US2687629A

US2687629A - Straight bar knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US2687629A
Application number: US174732A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lambach Fritz
Original assignee: ROBERT REINER Inc
Current assignee: ROBERT REINER Inc
Priority date: 1950-07-19
Filing date: 1950-07-19
Publication date: 1954-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-31
Also published as: GB727892A; DE879887C

Description

1954 F. LAMBACH 2,687,629

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 F. LAMBACH STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 FIG. 3.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 F. LAMBACH 2,687,629

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

' FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 .F. LAMBACH STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 19, 1950 INVEN TOR. FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 F. LAMBACH STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE e Shts-Sheet 5 Filed July 19, 1950 INVENTOR. FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 F. LAM BACH 2,637,629

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet' 6 3 FIG. E0.

IN VEN TOR. FRITZ LAMBACH ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1954 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Fritz Lambach, Tenafly, N. J assignor to Robert Reiner, Inc., Weehawken, N. J.

Application July 19. 1950, Serial No. 174,732

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to straight bar knitting machines, and more particularly to a loop transfer mechanism of a straight bar knitting machine for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for an automatic return of the loop transfer mechanism into its inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine after the performance of loop transfer operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an actuating drive for the sidewise shifting of the loop transfer mechanism, which actuating drive includes means for causing an automatic return of said loop transfer mechanism into its inactive position after the performance of loop transfer operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an actuating drive for a straight bar knitting machine provided with a picot bar arrangement and a lace finger arrangement, which actuating drive may be selectively used for a sidewise shifting of said pivot bar and/or said lace finger arrangement.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevational view of a two-section straight bar knitting machine, some parts being omitted for better illustration of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale of a portion of a lace finger arrangement and of the picot bar arrangement of the knitting machine according to the invention, wherein the lace fingers are in their active position, and the picot bar is in its inactive position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lace finger arrangement, wherein however, the lace finger is in its inactive position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line l-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 4, wherein however, the lace finger is in its active position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view illustrating the pattern drive for actuating the lace finger arrangement and/or the picot bar arrangement;

' shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is an elevational view illustrating the actuating mechanism for the pattern drive.

The drawings illustrate only those parts of a straight bar knitting machine which are necessary for the understanding of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, generally indicates the frame of a two-section straight bar knitting machine. A motor 22 mounted on a bracket 24 carried by the frame 20 of the knitting machine is connected through a train of gears 26 with the main cam shaft 28 rotatably arranged in suitable bearings of the frame of the machine.

30 generally indicates the narrowing machine comprising a narrowing machine tube 32 carried by arms 34 swingably mounted on a shaft 36,

carried by the frame 20 of the machine. The narrowing machine tube 32 is prevented from axial displacement by suitable means.

In a manner known per se, the narrowing machine tube 32 may be lifted and lowered by means of rods 38, which may be reciprocated by cams mounted on the main cam shaft 28.

A series of arms 42 and a series of arms 54 are fixedly mounted on the narrowing machine tube 32. A picot bar rod 46 is rotatably and axially displaceably mounted in bores of the arms 42. Picot bars 48 are attached to the picot bar rod 46. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the picot bars 58 in their inactive (upward) position out of cooperative relation to the needles 50 of the knitting machine. A positioning means or handle 5| is connected with the picot bar rod 46 for rotating same so as to bring the picot bars 48 into their active (downward) position; of course, other manual or automatic customary positioning means may be used for this purpose. I

A lace finger rod 52 (seen in Figs. 1 to 3) is rotatably and axially displaceably arranged in both of the arms 44 secured to the narrowing machine tube 32.

A series of lace fingers 54, each carrying one point 56 in the embodiment shown in the drawings, is secured to said lace finger rod 52 so as to participate in movements of the latter.

The right hand end of the lace finger rod 52 (as viewed in the drawings) is provided with a threaded bore capable of receiving an adjustable abutting screw 58 arranged for engagement with a plate 60 representing a part of a pattern drive generally indicated by 62, which will be described further below.

