US2745269A - Knitting machine of the opposed needle cylinder type - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPFOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor F L cw May 15, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 SheetsSheet 2 F/GZ.

Inventor May 15, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OFPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 WW if "M F H L- Inventor y 5, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-$heet 4 Inventor F/ MQL WM Den/ y 15,1956 7 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OFPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Inventor F QWL LA QM CW F.E.DEANS May 15, 195.5

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 19, 1951 y 5, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE) OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 F/GB.

F/GQ.

V I rwentor y 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 1.2 Sheets-Sheet 8 ll/58a 56 Inventor y 15, 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 May 15, 1956 F. E. DEANS KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 19 1951 May 15,1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSEID NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet ll 86 69 3 I Inventor 1 "ZPJWAQ? 3mm, L M

DM v 413 y 1956 F. E. DEANS 2,745,269

KNITTING MACHINE OF THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 United States Patent KNITTING MACHINE 01F THE OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Frederick Edward Deans, Leicester, England, assignor to The Bentley Engineering Company Limited, Leicester, England Application March 19, 1951, Serial No. 216,292

Claims priority, application Great Britain March 24, 1950 9 Claims. (Cl. 6614) This invention concerns circular knitting machines, primarily those of the type organised to knit tubular fabric by rotation and a pouch by oscillation (or reciprocation), and having opposed needle cylinders equipped with double ended latch needles controlled by sliders in the two cylinders and capable of transfer between the two cylinders, a cam box for each cylinder, cams in the boxes for moving the sliders and the needles, said cams in each box including knitting cams operable at a knitting station during rotation and oscillation, and means for producing relative rotation and oscillation between cylinders and the cam boxes. An object of this invention is to effect such improvements in machines of this type as will permit seamless stockings, socks and like articles of footwear to be produced having certain characteristics not heretofore known in such articles of hosiery. A further object of the invention is an attachment for use in a machine of the type specified.

yarn feeders at the knitting station, patterning mechanism for eflfecting their selective interchange at a small group of the needles, auxiliary knitting cams in the two boxes at an auxiliary knitting station spaced circumferentially from the first or main station, an auxiliary yarn feeder at the auxiliary station, feeder control mechanism for introducing and Withdrawing the auxiliary feeder as required during rotary knitting, the change being confined to the said group of needles, and for withdrawing it at the commencement of the pouch, and cam control mechanism for rendering the auxiliary knitting cams inoperative when the auxiliary feeder is Withdrawn so that the needles continue to knit only at the main station. Preferably, the small group of needles referred to consists of those needles which knit a few wales located centrally at the back of the leg. According to a further feature of the invention the machine has a draw thread feeder at the auxiliary station and the feeder control mechanism is arranged to introduce it during a draw thread course of rotary knitting (the said course being intended to separate successive articles knitted on the machine) and the cam control mechanism is arranged to render the auxiliary knitting cams operative while the draw thread feeder is operative.

If the auxiliary feeder is operative shortly before the commencement of a pouch, primarily the heel pouch, it is undesirable that in this instance its region of withdrawal shall be within the few wales at the back of the leg and it is preferable that its region of withdrawal shall be at .the side of the leg so that it is withdrawn after all the needles that are to be employed in the pouch have knitted from it. Therefore according to a further subsidiary feature of the invention the feeder control mechanism is arranged to shift the region of withdrawal of the auxiliary feeder, preparatory to knitting a pouch, to the side of the article.

It will be appreciated that when knitting proceeds at both the knitting stations two courses are produced at each 2,745,269 Patented .May 15, 1956 ice revolution, the fabric being knitted as a two-start spiral whereof one spiral is knitted of the thread fed at one station and the other is knitted of the thread fed at the other station. When knitting proceeds atone station only (e. g. the main station) the fabric is produced as a single-start spiral. Fabrics of the two kinds may alternate and this is an effect that has not hitherto been produced in a seamless sock or the like. Therefore the invention also includes a seamless sock or the like having'a leg of which at least part consists of ribbed fabric, and heel and toe pouches of non-ribbed fabric, wherein the leg comprises spaced bands knitted of two distinct threads as a two-start spiral and intervening bands knitted of at least one thread as a one-start spiral, the region of introduction and withdrawal of the various threads'of which these bands are knitted being confined to a few wales at the back of the leg. p

