US3250091A

US3250091A - Method of operating a circular knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US3250091A
Application number: US402097A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Imboden
Original assignee: Textile Machine Works
Current assignee: Textile Machine Works
Priority date: 1964-10-07
Filing date: 1964-10-07
Publication date: 1966-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-10
Also published as: DE1585417A1; GB1111742A

Description

y 1.966 W H. IMBODEN 3,250,091

METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l F L E. E

74 73 INVENTOR.

LI/a/ter H lmbooen 75 BY dig/6% ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q w mm Q a- Tb N N J m/m WW mm m m. I A y M Wu ml-WM mmunM mmuhwmm WM ATTORNEY.

May 10, 1966 w. H. IMBODEN METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1964 May 10, 1966 w. H. IMBODEN 3,250,091

METHOD OF OPERATING CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tl E 41 INVEN TOR Walter H /mb0oen ATTORNEY.

May 10, 1966 W- H. IMBODEN METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Q EQ 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,250,091 METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Walter H. Imboden, Reading, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,097 8 Claims. (Cl. 66-42) This invention relates to multistation circular knitting machines adapted for rotary and reciprocatory operation to knit tubular fabrics such as ladies hosiery and more particularly to a method of operating such. machines to inactivate certain of the stations during single-feed knitting of portions of the fabrics at one of the stations and to activate the inactivated stations during multifeed knitting of other portions of the fabrics.

In circular knitting machines having two or more knitting stations for knitting fabrics such as ladies hosiery with conventional reciprocated heel and toe portions, the main station of the machine is employed to knit the heel and toe during reciprocatory operation of the machine and both the main and the auxiliary station or stations are employed to knit the welt, leg and foot portions of the hosiery during rotary operation of the machine. Commonly, knitting of the make-up courses of the welt starts at the main station and the auxiliary station or stat-ions are then activated with the main station to knit the remaining portion of the welt and leg. Prior to the start of the heel the auxiliary stations are inactivated while the heel is knit at the main station, and are reactivated at the end of the heel for the knitting of the foot and then again inactivated before starting the toe. When the auxiliary stations are activated and inactivated the leading ends of the ingoing yarns and the trailing ends of the outgoing yarns.

are interknit or interlocked with the stitches of a previously formed course to prevent the withdrawal of these yarn ends and the formation of eyelet holes in the fabric.

In order to interlock the ends of the ingoing and outgoing yarns spaced groups of so-called locking needles are provided, usually in the portion of the needle cylinder in which the heel and toe is knit, which are so operated as to take the end of the ingoing (or outgoing) yarn but without knitting it at the station being activated (or inactivated) and the end is then interlocked at the next active station. One of the groups of locking needles precedes the first needle selected to knit at the station when it is activated and another group of locking needles follows the last needle to knit when the station is inactivated. In

machines where the needles are raised to knitting position .by pattern jacks at the auxiliary station, or stations, the

jacks also in part control the action of the groups of locking needles. For this purpose 'a cancelling butt pattern is provided at two different levels, usually on the raising butts of the jacks, with the butt pattern in one level controlling the jacks to inactivate one group of locking needles and select the first needle to knit when the station is to be activated and also controlling the jacks to inactivate another group of locking needles and select the last needle to knit when the station is inactivated. The cancelling butt pattern in the other level inactivates the jacks associated with all of the needles and the cancelling butts in the two levels are acted on by separate control levers which are moved between active and inactive positions at appropriate times from one of the main cam drums of the machine.

In machines having only a single auxiliary station to be activated and inactivated the spacing between the groups of locking needles and jacks associated therewith is sufficient to accurately time the movement of the control levers between their active and inactive positions. However,

, 3,250,091 Patented May 10, 1966 in machines having a main and three auxiliary knitting stations and in which the three auxiliary stations are to be activated andinactivated at times, a separate group of locking needles must be provided for each auxiliary station with an appropriate cancelling butt pattern for each group of locking needles Since, the three groups of locking needles and jack butt pattern controlling the first and last needles to knit associated with each group are positioned within the heel part of the cylinder, the permissible spacing between the controlling butt pattern on the jacks which, together with other factors such as the spacing of the stations around the cylinder and the timing of the moves of the cam drum to move the controllevers between active and inactive position, make it difficult to maintain control of the first and last needle to knit at each of the auxiliary stations with any degree of accuracy.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of operating a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations to inactivate certain of the stations while the machine is knitting portions of a fabric at one of the stations and to return the inactive stations to active condition to knit other portions of the fabric at all of the stations.