A set collar 64 carried by the lace finger shaft 52 is in abutting engagement with one of the arms 44 secured to the narrowing machine tube 32. A compression spring 68 arranged between said collar 84 and a second set collar 60 secured to the lace finger rod 52 tends to urge the abutting screw 58 of the lace finger rod 52 into operative engagement with the plate 80 of the pattern drive 62.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one end of a torsion spring I is inserted into a bore 12 of another arm 44 secured to the narrowing machine tube 32. The other end of said torsion spring I0 is inserted into a bore I4 of a set collar 16 secured to the lace finger rod 52. Said torsion spring 10 has the tendency to rotate the lace finger rod 52 in counter-clockwise direction. (as viewed in Fig. 4) so as to bring the lace finger 54 with its point 56 into its upward, inactive position.

A handle 18 secured to the lace finger rod 52 by means of a screw 80 is arranged at a distance from the arm 44 connected with the torsion spring 10. Said handle I8carriesa lockingtelement 82 in the shape of a pin having a longitudinal recess 84. The locking element 82 is held in its position by means of a nut 88 screwed on the other end of the locking element 82 projecting from the handle 18 at the opposite side thereof.

Said locking element 82 is arranged for cooperation with a second locking element in the shape of a plate 88, secured at one of its ends to a ring 90 rotatably mounted on the narrowing tube 32. Said ring 90 carries a bracket 92 having an abutting surface 94 for abutting engagement with a stopping plate 96 secured to the adjacent arm 44 by means of a screw 98. One end of a spring I00 is engaged with an offset arm I02 projecting from said stopping plate 98. The other end of said spring I00 is engaged with the bracket 92. Thus, the spring I00 tends to urge the abutting surface 04 of the plate 92 against the stopping plate 96 so as to hold the locking element 88 in the position shown in Fig. 4. When the axially displaceable lace finger rod 52 is in such a position, that the right hand end of the locking element 82 is in a plane between the side edges of the plate 88, as shown. in Fig. 2, it will be understood that upon a clockwise rotation of the handle I8 from the position shown in Fig. 4 into the position shown in Fig. 5, the free end of the looking plate 88 at first comes into sliding. engagement with the circumference of the locking pin 02, whereby it is brought into the position shown in the dash and dot lines in Fig. 5 against the action of the spring I00. Thereafter, at the end of the 4 rotation of the handle 18 into the position shown in Fig. 5, the locking plate 88 snaps into the recess 84 of the locking pin 82, as shown in full lines in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein it is held by the action of the spring I00. When the locking plate 88 is in engagement with the recess 84 of the locking pin 82, the lace finger rod 52' carrying the lace fingers 54 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 5, so that consequently the lace fingers 54 are locked in their downward, active position,

The lace fingers 54 remain in their active position until during the operation of the machine the lace finger rod 52 is shifted in left-hand direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) by the pattern drive 62, in a manner to be described further below, to such an extent, that the right hand end of the locking pin 82 comes outside the left hand side edge of the locking plate 88, with the result that said locking plate 88 becomes disengaged from the groove 84 of the locking pin 82, whereupon the torsion spring 10 automatically returns the lace finger rod 52 in counter-clockwise direction causing a return of the lace fingers from their downward, active position, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, into their upward, inactive position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, the pattern drive 82 comprises a pattern wheel I04 having a profile of irregular shape with raised and recessed portions. Said pattern wheel I04 is keyed to a shaft is keyed to a shaft I06 arranged in bearings of a support I08 mounted on the frame 20 of the knitting machine. Said pattern wheel I04 is in operative engagement with a roller I I0 carried by Y a shifting rod II2 slidably mounted in the support I08. Said shifting rod I I2 carries at its other end a member II4 rigidly secured thereto. A spring I I8 stretched between a screw I I8 attached tothe member H4, and a screw I20 attached to the support I08 tends to urge the roller I I0 into engagement with the profile circumference of the pattern wheel I04. A bolt I22 secured to the member I I4 and slidably engaged with a bore I24 steadies the movements of the member H4. The abutting plate arranged for cooperation with the abutting screw 58 of the lace finger rod 52 is connected with the member II4 by screws I25. A step-by-step rotation of the pattern wheel I04 effecting a displacement of the shifting rod H2 and of the lace finger rod 52, depending on the profile of the pattern wheel I04 is effected by the following mechanism:

