US3102405A - Yarn lever control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

0. FREGEOLLE YARN LEVER CONTROL. MECHANISM Sept. 3, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 INVENTOR DSCHR FREGEOLLE A TTORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE 3,102,405

YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 20, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 05cm? FREGEOLLE A TTORNE Y Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE 3, 02,405

YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 20. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 24 64 69 97 INVENTOR.

05cm: FREGEOLLE' A TTORNE Y Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y 7 mi mum llfl lwllllllllll l V. W

Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20. 1961 ll all E i .L

M V. TE W N R EE 0 1 VR w m WA M c f w Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE 3, 5

YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 20. 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. OscnR FREGEOLLE A TTORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 o. FREGEOLLE YARN LEVER coumor. MECHANISM Filed Fb. 20,- 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. "105cm? FREGEOLLE A TTORNEY lection thereof on each and United States Patent 3,102,405 YARN LEVER CONTROL MECHANISM Oscar Fregeolle, Lincoln, R.I., assiguor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,444 14 Claims. (Cl. 66-138) plurality of feeding fingers, said mechanism including pattern controlled means functioning independently upon each of the fingers in a manner to permit any desired seevery stroke of the needle cylinder.

It is a further object to provide a pattern controlled means functioning during each stroke of the needle cylinder to lock in an inactive position those feeding fingers which are not to knit during that stroke and to release those fingers which are to knit, additional means being provided to control the sequence in which fingers in the latter group move between their feeding and non-feeding positions in a given stroke.

It is a further object to provide a yarn finger control mechanism which offers maximum selectivity of the yarn fingers while at the same time making pattern changes a simple matter as far as those fingers and their operation are concerned, those changes involving a minimum expense.

Further objects will be apparent from the description to follow.

United States Patent No. 2,217,022 relates to a type of knitting machine with which the present invention is particularly concerned but to which the invention is not intended to be limited as it has application, in general, to

circular, independent needle knitting machines capable.

of knitting in reciprocation. One such machine is designated as the Hemphill S.C.P. tor the S.C.O .P. and is manufactured by the Wildrnan Jacquard Co., of Norris town, Pennsylvania. The machine includes a circular needle cylinder with independent needles therein which may be either rotated or reciprocated past relatively stationary cams and yarn feeding stations, of which there are preferably at least two. The angular extent of reciprocation is such that a group of needles may be passed through a cam set and feeding station twice or nearly twice in a single stroke.

Each of the yarn feeding stations includes a plurality of yarn feeding fingers or levers, usually at least seven in number, each of which is adapted to feed a separate yarn to the needles. 'Each of the fingers is underthe direct control of one of a series of levers which are in turn under the influence of a second series of pivoted levers or rockers, each of the latter being adapted to derive an indication from one of a series of cam discs mounted on a continuously rotating end drum adjacent the feeding station.

All of the fingers except one at a feeding station are adapted to be withdrawn in unison to an inactive position by way of a common linkage system which derives an indication from a cam row on the main pattern drum. This takes place in the non-pattern areas of a stocking,

such as in the ring top, ring toe, loopers rounds and the heel and toe. The non-controlled finger may be used for feeding yarn at those times. This mechanism will be ice referred to hereinafter in the specification and the claims as a primary control means since it has primary control over the position of the yarn fingers.

Release of the fingers by the primary control means subjectsthem to the influence of the rockers above-mentioned which function upon the fingers in the patterned areas of a stocking, which is normally the leg portion, although the pattern may extend into the foot, if desired. The end drum which controls actuation of the rockers makes one complete revolution every time the needle cylinder makes both a clockwise stroke and counterclockwise stroke so that by rneans'of cams suitably positioned in the end drums, each of the yarn fingers may be actuated once per stroke in any desired sequence. The rockers and their operating drums will hereinafter be referred to as the secondary control means.

In order to provide more flexibility in the operation of the yarn fingers thereby to increase the patterning scope ofthe machine, it is customary to provide a tertiary control means comprising depressor fingers which act directly upon certain ones of the rockers. United States Patent No. 2,679,149 relates to such a mechanism. Selectivity of the yarn fingers by such means, while increas ing that previously available, still leaves something to be desired since the degree of selection is increased only about twofold.

A further means of increasing selectivity of the yarn fingers is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,934,921 wherein the rockers may be shogged or shifted laterally to be controlled by either one of two. adjacent cam tracks. Each of the cam tracks presents a different cam pat-tern so that the time of operation of the yarn fingers with respect to the phase of the cylinder stroke may be varied thereby to increase patterning possibilities, but again, only about twofold. United States Patent No. 2,625,808 relates to a similar device wherein two rockers separately controlled by cam means may selectively control a single yarn finger.

