US2578164A - Full-fashioned knitting machine and method of operating the same - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1951 ANKE FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE AND 7 METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1946 11 IKE--1- IHI INVENTOR 3mm hlnlie BY II'TORNEY Dec. 11', 1951 2,578,164

R. ANKE FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Filed Sept. 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1951 2,578,164

R. ANKE FULL-FASHI D KNITTING HINE AND METHOD OPERATING T SAME Filed Sept. 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTgR [1 Amiga Dec. 11, 1951 R. ANKE v 2,578,164

FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACH AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE S Filed Sept. 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l E- I 176 516 F15- "1.5-

INVENTOR Dec 31,1951 R ANK E F FASHI D KNITTING MACHIN ND ETHOD OPERATING THE SAM Filed Sept. 13, 1946 5 Sheets$het 5- Patented Dec. 11, 1951 FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING acmne mi METHOD- OF OPERATING" THE SAME Rudolph. Anke,.West Lawn, Pa., assignor to TextileMachine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 13, 1946 Se'rial-No: 696,848

32 Claims.

The present invention relates to full-fashioned knitting machines and more particularly to a covering knife arrangement for the fashioning mechanism of such machines.

All full-fashioned knitting machines are provided with fashioning points for varying the width of the fabric being knitted. At times, it is desired to prevent certain of the fashioning points from engaging. and transferring. loops of the fabric and for this purpose, so-called. covering knives are used. Such knives are used on footer machines in which the fashioning points are carried in pairs of wide and narrow combs for making the diamond point toe narrowings and are also a necessary part of. single unit machines, machines for making both leg, and foot portions of blanks for full-fashioned single unit stockings, when it is desired to-shape the toe portion by diamond point narrowings. In the latter type machines difficulties have arisen which. were not found. in the footer machines. The knives on footers for making the. diamond point toe narrowings are always at the centersof the knitting sections of the machines but op-- erate only when reinforced fabric is being formed. so that it is relatively unimportant if. they touch the fabric in operating. In single unit machines, however, it has been found necessary to place the narrow combs in inactive positionat the con-- ter of each knitting section while all fashion-- ing operations in shaping. the stocking blank, except those in the toe portion, are performed by the wide combs. Under these conditions, the narrow combs are also lowered at each fashioning operationandtherefore the knives must be operated at each fashioning operation, prior to the diamond toe narrowings, to-prevent the points of the narrow combs from acting on the loops. In the usual operation to prevent fashioning points from engaging loops the covering. knives touch the fabric several times in each operating cycle which, as hereinbefore set forth, occurred in the reinforced toe portion, resulting, in little or no damage to the fabric. In operat-- ing, in the knitting of single unit blanks, to prevent the points of the narrow combs fromdisplacing the loops, the knives engage the'unreinforced portion of the blank, which due to the fineness of the yarn often results in irreparable damage thereto.

Further, in a single unit machine fitted with an automatic welt turner of a certain typeor of certain types, the ordinary center knives arefound to strike the hooks in the welt barsbe cause, after the Welt has been turned, the welt hooks; are closerto, and in front of the line of the needles and remain engaged with the loops-While certain narrowings are performed before the'welt bars move; far enough from the needle row" to prevent the knives from striking the welt hooks.

narrowings are then performed in the fabric, the

old; type; center knife interferes with the hooks on the welt bar.

It is therefore an object ofthe invention to.

providev an arrangement for operating covering knives for full-fashioned knitting machines which will move the active edge of a covering knifein a predetermined path entirely removed from the fabric at all times.

Further, a certain type of single unit stocking which has achieved considerable popularity may be made conveniently by improved apparatus including a pair of covering knives for each section placed so asto act when in use at the selvages, of certain heel sections of the blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide anovel means-for operating both a center knife and a pair of selvage knives in a knitting sectionand with an improved action incident to its construction.

Still another object of the invention. is toprdvide new andimproved means for operating both a center knife and a pair of selvage knives in a knitting section from a single cam.

A further object of the invention is to provide; a means: in: amulti-section knitting machine for operating both a central knife and a pair of selvage knives ineach knitting section and in which the-mechanism of one set of knives assists With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent from-the following detailed description of the-illustrative and practical embodiment of the inventiomshown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the novelelements; features: of construction and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as

gamma.

