US3375680A - Straight bar knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

G. S. WOODCOCK ET AL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES April 2, 196s Filed Aug. 19, 1965 G. S. WOODCOCK ET AL 3,375,680 STRIG'HT BR KNITING MACHINES April 2, 196s '7 Sheets-Sheet :3

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STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. s. wooDcocK ET AL 3,375,680

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES April 2, 1968 7V sheetsrsheet s Filed Aug. 19, 1965 /v rl Y naamw l@ Rg April 2, 1968 G. s, wooDcocK ET AL 3,375,680

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 2, 1968 G, s` WOQDCOCK ET AL 3,375,680

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1965 x 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent 3,375,680 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES George Sydney Woodcock, Herbert Edward Woodcock,

Francis Simpson, and William Clayton, Hawick, Scotland, assignors to George Woodcock & Sons, Limited Filed Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,002 4 Claims. (Cl. 66-5) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE In a straight bar knitting machine having simultaneously and individually operable needles a first pattern drum controlled by solenoids and programming means and selectively operating sliders to hold down groups of This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines of the type in which the bearded needles although operable in a row simultaneously for knitting are frictionally mounted enabling variable selections of the needles to be inoperative while others of the needles are operated for knitting. The invention primarily concerns the arrangement disclosed in the specification of our U.S. Patent No. 3,248,901 which provides for the machine having means for producing colour patterned fabric -by the use of a needle holding down pattern mechanism which is operable, through sliders, to hold selected needles down whereby they are prevented from being operated to knit, while others of the needles are operated for knitting.

The pattern arrangement for any one knitting motion of the machine is reversed for the neXt knitting motion which is made with a differently coloured yarn, so that a two knitting motion sequence is required to produce one complete course of loops composed of some loops of each of the differently coloured yarns, or the patterning arrangement may be such that more than two knitting motions with more than two differently coloured yarns are required to produce a complete course of loops composed of some of each of the differently coloured yarns. Those portions of yarn which are fed over the lowered inoperative needles appear as float threads at the back of the fabric.

An object of the invention is to provide for desired wide patterns to be obtained by the above arrangements but without any of the float threads being of undesirable length.

Since the machine is already provided with pattern mechanism and this is located at the beard side of the needles a problem involved is to provide a second pat- `terning mechanism in satisfactory manner to act on individual needles independently of the first patterning mechanism, and a further object of the invention is to solve this problem.

The invention provides, in a machine of the type referred to, e.g. as disclosed in said patent, needle holding down Rest pattern mechanism for holding selected needles down below yarn feeding height while other needles are raised to receive newly fed yarn, and needle control tuck pattern mechanism for causing selected of the raised needles to tuck with the newly fed yarn while the remaining raised needles are caused to knit the yarn.

3,375,680 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 ice Conveniently the needle holding down mechanism is arranged for holding down different groups of the needles, and where there are so many needles in a group that the resulting oat thread would be undesirably long, the needle holding down float pattern mechanism is adapted to allow a selected number of needles in the group to rise and receive the newly fed yarn with the other raised needles, and the needle control tuck pattern mechanism is adapted to act on said selected number of needles in said group so that they tuck the yarn. Conveniently also the needle control tuck pattern mechanism is of drum form having rows of differently spaced blade elements at locations within the breadth of the held down groups of needles so as to act on any selected number s of the groups which are allowed to rise by the float pattern mechanism.

More specifically the blade elements in one row will be opposite the spaces between the blade elements in the next row, for a two knitting motion sequence, and appropriately spaced in other rows for other knitting motion sequences, means being provided for stepwise racking the drum round progressively or in oscillatory manner as desired.

Means are also conveniently provided for moving the drum into and out of operative position.

The blade elements are conveniently disposed to limit the rising movement of said selected number of needles in said group, such that when the raised needles descend float pattern for the beard pressing stage, only the fully raised needles have their beards pressed for knitting while said selected number of needles of said group have their beards below the presser so that they retain the newly laid yarn which is consequently tucked on this particular number of needles.