This invention further provides in or for a circular knitting machine, an attachment comprising a plurality of feeders,a trapper and cutter for each feeder, feeder-control mechanism for introducing and withdrawing each feeder as required, and other control mechanism applicable to the control of needle-operating cams in the machine.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the machine and product, which will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 illustrates a seamless sock-according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of a circular knitting machine of the opposed needle cylinder type, showing suflicient thereof to permit it to be identified and illustrating the application of the invention thereto;

Figure 3 is a plan of the machine shown in Figure 2 Figure 4 is a view of the attachment, from the hack of the machine;

Figure 5 is a part view on line A, A in ing details of the two position crank;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 4; l

Figure 7 is a view inside the cam'boxes'showing the position of the auxiliary knitting cams in relation to the main knitting cams;

Figure 4 show- Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view (looking down through the top of the machine) showing the disposition and length 1 of the knitting butts of the sliders in the top cylinder; w h

Figure 9 is a like view showing the butts of the sliders in the bottom cylinder; v I I Figure 10 is a view of the cam assembly foroperating the auxiliary knitting cams; T

Figure 11 is a side view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view of the cam assembly the draw thread feeder and trapper;

Figure 13 is a side view of Figure '12;

Figure 14 is a view of the cam assembly for operating the auxiliary feeder and trapper;

Figure 15 is a side view of Figure '14;

Figure 16 is a view of the trapper bracket assembly showing details which are hidden in Figs. 4 and 6-;

Figure 17 is a side view of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a plan view of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a view of the feeder post assemblyshowing details which are hidden in Figures 4 and 6.

Figure 20 is a side elevation of Figure 19,

Figure 21 is a plan view of Figure 19.

Figure 22 is a part view on line B, B, Figure 4 showing details of cam and connecting link mechanism for operating the selector bar.

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken on the line C, (Lin Figure 3 but on;a larger scale. 7

The machine is of the type specified and has the needle for operating movable from the machine as a unit.

cylinders 1, 2, disposed their axes vertical, and capable of rotation and oscillation as in the well known machine sold under the registered trademark Komet.

fIi is provided at a mainknitting station M. K. with yarn changing mechanism 3 according to U. S. Patent No.

1,838,651, with cams such as 4, 5,6, '7, in the two cam boxes 9, 10, for knitting during rotation, cams 4, 5, in the bottom box 9 for knitting during oscillation in the production of heel and toe pouches, and with pickers 11,

12, 13 for progressively moving the pouch needles from and into activity in known manner. The usual transfer cams 14, 15, 16, and 43 are also provided for transferring the double ended needles 17 between the two cylinders to alter the character of the fabric produced, such for example as between a one and one or other narrow rib in the top of a sock and a six and three or other broad rib in the leg of a sock. 2

- The yarn-changing mechanism 3 incorporates interchangeable yarn feeders 133' and patterning mechanism 134 for effecting their selective interchange but for details of this yarn-changing mechanism reference is to be made to the patent above mentioned. out, however, that the mechanism 134 is racked by an It is to be pointed oscillatingflpawl carrier 137- (41 in the said U. S. Patent) rocked up and down by a connecting rod 138 and a crank .139 driven from a continuously rotating part 140 of the machine. The crankis so timed in relation to the rotation of the needle cylinders that the selective interchange of the. feeders 133 is confinedto a small group of needles at or near the back of the leg, which needles knit the group of walesf47 hereinafter mentioned.

. Spaced circumferentially from the main knitting station the bottom and top boxes 9, 10,'respectively.

At this stage it is convenient to describe the movements of theneedles 17 and their sliders 29, 30, in the produc- 7 tion of socks such. as, that illustrated in Figure 1, said socks being knitted in continuous fashion separated by a draw thread (as in British Patent No. 400,623) having a welt 31 followed by a one and one top 32, a six and three (or other rib arrangement) leg 33 composed of bands 34 ofisingle feed fabriewith intervening bands 35 of double a feed fabric, a heel pouch 36 knitted by reciprocation, a

foot 37 also composed of said alternating bands of single feed and double feedfabric, and a toe pouch 38.

After having finished'thetoe of the previous sock, all the needles 17 are in the bottom cylinder 1 and the machine is knitting plain fabric. After a few waste courses of the plainfabric, each alternate needle is transferred up into the top: cylinder-2 to make one and one ribbed fabric; the tracks followedby the butts 39, 40, of the associatedsliders 29,30, are shown as a and b in Figure 7. r r 1 To knit the draw thread, bolt-cam 41 is brought intoaction (i. e. moved in towards the cylinder) to deflect the butts 39 of. the-bottom sliders 29 into track c where they draw a loop of the new thread from the draw thread 7 short butt heel needles) so that it is knitted for about I These auxiliary knitting cams comprise stitch earns 27, 28, in

feeder 22 which has been introduced by the attachment 1% courses. At the introduction of the draw thread the two-position crank hereinafter described is in its late position, and at the withdrawal the crank is in its early position. When the draw thread feeder 22 is withdrawn, the auxiliary knitting cams are rendered inoperative.

The welt or reverse welt 31, as required, is made in the usual way, the bolt cams 42 and 7 in the top cam box 10 being withdrawn in making the welt, and the bolt cams 44 and 45 in the bottom box 9 being withdrawn in making a reverse welt. After the welt 31, a one and one top 32 is made by bringing the necessary bolt cams back into action to deflect the butts ofthe sliders back to tracks a or b as required. This rib top is conveniently knitted (as a single start spiral) solely from yarn fed at the main station M. K. or as a two start spiral from yarns fed at both stations (as hereinafter described in relation to the leg); for example for the purpose of speeding-up production or achieving a two-coloured effect.

Next, the usual double transfer is made to select needles to make the broad rib leg portion 33, and it is in this portion that the bands 35 of double feed fabric areto appear.

Now when making the single feed fabric, the butts 39, 40, of the sliders 29, 30, follow tracks a and b, but when it is desired to bring the second or auxiliary feeder 21 into action, the bolt cams 41 and 44 in the bottom box 9 and bolt cams 42 and 46 in the top box 10 are moved in towards the cylinders 1, 2, to deflect the butts of the sliders into tracks 0 and (1 respectively. Thus, the needles in both cylinders are caused to clear their old loops (formed at the main stitch cams 5 and 6) and receive the-second yarn and draw loops of it at stitch cams 27 and 28, clearing these last formed loops at bolt earns. 44 and 42.

It can be seen from the above that alternating bands of single feed fabric 34- and double feed fabric 35 may be made simply'by withdrawing and introducing of the aforementioned bolt cams 41, 44, 42, 46 and the auxiliary feeder 21 all being controlled by the attachment 20 at the second feed station, A. K.

The introduction and removal of the auxiliary feeder 21'takes place at the back of the leg during the manufacture of the leg 32 of the sock (being confined toa small groupof wales 47 as shown) but if it is desired that the auxiliary feeder should be in operation right up to the commencement of the heel pouch 36 (or thetoe pouch 38) when it is preferable that it should be withdrawn either after all the pouch needles have knitted it, or before any of them knit it. This requires a modification of the normal slider buttset-up, as it is necessary to insert a group of medium length knitting butts 39m, among the short butts 39s of the heel half in the bottom cylinder and a group of long butts 401 among the medium butts of the heel half in the top cylinder, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, to enable the bolt cams to be inserted or -re-' moved. V

After knitting the heel pouch 36, the auxiliary feeder 21 may again 'be brought into action. To ensure that the auxiliary feeder supplies yarn to the needles that knit the. first instep course after the heel, bolt cam 46 in. the top box 10 and bolt cam-41 in the bottom box 9 are introduced to divert the butts 40, 39, of the sliders into tracks d and c respectively. 'The introduction of these cams is timed in the following manner:

At the moment when the cylindersl, 2, are stationary, having madethe last reciprocation in making the heel, theins'tep half sliders having the long butts .39l, 401

(which are in the high nonknitting track) extend ,ap-'

proximately from about T to point U on the cam-box layout Figure 7. When rotary knitting commences, these long butted sliders continue in the high track until they reach the bolt cam 48 in the top box 10 and*cam-49 in the bottom box 9 (these cams having just been introduced from whence they are diverted to their normal knitting tracks. If reference is made to Figures 8 and 9 it will be seen that the long butts 401 of the instep sliders in the top cylinder are followed by medium butts 40m (Figure 8) and the long butts 39l, of the instep sliders in the bottom cylinder are followed by a small group of medium butts 39m followed by short butts 30s (Figure 9).