Another object is to provide a method of operating a circular knitting machine having a main knitting station and at least three auxiliary knitting stations and jacks for controlling the operation of the needles at the auxiliary stations, which method includes the selective operation of a group of the jacks at each of the auxiliary stations to inactivate the needles following the last needle to knit at the station when the station is to be inactivated and to activate the first needle to knit 'when the station is again to be activated.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative and practical embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel features of the method of operating a circular knitting machine as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a multistation circular knitting machine having means for carrying out the methods of knitting according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a stocking knitted on the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a developed view of the needle operating cams and jack selecting means of the machine of FIG. 1 as viewed when looking outwardly of the needle cylinder of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the needles and jacks together with portions of the butt pattern on the jacks for controlling the operation of the needles;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the stitch formation of a portion of the knitted fabric illustrating the interknitting of the ends of the yarns when knitting stations are activated, the stitches being shown as viewed from the interior of the fabric; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the interknitting of the yarn ends when knitting stations are activated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings there is schematically shown a circular knitting machine having needles 10 which are mounted in slots 11 in a needle cylinder 12 adapted for both rotary and reciprocatory operation, a main knitting station 15 and

auxiliary knitting stations

16, 17 and 18, respectively. Main station 15 is provided with yarn fingers 20 for feeding yarn 20a to the needles 10 and earns for operating on butts 21 of the needles including a forward stitch cam 22 acting on the needles in rotary and forward movements of reciprocation of the cylinder, indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3, and a reverse stitch cam 25 acting on the needles on reverse movements of reciprocation of the cylinder. Cam 22 has a fixed upper portion 26 and a lower portion 27 which is adapted to be moved from a full-in active position in which it acts on the but-ts of all of the needles and partially retracted position in which it acts on the butts of certain of the needles while missing the butts of other needles by means and for purposes generally shown and described in British Patent No. 895,672, published May 2, 1962. Also acting on the butts of the needles at station 15 is a cam 30 associated with the forward stitch cam 22 for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction, a cam 31 associated with the reverse stitch cam 25 for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the reverse direction, and a center cam 3-2. Also associated with the

stitch cams

22 and 25 are up or narrowing picks 35 and 36, respectively, and a down or widening pick 37 which operate on the needles in a conventional manner during fashioning of the heel and toe portions of stocking fabrics knitted on the machine.

Each of

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18 are provided with yarn fingers 40 for feeding yarn to the needles and the fingers 40 at station 16 feeding yarn 40a, the fingers at station 17 feeding yarn 40b and the fingers at station 18 feeding yarn 400. Each of

stations

16, 17 and 18 are also provided with cams for operating on the butts of the needles only during rotary movements of the cylinder 12 including a forward stitch cam 41, an upper center cam 42 and a cam 45 for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction. The stitch cams 41 are radially movable between active positions to act on the butts of the needles and inactive positions out of the path of the butts on the needles to inactivate the auxiliary stations and all of the cams at the main'and auxiliary stations are constructed to operate in a conventional and well known manner.

During plain knitting at the main and auxiliary knitting stations, with the cylinder rotating in the forward direction, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, the needles 10 approach station along a path 46, commonlyre-ferred to as the tucking path or level, then rise over the reverse stitch cam 25 to a stitch clearing level 47 to clear previously formed stitches on the needles below the latches thereof. The needles are then lowered by the center cam 32 to take yarn fed by a finger and as they continue their movement are lowered by stitch cam 22 to draw new stitches and to knock-over the previously formed stitches on the needles. .After passing the lowest point of the stitch cam 22 the needles are again raised to tuck level by the cam 30. During continued movementof the cylinder 12, all of the needles, as they pass through each of the

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18, are raised to clearing level to clear the previously formed stitches thereon, by means and in the manner hereinafter set forth, and the needles are then lowered by the cam 42 to take yarn fed by a finger 41) at the station. The needles are then lowered by the stitch cam 4-1 to draw new stitches and knockover the previously formed stitches thereon and again raised to tuck level by the cam 45.

The means for raising the needles 10 to latch clearing level at

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18 include pattern jacks 50 (FIG. 3) which are conventionally of the rocking type and which act through intermediate jacks 51, there being a pattern jack and an intermediate jack in the slots 11 in the cylinder 12 for each of the needles. Each of the jacks 50 has a lower butt or lug 52 adapted for engagement with a raising cam 55 at each auxiliary station when the lower ends of the jacks are rocked outwardly through engagement of a presser cam 56 with upper portions 57 of the jacks. The presser cams 56 are moved between inactive. and active positions to act on the jacks in a com- 4 mon manner. Following a raising movement of the jacks 50, jacks 51 and needles 16 by the cam 55 at each of the auxiliary stations the jacks are again returned to their lowermost positions by a cam surface 60 which acts on butts 6-1 on the intermediate jacks 51.