The invention also provides a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles mounted in a bar for movement in unison and for movement relatively to the needle bar with means for effecting the movement in unison, a row of sinkers, thread carriers, a pattern mechanism located at the beard side ofthe needles and operably arranged for blocking the upward path of ydifferent selections of needles in different courses, and a said second patterning mechanism located at the other side of the needles and operably arranged for blocking the upward path of different selections of needles in different courses. Conveniently two patterning mechanisms are operably arranged to block the paths of the needles at different levels respectively. Conveniently also each patterning mechanism includes a pattern drum, racking mechanism for stepwise operating the pattern drum, and means for displacing the pattern drum bodily.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the construction which is hereinafter described as a specific ernbodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic illustration of float thread patterned fabric showing long float thread interrupted by tucking parts of the threads.

FIGURE 2 is a detail perspective View showing the fabric and parts of pattern control mechanisms for controlling the needles on which the fabric is produced.

FIGURE 3 is a general sectional View of a Cottons patent straight bar knitting machine for producingfab-ric.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of an upper part of the machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the machine showing the pattern mechanisms.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the pattern mechanisms.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail view of racking means for the pattern mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the other patterning mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of part of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view of racking mechanism for the second pattern mechanism.

FIGURE 1l is a diagrammatic view showing programming means.

Referring to FIGURE l this shows diagrammatically, needles N1 to N6 of a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons patent type hereinbefore referred to and on which knitted fabric is produced with colour patterning by knitted loops of different coloured yarns appearing in different numbers and spacing in different courses.

In the example, in course C1, single loops L1 of one colour yarn Y1 are spaced by groups of ve loops L2 to L6 of a different colour yarn Y2, and in course C2 groups of five loops L8 to L12 of yarn Y1 are spaced by single loops L13 of yarn Y2. In other courses of the fabric the numbers and spacing of the loops of the different yarns vary according to pattern requirements.

Where in this construction of fabric the yarns are not knitted, they form float threads lying across the loops such as indicated at F1 and F2, and where these vfloat threads would normally be of undesirable length they are tucked in with knitted loops as indicated at T1, T2 and T3.

For producing this construction of fabric, different selections of needles are prevented from knitting while the remainder knit, and different selections of needles are caused to tuck.

In the example, for course C1, needles N1 knit with yarn Y1 and are prevented from knitting yarn Y2, while the remaining needles knit with yarn Y2 and are prevented from knitting yarn Y1, and in course C2 needles N4 knit with yarn Y2 and are prevented from knitting yarn Y1 and the remaining needles knit with yarn Y1 and are prevented from knitting yarn Y2. In this course C2 the yarn Y2 would normally form undesirably long oat threads, since the loops L13 of needles N4 are spaced by ve loops, `and to :avoid this, needles N1 are caused to tuck with the float portion of the yarn Y2.

The fabric is further elaborated in FIGURE 2 from which it will be seen that whereas in course C2 the yarn Y2 tucks at T1, T2 and T3, in course C4 the other yarn Y1 tucks at T4 and T5 i.e. in wales intermediate the wales in which the tucks T1, T2 and T3 appear. This arrangement is variable to suit pattern requirements by the tucks appearing in different pre-selected wales wherever undesirably long floats would otherwise appear.

The mechanism employed for producing the patterned fabric compirses the needles such as N1 to N6 of bearded type and arranged for movement in unison and individually, sliders 17 slidable horizontaly in sinker tricks ST in a sinker bar SB and having thickened depending front ends 17a with underside grooves 17C and butts 17b on their rear ends operable in advancing direction by pattern bits such as 18a, 18b, on a pattern drum 18, and including a second pattern drum 34 having blade elements such as 35, 36 at circumferentialy and axialy spaced locations.

The sliders 17 are advancedby the pattern drum 18 for blocking the upward paths of selected needles for the colour patterning of the fabric, and the second pattern drum 34 operates the blade elements 35 :and 36 for blocking the paths of selected needles for the tucking, the level at which the selected needles are blocked by the blade elements 35, 36 being a tucking level which is higher than the level at which the selected needles are blocked by the sliders 17.

This mechanism is provided in a Cottons patent straight bar knitting machine represented in general in FIGURE 3 and comprising bearded needles such as N1, sinkers S, knocking over bits KO and thread carriers such as TC. The thread carriers TC and knocking over bits KO are operated by the usual means not shown and the sinkers are operated by the usual means including the usual catch bar CB, jacks I and slurcock SL. The needles N1 are operated by usual raising and lowering mechanism comprising cam follower lever 37 connected to the needle bar NB and having a cam follower 38 engaging a cam 39 on the main cam shaft 40, and by presser mechanism comprising a link 41 connecting an arm 42, depending from the needle bar NB, to a cam follower lever 43 having a cam follower 44 engaging a cam 45 on the shaft 40.

The needles N1, in addition to being movable in unison with the needle bar NB by said cam operating mechanisms, are slidably mounted in the needle bar NB in the known manner frictionally in grooves in the-needle bar NB to allow relative slidable movement between each needle and the needle bar NB. The needles N1 have lower butts LB which are engageable with a lower stop bar 46.

The machine as thus far described is capable of producing plain i.e. non-rib fabric with yarn changes which may be colour yarn changes in known manner.

The machine is adapted for colour patterning by means equivalent to those disclosed in our earlier U.S. Patent No. 3,248,901, these means briefly comprising the aforesaid sliders 17 and pattern drum 18. Considering the two colour pattern of FIGURES l and 2 for example, the pattern bits such as 18a, 18b are set out as required for the pattern with only one other condition that a row of spaced pattern bits for one selection of needles must be followed by a complementary row of the remaining pattern bits of the full complement thereof for any one row, so that each full course of loops is made up of spaced loops'of one colour yarn knitted by one needle motion and intervening loops of another colour yarn knitted by another needle motion. This arrangement is variable for three or more colour patterns by the pattern bits being appropriately prearranged.

For required control of the pattern drum it has a stepby-step rotation by suitable racking means. In the present example the racking means comprises an anti-clockwise rack wheel 47 supported by a bracket 48 on rails 49, 50 and a pawl 51 engaging the rack wheel 47, and a clockwise rack wheel 52 behind the rack wheel 47 and on the same bracket 48, and a pawl 53 engaging the rack wheel 52.

The racking motion is transmitted from the rack wheels 47, 52 by a sprocket wheel 54 on the rack wheel axle 55, a roller chain 56 on the wheel 54 and also on a sprocket wheel 57 supported by the bracket 58 on a rail 85. On the sprocket wheel axle 59 is a bevel gear 60 meshing with a bevel gear 61 on a spindle 62 which is supported by the bracket 53, On the spindle 62 there is also, FIGURE 5, a bevel gear 63 meshing with a bevel gear 64 on the pattern drurn axle 65 which is supported by bracket 66 on the rail 85. Referring again to FIGURE 5, from which Certain knitting mechanisms are omitted for clarity, the pawl 51, 53 are carried by arms 67, 167 which are pivoted on the rack wheel axle 55, and these arms 67, 167 are connected by links 68, 168, see also FIGURE 7, which is a rear view, to a slide block 69 which is slidable in a slot 70 in a bracket 71; the block 69 is connected by a link 72 to an arrn 73 on a spindle 74, and on the spindle 74, which is supported by a bracket 75, there is an arm 76 which is connected by a link 77, FIGURE 5, to a cam follower lever 78 on a pivot 79 and having a cam follower 80 engaging a cam 81 on the shaft 40. It will thus be seen that the pattern drum 18 can be racked in either direction, and the direction is under control of blung means to be hereinafter described.

The pattern drum is also displaceable bodily to effect advances of the sliders. For this purpose one arm 82 of a toggle device, see also FIGURE 6, is connected to the pattern drum axle 65 and the other arm 83 of the toggle is supported by a bracket 84 on the rail 85. The centre pin 86 of the toggle is connected by a link 87 to an arm 88 which is supported by a bracket 89 on the rail 85, and there is a link 90, FIGURE 5, connecting between the arm 88, and a cam follower lever 91, which is supported by a bracket 92 on the rail 50 and has a cam follower 93 engaging a cam 94 on the shaft 40.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the pattern drum axle 65 is mounted in a slide block 95 which is slidable in a fork end 96 of the aforesaid bracket 66. It will thus be seen that the cam 94 effects the bodily movement of the pattern drum 18, and since to maintain proper timing the gears 63, 64 must be in constant mesh, the shaft 62 and Yits mountings are suitable to allow for the necessary displacements of the gear 63 with the gear 64 when the latter is displaced with the pattern drum 18.