Now at the commencement of rotary knitting after the heel the knitting butts 39 of all the bottom cylinder sliders 29 of the heel half are in the normal knitting track a between points T and U, Figure 7 except the first two sliders of group 39m following the long butts 391 Figure 9, because these two sliders have been left up in the non-knitting track during the preceding picking operations. In this first revolution the butts of these two sliders are deflected down feed cam 4 and stitch cam and are then raised by cam 45, being thereafter deflected to stitch cam 27 by bolt cam 41 (which has just been inserted beneath the preceding long butts 391) Thus the first needle to knit, at both feeding positions, in the production of double feed fabric after the heel is the needle controlled by the third slider of group 39m. During the first revolution, cam 49 is introduced to lower the long butts 39l of the instep sliders to knitting track a.

In the top cylinder the sliders 30 of the heel half (disposed between the points T and U at the start of rotary knitting after the heel) continue in the non-knitting track, the butts of these sliders passing in front of inoperative bolt cam 48. Before the first long butt of group 401 in the heel half reaches it this cam 48 is moved in, firstly part-way (just clear of medium butts 40m) and then fully, so that it raises butts 49! and all following butts to the normal knitting track. In this track, the first needle to knit at stitch cam 6 is the first instep needle (i. e. the first needle, whereof the slider 30 has a long butt 40l) it being understood that before starting on the heel sliders in the top cylinder transfer their needles to heel sliders in the bottom cylinder.

After knitting at the main cam 6, the instep needles also knit at the second stitch cam 28, bolt cam 46 having been introduced at about the same time as bolt cam 41 of the bottom cam b'ox. Thus, double fabric is knitted immediately after knitting the heel the start being confined to the group of wales 47.

Further bands of single feed fabric alternating with bands of double feed fabric may be knitted throughout the foot, the article finally being finished by knitting the toe pouch.

Having now described a typical article and its method of manufacture, the attachment of unit for operating the various bolts, feeders and trappers will be described in detail.

Preferably, the feeder control mechanism provided in the attachment 20 is within the scope of the aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 1,838,651. It, and the cam control mechanism, comprise three patterning units 50a, 50b, 50c rotatable individually about a common axis 51.

These units are shown in Figures and 11, 12 and 13, and 14 and respectively. Each of them comprises a ratchet wheel 52a, 52b or 52c having alternate long and short teeth, and for each of these wheels there is a drag pawl or clawker 53a, 53b or 530, in Figures 4 and 6 pivoted in a pawl carrier 54. The pawls are maintained in contact with their associated ratchet wheels by means of a light tension spring (not shown). The pawl carrier 54 is mounted so as to rock about the shaft 51 which is fixed in the main bracket 55. From this it will be seen that, as the pawl carrier 54 is rocked about the shaft 51, each drag pawl will engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel contained in its associated patterning unit and on the downward oscillation of the carrier, the pawl will rock its unit about the fixed shaft 51.

The left hand unit 50a is shown in detail in Figures 10 arid 11. This unit forms part of the cam. control mechanism and comprises besides the ratchet wheel 52a an adjustable cam carrier 56a and two cam discs 57a and 58a. The carrier 56a is secured in fixed relationship to the ratchet wheel 52a and the cam discs 58a by screws 59, but the cam disc 57a being mounted on a shoulder of the carrier 56:: is free to move within the limits decided by the adjustment of the two screws 60, 60' acting on the fixed peg 61, thus providing means for timing cam 57a with respect to the ratchet wheel 52a and the cam 58a. This unit operates the auxiliary knitting cams in the following manner:

Cam 57a operates lever 62 (Figs. 4 and 6) which is connected by means of the link 63 to the operating lever 121 attached to bolt cam 7 (see Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 23). In similar manner cam 58a operates lever 64 which is connected by means of the link 65 to the operating lever 122 attached to bolt cam 41, Figure 7.

The middle unit 50b is shown in detail in Figures 12 and 13. This unit controls the draw thread feeder 22, Figures 4 and 6 and its trapper 66 and comprises ratchet wheel 52b and two cam discs 57b, 53b. Cam 57b operates lever 68, Figures 4 and 6, which, through the adjustable contact of the screw 69 of the swivel lever 70 causes the feeder 22 which is mounted in lever 70 to move in an are between feeding position and trapping position. The screw 69 of lever 76 is urged into contact with lever 68 by the tension spring 71, one end of which is attached to the post 72 by means of the hook 73. This post 72 carries two adjustable stop screws 74, 75, which provide stops for the tails 70, 76' of the swivel levers 76 and 76 when the feeders are swung to the feed position. For details of feeder post assembly, see Figures 19-21.

Cam 58b of the same middle unit 50b operates lever 77 through an adjustable cam follower 78, Figure 6. Lever 77 has a tappet 79 which engages rod 80. If reference is made to Figures 16-18 it will be seen that rod 80 is screwed into the block 81 which is slidably contained in the tube 82. Clamped to the tube is the bracket 83 which carries the two trappers 66, 67. When the rod 80 is lifted, the block 81 acts on the round end'91a of the trapper lever 91 and opens trapper 66.

The right hand unit 56 functions in a similar man ner to the middle unit 50b but operates the auxiliary feeder and trapper.

This unit is shown in detail in Figures 14 and 15 and comprises ratchet wheel 52c and two cam discs 57c and 58c. Cam 57c operates lever 84, Figures 4 and 6 which is mounted with lever 68 on shaft 85 and through the adjustable contact of the screw 86 of the swivel lever 76, causes the feeder 21, which is fixed in lever 76, to move in an are between feeding and trapping positions.

The screw 86 of the swivel lever 76 is urged into contact with the lever 84 by the torsion spring v87. Cam 580 of right hand unit 50c operates lever 88 (which is identical with lever 77 and is concealed by it in Figure 6) and lever 88 operates rod 89 (through an adjusting screw such as 7 9, Figure 6).

Referring to Figures l6l 8, rod 89 is screwed into the block 99 slidably contained in the tube 82. When rod 89 is lifted, block 90 acts on the round end 92a of the trapper lever 92'and opens trapper 67 Y The working arrangement of the attachment 20 is such, that when a feeder 21 or 22 is in feeding position its control unit 56b or 500 presents a long tooth of the ratchet wheel 52b or 526 for engagement by the associated pawl 53b, 53c and when it is out of. feeding position, the unit presents a short tooth towards this pawl. Likewise, the arrangement of the cam control unit 50a is 'such, that when the auxiliary knitting cams 41 and 46 are operative, a long tooth of ratchet wheel 50a is presented to the pawl 53a and when they are inoperative, a short tooth is presented. The reason for this will become clear in the following description:

The ' pawls 53a, 53b, 53c, Figures 4 and 6, are consented) drum 1230f the machine. temporarily if movement of the selector b21119?) is temtrolled by a selector bar 93 which is slidable parallel to the axis of the units and corresponds to the bar 53 of the aforesaid Patent No. 1,838,651, being arranged to co-operate with the tails of the pawls, and being so slotted as to provide for three alternative positions for each pawl,

viz: a p

l. A completely bluffed position inwhich the tail of the pawl rides on the highest point (or top) 94 of the selector bar 93, Figure 4 and therefore does not rack the ratchet wheel.

2. A position in which the tail of the pawl rides on the step (such as 95) of the selector bar and thus engages a long tooth.

3. And a position Where the tail rides in the bottom 7 rotated in either direction, the selector bar is moved positively. Its flanks'are stepped to give four positions for the selector bar as follows:

. Position 1 (the extreme left hand position) in which allvthree pawls are blufied and therefore oscillate idly. Position 2, in which all three pawls are capable of engaging only the long teeth, so that if either feeder 21,

22, is or the auxiliary knitting cams 41, 46 are in operation, the sameis/are brought outof operation at the first stroke of the pawls.

Position 3, in which the pawls of units 594 and 50c are permitted to engage short teeth (or long teeth if such'are presented) so these units are racked to withdraw (or introduce) the auxiliary feeder 21 and the knitting cams 41, 46.

Position 4 (the extreme right hand position) in which the pawls of units 50a and 50c are permitted to engage short teeth (and necessarily long teeth if such are pre- Thus, these units are racked to withdraw (or introduce) the draw thread feeder 22 and the knitting cams 41, 46. 7

- The selector bar 93 is also cut with a pair of spaced notches 1G2, 1&3, Figure 4 into one or other of which a finger 104 on the pawl carrier 54 may enter on the up stroke of the carrier, in certain positions of the bar.

The land 105 between these two notches is arranged by engagement with this finger 194 to delay movementv of the bar-93 from position 1 or from position 3 until the pawls have moved far enough down their racking stroke for their tails to move off the bar.

The sector 99 is rocked in one direction, against the action of the spring 106, Figure 22, by means of a spring loaded connection 107 operable from the main control This connection 107 yields porarily prevented by the finger 194 On the control drum 123, there is a cam 124 which, in the event of the machine being turned back by hand to a startrposition, operates (through the cam sector 99 or otherwise) to shift the selector bar 93 to position 2, so that if either feed is, and the auxiliary knitting cams are, operative, it and they are rendered inoperative. The selector bar 93 may be controlled by studs or cams on the chain of the machine, in addition to cams on the control drum.

Arnong the cams on the main control drum 123 for shift- 8. necessity for making sure that provision for a single feed at the beginning and of the toe.

The normal timing of the racking *of the patterning the chain set-out includes units is such that introduction and withdrawal of the auxiliary feeder 21 could take place at the side of the Therefore, if it is required to bring I sock or the like. the change to the back of the leg, such as for knitting bands of double feed fabric during the leg, or for instance the Withdrawal of the draw thread feeder (as described earlier) it is necessary to delay the racking.

Now the racking is efiected by means of the crank 108 Figures 4 and 6 mounted on shaft 109 carried in hearings in the main bracket 55. This crank is connected to the pawl carrier. 54 by connecting rod 110, and mechanism is provided whereby the crank has two positions relative to the crank shaft. This mechanism will now be described with reference to Figure 5. The crank 108 is rotatably mounted onthe crank shaft 109 and is drawn bythe spring 111 (anchored to crank 108 by screw 112) round the shaft until the stop pin 113 in the crank comes into contact with the abutment 114 which is secured to the shaft. A latch 115 is provided on the shaft for locking the pin in this position. This is the normal (early) position of the crank and would result in the pawl carrier 54 Figures 4 and 6 being rocked at such a time as will cause the introduction and withdrawal of the auxiliary feeder to occur at the side of the leg. In order to delay the introduction and withdrawal of the auxiliary feeder,

the latch 115 is tripped so that the crank lags behind the crank shaft.

The tripping is effected by means of the lever 116,

Figure 6. When the control rod 117 is operated by a cam on the main control drum, it causes the curved portion 118 of the lever 116 to press on the projection 119, Figure 5 of the latch 115 to swing the latch inwards'to release the stop pin 113 and it is now that the .weight 1 of the pawlcarrier 54 Figures 4 and 6 acting through the link 110 on to the crank 108, delays the crank whilst thestop screw 120 (rotating with the shaft) catches up.

with the stop pin 113; this stretches the tension spring 111 in preparation for returning the crank to its normal.

position.

As mentioned previously, if the auxiliaryfeedier 21 2) of the knitting machine'which rotates and oscillatesv with the needle cylinders 1,. 2. This results in the pawl carrier 54 being oscillated during the production .o'ffithe pouches, but at this stage all the pawls are blutfed. Thus, the timing of various mechanisms which control auxiliary yarn changes does not become deranged by the changeover between rotation and oscillation.

The two feeders 21,- 22 of the attachment 2i are arranged to swing about the vertical axis of the shaft132,

into and out of knitting position. They each terminate in a feeding eye 21' or 22, and theeye of the operative feeder (whichever it may he) must be located at a fixed height relative to the cylinder 1, 2. .Therefore, one of the feeders (i. e. feeder 22 Figures 4 and 5) is mounted so that when out of feedingposition, its eye 22' is spaced vertically from the eye 21 of the other feeder 21, but

'22 as described herein) is hinged at an intermediatepoint 128 in its length for up and down movements of its free end (whereat the eye is formed) about a horizontal axis,

and its hinged part carries a peg 129, Figures 4, 19 20, and 21, travelling along a slot 130 in a stationary-cam of the 1 heel I 9 plate 131 which slot is so shaped that the eye 22' rises (against the action of spring 135) as it swings to feeding position and, as it swings out of feeding position, descends to take its place below the inoperative position occupied by the eye 21' of the top feeder 21.

What I claim is:

l. A circular knitting machine of the axially opposed double cylinder type organized to produce seamless stockings, socks, and like articles of footwear having a tubular knitted part including a leg, and a pouch, said machine having opposed needle cylinders, needles in the cylinders, a main knitting station, a cam box for each cylinder, main knitting cams in each cam box at the main knitting station, means for effecting relative rotation between the cylinders and the cams and consequently between the needles and the main knitting station for producing the tubular part, and means for changing from said relative rotation to relative reciprocation for producing the pouch, and further having a set of interchangeable yarn feeders at said main knitting station, patterning mechanism for effecting their selective interchange coincident with the presentation of a small group of the needles at the main knitting station, an auxiliary knitting station spaced circumferentially from the main station, auxiliary knitting cams in each cam box at said auxiliary station, an auxiliary yarn feeder at the auxiliary station, feeder control mechanism for introducing and withdrawing the auxiliary feeder during the production of required courses of the tubular part and at a stage in the production of each of these courses coincident with the presentation of said group of needles at the auxiliary station, and for withdrawing it at a stage in the production of the article coincident with the commencement of said relative reciprocation and commencement of production of the pouch, cam control mechanism for rendering the auxiliary knitting cams inoperative when the auxiliary feeder is withdrawn so that the needles continue to knit only at the main station, and a movable control member common to said feeder control and cam control mechanisms for controlling actuation of said mechanisms.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 having a group of needles which knit a few wales located centrally at the back of the leg and constitute the aforesaid group of needles.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 having another feeder, at the auxiliary station, movable into and out of operative position, and cam control mechanism arranged to render the auxiliary knitting cams operative while said other feeder is operative.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said other feeder is a draw thread feeder.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1 having needle controlling butts operable by the knitting cams, and wherein the butts of a localized group have a length contrasting with that of adjacent butts so as to permit the insertion of cams by the cam control mechanism.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 having the feeder 10 control mechanism arranged for altering the stage during production of a course whereat the auxiliary feeder is withdrawn, when commencing to produce the pouch, to be at a stage in the production of the course coincident with needles on which a side of the article is knitted being presented at the auxiliary station.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 having racking mechanism for the feeder control mechanism and the cam control mechanism, and means for altering the timing of the racking mechanism.

8. A circular knitting machine of the axially opposed double cylinder type, having opposed needle cylinders, needles in the cylinders, a main knitting station, a set of interchangeable yarn feeders operable at the main knitting station, patterning mechanism for effecting their selective interchange, racking mechanism for racking the patterning mechanism to change its selection, an auxiliary knitting station spaced circumferentially from the main station, a cam box for each cylinder, main knitting cams in each cam box at said main station, auxiliary knitting cams in each cam box at said auxiliary station, an auxiliary feeder movable into and out of feeding position at the auxiliary station, feeder control mechanism for moving the auxiliary feeder into and out of feeding position as required, cam control mechanism for rendering the auxiliary knitting cams operative only when the auxiliary feeder is in operation, common control means for said feeder control and cam control mechanisms,

said feeder control and cam control mechanisms including patterning mechanism, and racking-mechanism for racking the patterning mechanisms in timed relation for the yarn changes at both stations to be effected at required stages during the production of the article coincident with the presentation of one and the same group of said needles at the respective stations.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 1 having means for ensuring that the auxiliary knitting cams are inoperative at a stage in the production of the article coincident with the commencement of said relative reciprocation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,138 Scott Apr. 28, 1931 1,838,651 Bentley Dec. 29, 1931 2,101,494 Deans Dec. 7, 1937 2,146,647 Page W Feb. 7, 1939 2,180,708 Houseman Nov. 21, 1939 2,293,639 Coleman Aug. 18, 1942 2,369,928 Thurston et al Feb. 20, 1945 2,412,248 Bristow Dec. 10, 1946 2,457,782 Nadon Dec. '28, 1948 2,470,803 Bristow May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 263,593 Great Britain J an. 6, 1927 451,057 Great Britain July 29, 1936

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