US2667769A - Pattern means for circular knitting machines and method of operating same - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 w, [DE 2,667,769

PATTERN MEANS FQR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 71 19/7774 0 [p5 BY /-//5 ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 w, 35 2,667,769

PATTERN MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES U AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1950 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 o z \7 INVENTOR.

' WH/TMIWV 0 [05 BY H/S ATTOIP/VL'VS Feb. 2, 1954 w. D. lDE

PATTERN MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WH/T/Vfl/V D; [05

3rd Feed 2nd fisezi lsZ feed 3rd Feed 27 8 Feed /si Feed 3rd Pell- Zmi Pew lst Pet Ase A3214 BY H/S HTTOIP/VEFS Feb. 2, 1954 w. b. lDE

PATTERN MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1, 1950 0 0 O00 O00 O00 O00 O00 000 O O 0 XXX XXXXX XXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XXX XXXXX XXXXX X XOOOX XOOOX XO XXEXX XXQXX XX XXXX XXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X XOOOX xxxxx XXHXX O 0 O00 O00 xxxxx xxxxx xxflxx xxx: xooox xooox xoonox x aooox xooom moo n m xxxxux X X X X XXXXX XXXXX XXXX X O O O o oo OOX Axx IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFI l l l I my 5077 l MC/(5 {Law 507/ l INVENTOR. WH/T/ffl/V 0 [05 BY H/S RTTOA /VIVS W. D. lDE PATTERN MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 1, 1950 Av Av Av W Av Av 0 Av Av Av 0 Q a: o o 0 am 0 o o o o o 64 x x X x x x nd x x x x x x x x x P x xxx xx xxx xx xxx x x xxx xx xxx xx xxx x X X X X X X X X X x 6 x x x. x x o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o W o o o o o o M w W J 2 0o 00 6A a N u m 0 o 0 0 o o o o m J x x x x 1 x n X X X X X X X .X X XXX XX XXX XX XXX X M x xxx xx xxx xx xxx x x x x x T|| wx o o o o 6 o o o o o o o .o L o o o o o 7 o o o o o o o o o o w o o o INVENTOR. W/V/T/VAM/ '& [05

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'BY H/S rlTTO/QNfVS Feb. 2, 1954 w D ,DE 2,667,769

PATTERN MEANS FOR c'IRc'uLAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed NOV. 1, 1950 10 Sheet-Sheet i xx xx X X X X x x x x xx xx xxxx Xxx xx xx x x x x xx xx xx xx x x X x X X X X xx xxxx xxxx x xx x x x x x x X x XX F X XX 1 X X X X P X I X X XX l x l xxxx I I xxxx I XX I l x IXX XXI XX XX l l I xx I XX i l I I l I I i I max 25 {II|III; i I IIIIIIJI I I l I I I I I I I I I I I 3rd rev 5rd {2nd i550 I 36: r55

d ,2": End 19: K {2:1 raw I I6! F550 an: M50 Asif PA'L {37x2 F620 6: W550 IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 2, 1954 w D [DE 2,667,769

PATTERN MEANS FOR c'IRcuLAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1950 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 JHCK 29 INVENTOR. M/v/WM/v 0. [05

BY H/S flTTO/PNEYS Feb 2, 1954 w D [DE 2,667,769

PATTERN MEANS FOR c'IRc'uLAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING sAME Filed Nov. 1, 1950 I0 Sheets-Sheet 10 000 X X (700 o 0 O O XXXX O o o x o O 000 x x 000 X OOOOX xx 0000 o o xxxx 0 .L o 0 xx 0 0 j 000 x x 00 T 606 Ix Xx x iflfl 0 0 xx x 1 0 0 000 IX x' 000 x x I I 1 l 1 1 H l l H II I l l h I JACK 29, JACK 2:5

1 Amok 27 1 I r l 1 l l l IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Feb. 2, 1954 PATTERN MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Whitman D. Ide, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,480

7 Claims.

This invention relates to pattern means for circular knitting machines and method of operating same, and more particularly to means revolving in registry with the needle cylinder to select needles, jacks, or other knitting instrumentalities to produce design in the knitted fabric. It has heretofore been known to have wheels carrying pattern indications revolving in timed relation with the needle cylinder or dial to apply their indications at the periphery of the cylinder or dial to needles, jacks, sinkers, and the like. The present invention belongs to such of this class of devices as apply a pattern on a wheel to the fabric progressively. These progressive devices make it possible to produce a large pattern from relatively small pattern means. This progression is achieved by having the wheel gain or lose in its relative position each revolution of the needle cylinder. One limitation of the progressive pattern system has been that the pattern is produced spirally, i. e., diagonally, on the fabric. Another disadvantage is that the types of patterns which can be produced are limited, since the pattern unit on the wheel is merely repeated without change around the fabric. is the object of my invention to produce pattern means having the advantages of the progressive pattern system, without these disadvantages.

According to my invention the pattern means consist of one or more wheels, each composed of a plurality of superposed discs on a common axis, those discs having pattern indications on them. I provide operatingbutts at different heights on the knitting elements to cooperate with the selections indicated on the superposed discs. I provide special locating holes in the discs to simplify the assembly of the discs. I provide wheels at a plurality of selecting stations, i. e., at a plurality of knitting feeds on the machine, and I arrange the fields or units of pattern on the different discs and axes in a special manner. By these means I find it possible greatly to enlarge the pattern possibilities of the machine and, when desired, to completely eliminate the diagonal or slant effect of the pattern in the fabric. When it is desired to eliminate the slant effect, the number of units in th knitted pattern should equal the number of discs in each wheel and there should be butts in each successive pattern course in registry with a disc at a diiierent level from the preceding field selection.

I will illustrate the invention applied to a stationary cylinder, independent needle, multiple feed Scott 8: Williams knitting machine adapted to make balbriggan fabric having two course eyelets therein made by the use of transfer jacks. The machine therefore has three knitting feeds to one selecting station. However, it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other special stitches or selective manipulation of knitting elements other than transfer jacks, and whether in dial or cylinder.

