motion continues to the end of its stroke so that the slur cocks 41 continue in their movement to advance all the sinkers 2i and, for that purpose, the location of the slur cocks M with respect to the sinker heads 3'9 and end of the Couliering motion is such that by the time the Couliering motion has reached the end of its stroke in either direction, the slur cocks have passed beyond the last sinkers in the sinker head.
The dividers 22 are advanced in gang by means of catch bars 43 which, at times, also act to engage and simultaneously move the sinkers 2| and the dividers 22; the knockover bits 23 are given a slight up and down motion by means of levers attached to the knockover shaft (not shown); and the needles 2!! receive movement in a general vertical direction, that is, at right angles to the sinkers, dividers, and knockover bits, by means of the lever and link arrangements referred to. The catch bars, the knockover bits motion imparting levers, and the needle'movement impart- "ing lever and link arrangements are controlled by appropriate cams on the main cam shaft, as hereinbefore stated. These cams, however, are so shaped and core'lated that the movements of the various knitting instrumentalities and associated parts take place in a definite timed relationship. Thus, at the beginning of a course, the needles are in their uppermost position, the sinkers and dividers are in their innermost position, and the knockover bits in their lowermost position. Thereupon, the Coulier motion, coming into operation, moves the carriers in one direction which lay the yarn in said direction in the manner hereinbefore specified. As the carriers move, the slur cocks follow at a short distance, thus successively advancing the sinkers and, accordingly, kinking the yarn between alternate needles.
When all the sinkers have been advanced, and before the Couliering starts in the opposite direction, the catch bars are caused to move forwardly, thus forcing the dividers to advance in unison and, accordingly, the yarn which has already been kinked between alternate needles now becomes kinked between each needle.
With the sinkers and dividers remaining in their advanced positions, the needles are caused to descend vertically so that the yarn .k'inked about the needle shanks becomes engaged within the needle beards to be drawn through the loops of a previously formed course, whereupon pressing oif of the loops of said previously formed course takes place in the usual manner.
As 'is known, during the press-off, the sinkers and dividers are drawn back simultaneously by the catch bars while the knockover bits are being moved upwardly. In this manner, the newly sunk loops, due to the downward movement of the needles, are caused to slip off the nibs of the sinkers and dividers onto the knockover bits, whereupon the sinkers and dividers are advanced simultaneously by the catch bars, thereby holding the fabric in place as the subsequent raising of the needles takes place.
Following the press-off, and after the needles are returned to their uppermost position, the sinkers and dividers are withdrawn en masse to their innermost position by the catch bar, whereupon the laying of another course begins.
.In accordance with the present invention, when a widening course is to be made, the yarn feeding is done in the ordinary manner as above described, the selected carriers being arrested as usual over the dividers outside the needle next to the ultimate knitting needle in operation while the sinkers beyond said needle are being advanced, but between the time when all the sinkers have been advanced and the time when the dividers are to be advanced, the active as well as the idle carriers, except the idle reinforcing carrier, are displaced preferably a distance of two needles passing over the extended sinker therebetween and coming to rest over the succeeding divider so that, with the advance of the dividers, that divider at either end of the knitting field over which the carriers were originally arrested engages the yarns and firmly holds the same against the needle between said divider and the immediately preceding sinker whereupon, during the subsequent operation of the knitting instrumentalities, there are formed a loop on said needle next to the original ultimate needle and a firm selvedge loop on the second added needle.
Referring more particularly to Figures 12 to 2'7 inclusive, there are shown certain knitting needles of a needle bar and knitting elements associated therewith. The needle at each of the opposite ends of the series on which the last fabric course before the knitting of a widening course takes place is indicated at NI, whereas the first three needles in the widening area over which added loops are extended or widening courses are formed, are indicated at N2, N3, and N4, Corelated with the needles in the order mentioned are sinkers SI, dividers D2, sinkers S3, and dividers D4, with each of which are associated the knockover bits K. Carriers Cl, C2, and C3 respectively intended to feed the body yarns Yl, Y2, and Y3, and carriers C4 and C5 respectively intended to feed the reinforcing yarns RI and R2, are shown in their relative positions.
