US2680364A - Straight bar knitting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1954 K. w. WICKARDT ET AL 2,680,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1952 4 She'ts-She6t 1 Inventors;

A ttomegs.

Jlme 1954 K. w. WICKARDT ET AL 2,680,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deg. 1'7, 1952 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 arm;

mwwcck lfac J s15", .8 Wm Kwig 5M M Attorneys- June 1954 K. w. WICKARDT ET AL 80,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 17, 1952 I I I Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES hATENT' OFFICE.

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Application December 17, 1952, Serial No. 326,374

Claims priority, application Great Britain 7 December 24, 1951 18 Claims. 1,

The present invention relates to. straight bar knitting machines and is especially though not exclusively applicable to improvements in straight bar knitting machines, such as the Cottons type, for the manufacture. of full fashioned hosiery.

In such knitting machines at least one thread is fed to the needles and loop, forming. elements during the coulier or thread laying portion of each knitting cyclev whereas during the. loop forming portion of said knitting cycle and during any fashioning cycles the thread feed is interrupted and each thread has to be kept at a certain predetermined tension irrespective ofthe momentary position of the needle bar relative to the thread carriers. This is achieved in the conventional design of such knitt n machines by a combined thread clamping and tensioning device which is angularly displaceable about the centre or centres of one or more thread tensioning shafts arranged parallel to and substantially above the row of needles. In connection with said combined clamping and tensioning device it is necessary to pass each thread through a tensioning ring or weight before it is fed to the clamping and tensioning device.

In such a combined thread clamping and tensioning device, part of the angular displacement of the device is required to move. it from an open to a closed position of the clamp and further angular displacement in the same direction is necessary to apply a desired tension to the thread. ihe tensioning device, therefore, cannot accurately perform the movement required to hold the thread at a predetermined tension, and the effect of the tensioning ring or weight is to, draw a substantially horizontal part of the thread into a V-shape thereby at, the same time withdrawing a certain amount of thread from the yarn supply. At the beginning of each thread laying motion the weight of the tension ring has to be lifted thus the inertia of the ring causes it to "jump thereby applying an additional tension to the thread which often causes breakage of the loop kinks near the selvedge of the fabric.

The present invention envisages the provision of a separate thread clamping device which is adapted to be closed and hold the thread or threads during the loop forming portions of each knitting cycle and duringany fashioning cycles, and a separate and separately controlled thread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to a thread or threads during the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during any ia h o in y es.

According to another aspect of the pr sent invention a straight bar knitting machine such as of the Cottons type, is provided with a thread clamping device arranged to clamp each thread or group of threads individually at the $0121! pletion of the laying operation of said threads and release them at or near. the commencement of a subsequent thread laying operation, and a separately controlled thread tensioning device adapted to apply a predetermined tension to v a thread or threads during the loop forming pore tion of each knitting cycle and during fashioning cycles.

Thus during the coulier or thread laying movement of each knitting cycle the clamping device allows the thread or threads to pass freely, whilst during the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during any fashioning cycles the thread clamping device is closed and prevents withdrawal of thread from the. yarn supply whilst a predetermined tension may be applied to. the thread or threads by the thread tensioning dew vice.

Preferably the thread clampingdevice. co nprises a solid member which is supported from the frame of the knitting machine, preferably sub? stantially in or slightly below the path of the thread on its way from the. yarn supply to the thread carrier, and a resilient member angularly displaceably supported, preferably on a shaft or shafts substantially parallel to and substantially above the row of needles, so as to be able to, press the thread against the solid member thus preventing the withdrawal of thread from the yarn supply. The tensioning device preferably comprises a solid member angularly displaceably sup: ported on a shaft or shafts arranged substantially above and substantially parallel to the row of needles.

In one arrangement a clamping device and/or a tensioning device is provided foreach thread and preferably clamping devices are controlled individually for each thread or group of threads fed into the machine in such a way as to allow each individual clamp or group of clamps to be closed when movement of the thread or threads concerned is completed at the end of the traverse of the respective thread carrier.