United States Patent No. 2,709,351 relates to a still another modification wherein locking fingers are employed. Control of the yarn fingers in the non-patterned areas of a stocking by means of such fingers is disclosed in Patent No. 2,920,467. Still another way of controlling yarn fingers is disclosed in Patent N 0. 2,948,131.

According to the present invention infinite selection of theyarn fingers is made possible in that each of the yarn fingers may be locked in inactive position or released to knit completely independently of every other yarn finger and independently of a previously made selection of that finger, this being possible on at least every stroke of the needle cylinder and twice per stroke if so desired. Any conceivable combination of a group of yarnvfingers may be selected to feed yarn in any given stroke of the needle cylinder. Briefly, this is accomplished by means of a pattern mechanism which transfers a separate indication to each of a series of locking members, one for each of the yarn fingers at a particular feeding station, and in timed relation with each stroke of the needle cylinder (or twice per stroke). The pattern means may comprise either a series of adjacent discs of known configuration having a series of frangible butts around the periphery thereof which may be broken off at will to establish a pattern for one of the fingers, one such disc being provided for each finger, or the pattern means may comprise an endless tape passing over a slotted drum and having a row of selectively made perforations for each of the fingers. The presence or absence of the butt where the disc is being used tor a perforation in the case of the tape determines whether a yarn finger will be locked in position or released to feed yarn in a given stroke of the cylinder.

The use of the perforated tape is especially advantageous because it maybe fabricated'very cheaply and a comtional perforations then made until the desired operation of the fingers has been established. Further, such fromthe outer end of each intermediate lever 41, each tapes take up little room and may be marked and stored easily for future use.

Additional advantages will appear from the following detailed description.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 isa front .elevational view of one embodiment of the invention wherein the signal imparting means comprises a perforated tape and as applied to a knitting machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view as seen from the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG-4 is a frontelevational view of a modified form of the invention wherein the tape of FIG. 1 has been replaced. by a series of pattern discs; 1 FIG. 5 is. a plan view, partly in section, of of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of some of the control a portion mechanism commonto the two basic forms of the inven- 1 tion;

FIG. 7 is a similar view of additional details of that mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a' further portion of that mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view side of FIG. 8;

FIG.'10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is'a sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 is -a plan view of a modification of another portion of the control apparatus;

as seen from the right FIG. 13 is an elevational view taken on line 13-13' of PIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an end view as seen from the right side of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a perspective of a portion of the structure of FIGS. 12 to 14;

FIG.'16 illustrates a further modification of the struc ture of FIGS. 12 to 15;

FIG. 17 is a View taken on line 1717 of FIG. 16; and FIG. 18 is a partial plan View of FIG. 2 showing the cam layout of the pattern disc.

The invention will be described asapplied to a knitting machine as disclosed in United States Patent No.

2,217,022, butit is to 'be understood that this is' for exemplary purposes only and that the invention has application in general to circular, independent needle, knitting machines having a reciprocable needle cylinder 20. Such machines are normally provided with two knitting and feeding stations on opposite sides of the cylinder, only one feedin'g'st-ation being illustrated herein. A latch ring 21 overlies the cylinder and includes an extension 22 at each feeding station Within which a plurality of yarn levers or fingers 2338 are mounted to pivot at 39 between the inactive dotted line and active solid line positions of FIG. 1. While sixteen such levers are shown, obviously, a lesser number may be used. Each of these fingers is provided with the usual slot 40 adjacent its inner end through which the yarn is fed to the needles (not shown). A series of intermediate levers 41 is pivotally mounted at 42 near the top of the yarn lever box 43, one such lever being provided for each pair of the fingers and adapted to engage the underside of the latter to raise them to the inactive dotted line position shown in FIG. 1.

. A primary yarn finger control means functions to withdraw'from action simultaneously all of those yarn fingers which are not utilized in the non-pattern areas of knitting. That mechanism includes a wire 44 depending has sprocket teeth 71 which of the wires being jointly coupled to a common actuating member controlled from the main pattern drum of the adapted to derive indications from earns 48 mounted on end drums 49 which rotate in timed relationship with the needle cylinder. A shogging mechanism generally indi-' cated by the arrow 50 and described in detail in United States Patent No. 2,934,921 is operable upon. some 'of the rocker levers to'shift them from one cam track to an adjacent track thereby to permit some variation in the cycle of operation of the yarn fingers. I

The structure recited to this point is generally well known except that the number of fingers has been restricted to no more than eight. The patterning scope afforded to the yarn fingers through the primary and secondary controls functioning thereupon is fairly limited due to the fact that the fingersmust go through one of two cycles of operation as determined by one of the two rows of cams on the end drums which control the rocker' levers.