3 hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine to which the invention has been applied, showing a portion of the narrowing machine with covering knives thereon and the cams for operating the narrowing machine and the knives;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and on a slightly reduced scale relative to Fig. 1, and showing the portion of the narrowing machine operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a full-fashioned knitting machine taken substantially on the line 3-4;; of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detailed view taken substantially on the line ifi of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and on an enlarged scale relative to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the parts in thesame relative positions as in Fig. 9;

Fig. 6 is a detailed front view of the right hand portion of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the operating means for the knives;

Fig. 7 'is a detailed sectional view taken approximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 6 as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately on the line I0lil of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a detailed front elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line i3l 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line iii-i4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is an elevational view as seen from the right of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the parts in different positions relative thereto, showing one position of the parts during an operating cycle thereof;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to the lower portion of Fig. 16 on an enlarged scale with the parts in a further position during an operating cycle thereof;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 1'7 but showing the parts in different positions relative thereto;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing the parts in a further position during an operating cycle thereof;

Fig. 2G is a view similar to Figs. 1'7 and 18 but showing the parts in another position during an operating cycle thereof.

In the drawings and description, only the means and method necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications:

1. Pamphlet entitled Full-Fashioned Knitting Machines published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1920.

2. Three catalogs entitled The Reading Full- Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935 and 19 10, respectively.

3. Booklet entitled The Reading High Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine which, forming a supplement to the above noted 1940 parts catalog of the Textile Machine Works, is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitled Knitting Machine Lectures published by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, in 1935.

The drawings show a portion of a machine to which the invention has been applied and which has a covering knife for each knitting section of the machine, the active edge of which moves toward and away from the fashioning points along a path entirely above the fabric so that there is no abrasive action on the fabric by said knife. This knife is 'adpated to be used at the center of a knitting section for preventing action of points in the narrow combs of a machine having both wide and narrow combs whenever it is desired or necessary to position the narrow combs at the centers of the knitting sections. Further, the knitting machine, of which a portion is shown herein, has covering knives adapted for use at the selvages of fabric made thereon, the center knives and the selvage knives being on separate shafts but operated from a common cam so that the shafts for both sets of knives turn through approximately the same angle although having a different action on the fabric.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the machine shown will be understood to have a considerable number of knitting sections, probably thirty and in general is of known construction having a framework including transverse frames of which one known as a center frame is shown at 25 in Fig. 3, and longitudinal member tying said transverse frames together and including a center bed 26 and a front bed or table 21. A main cam shaft 39 is shown as mounted on the transverse frame members and cams (not shown) will be understood as fixed to shaft 38 to operate a needle bar 31 having knitting needles 32 thereon to cooperate with other knitting elements such as the sinkers and dividers, also operated from shaft 30, although indirectly. A sinkerhead 33 is shown on the centerbed 26, having dividers 35 and sinkers 35 therein. The yarn to be knitted is laid on the noses of the sinkers and dividers which are then operated to press the yarn against the shanks of the needles to form loops to be knitted. At times, it is desired to fashion the fabric being knitted, that is, to narrow or widen it.

For this purpose, the machine is provided with a narrowing machine 49 including a back narrowing shaft 41 journalled on the transverse frames of the machine and connected to a front narrowing shaft G2 by arms, one of which appears at 43 in Fig. 3 so that shaft 52 can swing around shaft 41 as an axis. The arms 33 are fixed to the back narrowing shaft 4| by set screws or other suitable means and the front narrowing shaft is likewise suitably fixed to the arms 43 and has brackets 44 fixed to it in which are mounted narrowing rods 45, it, 47 and ii}. Narrowing rods 45 and 3! have fixed thereto narrow fashioning or transfer point comb 5i) and 5|, respectively, while rods 46 and 48 have wide transfer point combs 52 and '53, respectively, fixed thereto, one narrow comb and one wide comb acting together at times on a given selvage with the wide combs being positioned at the ends of the needle bar 31 when not in use and the narrow combs being positioned at the middle of the needle bar when not in use, as shown in Fig. 1. The latter steps are of advantage in machines of a single unit type, that is, the machine is used to make both the leg and the foot of a stocking with the wide combs functioning to produce the leg, heel and foot narrowings, but to make the diamond point toe, both wide and narrow sets of combs for each knitting section are employed.

The weight of the front narowing shaft 42 and parts supported therefrom is transmitted to the cam shaft 39 by means including a set of links one of which appears at 55 in Figs. 1 and 2. Each link 55 is pivotally connected to the shaft 42 at its upper end and pivotally connected at its lower end to one end of ,a lever 56, the other end of which is pivoted on a stud 6! on the center frame 25. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lever 56 is positioned above a circular disk 51 and a cam 58, carried on the shaft 38. Each lever 55 has a lug 82 near its rear end which projects from the under side of the lever and is adapted to en gage a jack member 12, as hereinafter set forth, slidably carried by a lever 60 also pivoted on the stud 6| between the lever 55 and the cam shaft 30 to transfer the weight of the narrowing machine to the. lower lever 60. From the lever 66, the weight of the narrowing machine is transmitted to the shaft 30 by means of a roller type cam follower 63, which is mounted in lever Ell to rotate on an axle 64 fixed in the lever parallel to shaft 36, and adapted to cooperate with either disk 51 or cam 58 as desired. During knitting cycles, the follower 63 engages with the circular disk 51 which has a diameter such that the points in the combs are held in inactive position above the needles. At the beginning of a fashioning cycle, the pattern means of the knitting machine shifts shaft 30 along its axis so that follower 63 engages the cam 58 to dip the points in the combs to engage certain of the loops on the needles and to transfer them to adjacent needles in the usual manner.

The narrowing machine of the usual full- 1 fashioned knitting machine is provided not only with transfer point combs but with a picot or lace bar 65 which also acts to transfer loops from the needles on which they were formed to others. Picot bar 55, shown in Fig. 1, is carried by means of arms 6! on a shaft 556 also supported in the bracket M on the narrowing shaft 42. Shaft 66 can be turned so that the bar 65 is in inactive position, as shown in Fig. 1, or in a lowered position in which its points may act on loops on the knitting needles. In the lowered position, the picot bar is positioned below the combs il53 when the bar is to act on the loops, the picot bar 65, however, being recessed as shown at to permit the fashioning points to overlap the picot bar to some extent, when the bar is to be used, and at H to clear a covering knife arrangement for the combs 5i! and El and hereinafter set forth. In the present embodiment of the invention the picot points and the fashioning points when active must each be at the same level and the latter points at a higher level during operation of the picot points, the front narrowing shaft 42 operates at a higher level when the picot points are to act on the loops than when the fashion- 6. ing points are to so act. Therefore, a means is" shown for varying the level of the front narrowing shaft 42 with respect to the axis of rotation of the follower 63 and such means is -shown in Fig. 2 as comprising the jack member 12 which is slidably mounted on lever 6%) to move parallel to the axis of shaft 30 beneath lug 62 to move a high portion 13 of the jack, beneath the lug 62 to hold the front narrowing shaft in position to permit the picot points to operate and to prevent the points in the combs to 53 from engaging the needles. During a cycle when the points on the fashioning combs are to operate, the jack 12 is positioned, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the lug B2 is in engagement with a low point of jack member 12. For shifting Jack 12 from one position to the other, a two part lever 14 is rotatably mounted on lever The rear part of lever 14 engages jack [2 and the forward part of lever M extends between two collars 15 on a rod '16 which extends parallel to shaft 30 and also to jack 12. In order that the rod 16 may be shifted to move either the high portion 13 or the low portion of member 72 beneath the lug 52, to change from a fashioning operation to a picot or lace operation, the narrowing machine must be raised to its highest inactive position by means not shown. Further details and operation of the foregoing mechanism for operating the narrowing machine at two different levels is more fully shown and described in Held Patent No. 2,242,070.

As shown, a covering knife Eli! is provided for each pair of small combs 50 and 5|. Knives 83 are operated from a shaft 8| journalled in brackets one of which is shown at 18 secured to one of the brackets 44 on the shaft 42 of the nar' rowing machine 40. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the knife 8B is secured to the free end of a lever 19 as by screws 84 or other suitable means. The lever 19 is pivotally mounted between the arms of the bifurcated portion of a lever 82 by means of a gudgeon B3 to which the lever '59 is secured, the lever 82 being secured to the shaft 8 l.

The shaft 8|.is held in fixed angular position during the majority of the period the knitting machine is in operation by coil springs 85, one of which is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, in cooperation with a disk 86 on shaft 30, shown in Fig. 3, together with intermediate members. Spring is connected at its lower end to a pin 81 fixed to the bracket 18 and at its upper end to the upper end of a link 88. The link 88 is provided with a slot 89 through which extends a shouldered portion of a stud 90 fixed to the bracket 18, the link being movable in a predetermined path between a head portion 93 of the stud 90 and the bracket 78. The link 88 is pivoted at its lower end to a disk 9i fixed to and eccentrically mounted on shaft 8|. In the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 12, the knife 80 and shaft 8| are in active positions with the spring 85 tending to turn the shaft Si in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12. In order to throw knife 80 out of action, the shaft 8| is turned counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 12 to move the connection between the disk 9| and link 88 to the left of the shaft 8| with the spring 85 tending to maintain the link in said position.

To control the action of shaft BI and knife 88 when in active position, means is provided including a lever 95 shown in Figs. 1, 6 and '7 which is loosely carried on the shaft 8;. The lever 95 is held in engagement with a vertically movable shelf-like member 96 by means of a clutch member H8 secured to the shaft 8!. The clutch member has a projection I [9 which extends into the path of a tooth-like projection I20 on the lever 95, shown in Fig. 9, the spring 85 acting through the clutch member II8 to press a rounded free end of lever 95 against the member 96. The member 96 is fixed to a vertically movable rod 5'? by means of set screws 98, shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the rod 91 being connected at its lower end to a stud I02 pivotally carried at one end of a lever 99, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the other end of said rod passing through an opening in a pin I03 pivotally carried in an arm I8I on one of the brackets I8, Fig. 3. Lever 99 is pivotally mounted on the framework of the machine and has a transverse bolt or pin I therein on which is rotatably mounted a roller type cam follower I05. The parts are so positioned that, during knitting cycles, follower I rests on circular disk 86 as shown in Fig. 3. The shelf member 95 is thereby held at such a level that the lever 82 on shaft BI is held in the angular position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. At the same time, the cam shaft 38 is in its knitting or left hand position as viewed from the front of the machine, Fig. 1, and the fashioning points are in inactive position above the highest level reached by the needles, as shown in Fig. 3. With this arrangement, when the knife 80 is in active position, as shown in the drawings, the projection IIQ of member H8 is in engagement with the projection I25 on the arm 55 and knife 80 will follow the movements of the arm 95 as controlled by the rod 91. When, however, for any reason, the shaft 8| and projection H9 is moved in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, to move the knife as to inactive position, the arm 95 will have no effect on the shaft 8 I.

The movement of the shaft 8] in the counterclockwise direction is limited by a pin I23 projecting from an eccentric collar I24, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, fixed to the shaft 8|, the pin engaging a recess I25 in one of the brackets 78. When the narrowing machine is raised to shift the member 12, the shaft BI is raised with the shaft 42 which permits the lever 95 to loosely turn in a clockwise direction on the shaft BI. To prevent the lever from turning beyond a position in which it will be contacted by the member 96 when the narrowing machine is again lowered into active position, the lever 95 is provided with an arm IE5 adapted to engage the shaft 66 to limit the clockwise movement of the arm 95.

When a fashioning or a lace operation is to be performed, means controlled by the pattern chain (not shown) of the knitting machine causes shaft 38 to be shifted to the right to move the disk 5! from alignment with the cam follower 53 on which the front narrowing shaft 42 is supported and move the cam 58 into alignment with said follower to lower the narrowing machine, and thereby the parts supported from the front narrowing shaft 42, and also causes the disk 86 to be moved from alignment with the follower I05 and a cam I06 to be moved into alignment with said follower. The cam for dipping the front narrowing shaft lowers and raises the fashioning points in the combs in the usual manner and cam I535 acts to lower rod 91 to cause knife 80 to move between the points on the narrow combs 55 and 5! and the needles 32 to prevent the points from acting on loops on the needles within the span of the narrow combs. In cooperation with the action of the cam I08 on rod 51 to cause knife 86 to coact with the fashioning points, the lever I9 of the knife structure has parallel ribs I08 projecting therefrom for engagement with a shaft Hi], the ribs I08 being held against the shaft IIO by a spring I59. The spring I09 is positioned between the ribs I08 and is connected to the levers 82 and 19, as shown in Fig. 5, to maintain the edges of the ribs in contact with shaft III! to cause the knife to follow the necessary path to prevent the points on combs 50 and SI from engaging the loops on the needles during fashioning cycles of the knitting machine.

At the beginning of a fashioning cycle, knife 80 is positioned as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, follower I05 being on the high part of cam I86 and follower 53 being on the high point of the cam 58 for dipping the front narrowing shaft, both such high points having a predetermined angular position with relation to cam shaft 30. As the followers 63 and I05 pass off the high points of their cams, the narrow combs 50 and 5I being assumed to be laid out at the center of the knitting section and wide combs 52 and 53 being positioned to act on the selvages of the fabric, the points of the Wide and narrow combs move downwardly from the position, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, toward the needles while knives 80 move downwardly and into engagement with the points, as shown in Fig. 16, in the narrow combs at a level above the tops of the needles and prior to movement of the needles into engagement with the points. An adjustable stop bolt III is fixed in an arm I51 integral with lever 82 and is adapted to contact shaft IIil when the shaft BI is in the angular position shown in Fig. 16 to predetermine the pressure between knife 8E! and the points in combs 58 and 5|. As the points and knife 80 continue to move downwardly with the needles, the needles are also moved toward the points in the usual manner until the upper parts of the needle beards contact the knife with the result that the needles are bent in a direction away from the points from their normal position and the beards of the needles are opened slightly, as shown in Fig. 17. The points, knife and needles then continue downwardly together until the tip of the needle beard passes the loops held on the needles, the knife preventing the points from engaging the loop on the needle, as shown in Fig. 18. The points not contacted by the knife 80 close the beards of the needles aligned therewith and pass between the loops and the needles preparatory to lifting the loops from the needles, a result occurring when the needles then pass below the upper edges of the knockover-bits. The points and needles then rise continuously to the relative positions shown in Fig. 19 along a fiat or somewhat straight path. At this position in the cycle, the points being a little above the knockover-bits, the points of the combs which have not been laid out are shifted by their rods one or two needle spaces to bring the points into vertical planes, transverse to the needle bars, of other needles than those from which the loops were lifted. As the points are moved to the position shown in Fig. 19, a high portion I04 of the cam I06 also raises the member 96 to turn shaft 8| from its angular position in Fig. 16 to that in Fig. 19 to cause the knife 80 to move upwardly and forwardly away from the points along a path well above the fabric at all times. After the active points have shifted the engaged loops to adjacent needles, the points and needles go down together to the relative positions shown in Fig. 20, at which point in the cycle the sinkers are brought forward above the fabric. It is to be understood that when the points of the combs 50 and I are in inactive position at the center of the knitting section they receive no movement corresponding to the usual loop shifting movement but remain in alignment with the same needles throughout their inactivity. The cam I05 is so formed that the shaft Ill and arm 82 hold the knife 86 in substantially the same position relative to the points as the narrowing machine moves down to carry the points from the position shown in Fig. 19 to that shown in Fig. 20, the cam having a relatively low portion immediately following the portion I04 which compensates so far as the angle of shaft BI is concerned for the downward movement of the narrowing machine. Following the positions shown in Fig.