In another arrangement the clamping devices are operated simultaneously for all threads fed into the machine when the slurcock on its traverse along the row of needles reaches the end of the knitting section. Similarly the tensioning device or devices may be operated simultaneously for all threads fed into, the machine or. may be operated individually for each thread or for each grou of threads.

The present invention removes the necessity of applying to the thread or threads any additional tensioning device acting through its deadweight and enables the thread or threads to run freely from the thread supply to the thread carrier during the coulier or thread laying portion of each knitting cycle.

The stationary solid member of the clamping device or devices may be arranged individually for each thread or may be suitable for the application to a plurality of threads. It may consist of a substantially horizontal plate or a bar or bars, supported from the upper part of the frame of the knitting machine. The clamping device resilient member is preferably arranged individ-' ually for each thread and may be operated in such a way as to be pressed against or lifted clear of the stationary member under the influence of a cam or cams in timed relation to the operation of the knitting machine.

The tensioning device may consist of a solid member oscillatably supported on a shaft or shafts arranged substantially parallel to and substantially above the row of needles and may be operated by a cam or cams in timed relation to the performance of the knitting machine. The solid member may carry at its far end a threadguide suitable for guiding the thread and altering its path from a substantially horizontal into a substantially vertical directon.

The present invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a detail view of a thread clamping device and a tensioning device according to the present invention showing the elements in the positions corresponding to the coulier or thread laying movement of each knitting cycle.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the devices shown in Fig. l, but with the elements in the positions corresponding to the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle or a fashioning cycle.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through a straight 1 bar knitting machine in which certain parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the'machine of Fig. 3 showing certain parts of a straight bar knitting machine,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of part of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation view of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through a straight bar knitting machine in which certain parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity, showing an alternative arrangement of a thread clamping device and a tensioning device according to the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one or more clamping shafts ll, I2, I3 are rotatably supported in the frame of the knitting machine substantially above and parallel to the row of needles. Each of these shafts carries a plurality of members (4, l6, 18, each of which supports a resilient member l5, i1, i9. Said resilient members are shaped in such a manner as to be able to contact a solid member 22, supported by a support 2|, from a rail 20, attached to the frame of the knitting machine. A thread guide '23, attached to support 2!, guides a thread 35 from a yarn supply onto member 22. Clamping shafts l I, I2, 13 carry levers 24, 25, 26 respectively which levers are connected by connecting links 21, 28, 29 to an operating mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

A tensioning shaft 36 supported substantially above and parallel to the row of needles carries a multitude of tensioning members 3!, arranged one for each thread fed into the knitting machine. Attached to the outer end of each tensioning member Si is a thread guide 32 diverting the thread 35 from a substantially horizontal path 35a into a substantially vertical path 352). Tensioning shaft 30 is oscillated by means of a lever 33 and a connecting link 34 by a mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

During the thread laying operation the links 21, 28 and 29 are urged upwardly so that the resilient members [5, I! and I!) are raised out of contact with the threads to permit the threads to pass freely through the clamping devices. At the end of the laying operation on any thread the associated link 21, 28 or 29 is urged downwardly to cause the associated resilient member to clamp the thread against the solid member '22. The conditions obtaining during thread laying are indicated in Fig. 1.

At the end of the coulier operation, that is to say at the end of the complete thread laying operation in a cycle, all the threads are clamped and during theloop working operation, and during any fashioning operations, the clamping devices are held closed and the link 34 is drawn downwardly to apply a predetermined tension to each of the threads. The conditions obtained during loop working or fashioning are indicated in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 one form of mechanism for operating the clamping device and the thread tensioning device will be described.

Referring first to Fig. 3, cam shaft 42 is rotated in a well known manner by an electric motor 55, or other prime mover, by means of transmission gears 43, 44. In particular cam shaft 4 2 carries cams 40, 4! and [02. Roller arm 38, supported from the frame of the knitting machine by bearing 31, is connected to link 34 associated with the thread tensioning device and carries a cam follower 38 which is urged into contact with cam 40 or M, as will be hereinafter described, by tension spring 39.