In the drawings: a

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a dial cap of a stationary needle cylinder Scott & Williams circular knitting machine built according to my invention, containing two pattern wheel selecting stations for making eyelet balbriggan fabric;

Fig. 2 is a development in elevation of needle cylinder knitting cams corresponding to part of the showing of the dial cap of Fig. 1; the lettered dash lines showing corresponding point in the knitting cycle in this and the preceding figure;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through one side of the dial and dial cap of Fig. 1, taken on a line passing through one of my novel pattern wheels, showing a transfer jack moved outwardly by a projection on the bottom disc;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the layout of an ordinary progressive pattern of theprior art wherein the machine has one feed and one selecting station, the large diagram showing the diagonal characterof the design in the fabric, while the graph at the bottom shows the pattern indications of the single disc of the single wheel, the six fields of the pattern wheel for producing that design as they lie successively on the disc, and, vertically, one of the pattern units produced in six revolutions of the machine by those same six fields;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the same design unit when produced on a three feed machine with three single disc pattern wheels of the prior art; while the graph at the bottom shows, horizontally, the first two fields of the single disc on each of the three wheels, and, vertically, the first pattern unit produced by the combined action of the three Wheels in two revolutions of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a diagram similar to Fig. 4, showing a pattern which can be obtained by the employment of my invention on a single feed machine having one of my novel double disc wheels such as shown in Fig. 3, with high and low butt knitting elements arranged to give one selection from a single height of butt by itself or another from both butt heights together; the large diagram showing the appearance of the design in the finished fabric, the next portion showing the high and low butt layout of the jacks on the knitting 3 elements, and the bottom portions showing, horizontally, the pattern layout on the upper and lower discs for six successive fields and, vertically, the pattern selections available on the two discs in correspondence to their position in the fabric;

Fig. '7' is a diagram similar to. Fig. 6, showing.

three discs in association with three heights of independent frangible jack butts adapted to produce a basic pattern three fields wide from which slant has been entirely eliminated; the main ob: long showing the design in the fabric, the diagram under it showing the arrangement of jack butts. thefirst graph under the jack butts showing the pattern indications on the assembled discs forming the wheels at the three feeds, the next graph showing the top No. 3 discs at each feed grouped together. the middle No. 2 discs for the three feeds grouped together and the bottom No. 1 discs of the three feeds grouped together, the discs being located under each bracket whose pattern they reproduce;

Figs- 9, 1,0 and 11 are diagrams of only the thirds of the basic pattern of Fig. 8 produced by the. bottom, middle and top discs (i. e., Nos. 1, 2 and 3;) respectivel of the three feeds; the horizontal rows in the bottom graph in each view showing the pattern indications of three fields on the bottom discs No. l at the three feeds in Fig. 9, the middle discs No. 2 in. Fig. 10, and the top discs No. 3 in Fig. 11; whilethe vertical arrangement of the pattern indications in these graphs each shows. the indications effective to produce a different pattern unit in three revolutions of the machine;

Fig. 12 is a series of illustrations of a basic pattern stretching across three pattern units made according to my invention similarly to Figs.

8. to 11 but in which the machine. employed has only two pattern wheels, each wheel still having three discs.

One of the more common systems of producing patterns in knitted fabric, more particularly circular knitted fabric, on multi-feed knitting machines, is by manipulation of selected knitting instrumentalities, such as needles, jacks, or sinkers. According to this system, a. rotating means, such as a drum or a jacquard, is associated with the periphery of the revolving cylinder or dial of, the knitting machine. This means has the same linear, i. e., peripheral, speed as the associated portions of the knitting elements and contains indications. The indications may be either butts or the absence of butts, spaced in V registering relation to the associated knitting ele- Heretofore one known way to manipulate the selected knitting elements for patterning was by means of a reproduction of the entire design on the drum in two dimensions exactly as it was to appear on the fabric. This involved a large mechanism. Such mechanisms are cumbersome and expensive and occupy a large amount of space on the machine.

The progressive" type of pattern system avoids these disadvantages. This system lays out the entire pattern in indications arranged in one dimension. According to this system, the needle or jack selections on successive courses basically are laid. out. in succession in one line on a pattern disc which, revolving in register with the knitting elements, reproduces the selections on the fabric. Normally, the disc makes several revolutions to each revolution of the knitting machine. However, it usually takes several revolutions of the machine to complete one set of pattern units vertically of the design. To complete the pattern, units, the indications are applied to the fabric in a relation which is shogged on successive revolutions of the machine. To give this shogging, the parts are built so that one revolution of the machine does not equal an exact number of revolutions of the pattern wheel. Thus, at. the end of one revolution of the knitting machine the pattern wheel will have advanced or dropped back a number of pattern indications, e. g., dial slots. The number of pattern indications by which the pattern Wheel advances or retards relatively to the circle of knitting elements in one revolution of the machine should divide evenly into the total number of knitting elements. Unless this is true, the pattern design will not come back to its starting point in the fabric at desired intervals. In the trade the knitted design is considered as divided into areas, pattern units or fields. Where I speak of pattern unit, I refer to that portion of the fabric design which is one field wide and includes enough weft knit courses to complete one repeat of the design in that field. Each knitted course in such a pattern unit may be termed a. field. course. The pattern wheel customarily progresses one or more fields forward or back with relation to the knitting elements for each revolution of the knitting machine. Thenumber of knitting elements by which the wheel progresses each revolution of the knitting machine equals or is a multiple of the number of elements in one field or pattern unit.

This progression places; the pattern indications of each course of, each field of the design succeslsively as part of adjacent knitted units of the design. Thus, if a. disc revolves about four times to each revolution of the knitting machine, only one-fourth as, many pattern indications are needed to produce a pattern around the fabric, and that reduced number of indications can repeat. itself down the fabric an indefinite number of times.

However, the progressive system of patterning has the great disadvantage that the progression causes production of a slanting, spiral or diagonal arrangement, of; the pattern unit in the fabric. It isv true, as shown in the prior art illustration of Fig. 5, that with certain arithmetic arrangements of the fields, feeds and pattern stations, it is possible to produce a slanting or staggered design which has certain horizontal effects in it. Even. this does. not completely eliminate the slanting effect; nor. does it add to the patterning possibilitiesof the machine.

I have invented. apmgressive system in which the diagonal or slanting effect is completely overcome while maintaining the advantages of the progressive system over the complete design drum systems above mentioned, or a jacquard.

The special stitch which will be used to illus-. trate my invention is the so-called eyelet balbriggan stitch made by transferring sinker wale loops to adjacent needles, as shown in the patent to Robert W. Scott, No. 846,430, dated March 5, 1907. These eyelets may be one or two course eyelets according to whether the transfer jacks are held out to receive yarn at one or two feeds. It will be obvious that the invention may also be used for other kinds of jacks or stitches, such, for example, as those shown in the Robert W. Scott Patent No. 834,763, dated October 30, 1903, or the Scott Patent No. 846,428, dated March 5, 1907. The invention can equally well be used to select needle control jacks or needles having butts designed to be moved away from the selecting wheels.