The pattern jacks are also adapted to be controlled so that only selected ones of the jacks are raised by the cams at the auxiliary stations to raise their associated needles to latch clearing level while the other needles remain at the tucking level determined by the cams 45 for purposes of forming design stitch patterns in the stocking fabrics. For so selecting the jacks they are provided with usual breakable pattern or cancelling butts 62 at a plurality of levels which are adapted to be engaged by selector levers 65 (FIG. 3) to again move the lugs 52 on the jacks out of the path of the cam 55 after the jacks have been rocked outwardly by the presser cam 56. Hence, the jacks on which the butts 62 are unbroken are acted on by the selecting levers 65 while those jacks having their butts removed are raised by earns 55 to move their associated needles to clearing level. The selector levers 65 are operated by a trick drum 66 when in active positions and are individually moved between their active and inactive positions by a control drum 67 (FIG. 1). The trick drums 66 and control drums 67 at the auxiliary stations are controlled and operated by means indicated diagrammatically at 68 from a main cam drum 69 of the machine.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings there is shown a ladies seamless s-tocking 70 having a usual turned welt 7-1, a leg portion 72, a foot portion 73-, and heel and

toe portions

74 and 75, respectively. The welt 71, leg portion 72 and foot port-ion 73 are knit multifeed throughout at main and

auxiliary stations

15, 16, 17 and 18 during rotary operation of the machine and the heel 74 and toe 75 are reciprocatorily knit at the main station in a conventional manner.

At the start of a stocking knitting cycle, the yarn fingers 40 and the stitch earns 41 are in inactive positions and the presser cams 56 are in inactive positions to inactivate the jacks at the

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18 and only the main station 15 is in action to rotarily knit the makeup or starting courses of the welt 71. Following knitting of the make-up courses the auxiliary stations are activated and the remainder of the welt and the leg portion 72 of the stocking are knit multifeed at the main and auxiliary stations. Prior to the start of the heel 74 the auxiliary stations are again returned to inactive condition and the heel is then reciprocatorily knit at the main station 15. The auxiliary stations are again reactivated following the last course of the heel and the foot 73 is kni-ttedmultifeed at both main and auxiliary stations and the auxiliary stations are again inactivated before the start of the toe 75 which is then reciprocatorily knit at the main station.

In order to prevent the formation of eyelet holes in the fabric when the auxiliary stations are activated and inactivated, the ends of the incoming and outgoing yarns at the auxiliary stations are adapted to be interknit or interlocked with the stitches of a previously formed course of the fabric which is a course formed at the main station when the auxiliary stations are activated and which may be a course formed at the main station or at one of the auxiliary stations when the auxiliary stations are inactivated in the manner hereinafter set forth. For so interlocking the ends of the ingoing and outgoing yarn ends at the auxiliary stations special groups of locking needles, indicated at 76, 77 and 78 (FIG. 4), are provided in the portion of the cylinder in which the heel is knit. Each of the locking

needle groups

76, 77 and 78 include spaced needles having short butts 10a and intervening needles having longer butts 10b. The leading needle of each group having a short butt 10a, when considered in the forward direction of knitting as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, is flanked by a needle hereinafter referred to as the last needle to be raised by its associated jack 50 to knit when a station isin;

activated and the trailing needle of the group having a short butt is flanked by a needle hereinafter referred to as the first needle to be raised by its associated jack to knit when a station is activated. The groups of locking

needles

76, 77 and 78 are arranged to-lock the ends of the ingoing and outgoing yarns at the respective auxiliary stations in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The needles of the

different groups

76, 77 and 78 are actuated to lock in the ends of ingoing and outgoing yarns in the same manner set forth in said British Patent No. 895,672. As disclosed in said British patent when the auxiliary knitting station is to be activated or inactivated, the lower portion 27 of the forward stitch cam at the main station is partially retracted. The needles of a looking group are raised to clear the previously formed stitches thereon at the main station and after taking yarn at the main station the group of needles are lowered by the stitch cam. At this time the needles of the group having short butts miss the retracted lower portion of the stitch cam and are lowered only to an intermediate level by the upper portion 26 of the stitch cam while the remaining needles of the group having the long butts are lowered by the lower portion to draw stitches of the yarn at the main station. All of the needles of the group are then raised to tuck level, with the short butt needles having cleared stitches below the latches thereof and all of the needles of the group having a stitch of yarn of the main station in the hooks thereof. The group of needles then remain atthe tuck level as they pass through the auxiliary station and after taking the leading end of the incoming yarn when the auxiliary station is to be activated (or the trailing end of the outgoing yarn when the auxiliary station is to be inactivated) the group of needles is lowered by the stitch cam at the auxiliary station. As the group of needles is lowered the short butt needles draw stitches of the yarns of both main and auxiliary stations through and knit off the previously cleared stitches thereon and the remaining needles of the group tuck a stitch of the yarn of the auxiliary station with the uncleared stitch of yarn of the main station. When the group of needles again passes through the main station they are raised to' clear the stitches thereon and these stitches are knit off by new stitches formed at the main station.