During knitting cycles cam follower 38 is urged into contact with cam 40, a circular part of which holds tensioning member 3! stationary during the thread laying movement while the specially shaped part of this cam causes tensioning member 3| to be moved between its upper position 3m, and its lower position 3|b (see Fig. 2) during the loop forming portion of said knitting cycles in such manner as to hold thread 35 at a predetermined tension irrespective of the momentary position of the needle bar. During fashioning cycles cam shaft 42 is moved along its axis in a manner well known and conventional in the design of straight bar knitting machines, bringing cam follower 38 into contact with cam M. This cam is so shaped as to properly hold thread 35 at a predetermined tension during the fashioning cycle.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a plurality of thread carrier rods 46, 41, 48, 49 are slidably supported in bearings 54, only one of which is shown, attached to rail 55, which forms part of the frame of the knitting machine. The thread carrier rods are reciprocated parallel to and along the row of needles by any of the driving mechanisms known in the design of straight bar knitting machines. Each of the thread carrier rods carries one thread carrier finger for each piece of fabric knitted on the straight bar knitting machine. Thread carrier finger 50 attached to thread carrier rod 46 may be utilised to knit the, leg or panel part of the stocking, thread carrier finger 52, attached to rod 48 can knit the reinforced or spliced part on the right hand side of the fabric, thread carrier finger 53 attached to red 59 can in the same manner be provided for knitting the reinforced or spliced part on the left hand side of the fabric, whereas one or more additional thread carrier fingers 5|, attached to rod 4'! can be provided for various other purposes. A lead screw 60 is rotatably supported in bearings SI and 62 attached to the frame of the knitting machine and is intermittently rotated at predetermined intervals by a device not shown in the attached sketch but conventional in the design of straight bar knitting machines. Lead screw 60 is in its two parts provided with threads of opposite hand and supports slidably two spindle nuts 63, 64, free to move along the axis of lead screws E9 but prevented from taking part in its rotation. Abutments 10, II, I2, I4 attached to the thread carrier rods contact spindle nuts 63 and E4 limiting the traverse of the respective thread carrier rods according to the width of the fabric being knitted on the knitting machine.

Another lead screw 65 rotatably supported in bearings 66 and 61, attached to the frame of the knitting machine, and intermittently rotated at predetermined intervals by any of the mechanisms known in the design of straight bar knitting machines, carries on its two oppositely threaded parts spindle nuts 68 and 69. Abutments I3 and 15 attached to some of the thread carrier rods contact spindle nuts es and as limiting the stroke of the respective thread carriers to a width corresponding to that of the reinforced parts at each side of the fabric.

A roller or other suitable means I03, attached to a bracket I04, slidably supported on the slurbar of the knitting machine and taking part in the movement of the slurcocks parallel to and along the row of needles can at each end of its traverse be moved along its axis from its position 63, shown in full line in Fig. 3 into its position 33a shown in dotted outline.

A guide rail 16 (see Fig. 4) slidably guided in Fig. 3, and a cam 79 disposed as to be contacted by roller )3 when moving in its position "13a. Cam 8c is connected by connecting rod {95 to spindle nut 64 in order to take part in any movement of said spindle nut. Cam I9 is similarly connected by connecting rod 96 to spindle nut es. Guide rails 85 and B9, slidably carried in bearings 78 and 82, 82 and 11, are connected to connecting links 28 and 2'! respectively and slidably support earns 86 and 90 connected by connecting links 9'! and 98 to spindle nuts 69 and 38 respectively. Cam 9! is disposed in a way as to be contacted by roller E03 only when moving in its position Elli-3a, while cam 86 is disposed so as to be contacted by roller E83 only when moving in position as shown in full outline in Fig. 3. Abutments I I2 and II3 attached to connecting links 28 and 21 respectively contactguide rail I5 order to ascertain that connecting links 21 and 28 take in any downward movement of connecting link 29.

link 2?.

[21, 28, 2.9, lever 99 is displaced in a clockwise di- Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, connecting link 29 carries attached to its lower end an abutment 84 disposed so as to be contacted by a detent 83 oscillatably supported from a bearing 82 attached to the frame of the knitting machine.