20, the parts return to the positions of Figs. e and 5. It will be seen, therefore, that the path of knife 88 is such that it is entirely free of contact with the fabric and the sinkers and contacts the points and needles only to prevent the points from engaging the loops on the needles.

Also operated by rod 91 from cam I06 are knives I35, arranged two for each knitting section to act on certain of the points in the wide combs used to operate on the selvage portions of heel sections of blanks for single unit stockings. As knives I33 act on portions of the fabric which are reinforced, it is not necessary to vary their arrangement and operation as compared to those previously used. in making diamond point toes except to locate them outwardly from the center of the knitting sections. The knives I3ii are mounted on arms I secured to the shaft I I0. Shaft lie is shown as having an eccentric collar or disk I32 analogous to the eccentric disk 9I on shaft 8|. Disk I32 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link I33, having a slot I34 which embraces a bolt itI at the opposite side of bracket I8 from link 88 for shaft BI. The upper end of link I33 is connected to a throw-over spring I35 the lower end of which is connected to a pin I28 carried in the bracket 18. Contrary to the showing of spring 85 in Fig. 12, however, spring I35 is shown in Fig. 10 as thrown over to the position in which the spring holds knives I30 in their inactive positions. When it is desired to move the covering knives use from their inactive position, shown in 13, to their active position, the disk I 32 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, to carry the point of connection of the lower end of link I33 from the left to the right of the center of shaft IIO, to a point analogous to that shown in Fig. 12 for the point of connection between link 88 and disk 9!. A lever I36, shown in Figs. 6 and 8, is loosely carried on shaft I It corresponding generally to lever 95 on shaft BI. The lever IE6 is pressed by the spring I35 against a shelf member I3'I, fixed to the rod c1, by means of a clutch member I secured to the shaft Ill The clutch member M5 has a projection I46 which is adapted to engage a projection I4! on the lever I35 when the knives I 30 are in the lowered or active position (not shown). When the knives I30 are in the raised or inactive position shown in Fig. 13, the projection I55 on collar I45 is in the position shown in Fig. 8, in which position the action of the spring is not transmitted to the lever I 36. Limits are set to the movement of shaft III] and knives I30 in both directions. To this end, shaft II 0 has an eccentric collar I 38 fixed thereon alongside bracket 38, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and on the opposite side thereof from collar I24. Collar I38 has a bolt I 38 fixed therein one end of which is adapted to contact the bottom of a recess similar to the recess !25 in the front face of bracket F8, to limit the movement of shaft lit in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 13, thereby holding knives I39 in the inactive position. To prevent the spring I35 from exerting excessive pressure on the points of the wide combs 52 and 53 when the knives are moved to active position, the shaft IIE; has an arm I'4I adjustably mounted thereon which adapted to engage the shaft 8i to limit the movement of the knives ISQ in the clockwise direction toward the points, as viewed in Fig. 13. Further, the lever 23B is provided with an arm I 42 adapted to engage the shaft BI to prevent the end of lever I36 from turning in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, beyond the vertical path of the member I3! when the narrowing machine 4!) is raised to shift the jack "I2, as hereinbefore set forth, while the knives I 30 in the lowered or active position on the narrowing machine.

In operation, the knives I353 follow the same path as in the usual covering motion shown in the hereinbefcre referred to Reading parts catalogs, that is, the knives are lowered with the fashioning points to prevent the points covered by the knives from engaging loops on the needles. The knives are then moved away from the points along an arcuate path about the axis of the shaft I I I), which path carries the knives below the level of the fabric being knitted. However, as this path of movement in the present arrangement is close to the selvage edges of the reinforced portions of the fabric no damage occurs due to the knives striking the fabric.

In the operation of the knife during fashioning operations, the cam I05 operates the shaft 8| through the rod 91, member 96 and lever 95 to prevent the points of the narrow combs 59 and BI from engaging loops on the needles 32. As the narrowing machine 40 is lowered by the cam 58, the cam I05 also lowers the rod 9? and member 96 whereupon the spring exerts pressure to turn the shaft in the clockwise direction and, through engagement of the projection i I 9 on the member IIB with the projection I2!) on the lever 95, maintains the lever in contact with the member 96 as it is lowered. With the turning movement of the shaft BI and the guiding of the ribs I08 of the lever I9 against the shaft iii the knife is moved downwardly and into engagement with the points from the position shown in Figs. 4. and 5 to the position shown in Fig. 16. As the points and knife continue to move downwardly the beards of the needles are engaged and opened as shown in Fig. 17 whereupon the points, knife and needles continue to move downwardly together until the tips of the needle beards pass the loops held on the needles and into the knockoverbits as shown in Fig. 18. The knife continues to move downwardly with the points and needles until it reaches a point close to the tops of the knockover-bits and is then moved upwardly and away from the points by the cam I86 to the position shown in Fig. 19, the knife and points remaining in this relation until again raised to the position of Fig. 4.

The covering knife 80 prevents the points of the narrow combs 50 and SI from engaging loops on the needles during all fashioning operations to the start of the toe portion of the stocking fabric where the narrow combs 5D and 5| are moved outwardly to coact with the wide combs 53 and 52 respectively in forming the toe narrowings. Near the end of the toe narrowings the knife 85 again operates to progressively prevent the points of the narrow combs from engaging the loops in forming the diamond point portions of the toe narrowings.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which is obtained the above results can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A covering knife arrangement coacting with the needles and points of a full-fashioned knitting machine and comprising a shaft, an arm on said shaft, a second arm pivoted to said arm and having a knife thereon, a guide member, a cam surface on said second arm cooperating with said member to determine the path of the active edge of said knife, means for holding said cam surface against said guide member when the knife is to be used, said cam surface inclining rearwardly and downwardly, and means turning said first arm to carry the pivot of said second arm downwardly and rearwardly to contact the active edge of the knife with the points and afterward turning it upwardly and forwardly to withdraw the active edge of the knife from the points along a path preventing contact of the knife edge with the fabric.

2. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having knitting needles and fashioning points, the combination of a covering knife placed centrally of a knitting section, a covering knife placed to act on the fashioning points and the needles at a selvage of a heel portion of a blank made on the section, both said knives having active and rest positions, actuating means common to both said knives, and connections between said knives and actuating means constructed and arranged to give said central knife a relativelv cuick upward movement compared to said selvage knife.

3. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a narro in machine mechanism. two shafts on said mechanism, a covering knife on each of said shafts. one of said shafts assisting in guiding the knife on the other shaft in the ap roach and retreat of the knife to and from its effective position. both said knives having active and inactive nositions, and actuating means common to both said knives.

4. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a cover n knife. a s aft. an arm fixed to said shaft on which said knife is pivoted, transfer points, knittin needles with which said points cooperate in a fas ioning cycle. a guide fixed relativelv to said shaft and a member fixed to said knife and havin a surface cooperating with said uide to cause the kn fe to withdraw from the points along a path upwardly inclined awav from the oints.

5. In a full-fash oned knitting machine, a knitting section rovided with a narrowing machine having fashioning noints as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, and separate oscillatable shafts for said center and selvage knives. one of said knives being fixed to turn with its shaft and the other being pivotally supported from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from the points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on the section.

6. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a

knitting section provided with a narrowing machine having fashioning points as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, se arate oscillatable shafts for the center and the selvage knives, one of said knives fixed to its shaft to turn therewith, and the other pivotally supported '12 from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from said points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on said section, and common actuating means for the shafts of said knives.

7. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, fashioning points having a down and up movement in fashioning cycles of the machine, a covering knife, a shaft for said knife having an arm fixed thereto on which said knife is pivotally mounted, means oscillating said shaft to cause said knife to approach and retreat from said points, and guiding means for said knife provid ing coacting rounded and approximately plane surfaces causing said knife to approach said points along a downwardly inclined path whose lowest point is above the fabric and to withdraw from the points upwardly along said path.

8. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a knitting section including a narrowing machine having fashioning points carrying out a down and up movement in fashioning cycles of the machine, knitting needles, two covering knives mounted on said narrowing machine, shafts for said knives, one knife being fixed to its shaft to turn through the same are as the shaft and the other shaft having an arm fixed thereto on which the other knife is pivoted, said other knife having a part providing an approximately plane surface, and a spring arranged to draw said surface against the shaft for the one knife, the other knife approaching and withdrawing from said points in a path entirely above the fabric knitted by said needles, due to the coaction of said surface and said shaft for the one knife.

9. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a front narrowing shaft arranged for an up and down movement about an axis at the rear of the shaft and having point combs thereon, a covering knife for each knitting section of the machine placed centrally of the section and having a motion withdrawing from the points inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom to entirely avoid contact with fabric made on the section, knives for each section placed outwardly from the center thereof and having a circular motion withdrawing from the points, and means including a cam common to both the central and out wardly placed knives for operating them.

10. In a full-fashioned knitting machine. a covering knife adapted to cooperate with fashioning points and needles to prevent the points from affecting loops on the needles and means operating said knife to cause it to approach its position of cooperation with the points and needles and to withdraw therefrom along a path inclined upwardly from its cooperating position with respect to said points and needles.

11. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a covering knife, a shaft for operating said knife, an arm fixed to said shaft on which said knife is pivotally mounted, means oscillating said shaft to cause said knife to approach and retract from an active position, and stop means for preventing the knife from overrunning its desired active position.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a comb having fashioning points therein, a covering knife for engaging said points, a shaft for operating said knife, an arm fixed to said shaft on which said knife is pivotally mounted, means for oscillating said shaft, a guide member coacting with said means to cause said knife to approach said points along a downwardly incliner path to engage them, and a stop member fixed with relation to said knife and contacting said admires uide member to; determine. the: end; of said; anproaching movement.

13;, In a. full-fashioned knitting; machine, comb: having fashioning points, thereim covering knife; for en aging said points; a sh f f r said knife, an arm fixedtosaid, shaft on which said, knife is pivotally mounted, means; for osci-l lating said shaft, 9, guide member coasting with said means to; cause said-knife; to approach said points along a downwardly inclined path to en gages them, and-1a stop. member adjustably fined with relation to; said guide membertoi determine the:- relative: positions, of said knife and points when in. engagement.

1a., In, a, full-fashioned. knitting. machine, a comb having fashioning points therein, a covering knife adapted, to engage said points at desired times, a shaft forsaid knife, an arm fixed to said shaft, on which said, knifeispivotally mounted, means for oscillating said. shaft, a guide member, a member having a straight guide surface and arranged to move with said knife and coasting with said. guidev member to causev said knife to approach, said points along a, downwardly in,- clined'. path, and. a stopv member adjustably fixed with relation to said guide member to. determine the, relative positions of said. knife, and pcintsfor engagemenh 15; In a full-fashioned knitting machine, two shafts and a covering knife on, each of said shafts, one, of said, shafts assisting, in guiding, the knife on they other, shaftin the operative move,- mcn s of the lat r, knifa. throw-over spring means, one. for each. of. Said knives, and, stop means for each knife forlimlting its movements in responselto said spring means.

16. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having knitting needles and fashioning points, the combination of, two shafts and a covering knife on each of said shafts, one placed centrally of a knitting section and one placed to act on the needles and points at the selvage of a heel portion of a blank made on, the section, both said knives having active and rest positions, actuating means common to both said knives, throw-- over spring means, one for each of said knives, for biasing the knives toward one end or theother of their paths, and stop means for limiting the movements of said knives in response to said spring means 17, In a full-fashioned, knitting machine, a

knitting section provided with narrowing mechanism having fashioning points as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, separate oscillatable shafts for the center and the salvage knives, a supporting bracket common to said shafts, one of said knives being fixed to its shaft to turn through the same angle as the shaft and the other being pivotally supported from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from said points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on said section, throw-over spring means, one for each of said shafts, common actuating means for said shafts, and stop means one for each knife and each stop means including said bracket.

18. In the method of operating a full-fashioned knitting machine including needles, point fashioning instrumentalities and covering knives, the steps which comprise operating the knives along a downwardly inclined path in timed relation with the loop transfer during fashioning to cover certain numbers of the needles to prevent transfer of the loops being formed on said covered needles, and then moving said knives from operative relation with said needles and points along a path entirelyaboverand out: of contact withrthc fabric formed on said needles.

19, In a full-fashioned knitting machine having knitting needles and fashioning points, a covering knife placed centrally of a knitting section, acovering knife placed to act on the needles and points at a selvage: of. a portion of a blank made on the section, both said knives, having active and rest positions, and actuating means for both said knives, and means acting on one of said knives when in its active position to cause it. to move, away from said points in a line of movement distinct from the. live of the movement of said other knife.

20; In a full-fashioned knitting machine, two independently movable knives, separate mountings for each of said knives, means associated with one of. said mountings for guiding the knife carried by the other mounting in its approach to its effective position and actuating means for said knives. V

21. A, covering knife arrangement coacting with the needles and points of a full-fashioned knitting machine and comprising a shaft, an arm on said shaft, a second arm pivoted to said arm and having a knife thereon, a guide memher, a, surfacev on said second, arm, cooperating with said member to determine the path of the active edge of said knife, means for holding said surface against said guide member when the knife isv to be used, and means for turning said shaft" to move said surface relative to said guide member.

22, In a. full-fashioned. knitting: machine. the combination of a covering knife arrangement comprising, a shaft, an arm, fixed thereon, a second arm pivoted to said first arm, and a covering knife; carried by said second arm, and means operating said arms whereby compound movements may be imparted to said knife.

23. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having needles, a. narrowing machine, points on the narrowing machine, means for actuating the narrowing machine to move said points into and out of cooperative relation with said needles in a narrowing cycle, a covering knife; on said. narrowing'machine and means cooperating with said knife and narrowing machine to cause said knife to approach along a downwardly inclined path and contact said points and needles during the narrowing cycle, and said means causing saidknife to withdraw from the points along said. inclined path upwardly and away from said points.

24. A covering knife mechanism arranged for coaction with the needles and points of a fullfashioned knitting machine and comprising a shaft, a lever on said shaft, an arm pivoted to said lever and having a knife thereon, a guide member, a surface on said arm cooperating with said member to guide said knife along a path inclined downwardly toward said points for said coaction with said needles and points, and means for turning said shaft to move said surface relative to said guide member.

25. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a knitting section provided with a narrowing machine having fashioning points as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, separate oscillatable shafts for the center and. selvage knives, and means for operating said shaft, one of said knives being fixed to its shaft to turn through the same angle as the shaft and the other being pivotally supported from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from said points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on said section.

26. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a knitting section provided with a narrowing machine having fashioning points as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, separate oscillatable shafts for the center and selvage knives, one of said knives being fixed to its shaft to turn through the same angle as the shaft and the other being pivotally supported from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from said points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on said section, and actuating means for the shafts of said knives.

27. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, fashioning points having a down and up movement in fashioning cycles of the machine, a covering knife, a shaft for said knife having an arm fixed thereto on which said knife is pivotally mounted, means for operating said shaft, and coacting means on said shaft and knife operating to cause said knife to approach said fashioning points along a downwardly inclined path whose lowest point is above the fabric and to withdraw from the points upwardly along said path.

.28. In a multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine, a front narrowing shaft arranged for an up and down movement and having fashioning points thereon, a covering knife for each knitting section of the machine placed centrally of the section, guide means defining a path for said knife entirely above the fabric in each section, selvage knives for each section operable to withdraw from contact with said points, and means for operating said knives.

29. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a knitting section provided with narrowing mechanism having fashioning points as well as center and selvage knives mounted thereon, separate oscillatable shafts for. the center and the selvage knives, a supporting bracket common to said shafts, one of said knives being fixed to its shaft to turn through the same angle as the shaft and the other being pivotally supported from its shaft and arranged and guided to withdraw from said points along a path entirely above the fabric formed on said section, and common means to actuate said knives along the path individual thereto.

30. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of knitting needles, fashioning points, a covering knife for said points, a frame on which said knife and points are carried,

means holding said frame during knitting cycles so that the active edge of said knife is forward of the points and above their lower ends, means giving said frame two downward movements during fashioning cycles to bring the points, except those under the action of the knife, into contact with the needles, means for actuating said knife downwardly and upwardly on the frame within the period of a fashioning cycle, and means guiding said knife positively, downwardly and rearwardly relative to the points, to press the knife between the points and the needles and guiding the knife upwardly and forwardly relative to the points and needles, said actuating means being constructed and arranged to act in conjunction with said guiding means to maintain the knife out of contact with the fabric formed on the needles from the time the knife first separates from the points and the needles until the end of the cycle.

31. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, two shafts and a covering knife on each of said shafts, means for operating said knives, and means for guiding one of said knives in its operative movement including the shaft for the other of said knives.

32. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a narrowing machine, two shafts on said narrowing machine, a covering knife fixed to one of said shafts, a covering knife pivoted to the other of said shafts, means for operating both of said knives along different predetermined active paths, and means carried on said narrowing machine for guiding said pivoted knife in its active path.

RUDOLPH ANKE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 725,647 Aldridge Apr. 21, 1903 1,926,522 Friedmann Sept. 12, 1933 1,971,725 Muller Aug. 28, 1934 2,178,319 Bitzer Oct. 31, 1939 2,273,675 Verbeek Feb. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 558,301 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1943 665,876 Germany Oct. 5, 1938

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