US2656694A - Flat knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1953 E. s. BARSBY E11-AIA.y

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 16, 1950 L HM- Mw --.Obl ...ww N SVN m s Q mw om, .,HII M. QQ w m w www omf 27, 1953 E. S. BARSBY ET AL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1950 E. S. BARSBY ET AL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE oct. 27, 1953 Filed May 16, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inven ana Oct. 27, 1953 E. vs. BARSBY ETAL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 16, 1950 Oct. 27, 1953 E. s. BARsBY ET AL 2,656,694

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 9 SheetSheet 5 E. S. BARSBY ET AL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 16, 1950 I nventorS Oct. 27, 1953 E. s. BARSBY ET AL 2,655,694

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 45 l Mge /ff Il v I 9 30 27 $1 lll" 9 ll| mmm 3 l lm '9. 9 b 6 o Inventors Oct. 27, 1953 E. s. BARsBY ET Al. 2,656,694

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 F/G. /O

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FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 [Ill- By www Patented Oct. 27, 1953 FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Edward Samuel Barsby and Alfred Percy Saunders, Leicester, England, assignors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,318 In Great Britain May 17, 1949 17 claims. l

This invention relates to single or multi-head flat knitting machines, and has reference particularly to the mechanism incorporated in such machines for controlling yarn carrier stops when producing full fashioned hosiery and the like.

It is principally the intention to apply the invention to straight bar knitting machines.

A machine of the class to which this invention is confined includes two groups of yarn carriers located at respectively opposite ends of the machine, each yarn carrier being attached to a reciprocatory driver bar or rod. The yarn carriers of one end group are attached to alternate driver bars or rods of a set, iwhilst the yarn carriers, of the opposite end group are attached to the intervening bars or rods. Moreover, to each carrier in such an end group there are provided, at the same end of the machine, a xed end or home stop and also a longitudinally movable end stop the position of which latter is automatically variable as knitting proceeds. The yarn carriers included in each end group are associated with pieces adapted for contact with the fixed and movable end stops. The driver bars or rods, together with their yarn carriers and associated Contact pieces, are brought into commission selectively. Ignoring for the moment means for the production of spliced or reinforced areas, there is, in a single head machine, only one yarn carrier attached to each driver bar or rod, this carrier being employed during the production of a single fashioned fabric blank. In a multi-head machine, on the other hand, two or more suitably spaced yarn carriers are attached to each driver bar or rod, depending on the number of fashioned blanks to be produced at a time. Now when any particular bar or rod is selected, the contact piece associated with the yarn carrier, or the appropriate yarn carrier, attached to the said bar or rod, first moves away from the iixed home stop and passes by the movable end stop at the same end of the machine. Then either the same contact piece (in the case ci a single-head machine) or a contact piece associated with the other yarn carrier, or the remote yarn carrier of a set of three or more, on the same driver bar or rod (in the case of a multihead machine), comes into contact with a longitudinally aligned movable end stop at the opposite end of the machine. Thereupon, the yarn carrier or carriers on the same bar or rod` reciprocates or reciprocate between the said two aligned movable end stops until the carrier or carriers is or are next taken out of commission- 'atwhich time it is necessary for the carrier bar or rod to be returned to its original position with the rst mentioned contact piece abutting the xed home stop. Before such return can take place, however, the said contact piece must, of course, pass freely by the corresponding movable end stop, all as well known to those acquainted with knitting machines of the class concerned.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a at knitting machine of the class just described, a simple and compact yarn carrier stop control mechanism designed to facilitate the foregoing movements.

Another object is to provide improved. mounting means for the yarn carriers combined with contact pieces of novel form and disposition, as will be hereinafter described.

ccording to this invention, a housing at each end of the machine for a group of movable end stops is adapted to be moved laterally, i. e. aside, in relation to the yarn carrier driver bars or rods for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a selected bar or rod, when the latter is moved to take the said yarn carrier out of action, to pass by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding xed home stop.

Whenever a group of movable end stops has been moved bodily aside to enable a contact piece to pass freely by the relevant movable end stop, the group is then automatically restored to its original position in readiness for the proper functioning of the yarn carrier or carriers next selected and brought into operation.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical eifect, a specic constructional example of the improved yarn carrier stop control mechanism as applied to a straight bar full fashioned knitting machine will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figures l and la are a front elevational view of so much of the said machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the invention thereto,

Figures 2 and 2a are a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing more clearly the slidable housing at one end of the machine in which are mounted individual longitudinally movable carrier members for a group of movable end stops,

Figure 4 is a detail, part sectional view, illustrating the connections by which the movable end stop housings are pulled aside and the control means therefor,

3 Figure 5 is a side view as seen from the appropriate end of the machine, of the pawl and ratchet and associated mechanism for effecting the required step-by-step movements of the groups of movable end stops towards and away from eaclikotl'1er Figure 6 is a pers ective view illustrating an alternate manner of mounting a group of movable end stops in a laterally shiftable housing,

Figures 7-12 are a series of detail irontelevational views depicting successive movements of a yarn carrier rst when moving into commission away from a fixed home stop, 'and then when being taken out of action and returned to the said home stop, and

Figure 13 is a somewhat similau view to any one of Figures 7-12 showing, however, aiparticlar arrangement of movable end stops and acont'act piece suitable for use ina single head machine and adapted to reduce the width of the machine t-a minimum, a's .will be hereinafter described.

Eike-parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring to `Figures 1 and '2, it will be seen that the full fashioned straight Abar knittingmachine includes 'a group of yarn 'carriers such as l at e'ach end of the machine, each of these carriers being tted with a tube 2 for guiding a yarn to the needles of the machine. Each yarn carrier I', moreover, is 'mounted on a flat vertically disposed plate 3 which is attached by means .of screws to a lrecipr'ocable driver bar 4., V'Ihere is, therefore, a set of paralleldriver bars :t arranged one 'behind the Aother in the same horizontal plane. The yarn carriersl `of one end g'roup are attached Ito alternate vdriver 'bars 4, whilst the yarn carriers of the opposite end group are attached 't`o the intervening driver bars. Thus, as, i'n the vspecific machine 'illustrated there are seven driver bars '4 in the lset, there will be a group of vfour yarn carriers I at the right-hand s`i`de,'and a smaller group of three such carriers at theleft-"hand side of the machine. rlfhe pair of "yarn carriers on the two driver bars nearest to the front of the machine (designated I1) are for supplying splicing orpreinforcirig threads, as will be hereinafter'm'ore fully described.

Each reciprocable yarn carrier driver b'ar '4 is iiiounte'dformovement longitudinally in a channe d ban housing 5 having attached thereto spaced' guide rails Fit.l

The referencenumer'al'i in Figure 1 indicates a `portieri 4o'fthe's'inker head of the machine, and a few of the s'irikers/and dividersare indicated, in purely diagrammatic fashion, at 'I. i w

in accordance with conventional practice, there 'isprovided'to each yarn carrier I of the groups at respectively lopposite ends of the machine ariiXed home stop 3 and also 'a longitudiiially movable endl's'ft'op 9. The plate 3 upon 'which each such carrier is mounted has formed upon the back thereoiadjacent toV its Vupper edge `a lug 'IU'fcons'tituting'a contact'piece adapted for cnta'ctwiththe relevant xed and movable end stop's'and '9 respectively. v

As will be readilyappreciated byr thfos'efacduaintedwith 'the construction of knitting machines ofthe class concerned, all Vof Y the end stops 9 are outside stops forv controlling lthe width vof theffabric.V In, addition to such stops the machine is 'alsofurnishe'd with two inside stops II forv c ontrollingthev aforementioned pair of yarn carriers (I1) (supplying Splicing or reinforcing threads. Each driverbar 4 to whicha splicing yarn carrier I1 is attached, also has attached 4 thereto, at an appropriate distance away from the said carrier, an auxiliary plate I2 having formed on the back thereof a lug I3 constituting a contact piece for co-operation with the corresponding inside stop II.

ihe well known arrangement of stops illus-y trated is suitable for either a single or a multihead machine. In the case of a multi-head machine, however, each reciprocable driver bar fwould have attached thereto two or more yarncarriers.

4 l Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen .that there is provided for the group of six movable end stops S; at each end of the machine, a

f' corresponding number of individual carrier members I4 housedand longitudinally slidable within ahoufsing `I 5 which, in accordance with the characteristic feature of this invention, is adapted to be moved laterally in relation to the yarn carrier driver bars 4, for the purpose of shifting the movable end stops aside en bloc and thereby enabling any Contact piece lli on the plate 3 of a yarn carrierattached to a :driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate `movable end stop 9 and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop. As shown more clearly in Figure 3, 'each housing Ji 5, is formed with longitudinally extending parallel grooves or channels I6 to receive the individual carrier members I4 which latter are in the form of toothed lbars or racks (hereinafter for convenience referred to as rack bars'). These rack bars Vare held in position Within the housings by Ameansof cover plates I'I which serve to close the initially 'open sides of the groovesor channels I6. rThe rack bars I4 are disposed above the rails 5 housing the corresponding yarn carrier driver bars 4. Each housing I5, moreover, extends across and is slidable laterally within a pair of xed Vfront and rear supporting brackets 'I 8 and I9 respectively.

Extending between and mounted in suitable bearings infe'ach such pair of fixed brackets is a toothed'roller or gear 20 the lower portionof which protrudes'through an aperture in the correspcn'dingcover plate I'I for engagement with all ofthe raciibars I4'of the relevant group. By reason of this construction, 'whenever the said toothedro'ller or gear 26 is turned, all ofthe'rack bars meshing therewith will simultaneously be moved in the samedirection and to the same extent: `apart 'from this, whenever the corresponding housing I5 is moved laterally (aside), engagement between the rack bars I4 and the toothed roller vor gear 20 will be maintained, thereby inturn maintaining the positions of the several movable end stops 9 of the group relatively to each other.` Y

l VAtitsiiiner end, each of the rack bars I4 is slotted, as indicatecl'atfZI in Figure 1, and to this slottedportion is aiiixed, by rivets 22, a bracket 2 3. Mounted for adjustment longitudinally upon each bracket 2`3is a slide 24 adapted to be'locked in position by n'ieansY of screws 25. Pivotally mounted upon theslide 24 by a pivot pin 26 is oneof theehd stops 9. This stop can yield and s win'ghforwar'd freely, but is positively prevented from movement'backwards by contact of a tail portion 3a thereonwith the underside vof the bracket`23, as shown in Figure 1. In this'way, each end 'stop `9 is enabled to present a solid, unyieldable face 9b to the contact piece lIll on the plate 3v of the relevant yarn carrier when this is in commission.

Byrmaking the slides 24 longitudinally adv iustable, the movable end stops 9 can be, individually adjusted in relation to the rack bars I4 to enable the tubes 2 on the yarn carriers to be correctly located between the sinkers at the knitting location.

Each slide 24 has accommodated therein a vertical plunger` 21 which is controlled by a compression spring 28. The upper end of the stem of this plunger is screw-threaded to receive nuts 29 which, by contact with the top of the slide 24, serve to limit the downward movement of the plunger. Each of the plungers 2l is adapted for co-operation with a bevel formation 30 on the plate 3 of the appropriate yarn carrier for the purpose of checking the said carrier and preventing rebound thereof at the relevant end stop 9. That is to say, when the contact piece i9 of any selected yarn carrier, during operation of the latter, moves into engagement with an end stop 9, the associated spring plunger 2l will snap into position on the appropriate bevel formation 39, thereby firmly holding the contact piece in certain engagement with the said stop. In this way, a good selvedge line is imparted to the fabric. The plate 3 supporting a yarn carrier I for use in a multi-head machine would only require to have one bevel formation, either right or left hand. The same remark applies to the plate 3 of a splicing yarn carrier |1. For use in a single head machine, however, each yarn carrier plate 3 must be provided at respectively opposite sides of the contact piece I0 thereon with two bevel formations 36, one righthand and the other left-hand. Plates of the last mentioned form are illustrated, by way of example, in each of Figures 6-13, whereas right and left-hand plates each having only one bevel formation 39 are shown in Figure l. But for the sake of standardisation, it is proposed that the plates 3 shall all be made with two bevel formations 39 so that identical plates can be used in either a single or a multi-head machine.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cover plate Il' of each movable end stop housing I5 has provided thereon an upstanding stud 3| to which is connected one end of a Bowden or like flexible cable 32 the opposite end of which is attached to a fulcrummed cam lever 33. rPhe toe 34 of this lever is arranged to be acted upon by cams, such as 35 and 36, affixed to the control drum 3l of the machine. Each flexible cable 32 extends through and is movable longitudinally within a fixed tubular housing 38 one end of which is secured in a union 39 which is screwed into the back of the corresponding rear bracket I9. The opposite end of each tubular housing 38 is fixed in a bracket 49 located near to and above the cam lever 33. A compression spring 4|, arranged to surround each cable 32, is interposed between the stud 3l and the corresponding union 39. The housings l5 are therefore adapted to be pulled aside by the cables 32, against the action of the springs 4|, at the required times dictated by the common control means, and to be restored to their original positions by the said springs.

The rearmost rack bar |4 of each of the two groups of such bars has attached thereto a U- shaped element 42 (see Figure 2) which is engaged by a driving dog 43 mounted on a part which is slidably engaged with a guide rail 44 and is attached to a nut N in turn engaged with a screwed shaft 45. This shaft has right and lefthand threaded portions 45a and 45h-the portion 45a for engagement with the nut N carrying the dog 43 for driving the right-hand group of rack bars |4, and the other portion 45h` forfengagement with the nut similarly carrying the dog for driving the left-hand group of rack bars. It is to be clearly understood, however, thateach dog 93 of itself serves to move one rack bar only, corresponding movement being transmitted to the remaining rack bars of that particular group through the medium of the relevant toothed roller or gear 26.

To effect step-by-step movements of the groups of movable end stops 9 towards and away from each other to fashion the fabric being knitted, the screwed shaft 45 is adapted to be racked in one direction or the other by pawl and ratchet mechanism, through the medium of intermeshing gears of a ratio appropriate to the gauge of the machine, under the control of suitable timing or controlling means. Thus, as shown in Figure 5, the pawl and ratchet mechanism includes a single rack wheel 46 which is mounted lto turn on a shaft 4l and is cut so as to have teeth 46a suitable for racking in either direction. To the rack wheel 46 is attached a gear wheel 48 arranged in mesh with a pinion 49 secured upon the screwed shaft 45. For cooperation with the rack wheel 46 there is provided a pair of opposed pivoted rack pawls 50 and 5I which are mounted on a reciprocable racking member 52 and are connected by a controlling tension spring 53. The racking member 52 is slidably engaged upon the shaft 4l, and atits outer end is connected to a suitably fulcrummed bell-crank lever 54 adapted to be rocked from a cam-actuated lever (not shown), through the medium of a link 55. rThe said lever may conveniently be actuated by a cam on the main shaft of the machine. Pivot ally mounted at 56 upon the racking member 52 is a selector bluff 5l thehead 51a of which is located between the opposed pawls 50 and 5|. The shank or stem 51h is slidably engaged in a socket 58 provided on a vertically movable slide 59 supported in a convenient part of a bracket 60. The lower portion of the vertical slide 59 is fitted with a pin 6| which works in a cam slot 62 formed in a horizontal slide 63 mounted between guideways in another part of the bracket 60. The outer end of the horizontal slide 63 is articulated to a further bell-crank lever 64 which is connected, by means of an intermediate link 65, with a lever 66 adapted to be actuated from the control drum of the machine. The construction and arrangement are therefore such that the selector bluff 5l is selected, by selective operation of the slides 59 and 63 to take up one of three positions, according to requirements. Thus, when the slide 63 is pulled into such a position that the pin 6| is located in the highest portion of the cam slot 62, the head 51a of the bluff 5l will be turned downwards to render the lower pawl 59 inoperative and to permit engagement of the upper pawl 5| with the rack wheel 46, as a consequence of which the said wheel will be racked anti-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 5). When on the other hand, the slide 63 is pushed into such a position that the pin 6| is located in the lowest portion of the cam slot, then the bluff head 51a will be swung upwards to take the pawl 5| out of action and permit engagement of the rack wheel 46 by the pawl 50, so enabling the said wheel to be racked clockwise. When the slide 63 is moved to an intermediate or neutral position so that the pin 6| becomes located in the central portion 62a of the cam slot 62, the bluif 5l will be horizontally disposed-with both "corresponding auxiliary'stop plate I2 'for the purposef checking the movement'and preventing "rebound of this plata-and hence alsoffthe splicing! yarn 'carrier i V'I 1," WheneverK 4the i contact "p'i'ece I3 `on---the'pliatteis'moveclinto contact-@With` l-the-relevantins'ide' stop II. The bracket 'I5-on f whichtheI 'right'ha'nd inside fstop fis formed-is attached to one 'endfof aa` rack bar-18;*:Whilst` the corresponding'bracketi provided Awith r the left- -handinside xstop -is ysimilarly attached tota, mack" bar 'ISfthese two rack bars beingdisposedfparaly lel to each other andmounted 'forf step-,b-yhstep movement longitudinally Within grooves .milled inea-housing ftted `with vcover -platesf 8 I The :two-rack bars 7f3-and 'I9are -so inter-connected by gear meansas to be.- adapted -to movelongi- 4-tudinallyiniA opposite| directions :.upon-r` movement e being impartedwto-fvone fof the-said barsponly. Thus,f"as-shown in Figures 1f and 2, the rack-bar =meshes`-with a-:pinion Y82"onfa spindlev 83'Which @is mountedto -rotatein suitable bearings? in fixed f-bracketscne'lof #which -is indicated at:- r84,v and assists supporting-the housing@ 80. -r :Another ffked-f, -bracket,- omitted'. .-from' uthe-fv drawings, ttor 8 the fsalc'e :of clarity, would :also Jae provided fat the front of th'e housing 89. x'llhe Lend of v'the spindle 283 Y:remote trom the l:pinion 182 :projects rearwardly throughthe bracket 84 and ihas itted thereon a pair of ratchet Wheelsz85 andaxwhich `are lormed "iwith rcspectively toppositely cut vteeth andiarela'daptedatomo-loperate with .suitablyactuated oppositlysarranged 1 pawls :81 and :8 3 wherei fby fthe :spindle 83 :and Lhence .also the pinion 'B2 :can be rotated stepwise :in :either ydirection according :to :requirements .The .track bar F19 :tsupi #porting the left-:hand inside .stop is Aengaged .by .aipinion :9X1 ion:a further spindle 19;! fmounted :for 'rotation :in ,theaaforementioned itbracket, lthe two spindles f83zan'dsi9 I abeing;directly .geared-,together lby a :pair irof :intermeshing pinionsV 2 and 19,-3 :(ifigjureaa) isothat iwhenever .thezpinion 82 .rotated, `rotation .to the same extent abut ein Vfthe :opposite direction-,willfbe imparted :to ;;the;pinion 390. Inzthis-:waynthe twofinside stopsIfI 4aresi multaneously movableLstep-by-step in opposite dir'rections, vin accordance with i the amovements irn- .parted ,to fthe 4frzttchet :wheels 85 `and ,'86, 'to -de [termine@thecshapaofthe spliced areas .of the `fabric.

`,-'lo-enable'az-splicingyarn carrienl to be used, alte'rnativelwinthefsame:Wayas one ofthe ordi- :nary uyarn*'carriers-for :feeding-.yarn .f to a ;;com plete series oflneedlesinstea'd 0f merelyto afew :needles vfor f'splicing, provision may advantage- .ously be f made .f forten'rporarilyv taking' the inside .stops I I .out-.of;action ;by: movingthem4 aside out .of theirf normal.. li-na to, permit the splicingl`vyarn carriers;to-passzby themzand make longer strokes.`

To thisvend,.thejhousings maybemade slidable ilaterallycin `:a directionyat righteangles to v the drivenbarsffllfaindi7 the channelled:v bar; housings; 5, Ilandbeoperated@and controlled,j in a' similar man* mer tosthef housings I5. lThus the housing. B-is adapted fto be .drawn aside vrat predetermined 4timcsbyffailexiblefeable SIL-which' is attachedat one end-to ya ulcnummed cam: lever-195 (Figure) Voperable bylcams such as96 on the control drum Y3'I. The-opposi-teend,of the cablef94 isattached -tofa-stud. B'Ioon: thefhousing 80. VThe, cable :extends throughsanduworksl -ina tubular housing 98 -4`the .appropriate ,end .-of :which is` fitted :in Y a @unioni-99 screwed intoethebracket--l .,Azspring may. be: provided -forrestoring the housing: 80. to its-original -vpositionaatter having! been drawn .aside.

#The movements-.vof awyarn .carrier i complete f-withuits platef in relation toa xeduhome stop 1 82" and r a frrnovabler endstop =9 --will now bev :briey .adescribedy-with referencef'toqEigures'l'e-lZ. lIn .EFigure 7; thea-yarn 'carrier I. -is inoperatiyap-,with Litho-plate 3;;in;:contact with thezrelevant home S'st'opf 8; aW-hichcfor illustration purposes;..is. 'atlthe right-'hand endrofA thezmachine. JAsiWill-fbetsc-en, Whenithe plateiS-is'irf this-position, vvthe contact compressed. jf Ater. having tripped past the, movable end stop 9, at which time the plunger 21 is released, the yarn carrier I continues its movement towards the left-hand end of the machine and completes a stroke in that direction. Thereupon the carrier makes a reverse stroke until, as depicted in Figure 9, the right-hand side of the contact piece It comes into engagement with the face 9a of the end stop 9 to arrest the carrier. As previously explained, the stop 9 cannot yield in this direction by reason of the engagement of its tail portion 9a with the underside of the bracket 23. The operative carrier I now proceeds to move back and forth, feeding yarn to the needles, and being arrested at the end of each stroke in the direction towards the righthand end of the machine by engagement of the right-hand side of the contact piece iti with the face 9ct of the end stop 9. Whenever this happens, the plunger 21 snaps into engagement with the left-,hand bevel formation 30 on the plate 3 to check the position of the carrier and prevent rebound thereof at the end stop. During these movements, however, the rack bar I4 carrying the end stop 9 may be moved stepwise to vary the position of the said stop and so shape the fabric. When the last stroke of the yarn carrier I is nearly completed, immediately prior to the carrier being taken out of commission again (see Figure 10), the movable end stop S, together with the remaining end stops of the group, is moved aside, thereby permitting the contact piece I0 to pass freely by the stop B (Figure 1l) and return to the home stop 8 (Figure 12) The plates 3, with their contact lugs or pieces I0 of narrow Width the opposite sides of Which constitute closely disposed contact faces, are eminently suitable for use in single head machines. As shown in Figure i3, a single contact piece III can thus co-operate With the appropriate movable end stops 9 operating from respectively opposite ends of the machine. This enables the width of such a machine to be kept to a minimum. In Figure 13, the two end stops 9 and the associated spring plungers 21 are shown practically the minimum distance apart, the opposite sides Ita and IIlb of the contact piece I9 making contact with the right and left-hand stops respectively as the plate 3 reciprocates between the two. The left-hand bevel formation 30 on the plate 3 co-operates with the plunger 21 associated With the right-hand stop 9 to hold the contact piece Ill firmly in contact with the said stop at the termination of each stroke of the plate 3 to the right, whilst the right-hand bevel formation similarly co-operates with the plunger associated with left-hand stop to hold the contact piece against the same at the cornpleticn of each reverse stroke of the plate.

Naturally, it is the fact of forming the contact pieces on plates such as 3 which enables the yarn carrier driver bars I4 to be mounted in and enclosed by housings such as 5.

What We claim then is:

l. In a flat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, 'fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated vwith inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, means for carrying the movable end stops, means for vary- ;ing the positions of ,the said movable end ,stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop Will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn cai'- rier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops and means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop.

2. In a fiat knitting machine, in combination, a yarn carrier having associated therewith a contact piece, a reciprocatory driver bar to which said carrier is attached, a fixed home stop at one end of the machine, a movable end stop which is normally in alignment with the home stop, means for carrying the movable end stop, means for varying the position of the movable end stop as knitting proceeds, the said movable end stop being yieldable in one direction to enable the aforesaid contact piece to pass it when the yarn carrier is brought into action, but not in the other direction, a housing for the movable end stop carrier means, and means for moving the said housing laterally in relation to the driver bar to enable the Contact piece when the yarn carrier is taken out of action, to pass freely by the end stop for return to the fixed home stop.

3. In a flat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to Which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops Aat each end of the machine, means for carrying the movable end stops, means for varying the positions of the said movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops Ibeing yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops, means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop, and means for automatically restoring a housing to 1 l its original position after the corresponding group `of movable end stops has been moved aside and so returning the said stops in readiness for further use.

li, In a ilat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine With which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops norinally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, means for carrying the movable end stops, means for varying the positions of the said movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each 'of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops, means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop, means for automatically restoring a housing to its original position after the corresponding group of movable end stops has been moved aside and so returning the said stops in readiness for further use, and means for positively maintaining the varying positions of the movable end stops of each group during movement aside and restoration to its original position of the corresponding housing.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein each of the said housings is mounted on a slide arranged transversely with respect to the yarn carrier driver bars, and is adapted to be automatically moved aside at required times at the dictates of controlling means, through the medium of intermediate connections.

d. In a flat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make Contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, means for carrying the movable end stops, means for varying the positions of the said movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face t the Contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the thenY operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier meansrof the corresponding group of movable end stops, cam means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose 0f enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop, and spring means for automatically restoring a housing to its original position after the corresponding group of movable end stops has been moved aside and so returning the said stops in readiness for further use.

7. In a fiat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, xed home stops at each end of the machine vvith which the contact `pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine means for carrying the movable end stops, means for varying the positions of the said movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that Whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops, a control drum, cam means on said drum, fulcrumed levers `adapted to be actuated by said cam means, iiexible cables between the said levers and the housings whereby the latter can be pulled aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any Contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop, and spring means for automatically restoring a housing to its original position after the corresponding group of movable end stops has been moved aside and so returning the said stops in readiness for further use.

8. In a fiat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, xed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, carrier means upon which the movable end stops are pivotally mounted, selectively operable control means for moving the said carrier means longitudinally step-by-step in either direction to vary the positions o f the movable'end stops as knitting'proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops and means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein the movable end stops are adjustable individually in relation to the said carrier means.

10. In a nat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reoiprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment With corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, individual carrier members furnished with brackets upon which the movable end stops are pivotally mounted, selectively operable control means for moving the said individual carrier membersen bloc longitudinally step-by-step in either direction to vary the positions of the movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that Whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated With a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the individual carrier members of the corresponding group of movable end stops, and means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding iixed home stop.

il. In a fiat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, cross slides iitted with parts upon which the movable end stops of the respective groups are pivotally mounted, longitudinally movable brackets in which the said slides are accommodated, selectively operable control means for moving the said lCiV brackets longitudinally step-by-step in either direction to vary the positions of the movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that Whenver such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a elected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, means for moving the cross slides aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop. l

12. In a fiat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine With which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, individual toothed bars furnished with brackets upon which the movable end stops are pivotally mounted, selectively operable control means for moving the said individual toothed bars en bloc longitudinally step-by-step in either direction to vary the positions of the movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof,will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the individual toothed bars of the corresponding group of movable end stops, means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to `a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding xed home stop, and in engagement with all of the toothed bars of each group, a correspondingly toothed roller for positively maintaining the varying positions of the mov-- able end stops of the group during movement aside of the corresponding housing.

13. In a dat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, nxedhome stops at each end of thetmachine with Which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers. make contact, a group of longitudinally `movable end Vstops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine.

carrier means uponwhich themovable end Stopsv are pivotally mounted, a screwed shaft having right and left hand-threaded portions, connections between these portions ofl the said shaft and the movable end; stop carrier means at respectively opposite ends of the machine, pawl and ratchet machinism for racking round the screwed shaft in either direction, means for controlling the operation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism whereby the movable end stop carrier means are moved step-Wise to vary the positions' of the movable end stops at knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldabley in` one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop willbe trippedV toA enable the contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciproeating during production of fashioned fabric the saidL stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housingat each end of the. machine for the carrier means of the corresponding group of movable end stops and means: for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with the yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving. to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding xed home stop.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the pawl and ratchet mechanism comprises a single rack wheel having teeth suitable for racking in either direction, and, for co-operation with the said wheel, a pair of opposed pawls controllable by selective operation of an associated blui.

15. In a flat knitting machine, in combina- 'tion, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatory driver bars to which said yarn carriers are attached, contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the machine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinally movable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, individual toothed bars furnished with brackets upon which the movable end stops are pivotally mounted, a toothedy roller engaged with all of the toothed bars of each group, a screwed shaft having right and left hand threaded portions, a nut engaged with each such portion of the shaft, a driving dog which is mounted on each nut and engaged with one only of the toothed bars of the corresponding group, pawl and ratchet mechanism for racking round the screwed shaft in either direction, means for controlling the operation of the pawl andY ratchet mechanism, the longitudinal step-wise movements imparted by a driving dog to the engaged toothed bar being transmitted to the remaining toothed bars of the group through the medium of the corresponding toothed roller whereby the toothed bars are movable en bloc to vary the positions of the movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that Whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated Y with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the offashioned` fabric the said stop, notwithstand-v ing variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end oi each appropriate stroke lof the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the individual toothed bars of thecorresponding group of movable end stops, and means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with,y a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and; return into contact with the corresponding fixed home stop.

16. Ina flat knitting machine, in combination, yarn carriers, selectively operable reciprocatoiy driver barsI to whichl saidY yarn carriers are attached,v contact pieces associated with the yarn carriers, fixed home stops at each end of the mach-,ine with which the contact pieces associated with inoperative yarn carriers make contact, a group of longitudinallymovable end stops normally in alignment with corresponding home stops at each end of the machine, means for carrying the movable end stops, means for varying` the positions of the said movable end stops as knitting proceeds, each of the movable end stops being yieldable in one direction but not in the other so that whenever such a stop is contacted by a contact piece associated with a selected yarn carrier moving into operation the said stop will be tripped to enable the Contact piece to pass by it but when the said yarn carrier is reciprocating during production of; fashioned fabric the said stop, notwithstanding variations in the position thereof, will present a solid face to the contact piece at the end of each appropriate stroke of the then operating yarn carrier, a housing at each end of the machine for the carrier means of the corresponding groupy 0f movable end stops, means for moving the housings aside relatively to the yarn carrier driver bars for the purpose of enabling any contact piece associated with a yarn carrier attached to a driver bar moving to take the said carrier out of action, to pass freely by the appropriate movable end stop and return into contact with the corresponding xe'd home stop, two inside stops for controlling splicing yarn Carriers, two toothed bars upon which the :said inside stops are mounted, means for imparting longitudinal movements in either direction to one only of the said toothed bars, and gear means for so nter-connecting the said toothed bars as to cause the two inside stops to move longitudinally in opposite directions upon movement being imparted to the aforementioned single bar only.

17. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the toothed bars carrying the two inside stops are mounted in a housing which is movable aside in relation to the yarn carrier driver bars,

Y for the purpose herein described.

EDWARD SAMUEL BARSBY. ALFRED PERCY SAUNDERS.

References cited in the nie of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS

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