Connecting links 21 and '28 carry at their lower ends abutments t2 and 88 disposed in such a way as to be contacted by detents 9! and 8? respec-- tively. Compression springs SI, 93 and 94 on connecting links 29, 21 and 28 are arranged to bring the connecting links back into their upper position after having been moved downwards under the influence of roller I03 and their respective cams.

The detents 81, 33 and 9| are pivotally mounted at I28, IZI, I22 on an element I23 connected to bearing 82. The detents carry near their lower ends pins I24, I25, US, which ride in slots 52?, I28, I29 near the end of the arms of a tridentshaped lever I30 connected to one arm of bell crank lever 99. By way of example the relative positions of the detent 9i, abutment c2 and link 2'5 when in the unlocked condition are indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 5 at 9 la and 92a. The edge of detent 9m rests on the edge of the abut ment 552a; when the link 27 is depressed by passage of roller I M over the associated earn 9%, abutment 92 is depressed below the edge of detent SI which swings into the position shown by the full lines and restrains upward movement of the When it is desired to release the links rection as will be hereinafter described, slots 527, I28, I29 on lever I33 abut pins I24, I25, I26 and displace the detents so that they rotate in an anti-clockwise direction and are brought out of engagement with the abutments 88, 84, 92.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, lever 99 pivoted to bracket I00 carries a cam follower iti which may displaced against the action of spring 23! by cam 92 on cam shaft 42. Thus rotation of the raised part of cam 202 against cam follower It! will cause lever 99 to be angularly displaced in a clockwise direction to cause detents 8?, 83 and SI to release links 29, 28, 21 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the detents 83 and 8'! operate in a similar manner to the detent 9i and that for the sake of clarity the abutments 84 and 88 are shown in their locked positions in Figs. 5 and 6, and all three abutments 8t, 88 and 92 are shown in their locked positions in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4, however, only abutment 83 is shown in its locked position as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 4 during a coulier or thread laying movement from the left to the right as indicated by arrow A, roller m3 is in its position shown by the full outline in Fig. 3 and is able to clear cams i9 and 9t and to contact earns and 89. Similarly when the coulier or thread laying movement is from right to left as seen in Fig. 4, that is to say, in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow A, roller I03 is in its other position and is able to contact cams l9 and and remain clear of cams 80 and 86.

When the coulier or thread laying movement is from left to right as indicated by the arrow A, the thread carriers move off from left-hand selvedge 51 of the fabric being knitted and as thread carrier 53 reaches the inner edge 58 of reinforced part L of the fabric and the movement of the respective thread has come to an end, roller I63 contacts cam 56 thereby moving connecting link 28 downwards in which position it is held by detent 81 contacting abutment 88. In this position resilient member H (see Figs. 1 and 2) supported by bracket I6 from clamping shaft I2, is pressed downwards holding the respective thread in the clamping device. As thread carriers 50 and 52 reach the right-hand selvedge 56 of the fabric roller I03 contacts cam 80 thereby moving downwards connecting links 29, and, by virtue of abutments H3, 21. These connecting links are held in their lower position by detents 9| and 83 contacting abutments 82 and 84 respectively. In this position resilient members I! and I5 (see Figs. 1 and 2) supported by brackets I6 and I4 from clamping shafts I2 and II are pressed against the solid member of the clamping device thus holding their threads and preventing any withdrawal of thread from the yarn supply.

During the following loop forming cycle the clamping devices are kept closed while tensioning members 3| are operated as described above holding the threads at a predetermined tension during this cycle.

At the beginning of the following thread laying. movement cam follower IBI (see Fig. 3) attached to bell crank lever 99 contacts cam I82 withdrawing the detents 87, 83 and SI from their respective abutments, allowing connecting links 28, 29 and 21 to move into their upper positions under the action of springs 94, 8I and 93, thus opening the thread clamping devices and allowing the threads to pass freely therethrough during the thread laying movement.

During the subsequent coulier or thread laying operation the thread carriers and roller I03, which has been brought into its position 583a, during the previous loop forming cycle, move to the left in a direction opposite to arrow A in Fig. 4. Roller I03 contacts in succession cam 93 during the first part of the operation to pull down connecting link 21 and, later on, cam 79 to pull down connecting links 28 and 29 into their lower positions. All other movements occur as described above.

