US2655018A - Method and fashioning means for knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES File'd June 18, 1948 7 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Fi-led June 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

Oct. 13, 1953 H. E; IV-IAEHNEL 2,655,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ErciyHae/meb Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1948 INVENTOR Hzrherififrich Haeimd Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,655,018

MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES METHOD AND FASHIONING '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 18, 1948 INVENTOR Herberi Erichfl'weimd o 3, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,555,018

METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1948 7 SheetsSheet 6 Fla- 8- 9.5 92 97 1 9.9 96 15 22 5 II II 93F) I ig;

I ,I I l 6 I 32 8 21 0 MO 7% I Z i J k f 1 .53 1& 5 6 r ,7 Z r i 1 f 51' gg INVENTOR Herberiflrichfiaehnel Oct. 13, 1953 H. E. HAEHNEL METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 18, 1948 INVENTOR Harbezi rzdvflaelmel Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND FASHIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application June 18, 1948, Serial No. 33,748

(01. es s9 32 Claims.

The present invention relates to knitting machines having fashioning mechanism adapted to widen the fabric by point comb transfer of loops and to a method of operating such machines.

One method of widening full-fashioned knitted fabric involves the outward transfer of loops by point transfer combs, and the moving of the end stops of the yarn carrier or carriers out or in the widening direction at the same average rate as the point combs. In operating according to this method, it has been the custom always to move the nut carrying the end stops in revolutions in which the combs are moved and in which therefore, the friction box rod of the coulier means is stationary,

In moving the end stop nut in the widening direction, the carrier rod or rods, laying yarn in the widened area, are engaged to and moved with the end stop nut. Upon the outward move- 3 ment of the nut and carrier rods, the friction boxes, connected to the carrier rods and in frictional engagement with the friction rod, must also be moved. Therefore, the nut, in overcoming not only the weight of the carrier rods and friction boxes, but also the friction between the boxes and the friction rod, exerts considerable drag on its spindle resulting in wear between the nut and spindle, this wear causing a misalignment of the yarn carriers on the carrier rods and the sinkers and dividers of the machine. While the wear to the nut and spindle may be overcome by adjustments to the parts, in many instances such wear is not known until the yarn carriers become sufficiently misaligned with the sinkers and dividers to cause damage to these parts.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remove the cause of wear and its resultant troubles when operating to widen fullfashioned fabric by the joint action of end stops and point transfer combs.

A second object of the invention is to provide a means for widening by joint action but whereby it will be unnecessary to move the end stops at times when the coulier means is stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for widening by joint action but whereby the point transfer combs may be prevented from moving at the same time as the end stops.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for carrying out a repetitive cycle of end stop movements and point transfer movements in which the end stops will make two needle widening steps during the knitting cycles and the toe portions and it is a still further object of the' invention to provide a full-fashioned knitting machine having narrowing mechanism which is adapted to cause either single needle or two needle narrowing and which operates to automatically change from two needle to single needle operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction, arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship and method of operation as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of the left end of a Reading type full-fashioned knitting machine having the present invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but on a larger scale and with certain parts shown in different relative positions;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view as seen from the right of Fig. 2, parts being omitted and parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

1 Fig. 4 is an elevational view as seen from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same end of the machine as is shown in Fig. 1 and to approximately the same scale, showing certain of the control mechanism according to the invention, certain parts being broken away and others shown in dotted outline for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view partially in section taken substantially along the line 6-45 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view partially in section taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows 88;

Fig. 9 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 9-9 on Fig. 5, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view taken substantially on the line ll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of certain of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, showing certain of the control mechanism for the spindle racking pawls, parts being omitted and other shown in section for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailed view taken in the direction of the arrows |2|2 on Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. II with the parts shown in different relative positions;

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the line |4| 4 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the parts shown in different positions relative to Fig. 14 and taken on the line l|5 of Fig. 13.

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. Four catalogs entitled, The Reading Full- Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog, published and copyrighted by the Textile Machine Works, in 1929, 1935, 1940, and 1947, 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.

A knitting machine within the invention comprises a needle bar and fashioning means including movable end stops for the yarn carrier rods, said stops being moved to narrow and widen in steps equal to twice the distance between next adjacent needles because of the structure and relation of the usual carriers, sinkers and dividers used in such machine. Loop transferring points, also a part of the fashioning means, are moved in two needle steps in the narrowing direction but are adapted to be moved in single needle steps both in the narrowing and widening directions as hereinafter set forth. When narrowing or widening in single needle steps it is desirable, in most instances, to maintain the points in a definite relation to the selvages and end stops throughout the single needle step operations. For this purpose, means are provided to prevent operation of the end stops in alternate narrowing and Widening operations. The machine within the invention also is provided with means for operating the end stops to widen during a couliering or knitting operation and the points in a succeeding or narrowing operation of the machine and includes means for preventing the operation of the transfer points during operation of the end stops and preventing operation of the and stops during operation of the points. The machine is also provided with means associated with the transfer points for preventing th points from moving beyond predetermined limits as hereinafter set forth.

The mechanism shown in the drawings is a part of a multi-section type full-fashioned knitting machine and comprises a usual framework including end frames, one of which is shown at 22, which are joined to center frames (not shown) by a back beam 24 and a front beam 26, Figs. 1, 5 and 9. A main camshaft 20, journalled in end frames 22 and the center frames, carries cams for actuating the loop forming and other mechanisms of the machine in the usual and well known manner.

Carried on the framework at the left end of the machine in the usual manner is a narrowing head mechanism 25, there usually being two such mechanisms, one at either end of the machine. The mechanism 25 includes a threaded spindle 34 for determining the positions of end stops 36', Figs. 1 and 4, for limiting the endwise extent of movement of the yarn carrier rods, not shown, and a spindle 38 for determining the position of narrowing rods 40, shown in Fig. 3, on which the transfer or narrowing points are mounted. The end stops 3B, are pivotally mounted on a nut 31 carried on the threaded portion of spindle 44 (Fig. 4). The spindle 38 is provided with oppositely threaded portions, each of which carries a nut 39, only the left hand nut being shown in Fig. 3, associated with and moving the narrowing rods 40 in the usual manner. Two of the rods 40 carry wide transfer point combs and the other rods 40 carry narrow point combs (not shown), the rods having a wide and a narrow comb respectively cooperating with the left nut 39 and the other rods with their associated wide and narrow combs cooperating with the right nut (not shown). Each wide comb acts independently or at times cooperates with one of the narrow combs to fashion the selvage edges of the blank in the usual manner.

Racking impulses for turning the spindle 34 and spindle 38 are delivered to the spindles from the main camshaft 20 through a train of mechanism which includes cams 44 and 46 on the camshaft and a cam follower 48, Fig. 1. In the arrangement according to the present invention, cam 44 is used when it is desired to turn both spindles 34 and 38 in the narrowing or widening directions during a narrowing cycle while cam 46 is used when it is desired to turn spindle 34 only in the widening direction during a knitting or loop forming cycle, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. Means hereinafter set forth, are provided to prevent certain of the impulses from cam 44 from affecting spindle 34 and to prevent the impulses from cam 46 from affecting spindle 38. Except in revolutions of the camshaft 20 in which fashioning is to be performed, the follower 48 is maintained out of the planes of said cams 44 and 46 and in the position shown in Figs, 5 and 9. Where a fashioning movement of the end stops is to be performed during a, knitting revolution of the main camshaft, follower 48 is shifted to the plane of cam 46 to cooperate therewith while if a movement of the end stops or transfer points or both is or are to be performed during a non-knitting or narrowing revolution of the cam shaft, the follower 48 is not shifted but an equivalent effect is produced by shifting or shogging the camshaft to bring the cam 44 into the same plane as the follower 48.

An impulse from cam 44 or cam 46 is transmitted first to cam follower 48 which is mounted to revolve on a pin 50 and also to slide lengthwise of the pin. Pin 50 is fixed intermediate the ends of a lever 52 which is pivoted at its front end at 54 in transverse end frame 22. Lever 52 is provided with a stud or axle 56 fixed thereon on which is pivotally mounted an actuator 60, the lower end of the actuator resting on a bolt 63 supported on the end frame 22 to limit the lowermost position of the follower 48 relative to cams 44, 46 and camshaft 20, Fig. l. The actuator 60 is connected to pawls cooperating with ratchet wheels for turning spindles 34 and 38 as hereinafter set forth.

The spindles 34 and 38 are turned in the narrowing direction by pawls 58 and SI, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, pawls 58 and 6| being pivotally carried on levers I4 and I6 in turn pivotally mounted on the spindles 34 and 38, re spectively. The levers I4 and I6 are connected to the actuator 66 in the usual manner. The spindles 34 and 38 are turned in the widening direction by pawls 62 and 64, respectively, which are connected to the actuator 60 as shown in Fig. 2. The pawls 58 and 6| cooperate with ratchet wheels 66 and 68 on the spindles 34 and 38, respectively (Fig. 11), and the pawls 62 and 64 cooperate with ratchet wheels and 12 on the spindles 34 and 38, respectively. The ratchet wheels 66 and I0 are provided with teeth having a spacing equal to a two needle turning movement of the spindle 34 and the ratchet wheels 66 and I2 are provided with teeth having a spacing equal to a one needle turning movement of the spindle 38, in the usual manner. All of said pawls act only on upstrokes of each operating movement of actuator 50, a fifth pawl 'II being shown for a purpose hereinafter set forth, pawl II acting on ratchet I2 on spindle 38 in the widening direction but on the downstroke only of the actuator.

Narrowing pawls 58 and GI both receive impulses from cam 44 at the same time during revolutions of the camshaft in which narrowing is performed. At such times, the pattern means throws into action a mechanism (not shown) which shifts shaft from left to right, in the usual manner, as viewed in Fig. 9. The follower '48 being held at such times in the same plane as in knitting revolutions, cam 44 is shifted along with shaft 20 so that it comes into the same plane as follower 43. The follower lever 52, actuator 60 and pawls 58 and 6| are then all lifted by the cam and, the mechanism being set for two needle narrowing, spindle 34 is turned through a distance equal to one tooth of the ratchet 66 and spindle 36 is simultaneously turned through a distance equal to two teeth of the ratchet 68 to move the nuts 3'! and 30, respectively, a distance of two needles, that is, one equal to twice the distance between next adjacent knitting needles of the machine. When it is desired to fashion by single needle narrowing, a plate cam TI, pivoted on spindle 38 is provided to hold the pawl 8| away from the first tooth but permitting the pawl to engage the second tooth in its path to turn the spindle 36 a one needle distance. The spindle 34, however, is turned a two needle distance at the time spindle 38 is turned only a one needle distance and it being desired to maintain a substantially constant relation between the positions of the end stops and the transfer points, means is provided whereby pawl 58 is held out of action every other narrowing revolution. A similar situation occurs when widening. The spindle 38 moving only a one needle distance for each individual widening operation of spindle 38, the spindle 34 is prevented from turning in alternate widening operations of spindle 38 by holding pawl 62 out of action. In the arrangement shown, the means for holding pawls 58 and 62 out of action at desired times are combined with still another means, one for holding pawl 64 out of action. Said entire means will be described in detail hereinbelow.

As all the four pawls so far described act on the upstroke of actuator 60, and as all are necessarily normally biased toward their ratchet wheels, it is necessary to keep the widening pawls from engaging their ratchet wheels during revolutions in which narrowing is to be performed and necessary to keep the narrowing pawls from engaging their ratchets when widening is to be performed. For these purposes, plate cams l8 and are pivoted one on spindle 34 and one on spindle 38, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. Cams I8 and 00 are positioned and operated by a means including a link 82 pivotally connected to cam I8, cams I8 and 80 being pivotally connected in fixed relation to each other by a link 84. Normally, cams I8 and 80 lie in positions shown in Fig. 1 and in which the narrowing pawls 58 and BI are free to act on their ratchets while the widening pawls 62 and 64 are held inactive, cam I8 contacting a part of widening .pawl 62 and cam 80 contacting a part of pawl 64. When cams I8 and 80 are turned on their spindles to the positions shown in Fig. 2, cam I8 contacts a part of pawl 58 to disable said pawl. However, cam 80 does not act on narrowing pawl (H, but pawl 6| is disabled by cam I8 through a lost motion connection with pawl 58 comprising a linkage pivoted to downwardly extending portions of the pawls and including a member 19 shown as connected directly to pawl 6| and having a sliding connection with a member 8 I which is connected directly to pawl 58. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that cam 80 is so formed that it permits pawl 64 to move its ratchet I2 and spindle 38 only a single needle distance per upward stroke of the pawl.

For turning cams I8 and 80 to disable pawls 58 and 6| and free pawls 62 and 64, said link 62 is pivotally connected at its lower end to one arm 86 of a bell-crank lever 86 pivotally mounted on end frame 22, Figs. 5 and 9, and which has a downwardly extending arm 90. The lower end of arm 60 is pivoted to a link 92 which extends alongside the back beam 24 to a pivotal connection with a downwardly extending arm 94 of a bell-crank lever 96 pivotally mounted on a bracket 98 fixed to said back beam. Lever 96 has an arm 99 having a pin I00 therein on which is a roller type follower I02, Figs. 7 and 8, contacting a cam surface on a cam member I04. A spring 95 connected to the arm and the back beam 24, biases the levers 88 and 96 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 5 and 6) to maintain engagement between the follower I02 and cam member I04. Member I04 is provided with ex tensions I05, as shown in Figs. I, '7 and 8, fixed to a rod I06 which extends along substantially the entire length of the machine so as to control both narrowing heads. The member I04 is guidedv in its movement with rod I66 in a bifurcated portion ml of bracket 98 (Fig. 7) and by the engagement of one of the extensions I65 and a projecting portion I03 of the bracket, as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. A set screw I68 carried on the portion I03 cooperates with the arm 64 of the lever 96 to limit the counterclockwise movement of the lever, as viewed in Fig. 8, when turned by the cam I04. Rod I05 is operated at desired times in the direction of its length by a pattern controlled means from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 6, or from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 8, to thrust the high part of cam I04 beneath roller I02 to thereby turn arm 94 of lever 96 in the clockwise direction (Fig. 6) to move lever 88 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 to thereby operate link 82' and turn cams I8 and 80 from the positions shown in Fig. 1 to the positi'ons shown in Fig. 2. The rod I06 is given different length movements by the pattern controlled means, for purposes hereinafter set forth, each movement, irrespective of its length, operating the link to turn the cams 18 and 80.

When the rod I06 is given the shorter of its different length movements to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the link 82 shifts the cams I8 and 80 without affecting the position of the cam follower 48'. Thereupon, shifting of the cam shaft 20 to its narrowing position aligns the cam 44 with the follower 48 to cause the Widening action. When the rod I06 is given the longer of its movements, the cam follower 48 is shifted into alignment with the cam 46 simultaneously with the shifting of the cams I8 and 80 thereby causing the widening action in a knittingv cycle.

Rod I06 is arranged to shift follower 48 by means of a lever I pivotally carried at II3 on the back beam 24, one end I09 of the lever extending between spaced collars H0 and III on the rod, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The rod is normally biased to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, to hold the collar I II in contact with the end I09 of the lever I01 by a spring II4 which surrounds the rod and lies between a collar II6 on the rod and a bracket II8 fixed to back beam 24. Another end II2 of lever I0! is forked to embrace the edge of follower 48, the lever I01 being biased by a spring 91 connected to the lever and the back beam 24 as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, to hold the follower in the position shown in Fig. 5 and in which it can receive an impulse from cam 44 when the shaft 20 is shogged to the right as in afashioning cycle. As is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, collars I I I and I I0 are spaced along rod I 06 so that the rod may move the shorter of its different movements or the distance between the right edge of the end I 09 of lever I 0'! and the left edge of collar IIO, as viewed in said figures, without affecting lever I 01 and thereby follower 4B. Whenever, however, rod I06 makes the longer of its different movements from right to'left, as hereinbefore set forth, the collar IIO engages lever I01 to turn it about the pivot point H3 of the lever with the consequent shifting of the follower 48 to the right. The cam shaft 20 being held stationary at such times, follower 48 is thereby brought into the plane of cam 46 and actuater 60 is thereby operated during a knitting cycle or revolution.

In order that rod I06 may be moved different distances from left to right at the desired times a means is provided including a lever II5 which is pivoted intermediate its ends at I H on a bracket I2I fixed to the back beam 24 and is biased to turn clockwise about its pivot as viewed in Fig. 10 by a spring H9. One end of lever H5 is connected to operate rod I06, as shown in Figs. 6

and 10 by means including a link I pivotally connected through universal joint members I22 to the lever and to an arm I24 forming part of a bell-crank lever I26 pivotally supported on the bracket I2I. The lever I26 has another arm I26 which contacts a collar I30 fixed on rod I06.

8 when lever H5 is permitted to turn in response to spring H9, lever I2! isturned clockwise and rod I06 thrust to the left as will be clear from Fig. 6.

In order that lever II 5' may operate rod I06 as desired, the means for controlling and operating the lever is shown as comprising, in addition to the spring II9, a pattern controlled lever I32, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, which is pivoted to an axle I34 carried on a fixed part of themachine. Intermediate its ends, lever I32 has an arm I36 having one end of a link I38 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of said link being connected to a pattern lever (not shown) adapted to be operated by a button on the main pattern chain to turn' lever I32 leftward, that is, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 5. Normally, the forward end of lever I I5 rests on a land I40 at the upper end of lever I 32 and, so long as this is the case, the parts remain in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 10. When lever I32 is tiu'ned counterclockwise by a button on the pattern chain it is moved out from under lever I15 and a follower I4l, rotatably carried on the lever H5, engages the high part of a cam I 42 on the camshaft 20. As the camshaft is rotated thefollower I 4| rides from the high to the low peripheral surface of the cam I42 which raises the end of lever II5 connected to the lever I26 and turns the lever I26 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6) to shift the rod I06 in the longer of its movements. As hereinbefore set forth, the longer movement shifts the collar I I0 to the left to engage and turn the lever I01 thereby shifting the follower 48 to the right into alignment with the cam 40, as viewed in Fig. 5. As the cam shaft continues to rotate, the high portion of cam I42 again engages the follower I4I to lift the lever I I 5, whereupon, with the button having been removed from engagement with the pattern lever in the usual manner, the lever I32 is returned to position beneath the lever H5 to again hold the lever H5 in the position shown in Fig. 10.

In order that the rod I06 may be controlled to make the shorter of its strokes when a button on the pattern chain moves the lever I32 from beneath the lever I I5, another button shiftsalever I44, pivotally carried on the axle I34, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, to a position beneath the lever H5. As the follower I4I follows the periphery of the cam I42 from the high to the low surface, the lever I I5 is arrested by the lever I44 at a point intermediate the high and low surfaces. With this action the lever I26 is turned through a shorter angle in the clockwise direction whereby the rod I06 is given the shorter or" its movements in which the collar H0 is moved to the left, but not sufficiently to engage and turn lever I01, follower 48 thereby remaining in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 9. When the cam shaft 20 is shifted the cam 44 is moved into the plane of the follower 48 whereby the widening operation occurs in a narrowing cycle. The lever I 44 is operated from the pattern chain through a rod or link I46 one end of which is connected to a projection I41 on the lever I44 and the other end to a pattern lever of the pattern chain (not shown). During the widening operation the buttons are removed from engagement with pattern levers for levers I32 and I44 whereby the levers return to their position of Fig. 5 with the lever I32 again beneath the lever II5.

As hereinbefore set forth, each long or short 9 movement of the rod I88 operates the rod 82 to turn the cam 18 and 88 from the positions of Fig. 1 to the positions of Fig. 2 so that an actuation of the actuator 80 operates thepawls 82 and 84 to turn the spindles 34 and 38, respectively. However, when the rod I88 receives the longer of its movements and the widening occurs in a knitting cycle, the pawl 84 must be held away from its ratchet 12 for the full stroke of the actuator 88. When the rod receives the shorter of its movements and the widening occurs in a narrowing cycle, the pawl 82 must be held away from its ratchet wheel 18. The means shown for this purpose comprises bell cranks I48 and I88 pivotally carried on pins I52 and I58 fixed in the end frame 22, one arm I54 of bell crank I48 adapted to engage pawl 8 1 and one arm I58 of bell crank I58 adapted to engage the pawl 82. A second arm I51 of the bell crank I48 carries an adjustable member I88 and is provided with a spring I82 for biasing the member I88 into engagement with one arm I83 of a bell crank I84 also pivotally carried on the pin I88, as shown in Figs. 4 and 11. The arm I63 carries a cam follower I88 which is biased by a spring I89 into engagement with one cam path I81 of a star cam I88, the cam path having alternate high and low spots and acting through the follower I88 and arms I83 and I51 to turn the arm I54 to engage the pawl 84 and prevent it from engaging the ratchet wheel 12 on alternate operating movement of the actuator 88. The star cam I88 is rotatably mounted on a shaft I18 also fixed in the end frame 22 and is turned step by step by means of a ratchet wheel I1I secured to the star cam and a pawl I12 carried on one arm of a lever I13 pivotally carried on the shaft I18, Figs. 2 and 4.. The lever I18 is connected by a link I18 to the axle 58 so that upon each operating movement of the lever 52 and actuator 88, the link operates the lever I13 to move the pawl I12 and advance the ratchet wheel I1I one tooth which moves either a high or low spot of cam path I81 into engagement with the follower I88. A second arm I11 of the bell crank I84 carries a. member I18 adapted to engage and prevent pawl 58 from engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 88 (Figs. 11 and 12) every other operation of the actuator 80 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

As hereinbefore set forth, the arm I58 of lever I58 engages the pawl 82 to hold it out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 when widening movements occur in a narrowing cycle of the machine. For this purpose a second arm I 82 of the bell crank I58 carries a follower I83 which is held in engagement with a second cam path I88 of the star cam I88 by a spring I81. path I88 has low cam spots aligned with certain of the low spots of the cam path I81, alternating with high spots which have a length equal to a three tooth movement of the ratchet wheel I1I or two high and one low cam spots of cam path I81. Therefore, the cam path I88 of the star cam I88 will act through the follower I83 and bell crank I58 to permit the pawl 82 to engage the ratchet wheel 18 for one operating movement of the actuator 88 and hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel during three operating movements of the actuator as hereinafter set forth.

At the beginning of a series of widening operations in accordance with the invention, and with the end stops 38 and transfer or narrowing points in predetermined positions relative to each other and the pawl I12 in engagement with its ratchet The cam 101 wheel IN, the rod I06 is given the longer of its shifting movements to align the follower 48 with the cam 88, and turn the plate cams 18 and 88 to the positions of Fig. 2. At this time the follower I88 is on a high spot of its associated cam path I81 (Fig. 11) to disable the pawl and follower I83 is on a low spot of the cam path I88 (Fig. 1). As the machine is operated to knit a course of loops, the actuator is operated by the cam 48 and the pawl 82 is free to act to turn its spindle and the end stops 38 two needles in they widening direction. During the operating movement of the actuator 88 the cam I88 is turned a distance equal to one tooth of ratchet wheel I'II to move a low spot of cam path I81 beneath the follower I88 and a high spot of cam path I88 beneath the follower I|83 as shown in Fig. 2. Also, during this revolution of the camshaft 28. the rod I88 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 6 but is immediatel; given the shorter of its different length movements which again turns the plate cams 18 and 88 to the position of Fig. 2. In the next revolution of the camshaft, which is a revolution in which the camshaft has been shifted to the narrowing position, as the actuator 88 is raised, the spindle 38 is given a one needle movement in the widening direction by the pawl 84, to move the narrowing points outwardly a one needle distance, and the bell crank I58 holds the pawl 82 away from the ratchet wheel 18. During this operating movement of the actuator 88 the star cam I88 is turned another one tooth distance to move a high spot of cam path I81 beneath follower I88 to disable pawl 84 and the follower I83 remains on a high spot of the cam path I88 to maintain the pawl 82 in disabled position. In the next revolution of the camshaft 28, a plain course of loops is formed in which no widening occurs. During formation of this course the rod I88 is given another of its longer movements to shift the follower 48 into the plane of the cam 88 and to move the cam plates 18 and 88 to the positions of Fig. 2. During formation of the course of loops in the next revolution of the camshaft 28, with the followers I88 and I83 on high portions of their associated cam paths of the star cam I88, both pawls 84 and 82 are held inactive with respect to their associated ratchet wheels 12 and 18, respectively, so that on the upstroke of the actuator 88, neither of the spindles 38 and 34 will be turned. During the operation of the actuator 88, the ratchet wheel I1I is turned another tooth which moves a low spot of cam path I81 beneath follower I88 and the follower I83 remains on the high portion of cam path I88. In the next revolution of the camshaft 20, which is a revolution in which the camshaft is shifted to the narrowing position, on the upstroke of the actuator 88 the spindle 38 and the associated narrowing points are given another one needle movement in the widening direction. With this second one needle movement the points and end stops are again in their predetermined relation. During the latter operation of the actuator 80, the cam IE8 is advanced another step which moves a high spot of cam path I81 beneath the follower I88, to disable pawl 84, and a low spot of cam path I88 beneath the follower I83 whereby the parts are again in position for the next of the series of widening operations.

For two needle narrowing, which usually follows the widening operations when making a stocking blank on the machine shown, star cam I88 is disabled by moving pawl I12 into an inop- 11 erative position relative to the ratchet wheel I! I. This is done when the follower I86 is on a low spot of cam path I61 so that member I18 will not interfere with the action of narrowing pawl 58. The positions of lever I50 and follower I83 and of lever I48 will not be important because, for narrowing operations, cams I8 and 80 will not be turned out of the positions for narrowing and will hold widening pawls 62 and 64 out of action regardless of the disabling levers. Also during two needle narrowing, the plate cam 11, pivoted on spindle 38, is held in the position shown in Figs. 13 and 15, by means hereinafter set forth, so that the plate cam will not interfere with the pawl GI and therefore the pawl operates spindle 38 a two needle distance.

In a portion of the stocking where two needle narrowing is employed it is also the custom to incline some of the narrowing lines toward the selvages. For this purpose, each fashioning means or head of the usual full-fashioned knitting machine is provided with one of the pawls II, hereinbefore set forth, which is adapted to act on the ratchet I2 on spindle 38 to turn the spindle one needle in back-racking or widening direction on the downstroke of the actuator 60 and pawl II after certain of the narrowing operations. period occupied in knitting a stocking blank, pawl II is held out of action by a link I 88, the left end of which, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, is pivoted to the lower end of an arm I90 which depends from and is fixed to a, shaft I9I. Shaft I III is adapted to be turned clockwise as viewed in Fig. l by a slider piece I92 fixed on the outer or rear free end of an arm I93 which embraces shaft I9! and has its inner or forward end connected to the nut 31 on spindle 34 in the usual manner. Slider piece I92 is adapted to coact with cam pieces I90, I91 and I98, shown in Fig. 4, fixed on a member 20I one end of which is carried on the arm I90 and the other end on a member (not shown) also fixed on the shaft I9I. When slider piece I92 contacts either of the cams I96, I91 or I98, the arm I90 holds the pawl 'II away from its ratchet wheel I2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the slider piece I92 moves lengthwise of shaft I 9| with nut 31 and, at times disengages the cams I96, I91 and I98 whereby a spring 202, connecting the arm I90 and pawl 62, draws arm I90 counterclockwise to permit, other things being suitably placed, a spring 204 connecting the pawls 64 and II to draw the pawl II into engage ment with the ratchet wheel I2 to back-rack spindle 38 on the downstroke of the pawl in the usual manner. A throw over arm 203 fixed on the rod 84, connecting the cams I8 and 80, is provided to at times prevent engagement of the pawl II with the ratchet wheel I2 irrespective of the relation between slider piece I92 and cams I96, I91 and I98. When the pawl II is to operate as in the diamond point toe, the arm 203 is positioned as shown in Fig. 2. However, when the pawl is to be held inactive throughout the knitting of a stocking blank, the arm 203 is moved to the position shown for illustrative purposes only in Fig. 1. The structure of the device of which arm 203 is a part and the function thereof is more fully set forth in Haehnel, U. S. Patent No. 2,432,413, of 1947, and not forming a part of the present invention is not described further herein.

Cams I96, I91 and I98 also control the action of. the pawl 62 durin certain fashioning or other loop transferring Operations of the machine Throughout a considerable portion of the 12 through a link 206 which connects the arm I90 and the pawl 62. When the slider piece I92 is on the cam I96, the position of the parts at the start of the stocking blank, the arm I90, through the link 206, will hold the pawl 62 away from the ratchet Wheel I0 irregardless of whether the plate cam I8 is in its position of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. When the slider piece is on the cam I9'I, which is lower than the cam I96, the position of the parts at the;

the parts in this position the pawl 62 will be heldv away from the ratchet wheel I0 although the pawl 64 continues to rack the spindle 38 outwardly. The cam I98 contacts the slider piece I92 in the latter part of the diamond point narrowing and being the same height as the cam I96 also acts to hold pawl 62 away from the ratchet wheel I0 if the cam I8 is accidentally moved to the position of Fig. 2.

During the production of the welt and afterwelt of stocking blanks, it is often desirable to form picot or lace stitches. During the formation of such picot or lace stitches, which occurs when the camshaft 20 is shifted into narrowing position, a button on the pattern chain causes the rod I06 to shift through the shorter of its movements which shifts the cams I8 and to the position shown in Fig. 2 to hold the narrowing pawls 58 and 6| away from their respective ratchet wheels. At this time the slider piece I92 is in engagement with the cam I96 which holds the pawl 62 away from the ratchet wheel I0 and a finger 201 '(Fig. 1) secured to the nut 39 (securing means not shown), holds the pawl 64 away from the ratchet wheel I2.

As hereinbefore set forth, when forming single needle narrowings in the stocking blank, the plate cam 11 is adapted to hold the pawl 6I away from the first tooth of the ratchet wheel 68 but,

permits the pawl to engage the second tooth in the movement of the pawl to turn the spindle 38 a one needle distance. The plate cam 11 is normally employed to act as a safety means to provide a predetermined limit to the movement of the nuts 39 toward each other. In Figs. 13 and 15 the plate cam 11 is shown in its position to permit the pawl 6| to engage the ratchet wheel 68 and turn the spindle 38 a, two needle distance. In this position a surface 2I0 of plate cam 11 is held in engagement with a rod 2II by a spring 2I2. The rod 2 is carried in fixed parts of the machine for sliding movement parallel to the axis of the spindle 38 and is biased to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 by a spring 2I5, to the position shown in Fig. 15. The rod 2 is limited in its leftward movement by a collar 2I6, fixed to the rod, by engagement of collar 2I6 with a portion 2 I4 of one of the bearing brackets for the spindle 38, as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 2I I also has fixed thereto a collar 2II adapted to be engaged by the nut 39 when the nut is moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, beyond its predetermined limit. If the nut 39 is inadvertently moved beyond said predetermined limit, the nut engages the collar 2II to move the rod 2 to the right from its position beneath the plate cam 11,

whereby the plate cam is turned in a clockwise direction until a pin 220 in the plate cam engages the rod 2 I I, in which position a high cam surface 22I of cam IT has been moved into the path of the pawl BI to thereby prevent further engagement between the pawl and ratchet wheel 68. When the nut 39 is returned to its normal path of movement, the plate cam 'I'I may be returned to its position of Fig. 13.

To hold the pawl GI out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 68 during one tooth of the normal two tooth movement of the pawl, a cam surface 222 of the plate cam TI is moved into the path of the pawl (H, as shown in Fig. 11. In order to position the surface 222 in the path of pawl GI the rod 2 II is moved to the right to its position in Fig. 14 whereupon the cam II is biased in a clockwise direction to move a stepped surface 225 into engagement with the rod 2II, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14. When the single needle narrowings are completed, the plate cam I1 is manually turned in a counterclockwise direction to the position of Fig. 13 to move the surface 222 out of the path of the pawl 6|, whereupon the spring 2I5 moves the rod 2II to the left from its position in Fig. 14 to its position in Fig. 15, the latter position being determined by the collar 2 I6.

In the operation of the machine, the plate cam TI is positioned as in Fig. 11 for forming single needle narrowings throughout the leg portion of the blank. After the final leg narrowing the plate cam is turned counterclockwise with the rod 2II moving to the position of Figs. 15 as hereinbefore set forth. With the plate cam in such position, two needle narrowings will be formed throughout the remaining narrowed portions of the blank. On the last two needle narrowing movements of the spindle 38 and nuts 39 at the end of the toe of the blank, the left nut 39 engages the collar 2 II and moves the rod 2 II to the right sufliciently to permit a clockwise movement of the plate cam TI to its position of Figs. 11 and 14 for the start of the next blank. If for some reason the blanks are destroyed or pressed off the needles before completion of the blanks, particularly at a point in the blank prior to the start of the toe narrowing, the nuts 31 and 39 are reset to starting position for the start of the next blanks without, however, resetting the rod 2H for forming single needle narrowings as hereinbefore set forth. Under these conditions, after the nuts 39 are reset to starting position the rod 2| I is manually moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, to release the plate cam TI to its position of Fig. 14, a collar 226 on the rod engaging the nut 39 to limit such manual movement of the rod.

When forming single needle narrowings, the pawl 58 for turning the spindle 34 in the narrowing direction must be held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 66 on alternate operations of the actuator 60 to maintain the spindle 34 in relation with the spindle 38. For this purpose there is provided the member I'I8 which is alternately operated to engage the pawl 53 to hold it away from the ratchet wheel 66 or to release the pawl for cooperation with the ratchet wheel, as hereinbefore set forth, as determined by the cam path IB'I of the star cam I68.

.- In machines of the type shown, the spindles 34 and 38 are provided with means for preventing overtravel of the spindles during turning movement of the spindles as determined by the pawls 58, 62 and BI, 64, respectively. For this purpose, the spindle 34 has a disk 228 having notches engageable by a detent member 229 and the spindle 38 has a disk 23I thereon having notches engageable by a detent 232. Due to the shape of the notches in the disk 228 and the end of the detent 229 cooperating with said notches it is necessary to raise the detent at each upward movement of the actuator 60. For raising detent 229 a cam member 234 (Fig. 4) carried on' the lever I4 (Fig. 2) engages a pin 236 which engages a lever 238 connected to the detent 229. As the actuator 60 rises the lever I4 turns on the spindle 34 and cam 234 engages pin 236 to turn the lever 238 in a counterclockwise direction to thereby raise the detent 229 out of engagement with the disk 228. A spring 239 returns the detent 229 into engagement with the disk when the cam 234 disengage pin 236.

The spindle 34 is also provided with means for preventing accidental turning of the spindle in the widening direction due to the impact of the carrier rods on the end stops 36.

which engages a pin 243 carried on the pawl. Thelatch 242 is carried on an arm 245 fixed to and adapted to turn with the lever I4. The pawl 240 is provided with an arm 246 which is connected to the pawl 58 by a link 248, the link having a slotted connection with the arm to permit the normal functions of both pawls. The link 248 is so constructed to permit pawls 58 and 248 to be simultaneously moved to inactive positions during resetting of the spindle 34.

The operation of the mechanism hereinabove described will be apparent from the foregoing. However, for purposes of convenience, and to emphasize the novel features of the present method invention, the operation of the apparatus shown will be further described as follows:

When a stocking blank or similar fiat knit article has been knitted to a point at which it is desired to perform a widening operation, a combination according to the invention of yarn carrier action and transfer point action is employed. In so doing, the end stop spindle 34 is operated during a knitting revolution of the main camshaft 20, that is to say one in which the yarn carrier is operated to lay yarn, to move the end stops 36 outwardly a two needle distance, the spindle 38 for the transfer points being maintained stationary during this revolution. In the next revolution, the end stop spindle 34 and the yarn carrier are kept stationary but the point spindle 38 is turned to move the loop transfer. points outwardly a one needle distance. In a subsequent revolution, the point spindle is given a second one needle outward loop transferring movement so as to maintain the original relation of the points to the selvages. Moreover, in the particular apparatus shown for carrying out the present novel Widening method disabling levers I48 and I50 are employed which are controlled and operated by cam paths I61 and I86 of star cam I88, which in turn is operated from the actuator 60, for moving the widening pawls 62 and 84 for racking the spindles, and which cause the appropriate widening pawl to be thrown out of action when the other pawl is to operate. The cam I68 is given an idle movement between said first and second movements of the Said means comprises a pawl 240 carried on the shaft I9I' point spindle in a revolution of the main camshaftin which neither spindle is turned to positionthe cam pathsproperly for the second efiec tive movement of the point movingspindle. Said idle movement of the cam I68 involves an operation of the actuator but no movement of the spindles occurs as a result of this operation because the star cams are then both inposition to cause their disabling levers to prevent strokes of their pawls from affecting the spindles. Said idling movement of the actuator can conveniently be completed during a knitting revolution in which the course to contain the second group of transferred loops is made. However, the invention is not limited to this in all cases. Such a widening repeat involves four operations of the actuator, the first during a knitting revolutionof the camshaft of the machine to cause two needle widening movement of the end stops, the second during a narrowing cycle in the revolution of the camshaft following the widening movement of the end stops, to cause a one needle widening movement of the points, the third during a following knitting revolution to idly advance the star cam and the fourth during a narrowing cycle to cause the second one needle widening movement of the points. This repeat may be carried out as often as required to produce the desired widening of the fabric.