I will now describe such parts of the well-known Scott 8: Williams knitting machine suitable for this eyelet work as are necessary to an understanding of my invention. The machine has the usual revolving cam ring 6| containing a multi-- plicity of knitting cams 62. relation with the stationary needle cylinder is a dial 53. There is a revolving dial cap 6 mounted above the dial carrying the pattern means of my invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, there is a ring 65 mounted on the dial at its periphery, having radial slots 66 in which are slidably mounted transfer jacks 1. Each jack is composed of two complemental partsone having a left crimp and the other a right crimp, jointly forming an eye, as shown in the above-mentioned Scott Patent No. 846,430. In view of the fact that the stitch produced in the pattern example being described calls for a lateral transfer of the sinker wales of the stitches to adjacent needles, there is one transfer slot 5 5 in the dial for each two slots for the needles 8 in the needle cylinder. On the inner periphery of the ring 65 are small blades 9 mounted in a radial direction to serve as teeth and form an internal gear whose use will be hereinafter described.

There are one or more mounting brackets ill screwed to the" dial cap 64 and each projecting downwardly through an opening H in the cap to a position opposite the ring 65. Journalled in the lower end of each bracket ii! is a vertical shaft l2 forming part of one of my novel wheels. On the lower end of this shaft i2 is tightly fixed a horizontal gear wheel 13 adapted to mesh with the internal gear formed by the blades 9. Forming part of the vertical shaft I2 is a horizontal flange l4 lying on the upper face of the lower end of the bracket 10. This supports a registry or locating pin l5 at a position off center from the vertical shaft l2. I provide novel pattern discs l6 adapted to be mounted on the vertical shaft I? as a common axis to keep the discs in axial registry with each other. The registry or locating pin l5 serves to locate the pattern discs angularly' around the vertical shaft in proper spaced relation in the novel manner which will hereinafter be described. To clamp the plurality of novel discs together I provide a knurled nut I! which screws on-the upper end of the vertical shaft l2. By screwing this nut'down, it grips the plurality of discs between itself and the flange I4 of the vertical shaft E2. The dial cap revolves, but the dial itself is stationary. Rotation of the discs thus mounted is caused by rela-' Associated in fixed 6 tive rotation between thedial 'cap'and dial due to the blades 9 rotating the vertical shaft 52.

In Figs. 4. and 5 I have illustrated the prior art constructions. In Fig. 4 is shown a pattern which has been obtainable heretofore by using a single disc selecting wheel of the prior art in a single feed knitting machine. One complete unit of the pattern is shown at the bottom of the large oblong in Fig. 4 outlined by dash lines in the form of a square, marked with the reference character I8. It is six pattern courses in height and six pattern jacks in width. The outlined oblong shows the total length of the fields on the wheel. In this figure of the drawings the pattern wheel has thirty-six projections on it to operate the pattern jacks, these being spaced in exact registry with the consecutive jacks. The layout of the pattern indications on the disc of the wheel is shown on the entire bottom row 19. Each square horizontally represents a jack. This layout is divided into six fields, each corresponding .to six transfer jacks. If the pattern were being made by stitches which had transfer jacks the same in number as the needles, then each field would correspond in width to six needles. It will be noted that the design occupies only the five lefthand jack spaces of the first'field course of the bottom row 59 of the layout in this figure. However, the blank column 26, as well as'the blank row 2! at the top of the pattern unit, must be considered as part of the pattern; being required to space the unit from the neighboring pattern units. The spiral or diagonal effect caused by the progressive nature of the system'is as follows. Since the design is six jacks in width and the wheels circumference covers thirty-six jacks, the jack-carrying dial of the machine has a total number of slots equal to thirty-six multiplied by a suitable number, say, for example, 10, with six jack slots added. This gives a total of three hundred sixty-six slots in the dial. The six extra slots mentioned could have been subtracted if preferred, this affecting only whether. the diagonal effect will be a right-hand or a left-hand spiral.

During one revolution of the machine, the pattern wheel in such a setup with six slots added will rotate times, so that on the second revolution of the machine the'projections or indications shown in field 2 will register in the fabric on the wales controlled on the previous revolution by the indications of field I. On the third revolution the jacks of field 3 will register in the fabric above field 2 of the second revolution, and so on until the design is completed at the end of the sixth revolution. Field 3 will form the third step and so on until an exact horizontal repeat occurs, at which time field I, will follow field 6. Thus the diagonal effect shown in the large oblong of Fig.

4 will have been formed. It will be seen that it takes six courses to complete each unit of the pattern. In the graphs shown in the drawings the hollow squares represent those projections or indications on the pattern wheel which have been removed, and the black squares represent the locations where the projections have been left on and the transfer jacks will be projected.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a diagram of the arrangement of a progressive pattern of the prior art in which the design shown is a slanted or spiral design produced on a machine having three knitting feeds and a pattern wheel at each of the three feeds. In this case one complete pattern unit is the width of six transfer jacks, and theheight of six pattern courses. Each'wheel, has .a

eemed single disc: with: twelve proiectious om corn-eespondingtm twelve jacks of Ii and It will be seen; that in this; particular case ittakes only two revolutions of the. needlecylinder." to complete the: pattern. in the fabric instead; of site as in the case of Fig; 4.. Thefull'row of pattern indications on the disc. at the: first feed. is: marked with. the reference character i912. Eachfieldcourseior line of indications: in the pattern: of Fig- 5v islaid. out to. follow the field. course: below it and; the three: successive. wheels; eacht begins on: a: diiferen i field coursein order-that; the fabric" as it comes around to the three feedszmay get successivefl'eldi courses of. the complete original. pattern applied in: direct. rotation. Time; as shoivrrirrlfifi'g. 5; feed-Iv producesthebottonn field course on; the firstrevm lution of the needle cylinder, whilethezsecond feed" produces the second field. course; and. the: thirdfeedthethi'rd field; course. Meanwhile; of. course,

the pattern wheel at the first feed; has-knit the fourth field course from. the: bottom. of; the: ad jacent design unit. in; the: fabric, the second. feed: pattern wheel. haskniit the fifth. field course; and the third. feed pattern wheel. has; knit the; blank: fieldv course forthe topoftha designa. Thisbiank field-1 course is to produce space: between the: in? dividual pattern unitsand: its neighbors above-and? below it: in thezknitted: fabric; aswin; the; case of Fig. 4;. Onthe second revolution of the machine. the pattern; wheels: will; have been. snagged the equivalent of one. field and the pattern. indicaz tions: of the second. field: conrseorrthe; discsiwill be; reproduced: in. the. first; design. unit. ins the: fabric to complete. the: upper halfiof: that first. design unit. in .the; fabric.