During any fashioning cycles the cam shaft 42 is moved along its axis or shogged by means conventional in the design of straight bar knitting machines. Such movement brings cam follower 38 into contact with cam M in place of cam 49 so as to apply a predetermined tension to the threads by virtue of lever 36, link 34, lever 33, shaft 30 and tensioning device 3|. Cam follower IOI is brought out of engagement with cam I02 so that the thread clamping devices remain closed. At the start of the next coulier or thread laying operation the cam shaft 42 is returned to its original position so that cam follower IBI is re-engaged with cam I02 to bring about release of the clamping devices.

Another embodiment of the present invention in which all clamping devices are closed simultaneously at the end of the thread laying movement is shown in Fig. '7. The thread tensioning device 3| is arranged and operated as described in connection with the first embodiment. One thread clamping shaft I05 is rotatably supported in the frame of the knitting machine carrying a multitude of resilient clamping members arranged one for each thread fed into the knitting machine. A lever I06 attached to shaft I05 is connected by a connecting link III! to a roller arm I08 rotatably supported on the frame of the knitting machine. A cam follower I09 attached to roller arm I08 is pressed against a cam I I I on the cam shaft of the knitting machine under the influence of a spring H0. Cam III is shaped in such a way as to close the clamping device during the loop forming cycle thus preventing any withdrawal of thread from the yarn supply.

For any fashioning cycle the cam shaft of the knitting machine is moved along its axis by means conventional in the design of straight bar knitting machines. This thrust movement brings cam follower I99 into contact with a cam II 4 shaped so as to hold the clamping device closed during the entire fashioning cycle.

We claim:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type having a row of needles, thread carrier means for laying a thread along said row of needles during a thread laying operation, and other loop-forming elements for working said thread into a knitted fabric during a loop-forming operation, the provision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread when required, means to render said thread clamping device operative at the end of a thread laying operation and to render said thread clamping device inoperative at the commencement of a subsequent thread laying operation, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device for tensioning said thread when required, and means to operate said thread tensioning device during a loop-forming operation to apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type for knitting a full-fashioned ladies stocking blank, having a row of needles, thread carrier means for laying a thread along said row of needles during a thread laying operation, other loop-forming elements for working said thread into a knitted fabric during the loop-forming operation, and means for fashioning said knitted fabric during fashioning cycles, the provision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread when required, means to render said thread clamping device operative at the end of a thread laying operation and to render it inoperative at the commencement of the subsequent thread laying operation, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device for tensioning said thread, and means for operating said thread tensioning device during the loop-forming operation and during a fashioning cycle to apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type including driving means for operating said machine in knitting cycles and in fashioning cycles selectively, the provision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread, a separate thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device for tensioning said thread, means to render said thread clamping device operative and inoperative in timed relationship with operation of said machine during a knitting cycle and to render said thread clamping device operative throughout a fashioning cycle, and means for operating said thread tensioning device in timed relationship with the operation of the machine during any knitting cycle and during any fashioning cycle to apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type, the provision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread when required, said thread clamping device including a stationary solid member and a displaceable resilient member, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device for applying a predetermined tension to said thread, means to move said displaceable resilient mem'ber towards said stationary solid member to-cla'mp the thread between said members and to move said displaceable resilient'member awayfrom said stationary solid member to free said thread in timed relationship with operation of said machine, and means to operate said thread tensioning device in timed relationship with operationof said machine.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles, "otherloop-formingelements and at least one thread carrier, means for feedinga thread to said thread carrier a thread clamping device disposed in "thepath of said thread, said thread clamping device including 'a stationary solid member and a displaceable resilient member, means to move said "displaceable resilient member towards saidstationary solid 'member'to clamp the thread 'betweensaid members and to move said displaceable resilient member away from said stationary solid member to free said thread in timed relationship with operation of saidmachine, a thread tensioninjg device separate from said thread clamping deviceand disposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