Following the widening of a stocking blankor other fabric being knitted it is assumed that it will be desired to carry out two needle narrowing. This is done in the machine shown by the usual narrowing means, the means for producing widening or single needle narrowing being held in positions in which the usual movements of the narrowing pawls are not interfered with.

Following the end of the two needle narrowings, the stocking blanks are taken off the needles of the individual sections and the fashioning spindles manually reset so that another set of blanks may be begun, each of full width at the start. In blanks in which single needle narrowings are formed in the leg portion the rod- 2| l controlling the cam 11 is automatically reset on the last two needle narrowing of the previous set of blanks. Where two needle narrowings are formed throughout the stocking, the collar 2!! is adjusted on the rod 2| I so that the rod is only acted on torelease the cam 11 when the nuts 39 are inadvertently moved toward each other beyond their predetermined limits. Upon its release by said rod, the cam 11 moves automatically to a position in which it blocks pawl 81 and through member 19, the pawl 58 to prevent further movement of the spindles in the narrowing direction. Thecam I1 and rod 2| I may again be positioned as in Figs. 13 and 15 when the nuts 39 have been reset to starting position. The sub sequent change from narrowing to widening in the heel according to the present invention is controlled automatically by the pattern meansthrough the medium of the plate cams 18 and 80" on the fashioning spindles and the disabling levers- I48 and I50. In case single needle narrowing is used in the leg portion of the blank and it" is desired to use two needle narrowing in the un der part of the heel and remainder of the foot, the cam 11 for controlling the effective length of the stroke of the narrowing pawl 61 for the pointspindle 38 is manually reset from the position of Fig. 11 to the position of Fig. 13 at any convenient time after the completion. of the leg narrowings. However, the arrangement-is such that either two needle narrowing or single needle nar' rowing may be used throughout a blank or set of blanks as desired. Single needle widening is always used because it has been found that two needle widening movements of the transfer points places an undesirable tension on the loops and the control cam for the point spindle is therefore shown as shaped to limit the effective length of the stroke of the widening pawl 64 to a one needle distance.

The operation of the remaining parts of the machine shown affects the invention only indirectly, if at all, and will not be described in de-- tail.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown.

and described by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention here in disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioning cycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including said rods, stops and points, said mechanism adapted when thrown into action to move said stops in the widening direction during a knitting cycle while preventing movement of the points and to operate the points to transfer loops outwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine while preventing movement of said end stops.

2. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioning cycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including said rods, stops and poin said mechanism adapted when thrown into action to move said stops in the widening direction during. a knitting cycle while preventing movement of the points, and to operate the points to transfer loops outwardly in a fashioning cycle while preventing movement of said end stops.

3. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, fashioning mechanism comprising spindles for moving end stops for yarn carrier rods and for moving points for transferring loops, respectively, narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pattern means, means activated by" said pattern means for moving said pawls simultaneously to rack said spindles, means to hold one set of pawls inactive while the other set acts to turn said spindles and. means for holding the widening pawl for the point spindle inactive while permitting action of the pawl for moving the end stops outwardly in a knitting revolution of the camshaft and adapted to hold.

the widening pawl for the end stops inactive and permit operation of the pawl for moving the points outwardly during a fashioning revolution of the camshaft.

4. Ina straight knitting machine having r'evolving parts, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring pointsand a fashioning mechanism in cluding said rods, stops and points, said mechanism adapted when thrown into action to movesaid'stops' in thewide'ning direction du-iinga laying stroke of a carrier rod while preventing movement of the points and to operate the points to transfer loops outwardly while preventing movement of the stops-and in successive revolutions of the machine.

5. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of fashioning mechanism comprising.

spindles for moving end stops for yarn carrier rods and for moving points for transferring loops, respectively, narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, a pattern means, control means whose movements are determined by said pattern means for moving the narrowing pawls to inactive position when a widening operation is to take place and for moving the widening pawls to inactive position when a narrowing operation is to be performed, a lever adapted to prevent operation of the end stop spindle by its widening pawl by disabling the pawl at a time it is freed by said control means, star cam means moving said lever into disabling position at every second, third and fourth operating stroke of the pawl, a second lever adapted to prevent operation of the point comb spindle by its widening pawl by disabling the pawl at a time it is freed by said control means, and star cam means moving said second lever into disabling position at every other one of the operating strokes of the pawl.

63. The method of operating a knitting machine having fabric fashioning means including a revolving camshaft, end stops for yarn carrier rods, a pair of spindles, one for moving said stops and the other for moving loop transferring points and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles in either direction, comprising turning one of said spindles to move said stops in the widening direction during a knitting revolution of the camshaft while the other spindle is idle and turning the other of said spindles to transfer loops outwardly while said one spindle is idle in a non-knitting revolution of said camshaft.

7. The method of operating a knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, a spindle for moving loop transferring points, end stops, a spindle for moving said stops, said spindles operated from said camshaft and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles in either direction, comprising moving said stops in the widening direction during a knitting revolution of said camshaft while said spindle for the transfer points is idle and moving said spindle for the points to transfer loops outwardly while said one spindle is idle in a non-knitting revolution of said camshaft, said movements falling in successive revolutions of the camshaft.

8. The method of operating a knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, a spindle for loop transferring points, end stops for a yarn laying carrier operated from said shaft and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindle in either direction, comprising moving said stops in the widening direction during a knitting action of said camshaft while the spindle for the point combs is idle and moving said spindle to transfer loops outwardly at a time said stops are idle, said movements falling in immediately successive revolutions of the camshaft.

9. The method of operating a knitting machine, in knitting and fashioning cycles, having fabric fashioning means including a yarn carrier, end stops, loop transferring points, a pair of spindles, one for moving said stops and the other for moving said points and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles in either direction, comprising turning one of said spindles to move said stops for the yarn carrier in the widening direction during a knitting cycle while the transfer points are idle, turning the other of said spindles to move said points to transfer loops outwardly during a. fashioning cycle while said 18 stops are idle, and turning said spindle simultaneously to move said stops and said points in the direction to narrow the fabric during a fashioning cycle.

10. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, fashioning mechanism comprising spindles for moving end stops for yarn carrier rods and for moving points for transferring loops, respectively, narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pattern means, means thrown into action by said pattern means for moving said pawls simultaneously in the direction to rack said spindles, a control means normally positioned to prevent one group of said pawls from acting on their spindles and controlled by said pattern means to permit said one group of pawls to turn the spindles and to prevent the other group from so doing, and means actuated by said pawl moving means during a knitting revolution of the camshaft permitting the widening pawl for the stop spindle to turn it while preventing the widening pawl for the point spindle from turning it, said last means also preventing the widening pawl for the stop spindle from turning it during the next three revolutions in which the pawls are moved in racking direction while permitting the widening pawl for the point spindle to move it during the first and third of said next three revolutions.

11. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of an end stop spindle, a point moving spindle, pawls for said spindles, a lever adapted to hold out of action the widening pawl for the point spindle, a lever adapted to hold out of action the narrowing pawl for the end stop spindle, a star cam having a step-by-step movement, a follower for the cam journalled on one of said levers, said levers arranged to be moved simultaneously by movements of said follower to hold their pawls out of action and to permit them to operate, and cams acting to hold out of action either said widening pawl or said narrowing pawl when they both have been freed by their levers.

12. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, the combination of an end stop spindle, a point moving spindle, pawl and ratchet means for turning said Spindles in the narrowing or widening directions as desired, a lever adapted to hold the widening pawl for the point spindle away from its ratchet, a lever adapted to hold the narrowing pawl for the stop spindle away from its ratchet, a lever adapted to hold the widening pawl for the stop spindle away from its ratchet, star cam and follower means acting on said first two levers to hold said first widening pawl and said narrowing pawl out of action simultaneously, and star cam and follower means acting on said last lever to hold the widening pawl for the stop spindle out of action in the revolutions in which the other widening pawl turns the point spindle.

13. In a straight knitting machine having a revolving camshaft, the combination of pattern means, an end stop spindle, a point spindle, and racking means for said spindles including two cams on said camshaft, a follower adapted to coact with one or the other of said cams in either knitting or non-knitting revolutions of the camshaft, a pattern controlled means to shift said camshaft in non-knitting revolutions of the shaft, and means to shift said follower in knitting revolutions only comprising a lever biased to turn in one direction and normally restrained by a pattern controlled lever and a second patsesame tern controlled lever acting to intercept said first lever to prevent it from making a full stroke in non-knitting revolutions.

14. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting and non-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning means including an end stop spindle and a point spindle and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles in either direction, comprising turning said stop spindle to move the stops in the widening direction during a knitting cycle while the point spindle is idle, turning said point spindle to transfer loops outwardly in a nonknitting cycle while the stop spindle is idle, and turningboth said spindles in the narrowing direction in a non-knitting cycle.

15. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting and non knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning means including an end stop spindle and a point spindle and means adapted when thrown into action to turn said spindles ineither direction, comprising turning said stop spindle to move the stops in the widening directionduring a knitting cycle while the point spindle is idle, turning said point spindle to transfer loops outwardly in a nonknitting cycle while the stop spindle is idle, and turning the point spindle again but in the liarrowing direction 'a non-knitting cycle when the stop spindle is idle.

16. In a straight knitting machine, the combination era revolving camshaft having a posit ion for knitting" and a position for fashioning, a yarn carrier rod and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring points, spindlesfor moving said stops and points, respectively, narrowing pawls and widening pawls for said spindles, pat tern means, means thrown into action bysaid pattern means for i'ackingsaid spindles by said pawls, control camsnormally positioned to pre ventone group of said pawl's from acting on their spindles, and means controlled by said pattern means to position said control cams to permit said one group or'pawls to turn the spindles and to prevent the other group from so doing, said racking means having two cams onsa-id camshaft and a follower adapted to 'eoac't with either one ofsaid cams, said positioning means having; a lever actingto shiftsaid follower and a rodfor moving said lever and making strokesor difl'erent lengths of; "which only the longer is effective toshift the follower but all of which move said control cams the same amount, and a pattern controlled member acting torestrict the length of stroke of said rod.

17-. In a straight knitting machine, the com bination of a revolving camshaft having-- rackingcams thereon, a cam follower for transmitting racking impulses from said cams, narrow ing pawls and widening pawls receiving said impulses, oscillatable cams adapted to be posttionedto determine whether' the narrowing or widening pawlsshall beeffective at the time of a given impulse from said follower, and a means for positioningboth said oscillatable eams and said; follower in'cIu'dinga rod biased to move in a given direction along its axis and making strokesv of different lengths, andconnections from said rod to said follower and to said oscil latable cams comprising respectively a lever having a lost motion connection to the rod whereby the. lever and follower are moved only by the longer strokes Of the rod and abell-crank lever having a follower, said follower engaging a cam 20 a on said rod to move the oscliiatable cams the same distance for each stroke of said rod.

18. The method of operating a straight knitting machine comprising a revolving cram'shaft having a position for knitting and a position for fashioning, t'wo cams on said camshaft, a single follower for said cams, a pattern means, loop transferring points, a yarn carrier rod, stops for said rod, spindles for moving said stops and points, respectively, narrowing pawls and widening pawls for racking said spindles actuated by said shaft and control members for determining whether the narrowing pawls or the widening pawls will be efiective in any given racking movement of the pawls comprising initiating a racking movement of said pawls by said pattern means in a knitting position of said camshaft, positioning said control members by said pattern means to cause the narrowing pawls to be ineffective, preventing racking of the point spindle during said knitting position of the camshaft, and initiating a second racking movement of said pawls by the pattern means in a fashioning position of said camshaft, positioning said control members by the pattern means to cause the narrowing pawls to be ineffective in said fashioning. position of the camshaft, and preventing racking of the stop spindle during said fashioning position of the camshaft.

19. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft occupying a position knitting and-a further position in which fashioning is performed,v the combination of a pattern means, an operating rod normally stationary, means activated by said pattern means adapted to move said rod av givendistance along, its axis, a cam follower having a lost motion connection with said rod whereby the follower is thrown into an active position by said rod during a knitting revolution of said shaft, control members for fashioning operations, an operating connection between said rod and said control members ineludinga bell-crank lever having a cam follower journalled on one arm, and a cam fixed to the rod with which the follower on said lever engages to actuate the lever an initial movement of the rod and cam, said cam having a portion along which. the. follower travels upon further movement, of the rod 'withnut further effect on said bellrcrank. lever.

20. In astrai'ght knitting machine having a main. camshaft occupying one position in knitting IGVOIlltiQlls and another positionln revolutions in which fashioning is performed, the combination offa pattern means, an operating rod normally stationary, meansthrown into action byfsjaid pattern meansgadapt'ed to move said rod a given distance along its axis, a cam follower having a lost motion connection with said rod whereby the follower thrown into an active position by said rod -during a knitting revolution 'ofsaid shaft, control membersfor fashioning operations, an operating connection between said rod and said control members including a bell-crank lever having a cam: follower journall'ed' on'one-arm, a camfixed to: the; rod which the follower on said lever engages'to actuate the-lever upon an initial movement of: the rod and cam, said cam having a face: along which the follower travels upon further move;- mentof the rodwithout further effect: on said bell-crank lever, amember adapted to check the movemen-t'o'f therod short of its full stroke, and agconnection from said checking member to'the pattern means for moving the checking 21 member into position to halt the movement of the rod.

21. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a spindle having a nut thereon for moving transfer points, said nut having predetermined limits of movement in both directions on said spindle, a pawl and ratchet means adapted to turn said spindle in one of said directions in either two needle or one needle steps, a cam normally positioned to permit two needle turning movement of said spindle but adapted to control the pawl to limit it to a single needle movement of the ratchet, said cam also adapted when in a third position to prevent any action of the pawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting said cam when in said first and second positions, and a stop member on said rod adapted to be moved to engage said nut when at its limit of movement in one of said directions to determine the position of said rod when said cam is in said second position.

22. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a spindle having a nut thereon for moving transfer points, a pawl and ratchet means adapted to turn said spindle in a certain direction in either two needle or single needle steps, a cam normally positioned to permit said two needle turning movement of said spindle but adapted to be positioned to control the pawl to limit it to a single needle movement of the ratchet, said cam also adapted when in a third position to prevent any action of the pawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting said cam when in said first and second positions and a stop on said rod adapted to engage a fixed part of the machine to determine the position of said rod when said cam is in said first position.

23. In a straight knitting machine, the combination of a spindle having a nut thereon for moving transfer points, said nut having predetermined limits of movement in opposite directions on said spindle, a pawl and ratchet means adapted to turn said spindle in one of said directions in either two needle or one needles steps, a cam normally positioned to permit two needle turning movement of said spindle but adapted to be positioned to control the pawl to limit it to a single needle movement of the ratchet, said cam also adapted when in a third position to prevent any action of the pawl on the ratchet, a rod for supporting said cam when in said first and second positions and a member on said rod adapted to be engaged by said nut to move the rod from supporting relation with said cam to permit it to move to said third position when the nut is moved in one direction beyond said predetermined limit.

24. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination of a cam, an actuating lever having a follower thereon and biased toward said cam, a pattern :means, a second lever holding said first lever to prevent it from following said cam and controlled .by said pattern means to release said first lever to permit it to follow said cam, said cam, follower .and pattern means co-operating to restore said .first and second levers to their holding relation, .and a third lever also controlled by said pattern vmeans and acting when desired to shorten the movement of said first lever in its biased direction.

the other for moving said points, pawls adapted to turn said spindles in the widening direction, pawls adapted to turn said spindles in the narrowing direction, operating connections between said pawls and said actuator for causing the pawls to turn the spindles when in positions for transmitting actuating impulses, a lever adapted to hold out of action the widening pawl for the point spindle, a lever adapted to hold out of action the narrowing pawl for the stop spindle, a cam and follower means adapted to move said levers to hold their said pawls out of action at the same time and to permit them to operate, the narrowing pawl for the point spindle acting to turn its spindle in the period said levers act to move their pawls out of action, and a cam acting in said period to limit the effective stroke of the narrowing pawl for the point spindle to half its maximum.

26. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioning cycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including, means to move said end stops in the widening direction during the knitting cycle, means for holding said points inactive during said widening movement of said stops, means to operate said points to transfer loops outwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine, and means for holding said end stops inactive during movement of said points.

27. In a straight knitting machine operating in knitting and fashioning cycles, the combination of yarn carrier rods and movable end stops therefor, loop transferring points and a fashioning mechanism including, means to move said end stops in the widening direction during a knitting cycle, means for holding said points inactive during said widening movement of said stops, means to operate said points to transfer loops outwardly in a succeeding cycle of the machine, means for holding said end stops inactive during movement of said points, and means for controlling said moving and holding means for said end stops and said points.

28. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting and non-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning means including an end stop spindle and a point spindle, pawls for said spindles, control means for said pawls and an actuator for said pawls, comprising controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the stop spindle in the widening direction during a knitting cycle while the point spindle is idle, controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the point spindle in the widening direction in a non-knitting cycle while the stop spindle is idle, controlling said pawls and operating said actuator in a knitting cycle while both spindles are idle and controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the point spindle in the widening direction in a non-knitting cycle while the stop spindle is idle.

29. The method of operating a knitting machine during knitting and non-knitting cycles, said machine having fabric fashioning means including an end stop spindle and a point spindle, pawls for said spindles, control means for said pawls and an actuator for said pawls, comprising controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the stop spindle a two needle distance in the widening direction during a knitting cycle While the point spindle is idle, controlling said pawls and operating the actuator to turn the point spindle a one needle distance in the widening direction in a non-knitting cycle while the stop spindie is idle, controlling said pawis and operating zsaid zaictnator in Q8! knitting 55,016 :while both spindles are idle and icontrolling said nawls and operating the actuator to the point spindle .a .second one needle distance in the widening direction in a non-knitting nycle while :the stop spindle is :idle.

30. In a straight knitting machine having a rotatable camshaft performing .both knitting and non-knitting revolutions, and :having warn narrier rods, movable end stops for :said :rods, and rods supporting loop transter points, the com .bination comprising .a, fashioning mechanism :invclnding rotatable spindles for moving :said and .stops and transfer point .nods respectively, nawls for rotating said spindles, a pattern means, mechanism for operating said pawls, (and .a con trol means coacting with said pattern means do ,cause :said :pawl operating mechanism and nawls -to :move said end stops in a --.widening direction during ,a knitting revolution of the :camsha'it while ;holding said transfer point rods against :movement, .and to move said "transfer point imds in a widening direction in two succeeding Rout non-knitting mevolutions of the icamshait holdingsaid end stopslagainst movement.

31. in ,a straight ilsnitting machine having at rotatable -camshaft xperforming abdth knitting :and non-knitting revolutions randihavin yarnzcarrier rods, movable end stops for ;-said:rods, and iI'DdS supporting loop transfer :po'ints. zthe rcombina'tion comprising a fashioning :mechanism including rotatablesspindles ifor moningsaidiend stops :and transfer point rods :respectively, apawls .for rotate zing said ispindles, in pattern means,1meohanism for operating :said pawls, :and a control means coacting .With the pattern :means :to ;cause said :pawl operating mechanism and pawls to move said end stops in a widening direction "during -a knitting revolution of said camshaft and --dur- 2,4 in whi h 13am is laid for lsnittins wh l hQldlne said transfer point rods against movement, and

- to :mova a d ransfer po nt rods o :tr n ic loops utwardly :in tw sncceed ns but n e n ttin remlnt-ions of said camsh ft while hszldin Sa d end stops a ainst m vement. and 9 21 ove both said end stops and said rod in a narr win d rection in a non-knittin revolut on o th camshag-ft.

.32. a straight imittin machine the c m- ;hination of a c mshaft, a c m thereon h vin a hi h point, a l ver, a .zfollozwer carried by sa ileverifor :SIQDtflQ bylsaid cam, means for bias n said dever in a direction to cause said follower town-tact said-cam andtfollow the contour th re of, a sustaining member for holding .said lever a ainst movement by said biasing means, a pat- :tern means, means controlled by said pattern means to more said sustaining member ,to its lever gholding nosition when said follower is in contact with the high point {of said cam, and a checking member under the ,control of said :pattennzmeansandzmovable into thepositiontocheck the movement of the lever and follower toward the mam.

HERBERT ERICH References (-Jited in the file of this patent U TED STATES PA S Number Name Date 12,00532461 Gastrich .;Tune-18, 1935 2109140 Richter etzal Feb. 22, 1938 $2,198,559 I-181d Apr. 23', 19.40 2,432,413 =Haehnel Dec. 9, 1947 =2,438,5'68 Mack Dec. :30, 1947 2,449,477 Held et a1 Sept. 14, 1948 2,489;14 1 Kaul -et a1. Nov. 22, 1949 '2;5(l'7;533 Straussberger May 16,1950 2,507,534 'Straussberger May 16, 1950

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