In order to control the needles of the

different groups

76, 77 and 78 so that these needles remain at the tucking level as they'pass through the auxiliary stations when they are activated and inactivated the jacks associated with each group of needles are adapted to be inactivated following raising of the jack associated with the last needle to knit when the station with which the group is associated is inactivated and the jack associated with the first needle to knit preceding the group when the station is activated. The different groups of needles are arranged to function in different order at the auxiliary stations when the stations are activated and inactivated'as hereinafter set forth.

For so controlling the jacks associated with the different groups of needles, there is provided, in accordance with the instant invention, a lever 88 for acting -on butt portions in a lower level 81 on the lugs 52 on the jacks 50 at each of the

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18 and a second lever 82 for acting on butt portions in an upper level 85 on the lugs 52 at each of the auxiliary stations. The

levers

80 and 82, which are similar to and act on the jacks in substantially the same position as selector levers 65, are adapted to be moved between inactive positions and active positions from the cam drum 69 of the machine by connections indicated diagrammatically at 83 (FIG. 1) to acton the lug portions in levels 81 and 85 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The butt portions on lugs 52 in the upper level 85 on a group of jacks 86 preceding a jack 76 which is associated with the leading short butt needle of group 76 are removed or cut and the butt portions on the lugs in the 6 upper level on a group of jacks 87 intermediate a jack 77 assoicated with the trailing short butt needle of group 77 and a jack 78 assoicated with the leading short butt needle of group 78 are likewise removed or cut. A group of jacks 90 which includes all of the jacks 86 on which the butt portions of lugs 52 in upper level are removed and the jacks associated with the needles of group 76 are provided with butts 62 at a butt level 91 on the jacks and the butts at this level on the remaining jacks-in the cylinder are removed. The trailing jack 76 of group of jacks is associated with the trailing short butt needle of group 76. A group of jacks 92 including the jacks associated with the needles of groups 77 and 78 and the jacks of group 87 are provided with butts 62 at a butt level on these jacks and the butts at level 95 on the remaining jacks in the cylinder are removed.

The leading jack 77 of the group of jacks 92 is associated with the leading short butt needle of group 77 and the trailing jack 78 of group 92 is associated with the trailing short butt needle of group 78. The butts 62 at level 91 on the group of jacks 90 and the butts 62 at level 95 on the group of jacks 92 are acted on by the selector levers 65 at the auxiliary stations in the manner hereinafter set forth.

As above set forth, at the start of a stocking knitting cycle, only the main station 15 is in operation to knit the star-ting or make-up courses of the welt and the yarn fingers 40, stitch cams 41 and jack presser cams 56 are in inactive positions to inactivate the

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18. Also at this time the lever 80 at each of the auxiliary stations is in active position to act on the butt portions in level 81 on the raising lugs 52 on the jacks 50 to prevent any of the jacks from being raised by the raising earns 55 at the respective auxiliary stations. Also a move of the cam drum moves the lever 82 at each of the auxiliary stations into active position to act on the butt portions at level 85 on the raising lugs 52, the move of the cam drum also acting to advance the control drums 67 to move the selector levers 65 to active positions to act on the butts 62 at

butt levels

91 and 95 on the jacks at each auxiliary station. Following the formation of the make-up courses the auxiliary stations are activated during the formation of a single course (FIG. 5) of the yarn 20a at the main station 15 in a single rotation of the cylinder 12 in the forward direction, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3. For this purpose group 78 of locking needles is associated with the auxiliary station 16, group 77 of locking needles is associated with auxiliary station 17 and group 76 of needles is associated with auxiliary station 18 and the lower portion 27 of the stitch cam 22 at the main station 15 is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of each group as it passes through the main station to lower the short butt needles only to an'intermediate position as above set forth. As the needles of group 78 approach auxiliary station 16 the lever 65 at this station engages the butts in lever 95 on the group of jacks 92 after which the