6. In a straight bar'knitting mac'hine'having a row of needles, other loop-forming elements and at least one thread carrier, means for feeding a thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in the path of said thread, said thread clamping device including a stationary solid member, means to support said stationary solid member substantially in or slightly below the path of said .thread a shaft extending substantially parallel to and substantially above the row of needles, a displaceable resilient .member rotatable with said shaft, means to displace said shaft angularly in timed relationship with operation of said machine to move saiddisplaceable resiilent member towards and away from said stationary solid member to clamp and unclamp said thread extendingbetween said members, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposedinathe path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

7. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles, other loop-forming elements and at least one thread carrier, meansfor feeding a thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in the path of said thread, means for operating and releasing said thread clamping device for clamping and releasing said thread in timed relationship with opera-- tion of said machine, a threadtensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread'betweensaid thread clamping device and said thread :car-

,rier, said thread tensioning device including a shaft arranged substantially above and substantially parallel to said row of needles, a solid member rotatable with said shaftfor altering the path of said thread, and means for effecting angular displacement offsaidshaft in'timed relationship with operation of said machine to ap my a predetermined tension to said thread.

8. In a straight b'arknitting machine havinga row of needles, other loop-forming elements and at least onethread carrier, means for *feeding a thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in the path of said thread, said thread clamping device including 'a stationary solid member, means to support said stationary solidmember substantially inorslightly'below the path of said thread, a shaft extending substantially'parallel to andsubs'tantially above the row of needles, a displaceable resilient member displaceable-with-angular displacement of said shaft, means to displace said shaft angularly in timed relationship with operation of said machine to move said displaceable resilient member towards and away *from's'aid stationary solid member to clamp and unclamp said thread extending between said mem-bers, -a "thread itensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in the path ofsaid thread between-said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, said thread 'tensioning device includinga shaft arranged substantially above and substantially parallel to said row .of needles, a solid member rotatable 'withsaid shaft foraltering the'path of said'thread, and means for effecting angular displacement of said shaft in timed relationship with operation 'of said machine to apply a predetermined tension .to said thread.

9. In a straight .bar knitting machine of the Cottons type, the provision of a plurality of threadclamping devices each adapted for clamping one thread when required, an equal number of thread 'tensioning devices separate from said thread clamping devices and each adapted for applying a predetermined tension to an individual thread, a plurality of means adapted to render said clamping devices individually operative and inoperative in timed relationship with operation of said machine, and a plurality of means adapted to operate saidthread tensioning devices individually in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

10. Ina straight bar knitting machine of the Cottonfs type, the provision of a plurality of groups of thread clamping deviceseach clamping devicein argroup being adapted for clamping an individual thread when required, an equal number of thread 'tens'ioning devicesiseparate from said thread clamping devices andeach adapted for applying a predetermined tension-to an individual thread, aipluralityof means each-adapted to render a group of said clamping devices individually operative and inoperative in timed relationship with operation of said machine, and meansadapted to operate said threadtensioning devices in timed relationship with operation'of said machine.

.11. Inastraightbar-knitting machine of the Co'ttons type, the provision of a, plurality of thread clampin devices each adapted for clamping one thread when required, an equal number of thread tens'ioningdevices separate from said thread clamping devices and eachadapted for applying a predetermined tension to an individual .thread, certain of said thread clamping devices being adapted for individual operation and certain others ofsaid thread clamping devices being adapted for group operation, a pluralityofmeanseach adapted to render-operative and inoperative in timed relationshipwith operation of saidmachinepneof said clamping devices a'daptediorindividual.operation, a plurality of means each adapted eto =renderoperative and inoperative in timed relationship with operation ating with said cam and with said thread clamping device for operating and releasing said thread clamping device for clamping and releasing said thread in timed relationship with operation of said machine, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship with operation'of said machine.

13. In a straight bar knitting machine having at least one row of needles, at least one set of other loop-forming elements, a plurality of thread carriers associated therewith, means for feeding threads to each of said thread carriers, and a cam shaft for operating said machine, a plurality of thread clamping devices one disposed in the path of each of said threads, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating with said cam and associated with said thread clamping devices for operating and releasing said thread clamping devices for clamping and releasing said threads in timed relationship with operation of said machine, a plurality of thread tensioning devices each associated with one of said threads and each separate from the thread clamping device associated with said thread and each disposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply predetermined tensions to said threads in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

14, In a straight bar knitting machine having at least one row of needles, at least one set of other loop-forming elements, a plurality of thread carriers associated therewith, means for feeding threads from yarn supplies to each of said thread carriers, and a cam shaft for operating said machine, a plurality of thread clamping devices disposed one in the path of each of said threads, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operatin with said cam and associated with said thread clamping devices for operating and releasing said thread clamping devices for clamping and releasing said threads in timed realtionship with operation of said machine, a plurality of thread tensioning devices disposed one in the path of each of said threads between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and each separate from the thread clamping device associated with the same thread, a further cam on said cam shaft, 2. further cam follower associated with said further cam and with said thread tensioning devices for operating said thread tensioning devices to apply predetermined tensions to said threads in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

15. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type including driving means for operating said machine in knitting cycles and in fashioning cycles selectively, the provision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread, a separate thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device for tensioning said thread, a cam shaft in said driving means, a cam on said cam shaft and a cam follower co-operating with said cam and with said thread clamping device to render said thread clamping device operative and inoperative in timed relationship with operation of said machine during a knitting cycle and to render said thread clamping device operative throughout a fashioning cycle, a further cam on said cam shaft and a further cam follower cooperating with said further cam and associated with said thread tensioning device for operating said thread tensioning device in timed relationship with the operation of the machine during any knitting cycle and during any fashionin cycle to apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

16. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles, other loop-forming elements, at least one thread carrier, a reciprocated slurcock, a cam shaft for operating said machine, and means for feeding a thread to a thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in the path of said thread, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, a cam element reciprocated with said slurcock, two cam followers disposed at predetermined points in the path of said cam element, linkage means connecting said cam followers with said thread clamping device, for moving said thread clamping device into an operative position for clamping a thread passing therethrough upon displacement of any one of said cam followers by said cam element, releasable detent means adapted to retain said clamping device in said operative position when movable thereinto, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating with said cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with said releasable detent means for releasing said detent means upon displacement of said cam follower whereby said thread clamping device may be moved into and released from said operative position in timed relationship with operation of said machine, and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply predetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship With operation of said machine.

17. In a straight bar knittin machine having a row of needles, other loop-forming elements, at least one thread carrier, a reciprocated slurcock, a cam shaft for operating said machine, and means for feeding a thread to a thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in the path of said thread, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier, a cam element reciprocated with said slurcock, two cam followers disposed at predetermined points in the path of said cam element, linkage means connecting said cam followers with said thread clamping device, for moving said thread clamping device into an operative position for clamping a thread passing therethrough upon displacement of any one of said cam followers by said cam element, releasable detent means adapted to retain said clamping device in said operative position when moved thereinto, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating with said cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with said releaseable detent means for releasing said detent means upon displacement of said cam follower whereby said thread clampin device may b moved into and released from said operative position in timed relationship with operation of said machine, a second cam on said cam shaft, a second cam follower co-operating with said second cam and linkage means connecting said second cam follower with said thread tensioning device for operating said thread tensioning device to apply predetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

18. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type having needle bars, thread carriers, loop-forming elements, and driving means for operating said needle bar, thread carriers and other loop-forming elements selectively in knitting cycles and in tensioning cycles; said driving means including a cam shaft and reciprocable slurcocks, the provision of a plurality of thread clamping devices each adapted for holding an individual thread, a plurality of separate thread tensioning devices separate from said thread clamping devices and each adapted for tensioning an individual thread, cam means reciprocable longitudinally of the machine with said slurcocks, a plurality of cam followers in the path of said cam means, linkages interconnecting said cam followers with said thread clampin devices for rendering said thread clamping devices operative, releasable detent means for maintaining said thread clamping devices operative, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating with said cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with said detent means for rendering said thread clamping devices inoperative, a second cam on said cam shaft, a second cam follower co-operating with said second cam, and linkage means connecting said second cam follower with said thread tensioning devices for applying predetermined tensions to said threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,143,485 Janssen Jan. 10, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 121,554 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1918

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