It will be understood that in the laying of the yarns for the formation of regular courses, that is, courses of uniform width, the carriers are arrested over the dividers D2 so that the sinkers SI may cooperate in forming the selvedge loops E.
In accordance with the present invention, as represented in Figures 12, 13, and 14, as the widening operation commences, the carrier Cl, threaded with the body yarn Y! which has just been used to lay a course, and the carrier C5, threaded with the reinforcing yarn R2 whichhas just been used to reinforce certainwloops' tof said course, are arrested in their movement towards one end of the needle series over the divider D2 at; that end of the machine and over which lies idle the carrier C2 threadedwith th bodyyarn Y2 which is to be used for laying the next--succeeding course, whereas the carrier1C3, threaded with the body yarn Y3 which is-to be used for laying the third course, lies idle over thedivider D2 at the other end of the needle series. .These carriers are held in that position until all the sinkers within the widening .portion in theknit-- ting head have reached their advanced position.- In the interval after the sinkers inthe widen: ing portion of the knitting headhave moved outwardly, and before thedividers are movedforwa-rdly, the carriers Ci C2; and C at one end of the needle series, and thecarrier C3 at the other end'of the needle series are relatively displaced outwardly over a distance of two needles, that-is; said carriers pass overtherespeotive needles N3, over the respective extended sinkers S3, and come to rest over the respective dividers D4 so that a portion of each of the yarns Yl, Y2, R2, and Y3 is laid across the nib of the respectivedividers D2, as indicated in dotted lines in...Figure 12. Such outward movement of thecarriers takes place after the sinkers up to and including theright hand sinker5S3 (Fig. 12) have been advanced to sinking position and during the ad-; vance of the remaining sinkers in the head be-. yond the widening portion and prior to .thead vance of the dividers to-dividing position. The dividers are then advanced simultaneously to sink the yarns between each needle, thus form'- ing the loops of the newglaid course; as represented in Figure 15. In so doing, as illustrated in Figures 15, 16, and 17, the dividers D2 engage that portion of each of the yarnsYl, Y2, R2, and Y2 which were laid across the nibs of the dividers D2 by th movement of the carrier bars to locate the carriers over the dividers D2 and thus, firmly hold the yarns against the needles N2.
At this particularmoment, the needles, in their. usual sequence ofmovement, descend, as indicated by the arrow in Figures ldand 1'7,for.the purpose of drawing the: newly formed loops of the widened courses being made throughpthe previously formed loops of :thepreceding course. It will be understoodthat in this descending. movement of the needles, the yarnportions held against the needles N2 become engaged within the beards thereof, but that the yarn portions passing over the. needles N3 are not engaged thereby because of the angle at which said yarn portions are drawn. g, a ,5 l As the needles continueto descend, the sinkers and dividers, as is customary for the'press-oif operation, are withdrawn en masse, as indicated by arrow A (Figure 18) and thenadvanced en masse, as indicated by arrow B (Figure 18), for the purpose of holding down the newly drawn loops while the needles are raised to theiruppermost position. It is tobe noted that the yarns being engaged within the beards of th needles N2 will be drawn downwardlyas :the needles descend and, accordingly, upon withdrawal and subsequent advance of the sinkersand dividers, said yarns are permittedto be caught underthe dividers D2 which place the portions of the yarns leading from the needles NZ to the main ca rriers Cl, C2, and C3 and reinforcing carrierCS at such an angular position (dotted lines, :Figure l8) that, upon the advancing movement of the sinkers anddividers, thesinke'rs SB engage the yams, as indicated :iniull lines in Figure 13. Since this advance of the sinkers and dividers takes place'prior to the raising of the needles, as indicated by the-arrow in Figure 19, the yarns leading from the carriers, as. above specified; become located forwardly of the needles N3 in the manner clearly shown ,in Figures 21, 22, and '23 whentheneedles reach their uppermost position and the sinkers and dividers are withdrawn in unison in their innermost position preparatory to the laying of yarn for the'next course.
In laying yarn for the formationof the next course, the carrier 02 threadedg'with the body yarn Y2, and the carrier 05 threaded with the reinforcing yarn R2, are moved in the reverse direction, wrappingsaid yarns Y2 and R2 about the needles N3 (Figures 24 and 25),Whl18j13h6 car-' rier CI remainsidle. As mor clearly shown in Figure 24, the carriersC2 and 05 travel together for that distance necessaryto form-the desired number of reinforced-loops of .one heel area, whereupon the carrier 05 is arrested while the carrier C2 continues to travel alonefor that distancenecessaryto form the desired number of non-reinforced loops of the instep area when the carrier C t-threaded with the reinforced'yarn Rl joins the movement of the carrier C2 to form the desired number of reinforced loops in the other heel area; said carriers-C2'and C4 travelling together, as illustrated in Figures 24and; 26, to the end of the yarn laying movement for the formation ofathe course the yarns being sunk between alternate needles by ;the usual function of the sinkers. As represented in Figure. 27, after the laying of the yarns has been completed, the dividers are advanced en-masseso that the yarns become sunk between each needle, whereupon the needles operatein their usual manner to knit in the course. j
V Informing thenext course, the carrier 03 threaded with the body yarn Y3, and the carrier C4 threaded with the reinforcing yarn RI, move together in theoppositedirection for the required distance, whereupon carrier C4 is stopped while carrier C3 continues to move alone for the formation of non reinforced loops. Then carrier Q5 threaded with-the reinforcing yarnR2 joins in the movement of the carrier C3 to the end of the yarn laying strokewhich brings said carriers C3 and 1C5'to astopover divider D4. Subsequently, the carriersCj and CE-are moved the distance of two additional needles so that said carriers come to rest over the divider D6 for widening the course in the same manner as here-. inbefore described; 7 1 j It is to be understood that succeeding widened courses areformed in the same manner, butit is also to be {understood that instead of widening immediately succeeding courses, one or more courses of a width identical to the immediately preceding course may be knitted before the knit ting of another widened course.
In order that the production of the stocking fabric, asexplained above, may-be carried out without changein the proven advantageous relative'- position between the carriers and sinker heads, I have devised modified constructions for the dividers and sinkerslocated within the widening area of the sinker heads. The preferred constructions for such dividers and sinkers are shown respectively in Figures 28 and 29.
in ordinary full-fashioned knitting machines, it has been found that in :order to assure the proper laying of yarn for preventing accidental dropping: of loops and the iqrmation of rough selvedges, the tips of the'yarn carriers must be slightly lower than the top edges of the'sinkers', and because the carriersare always: stopped over a divider sothat the preceding divider may be used. informing the corresponding selvedge, the leading edge of each divider is formed with a cutout portion, such as shown at H8 in Figure 28, whereby said leading edge lays in a plane somewhat lower than the top edges of the sinkers. In this manner, the lower tips of the carriers are cleared when the dividers are advanced.
Also in ordinary full-fashioned knitting machines, in order to provide means for taking up excess yarn that would usually be drawn by the regular dividers when carried forward by the catch bar and thus cont-ributingto the forma tion of tight selvedges, it is customary to form the selvedge dividers with a slot H9 at a point below the usual throat I20 of each such divider. Because of the provision of said slot'H9, when a carrier is reversed at the end of its stroke, th yarnfed by such a carrier is wrapped securely around the last needle in operation and pulled over the nib l 2l of the associated selvedge divider sothat, upon forward movement of said divider to form the loops between adjoining needles, the yarn is forced under the shortened nib I22, accordingly making the ultimate or selvedge loop smaller than normal size.
Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, the selvedge dividers which are located in the widening area of the knitting section are each provided with a notch I23 at the leadingedge of the divider adjacentthe cutout or recessed portion H8 and immediately above the throat I20 thereof. By providing this notch I23, in the manner stated, the yarns, as more clearly shown in Figure 16, become engaged "within saidnotch when the divider (for instance, the divider D2) is advanced after the carriers have moved to their extreme positions over the next following divider (for instance, divider D4) as hereinbefore described. Since the tips of the carriers extend below the normal upper edgesof the sinkers and since, in accordance with this invention, the movement of th carriers from their positions over one divider (for instance, divider D2) to their positions over the next succeeding divider (for instance, divider D4) occurs, after the sinkers have been advanced, the upper edges of these sinkers located within thewidened area of the knitting section are provided with recessed or cut-out portions I24 so disposed that the carriers may undergo their movements fromone stop position to their other stop positions without interference.
From the description herein, it will be understood that an ordinary full-fashioned knitting machine may be operated to knit single unit fullfashioned stocking blanks with widened heel s ctions by providing such' machine with the attachment herein shown and described.
As more clearly shown in Figure 30, the cam 90 includes a neutral part 90a and an active part 902). The neutral part 90a is round, whereas the active part 901) comprises four-sectors, that is, a neutral sectorextendingfrom point a to point 6, a rising sector extending from point I) to point 0, an idling sector extending from point to point (1, and a lowering sector extending from point it to point a. Thus during normal knitting, the roller 86 riding on the neutral part 99a idles at its lowest level, as indicated at L, sothat the spindle actuating-pawl and ratchet mechanism remains inoperative. The operation of the chain mechanism causes the shifting of: the roller 86, from the neutral part 90a ontothe active part 9012. This shifting is timed to take place. when the cam 90, rotating in the direction of arrow B, brings the neutral sector a,-b in line. with the roller 86. Then, as the cam progresses in its rotation, the rising sector 12-0 and the idling sector c-d are brought successively-in alignment with the roller, elevating and maintaining the same at its highest level indicated at U, thus causing said pawl and ratchet mechanism to be racked back and held in readiness for actuating the spindle for widening. With continued rotation of the cam, the lowering sector d-a is brought in engagement with the roller which then, guided by the track 89, rides down to the lowermost level L causing the pawl and ratchet mechanism to be racked forward, accordingly operating the carrier nut spindle to effect widenmg.
It is particularly pointed out that the cam 90 is so disposed on the main cam shaft that the sector d-a becomes operative at a time following the advance of the outermost selvedge sinker of the widened heel area in the direction of Couliering as for instance during the advance of the sinkers beyond the widened heel area but always at a time prior to the advance of the dividers. In other words, the sector d-a may, and preferably does, become operative in the interval of time subsequent to the projection of the outermost selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, and during the continued operation of the Couliering motion, and previous to the start of th dividing motion.
In Figures 31 through 33 there is shown a modification of the attachment. As represented in Figures 31 and 32, the shiftable roller 86 carried by the lever 83 oscillating on the back catch bar shaft [5 to actuate the arm 80 for imparting movement to the pawl 8! or 82 associated with the respective ratchet wheel 18 or 19, is disposed for riding engagement with an actuating cam provided with a guiding track 89.
For the purpose of shifting the roller 86, there is preferably provided a shifting lever 9|" pivoted at its intermediate po rtion 9-2" to the rocking lever 83. and having one end portion 93" in engagementv with the groove 94 formed with said roller 86 and havingits other end 95" in engagement with. a shifting rod 96". The shifting rod- 96. is. associated with the oscillating link and bell crank assembly 99- (Figures 1 and I0) mounted on the machine frame to be actedupon by the pattern chain. Thus, whenever a button during the progressive movement of the pattern chain comes in position to act on the link and bell crank lever arrangement, the latter moves the shifting rod 96 in the direction of arrow F in Figure 32'for causing the shifting lever 9| to shift the roller 86 into engagement with the cam 90". In this manner, the cam 90 actuates the lever 83 to exert a forward thrust on the pawl carrying arm 80, accordingly moving the pawl 82 to act on its ratchet 19 for rotating the. spindle in the direction to move the carrier nuts for widening the fabric in the same manner as hereinbefore described.
In order to operate the disc I0 3 acting on the pins H11 and 108 of thepawls 8| and 83 for controlling the latter, there is provided a rod I09 having one of its, ends connected to said disc and the other of its ends connected to a, bell crank lever 91- which, in turn, is connected to the shifting rod 96'. In this manner it will be appre- 13- 4 ciated that the function of the pawl and ratchet mechanism and the function of the controlling device for said mechanism are corelated for operation and proper timed relationship.
As more clearly shown in Figure 33, the cam 90' comprises three sectors, that is, a neutral sector extending from point e to point 1, a rising sector extending from point i to point 91, and a lowering sector extending from point g to point e. The shifting of the roller 86 to engage the cam 90' is timed to take place when said cam, rotating inthe direction of arrow R, brings the neutral sector e-J in line with said roller. Then, as the cam progresses in its rotation, the rising sector fg is brought in alignment with the roller elevating the same from its lowest level L'to its highest level U, thus causing the pawl and ratchet mechanism to be racked back in readiness for actuating the spindle for widening. With continued rotation of the cam, the lowering sector ge is brought in engagement with the roller which then, guided by the track 89, rides down to its lowermost level L causing the pawl and ratchet mechanism to b racked forward, ac-' cordingly operating the carrier nut' spindle to effect widening.
" It is particularly pointed out that the cam 90' is so disposed .on th main cam shaft II that the sect-or ge becomes operative at a time following the advance of the outermost selvedge sinker of the widened heel area in the direction of Couliering, but always at a time prior to the ad- Vance of the dividers. In other words, the sector g-e may, and preferably does, become operative in the interval of time subsequent to the projection of the outermost selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, thecontinued operation of the Couliering motion, andprevious to the start of the dividing motion.
From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the cam 9i! and the cam 90 operate in substantially the same manner, although their construction differs slightly. The differences are occasioned by the modified construction of the spindle actuating pawl and ratchet control mechanisms.
It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment herein shown and described, but iincludes any possible changes and modifications which come within the scope of the subjoined claims.
What I claim is: 1; Ina fiat knitting machine having carriers operable to feed yarn for the formation of'successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine: a carrier nut mechanism for arresting the carriers; a pawl and ratchet device operable tomove said carrier nut mechanism to effect narrowing; a pawl and ratchet device operable to move said carrier nut mechanism to effect widening; an operating arm common to both pawl and ratchet devices to actuate the'same; means for operating said arm to impart tothe narrowing pawl and ratchet device its movement; means for'operating saidarm to impart to the widening pawl and ratchet device its movement; and mechanism operatively associated with the pawland ratchet devices to set the same in operation in timed relationship with respect to the operation of said arm by either of said means.
U 2. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having a shiftable main cam shaft, a pattern chain mechanism,.and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a pluralityiof yarns inrepeated operating said arm to impart to the narrowing pawl and ratchet device its movement; a cam on the main cam shaft engageable with said shiftable roller for operating said arm to impart to the widening pawl and ratchet device its movement; and pattern chain controlled mechanism operatively associated with said shiftable roller to bring the same in engagement with its cam on the main cam shaft and operatively associatedwith the pawl and ratchet devices to set the same for operation in timed relationship with respect tothe operation of said arm for widening.
'3'. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having; needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sinkyarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selec-- tively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loopsin the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means-for the movement over a number of additional needles subsequent to the movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent to such additional needles but prior to the movement of the dividers to dividing position, of the carrier which has fed its yarn for the formation of a first course, of the idle carrier at one side of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a second course, and of the idle carrier at the other side of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a third course.
4'.'In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers'se lectively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to theneedles in repeated sequence for the formation of successiv courses ina hosieryblank knitted on the machine: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the movement over two additional needles subsequent to the movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent to said additional needles but prior to the movement of the dividers to dividing position, of the carrier which has fed its yarn for the formation of a first course, of the idle carrier at oneside of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a second course, and of the idle carrier at the other side of the blank and which is to feed its yarn for the formation of a'third course. 5. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feed'the same to the needles in repeated sequence for the for-i V mation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted pnthe machine, and a plurality of car riers threaded with reinforcing yarn and oper. able to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said, courses: displaceable means. for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal to the numberof wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the movement over a. number of additional needles subsequent to the. movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent to such additional needles but prior tothe movement of the dividers to dividing position of the carrier which has fed its body yarn for the formation of a first course, of the idle carrier at one side of the blank and which'is to feed its body yarn for the formation of a second course, and of the idle carrier at the other sideof the blank and which is to feed its body: yarn for the formation of a third course.
6. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feed the same to the needles in repeated sequence for the-formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine, and a plurality of carriers threaded with reinforcingyarn and operable to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said courses: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displac said means for the movement over two additional needles subsequent to the movement to sinking position of the sinkers adjacent said additional needles but prior to the movement of the dividers to dividing position, of the carrier which has fed its body yarn for the formation of a first, course, of the carrier which has fed its reinforcing yarn to reinforce loops of. said course, of the idle carrier at one side of the blank and which is to feed its body yarn for the formation of a second course, and of the idle carrieratthe other side of the blank and which is to-feed its body yarn for the formation of a third course.
7. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to. sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feedthe; same to the needles in repeated sequence'for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine, and a plurality of carriers threaded with reinforcing yarn and open able to feed the same to certain needles for reinforcing certain loops at the end portions of said courses: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding'yarn to aseries. of needles equal to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and means for moving. the feeding body yarn carrier and. the idle body yarn carrier over a number of additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time the sinkers adjacent said additional needles have been advanced and the time when the dividers are advanced. a
8. In a flat hosiery knitting machine-having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, a plurality of carriers threaded with body yarns and operable to feed the same to the needles in repeated sequence forthe -for-, mation of successive courses in a hosieryblank knitted on the machine, and a plurality of car riers threaded with reinforcing yarn and Opel: able to feed th same to certain needles for. re
inforcingcertain loops at the end portionsof said courses: displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal to the number of wale loops in the pre ceding course; and means for moving the feeding body yarn carrier and the idle body yarn carrier over two additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time the sinkers adjacent said two additional needles have been advanced and the time when the dividers are advanced.
9. In a flat hosiery knitting machine havingneedles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers. operable to feed yarn to the needles'for the formation of successive courses in a hosieryblank knitted on the machine: a mechanism for arresting the carriers; a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and B4 mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advanceof certain of the sinkers by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the dividers by said divider actuating mechanism, each of the dividers within the widening areas having a yarn engaging notch immediately below its leading edge, a yarn engaging slot immediately above its nib, and yarn engaging throat intermediate said notch and said slot.
10. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of. successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine: a mechanism for arresting the carriers; a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and a mechanism operable for displacing said, carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advance of certain of the sinkers by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the di viders by said divider actuating mechanism, each of the sinkers within the widening areas having a recessed portion upon its leading edge, and each of the dividers within the widening areas having a yarn engaging notch immediately below its leading edge, a yarn engaging slot immediately above its nib, and a yarn engaging throat intermediate said notch, and said slot.
11. In a. knitting machine having needles and alternating sinkers and dividers intended to knit hosiery with widened heels: reciprocating mechanism including means for feeding yarn, to a cer-* tain number of said needles, and means for pro. jecting the sinkers individually and progressively; means operable to project the dividers in unison subsequent to the operation of said mechanism; and means operable for the actuation of said yarn feeding means for feeding yarn to an additional number of needles in the interval of time subsequent to the rojection of the outer most selvedge sinker in the widened heel area, during the continued operation of the reciprocating mechanism, and previous to the projection of the dividers by the divider projecting means.
12. A fiat knitting machine comprising a cam shaft which is axially shiftable to change the machine from knitting to fashioning phases of operation, and viceversagia narrowing head with a stop controlling screw spindle, and a pair of different ratchet wheels on said spindle; racking mechanism including a member oscillatable about the axis of said spindle and individual pawls for the ratchets carried by said member on opposite sides of said axis; normally quiescent means for actuating the pawls, and a pair of rotary cams'on the cam shaft corresponding rel7 spectively to the different ratchets and having faces efiecting, through influence upon the pawls, partial rotations of said ratchets to move the spindle in opposite directions; and control mechanism determining selection as between the pawls and selective actuation of the pawl actuating means by th respective cams during different fashioning phases.
13. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles; mechanism for arresting the carriers; mechanism for actuating the sinkers to sink yarn between some of said needles; mechanism for actuating the dividers to divide the sunk yarn, and a mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the sinking of an aforesaid yarn and prior to dividing the same sunk yarn.
14. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having a main cam shaft, needles, sinkers, dividers and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; a mechanism for arresting the carriers; mechanism for advancing sinkers between needles; mechanism for advancing the dividers between needles after the advance of the sinkers; and a mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism after the advance of at least some of the sinkers to sinking position and prior to the next advance of the dividers to dividing position.
15. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having a pattern chain, a main cam shaft, needles, sinkers, dividers, and carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; a mechanism for arresting the carriers; a mechanism for actuating the sinkers; a mechanism for actuating the dividers; and a mechanism controlled through said pattern chain and operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advance of some of said sinkers to sinking position by said sinker actuating mechanism and prior to the advance of the dividers to dividing position by said divider actuating mechanism, all of said mechanisms being activated through the main cam shaft.
16. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers operable to feed yarn to the needles for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; displaceable means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the movement of a carrier over a number of additional needles subsequent to the sinking of the yarn fed to said former group of needles but prior to the dividing of such yarn for widening the heel section of the blank.
17. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; displaceabl means for arresting the carriers after feeding yarn to a series of needles equal in number to the number of wale loops in the preceding course; and a mechanism operable to displace said means for the I8 movement of the carriers over two additional needles subsequent to the movement of the sinkers to sink the yarn fed, to the former group of needles but prior to the operation of the dividers to divide the sunk yarn.
18. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable .to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; means for moving the feeding yarn carrier and the idle yarn carrier over a number of additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time when the sinkers adjacent the additional needles have been moved to sinking position and the time when the dividers are moved to dividing position.
19. In a flat hosiery knitting machine having needles, sinkers, and dividers operable to sink yarn into loops, and a plurality of carriers selectively operable to feed a plurality of yarns to the needles in repeated sequence for the formation of successive courses in a hosiery blank knitted on the machine; means for moving the feeding yarn carrier and the idle yarn carrier over two additional needles outside the fabric selvedges between the time when the sinkers adjacent to a selvedge have been moved to sinking position and the time when the dividers are moved to dividing position.
20. In combination with the carrier arresting mechanism, the sinker actuating mechanism, and the divider actuating mechanism of a fullfashioned knitting machine; a mechanism operable for displacing said carrier arresting mechanism subsequent to the advance of certain of the sinkers by said sinker actuating mechanism and. prior to the advance of the dividers by the operation of said divider actuating mechanism.
21. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a yarn carrier, a group of sinkers, a group of dividers, a bank of needles, and means automatically manipulating said carrier, sinkers, dividers, and needles to draw a sinker loop around a yarn section connecting selvedge loops of successive courses, said means including carrier control mechanism halting the carrier during the advance of a sinker beyond the carrier halting point and releasing the carrier for further movement in the direction of its movement before halting and before the complementary ad vance of the dividers.
STERLING C. MACK.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,109,140 Richter et al Feb. 22, 1938 2,156,611 Start et al. May 2, 1939 2,195,907 Verbeek Apr. 2, 1940 2,230,986 Somers Feb. 4, 1941 2,247,611 Frishman July 1, 1941 2,266,135 Weisbecker Dec. 16, 1941 2,270,361 Waechtler Jan. 20, 1942 2,271,852 Brumbach Feb. 3, 1942 2,296,590 Badders et al Sept. 12, 1942 2,298,302 Mack Oct. 13, 1942 2,301,469 Smetana Nov. 10, 1942
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US2625024A (en) * 1948-11-06 1953-01-13 Rosedale Knitting Company Knitting machine
US2655018A (en) * 1948-06-18 1953-10-13 Textile Machine Works Method and fashioning means for knitting machines
DE1137825B (en) * 1956-11-23 1962-10-11 Franz Eberl Hand flat knitting machine
US4632011A (en) * 1983-06-03 1986-12-30 Rheinmetall Gmbh Automatic loader for an armored vehicle having a rotatable turret

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US2655018A (en) * 1948-06-18 1953-10-13 Textile Machine Works Method and fashioning means for knitting machines
US2625024A (en) * 1948-11-06 1953-01-13 Rosedale Knitting Company Knitting machine
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