A ratchet wheel I28 keyed to a shaft I08 is arranged for cooperation with a spring-loaded actuating pawl I30 swingably mounted at the end of one arm of a bell-crank lever I32 swingably mounted on the shaft I00. The other arm of said bell-crank lever I32 is pivotally connected with one end of a connecting rod I34, the other end of which is pivotally connected with an arm I38 (seen in Fig. 1) rigidly connected with a shaft I38 journalled in a bearing of the frame 20.

A latch box I40,. of customary construction, (seen in Figs. 1 and 10) is rigidly connected with the shaft I38. A cam follower I42 carrying a roller I44 is swingably mounted on said shaft I38. As best shown in Fig. 10, said cam follower I42 has an extension I46 projecting into the latch box I40 for the purposes to be described further below.

The roller I44 of the spring-loaded cam follower I42 is arranged for cooperation with one of two cams I 48 and I50 depending on the position of the shiftable main cam shaft 28 for knitting operation, or narrowing operation.

The cam I40 being in engagement with the roller I 44 of the cam follower I42 during narrowing operations has two raised portions, while the cam I50 in engagement with roller I44 during knitting operations has only one raised portion.

In a manner known per se, a latch I52 is rockably mounted in the latch box I40 on a vertical pin I54. Said latch I52 may be swung into and out of alignment with the extension I46 of the cam follower I42 by means of a linkage I56 controlled in a manner known per se, by a pattern chain (not shown) of the knitting machine; When the latch I52 is out of alignment with the extension I46, a rocking of the cam follower I42 by either one of the cams I48 or I50 will have no effect on the connecting rod I34 connected with the bell-crank lever I32 carrying the pawl I30.

However, if by means of a button on the pattern chain, the latch I52 is brought through the medium of the linkage I56 into alignment with the extension I46 of the cam follower I42, rocking movements of the latter will be transmitted to the connecting rod I34 by means of the latch box I40. As will be readily understood, reciprocating movements of the connecting rod I 34 result in a step-by-step advance of the ratchet wheel I28 and of the pattern wheel I04 by means of the pawl I30 engaging teeth of the ratchet wheel I28.

Undesired over-running of the pattern wheel I04 is prevented by a brake band I58 embracing the circumference of a brake wheel I60 secured to the shaft I06, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Furthermore, exact positions of the pattern wheel are ensured by means of a springloaded blocking pawl I62 arranged for engagement with a toothed index wheel I00, keyed to the shaft I00.

As shown in Fig. '1, the right hand end of the meet bar rod 46 is provided with a threaded bore I60, which may receive an abutting screw I90 (shown in dash lines) similar to the abutting screw 58 screwed into a bore at the right hand end of the lace finger rod 52. If such an abutting screw ISO is inserted into said bore I06 of the picot bar rod 35, it may come into engagement with an upper arm I08 of the abutting plate 50 as indicated in Fig. 9. The abutting screw 58 connected with the lace finger rod 52 comes into engagement with a lower arm I10 of the abutting plate I50.

As will be readily understood, when an abutting screw I 00 is inserted into the bore I60 of the picot bar rod 06, the pattern drive 02 may be used for causing a side-wise shifting of the picot bars carried by the picot bar rod 46 during the operation of the machine.

Thus the abutting screws 50 and I90 represent settable means for effecting operative engagement of the lace engagement and/or the picot arrangement with the pattern device.

In Fig. 1, I10 and I18 indicate an upper and a lower rail slidably mounted in arms I00 (only one arm being shown in Fig. 1), secured to the narrowing machine tube 32. Said rails I10 and I10 carry the narrowing fingers (not shown) in conventional manner.

The operation of the knitting machine according to the invention is as follows:

When it is desired to make perforations or lace eiiects in the fabric knitted by the knitting machine, the lace fingers 54% carrying the lace points 55 are manually swung downwardly from their upward, inactive position into their downward, active position, by means of the handle 10.

When this downward swinging of the lace fingers 5 takes place, the pattern wheel I04, by a previous automatic setting, is in such a position, for example, in the position shown in Fig. '1, that the right hand end of the locking pin 82 is in a place between the side edges of the locking plate 03 as shown in Fig. 2. Also, as a result of the previous setting of the pattern wheel, the lace finger points are opposite the needles from which loops are to be picked up for the perforation effect. Owing to the relative position of the locking element 82 to the locking plate 88, said downward movement of the lace fingers 54 against the action of the torsion spring 10 results automatically into a locking of the lace fingers 54 in their active, downward position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, by means of the

locking device

82, 88.

At a predetermined interval, the main cam shaft 28 is shifted in a manner known per se, upon actuation by a button upon the pattern chain, from its position for knitting operations into its position for narrowing operations, whereby the cam I 48- having two raised portions is brought into operative engagement with the roller I44 of the cam follower I42. During a subsequent full rotation of the main cam shaft 20 through 360, at first the narrowing machine 30 carrying the lace fingers 54 with the lace points 56 is clipped and lifted to: a certain extent, by means of

mechanisms

38, 40, for picking up loops by the lace points 56. Thereafter, the first raised portion of the cam I48 (the latch I52 of the latch box I being set in alignment with the extension I46 of the cam follower I42) causes an advance of the pattern wheel I 04 through one step, whereby the lace points 56 are shifted sidewise so as to come into alignment with their needles into which the previously picked-up loops are to be delivered. Then the narrowing machine 30 is again dipped and lifted by the

mechanism

38, 40, for delivering the picked-up loops to the needles now in alignment with the lace points 56. Thereafter, the second raised portion of the cam I48 causes a second advance of the pattern wheel I04 through one step, whereby the lace points 50 may be placed in alignment with needles from which, during a subsequent operation, loops shall be picked up.

Depending on the design of the perforations to be made in the fabric, one or more operations as described above may be performed subsequently, or else at first one or more courses are knitted by returning the main cam shaft 28 into its position for knitting operation, whereupon,

after return of the main cam shaft 23 into its position for narrowing operation, perforations may be made in the manner described above.

Above described side-wise shifting operations of the lace fingers back and forth by means of the pattern wheel I04 are completed before the pattern wheel I04 has been rotated through one full rotation.

After the last side-wise shifting of the lace fingers by the pattern wheel I00, the main cam shaft 28 is returned into its position for knitting operations, whereby the cam I50, having only one raised portion is brought into engagement with the roller I44 of the cam follower I42. During a subsequent full revolution of the main cam shaft 28, the latch I52 of the latch box I40 being in alignment with the extension I40 of the cam follower I42, the pattern wheel I04 is advanced once more through one step, whereby a raised portion I12 (Fig. '1, wherein said portion I12 is shown somewhere below the roller I I0) is brought into engagement withthe roller H0, carried by the shifting element I I 2. Said raised portion I12 is higher than any of the other raised portions of the pattern wheel I04, and has such height that the lace finger rod 52 is shifted in left hand direction to such an extent, that the locking pin 02 comes out of engagement with the locking plate 08, whereupon the torsion spring 10 automatically returns the lace fingers 54 from their active, downward position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, into their inactive position shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

In accordance with the profile of the pattern wheel I04, the latter is advanced step-by-step by the cam I50 as often as necessary, to bring the recess I14 into engagement with the roller III], as shown in Fig. '1. Thus, the pattern wheel is set to hold the spring-loaded lace finger rod 52 in the proper position required for bringing the lace points 56 intoalignment with needles from which loops are to lee-picked up during the next knitting cyclewhen thelace fingers 54 are again manually swung into their active position.

If for any reason whatsoever, after the automatic locking of the lace fingers in'their active position-by means of the locking device 82, 88-, the operator wishes to unlock said lace fingers, sothat they may automatically return into their inactive position by means of the torsion spring 10, the operator may rotate-the ring 95 in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, by pressing with a finger the bracket 92 into the position 82', shown indash and dot lines, whereby the locking plate 88- is brought into the position 88'. Thus, the locking plate is disengaged from the recess of the locking pin $2 with the result that the torsion spring is may return the lace fingers from their downward, active position into their upward, inactive position.

The-lacearrangement, and the mechanism actuating same, as described above, is designed in such a way that it may be applied to existing machines as a lace attachment. Further, if desired, however, the lace arrangement and its actuating mechanism may be incorporated into the construction of a straight bar knitting machine.

The term loop transfer means used in the appended claims may be applied to the lace arrangement as well as to the picot arrangement of astraight bar knitting machine.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purposes of illustration, and that various omissions and changes in shape or proportion of parts, as well as the substitution ofv equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Although the drawings illustrates a two-section straight bar knitting machine, the mechanism according to the invention may alsobe applied to straight bar knitting machines having more than two sections;

What I claim is:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combination. of loop transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machine for free movement between an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine and an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, positioning means associated with said loop transfer means for swinging same from said inactive position into said active position, locking means associated with said loop transfer means, said locking means being responsive to a swinging movement of said loop transfer means into their active position for holding said loop transfer means in the latter position, automatic releasing means actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting, machine for releasing said locking means at a predetermined interval, and resili nt means opera.- tively connected with said loop transfer means for returning same from their active position into their original inactive position upon release of said locking means and for normally holding said loop transfer means in said inactive position.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine, the com.- bination of: loop transfer means for transferring loopsfrom needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being movably mounted on the knitting machine and-being normally in an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, positioning means associated with said looptransfer means for moving same from said inactive position into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, locking means associated with said loop transfer means, said locking means including a first element connected with said loop transfer means for participating in the movements of the latter and including a second element yieldingly mounted on the knitting machine and arranged for engagement with said first element during the movement of said loop transfer means from the inactive position into the active position, said first element comprising a portion capable of locking engagement with said yieldingly supported second element when said loop transfer means reaches its active position for holding said loop transfer means in the latter position, and automatic releasing means actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for disengaging said elements of said locking means from each other at a predetermined interval..

3. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combinationof looptransfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machinev and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, resilient means acting on said loop transfer means for normally holding same an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, posi tioning means associated with said loop transfer means and operable for swinging same from said inactive position into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine against the action of said resilient means, locking means including cooperating first and second elements, said first element being connected with said looptransfer means, said second element being mounted on. said knitting machine, said first and second elements being in slidable engagementwith each other during the swinging movement of the looptransfer means from the inactive position into the active position and being in locking engagement with each other when said loop transfer means reaches its active position for holding same in the latter position, and automatic releasing means actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for displacing. said loop transfer means sidewise so as to disengage the first element of said locking means from. the second, element of the latter at a predetermined intervalwhereupon said resilient means may return said loop transfer means into its inactive position.

4. Ina. straight bar knitting machine, the combination of: loop transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being movably mounted on the knitting machine, resilient means acting on said loop transfer means for normally holding same in aninactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knittingmachine, manually operable positioning means associated with said loop. transfer means for moving same from said inactive position into an active position in cooperative relation toneedles of the knitting machine against the action of said resilient means, locking means associated with said loop transfer means, said locking means including a first element connected with said loop transfer means for participating in the movements of the latter and including a second element yieldingly mounted on the knitting machine and arranged for engagement with said first element during the movement of said loop transfer means from the inactive position into the active position, said first element comprising a portion capable of locking engagement with said yieldingly supported second element when said loop transfer means reaches its active position for holding said loop transfer means in the latter position, and automatic releasing means actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for disengaging said elements of said locking means from each other at a predetermined interval whereupon said resilient means may return said loop transfer means into its inactive position.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combination of: loop transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machine and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, said loop transfer means being normally in an inactive position out of cooperation relative to needles of the knitting machine, positicning means associated with said loop transfer means for swinging same into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, locking means responsive to a swinging movement of said loop transfer means into their active position and associated with said loop transfer means for holding same in said active position, a pattern device actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for displacing said loop transfer means sidewise in a predetermined direction to a predetermined degree at predetermined intervals, and automatic releasing means actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for releasing said locking means at a predetermined interval.

6. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combination of: loop transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machine and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, said loop transfer means being normally in an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, positioning means associated with said loop transfer means for swinging same into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, locking means responsive to a swinging movement of said loop transfer means into their active position and associated with said loop transfer means for holding same in said active position, and a pattern device actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for displacing said loop transfer means side-wise in a predetermined direction to a predetermined degree at predetermined intervals and for releasing said locking means at a predetermined interval.

'7 In a straight bar knitting machine, in combination: loop transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machine and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, resilient means acting on said loop transfer means for normally holding same in an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, positioning means associated with said loop transfer means for swinging same into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine against the action of said resilient means, locking means responsive to a swinging movement of said loop transfer means into their active position and associated with said loop transfer means for holding same in said active position, a pattern device actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for displacing said loop transfer means side-wise in a predetermined direction to a predetermined degree at predetermined intervals, and automatic releasing means actuated in timedrelation with the operation of the knitting machine for releasing said locking means at a predetermined interval whereupon said resilient means may return said loop transfer means into their inactive position.

8. In a straight bar knitting machine, in combination: p transfer means for transferring loops from needle to needle of the knitting machine during the operation thereof, said loop transfer means being swingably mounted on the knitting machine and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, first resilient means acting on said loop transfer means for normally holding same in an inactive position out of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, positioning means associated with said 1001) transfer means for swinging same into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine against the action of said first resilient means, locking means responsive to a swinging movement of said loop transfer means into their active position and associated with said loop transfer means for holdin same in said active position, a pattern device actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine, and second resilient means acting on said loop transfer means for holding same in operative engagement with said pattern device, said pattern device being arranged for displacing said loop transfer means side-wise in a predetermined direction to a predetermined degree at predetermined intervals and, further, for displacing at another predetermined interval said loop transfer means against the action of said second resilient means to an extent causing a release of said loop transfer means from said locking means whereupon said first resilient means may return said loop transfer means into their inactive position.

9. In a straight bar knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, said locking means including a first element connected with said loop transfer means for participating in the movements of the latter and including a second element mounted on the knitting machine, said first ele ment having a recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine, said second element being capable of locking engagement with said recess when said loop transfer means are swung into their active position, and said pattern device being capable of displacing said loop transfer means'at said last mentioned interval to an extent causing a disengagement of said recess from said second element.

'10. In a straight bar knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, said locking means including a first element connected with said loop transfer.

means for participating in the movements of the latter and including a second element movably mounted on the knitting machine, said first element having a recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the machine, a spring normally holding said second :element in a locking position for locking engagement with said recess when said loop transfer means are swung into their active position, said pattern device being capable of displacing said loop transfer means at said last mentioned interval to an extent causing a disengagement of said recess from said second element, and manually operable means connected with said movable second element for bringing same into a releasing position at will.

11. In a straight bar knitting machine, the combination of: a lace arrangement, a picot arrangement, said lace arrangement and said picot arrangement being swingably mounted on the knitting machine and being displaceable longitudinally of the latter, said lace arrangement and said picot arrangement being normally in an inactive position out-of cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine, resilient means acting on said lace arrangement for urging same into said inactive position,.-first and second positioning means associated with said lace arrangement and said picot arrangement for swinging same into an active position in cooperative relation to needles of the knitting machine. locking means associated with said lace arrangement, said locking means being responsive to a movement of said lace arrangement into its active position for holding said lace arrangement in the latter position, a pattern device, and selectively settable means interposed between said pattern device and said lace and picot arrangements for effecting operative zengagement of at least one of said lace and picot arrangementswith said pattern device, said .pattern device being actuated in timed relation with the operation of the knitting machine for displacing the operatively engaged arrangement References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,671 Landenberger May 3, 1904 2,210,238 Haehnel Aug. 6, 1940 2,234,160 Moyer Mar. 4, 1941 2,248,501 Howie July 8, 1941 2,266,395 Ischinger Dec. 16, 1941 2,287,480 Lambach June 23, 1942 2,507,487 Berger et a1. May '16, 195.0