US3369379A

US3369379A - Jack for automatic knitting machine

Info

Publication number: US3369379A
Application number: US459604A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard W Shepard
Original assignee: Torrington Co
Current assignee: Timken US LLC
Priority date: 1965-05-28
Filing date: 1965-05-28
Publication date: 1968-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 R. w. SHEPARD 3,369,379

JACK FOR AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

'5 G. 3 22 24 25 26 (r g 7 INVENTOR k RICHARD w. SHEPARD ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1968 R. w. SHEPARD JACK FOR AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1965 INVENTOR RICHARD W. SHEPARD 8 ill b [ll I lllll'll MZWFMX ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,369,379 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 3,369,379 .IAQK FUR AUTGMIATIC KNITTING MACHINE Richard W. Shepard, Torrington, Conm, assignor to The Torrington (Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Maine Filed May 23, 1965, Ser. No. 459,604 M Qlaims. (Cl. 66-126) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a jack assembly for a pattern guide, the assembly including a jack having one or more guides secured thereto by a lead or other low temperature encasement forming interlocks between the jack and the guides, with the jack being adjustably positionable on a guide bar through the use of identifying indicia.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in jacks for automatic knitting machines, and more particularly to a novel replaceable, reversible, pattern guide jack assembly.

This invention particularly relates to guide jack assemblies for raschel lace machines. In the usual machine there are 18 needles per inch with the needles spread over 100 or more inches. These needles are carried by the needle bar. To make a basic cloth, each of these needles has a guide which is attached to a guide bar. Thus, in such lace machines there is a guide bar with 18 guides per inch with the guide bar being of the same length as the needle bar. To further strengthen and stabilize the fabric, one or sometimes two more such guide bars are provided.

The fabric which could be made by the above needle and guide arrangement could be used, but it would be very plain and of little value. To make lace, still further guides must be introduced. These guides are few in number and occur at only specific points. The guides move in such a manner as to trace out the pattern which transforms the plain fabric into a figured or lace fabric. There might be 30 of these pattern guide bars each containing from just a few to a hundred or more guides. All of these guides have holes in the tips thereof and guide the yarn around the needles. Variations in the positions of the pattern guides and the motion given the pattern guide bars by the machine cause the pattern to appear in the fabric.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the guides on the guide bars, the guide bars all have screw holes, drilled and threaded, at one inch or one-half inch intervals throughout their lengths. Thus, the guide bars are divided into one inch spaces within which a cast or leaded unit traditionally has been fitted. These units, which may be considered pattern guide jack assemblies, contain one or more of the pattern guides. The deficiency of the existing pattern guide jack assembly is that each of the one inch spaces of the machine covers one inch of needles or 18 needles. The particular pattern of the fabric being knitted may call for a guide on any one or more of these 18 needles. In the next adjacent space the pattern of the fabric may call for a guide on some other needle in a different location of the corresponding inch of length of the guide bar. This has resulted in many different castings being necessary. In any one of the inch spaces there are at least 18 different guide units which might be called for.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide a pattern guide jack assembly which has a jack that is narrower than the one inch width. It has been found that three-fourths of an inch is a feasible length. By providing the jack with a transversely elongated mounting opening, the jack can he slid on the mounting screw transversely a total of one quarter of an inch so that an individual jack can cover any portion of the one inch space.

In accordance with this invention, it has also been found that if the guide jack is provided means for mounting guides in a minimum of three alternate positions with these positions not being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center of the jack, by reversing the jack, a total of six different base guide positions can be obtained with one jack. Furthermore, by making the jack transversely adjustable on the guide bar, and by having the amount of adjustment at least equal to twice the spacing between two adjacent needles, each guide position can cover three needle positions. Thus, one specific jack, with a guide properly positioned therein and the jack properly oriented and transversely positioned, can be used to mount a guide in alignment with any one preselected needle in a group of 18 needles. It Will, therefore, be apparent that in accordance with this invention three pattern guide jack assemblies may be provided and there may be selected from these three pattern guide jack assemblies one pattern guide jack assembly which will permit the mounting of the single guide thereof in alignment with any preselected one of the needles of the 18 needles in the particular one inch unit length.

It is also pointed out here that although a jack having three guide shank positioning slots therein will reduce the number of pattern guide jack assemblies required to a minimum, in many instances it is desired to provide jacks having a larger number of guide receiving slots.

In accordance with this invention, it is also proposed to, removably mount the guides with respect to the jack. This is accomplished by casting an encasement about the lower portion of the jack and the upper portion of the associated guide with the encasement being interlocked with the jack and guide and rigidly connecting the two together. The encasement is preferably formed of a low melting temperature metal, such as lead, which may be readily cast. By utilizing lead, for example, the jack and the guides can be salvaged by merely melting away the encasement. However, any castable material could be used, plastics such as nylon for instance.

It is also a further feature of this invention to provide the encasement with suitable identifying indicia which will facilitate the selection of the pattern guide jack assembly which is to be used in conjunction with a preselected needle of a knitting machine.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a jack which may be selectively reversely positioned prior to the mounting of a guide therein whereby in cases where there is an unusual positioning of a guide with respect to the jack, the jack may be reversed prior to the securement of the guide thereto, thereby doubling the possible number of assemblies.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with portions broken 3 away of a pattern guide jack assembly formed in accordance with this invention, the illustrated pattern guide jack assembly including a jack having four guide receiving positions and having mounted therein two guides.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 with an intermediate portion of the guide being broken away and shows the specific details of the interlock between the jack and the guide with respect to the encasement.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific cross section of the lower portion of the jack and the relationship of the guides with respect thereto.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic elevational view with parts broken away and shows the manner in which an encasement is molded about a jack and an associated guide after the guide has been positioned relative to the jack.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a pattern guide jack assembly wherein the jack is of the three-guide position type.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through a guide bar and shows the manner in which a pattern guide jack assembly is mounted on One face thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and shows the manner in which a pattern guide jack assembly is mounted in the reverse position on the guide bar.

FIGURES 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are schematic views showing the manner in which one guide and one jack formed in accordance with this invention may be selectively assembled and positioned so that the guide may be aligned with any one of 18 associated needles.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a pattern guide jack assembly which is formed in accordance with this invention, the jack assembly being generally referred to by the numeral 15. The jack assembly 15 basically includes a jack, which is generally referred to by the numeral 16, and one or more guides with there being two

guides

17 and 18 illustrated, and an encasement 19 rigidly securing the

guides

17 and 18 to the jack 16 in extending relation thereto.

The jack 16 includes an upper mounting portion 20 and a lower guide receiving portion 21. The lower guide receiving portion 21 is of a notched construction so as to define slots 22, 23, 24 and 25 with the slot 25 being disposed along one edge of the jack 16. It is also to be noted that the lower portion of the jack 16 is notched along the opposite edge, as at 26. Although the slots 22, 23, 24 and 25 are equally spaced with respect to one another, it is to be noted that they are not centered with respect to the side edges of the jack 16. Thus, the jack 16 is not symmetrical about the longitudinal center thereof.

Each of the

guides

17 and 18 includes an upper shank portion 27 and a lower flattened portion 28 which gradually decreases in thickness and terminates in a rounded lower end portion 29. The rounded lower end portion 29 has an opening 30 therethrough in the form of an eye through which yarn is guided. Also, it is to be noted that the upper shank portion 27 is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with a longitudinally extending notch 31.

The lower guide receiving portion 21 of the jack 16 has the outer surface thereof recessed on opposite sides as at 32. The recessing of the outer surface or face of the lower portion of the jack 16 results in the formation of outwardly projecting ribs 32, there being one rib 32 on each face or side of the jack 16.

It is to be understood that in the formation of the jack assembly 15, one or

more guides

17, 18 is positioned in a selected one or ones of the slot. Then, while the jack 16 and the guide or guides are held in a suitable jig, the encasement 19 is formed by a molding process. The encasement 19 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of a low melting temperature metal, such as lead.

4 Due to the specific configurations of the lower portion of the jack 16 and the upper portion of the shanks 27, it will be readily apparent that there is a full and sufficient mechanical interlock between the jack 16 and the guides with respect to the encasement 19.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it will be seen that there is schematically illustrated the jig which is utilized for the purpose of applying the encasement 19 to the jack and the guide or guides. In FIGURE 4, the jack 16 is illustrated in .a fixed position maintained by means of a locating pin 33. A single guide, which may be considered to be the guide 17, is positioned with respect to the jack 16 by means of a locating pin 34. The overlapped portions of the jack 16 and the guide 17 are clamped within a two part mold, which is generally referred to by the numeral 35. The mold 35 has a cavity 36 or the outline of the encasement 19. The mold 35 has a funnel shaped pour opening 37.

Referring once again to FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that the upper mounting portion 20 of the jack 16 is provided with an elongated fastener receiving opening 38. The shape of the opening 38 permits the transverse shifting of the jack assembly 15 to assure the proper positioning of the

guides

17, 18, with needles of a knitting machine when the jack assembly 15 is mounted on a guide bar.

At this time it is pointed out that the encasement 19, when it is molded, is provided with indicia 39. This indicia includes X and O markings which are applied to the encasement 19 in alignment with the slots 22, 23, 24- and 25. Where there is a guide, the indicia is in the form of X and where there is no guide, the indicia is in the form of '0. Thus, the jack assembly 15 may be readily identified.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated another form of jack assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 40. The jack assembly 40, like the jack assembly 15, includes a jack, which is generally referred to by the numeral 41, a guide, which is generally referred to by the numeral 42, and an encasement, which is generally referred to by the numeral 43, the encasement 43 securing the guide 42 to the jack 41.

The jack 41 includes an upper mounting portion 44 and a lower guide receiving portion 45. The lower guide receiving portion 45 has formed therein

slots

46, 47 and 48 for receiving upper shank portions of guides, such as the guide 42. It is to be noted that the slot 48 is formed so as to open through a side edge of the jack 41. It is also to be noted that the

slots

46, 47 and 48 are equally spaced, but are disposed out of symmetry.

In addition, the edge of the jack 41 remote from the slot 48 is notched as at 49.

The guide receiving lower portion 45 of the jack 41 is configurated in the same manner as is the guide receiving lower portion 21 of the jack 16 so as to provide for a mechanical interlock with the encasement 43. The guide '42 is formed in the same manner as are the

guides

17 and 18 so as to provide for a mechanical interlock between the guide 42 and the encasement 43. It is to be understood that the encasement 43 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of a low melting temperature metal, such as lead, and is applied in the manner shown in FIGURE 4.

The upper mounting portion 44 of the jack 41 is provided with a transversely elongated fastener receiving opening 50. The opening 50 is transversely elongated so as to permit the transverse shifting and adjustment of the jack assembly 40.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is schematically illustrated in cross section a pattern guide bar of a knitting machine, the guide bar being generally referred to by the numeral 51. The guide bar 51 is illustrated as having been notched along the opposite faces thereof to provide recesses 52. A jack u) assembly 40 is illustrated as seated in the right hand recess 52 and being secured thereto by means of a fastener 53. The fastener 53 passes through the opening 50 in the jack 41 and is threaded into the guide bar 51.

Referring now to the schematic representation of FIG- URE 8, it will be seen that there is illustrated a needle bar 54 having a plurality of needles 56 projecting therefrom. The needles 56 are so spaced whereby there are 18 needles to an inch. Only one inch of the needles have been schematically illustrated. Also schematically illustrated is the jack assembly 40. 'It is to be noted that the jack 41 is narrower than the one inch space occupied by the 18 needles 56, the jack 41 preferably having a width of 4 inch. When the jack 41 is centered on the associated fastener 53, and the jack assembly 40 is of the X type, the guide 42 thereof is generally aligned with needle number 6. As is clearly shown by dotted lines, the jack assembly 40 can be selectively shifted to the left to selectively align the guide 42 with either the needle number 5 or the needle number 4.

With reference to FIGURE 9 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the same needle bar and guide jack assembly shown in FIGURE 8, but wherein the jack assembly 40 has been rotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis so that the guide 42 is now on the right side of the center as opposed to the left side. The jack will now be in the position shown in FIGURE 7. When the jack 41 is centered on the fastener 43, the guide 42 is generally aligned with needle number 13. By shifting the jack 41 to the right, the guide 42 can be aligned with either needle number 14 or needle number 15.

Referring now to FIGURE in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a schematic representation similar to FIGURES 8 and 9 but wherein there is illustrated a modified form of jack assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 57. The jack assembly 57 differs from the jack assembly 40 only in that the guide 42, in lieu of being seated in the slot 46, is seated in the slot 47. Thus, when the jack 41 is in its centered position, the guide 42 is aligned with needle number 11. By shifting the jack 41 to the left, the guide may be aligned with needle number It and by shifting the jack to the right, the guide 42 may be aligned with the needles number 12. It is to be noted that the jack assembly 57 may be considered an OX0 jack assembly.

Considering now FIGURE 11, it will be seen that it is similar to FIGURE 10 and again shows the jack assembly 57. However, the jack assembly 57 has been rotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis from its position of FIGURE 10. The guide 42 is now aligned with needle number 8. By shifting the jack 41 to the left the guide may be aligned with needle number 7, and by shifting the jack to the right, the guide may be aligned with the needle number 9.

In FIGURE 12 there is illustrated still another modified form of the jack assembly 40, this jack assembly being generally referred to by the numeral 58 and being of the 00X type. When the jack 41 of the jack assembly 58 is in its centered position, the guide 42 thereof is generally aligned with needle number 16. By shifting the jack 41 to the right, the guide may be selectively aligned with

needle numbers

17 and 18.

In FIGURE 13 there is shown the jack assembly 58 rotated about its longitudinal axis 180 degrees. When the jack 41 is centered on the fastener 53, the guide 42 is generally aligned with needle number 3. By shifting the jack 41 to the right, the guide 42 may be selectively aligned with needle number 2 or needle number 1.

It is pointed out that although the jack 41 of the

several jack assemblies

40, 57 and 58 is shifted in order to align the guide 42 with selected ones of the needles, at no time is the jack 41 shifted sufficiently to move out of the specific one inch area of the associated guide bar 51. Thus, for example, a guide may be provided for needle number 18 of one group needles and another guide of another jack assembly provided for needle number 1 of the next adjacent group of needles to the right. It will also be readily apparent that only three different jack assemblies are required to provide a guide which is selectively alignable with any one of the 18 needles of a particular group.

It is also pointed out here that the jack assembly generally disclosed in this application is particularly advantageous where there is to be a special relationship be tween the guide and the jack. Assuming for example that it is desired to provide an XOO type jack assembly wherein the guide has a specific relationship with respect to the jack, and it is desired that the jack be in its reversed position, such as they are shown generally in FIGURE 9, it will be seen that this can be accomplished by reversing the jack prior to assembling the guide therewith. In other Words, the jack may be reversed in its position prior to the assembling of the guide with the jack.

A further advantage of the jack assembly of this application is that since the encasement material is in the .form of a low melting temperature metal, such as lead and therefore relatively removable as compared to the jack and the guides, both the jack and the guide or guides associated therewith can be salvaged. Also, in the event the guide should break, it is not necessary to throw away the jack.

Although numerous advantages of the jack assembly of this invention have been specifically set forth herein, it is to be understood that other advantages will become apparent during the utilization of the jack assemblies.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that other modifications may be made in the jack assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack.

2. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving: portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one gudie, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having a transversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permitting the transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distance in each transverse direction at least equal to the distance between adjacent slots.

3. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, at least one of said slots being disposed along one longitudinal edge of said jack, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack.

4, A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, at least one of said slots being disposed along one longitudinal edge of said jack, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having a transversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permitting the transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distance in each transverse direction at least equal to the distance between adjacent slots.

5. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a. jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said pattern guide jack assembly Ibeing symmetrical about a center plane having longitudinal and transverse dimensions whereby said pattern guide jack assembly may be reversibly positioned.

6. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a, jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, and indicia means on said encasement for identifying guide location on said jacks assembly.

7. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slOts opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and an encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said encasement being formed of a low melting temperature metal.

8. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having a transversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permitting the transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distance in each transverse direction at least equal to the distance between adjacent slots, said pattern guide jack assembly being symmetrical about a center plane having longitudinal and transverse dimensions whereby said pattern guide jack assembly may be reversibly positioned.

9. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guide receiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality of transversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edge of said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides, at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having a transversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permitting the transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distance in each transverse direction at least equal to the distance between adjacent slots, said jack being nonsymmetrical about a longitudinal axis.

10. A pattern guide jack assembly particularly adapted for use in a knitting machine for guiding a thread relative to needles of the machine, wherein the knitting machine is of the type having a predetermined number of needles per unit length, said pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said jack being of a length less than said unit length, said lower guide receiving portion having a plurality of slots for selectively receiving a guide shank, said jack being generally flat and symmetrical about the general plane thereof, said slots being arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis in nonsymmetrical relation, and a transversely elongated mounting fastener receiving opening in said mounting portion, the relative positions of said slots and the proportions of said opening being such that a guide may be selectively positioned in said slots and said jack selectively positioned along said unit length in alignment with any preselected one of the needles, and a guide having a shank fixedly mounted in a selected one of said slots.

11. A pattern guide jack assembly particularly adapted for use in a knitting machine for guiding a thread relative to needles of the machine, wherein the knitting machine is of the type having a predetermined number of needles per unit length, said pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said jack being of a length less than said unit length, said lower guide receiving portion having a plurality of slots for selectively receiving a guide shank, said jack being generally fiat and symmetrical about the general plane thereof, said slots being arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis in non-symmetrical relation, and a transversely elongated mounting fastener receiving opening in said mounting portion, the relative positions of said slots being such that in a first position of said jack each slot is positioned for placing a guide in alignment with one needle of a set of needles of a first group of sets of needles and when said jack is reversely positioned each slot is positioned for placing a guide in alignment with one needle of a set of needles of a second group of the needles, the first and second groups of needles forming all of the needles within said unit length, and the proportions of said opening allowing the transverse shifting of said jack within said unit length to align a guide with any selected needle of a predetermined set, and guide having a shank fixedly mounted in a selected one of said slots.

12. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in place relative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement whereby said guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated with said guide and said jack being separately replaceable.

13. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in place relative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement whereby said guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated with said guide and said jack being separately replaceable, said guide and said jack having separate projection and socket type mechanical interlocks with said encasement.

14. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in place relative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement whereby said guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated with said guide and said jack being separately replaceable, said encasement having identifying indicia indicating the sets of needles for Which the jack assembly is intended.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

10 R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner.