US2470803A

US2470803A - Knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US2470803A
Application number: US737193A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul W Bristow
Original assignee: Scott and Williams Inc
Current assignee: Scott and Williams Inc
Priority date: 1947-03-26
Filing date: 1947-03-26
Publication date: 1949-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1966-05-24

Description

May 24, 1949.

P. W, BRISTOW KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1947 Illll. I

N; an). h a "u a" l W u u A 6 1 l l I O 11 l1 4 M 2 4 Q l 6 J 1 5%" i. w fl Y -IH R 0 T m V m Paul LJ-Drioiow I 1 ATTORN b May 24, 1949. P. w. BRISTOW KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOH Paul Briiow 15y IZMQI' ATTOR Em May 24, 1949. P. w. BRISTOW 2,470,803

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 k 64 a0 a4 90 I 84 94 i VENTOR Paul DrisZow May 24, 1949. P. w. BRISTOW 2, I

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Ffiul W DPI AS iOL QI a .i I v ATTORZT May 24, 1949. I P. w. BRISTOW 2,470,803

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 1 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR TORNEYG ).P al w=l w I I 1 J I i Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Paul W. Bristow, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,193

26 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine and has particular reference to the provision of means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles of a machine of superposed cylinder type.

The fact that needles knitting in the upper and lower cylinders of the superposed cylinder machine extend across the space between the cylinders necessitates the adoption of certain precautions in the handling of yarns to insure their proper presentation to the needles and their proper feed. The patent to Lawson and Bristow No. 2,388,750, dated November 13, 1945, discloses a machine of this type in which provision is made for the handling of main yarn feeding fingers arranged in upper and lower banks together with means for feeding an elastic yarn to the needles. As described in said patent yarn fingers have imparted to them rather elaborate movements to insure the proper entry and feeding of yarns. The present invention contemplates the feeding of a plating yarn in proper relationship to any one of the main yarns which is in action. Heretoiore, a plating yarn finger and a particular main yarn finger were handled simultaneously as a pair so that plating could then occur while only one of the main yarns was being knit. In the present case provision is made for feeding the plating yarn during the feeding of any of the main yarns. A proper relationship is maintained between the yarns and the facing or main yarn may be changed at any time without interference with the plating yarn.

Selection of the platin yam into and out of action is efiected independently of, but consistently with, the changes of main yarn. Selection of the plating yarn is controlled from the pattern chain of the machine.

The foregoing will indicate the general objects of the invention. These and other objects particularly relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of a knitting machine of superposed cylinder type embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of certain parts of the machine, particularly those having to -do-with control of the plating yarn;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of, and control-devicesior, the plating yarn finger;

Figure 4 is aperspective view showing the selective means for effecting yarn changes and indicating certain conventional auxiliary devices;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating in particular the controlling means for the plating yarn selector;

Figure 6 is a perspective View showing in particular the arrangements of the main yarn fingers and the active and inactive positions of the plating yarn finger;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement of a cam follower for controlling movements of the main yarn feeding finger;

Figure .8 is a diagrammatic elevation and perspective view showing the mechanism for clamping and cutting the main yarns;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing in particular the controllin means or bodily swinging the main yarn fingers during main yarn changes;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing a chain link for controlling elastic yarn changes;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 12 is a plan view showing a chain link for controlling plating yarn changes; and

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the same.

The type of machine to which the invention is applied is the superposed cylinder type shown particularly in the patent to Bentley 1,838,651, dated December -29, 1931. In many respects also the machine about to be described resembled that of the Lawson and Bristow patent mentioned above. As will be noted, there'are applied in the drawings herein, to the extent ,of similarity with the drawings of said patent, the same reference numerals to corresponding parts ,of the machine, various of the parts being shown in somewhat more detail in said patent. Reference is accord,- ingly made thereto for a morecomplete disclosure of such pa ts of the machine and to such of its operations .as have no direct bearing on the present improvements. In this type of machine'there are pr vid d lower and p e y i r ndi a ed. at 2 and ii, respectively, in Figures 11 and:6,. cantied .by asuitable frame 6 within slots in which cylinders there slide double ended needles under the control ,of sliders which also slide within the needle slots. the formation of plain fabric, alloi the needles are located-in the lower cylinder, their lower hooks being engaged by the sliders therein, and :their upper hooks and latches -at thisltime serve to seize the yarn-and form stitches. In the formation of rib fabric ortorthe formation of fabric involving other reverse concatenations of :loops, certain of the needles may --be located in :the upper cylinder, being engaged therein -by sliders carried --by the upper cylinder,

in which case their lower hooks and latches are active in the formation of loops.

The fact that the needles thus acting at times in both the upper and lower cylinders form a cage precluding the movement of any elements across the needle circle necessitates taking special precautions to insure that the yarns are properly engaged .by the needles.

Accordingly, the yarn fingers are given special elaborate movements such as described in said Bentley et al. Patent 1,838,651, and as will be referred to hereafter.

A bracket 8 is mounted upon a vertical shaft to which is secured a lever l8 having a horizontally extending arm (see Figure 9). On this bracket 8 there are supported through holes in upright guides indicated at H and I2, a plurality of rods l4 terminating in yarn eyes and constituting yarn feeding fingers. These rods or fingers, as they will be hereafter referred to, are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement and are also capable of oscillation about their axes by reason of the engagement of laterally extending pins l8 carried by them through cam slots 20 formed in an upright plate 53 located alongside the fingers. At their rear ends the various fingers are engageable by the upper ends of actuating levers I whereby they may be moved longitudinally against the action of springs 22 individual to the fingers. In the present case, this arrangement is true of the upper five of the fingers, but in the case of the lowermost, which is adapted to feed the elastic yarn, instead of a long lever 16, there is provided a short lever 3i), mounted concentrically with the other levers and similarly moved, but connected through a, link 28 to another lever 25 which is, in turn, connected through a link to the pin 18 of the lowermost finger. This arrangement is provided solely for convenience and to secure the necessary range of movement through a magnification afforded by the lever combination.

Reference to Figure 7 will show the arrangement whereby a proper adjustment of the positions of the yarn feeding fingers may be secured. To each of the levers it, as well as to lever 30, there is pivoted at 34, upon a shoulder screw adjustably clamped in a slot, an individual cam follower 32, the angular position of which with respect to the lever is adjustable by means of an abutment screw 36. t will be evident that through this arrangement the position of the feeding eye of a finger when it is in feeding position may be finely adjusted, while by reason of the slot adjustment the timing of operation may be accurately fixed.

A stationary shaft 49 has journalled thereon a cam and ratchet assembly for each of the yarn feeding fingers, including those which handle the elastic and plating yarns. Each assembly comprises a ratchet t2 and, in the case of the main yarn feeding elements, a cam plate 34 and a second cam plate 4 8, which is illustrated in Figure 8, these being secured together for simultaneous movement. Each ratchet 42 comprises six teeth equiangularly spaced, of which alternate teeth are high, as indicated at 48, the intermediate ones being low, as indicated at 50.

The cam disc or plate M contains three cam repeats comprising, respectively, high portions 52, intermediate portions 55 and low portions 55. By reason of the movement of the ratchet one tooth at a time, each cam plate has, in effect two rest positions, one of them involving engagement of the follower 32 by an intermediate height sur- 4 face 54 and the other involving engagement of the follower by the trailing portion of a high surface 52. To secure proper positioning of the yarn fingers, the cam plates 94 differ slightly in dimensions, but all involve similar high, intermediate and low portions.

The disc 46 is provided with six projections 58 Which serve during movements of the ratchet to effect operation of the individual clamps and cutters associated with the yarn feeding fingers.

In the case of the elastic yarn feeding elements, the ratchet i2 is the same as described, and secured to it is a disc 56, also as described. However, instead of a cam plate M there is a cam plate having only what amount to high and low portions, as illustrated in said Lawson and Bristow patent.

As indicated in Figure 1, and following essentially Bentley Patent 1,838,651, there is mounted to oscillate about the axis of the shaft ii] a frame 63 connected through a link 62 to a crank drive 54 which is preferably of the type illustrated and described in detail in the patent to Houseman 2,180,708, dated November 21, 1939, and which permits a shift in timing as described in said patent.

Mounted upon a transverse rod 65 in the frame 65 is a group of pawls 5t numbering eight in all, of which six are arranged to cooperate with the six ratchets t2 corresponding to the five main yarn feeding fingers and to the elastic yarn fingers. Each of these pawls is provided with a ratchet-engaging hook portion 68 whereby when oscillation of the frame 60 takes place in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 1, the pawls may ride over the teeth of the ratchets, being thereafter in position to engage the same, if the selective mechanism permits, to rotate the ratchet through one-sixth of a revolution upon clockwise oscillation. Each of the portions is provided with a nose extension 10 arranged to cooperate with the selective mechanism which will be shortly described.

The seventh pawl mentioned above is arranged to cooperate with a ratchet 12 (Figure 9), also journalled upon the shaft or rod 45 and provided with six teeth, which in this case are of equal height. Secured to this ratchet is a cam disc provided with six repeats of cam surfaces involving two high portions i l and it. This cam disc is adapted to oscillate the assembly of yarn fingers through the lever It).

The various ratchet and cam arrangements are essentially the same as described in said Bentley et al. Patent 1,838,651, and are similarly mounted and associated with friction devices for preventing their overrun. They are further described in said Lawson and Bristow patent.

Arranged as in the Bentley patent for endwise sliding movement in the direction of the axis of the shaft 48 and above and slightly to one side thereof is a slide 88, which has its upper end serrated to provide a series of equally spaced high steps 82, five in number, corresponding to the live yarn fingers which are adapted to feed the inelastic yarns. To the left of these high steps 82, but positioned differently with respect to them, are notches t l, while between the notches and the steps are portions of intermediate level. To the extent so far described, the slide is the same as in said Bentley et al. patent. In the present case, as in the Lawson and Bristow patent, this slide carries a second auxiliary slide 88, which is attached thereto for relative sliding movement through the medium of slots emamm'scs bracing studs- 92.wcarriedobyithexslide .80. The auxiliary slide 88 is normally .urged'toward the right with respect tor-the slide-=80 bymeans of a spring r 8.5,- but adapted to ibe 'moved independently to alimited-degree toward'theileft relative to the main .slide '80 against theaction of this spring. The auxiliary "slide carries .a high step 96 of the-same height as the steps B2,:to theright of which, as viewed'in'FigureA, there is located a :notch [02 which-whentthe auxiliary slide is in its left hand-position relative -.'to the .main slide, is. in alignment with anotch 21 B4 in themainslide. A second high ste -saris carried by the auxiliary slideand between this-and the notch L02 there is the'levelrportion .|D,-'.Which is also continued to the right of the-high :step 98.

.lR'eierring to. Figure 4,. there is illustrated therein the fashion in which the slides are controlled to :efiect .selectiveactions. A spring H36 urges the slide-80 to the left =while movements of the slide to the right are-efiected through engagement ofdan adjustable abutment screw I08 carried by the slidetli by' the end of a-bell crank Hlhconnected through "a dink M2 'to a double armed lever I I4 provided w'ith a'follower portion H6 arranged to ride lugs H8 of various heights on a pattern chain' 'l zli -carried by a sprocket wheel secured to a=ratcliet 122 which is arranged to be moved one step ior-reach-course of knitting by means of conventional pawl mechanism'which is not illustrated. Aseries'of sprocket wheels may be simultaneously'moved-bythe ratchet 122, all carrying chains for the-control of the mechanism. However, one chain may sufilce for complete control if it is "provided with a series of upstanding lugs onone sidefor yarn change control and aseries oi upstanding lugs 'on'the other side for control of themaincamdrumxof the machine, as well as with lateral'lugs' indicated at 152 and 274 ior control-of*the'elastic yarn and the platingyarn, as will be described.

'For the purpose of "controlling the auxiliary slicle=88-, anupstanding portion 'IMthereof atthe right-of the"step-=98-isengageable by a wedgeshaped cam I26 'carri'ed'by the upper end of a lever-- l-28,-*which is pivot'edat l30"-to the yarn change bracket of the machine. .Also pivoted independently'oi the lever I28; but onthe same center, is a lever l 32 which is connectedto lever 1.28 bya'spring 1-34, asuitablestopbeing provided to limit relative -movements *of' the levers under the spring action. Arranged to abut thelever F32 isa'link l-36,-wl"riehis"guided 'at an intermediate portion thereof by pivotal connections to-alink $38 and atits forward-end is connected to: one armof a bell crank" MiL'which is .pivoted at 142 and has its other-end "1 50 arranged to be engaged by the-l-ateral'ly'-extending lugs I52 on theipattern chain 120. The pivot'at 1'42 is carriedi'bya lever I44,-=which is clamped upon the fixed. rod 1.46 with--its clockwise position limited and finely adjustable by adjustment of a screw M8: abutting a portionof the frame.

The purpose of the spring arrangements illustrated is topermittheindependent movement to the right of the main. slide'mU-despite the 1 position of .the link 136,11. .e., :while the-=link-1'36is operative to rock the lever 11 zflrandito'smove the auxiliary slide 88 to lthei;--leit,.;acting throug'h the medium of spring .164 againstithe tensions of springs I30 and :94, .theyielding connectionsprevent Jamming undertconditions :ofx'movement of the slide Bil. by the :bell? crank 1MB. 1 Spring 1-30 normally holds cam 'IZG-out Qfitheapath-Df memberl1l24.

- Indicatedi'in'FigureA are pertain elements-:assoe ciated with "the yarn Y changetxmechanismtzbutcbf conventional type andrhavingrno unusual cooperation withthematters of rthezpresent' invention. A collar H3 zcarried'tbyf theirod 1H2 isiarranged to act upon a lever l-l:5- which,.itlirough suitable connections, controls botlr::slo'wing:rdown of the mechanism during yarncchan'ges and the slackening of loops by "mo'vingithe .stitch :cam block downwardly. Both .ofthesercontrols are conventional in nature. The slackening-bf:loopsxmay take place in the coursel preceding the change, inthe course of the yarmchang cand also inthe followin course. See, vifor I.-.example, Swinglehurst" Patent 618107;.datedflanuary 1'7 1899, and Scott et al. Patent 65.3;562y1dated July '10, 1900.

The clamping. andvcutting mechanism is, in general, substantially identical with that illustrated in Bentley'etval Patent 1,838,651. "The various discs 45 associated-with the yarnfinger controlling ratchetszand cams' are arranged to act upon adjustable followers I54 carried by horizontally extending arms: of levers 1'56 pivoted at I51. Through fi-Bowden wires I58 passin through tubes I60, levers l fil may be rocked against the 'tension otsuitable springs for the purpose of controlling the individual clamps and cutters indicated generally at USS-and I 63',-'each involving a fi-Xed'knife 1 fifig a movable knife-and clamping element 164- "and a fixed-clamping blade I68. When thefingers are' in theirnon-feeding positions, each lies behind its corresponding clampin and cutting mechanism with respectto the feed point. The'clampingand cuttingmechanisms arev arranged inthe lower *series'l63 and the upper series1.832.130sbettenwonformto the limited space available inwiew of the lar e number of yarn .carryingifingers i and the desirability of keeping them as closeras possible to the yarn feeding position to: minimize Fthe-yarn ends-in the fabric, the clampingzandrcutting devices 153 being inverted as compared With those at 1'83- and being controlled throughiiiBowden wires which extend 1 upwardly and .thenrdwonwardly -as indicated by their tubes lfilifiin .1.

The specific mechanism for rocking-the bracket 8 is illustrated in Figureikiin .which itwillbe noted that a follower I10 carriedby a lever P2 is acted upon by the camihaving .the varioushigh portions 14 and '16 previously described. The lever H2 is pivoted at zlfllqandcis'provided with an adjustable abutment screw Ht bearing. on the arm H3 and arranged-'tonmove' it to an extent limited by a fixed. adjustable-abutment-screw [78. This mechanism E-iS the-same. asv that :described in said Bentley-.-et-.-al. ,patent.

Comparison of the;f0r.egoing with :the Lawson and Bristow patent referredto above willreve'al that the mechanism solar rdescribed -.is substantially identical with -:that of the .patent. Said patent describes .in .detaii the events involved in the main. andielastic yarnchanges and these need not be repeated in detail herein. Briefly stated, the .movements of the inelastic yarn fingers in efiecting the introduction of yarns are fundamentallythe same as those involved in said Bentley. et a1. Patent 1,838,651, :e., the yarn fingerfirst moves'..in the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders substantiallybeyond the position Whichitwilllater assumeduring the feed of its yarn, this motion, in fact, being-past the line of tangencyof alyarn to the needle circle from'tthe 'clamp .in. .which-its end is held. -At theiend' ofithisuextremeimovement, theyarnfinger'm'oves"inwardly toward the axis of the needle cylinder so as to draw the yarn into contact with the needles so that it may be seized by the closing latches of the needles. Immediately thereafter the yarn finger moves back both away from the needle cylinder and opposite its initial movement in the direction of rotation to come to rest, then again moving inwardly toward the axis at a position close to the needle circle but between the region of tangency mentioned above and the position of the clamping and cutting mechanism.

The elastic yarn feeding finger has a diiierent movement as described in said Lawson and Bristow patent. Like the main yarn fingers it first moves in the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders to a position approximating the extreme position of movement of the main yarn fingers in that direction. Instead of moving backwardly, however, it remains in such forward position so as to lay its yarn between the loops drawn by the upper and lower cylinder needles, the elastic yarn being fed normally only during rib knitting, or, at any rate, only during such. times as needles are knitting in both the upper and lower cylinders except when it may be floating from course to course as during links and links knitting. The elastic yarn may be entered at any time while any one of the inelastic main yarns remains in action without the removal of that inelastic yarn. Whenever the elastic yarn is feeding, however, it is removed when a yarn change is effected to any inelastic main yarn other than the one which is feeding.

The present machine differs from that of said Lawson and Bristow patent in the provision of means for feeding a plating yarn. This plating yarn plates on the outside of the stocking in the stitches knit in the upper cylinder with the result that it may show to provide in those stitches a color contrasting with that appearing the ribs, this plating yarn being hidden behind the main yarn in the regions knit by needles in the lower cylinder. Thus, for example, ribs or other areas may be made to stand out in color contrast to adjacent areas in the stocking or other knit product.

Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3, a rod 280 is slidable in a frame 232 secured to the upper end of a fixed post 263. The rod 2% at its inner end carries the plating yarn feeding finger 284 which in its inactive position lies adjacent to the active end of a conventional clamp and cutter 2:33 which is operated through its actuating lever 2G8 and a Bowden wire 2H) from a lever 2I2 having a follower 2M acted upon by a cam which corresponds to cam 66 of Figure 8 and which is stepped about by a ratchet 248 which will be more full referred to hereafter. Blocks 2") and 229 are adjustably clamped on the rod 28d and serve to limit its movements between its active and inactive positions. A yieldable end 222, urged outwardly by a spring 223, is provided on the outer end of the r031 29!! for engagement by the actuating lever 24 A third block 2241 adjustably secured to the rod 200 is provided with a laterally extending pin 22!? to which is secured a spring 228 anchored to the supporting bracket and normally serving to pull the finger 23:3 to its inactive position. A spring 236 sliding beneath the straight lower edge of a cam member 232 and coiled about and anchored to the block 224 serves to hold the pin 226 in Sliding engagement with the cam surbetween 8 faces 234, 236 and 238 of the cam which is fixed to the bracket 202.

The lever 240 pivoted on the rod I14 resembles the lever I6 previously described and is similarly provided with an adjustable follower member 242 engageable by a cam 2M secured to the ratchet 248 to which is also secured the cam for actuating the clamp and cutter 206. The ratchet 2 18 is arranged to be advanced by a pawl 246 mounted on the rod 65 and provided with a nose portion 247, this pawl resembling the pawls 66 previously described and constituting the eighth of this group of pawls. As illustrated particularly in Figure 4 the left-hand end of the slide 8!? where it passes through a slot in the portion 252 of the supporting frame is cut awa at 254 and in this cut-away portion there is set a small auxiliary slide 25!] which has a high portion 256, the top of which corresponds in level to the tops of the high portions 82 of the main slide 80. The cut-away portion 254 of the main slide is approximately at the level of the bottoms of the notches 84. A stud 258 threaded into the portion 252 of the frame and bridging the slideguiding slot therein is adjusted to maintain the auxiliary slide 250 seated in the cut-away portion of the main slide. The auxiliary slide is urged toward the right as viewed in Figure 4 by a spring 2t!) and is adapted to be moved toward the left against this spring action by a Bowden wire 2G2 which extends through the tube 264, anchored in a fixed block 285, and is secured in the lower end of lever 266 as illustrated in Figure 5. This lever 266 is pivoted on the rod 546 and is provided with a follower 272 arranged to be engaged by the lateral lugs 274 of the chain IZt. A stop screw 288 secured in the lever 286 and abutting a fixed portion of the frame limits the inward movement of the lever 256 under the action of a spring 270 illustrated in Figure 5.

The laterally extending lugs I52 and 214 of the chain have non-interfering controlling actions by reason of the fact that the lugs 214 are shorter than the lugs I52 and hence miss the lever I50 while the lugs 274 are higher than the lugs I52 so that the latter will miss the follower 212 without rocking the lever 266, (which is held outwardly by stop screw 268), movements being imparted to this lever only by the high lugs 214. The lug relationships will be evident from Figures 10 to 13, inclusive.

The operations of inserting and removing the plating yarn are controlled by the auxiliary slide 258] which is entirely independent of motions of the main slide 8E3. When the slide 250 occupies the position illustrated in Figure 4 the oscillation of the pawl 268 with the oscillations bracket 60 results in engagement of the nose 241 with the high portion 256 or" the slide 250 so that the pawl fails to engage the teeth of the ratchet 248, the teeth of which are all of the same height. on the other hand, when the slide 250 is pulled toward the left as viewed in Figure 4 by the action of a chain lug 214 the pawl 2:38 engages the ratchet teeth stepping the ratchet about through onesixth of a revolution in each operation. The cam 244 is provided with three high lobes so that on successive sixths of a revolution the lever 240 moves the plating yarn finger into and out of active feeding position. As the finger 204 moves inwardly toward feeding position from its inactive position it is rocked away from the needle cylinder by the action of the cam edge 236 on the pin 226, the

edge portions

234 and 238 of the cam serving to permit movement of the feeding finger inwardly at both ends of its stroke, the former to permit it to present its yarn properly for clamping and cutting and the latter to position it for proper feed of its yarn.

Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that the latch guard 2153 supports a wire hook 216 which projects between the yarn fed from any of the main yarn feeding fingers and the plating yarn finger 2%. When in feeding position, indicated dotted in Figure 6, the plating finger 2M lies above and within the hook of the wire 216. The plating yarn then feeds from a position above this hook. On the other hand, the main yarn feeding finger which is active feeds its yarn below the hook. The result is a definite division between the two yarns which are being fed to the machine in plating relationship, this division being maintained during the various finger movements involved in effecting a change of yarns. The main yarn lead from any of the upper fingers is kept constant by this wire or abutment even though the main yarn finger travels from its normal feeding position to a remote position to engage theyarn in its trapper where it is eventually out and held inactive. As will be noted from said Lawson and Bristow patent an overlapping of the feeding of main yarns must occur at the time of yarn change involving this temporary feeding of a main yarn from a position of its finger adjacent to its clamp and cutter.

It will be noted that the controls of the plating and main yarns are completely independent of each other so that the main yarn may be changed with substitution of another at any time without affecting the plating yarn and the plating yarn may be removed and reinserted without affecting the feed of the main yarn. Accordingly, the main and plating yarns may be introduced and removed, the arbitrarily chosen times of these operations depending solely on the pattern chain set up. Heretofore, a plating yarn finger and a main yarn finger could be moved only simultaneously as a pair with the result that plating could occur only when a particular main yarn was being used. A wider variety of patterns may be thus secured. The timing, however, is such that when two yarn changes are simultaneously to be made, one of main yarn and the other of plating yarn, they occur in fact simultaneously so that no horizontal streaks of color appear in the vicinity of the change as would occur if insertion or removal of the plating yarn slightly preceded or lagged the insertion or removal of a main yarn, this being due to simultaneous advance of the ratchets controlling the yarn changes.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for efiecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting into action, for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said platingyarn independently of changes of the main yarns which 7 are fed to the needles simultaneouslywith the plating yarn. I

2. In a knitting vmachine of the superposed yvhen such 'nsertion. is ,to occur in.thesarnev cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns 1304 the needles, means for feeding a plating yarnto the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to theneedles, and means for, er in in a i and fa .-m nt ns ,in

action, said plating yarn independently of changes needles, means for effectin needles,

of the main yarns which are fed to the needles simultaneously with the plating yarn.

3. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns which are fed to the needles simultaneously with the plating yarn.

4, In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting into action and for removing from action,

said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, the last mentioned means effecting insertion or removal of said plating yarn, when such insertion or removal is to occur in the same course as a change of main yarns, at substantially the same part of such course as that in which the change of main yarns occurs.

5. In a knitting machine of inder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a platingyarn tothe needles, means for effecting changes of the main. yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting.

into action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, the last mentioned,

means effecting insertion of said plating yarn,

when such insertion is to occur in the same course, as a change of main yarns, at substantiallyv the. same part of such course as that in which the change of main yarns occurs.

6. In a knitting machine of the superpose inder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, the last mentioned means effecting removal of said plating yarn, When such removal is to occur in the same course as a change of main yarns, at substantially the same part of such course as that in which the change of main yarns occurs.

7. In a knitting machine of the superposed cyl inder type, means for feeding main yarns to the insertion or removal of said plating yarn, when I such insertion or removal is to occur in the same course as a change of main yarns, substantially simultaneously with the change of main yarns.

8. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feedingia plating yarn to--t e.- g changespf the, main to the needles, and means, forlinserting yarns fed into action said plating yarn 1 ndep ndently ,Of,

changes of the main. yarns, the last mentioned,

means effecting insertion of said plating yarn,

simultaneously. with the change of main yarns.

9. In a nitting machi o t esuprpqs s cy typ means orv e n ma i' ins. is he; n dl s m a s f .x eesl 'nea le i y r 3. as

means for effecting changes of the main inder the superposed cyl- 1.1 yarnsfed to the needles, and means for removingfrom action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, the last mentioned means effecting removal of said plating yarn, when such removal is to occur in the same course as a change of main yarns, substantially simultaneously with the change of'main yarns. I

In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, means for inserting into action, for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns which are fed to the needles simultaneously With the plating yarn, and a cyclically operating pattern device for controlling both changes of the main yarns and insertion and removal of said plating yarn;

11. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to'the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, means for inserting into action, and for maintaining in action-said plating yarn independently of changes of" the main yarns which are fed to the needles simultaneously with the plating yarn, and a cyclically operating pattern device for controlling both changes of the main yarns and insertion of said plating yarn.

12. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, means for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes ofthe main yarns which are fed to the needles simultaneously with the plating yarn, and a cyclically operating pattern device for controlling both changes of the main yarns and removal of said plating yarn.

13'. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting-into action and for removing from action said plating yarn substantially simultaneously with the change of main yarns to insert into action any one of a plurality of the main yarns.

14. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting into action said plating yarn substantially simultaneously with the change of main yarns to insert into action any one of a plurality of the main yarns.

15; In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to then'eedles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, andmeans for removing from action said plating yarn substantially simultaneously with the change of main yarns'to insert into action any one of a plurality of the main yarns.

16. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to theneedles, means for feeding a plating yarn to'the needles, and a yarn abutment located be- 12 tween the plating yarn and a main yarn when such yarns are in feeding positions to maintain saidryarn in separate paths of approach to the needles.

17. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, and a yarn abutment for maintaining separated-the paths of approach to the needles of the plating yarn and a main yarn when suchyarns are in feeding positions.

18. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, a latch guard and a yarn abutment carried by said latch guard for maintaining separated the paths of approach to the needles of the plating'yarn and a main yarn when such yarns are in feeding positions.

19. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, rotary cam devices for controlling said means for feeding the main and plating yarns, pawls for imparting step by step movements tosai'd cam devices, and a pair of independently'movable slides, one of said slides controlling the pawls associated with the cam devices for controlling the feeding means for the main yarns, and the other of said slides controlling the pawl associated with the cam device for controlling the feeding means forthe plating yarn.

201 In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, rotary cam devices for controlling said means for feeding the main and plating yarns, pawls for imparting step by step movements to said cam devices, and a pair of of independently movablecoplanar slides having parallel movements, one of said slides controlling the pawls associated with the cam devices for controlling the feeding means for the main yarns, and the other of sa'id slides controlling the pawl associated with the cam device for controlling the feeding means for the plating yarn.

21. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder'type, means for feeding main yarns to the'needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, means for insertingintoactio'n and for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, and means for inserting an elastic yarn independently of changes of the main and plating yarns.

22. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, means for inserting into action said plating yarn independently of changes of the main yarns, and means for insertingan elastic yarn independently of changes of the main and plating yarns.

23. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding a plating yarn to the needles, means for effecting changes of the mainyarnsfedto the needles, means for removing from action said plating yarn independently of changes of themain yarns, and means for inserting' an elasticyarn-independently of changes of the main and plating yarns.

24. Ina knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles at approximately the same feed point as that of the main yarns, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for inserting into action, for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said auxiliary yarn independently of changes of the main yarns.

25. In a knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type, means for feeding main yarns to the needles, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles at approximately the same feed point as that of the main yarns, means for effecting changes of the main yarns fed to the needles, and means for maintaining in action, and for removing from action said auxiliary yarn independently of changes of the main yarns.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lawson et al. Nov. 13, 1945 Number