levers

80 and 82 are moved to inactive positions with respect tothe butt pattern on lugs 52 and the pressure lever 56 is moved to active position at station 16. As the needles of group 78 continue to approach auxiliary station 16 engagement of the lever 65 with the'butts in level 95 cancels the raising movement of the jacks associated with needles of group 78, the stitch cam 41 at this station is moved to active position, and as the needles .of group 78 reach the yarn finger 40 it is moved into active yarn feeding position andthe yarn 48a thereof is taken by the needles of group 78 as they are lowered by the stitch cam. When the last jack having a butt in level 95, which is the jack 78 associated with the trailing end short butt needle of group 78, passes the lever 65 both levers 65 associated'with the butts at

levels

91 and 95 are moved to inactive positions and all of the jacks then raise their associated needles to clearing level to knit a course 101 at station 16 in the conventional manner.

As the needles of group 77 approach auxiliary station 17 and while the lever 82 is acting on the butts at level 85 on the jacks between the groups of jacks 86 and 87 on which the butt portions in level 85 are removed, the levers 65 associated with the butts at

levels

91 and 95 and the lever 88 associated with the butt level 81 on the lugs 52 are moved to inactive positions. As the needles of group 77 continue to approach station 17 the stitch cam 41 is moved to active position and as the needles of group 77 reach the yarn finger 40 at the station 17 it is moved to active yarn feeding position and the yarn 48b thereof is taken by the needles of group 77 as they are lowered by the stitch cam. When the last jack having a butt at level 85 preceding the group of jacks 87, which is the jack 77 associated with the trailing end short butt needle of group 77, passes lever 82 at station 17 the following jacks raise their associated needles to clearing level to knit a course 102 of the yarn 40b at station 17. While the lever 82 at station 17 is still being passed by the jacks of group 87 it is moved to inactive position. 1

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 18 and after the lever 65 starts acting on the butts at level 91 on the group of jacks 90, the

levers

80 and 82 are moved to inactive position with respect to the butts at levels 81 and 85 on the lugs 52 on the jacks. As the needles of group 76 continue to approach station 18 the stitch cam 41 is moved to active position and as the needles of group 76 reach the yarn finger 40 it is moved to active feeding position and the yarn 40c thereof is taken by the needles of group 76 as they are lowered by the stitch cam. When the last jack having a butt at level 91, which is the jack 76 associated with the trail ing end needle of group 76, passes the lever 56 the following jacks raise their associated needles to knit a course 103 of the yarn 40c and the levers 65 associated with butts at

levels

91 and 95 are moved to inactive positions. i

It is to be understood that the above noted operations to activate the auxiliary stations occur at the respective auxiliary stations substantially simultaneously. Also the needles of group 78 after taking the end of the yarn 40a at station 16 are cleared and the stitches thereon are knit off by the course 1112 knit at station 17 to lock the end of this yarn, the needles of group 77 after taking the end of yarn 4017 at station 17 are cleared and the stitches thereon are knit off by the course 103 knit at station 18 and the needles of group 76 after taking the end of yarn 400 at station 18 are cleared and the stitches thereon are knit off by the next course 180 knit of the yarn 20a at the main station 15. The auxiliary stations are activated in the same manner during the first rotary movement of the cylinder following the last course of the heel.

To inactivate

auxiliary stations

16, 17 and 18 before the start of the heel, the needles of group 78 are associated with station 18, the needles of group 77 are associated with station 16 and the needles of group 76 are associated with station 17. During the second to last rotation of the cylinder in the forward direction before the first reciprocatory movement of the cylinder to knit the heel, as the needles of group 78 approach auxiliary station 17 during formation of a course 105 of. the yarn 4012 (FIG. 6), the stitch cam 41 at this station is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 78. Thereupon, the needles of group 78, after being raised by the jacks at station 17 to clear the stitches of the yarn 40a of station 16 thereon, are lowered by the center while the short butt needles of group 78 have stitches of the yarn of station 16 cleared below the latches thereof and stitches of the yarn of station 17 in the hooks thereof. As the needles of group '78 approach auxiliary station 18 during formation of a course 106 of the yarn 40c the lever 82 at this station is moved to active position in the group of jacks 87 on which the butt portions at upper level 85 are removed. After the last jack of group 87 raises its associated needle to clear and knit at station 18, lever 82 engages the cancelling butt at level 85 on the jack 78 which is the jack associated with the leading short butt needle of group 78 to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles of group 78. While the lever 82 is acting on the jacks associated with the needles of group 78 the lever at station 18 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of all of the jacks at this station and the presser cam 56 is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 78 now pass through station 18 at tucking level to take yarn 400 at this station and are then lowered by the stitch cam thereat after which the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactive positions and the yarn is clamped and severed in the conventional manner. The stitches on the needles of group 78 are then cleared and knit off by the stitches of a course 107 of the yarn 20a knit at main station 15 during the last rotation of the cylinder 12 before the start of the heel.

During this last rotation of the cylinder in the forward direction the lower portion 27 of the stitch cam at the main station 15 is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 77 as they pass through the main station and the stitch cam of station 16 is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 76 as they pass through station 16. As-the needles of group 77 approach auxiliary station 16 during formation of a last course 108 of yarn 40a at station 16 the lever 65 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 95 of the group of jacks 92 to cancel the raising movement of the jacks associated with the needles of group 77, the presser lever 56 is moved to inactive position and the lever 80 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of the jacks at station 16. After the needles of group 77 take the yarn 40a station 16 as they are lowered by the stitch cam 41. The stitch cam and yarn finger at station 16 are then moved to inactive position, the yarn is clamped and served and the lever 65 associated with the butts at level 95 on the group of jacks 92 is moved to inactive position. 4

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 17 during formation of a last course 109 of the varn 40b thereat the lever 82 of this station is moved to active position in the group of jacks 86 on which the butt portions in upper level 85 are removed. After the last jacks of group 86 raises its associated needle to clear and knit the yarn 40b at station 17, the lever 82 engages the canceling butt on the jack 76, which is the jack associated with the leading needle of group 76, to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles of group 76. While the lever 82 is acting on the jacks associated with the needles of group 76, the lever 80 at station 17 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of the jacks and the presser cam 56 is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 76 new pass through station 17 at tucking level to take yarn 40b and are then lowered by the stitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger at station 17 are moved to inactive positions and a yarn is clamped and served. The stitches on the needles of both groups 76 and 77 are then cleared and knit off the stitches of yarn 20a knit at the main station during formation of the first course 110 of the heel as the needles move in the firstneedles of group 78 to miss the short butt needles of group 78 during formation of a course 111 of the yarn 20a thereat (FIG. 7), the stitch cam 41 at station 16, the stitch cam 41 at station 16 is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 77 during formation of a last course 112 of the yarn 40a of station 16 and the stitch cam at station 17 is partially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 76 during formation of a last course 113' of the yarn 40b of station 17. As the needles of group 78 approach auxiliary station 16 the lever 82 at this station is moved to active position in the group of jacks 87. After the last jack of group 87 raises its needles to clear and knit at station 16, lever 82 engages the cancelling butt on the jack 78 to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles of group 78. While the lever 82 is acting on the jacks associated with the needles of group 78, the lever 80 at station 16 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of the jacks at station 16 and the presser cam 56 is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 78 now pass through station 16 at tucking level to take yarn 40a and are then lowered by the stitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactive positions and the yarn is clamped and severe-d.

As the needles of group 77 approach station 17, the selector lever 65 is moved to active position to act on the 'butts at level 95 on the groups of jacks 92 to cancel the raising movementof the jacks associated with the needles of group 77. While the lever 65 is cancelling the raising movement of the jacks associated with the needles of group 77 thelever 80 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 on the lugs 52 on the jacks to cancel further raising movement of the jacks at station 17 and the presser lever 56 at station 17 is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 77 now pass through station 77 at tucking level to take yarn 40b and'are then lowered by the stitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactive position and the yarn is clamped and severed.

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 18 during formation of a last course 114 of the'yarn 40c of station' 18 thereof, the lever 82 is moved to active position in'the group of jacks 86. After the last jack of group 86, on which the butt portion at level 85 is removed, raises its needle to clear and knit at station 18, lever 82 engages the cancelling butt on the jack 76 to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles of group 76. While lever 82 is cancelling the raising movement of the needles of group 76 the lever 80 at station 18 is moved to active position to act on the-butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of the jacks at this station and the presser lever 56 is moved to inactive position. Thereafter the needles of group 76 pass through station 18 at tuck level to take yarn 40c and are lowered by the stitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactive positions and the yarn is clamped and severed. The stitches on the needles of

groups

76, 77 and 78 are then cleared and knit off by the stitches of the next courselll of the yarn 20a knit at main station during a rotary movement of the cylinder before the start of the toe.

It is to be understood that both the number and spacing ltl of the short and long butt needles 10a and 10b in each of the

needle groups

76, 77, 78 as shown in FIG. 4 is for illustrative purposes only and may be varied from a minimum of four needles in each group, including two short butt needles 10a separated by two long butt needles 10b to a maximum greater than that shown in FIG. 4 as long as the spacing between the different groups is sufficient to permit the insertion and removal of the

levers

80 and 82 acting on the butt pattern in the levels 81 and 85 and levers 65 acting on the butt pattern in the

levels

91 and 95 to control the first and last needles to knit flanking each needle group in the manner herebefore set forth. Furthermore, only the stitches formed by one complete group of the

needle groups

76, 77 and 78 are shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 while a part of the stitches formed by the other two needle groups and part of the stitches formed by the needles between the groups have been omitted in order to simplify these figures.

Of course the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a main knitting station, a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations, a rotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, means for feeding yarn to said needles at said main and auxiliary stations, means for operating said needles at said main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarn fed thereat into courses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling the operation of said needles by said operating means at said auxiliary stations including a pattern jack associated with each of said needles having a plurality of cancelling butt levels thereon, cam means at each of said auxiliary stations for raising said jacks to raise said needles thereat for operation by said operating means, and selector levers movable from inactive positions to active positions to act on the cancelling butts in each of said cancelling butt levels at each of said auxiliary stations, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to said needles and knitting courses of said fabric at said main and auxiliary stations,

(b) moving a first selector lever to active position at a first of said auxiliary stations to act on cancelling butts in a first of said cancelling butt levels on a first group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said first auxiliary station and cancelling the operation of said first group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(0) moving a second selector lever to active position at .said first auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a second of said butt levels on the jacks following said first group of jacks while said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said first level and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said first auxiliary station,

((1) moving a first selector lever to active position at a second of said auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in a third of said butt levels on a second group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said second auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said second group of jacks and the needles associated therewith, and

(e) moving a second selector lever to active position at said second auxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in said second butt level while said first selector lever at said second auxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said second butt level and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said second auxiliary station.

2. A method according to claim lincluding the additional steps of (f) moving a first selector lever to active position at a third of said auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in said third butt level on a third group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said third auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said third group of jacks and the needles associated therewith, and

(g) moving a second selector lever to active position at said third auxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts in said second butt level while said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said third butt level on said third group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacks at said third auxiliary station.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which said first, second and third auxiliary stations are inactivated during a single rotation of said cylinder.

4. A method according to claim 2 in which said first and second auxiliary stations are inactivated during one rotationof said cylinder and said third auxiliary station is inactivated during another rotation of said cylinder.

5. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a main knitting station, a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations, a rotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, means for feeding yarns to said needles at said main .and auxiliary stations, means for operating said needles at said main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarns fed thereat into courses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling the operation of said needles by said operating means at said auxiliary stations including a pattern jack associated with each of said needles having cancelling butts thereon at a plurality of butt levels, selector levers movable from inactive to active position to act on the cancelling butts in each of said levels, cam means at each of said auxiliary stations for raising said jacks to raise said needles thereat for operation by said operating means, means for cancelling operation of said jacks at said auxiliary stations to inactivate said auxiliary stations including cancelling butts in one of said butt levels on the jacks associated with all of said needles, and a first selector lever at each of said auxiliary stations for acting on the butts in said one level, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to and operating said needles to knit courses of a fabric at said main and auxiliary stations,

(b) moving a second selector lever to active position at a first of said auxiliary stations to act on cancelling butts in a second of said butt levels on a first group of jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said first auxiliary station and cancelling the operation of said first group of jacks and needles associated therewith,

(c) moving said first selector lever to active position at said first auxiliary station to act on the butts in said one butt level while said second selector lever at said first auxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said second level on said first group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said first auxiliary station,

(d) moving a second selector lever to active position at a second of said auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in a third of said b-utt levels on a second group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said second auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said second group of jacks and the needles associated therewith, and

(e) moving said first selector lever to active position at said second auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts on said jacks in said one level while said second selector lever at said second auxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said third bu-tt level 12 on said second group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said second auxiliary station.

6. A method according to claim 5 including the additional steps of (f) moving a second selector lever to active position at a third of said auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in said third butt level on a third group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle to knit at said third auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said third group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(g) moving said first selector lever to active position at said third auxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in said one butt level while said second selector lever at said third auxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said third butt level on said third group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said third auxiliary station, and

(h) feeding yarn to and operating said needles and continuing knitting courses of said fabric at only said main station.

7. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a main station, a plurality of auxiliary stations, a rotatable cylinder, needles, in said cylinder, means for feeding yarn to said needles at said main and auxiliary stations, means for operating said needles at said main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarn fed thereat into courses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling the operation of said needles by said operating means at said auxiliary stations including a pattern jack associated with each of said needles, having a plurality of cancelling butt levels thereon, cam means at each said auxiliary stations for raising said jacks to raise said needles thereat for operation by said operating means, and selector levers movable from inactive to active positions to act on the cancelling butts in each said cancelling butt levels at each of said auxiliary stations, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to and operating said needles at said main and auxiliary stations and knitting courses of said fabric,

(b) inactivating a first of said auxiliary stations by moving a first selector lever to active position at said first auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a first of said 'butt levels on a first group of said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said first auxiliary station and cancelling the operation of said first group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(c) moving a second selector lever to active position at said first auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a second of said butt levels on the jacks following said first group of jacks while said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said first level thereon to cancel further operation of said jacks and said needles at said first auxiliary station,

(d) inactivating a second of said auxiliary stations by moving a first selector lever to active position at said second auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a third of said butt levels on a second group of jacks following operation of the jack associated With the last needle selected to knit at said second auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said' second group of jacks and the needles associated therewith, and

(e) moving a second selector lever to active position at said second auxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in said second butt level while said first selector lever at said second auxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said third butt level on said second group of jacks to cancel further operation of said jacks and said needles at said second auxiliary station. I

8. A method according to claim 7 including the additional steps of (f) inactivating a third of said auxiliary stations by moving a first selector lever to active position at said third auxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in said third level on a third group of jacks following operation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said third auxiliary station and cancelling operation of said third group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(g) moving a second selector lever to active position at said third auxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts in said second level while said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said third butt level on said third group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at said third auxiliary station, and

(h) feeding yarn to and operating said needles at only said main station to continue knitting courses of said fabric.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 895,672 5/1962 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A MAIN KNITTING STATION, A PLURALITY OF AUXILIARY KNITTING STATIONS, A ROTATABLE CYLINDER, NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR FEEDING YARN TO SAID NEEDLES AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY STATIONS, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID NEEDLES AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY STATIONS TO KNIT THE YARN FED THEREAT INTO COURSES OF A TUBULAR FABRIC, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID NEEDLES BY SAID OPERATING MEANS AT SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS INCLUDING A PATTERN JACK ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID NEEDLES HAVING A PLURALITY OF CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS THEREON, CAM MEANS AT EACH OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS FOR RAISING SAID JACKS TO RAISE SAID NEEDLES THEREAT FOR OPERATION BY SAID OPERATING MEANS, AND SELECTOR LEVERS MOVABLE FROM INACTIVE POSITIONS TO ACTIVE POSITIONS TO ACT ON THE CANCELLING BUTTS IN EACH OF SAID CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS AT EACH OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF (A) FEEDING YARN TO SAID NEEDLES AND KNITTING COURSES OF SAID FABRIC AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY STATIONS, (B) MOVING A FIRST SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT A FIRST OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS TO ACT ON CANCELLING BUTTS IN A FIRST OF SAID CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS ON A FIRST GROUP OF SAID JACKS FOLLOWING OPERATION OF THE JACK ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST NEEDLE SELECTED TO KNIT AT SAID FIRST AUXILIARY STATION AND CANCELLING THE OPERATION OF SAID FIRST GROUP OF JACKS AND THE NEEDLES ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, (C) MOVING A SECOND SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT SAID FIRST AUXILIARY STATION TO ACT ON THE CANCELLING BUTTS IN A SECOND OF SAID BUTT LEVELS ON THE JACKS FOLLOWING SAID FIRST GROUP OF JACKS WHILE SAID FIRST SELECTOR LEVER IS ACTING ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS IN SAID FIRST LEVEL AND CANCELLING FURTHER OPERATION OF SAID JACKS AND SAID NEEDLES AT SAID FIRST AUXILIARY STATIONS, (D) MOVING A FIRST SELECTOR LEVEL TO ACTIVE POSITION AT A SECOND OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS TO ACT ON THE CANCELLING BUTTS IN A THIRD OF SAID BUTT LEVELS ON A SECOND GROUP OF SAID JACKS FOLLOWING OPERATION OF THE JACK ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST NEEDLE SELECTED TO KNIT AT SAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION AND CANCELLING OPERATION OF SAID SECOND GROUP OF JACKS AND THE NEEDLES ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND (E) MOVING A SECOND SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT SAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION TO ACT ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS ON SAID JACKS IN SAID SECOND BUTT LEVEL WHILE SAID FIRST SELECTOR LEVER AT SAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION IS ACTING ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS IN SAID SECOND BUTT LEVEL AND CANCELLIG FURTHER OPERATION OF SAID JACKS AND SAID NEEDLES AT SAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION.