US2861440A

US2861440A - Multi-feed circular knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US2861440A
Application number: US586587A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman E Crawford
Original assignee: H E CRAWFORD CO Inc
Current assignee: H E CRAWFORD CO Inc
Priority date: 1956-05-22
Filing date: 1956-05-22
Publication date: 1958-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-25

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

INVENTOR.

AGENT Nov. 25,- 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 g a as Q 7 l 34 INVENTORI HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

BY am aw;

AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR/ KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1956 HERMAN E. CRAWFORD,

w a: w x

AGENT Nov. '25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22 1956 INVENTOR: HERMAN E. CRAWFORD. BY W f 1% AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 Filed May 22, 1956 MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I.\'VENT( )RI HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 HERMAN E. CRAWFORD,

INVENTOR.

BY w m- AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD v MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 22, 1956 INVENTORI HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

United States Paten v MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Herman E. Crawford, Kernersville, N. C., assignor to The Crawford Company; Incorporated, Kernersville, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application May 22, 1956, Serial No. 586,587

17 Claims. (Cl; 66-41) This invention relates to improvements in circular knitting machines of the independent needle type and more especially to improvements in multi-feed circular knitting machines whereinthe multi-feed knitting is em ployed throughout the article being knit.

It is well known to-those familiar with the knitting art that multi-feedor two-feed knitting machines have heretofore been attempted and abandoned because of an inability to produce satisfactory heel and toe pockets and the complicated mechanism required to carry out this multi-feed in the leg and foot, as well as in the heel and toe portionsof hosiery, especially in the finer gauge hosi-' cry of the 400 needle class.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simple feeding andknittingmeans'for knitting a plurality of courses: with each rotary motion of the, needle cylinder during rotary knitting inthe'leg andfoot portions, as we11-as knitting a plurality of-partial courses" with each reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder in knitting the heel and toe pockets.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of the type described employing selector jacks beneath each of the cylinder needles to activate selected cylinder needles in forming the first few or make-up courses of a stocking, in the transfer of a welt portion from the dial bitsvto the cylinder needles, and to select groups of cylinder needles in preparation for knitting the heel and toe pockets.

It is another object of this invention-to provide amtiltifeed knitting machine which isable to knit'tw'o courses" with each reciprocation of the needle cylinder during knitting of the heel and toe pocketsof hosiery and to' form a satisfactory suture at the heel and toe pockets while'knitting two courses with each reciprocationof the needle cylinder. Satisfactory'sutures -at the heel'and toe pockets mean that the junctures of the narrowed and widened areas contain no'open places or cat eyes and the heel and toev sutures, while being knit two courses with each reciprocation of the needle cylinder, are formed in the same manner'as sutures knit in a conventionalmanner with a single course being knit with each recip- It is possible'to knit the conventional heel and toe pocket, while 'knitting'twocourses with each reciprocation of thejcylinder, by using rocation of the needle'cylinder.

a set of narrowing picks with eachof two sets of knitting cams and a pair of widening picks, so that the number of below selectedones ofthe plurality of-knitting stations employed. in this improved machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been'stated,

other objects will appearas' the"description proeeeds 2,861,440 Patented Now-'25, 1958 tions therefore;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view v taken substantially along the line 2 2-in Figure-1 Figure 3 is a transverse Vverticalsectional view',-at-=aii enlargedscale, being: taken 'substantiallyr'along the" line Figure 4 is atransverseivert'ical sectional-view,-at' an enlarged scale; being takensubstantially along the'line 4-'- 4 in=Figure--2;'

Figure 5-is a sectional plan viewtaken-substantially along the line-5-5'in Figure" 1;

Figure 6 isa sectional tplan'flview ta'ken substantially along-the-line 6'6 in'Figure- 1 Figure 7 is a developmentof: the various needle and pattern jack-cams'taken' as-if looking outwardly from inf side the needle cylinder and showing:the paths of the" cylinder needles;-auxiliaryjacks, and selector jacksduring the make-up and transfer-operations;

Figure 8 is a view similarjto Figure7,' but showing the pathsof travel of the needles and jacks during circular multi-feed knitting;

Figure 9 is'a development of the cylinder neemeeams only, and showing the operation-preparatory to knitting a heel or toe pocket whereinza selected groupof' the needles are'sWitc-hed upto-outzof action or non-knitting position; H 1

Figure 10-is a-view similartoi-Figure 9',- .exc'ept showing the operation ofswitching; down needles" into operativepositonwhichhavepreviously-been raised to noir k'nittin'g position;

Figure 1 1 isa tdevelopment ofithe needle c'am's and showing the action of-thenarr'owingpicks" in a narrowing operation; and

Figure 12'is av iew similar to Figure 11: except showing: the operation of the -various widening picks during awidening: operatiom; v

The machine generally is of the same general class as the Y well-known Scott & Williams Model:-

circular hosiery machine, and many of the' bas'ic parts of-rny'improv'ed;

machine are unchanged fromrthe above-mentioned Scott-- &- Williams Model K machin'e. The machine generally is under the controlj of-a-pjattern chaimnot shown, which; in turn, operates a main: pattern drum rotated in a step by-step manner to make-one complete revolutionduring the'knittingof asin'gle articl'et,

The T pattern 1 chain also controls; rotary and reciproca tory'action' to a'main drive shaft 10*(Figure 1) having} a cylinder driving-bevel gear 1-1 :fi'xedly secured thereto I and a; dial driving5bevel gear: 12' securedto' one face of the gear 11. The idialdrivingbevel gearflzlrneshe's with" a'bevel gear 13-;fixedly securedtofithe lower end of a vertical shaft-14- which" extendsrupwardlyin Figure 1 throughsuitablehousings a'lower bed-plate 15, an' upp bed-plate lfiand into a dialudrivin'gu gear housing 20.- j The gear housing20 is provided with'theusualgea ringarrangement to drivefthe usual dial 25"(Figure"'6*) which isprovided with conven-tional transfer Ibits',v not shown." Thebevel gear '11 meshes with aaebevel gear "(Figure 3) mounted =forrotation in the lower bed-plate-15an'cl havinga anupstanding tubular portion 31 integral3there' with. The needle cylinder32 surroundsandis. keyed to the" tubular portion 31andis-adaptedto be" movedi vertically relative to, the tubular; portion 31-? in=-a'conventional manner. 7 The bevelgear 30 is .held in therlower bedplate15 by"a' lower cam plate 34 surrounding the needle cylinder "32. The machine is;al;so provided with -the-usua-ksinker's, notshown, moufitddoiradial movement in a sinker cap 35 (Figures 1 and 6) adjacent the upper end of the needle cylinder 32. A latch ring 36 has a throat opening 37 in which a plurality of conventional yarn feeding fingers 38 are mounted and operated by conventional thrust bars, not shown, to move the yarn feeding fingers 38 into and out of yarn feeding position. For purposes of clarity and ease of description, this throat opening 37 and the yarnfeeding fingers 38 will hereinafter be referred to as the first yarn feeding station.

Part of the novelty of this invention lies in a second yarn feeding station which includes a throat 40 (Figure 6). The throat 40 at the second yarn feeding station is shown as being provided with three yarn feeding fingers or

levers

42, 43, and 44, each of which is provided with a yarn guiding tube 46 (Figure 1) at their end adjacent the throat 40. Eachof the yarn finger levers 42, 43, and 44 is pivotally mounted as at 50 intermediate their ends and the outer ends of each of which are operated by

thrust rods

51, 52, and 53. The lower ends of'the

thrust rods

51, 52, 53 are adapted to at times engage and ride along the main pattern drum,'not shown, and at other times to be raised by cams placed on the main pattern drum to thus raise and lower the

yarn feed fingers

42, 43, and 44 into and out of the yarn feeding position in the throat 40 of the latch ring 36. Downward movement of the yarn guiding tubes 46 on each of the

yarn feeding fingers

42, 43, and 44 is limited by adjustment screws 55 (Figure l) engaging the lower surface of the respective

yarn feeding fingers

42, 43, and

44 and which screws 55 threadably penetrate and outwardly extending portion 57 of the latch ring 36.

The latch ring 36 is also provided with a gap closing ring 59 (Figure 6) having openings therein which correspond with the

throats

37 and 40 of the latch ring 36 and which ring 59 is provided to close the

throats

37 and 40 during reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder 32 to prevent the latches the cylinder needles N from being thrown out into the

throats

37 and 40 and becoming broken during reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder 32. The gap closing ring 59 is moved to close the

throats

37 and 40 in the latch ring 36 by a connecting link 60 which extends rearwardly in Figure 6 and is connected by suitable connections, not shown, to the main pattern drum for operating the gap closing ring 59 at the proper time.

- The needle cylinder 32 is provided with conventional vertical grooves or slots therein and each of these slots is provided with a vertically movable cylinder needle N (Figures 7 and 8), an auxiliary jack A] and a needle selector jack 1.. The needle selector jack I is the conventional rocking type jack and occupies the space substantially between the lower bed-plate and the upper bed-plate 16, while the auxiliary jack A] occupies the spaceadjacent the upper bed-plate 16and the cylinder needle N occupies the space between the upper bed-plate 16 and the sinker cap 35 shown in Figure 1.

A novel needle selecting mechanism is provided on the lower bed-plate 15 and includes three

jack raising cams

65, 66, and 67 (Figures 2, 7 and 8), the inner surfaces of wln'ch are in close proximity to the outer diameter of the needle cylinder 32. Each of the

jack raising cams

65, 66 and 67 is fixedly secured to a bracket 70 mounted in a radially cut groove in the lower cam plate 34. A plurality of jack selecting fingers or levers 75,76, 77, 78 and 79 are provided on the lower cam plate 34 to rock the lower ends of certain jacks I back. into the slots in the needle cylinder 32 to a non-selected position so that they will not ride up the

jack raising cams

65 or 67.

The jack selecting finger 75, adjacent the jack raising cam 65, is oscillatably mounted on a stud 75a the lower end of which is threadably embedded in the lower cam plate 34 and a tension spring 75b urges the reading end of the jack selecting finger 75 away from the needle cylinder (Figures 2 and 4). The finger 75 is, at times,

moved into selecting position by a pattern controlled link 75c connected thereto at one end and the opposite end of which extends to any suitable pattern controlled part of the machine, such as the main pattern drum, not shown. The

selector fingers

76, 77, 78 and 79 are mounted on a stud 76a (Figures 2 and 3) and the reading ends thereof are urged toward the needle cylinder 32 by tension springs 76b. The

selector fingers

76, 77, 78 and 79, are, at times, moved into selecting position by

respective control links

760, 77c, 78c and 79c suitably connected to any pattern controlled mechanism such as the main pattern drum, not shown.

As the needle cylinder is rotated in either direction, the needle selecting jacks J are rocked outwardly at their lower ends to the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 by respective jack push-out

cams

81, 82, and 83 engaging an upper butt portion 85 of the needle selector jack I as they approach the needle selector

jack raising cams

65, 66 and 67 (Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8). Each of the needle selector jacks} is also provided with removable butts at three different levels, indicated at 86, 87 and 88 (Figures 7 and 8), as well as being provided with a stationary lower butt 90 and a jack raising step 91. The lower butt 90 is on every one of the jacks J and is in horizontal alignment with the selector finger 76. The removable butt 88 is broken 01f on alternate jacks J in the needle cylinder 32 and the butts 88 left on intervening jacks I and the butts 88 are in horizontal alignment with the

selector fingers

75 and 77. The removable butt 87 is broken off a few more than half the selectors in the needle cylinder and in the case of a 400 needle cylinder this would be 240 selector jacks J without the

butts

87 and 160 selector jacks J withthe butts 87 left thereon and these butts are in horizontal alignment with the selector finger 78. The removable butt 86 is broken off half the selector jacks I and the butts 86, left on the selector jacks J are in horizontal alignment with selector finger 79.

It is thus seen, that since each of the butt portions 85, of the needle selector jacks J is rocked inwardly into the slots in the needle cylinder 32 by the fixed pushout earns 81, 82 and 83 the steps 91 on the lower end of the selector jacks I will approach each of the

jack raising cams

65, 66 and 67 in substantially the positions shown in Figure 3, that is, with the steps 91 out of the slots in the needle cylinder 32 and in position to engage the sloping sides of the

jack raising cams

65, 66 and 67 to thereby raise the jacks I along these sloping surfaces. If, however, it is desired to have selected one of the selector jacks I pass the jack raising cams 65 or 67'without being raised, it is necessary to push or rock the lower ends of the selector jacks I back into the slots in the needle cylinder 32 by one of the

selector fingers

75, 76, 77, 78 or 79, sometime before the step portion 91 of the selector jack J reaches the respective

jack raising cams

65 or 67.

The fixed needle cams on'an upper cam plate 95 (Figures 5, and 7 through 12) in the upper bed-plate 16 include; a first needle raising or end cam having an inverted V-s'haped opening 101 therein, for allowing space for the butt of the auxiliary jack A1 to be raised by the jack raising cam 65, a second or center needle raising cam 102 having an inverted V-shaped cut-out 103 therein, which is similar in shape and operation to the cut-out 101 in the first needle raising cam 100, a third needle raising or end earn 104, also having an inverted V-shaped cut-out 105, similar to'the cut-

outs

101 and 103 and a jack gate or fill-in cam 106. Each of these

cams

100, 102, 104, and 106 is fixedly secured to an upstanding portion of the upper cam plate 95, and they surround the needle cylinder 32 in close proximity thereto.

Other cams surrounding the needle cylinder 32 and mounted on the cam plate 95 include; a first knitting station comprising a top center needle guiding cam 110, right hand stitch cam 111, left hand stitch cam 112, right hand end cam 113V and a left hand end earn 114. These cam's'i l'o thru 114 comprise'the fir'stknitting'station-and are so arranged and adapted to draw stitches when the needle butts pass over theiupper clearing-cam-surfa'ce of one stitchcam and alongthe inclined stitch drawing surface and beneath the other stitch cam -in'either direction,

as'the-needle cylinder 32 is causedto rotate or reciprocate. The-cams 110-thru 114- are fixedly secured to a first knitting station cam block 115 (Figures 8- thru 12 and Figure the'lower end of which is fixedly secured on the cam plate 95.

A second. knitting station, which is 1 identical to the first knitting station isspaced from the first knitting station :and comprises; a top centerneedle .guidingcam 12 0,'a right hand stitch cam- 121,.a left hand stitchcam 122, a

right 'hand'end cam 123 andia left hand end cam 124, all of-rwhichcarelfixedly secured on:a secondknitting station cam block 125 (Figures 8. thru '12" and Figure 5). 1 A pair :of conventional :narrowing picks 126= and 127 are associatedwith'ithe first knitting station and are adapted to work in notches. introspective right hand and-left hand stitch cams 111 and 112. The

picks

126 and 127 are :mounted in conventional =pick stands 128 and 129 (Figure 5) vandare inner-connected by a linkl l30 which causes these narrowing picks to operate in a conventional manner, that is, when one-narrowing pick is in the lower position or the solid line position shown'in Figure 8,

the other narrowing pick will be in .the. inoperative or dotted line position shown in Figure 8. A similar: pair of narrowing'picks- 131 and 132 are adapted to WOI'kri l'l notches in the respective r-ighthand and left hand stitch cams-121 and 122, atthe second knitting station. The

picks

131 and 132 are mounted .in conventional pick stands 133 and 134 (Figure 5) and are "inner-connected by aconnecting link 135. The narrowing picks 126, 127 and 131,132 are in the present instance, constructed to pickup one needleeach.

-A'widening picker 138, constructed to pick down two needles in either direction, is mounted between the first knitting station and the second knitting station in a conventional widening pick --stand 139 (Figure 5). The

widening picker 138 may be moved to inoperative position, or to the position shown solid lines in Figure 8, by

-avertically extending plunger 140 (Figure 5) which is pattern controlled through suitable linkage by the main pattern drum. The widening pick 138 may be'moved I 'from the-position shown-in solid lines in Figure' S to the dotted line position shownin Figure 8 whenit is desired that'the widening picker 138 become operative. Another widening picker 142, which is identical to the widening :picker. 138, is mounted in a widening pick stand 143 (Figures 1, 5 and 8) and the movement of the widening picker 142 from operative to inoperativeposition is controlled by a vertical :post 145 (Figure I) mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bed-plate 16 and carrying a fixed collar 146 which .is urged downwardly against the bed plate 16 by a compression spring 147 surrounding the lower end of the post 145.

The post 145 is, at times, raised by one end of a lever 150 oscillatably mounted as at 151 on a bracket 152 fixedly secured on the bed-plate 16 and the outer orleft hand end in Figure 1- is moved vertically by a control cable 153 the opposite end of which extends to any suitable connections adjacent the main pattern drum, -not shown, for raising the vertical post 145 to thus 'move the widening pick 142 fromthe positionshownin dotted line Figure 8 to the solid line positionv shown in Figure 8 or from the operative to the inoperative position.

The other cams on the cam plate 95 surrounding "the needle cylinder 32 include a radially movable needle raising or switch cam 155 and'a radiallymOvablenedle lowering or 'switchcam 156 both of which are 'Jslidably mounted in a camblock 157? (Figure 5)xandith'esouter main pattern drum to cause'the cams 1 55 'o'r -1 56' to either raise 'to inoperative position or lower in to operative position a selected portionof the nee'dles in 'the needle cylinderduring the formation of the heel and toe pockets.

These

cams

155 and 156 are the ordinaryswitch cams and are for the purpose of switching up out of-action a .up out of action,"will 'engageand ride'up' the jack raising cam 67 to raise the butts "of-the:cylinderlnedles N to the height indicated at P-1 in Figure 9 so that they will be raised higher by the switch cam 155 10 follow a path 'P-2-above the center-'stitchfcams and 120.

In order to lower the raised cylinder needles N following the paths P-"2 in Figures'9and '1'0,' a1':ter completing the heel and toe pockets, the switch cam156 ismoved inwar'dly to engage'the cylinder needle butts and. lower them to la path P-3in Figure 10'so that theneedles will then take yarn and draw stitches.

It is thus seen that-I havepro'videdspaced identical knitting stations each of which. includes the three conventional stitch cams, that is, the top-center cam;- right and:left hand stitch camsiand each of ithe 'righuand left hand stitch cams has a narrowing pick operating therein. Ihave also" provided a pair of widening pickers one ofwhichjis placedbetween the first knitting station? and the second knitting station and theother 'of i whichis placed substantially opposite the first widening pick across the needle cylinder 32. It is the combination of these two conventional knitting stations and their narrowing picks" plus the two widening picks that "makes possible the knitting. of heel and"t0e"pockets with even suture junctures whileknitting two courses with each reciprocation of the needle cylinder. The manner in which -a complete article 'is knit including the formation of the heel and toe-pockets will now be given.

Method of operation .Before any yarnis introduced tothe throats -37'-and 40,

the needle cylinder 32'is caused to rotateinYthe forward direction shownby the arrow. in Figure -7,'l-in order --to form'a make-up or selvage starting from the bare needles, the butts '85 of all of theaneedle selector jacks-Tare engaged by the jack'pus h-out cam 83 top'osition the lower end of the needle selector .jacks J in substantially the position shown inFigure 3. The selector-finger 75 is moved inwardly towards the? needle cylinder 32. to its operative position to engage the butts 88 on alternate needle selector jacks I to cause these jacks-to be pressed back into the slots in the'needle cylinder '32 and pass behind the jack elevating cam 65 along the pathway P-4 in Figure 7 to thus remain in the lowered position. The 'jack raising step 91"oftheintervening jacks I P will engage and rideup' the cam 65, ithe'auxiliary jacks A] will follow the path indicated at'P-S in Figure 7, the corresponding needle .butts "will follow a pathway indicated at'P-6 and vthe' upper'en'dof the needles N wil follow avpathwayuindicated at P-7.

Thus, .as. the needle butts approach thefirs't knitting station, theyareseparatedalternately at. two 'levelsi -so that the'needlebutts: at the upper .levelsp'ass above the right 'handxstitch caml111- along a path indicated at P'S and the needle butts fat the lower level will fo'llow' a' path P 9beneath the "right "hand' stit ch cam 111" sothat the hook ends iof :theineedles" N (will follow ;the. respective 'paths indicated at P- and P-11. The hooks on the needles following the path ,P-10 will pick up and knit the first yarn Y at the first throat opening 37 and as the jacks I approach the raising cam 66, the upper ends of all the jacks are rocked inwardly and the lower ends are rocked outwardly of the slots in the needle cylinder .32 so that all of the steps 91 will ride up the jack raising cam 66. The jacks I thus raise the auxiliary jacks AI and the cylinder needles N so that the butts of all the cylinder needles N follow a pathway indicated at P-12 and the upper end of the needles N will follow a pathway indicated at P-13 in Figure 7. The needle butts .of the cylinder needles N will be raised high enough by the needle selector jacks I and the auxiliary jacks -AJ so that all of the butts will pass over the clearing cam surface of the right hand stitch cam 121, at the second knitting station, and follow a pathway P-14 and the hooks of all the cylinder needles will follow the pathway P-15 to draw stitches with the yarn Y-2 at the second throat 40. As the needle selector jacks I approach the jack raising cam 67, the selector finger 77 is moved to operative position and the lower end of :each of the needle selector jacksl is rocked outwardly of the slots in the needle cylinder 32 by the jack pushout cam 82 engaging the butt portion 85 of the needle selector jacks I, alternate ones of the selector jacks J are again pushed in at their lower ends so that only intervening jacks I will ride up the jack elevating earn 67. Alternate selector jacks will follow a path P-16 to thus leave the hooks of alternate cylinder needles at a lower position to follow a pathway P-17 and the hooks of intervening needles will be raised to follow a pathway P-18.

Thus, in the make-up every other or alternate cylinder needles N pass through the stitch carnat the first knitting station and intervening cylinder needles pass beneath the stitch cams at the first knitting station to thus place the yarn Y in the hooks of alternate needles at the first knitting station and as the needles which pass beneath the first knitting station are raised along the pathway P-13 the yarn Y is placed behind these needles. All the cylinder needles N pass through the stitch cams at the second knitting station to draw stitches with the yarn ..Y-1 and complete the make-up or selvage with the first revolution of the needle cylinder 32 after the yarn is introduced to the needles.

As the second revolution of the needle cylinder is made, conventional cams in the dial cause the transfer bits indicated at 175 in Figure 7 to move outwardly over the hooks of the lowered cylinder needles N following the pathway P-17 at approximately the position shown in Figure 7. As the transfer bits pass the first knitting station, the yarn Y is laid over the hooks of the transfer bits. The transfer bits 175 are moved inwardly again by conventional cams, not shown, in the dial 25 to move the bits inwardly betweenthe first throat 37 and the second throat 40 so that the yarn Y-l is not picked up by the hooks of the transfer bits 75 at the second knitting station. The hooks of the transfer bits 175 hold the yarn Y'thereon during the knitting ofzthe turned welt portion of the hose.

On the next course plain knitting will occur, that is, all the cylinder needles will pass through both of the knitting stations and draw stitches at both stations to knit two courses with each rotation of the needle cylinder 32. All of the cylinder needles are caused to pass through both the first and second knitting stations by moving the selector fingers and 77 to inoperative position and moving the selector finger 76 to operative position (Figdrawstitches as they pass beneath the respective left

hand stitch cams

112 and 122. The illustration of the knitting action shown in Figure 8 shows the selector finger 76 in operative position, causing all of the steps 91 of the selector jacks J to pass behind the jack raising cam 67 and remain in a lowered position. The butts of the cylinder needles N leaving the stitch cam 122 are raised slightly by the end cam 104 and travel around at a low elevation indicated at P-,22, until being raised slightly by an inclined surface of the

end cam

10,0 and then raised additionally by the jack raising cam 65. It is to be understood that the selector finger 76 could be moved to inoperative position to allow the selector jacks J to be raised by the jack raising cam .67 and raise the cylinder needles N so that the needles would travel at an elevation high enough to pass over the stitch earn 111 without being raised by the selector jacks J riding up the jack raising cam 65. Any desired number .of courses may then be knit before transferring the yarn Y held by the transfer hits back to the books of the cylinder needles N. I

The transfer of the loops from the transfer bits .to thecylinder needles (Figure 7) is effected to provide a turned welt by moving the selector finger 77 into operative position to engage butts 88 on alternate selector jacks I so that the steps 91 of the alternate selector jacks I are rocked inwardly and pass behind the jack raising cam 67.. Intervening jacks I have their butts .88 broken 0E and therefore will not be rocked back into the slots in the needle cylinder by the selector finger 77 so that the step 91 thereof will engage and ride up the jack raising cam 67. Thus the hooks of alternate cylinder needles N will travel the low pathway P-17 and the hooks of intervening cylinder needles N will travel a higher pathway P-18 (Figure 7) as the cylinder needles N approach the first knitting station. The transfer bits are again moved outwardly from the dial and over the needles following the pathway P-17 and these lowered needles will be raised, by the inclined surface 160 of the end cam 100, high enough that their hooks pass through the openings in the transfer bits to a level indicated at P-19. The transfer bits 175 are then moved back into the dial 25 leaving their loops in the hooks of these cylinder needles N. As the selector jacks I approach the jack raising cam 65, they will all be raised by the cam 65 since the selector finger 75 will then be in inoperative position. The butts of alternate auxiliary jacks AI will follow the pathway P-5, the alternate cylinder needle butts will be raised along the pathway P-6 and the hooks of the alternate cylinder needles N will be raised along the pathway P-7. All of the books of the cylinder needles N then follow the pathway P40 to take yarn and draw stitches at the first knitting station. Thus, the transfer is completed at the first knitting station and all of the steps 91 on all of the selector jacks I will be rocked outwardly by the cam 81 and ride up the jack raising cam 66 as the needle-cylinder32 is traveling in the forward direction to cause the hooks of all of the cylinder needles N to follow the pathway P-15 and take and draw stitches with the yarn Y-1 as the needles N pass beneath the left hand stitch cam 122. After the cylinder needles N have received the loops of yarn from the transfer bits 175 in the dial 25 the machine then continues to knit in rotary knitting while knitting two courses with each revolution of the needle cylinder 32 to knit the leg of the hose.

Preparatory to making a heel pocket a selected group of needles N is moved to inoperative position and in order tofacilitate selection a group of jacks I have the butts 87 on the selector jacks I broken off so that as the selector finger 78 is moved to operative position the selector jacks I with the butts 87 left thereon will be moved inwardly to .passbehind the jack raising cam 67 and the jacks I with the selector butts 87 broken off will ride" up the jack" raising cam 67 to" thus divide the cylinder needles into upper and lower needles" traveling at the heights indicated by the pathways P-1' and"P'-2'6' (Figure 9) as they approach the switch-up cam 155.

The cam 155 is moved into operative position while the Upon the first reverse stroke or reciprocation of the needle cylinder 32, in'making the narrowed portion of a heel pocket the leading needle of the active group of needles'following thepathway P-26' (Figure 11) is lifted by the left hand narrowing pick 132 at the secondknitting station so that it joins the trailing' end of the nonknitting'group'of needles'traveling' the pathway P-2' to thus decrease the number of needles passing throughthe second knitting station in this first course in aclockwise direction by one needle. After the cylinder needles N pass through the second knitting" station'pthey are raised by the cam 66 topass above the left'hand stitch cam 112 and the first or leading needle of this active group will be raised from operative to inoperative position by the left hand narrowing pick 127 to thus decrease the number'of active needles by one needle at the first knitting station. Thus two partial courses of diiferent lengths are knit in the first clockwise or rearward reciprocation of the needle cylinder inmaking' the heel pocket. Upon the next succeeding counterclockwise or forward stroke of" the needle cylinder 32 the first. or leadingneedlef'of the lowered or active group'of' needles will engage the right hand narrowingpick 126 and" be raised" upwardly thereby to' an inactive 'or"non=knitting position ahove the ce'nt'er'stitch canr110 to thus decrease thenurnb'efof active needles which will pass throughthestitchcamsat the first knitting station by oneneedlez] The group of needles knitting. at thefirst knitting station are raised bythe' cam 66topass' ahove' the'righ't hand stitch cam 121 at the second feeding'station andthe-leading needle thereof'will engage the right hand na'rrowin g'pick 131 and beraised upwardly'therebyto pass above the" top the. group of lowered or active needles willbe reduced by one needle at'the second knitting station" and an'additional needle at the" first knitting 'station; action continues'until the desired number of narrowed'pa'rtial courses have beenmade and a Widening operationis then started. 7 g

In the widening operation shownin Figure 12, .the' first stroke of widening takes place in a reverse or clockwise direction of the needle cylinder32. Bothof the widening picks'138 and 142 are; brought into voperative position with thev widening pick' 1381 riding: against. the

butts' of the raised or non-knittingneedles and the widen ingpick'142 will be mov'ed'in'to 'th'enotchiin its guard cam as the lowered or'a'ctive group ofneedles' passes thereby tothus engage the first'twoo'f' theiraise'd" or inactive needles and lower them to the active position" shown in Figure 12. The group of loweredlof active needles passes through the second knittingjstation in the selector jacks I and the. auxiliary jacks Al to' follow a pathway P 28" (Figure 12).

The leading needle" of thislowered group will be raised't'o' inoperativeposition above the center stitch cam 120by theleftfhand" na'r-" rowing pick132. Thus, as the lowered group or active needle passes through the" second knitting station inthe first reciprocation of'the widening'operation the-leading needle of 'thislowered groupwill be rais'ed to inopera tive position by the=-left hand narrowing pick 132 and the group will be increased by two additional needles at its trailing end by the widening pick 142 lowering two needles from the inactive groupto' pass beneath the center cam- 1'20 and to thusdraw stitches at this secondknitting station. Asthe lowered group of needles passes-beneath the right hand stitch cam' 121 and-draws stitches with the yarn Y-1 it is raised by the jack raising cam 66 to-pass over the left hand stitch cam 112 at the first knitting station. The leading needle of this group will be raised by the left hand narrowing pick 1 27 to join the inactive group of needles-passing above the center stitch camand the widening pick 138 willmove upwardly into itsguard cam as this lowered group passes-thereben'eath' and" engage the leading two needles of the inactive group tolowerthem so that they will pass beneath the center stitch cam 110. Thus two additional needles'are added-to the trailingend of the active group and one needle is removed at the" leading end of the: active groups as they pass throughthis firstknitting station in the first clockwise or reverse direction of the needle cylinder in the widening operation.

Withthe next forward reciprocation of the needle cylinder in'th'e widening'operation thewidening pick 142- will engage and lower the leading two'inactive' needles toadd them to the trailing end of the lowered-or active group of needlesfland the leading needle of the active group will be engaged byand raised to inoperative position by'the right hand nar'rowing pick 126 to-thus decrease the groupof needles knitting at the first knitting station by one at the leading end, and to addtwo needles to the trailing 'end of the lowered oractive-group-of needles passing'through the first knitting station and'give a net gain of one needle. As the lowered'or active group of needles passesthrough the second knitting station the leadingneedle of this group will be engaged by the'na'n rowing pick 131 and moved upwardly to inoperative or non-knitting'position above the center stitch carn'120" and the widening pick 138 will move two additionalneedles into action from non-knitting position to pass beneath thecefiterstit'ch cam at thesecond knitting station to thus ad'd'tWo additional needles at'the: trailingi end of the-active group and give a net 'ga-in ofone needle knitting at this second knitting station; The widening operationcontinues in this manner with alternate re ciprocations' of the needle cylinder and an additionalneedle being added to the knitting group ateach knitting station until the desired numberof needles have been brought back into operation orlknitting'po'sition from the inoperative or non-knitting position.-

It is thus seen that, in a narrowing operation the number of lowered or active needles inagroup. is de-- creased by one leading needle at each knitting station" With each reciprocation of the needle cylinder in' both' directions and the lowered or'knittingzneedles'inthe active group are'causedto'draw stitches to form partial courses of different lengths-'at-both the first and second"- knitting stations. In the widening operation one needle is raisedfrom: the a'ctive or: knittingiposition" to the in active or non-knitting position at thcleadin'glend' of each group'of lowered needles at each knittingstation and two additional needles are brought into action at the trailinge'nd of the lowered or active group of needles at each knitting station to-give a net result of increas-; ing the number of needles knitting at each knitting station by'one needle with each reciprocation of the needle cylinder while knitting the active group of needles at both the first and: second knitting stations.

After the widening operation is completed the raised' or inoperative needles are again lowered into operative position uponl'a' forward'stroke of the needle cylinder by the"switch-'down" cam" 15'6" moving inwardly radially to the needle cylinder 32. As the butts of the raised group of needles following the pathway P-2 engage the switchdown cam 156 they willfollow a pathway P-30 (Figure and all of the needles lowered by the cam 156 will pass through the first knitting station and draw stitches with the yarn Y. The conventional clutch mechanism, not shown, then operates to switch from reciprocatory to rotary motion and the needle cylinder 32 rotates in a counterclockwise or forward direction to knit the foot of the hose, two courses with each rotation of the needle cylinder 32.

The conventional clutch mechanism is again operated to cause the needle cylinder to change from rotary motion to reciprocatory motion to knit the toe pocket. The toe pocket may be knit in an identical manner to the heel pocketalready described and in the present instance the only difference is in the number of needles raised to inactive or non-knitting position and the selector finger used to select these needles to be raised. On the last rotary course of the foot the selector finger 79 is moved to operative position to cause the selector jacks I with the butts 86 left thereon to be rocked inwardly to pass behind the jack raising cam 67 and approach the switch-up cam 155 along the pathway P26 (Figure 9). The selector jacks I with the butts 86 broken off will engage and ride up the jack raising cam 67 and raise the corresponding cylinder needles to follow the pathway P-l as they approach the switch-up cam 155. The switch-up cam 155 is then moved to operative position and the needles whose butts are traveling the pathway P-l (Figure 9) will be raised to inactive or non-knitting position to follow the pathway P-Z. With the first reverse or clockwise stroke of the needle cylinder, a narrowing operation takes place which is identical tothe narrowing in the heel pocket already described.

After the desired number of narrowed courses have been made, the widening

picks

138 and 142 are moved to operative position to widen in a manner identical to the widening in the heel pocket. Upon completion of the widening courses, the clutch mechanism is again shifted to switch from reciprocatory to rotary knitting and the switch-down cam 156 is moved to operative position to lower all of the raised or non-knitting needles to pass through and draw stitches at both knitting station's. A few plain courses are then knit which are known as the usual loopers rounds. The loops on the needles are then shed by removing and cutting the yarns Y and Y-l at both feeding stations and the completed hose will fall down the center of the needle cylinder. In the description of knitting the hose it was assumed, for simplicity, that there were no yarn changes at either of the yarn feeding stations while as a practical matter and in practice the various parts of fine gauge ladies hose such as the welt, leg, heel and toe pockets are usually knit of different denier yarn. The yarn feeding fingers 38 at the throat 37 and the fingers 46 at the throat 40 may be supplied with difierent denier yarns and changed in a conventional manner to knit the various parts of the hose.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a two-feed circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mounted for vertical movement in said needle cylinder, and means for effecting reciprocation of the needle cylinder, a pair of closely spaced sets of stitch cams adjacent said needle cylinder, each of said sets including a right hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch cam and a stationary top center needle guiding cam, all of said needles adapted to draw stitches at each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder and a group of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in both directions ateach set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is caused to reciprocate in the formation of a knit pocket; V

2. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mounted for vertical movement in said needle cylinder, and means for effecting reciprocation of the needle cylinder, a plurality of separate sets of closely spaced stitch cams adjacent said needle cylinder, all of said needles adapted to draw stitches at each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder, a group of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in both directions at each separate set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is caused to reciprocate in the formation of a kn'it pocket, and means for independently varying the number of needles drawing stitches at each set of stitch cams during reciprocation of the needle cylinder, said last-named means including means interposed between said sets of stitch cams.

3. In a circularindependent needle hosiery knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mouted for vertical movement in said needle cylinder, and means for effecting reciprocation of the needle cylinder, first and second spaced sets of stitch cams adjacent said needle cylinder, all of said needles adapted to draw stitches at each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder, a group of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in both directions at each set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is caused to reciprocate in the formation of a knit pocket and needle selecting means positioned in advance of said first set of stitch cams.

4. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating'the needle cylinder the combination of; two sets of spaced stitch cams, each set of stitch cams including a right hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch cam and a top center cam, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each set of stitch cams, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams and needle selecting means positioned in advance of the first set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is rotated for selecting cylinder needles to pass through said first set of stitch cams or to pass beneath said first set of stitch cams.

5. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating the needle cylider the combination of; two sets of spaced stitch cams, each set of stitch cams including a right hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch cam and a top center cam, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each set of stitch cams, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams and needle elevating means positioned in advance of each set of stitch cams for elevating cylinder needles to pass above the right hand stitch cam of each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder.

6. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating the needle cylinder the combination of; first and second sets of spaced stitch cams, each set of stitch cams including a right hand stitch earn, a left hand stitch cam and a top center cam between said right hand and said left hand cams, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each ,set of stitch earns, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams and needle elevatin'g means positioned in advance of each set of stitch cams for elevating cylinder needles to pass through said sets of stitch carns in both directions with reciprocation of the needle cylinder.

7. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circular independent needle knitting machine having a plurality of spaced sets of stitch cams including a first set and a subsequent set, vertically movable needles,

a selecter jack beneath eachvneedle and jack selecting me o means in advance of the. first of said sets of stitch cams, the steps of advancing the needles along a lower path to normally pass beneath the first set of stitch cams, selecting certainjacks to raisecorresponding needles to pass through and knit. at the first set of stitch cams while selectingcertain other jacks to. cause corresponding, needles'to remain in the lower path and pass beneath the ifirst set of stitch. cams and. passing all ofthe cylinder iiedles through the subsequent set of stitchcams to it.

8. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circular independent needle knitting machine having a plurality of spaced sets of stitch cams including a first .set and asubsequent set, vertically movableneedles, a selector jack beneath each needleand jack selectingmeans in=advance .of the first of said sets of stitch cams, the .steps of advancing the needles alonga lower path tomormally passbeneath the first set of stitch cams, selecting alternate jacks to raisecorresponding needles to pass through and knit at the first set of stitch cams while select- :ing intervening-jacks -to cause corresponding needles to remain -in' the lower path and pass-beneath the first set of stitch cams and passing all of the cylinder needles through the subsequent set of stitch cams to knit.

9. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circular independent needle knitting machine having a first and second sets of spaced stitch cams, vertically movable needles, a selector jack beneath each needle, jack selecting means in advance of the first set of stitch cams and jack raising means in advance of the second set of stitch cams, the steps of advancing the needles along a lower path to normally pass beneath the first set of stitch earns, selecting alternate jacks to raise corresponding needles to pass through and knit at the first set of stitch cams while selecting intervening jacks to cause corresponding needles to remain in the lower path and pass beneath the first set of stitch cams and raising all of the jacks to raise corresponding needles to pass through and knit at the second set of stitch cams.

10. That method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needle knitting machine having a plurality of separate spaced sets of stitch cams, a plurality of yarn feeding stations and adapted to knit multi-feed on both rotary and reciprocatory movements, the steps of knitting a partial course at each set of stitch cams with the same given group of needles with each reciprocation and increasing the number of needles in the group knitting each successive partial course at each set of stitch cams.

11. In a method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needle knitting machine having first and second knitting stations, first and second yarn feeding stations and adapted to knit multi-feed on both rotary and reciprocatory movements, the steps of knitting a first plurality of partial courses at each set of stitch cams with a given group of needles with each reciprocation While decreasing the number of needles in the group knitting each partial course at each set of stitch cams and knitting a second plurality of partial courses at each set of stitch carns with the given group of needles with each reciprocation while increasing the number of needles in the group knitting each partial course at each set of stitch cams.

12. In a method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needle knitting machine having first and second spaced sets of stitch drawing cams each adapted to draw stitches on both rotary and reciprocatory movements, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each set of stitch drawin cams adapted to move needles from operative to inoperative position and a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams adapted to move needles from inoperative to operative position, the steps of knitting a first plurality of partial courses at each set of stitch cams with each reciprocation while decreasing by the use of said narrowing picks the number of needles knitting each partial course at each set of stitch cams, knitting a second plurality of partial courses at each set of stitch cams with each reciprocation while increasing thenumberof-needles knitting eachpartial course at'eaeh set'of stitch-camsby the use of both thenarrowingpicks andthe widening picks and joining the'second plurality of partial courses knit to the first plurality-of partial courses as the second plurality of courses are knit.

13. ha circular multi-feed independent-needle knitting machine having first and second spaeed'knittingstations each" adapted-to knit in both a rotary and reciprocatory manner, each of said knittingstations comprising two stitch' drawing cams anda. center needle guiding cam, a ;yarnfeeding station-above and in vertical alignment with each of-saidknit ting stations, anarrowing pick operative with each of -said-stitch= drawing cams, a widening-pick between the 1 first andgsecond knitting stations ,and -.a widening pick between the I second and first knittingstations.

'14. In acircular :muIti-feed-independent needleknitting machine -havingfirst -and second spaced knitting :stations each adapted to knitin both a rotary and reciprocatory 'manner, each or said knitting statioris icomprising' two 'stitch drawing cams and a. center needleiguidingxcamna yarn feeding station above and in vertical alignment with each of said knitting stations, selector jacks beneath each cylinder needle, a narrowing pick operative with each or" said stitch drawing cams during reciprocatory knitting, a widening pick between the first and second knitting stations, a widening pick between the second and first knitting stations, aselective jack elevating cam positioned in advance of the first knitting station, a jack elevating cam positioned between the first and second knitting stations and a selective jack elevating cam positioned after the second knitting station.

15. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to rotate and reciprocate, independent cylinder needles, selector jacks beneath each cylinder needle, first and second yarn feeding stations and first and second corresponding knitting stations, each of said knitting stations including a right hand and left hand stitch drawing cam spaced apart from each other, each of said stitch drawing cams having a clearing cam surface and an inclined stitch drawing surface and having their inclined stitch drawing surfaces facing each other, a center needle guiding cam above and between said right and left hand stitch drawing cams, a narrowing pick operative in the clearing-cam surface of each of said stitch cams and adapted to engage and elevate cylinder needles above the center cam, a widening pick between said first and said second knitting stations, a second widening pick between said second and said first knitting stations, a first jack elevating cam in advance of the first knitting station, a second jack elevating cam between the first and second knitting stations, a third jack elevating cam following the second knitting station and jack selector means in advance of the first and third jack elevating earns.

16. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, adapted to rotate and reciprocate, independent cylinder needles, selector jacks beneath each cylinder needle, a dial and transfer bits in said dial, there being half as many transfer bits as cylinder needles, first and second yarn feeding stations, first and second knitting stations, each of said knitting stations including right hand and left hand stitch drawing cams spaced apart from each other, each having a clearing cam surface and an inclined stitch drawing surface and having their inclined stitch drawing surfaces facing each other, a center needle guiding cam above and between said right and left hand stitch drawing earns, a narrowing pick operative in the clearing cam surface of each of said stitch cams, a widening pick between said knitting stations, a jack elevating cam in advance of the first knitting station, jack selector means in advance of said jack elevating cam for selecting alternate jacks to engage said jack elevating cam and raise alternate needles to pass through the stitch drawing cams at the first knitting station and for selecting intervening jacks to pass behind said jack elevating cam and allow the cylinder needles to pass beneath the stitch drawing cams at the first knitting station and a second jack raising carn between the first and second knitting stations for engaging and raising all of said selector jacks and the cylinder needles thereabove so that all of the cylinder needles pass through the stitch drawing cams at the second knitting station. 7

17. A method of knitting on a circular multi-feed knitting machine having independent cylinder needles, selector jacks beneath each cylinder needle, a dial, radially movable transfer bits in said dial, there being half as many transfer bits as cylinder needles, first and second separate yarn feeding stations, first and second separate knitting stations, a needle raising surface in advance of said first knitting station, a first jack raising cam following said second knitting station, jack selector fingers in advance of said first jack raising cam, ,a second jack raising cam in advance of the first knitting station and a 20 jack selector finger in advance of said second jack raising cam, the steps of selecting jacks at the first jack raising cam to raise alternate cylinder needles to an inter- 16 mediate level and allowing intervening cylinder needles to remain at a low level, moving the transfer hits outwardly of the dial in advance of the first knitting station between alternate cylinder needles and over intervening cylinder needles, raising intervening needles through the transfer bits by the needleraising surface, moving the transfer bits inwardly to the dial to transfer the loops from the transfer bits to the cylinder needles and raising intervening cylinder needles by the second 10 jack raising cam to pass through the first knitting station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,217,022 Lawson et a1. Oct 8, 1940 2,440,280 Lawson Apr. 27, 1948 2,576,962 McDonough Dec. 4, 1951 2,658,365 Lawson Nov. 10, 1953 2,680,961 Thurston June 15, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,613 Germany Oct. 4, 1932 704,842 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1954