In order to provide infinite selection of the yarn fingers,.the structure now to be described has been provided. Attached to the rear face of the yarn ring extension is a bracket 51 having an arm 52 extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom. A horizontally extending stud 53 is fixed to the arm at about the midpoint thereof by means of a nut 54 engaged with the threaded end portion of the stud. Loosely mounted on the stud are a pawl actuating, reciproca-ble plate 55, a ratchet wheel 56 having a cut-out portion along the periphery thereof, and a shield 57 receivable within that out-out portion. Attached to one side of the ratchet wheel'by means of screws 58 is a drum 59, the latter having a width somewhat greater than the combined widths of the yarn fingers and also having annular recess spaced from the periphery of the drum and extending nearly the full width thereof as seen in FIG. 3. In order to provide a predetermined amount of friction-a1 resistance to the ratchet wheel and drumagainst free rotation on the stud 53, there is provided a brake member 60 generally triangular in shape (and attached to the stud by means of a centrally located threaded finger 61. The brake member included three spaced extensions 62eaoh having a longitudinal base therethrough in which is slidably mounted a friction member 63 biased toward the base of the annular recess by a spring 64 held in place by a screw 65. A further drum 66 is superimposed over the drum 59 and is keyed thereto as at 67. The drum 66 includes slots 68 extending along the full width thereof over the entire sur- 1 face of the drum and equal in number to the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel. A' sprocket wheel 69 is attached to'the front face of drum 59 by screws 7(} and protrude somewhat beyond the periphery of drum 66.

- The upper end of the arm 52 has a drum 72 mounted.

to rotate freely on an axis parallel to that of drum 66. An endlesspattern card 73 is held taut between the two drums and has sprocket holes 74 adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the sprocket wheel whereby the card is thereby advanced at the same rate as drum 66 by means of the ratchet wheel 56. The card further includes small I circular perforations 75 spaced in a predetermined pattern so as to overlie one of the slots 68 as the card passes around the drum 66 at that point. The purpose of the pattern card will be explained later.

The ratchet wheel 56 is periodically advanced by means of a pawl 76 pivoted at 77 to the plate 55 and biased toward the ratchet wheel by a spring 73. At its lower end the plate has an outwardly extending portion 79 having a flange 80. The latter is pushed upwardly by a plunger 81 slidably supported within an opening in a bracket 82 suitably attached to a fixed part of the machine. A spring 83 urges the plunger in the direction of a rotatable disc 34 having a cam 85 fixed on the circumference thereof by means of which the plunger is periodically lifted.

The shield 57 controls the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel advanced in each move of the pawl, As noted especially in FIG. 7 the shield is provided with a cut-out 86 the base of which extends below the teeth of the adjacent ratchet wheel to allow the end of the pawl to engage those teeth. The shield is controllable to delay the pawl from engaging the teeth whereby the ratchet wheel may be advanced only one tooth at a time or the shield may be moved slightly in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 to cause a move of two teeth at a time. Movement of the shield is effected through an adjustable link 37 pivoted to the lower part of the shield at 88 and at its other end connected to a follower arm 89 pivoted at 91 The follower derives an indication from a control disc 91 mounted on the drum 59 (FIG. 3) immediately adjacent the shield and rotatable with that drum. The disc has frangible butts 92 on its periphery which may be broken off entirely to stop ratcheting of the drum, or which may be broken part way oil to effect a one-tooth move of the ratchet wheel, or which may be left on to effect a two-teeth move. This depends entirely on. the particular pattern being produced. In patterns which require a full turn of the drum 66 for completion thereof,

it may be necessary to remove all the butts from the disc 91 or none at all. In other patterns the butts on half the disc may be removed and none on the other half. A spring 93 maintains the follower 89 in contact with its disc.

At the end of the pattern in a stocking, ratcheting is stopped and is started up again in the next stocking as the follower "89 is actuated by the bell crank lever C by way of link L which is cam controlled from the main pattern drum (FIG. 7).

The means for transmitting indications from either the pattern card 73 in the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 3 or from the pattern discs 138 later to be described with respect to the modification illustrated in FIG. 5 to the yarn fingers will now be described. That mechanism is shown on enlarged scale in FIGS. '8 to 11 and includes a pair of generally rectangular supporting plates 95, 96 assembled in spaced relationship by means of bolts 97, 98, 99, 109,

101, spacing collars 1112, and blocks 103, 104, 105, 106. 1

Locking fingers 1117, one for each of the yarn fingers, are pivotally mounted on bolt 191 and are separated by spacers 1138, the latter being supported by the bolts 98 and 101..

Washers 109 are interposed between the spacers along the bolt 98. Four collars 11h locate the fingers and washers inwardly from the plates 95 and 96.

At their lower ends the fingers 1117 are provided with notches 111 for selective engagement with the tips 112 of the yarn fingers. At their upper ends the fingers 1117 are provided with extensions 113, one for each finger, these being divided into two vertically spaced groups, one for alternate fingers and the other for intermediate fingers in order to provide additional spacing for springs 114 supported from rods 115, which springs urge the fingers in a clockwise or releasing position.

A further pair of plates 116 and 117 is fixedly mounted between the plates 95 and 96, the plate 116 being fastened against blocks 104 and 1115 by the bolts 118 and the plate 117 against block .106 by bolts 119. Each of the plates 116 and 117 has upper and lower horizontal rows of holes therein, eight in each row, each hole in each row in one plate having a similar hole in the other plate in alignment therewith whereby a line joining the centers of each corresponding pair will intersect one of the fingers 107.

Plunger members 120 comprising circular rods having reduced end portions v121 and 1 22 are slidably supported one in each pair of the holes as seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, the portions 121 being supported in plate 116 while the larger diameter portions of the plungers are supported in plate 117, the end portions v122 each being adapted to engage the edge of one of the fingers 107 at a point below the pivot 1111.

This plate assembly with its plunger members is mounted on the bracket arm 52 by means of bolts (not shown) threaded into the plate 96. The ends 121 are in alignment with two of the rows 68 of drum 66 so that if the pattern card '73 includes a perforation 75 immediately opposite a given plunger, the end 121 of that plunger will fall into the slot and the yarn finger controlled by that particular plunger and its locking finger will be released. If no perforation appears, the finger 107 will be held out and its notch 111 will engage the tip 112 of its yarn finger to hold the latter locked in a non-feeding position. Springs 123 urge the yarn fingers toward a feeding position.

To minimize wear on the pattern card 7 3 by the plungers 120, the latter are positively withdrawn just prior to a move being made by the drum- 66. The mechanism for accomplishing that comprises a carriage generally denoted by the arrow 12 1 which includes a pair of spaced arms 125, 126 pivoted intermediate their ends at 97. These support between them a horizontally extending U-shaped plate 127 having a series of holes in alignment with those in the plate and of a size slightly greater than the diameter of the ends 121 (FIGS. 10 and 11)..

At their upper ends the arms are connected by a rod 128 which is linked to an adjustable member 129. The latter in turn is joined to a link 130 pivoted at. 131 having a projection 132 extending from the lower part thereof. A follower 133 is periodically actuated by a cam 1 34 on disc 34- and is pivoted to the bracket 82 at 1.35. A link 136 interconnects the follower with a bell crank having a tripping finger 137 which periodically engages the projection 132 to cause the carriage, by way of plate 127, to withdraw the plunge-rs away from the drum 66' prior to the latter being ratcheted for a subsequent selection.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 5 the pattern card 73 and drum 66 of the FIG. 1 structure have been replaced by a series of pattern discs 138 having frangible butts 131 which may be broken off at will to set up a predetermined pattern. One such disc is provided for each of the plungers 120, all of the discs being movable iriunison with the ratchet wheel 56, they being keyed to the drum 59. This modification is otherwise: substantially identical to the mechanism of FIG. 1.

In operation, the mechanisms of FIGS. 1 and 5 function substantially identically. A predetermined pattern is punched out on the card 73 in the FIG. 1 modification or set up on the discs 138 by breaking butts therefrom in the FIG. 5 modification. Depending upon the length of the desired pattern in the leg portion of the stocking, a fraction only of the circumference of the card or of the discs will be required for each stocking to be knitted so that two, three or more stockings could be knitted before the pattern starts to repeat. This makes possible variations in the color effects in stockings being knitted on the same machine without any changes whatever in the pattern set-up being necessary. In the particular knitting machine described the end drums 49 and discs 84 make one complete revolution for each complete clockwise and counterclockwise stroke of the needle cylinder. Prior to a selection of yarn levers being made, the follower portions 47 of rockers 45 are all elevated by separate cams 4 3 (all of varying lengths) to cause the yarn fingers 23 by way of intermediate levers 41 to be raised to tan inactive or raised position (dotted line position in FIG. 1). Next, the catriage 124 under the influence of a cam 1334 upon a follower 13 3 causes all the plunigers 120 to be moved to the right as seen in FIG. 1 to move all the fingers 107 into a locking position with respect to their individual yarn levers. A cam 85 on disc 84 then pushes upwardly on plunger 81 to effect ratcheting of wheel 56 by one or two teeth depending upon the position of the shield 57 thereby to present a new selection to plungers 12%. The carriage 124 now releases all the pins. tion appears on card 73 or where a butt has been broken oif in disc 138, the ends 121 of the corresponding plungers move to the left to free those yarn levers from fingers lt'l'i. Where there is no such perforation or where a butt has not been broken oif, those plungers will keep their yarn fingers in a locked position so that they cannot feed yarn in that stroke of the cylinder. The feed yarn fingers drop into the solid line or feeding positions one at a time as permitted to do so as the rockers drop off their respective cams, each such yarn lever being withdrawn first by its rocker lever before a following finger drops in to feed its yarn. The above sequence is repeated throughout the patterning in the leg portion of the stocking.

FIGS. 12 to illustrate a modification of the plungers for actuating the locking fingers and the mechanism associated therewith. The same elements herein have been given the same reference numerals as in the structure of FIGS. 4 and 5. This plunger assembly is intended for use only With the disc type of pattern mechanism and as will be seen, no carriage is used in this modification. Supported between the plates 95 and 96 is a block assembly 140 (FIG. .15) which includes a first pair of upper and'lower spaced arms 14d, 14?. and a second such pair 143, 144. Each pair of arms includes a series of vertically aligned slots in which are mounted fixed spacer members 14-5 and 146 between which are guided the slidable plungers 147 having tips 148 for acting against the edges of fingers 107. The opposite ends of the plungers have 'a cammed edge (149 (FIG. 13) which is adapted to be acted upon by'butts 139 in a positive manner to bring the fingers 107 to a locking position. Of course, Where there are no butts on the disc 138, the plungers will move to the left as seen in FIG. 13 to a releasing position under the action of a spring 114.

The device of FIGS. 16 and 17 is similar in most respects to that of FIGS. 12 to 15. Here, however, the locking fingers 150 are pivoted at 151 and acted upon by plungers 152 at their upper ends by socket connections between the plunger and finger as indicated at 153. Thus, in this modification the butts of the pattern discs work in Where a perforatape encompassing said drum and having rows of selec tively formed perforations adapted to register with said having a reciprocable needle cylinder, at least one feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, a continuously rotating drum having a separate row of cam means for controlling operation of said feeding fingers,

. and further means for controlling the positioning of said feeding fingers independently of said drum which comprises an intermittently actuatable' pattern drum, pattern indicating means associated with the periphery of said drum, and means including independently functioning locking members adapted to derive indications from said pattern indicating means and adapted to function in timed relation with the intermittent actuation of said pattern drum, one of said locking members being provided for each of said yarn fingers, said locking members each being adapted to act directly upon its corresponding yarn finger.

' 6. in a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocab-le needle cylinder, at least one feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, a continuously rotating drum having a separate row of cam means for controlling operation of said feeding fingers, and further means for controlling the positioning of said feeding fingers independently of said drum which comprises an intermittently actuatable pattern drum, pattern indicating means associated with the periphery of said drum, and plunger members including independently functionin locking members adapted to derive indications from said pattern indicating means and adapted to function in timed relation with the intermittent actuation of said pattern drum, one of said locking members being provided for each of said yarn fingers, said locking memreverse upon the locking fingers, the latter being released Wherever a butt appears and being locked where the butt has been broken off.

While one embodiment and modifications of the invention have'been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in 121 number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim: I

'1. A yarn finger control system for a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having at least one yarn feeding station and a plurality of yarn fingers thereat which comprises a locking member for each of said fingers operable directly thereupon, an endless, intermittently rotatable pattern means, plunger members adapted to derive indications from said pattern means and to transmit said indications to each of said yarn fingers, and means for Withdrawing said plunger means from said pattern means prior to a move being taken by the latter.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said pattern means comprises a series of adjacent discs having frangible butts on the periphery thereof, one such disc being provided for each plunger member.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said pattern means comprises a drum having generally longitudinally extending slots in the periphery thereof, and an endless bers each being adapted to act directly upon its corresponding yarn finger.

7. In a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, at least one feeding station, a (plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, a continuously rotating drum having a separate row of cam means for controling operation of said feeding fingersand further means for controlling the positioning of said feeding fingers independently of said drum which comprises an intermittently actuatable pattern drum, pattern indicating means associated With the periphery of said drum, and

plunger members including independently (functioning locking members adapted to derive indications from said pattern indicatingmeans and adapted to function in timed 'relationwith the intermittent actuation of said pattern drum, one of said locking members being provided for each of said yarn fingers, said locking members each being adapted to act directly upon its corresponding yarn finger, and means for withdrawing said plunger members from said pattern indicating means prior to a move being taken by the latter.

8. In a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, at least one feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, a continuously rotating drum having a separate row of cam means for controlling operation of said feeding fingers, and further means for controlling the positioning of said feeding fingers independently of said drum which comprises an intermittently iactuatable pattern drum, a selectively perforated tape associated with the periphery of said drum, and-plunger members including independently functioning locking members adapted to derive indications from said perforated tape and adapted to function in timed relation with the intermittent actuation of said pattern drum, one of saidlocking members being provided having a reciprocable needle cylinder, at least one feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, a continuously rotating drum having a separate row of cam means for controlling operation of said feeding fingers, and further means for controlling the positioning of said feeding fingers independently of said drum which comprises an intermittently actuatable pattern drum, a selectively perforated tape associated with the periphery of said drum, and plunger members including independently functioning locking members adapted to derive indications from said perforated tape and adapted to function in timed relation with the intermittent actuation of said pattern drum, one of said locking members being provided for each of said yarn fingers, said locking members each being adapted to act directly upon its corresponding yarn finger, and means for Withdrawing said plunger members from said perforated tape prior to a move being taken by the latter.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein said pattern drum is actuated from said continuously rotating drum.

*1 1. In a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, a feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, and means for selectively controlling the positioning of said yarn fingers between active and inactive positions which comprises a locking member for each of said fingers, intermittently rotatable pattern means including a series of discs having frangible butts on the periphery thereof, one such disc being provided for each locking member, and plunger members adaptedto transmit an indication from said pattern means to said locking members.

12. Ina circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, a feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, and means for selectively controlling the positioning of said yarn fingers between active and inactive positions which comprises a locking member for each of said fingers, intermittently rotatable pattern means, and plunger members adapted to transmit an indication from said pattern means to said locking members, means being provided for withdrawing said plunger members from said pattern means prior to a move being taken by the latter.

13. In a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, a feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, and means for selectively controlling the positioning of said yarn fingers between active and inactive positions which comprises a locking member for each of said fingers, intermittently rotatable patter-n means, and plunger members adapted to transmit an indication irom said pattern means to said locking members, said plunger members being movable in a direction away from said pattern means to effect engagement of said locking members with said fingers.

14. In a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a reciprocable needle cylinder, a feeding station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at said station, and means for selectively controlling the positioning of said yarn fingers between active and inactive positions which comprises a locking member for each of said fingers, intermittently rotatable pattern means, and plunger members adapted to transmit an indication from said pattern means to said locking members, said pattern means being rotatable in variable increments, selectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,610 Krieb-le Feb. 10, 1925 2,217,022 Lawson et al. Oct. 8, 1940 2,625,808 Green et al. Ian. 20, 1953

Claims (1)

1. A YARN FINGER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CIRCULAR, INDEPENDENT NEEDLE, KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE YARN FEEDING STATION AND A PLURALITY OF YARN FINGERS THEREAT WHICH COMPRISES A LOCKING MEMBER FOR EACH OF SAID FINGERS OPERABLE DIRECTLY THEREUPON, AN ENDLESS, INTERMITTENTLY ROTATABLE PATTERN MEANS, PLUNGER MEMBERS ADAPTED TO DERIVE INDICATIONS FROM SAID PATTERN MEANS AND TO TRANSMIT SAID INDICATIONS TO EACH OF SAID YARN FINGERS, AND MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SAID PLUNGER MEANS FROM SAID PATTERN MEANS PRIOR TO A MOVE BEING TAKEN BY THE LATTER.

Images