It willabe seen thatr the threerfeedszot this ma chine and. pattermproducezsufficient slanoor'spiral in; theipattern the causmevery design" to: he heritzontal. alignment. with a similar design. in, the: second column,- frorrrifi. I-n a.sense the design can. be. considered partly symmetrical; having. both; horizontal and slant effects.

It" will. be: noted" that machines?v employing? the progressive. patterning system heretofore: knowni can be considered as having a species of horizonw tal: selectivity According'te my invention: I prov-idevariations in=thedesign set-up:by the=progre sivecircumferentialiposition or the indications 2on the:- wheel', by adding: vertical selectivity to the: existinghorizont'al selectivity. The-permutations; in pattern obtainable i'n= thisway avoid tiresome-- plexity and-number of partsof'thesys-temawhich have to lay: outthe entire pattern exactly." as it"- appearsin the fabric; I obtain: a muclr greater rangeofpatterning thantheordinary-progressive: machine with a much smaller number oi parts? and selections thadthe fullylaid-out' pattern' sys terns.- To obtai'n these variations or permutations: I provide apluralitycf 'pattern-di'scsona common: axis in each pattern wheel and butts on the: knitting elements at different levels to' cooperate therewith.- Preferably this selectivity is: used in timed relation with the fields into which the in dications 'cn each disc are divided.

In Fig. fi myihvention i's show-n ernbcdied in a machine adapted? to gi've oneselecti'on of knitting elements one: unit- 0f? tli'e knitted f abri'm design and the combination of' thairselection: with another: selection: in. a.- second: unit of the' knitted design. lt will be seen that this onerwawselec tivity givesan increase in pattern possibilities and also makes: it. possiblez to; have? a: design: which: is: two:- fields wide. The. design: is; produced by the;- use. of: one double: disc; wheel: on: a: single: feed.

' three fields wide.

dial as well: as the slant or; diagonal effect or the resulting pattern are; the; same: as. in Fig;v 4; As showm atzthe top of theifigure th'ere' arelow-butt jacks 22 and: high butt jacks 23.. In: thisiparti'culax? illustration. the jacks in the field designated in: Fig; 6: of the drawings as field I are low butt jacksand the jacksin field 2: are" high butt jacks. This alternation. continues throughout the: six fields'of the patternwheel here illustrated. Inth'e layout of the indications on thew-heel at the bottom. of. the figure; the pattern: indications cm the lower disc are shown: by circles; and the pattern indications of the upper disc are shown by xsr since the butts on the jacks: are-at right angles to-thedndications' on the. discs it will beseen that' the high butt: jacks 23 are actuated by pattern indications on either or both discs", while th'e low butt jackss 22% are selected only by the lower disc; Itwillbe' noted that the lower dise roduces a diamond-shaped design, while the-combinationofthe upper and lower discs produces an octagonal pat tern. unit; To assist in illustrating: some of the novel effects obtainable by my invention", -I:ca1lat'tenti'onlto the fact thatthe pattern indications ofithet lower disc in Fig. fi'producethelsarne pattern unit as the pattern disc imFigs: 4' an'd 5.-

Eig..'1.' i'sa view of a-somewhatsimil'ar arrangement; butv one. in; which. different design units cam beeobtained in threesucoessivebfields byhav 1 selected. from. one disc; the second field selected from the other disc, -an'd the field fromta: combination. of the two discs. This givesdtwo wayse1ectivity at asin'gle selectingstation; In this: case the design shown is It will be: seen: that: the total design in; Fig. 7: is more elaborate than. the: one

Rig"; 6:

It. ispossible to obtain two way selectivity by using. jacks: having horizontal? butts; i.. e butts. which are parallel; to the. pattern: indications on the: disc;. Thus; in this. particular case by" the usezof. frangible butts. I. have low' butt jacks 24, high butt. jacks; 25: and doublerbuttjacksffi. In thisfigure of thedrawings the'pattern unitspro'-- duced; in: the second; third: and: fourth. columns. of. the design shown in the" main oblong have been designated by brackets marked H, J and' K. There is only'one double disc pattern wheelrequired to make this design on" a single 1 feed: machine.

The lower disc is'cut to produce the solidxdiamond pattern unitcomposedof the: circles-found underthebrackets I-I and-;K,.since: the. lower: disc: pattern indications. register only" with jacks having low'butt's 24.. Theupper. disc;

a controls: the; high butt jacks: 25-and these: jacks areused. to:' produce the hollow. square pattern unit. shown by the ris appearing under brackets J. and K. The upper disc" as wella's' the lower. disc; actuates' the. double butt jack-s 26;. Itwill: bezseen: that the patternunit appearing: under: bracket: K.is a composite of I pattern units H: and! J. resulting: fromjacksizfi having. both high and;

lcwbutts. This, in effect, superposes the hollow' square pattern unit ofbracket J on the: solid diamondpattern unit of bracket H to: form. the solid square -pa'tterrlunit of br'acketiK. It. will he: noted that the: doublebutt jacks: 26. are actu allyoperated by the indications on both; the: upper and lower discs where I th xs appear over the" circles inthe drawing:

Another" and preferred form of: embodimentofz' my invention: is shown-in Fig. 8. This machine; hasthree feeds for each selecting station; If the machine were producing: two course. eyelets: it:

knitting? The: numhm of: slots: im that. 75: wonldhavez nine knittingcfeedssa-nd:tlireei attern:

selecting stations. The pattern wheels drop back at each revolution of the machine, as before. Each pattern wheel has three superposed discs. The indications of the different discs are selected in a direction which progresses in the machine in a diagonal direction opposite to that of the normal walewise progression, whereby horizontal symmetrical effects are obtained in the knitted design. The complete elimination of slanting arrangements of units of the pattern in the finished fabric is one of the valuable capabilities of my machine. My invention completely eliminates such reproductions of the pattern units as normally appear in an unsymmetrical, i. e., slanting relation, in the finished fabric. In the case of a horizontally symmetrical pattern, the operating butts are successively opposite different superposed discs.

The pattern shown in Fig. 8 is produced by using three levels of frangible butts. The particular pattern illustrated is made without using two selecting butts on any of the jacks, but it will be obvious that different combinations of butts can be worked out, if desired, by adding jacks having butts in the first and second positions, in the second and third, and in the first and third positions. The bottom butts 55 shown in Figs. '7 and 8 relate to a nullifying cam which will be discussed later, and in the following discussion only the three regular selecting butts are referred to. As shown in Fig. 8, only three variations of jack selecting butts are employed, namely, the jacks 2? with butts opposite the lowermost or No. 1 disc, jacks 28 with butts opposite the middle. or No. 2 disc, and jacks 29 with butts opposite the top or No. 3 disc. As in the case of Fig. 7, this Fig. 8 includes not only the showing of the jack butts, the oblong of the pattern design in the fabric and the layout of the pattern indications on the pattern wheels,

but also the layout of the pattern indications on the discs for three field units of the design, namely, under the brackets L, M and N. The layout of the pattern indications on the pattern wheel is different in one. important respect from that occurring in Figs. 6.and.7..

In the particular system shown in Fig. 8, each disc has eighteen frangible projections around its periphery, spaced to register with the transfer jacks, as heretofore. A disc drops back six jacks, i. e., one field,'each revolution of the knitting machine, as in th previous case, and there are three hundred sixty-six jacks or jack slots in the dial of the machine, I prefer to leave the last six jacks out of their slots in the machine. It will therefore be seen that it takes twenty and one-third revolutions of the pattern wheel to equal each revolution of the dial.

As in the previous embodiments of my invention, the pattern layout at the bottom of the figure is based on having each space or square horizontally representing a transfer jack and each square vertically representing a weft course in the knitted fabric However, in distinction to Figs. 6 and 7, the machine now has three pattern wheels and, in distinction to the prior art, the pattern indications available are operated in a vertically selective manner. This, of course, was impossible in the prior art, and in Figs. 6 and '7 either the upper or lower discs or both were used at each field of the pattern, as the exigencies of the pattern required. In this par ticular pattern, however, certain-of the discs are entirely-eliminated from action at each field of the pattern, as one of the necessary steps in producing a horizontally symmetrical pattern. The combination of vertical selectivity with horizontal selectivity in a progressive pattern system can, of course, be employed for other purposes, if desired. However, the arrangement of the order of active discs in the successive fields in a direction counter to the direction of progression of the fields on the fabric, taken in connection with the elimination of the reproduction of the pattern indications on the remaining discs on each wheel in each field, makes it possible by an adjusted placement of the indications to overcome all diagonal effects.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the finished pattern design and two vertical repeats of such of the pattern indications on the pattern wheels as are used to make the design. As already mentioned, the progressive nature of the pattern system is taken advantage of to give a progressive vertical selection by fields at each wheel from disc to disc. Thus, in the particular pattern design here shown, the portion of the pattern under any particular bracket L, M, N, O, P or Q is produced by using the normal horizontal progression to change the disc whose pattern indications are used to produce this particular pattern unit. Since the machine is a three feed pattern selecting machine, such a change occurs every three courses, and since it takes nine patterncourses to complete the pattern, it will be seen that a field of each of three discs at each of three selecting stations is used to produce each complete vertical repeat of the pattern coveredby the dash outline under brackets L, M and -N. y

In Fig. 8 I have shown the fabric, the jack butts and the pattern indications resulting from all three levels of selection. In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have shown only the single field unit of the knitted design-produced at one level of selection and the selecting means producing it. -In Fig. 9 it is the three No. l discs-at the three pattern wheels and the production of the knitted design unit under the bracket L in Fig. 8. In Fig. 10 it is the three No. 2 discs and the knitted design unit under the bracket M. Fig. 11 is the third field of the knitted design as shown under the bracket N, and the No. 3 discs etc. which produce it. It will be obvious from Figs. 9, 10 andll that only at every third field does any particular pattern unit appear in the fabric. By eliminating the reproductions of thepattern units which are staggered with relation to the first reproduction of the pattern unit in the fabric, i. e., by not using the second and third feeds at any one level and coordinating this properly with analogous arrangements at the second and third feeds; with proper allowance for the angular advancement and choice of initial-pattern-unit, I have found that the diagonal effect can be completely elim.-. inated. i

I will now set forth the coordination of fields and pattern indications of the various discs neces-- fields in width. Each pattern wheel carries one disc for each third of thepattern. These. discs are superposed on each :other on a-common axis so-that each wheelhas-a set-of discs which between them cover the entire pattern of the three Thepatterns under brackets 0, P and Q are repetitious of thoseunder L, M and N brackets.

of the knitting machine.

The pattern jacks are arranged in this -particular case so that the height of'butt is changed with each field. It should be remembered that in view of the progressive nature of the pattern system, the butts opposite each field therefore change each three courses, i. e., each revolution The showings should be read from bottom to top.

In describing Fig. 8, I have referred to pattern feeds and pattern courses. If there are an equal number of pattern wheels and knitting feeds in the machine, it will be obvious that the sentences could have referred equally well to knitting feeds and knitting courses. However, when making two course eyelets "by lateral transfer of sinker I wales, as previously referred to, it takes three knitting feeds to each pattern selection. Thus, a machine to have'three two-course eyelet pattern feeds would have nine knitting selections. In the case of the pattern of Figs. 8, 9 10 and 11. to make 1' such a pattern the change from the pattern unit of one field to the pattern unit of the next field would occur every nine knitted courses and it would take twenty-seven knitted courses to complete the design. In using the word design I have reference to one repeat of the pattern cov ered by the dash outline under brackets L, M and N. I will now describe the machine as mak ing such fabric. 7

The bottom or No. 1 disc on each wheel is eifective whenever a jack with a bottom butt comes into contact with it, the middle or No. 2 disc affects jack butts at the middle level, while the top or No. 3 disc controls only jacks with butts at the top level. In the drawings the six jacks in a field all have the same kind of'butt. Thus, there are six jacks 21 with bottom butts, followed by six jacks 28 with middle butts, and then six jacks 29- with top butts, all as indicated in Fig. 8. We will follow the action of one pattern for one revolution. At the first pattern wheel, the six bottom butt jacks 21 come opposite the No. 1 disc. but there are no pattern projections or indications, sothat blank field course 3!! is made (Figs. 8 and 9). As the dial cap continues to turn about the center axis of the machine, it car ries the first pattern wheel along and the wheel rotates because gear wheel I3 is in contact with the blades 9. This brings the next six jacks 23 field course 31 resulted from the No. .i'discat that feed. When the third feed came around to the same group of six bottom butt jacks 21, they came into register with the No. '1 disc at the third feed, and field course 32 resulted. It will be noted that up to this point only bottom butt jacks have been opposite the pattern unit of bracket L, middle butt jacks 28 opposite bracket M and top butt jacks 29 opposite bracket N. The first three courses of the three pattern units have been made and the dial cap has caused one revolution of each pattern wheel.

The machine goes on turning, making additional reproductions of the first three courses of the three pattern unit L, M and N, until the first pattern wheel has made twenty complete revolutions and impressed its pattern indications on three hundred sixty jacks. It then brings the indications of the first field of the No. 1 disc at the first feed opposite the last six jack slots in the machine. These slots are preferably empty, in which case no pattern stitches are made. However the wheels advance one field just the same. This brings the second field of the three No. 1 discs in register with the first six jacks in the machine as the second revolution of the machine begins. The fabric wales corresponding to these first six jacks on the dial were given the indications of the first fields 30, 31 and 32 of the No. ;1 discs at the first, second and third feeds respectively on the first revolution of the machine. The second and third fields on this'disc were not effective on the first revolution of the machine. Now the first pattern wheel has dropped back one field with relation to the fabric in the machine. As they come around in their turn to the second revolution of the machine, the second and third pattern wheels have also dropped back. All the fields on the discs which on the first revolution of the machine were opposite the second pattern unit the fabric are now opposite the first pattern unit. Similarly, those fields which were opposite the third pattern unit are now opposite the second, and those fields which were opposite the first pattern unit into contact with the pattern wheel; These jacks 1.

correspond to the next field; and they have No. 2- butts, They affect the next six eyelet stitches formed inthis same knitted course after the blank field course 30. As can be seen from 8 orFig. 10, this must produce two eyelet stitches, side by side, from the third and fourth jacks. This is thefield course marked 50 in the second pattern unit under bracket As the first pattern wheel continues to revolve, itpresents the third field 011 the discs. At this point the third group of jacks, namely; jacks 29- with top butts contact the No. 3 disc, This is field course St on Figs. 8 and ii. It is blank, so no eyelets are produced. Ihis is under bracket N. The pattern discs at the first wheel have now one revolution, covering eighteen 7 consecutive jacks all in one pattern course. In the meantime, the pattern wheels at the second and third feeds have been turning too. They have been ceoperating in the patterning of the next two pattern courses. .When the second feed and its pattern wheel reached the six jacks where the blank field course 39 of the first pattern unit was selected by thefirst wheel, the same group of six bottom butt jacks 2'1 "were selected and the are now opposite the third.

The jacks opposite the pattern units in the fabric are unchanged, so they select from the discs in the same order that they did on the first revolution of the machine. The number of fields on each disc being equal to the number of levels of butts on the jacks, the beginning of the second revolution of the machine finds the bottommost butt jacks 21 reading the fourth field course 34 on the bottom disc at the first feed. This fourth field course of pattern unit bracket L is actually the second field on the disc (see Fig. 9). This field course 34 comes directly above field course 32 in the fabric. At the second and third feeds the same wales have the pattern indications of field courses 35 and 36 applied. On the third revolution of the machine, these wales of the fabric receive field courses 31, and 39. This completes the pattern unit under bracket L in Figs- 8 and In the meantime. the three pa tern wheels complete the pattern units under brackets M and N.v Thus, the first reproduction of the three field designs is completed. The machine goes on to complete the other reproductions of the design around the fabric and then makes additional reproductions as more fabric is knit,

The first pattern indication field course of second and third pattern unit brackets M and N must be angula-rly offset one field and two, re.- spe'ctively, compared 'to the pattern indication field courses for the first third of the pattern. This offsetting of the No. 2 and 3 discs can be seen in Figs. 10 and 11. It is possible to do this because of the use of a plurality of independent discs mounted on a common axis at each of a plurality of pattern stations. In other words, the middle or No. 2 disc of each wheel must begin its design six jacks beyond the bottom disc of Fig. 9, while the top or No. 3 disc for producing the third pattern unit under bracketN of Fig. 8 must begin its design six jacks beyond that of Fig. 16 and twelve jacks beyond that of Fig. 9. Since the discs illustrated have eighteen projections and I have chosen to have the jacks begin to produce the design under bracket L at a locating pin 1 5, the pattern indications to produce the pattern unit after bracket M begins 120 from the locating pin. The design under bracket N begins 240 from that same pin.

It would be quite confusing in preparing pattern wheels if in addition to all the other locating problems this angular allowance had to be considered. I therefore propose to use three equally spaced locating holes in each disc. In this way after the pattern indications have been prepared on the discs they may be stepped around at the time of assembly into a pattern wheel. The simplest way is to stamp a letter or identifying symbol opposite the locating hole to be placed on the pin 15, these symbols or registry indications therefore being placed at successively diiferent holes on discs of difierent number. The operator then can begin placing his fields on the disc at the marked hole and know that the fields will be angularly allowed for in the proper manner. To assemble a wheel, the lower disc for the first feed is placed on the pin to align with low butts of jacks 2'! and a middle disc cut for the pattern under bracket M is placed on it to align with the middle butts of jacks 28 and a top disc cut for the part of the pattern under bracket N is placed on top to align with the high butts of jacks 29. The procedure is repeated in assembling the wheel for the second feed, using discs prepared as shown at the bottom of Fig. 3 as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 discs, marked "1st rev. 2nd feed. The third wheel is made from discs No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, marked 1st rev. 3rd feed. It will be seen that it takes three disc fields vertically to produce one field course each revolution of the wheel. Thus, only one of the three discs on each pattern wheel is operating at a time, although all three are rotating.

The discs whose layouts are illustrated control jacks for the arrangement of quite simple designs which are only six jacks in width and involve only three pattern fields. In actual practice the discs usually would control jacks making designs having a minimum of twelve jacks in width for each field and the discs would be of sufficient circumference to pass at least four such groups before repeating horizontally. Such discs might have forty-eight projections and operate at four pattern fields, while the jacks would have four frangible butts.

Turning now to the production of eyelets on the machine shown in 1 and 2, a pattern wheel it is located just ahead of the first knitting feed M to project wherever eyelets are desired, and the pattern indications on one of the discs will push any selected jack out as shown in Fig. 3, ahead of this first feed 45. The needles on either side of the jack draw a length of yarn over the jack and knit. The jack remains out and as it passes the second wheel iii) position 4 2 at the second feed 43,9. second length of yarn is drawn over it and the needles knit at the second feed. As the jack approaches the third feed 44, the jack is moved further out by a transfer cam 45, the needle hooks are moved up through the eyes of the jacks, the jacks are retracted by cam surface 45 and the sinker loops on them are thus cast off onto the needles at the third feed. This produces a two course eyelet. Only one pattern wheel is required to make a given kind of eyelet. If a single course eyelet is required, wheel id is placed in position 42 just prior to feed 43 where the operation of drawing yarn over the jacks occurs as described at feed ll and before the next feed the jacks are pushed further out so that the eyes of the jacks are over the heads of the needles. The needles rise, the jacks retire and the loops are transferred onto the needles at the feed following the one where the loop was laid on the jacks. For a two course eyelet the jacks are selected a feed earlier and remain out far enough to catch loops at two courses.

When pattern wheels are used at more than one selection point the wheels are timed in the following manner. The locating holes are to be timed with relation to each other. A pattern disc It is placed on the vertical shaft E2 of the pattern wheel at the first selecting station in such manner that the proper locating hole is on the registry pin 5 5. The disc is then clamped on the shaft by the nut H. The mounting bracket it is then loosened from the dial cap 64 by removing the screw 41, retracting the bracket slightly till the gear wheel 13 is out of mesh with the blades 9 on the ring 65. The wheel is then turned until the frangible pattern indication IQ directly in front of the locating hole is in position to move a jack. The bracket is then moved back till gear l3 meshes with the blades 9 and is secured in position by putting in screw 4?. The

jack aligned with the projection in front of the locating hole is then marked for identification and the machine turned till the wheel at the next selecting station is opposite the marked jack. This second wheel is turned to register with the marked jack, as described at the first selecting station. The machine is then turned till the marked jack is opposite the wheel at the third station and that Wheel loosened, reset and tightened as before. Once all the wheels have thus been timed, the discs can be changed any number of times without having to reset the wheels.

In order to eliminate the diagonal effect it is essential that the number of knitted pattern units, i. e., the number of different pattern fields on a disc, be equal to the number of discs on a wheel. Any repetitions of the series of diiferent pattern fields on a disc of course are not considered in this statement. In the embodiment of Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 the number of pattern units or fields, and the number of pattern wheels, are equal. It is not essential for elimination of the diagonal effect that the number of wheels equal the number of pattern units. Therefore, in Fig. 12 I have shown an embodiment illustrating how my invention can be used to produce a three field progressive pattern by means of two pattern feeds. In this embodiment each field contains six jacks and the machine completes a set of pattern units in three revolutions of the machine. The jacks 2?, 28, 29 are, respectively, for the No. l, 2 and 3 discs. The jacks are shown without any special butt 55 for nullifying cams as are memes.

hereinafter described in connect-ion with Fig 8. e layout at the bottom of the figure shows, in t.-.-e first square the design unit of the first field; in the double blank 53, the reproductions of the first field which are omitted owing to the levels of the butts on the jacks 28 and 29'; and in square 54, the adjacent horizontal repeat of the design unit of the first field,

It is also possible to produce spaced designs means of my novel construction. It might be noted that these designs may or may not be symmetrical, i. e.,, they may or may not have any diagonal or spiral efife-cts. A simple example will be explained in connection with the machine of 8, 9, 10 and 11 in which there are three pattern selecting stations in the machine three discs on each wheel. The pattern shown under the bracket L in the fabric part these diagrams can be produced alone, omi ing the pattern units after bracket-s M and N; It is also ible to produce in horizontally and vertically wed relation in the fabric, a spaced design covering three fields of the pattern. Described broadiy, the method of producing such single large designs in spaced relation in the fabric is as follows.

If the design is of such a nature that some of the jacks will not be needed at any time, those jacks are first removed from the machine. Then pattern selections of the remaining jacks which are not needed at any particular pattern selecting station'at any particular revolution of a pattern wheel are nullified by means hereinafter described. We are producing the special stitches of the assembled groupof fields necessary to produce one complete design and to nullify all field selections of immediatelyadjacent designs. It will l e obvious, owing both to the horizontal progression of the pattern and to my novel vertical progression, that the fields which must be used will be activated intermittently at each of the pattern selecting stations and will be chosen from various disc levels. I therefore provide nullifying cams 49 at each pattern selecting station. Since nullification will be needed only at moments when no disc is active at the pattern station where selections are being nullified, the butts on the jacks and the nuliifying cams can be so arranged that the nullifying cam any pattern selecting station is effective on all the jacks passing that station. Additional pattern selections would be obtainable if the height of the cam and the butts on the jacks were arranged to give additional selectivity.

As already pointed out, the selections in suc cessive fields on any given disc prior to my -'11 unless the design is large enough to cover more one field. I will therefore confine my de scription of this phase of my invention to the production of a single, large design which is three pattern units in width and which is to be spaced horizontally and vertically from other reproduc tions of the design in the fabric. As already described in connection with Figs. 8 to 11, when the pattern design is three units, i. e., three fields, in width, two of the three pattern field courses presented at the same time are in effect nullified vention would have been adjacent courses in ad 16 by the absence-of butts on. tbeiiacks opp ite the pattern indications on the disc.

However, I can providemeans to eliminate the third pattern selection, say every other time, in order that the complete design may be omitted every other time, therefore producing the design only in spaced relation to itself. The abovementioned removal from the machine of the individual pattern jacks which at no time have any part in the production of a pattern stitch, and the use of the nullifying cams i9, achieve object of preventing recurrent reproductions of the complete design in the fabric.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is a jack projecting cam 43 just ahead of the first wheel at each pattern selecting station. When moved out to its operating position, this cam is adapted to pro ject all jacks to take yarn, provided only that the jacks have butts at the level of the projecting cam. In addition, I provide a jack nulliiying cam 49 associated with each pattern wheel. It will be noted that "the butts on the pattern jack discs serve to project the jacks at the points marked A in Figs. 1 and 2. This point is located in the knitting cycle before the needles start to rise to take yarn. The nullifying cams are located at the points marked B, at which time the needles are in their highest position just prior to drawing their stitch. It will thereseen that the nu -lying cams cause fore withdrawal of jacks before they can take the yarn.

A single large design such as shown unde the combined brackets L, M and N in Figure 8, may be readily'produced by first removing all jacks 21, 28 and 29, except those in the proper location as illustrated, which would prevent any horizontal repeat. Next, the nuilifying cams s9 corresponding to each selecting wheel may be rendered active to erase any selections made by the various rotating discs and thus no pattern would be produced. When the design was desired, nullifying cams 4% would be moved out of action and the wheels would begin producing the pattern. Upon its completion the nullifying cams would again become active and the resultant plain fabric continued as desired. It will be seen that designs may be separated horizontally, vertically, or both, by the proper spacing of jacks combined with the use or nuliifying over desired numbers of courses. If the vertical separation is to extend for a lesser number of courses than the total number produced in one revolution of the machine, then only certain of the nullifying cams would be brought into action.

In describing this one single large design patterning system of my machine, I have assumed that the design consists of eyelets on a background of plain fabric. It is possible to reverse this setup, as above mentioned, and to have the design of plain stitches and the background of eyelets. ,In this case it is necessary to cut the discs, i. e., break butts on the discs in such a manner that the butts are broken oil and the jack is not projected where the design is to appear. Where the design is not to appear, the

. butts should be left on in order that the jacks may be projected. In the case of the single large design system, this reversal of the design stitches would necessitate the following additiona1 alterations in the manipulation of the ma chine. All the jacks would be left in the machine and would have to have special butts (see Fig. 8) at the level of the projecting cams as in order that eyelet stitches may be made in all wales before and after the design. When the design begins, the projecting cams would be retracted and the discs would control the projection of the jacks. One of the discs would be a solid one not considered a selecting disc and there would be butts at the level of this disc on all jacks except those in any one of the three fields adapted to produce the design unit shown under brackets L, M and N in the fabric portion of Fig. 8. When the designis completed, the projecting cams are again rendered active so that eyelets are made over the entire fabric. 4 --The result is that one or more symmetrical designs are made, the height of nine pattern courses and the width of eighteen consecutive jacks, without individual or relative slant, surrounded by fabric of eyelets.

It will be seen that by my invention patterns which are more elaborate as well as those without the usual slant can be produced.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine having a circle of independent knitting elements, a member carrying same, a plurality of feeds, and a plurality of relatively rotatable pattern wheels rotating at the same linear speed as the circle of elements and adapted to give individual elements differentiated pattern manipulation, each wheel having a plurality of superposed discs and each disc having peripheral pattern indications; the number of knitting elements in the circle being more or less than an even multiple of the number of pattern indications on any disc by a number evenly divisible into the total number of knitting elements, thereby making the pattern wheels progressive; in combination with the division of the indications for the pattern into units, there being a disc in each wheel for each difierent pattern unit, the indications for each unit being divided among the various wheels, and there being butts on the knitting elements adapted with the pattern indications to select only horizontally symmetrical pattern indications,

2. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 in which operating butts are provided at different levels on the knitting elements in the member carrying same, so positioned that each level of butt contacts the pattern indications on the periphery of a different one of the superposed discs, whereby the horizontal selectivity of the progressive pattern system has combined with it vertical selectivity of fields.

3. A circular knitting machine having a circle of independent knitting elements, a member carrying same, and a plurality of relatively rotatable pattern wheels located about the circle adapted to select individual knitting elements therefrom, each wheel comprising a plurality of superposed discs on a common axis, the number of knitting elements in the circle being more or less than an even multiple of the number of pattern indications on a disc by a number which divides evenly into the number of knitting elements in the circle, whereby the pattern system is progressive; in combination with operating butts on the knitting elements, the butts being positioned to engage indications on a different disc from the adjacent butts in groups equal in number to the aforesaid divisor or a factor thereof, whereby selections from knitting elements equal in number to said divisor or a factor thereof are made periodically on different discs at each wheel to make a combined horizontally symmetrical pattern.

4. A circular knitting machine having a circle of independent knitting elements, a member carrying same, a plurality of knitting feeds and a relatively rotatable pattern wheel associated with each of a plurality of said feeds, the pattern wheels being adapted to be driven by the machine togive a progressive pattern design, each of said wheels being composed of a plurality of superposed discs mounted on a common axis and each having peripheral pattern indications, the pe-. riphery of each disc being divided equally into fields composed of a uniform number of indications, the number of superposed discs on each wheel and the number of operating butts on the knitting elements in a field being equal, the indications for the successive field courses being divided among the discs .atthe same level on the different wheels in rotation, and field course indications located one above the other on the superposed discs being for adjacent stitches in the design, in combination with operating butts on the knitting elements at the levels of the different discs, the operating butts for successive fields being successively opposite diiferent superposed discs on successive revolutions of the machine in a vertical order which progresses in the machine in a diagonal direction opposite to that of the normal walewise progression, whereby only horizontally symmetrical effects are obtained in the knitted design.

5. A circular knitting machine having a circle of independent knitting elements, a member carrying same, a plurality of relatively rotatable knitting feeds and a plurality of pattern select ing stations associated therewith containing pattern wheels adapted to produce a pattern having units, each wheel being composed of a plurality of superposed discs on a common axis, each discs having peripheral pattern indications of only one pattern unit and different from the units of the other discs in that wheel, in combination with varied levels of operating butts on the knitting elements, the wheels operating progressively with relation to the circle of knitting elements, and the differentiations in the butt levels of the knitting elements being adapted to vary the discs with which the indications register, whereby only repeats of design units horizontal with relation to each other are selected.

6. In a method of operating a circular knitting machine having independent knitting elements with varied operating butts and a progressive pattern means in which there is a plurality of pattern wheels each consisting of a plurality of superposed selecting discs with peripheral pattern indications divided into fields corresponding to units of the pattern; the steps of causing the selection of knitting elements for patterning by contacting the butts of the knitting elements with the pattern indications, and varying at every unit of the pattern the disc from which pattern indications are taken by the butts of the knitting elements, the number of selecting discs equalling the number of pattern units, whereby slant in the pattern design due to the progressiveness of the pattern means is eliminated.

7. In a method according to claim 6 on a machine in which the indications for the successive courses of each unit of the pattern are divided among discs at the same level on the successive wheels, the steps of rotating the pattern Wheels at the same linear speed as the circle of knitting elements, causing the butts of the elements to engage the pattern indications of the discs in repeated vertical succession changing at each field, and on each successive revolution of the machine causing the engagement of the pattern 19 indications by the butts to occur one or more fields ahead or back of the fields selected on the previous revolution in a direction opposite to that of the normal walewise progression; whereby the knitted pattern units are correctly completed and pattern units which would be in unsymmetrical position in the knitted fabric are not selected WHITMAN D. IDE.

Nam Date Ellis Apr. 8,1902

Number Number Number Name 'Date' Page -e Feb; 23, 1932 Stewart .4--- May 17', 193-2 Tanski Jan. 24, I933 Swinglehurst--.l May 30, 1933 Taggart e Dec. 31, 1935' Sirmay -1. June 1, 1937 Hui-d renewed June 16,1942

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBI-itainin- Feb. 4, 1932

Images