The sliders 17 are returned, after being advanced by the pattern drum, by a bar 97 which engages behind butt 17C on the sliders 17 and is carried by arm 98 movable with the pattern drum 18 by any suitable means,

In the second pattern mechanism hereinbefore referred to, for tucking of long float threads, the pattern drum 34, FIGURE 8, is connected by a link 99 to lever 100 supported by a bracket 101, and the arm 100 is connected by a link 102, FIGURE 5, to a lever 103; this lever 103 is connected by a link 104 to a cam follower arm 105 having a cam follower 106 engaging a cam 107 on the shaft 40. The pattern drum 34, FIGURE 8, is movable by the cam 107 from the operative position shown in full lines to the inoperative position shown in broken lines, and for guiding the drum, its axle 108 is carried by a suitably shaped block 109, see also FIGURE 9, to which the link is connected and which is slidable in a suitable slideway 110 in a bracket 111 on a rail 112` Since to maintain proper timing the gears 127, 128 must be in constant mesh, the shaft 125 and its mountings are similar to the shaft 62 and its mountings to allow for the necessary displacements of the gear 127 with the gear 128 when the latter is displaced with the pattern drum 34.

The pattern drum 34 may consist of a cylinder on the axle 108, FIGURE 8, and having angular sectioned grooves 108g in which the blade elements 35, 36 are secured for example by screws.

For step-by-step rotation of the pattern drum 34, there is an anti-clockwise ratchet wheel 113, FIGURE 10, on an axle 114 supported by a bracket 115 secured to a rail 11551, and a co-operatin g pawl 116 which is carried by an arm 1-17 on the axle 114 and is biased by a spring 118. There is also a clockwise rack wheel 119 behind the rack wheel 113 on the same axle 114, and a co-operating pawl 120 carried by an arm 121 also on the axle 114 and which is biased by a spring 122. For transmitting the racking motion to the pattern drum 34, there is on the axle 114, FIGURE 5, a bevel gear 123 meshing with a bevel gear 124 on a spindle 125 which is supported by a bracket 126; the spindle 125 also has a bevel gear 127 meshing with a bevel gear 128 on the pattern drum axle 108. The pawl arms 117, 121, FIGURE l0, are connected by links 129, 130 respectively to a cross bar 131, and this cross bar has pivotally connected to it an arm 132 on a shaft 133 supported by a bracket 134 on the rail 50. Also on the shaft 133 is an arm 135 which is connected by a link 136, FIGURE 5, to a cam follower lever 137 having a cam follower 138 engaging a cam 139 on the shaft 40. It will thus be seen that the cam 139 can rack the pattern drum 34 in either direction. Control of the direction is provided by blufiing means for the pawls 116, 120 to be hereinafter described.

The aforesaid blufling means for the pawls 51, 53 conveniently consists of arcuate arms 51a, 53a, FIGURE 7, having bluff plates Sib, 5311 and pivoted at 53e to the bracket 48. The blurf plates 51b, 53b are adapted to be disposed in and out of the path of tail ends 51d, 53d of the pawls, and for this purpose the arms 51a, 53a are connected by links 51a, 53e to solenoids Slf, 53f respectively. The solenoids are operable as and when required by any suitable form of switch control means such as a punched card or other programme carrier and switch reader means, it only being necessary for punched holes or the like to be provided at locations where they will provide for operation of either the pawl 51 or the pawl 53 to rack the pattern drum ,18 in either required direction and at any time required. A suitable programme carrier and reader means is represented in FIGURE 1l at PC and SRM and includes dropper arms such as DA having bits such as B1 for cooperating with holes in the card, and electric microswitches MS operated by the droppers, the card being racked on by racking means RM in known manner.

Similarly bluing means for the pawls 116, 120, FIG- URE 10, conveniently comprises arms 116a, 120a pivoted at 116b, 120b to the bracket 115 and having bluff portions 1|16c, 120e which are adapted to engage pegs 116d, 120:1' on the respective pawls. The arm 116a is interconnected with an arm pivoted at 120b, by a pin and slot connection 116e. A stop position for the arm 12041 is controlled by an adjustable screw 120e engaged by a part 120f of the lever y120er. The screw 120e is carried by a bracket 120g which supports a solenoid 120k, and the arm 120a is connected by a link 120i to the solenoid 12011. The arm 120]' is biased by a spring 116]c to a stop position and a downward projection is solenoid controlled similarly to the arm 120a. The solenoids are under control of any suitable switch control means such as the punched card programme carrier PC and switch reader means SRM, it only being necessary to provide punched holes or the like at suitable locations to cause operation of either of the solenoids whereby either of the bluff portions 116C, 120e` move to allow engagement of its associated pawl 116, 120 with its associated ratchet wheel 113, 119 so that the pattern drum 34 is racked as and when required in either direction.

Operation of the machine will now be described for producing the two colour pattern fabric of FIGURES 1 and 2, and assuming that the fabric has been produced to the last course C6 of loops shown on the needles in FIGURE 2. The stage shown in FIGURE 2, which is for part of the next course of loops, is following racking of the pattern drum 18 by operation of one of the pawls 51-53, under appropriate control of the bl'uing and programming means, to present the pattern bits 18a to th'e sliders 17. It is also following the ensuing ,advance of the pattern drum 18 which has taken place by operation of the toggle device 82, 83 from cam 94 so that the pattern bits 18a have advanced the sliders 17' over their associated needles N2, N3, N5, N6, at a time, governed by the interrelationship of the cams on the cam shaft 40, before the needle bar NB is raised by operation of the cam operated mechanism 37, 38 from cam 39. Further the stage shown in FIGURE 2 is following racking of the pattern drum 34 which has taken place by operation of one of the pawls 116, 120, under appropriate control of the blung and programming means, to present the spaced blade elements 35 over their associated needles N1, N7, N13 at a time, governed by the inter-relationship of the cams on the cam shaft 40, before the needle bar NB is raised by the cam mechanism 3739.

Therefore when the needle bar NB is raised, by the cam mechanism 37-39, only needles N4 are fully raised thereby as shown in FIGURE 2 to the feeding height, since the sliders 17' hold the needles N2, N3, N5, N6 down at a low level, and the blade elements hold the needles N1 down at an intermediate tucking level. FIG- URE 2 shows the still later stage when yarn Y1a of one colour has been laid by one of the thread carriers TC, and the sinkers S have advanced to sink kinks K1 of the yarn Yla about the needles N1 and kinks K2 about the needles N4.

The next step is for the needle bar to be lowered by the mechanism 37-39, and to have a presser movement imparted to it by the cam mechanism 42445. This results first in the tucking needles N1 passing below the usual presser edge of the sinker bar SB before the pressing motion takes place, so that not only the kinks K1 of the new yarn Yla become disposed behind the beards of the needles N1, but also the loops L1 become disposed behind the beards of these needles N1. The needles N4 have their beards pressed in the usual way for knitting so that they draw loops of the new yarn through their old loops (the same as loops L13 shown in course C2).

While the needles are in the lowered position, the pattern drums 18 and 34 are retracted by the respective toggle device 82, 83 from cam 94 and link 99 from cam 107, and the bar 97 moving with the drum ,18 retracts the advanced sliders i171. This completes the tirst part of the next course following course C6.

For the second part of said next course, the pattern drum 18 is racked-on, as before, to bring the complementary pattern bits 18b into operative position, and upon the next advance of the drum 18, as before, the sliders associated with needles N1, 2, 3, S and 6 remain retracted and the remaining sliders are advanced over the needles N4. The blade elements 35, 36 will be inoperative by action of cam 107 retracting and re-advancing the pattern drum 34 and by action of cam 94 racking the pattern drum 34 to an intermediate position while it is retracted so that this drum does not affect the needles at this stage. Consequently upon the next rise of the needle bar, needles N4 will be held fully down, and needles N1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will rise to feeding height. New yarn, the same as yarn Y2, will then be fed as before for yarn Yla, and the yarn will be kinked, by the sinkers advance, about the needles N1, 2, 3, and 6. When the needlebar next lowers, needles N1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will knit loops L8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and a oat thread the same as float thread F1 will be formed on needles N4, thus completing the course of loops, the same as shown for course C3.

For the next course, the same as course C4, first the pattern drum 18 is racked on to bring a fresh arrangement of pattern bits into operative position, so that only sliders associated with needles N1, 2 and 6 are advanced to hold these needles inoperative While needles N3, 4 and 5 knit loops of yarn, the same as Y1 and Yla, Meanwhile the pattern drum 34 has been again retracted, racked on to a further intermediate position and re-advanced without affecting the needles. This completes the first part of the course. Thereafter the next complementary arrangement of pattern bits is rendered operative by racking-on of the pattern drum 18, so that only sliders associated with needles N3, 4 and 5 are advanced to hold these needles inoperative while the needles N1, 2, 6 knit loops of yarn, the same as Y2, thereby completing the course, the same as C4.

For the next course, the same as course C5, first the pattern drum 18 is racked again to bring in another arrangement of pattern bits, and pattern drum 34 is again retracted, racked on, and re-advanced, but this time bladeelements 36 are disposed in operative position over needles N4, the further operations and final result being substantially as described for a course the same as course C3 except that needles N4 tuck with yarn the same as Y2 and needles N1 knit with this yarn, and the course Yis completed by the needles N2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 thereafter knitting yarn the same as Y1.

This completes a triangle pattern. For a complementary diamond pattern, the other complementary half pattern would be produced by using a reversal of the pattern bit arrangements described, and this may be accomplished by reverse racks of the pattern drums or by further advance racks thereof to use additional pattern bit arrangements, according to requirements.

Other patterns are obtainable by appropriate arrangements of pattern bits on the pattern drum 18 and of blade elements on the pattern drum 34, together with appropri- 8 ate bluff control of the respective racking mechanisms.

For example as indicated in FIGURE 4, the pattern drum 34 may, for part of a pattern, have some of the blade elements set out as at 35. For single needles N9, N13 and as at 36' for groups of these needles such as N112; some of the sliders may advance in groups of three such as at 172, 173, 174. The remaining needles such as N7, N11, and N15 are raised to knit.

What we claim is:

1. A straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles mounted in a bar for movement in unison and for movement relatively to the needle bar with means for effecting the movement in unison, a row of sinkers, thread carriers, a pattern mechanism located at the beard side of the needles and operably arranged for blocking the upward path of different selections of needles in different courses, and a said second patterning mechanism located at the other side of the needles and operably arranged for blocking the upward path of different selections of needles in different courses.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine having simultaneously and individually operable needles, the combination of a first pattern drum, slider elements selectively operable by said pattern drum to hold down selections of said needles for forming float threads while the remaining needles are raised for knitting, and a second pattern drum having pattern arrangements of needle engageable elements adapted to hold their selected needles down at tucking level.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine having simultaneously and individually operable needles, the combination of a first pattern drum, slider elements selectively operable by said pattern drum to hold down different groups of said needles for forming long float threads while the remaining needles are raised for knitting and adapted for permitting selected needles in the groups to be raised to receive new yarn without knitting, and a second pattern drum having pattern arrangements of needle engageable elements adapted to hold their selected needles down at tucking height to form tuck stitches of parts of the float threads.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine having simultaneously and individually operable needles, the combination of a rst pattern drum, slider elements selectively operable by said pattern drum to hold down different groups of the needles for forming long float threads while the remaining needles are raised for knitting and adapted for permitting selected needles in the groups to be raised to receive new yarn without knitting, first solenoids connected to said first pattern drum for controlling it, rst programming means for operating said rst solenoids, a second pattern drum having pattern arrangements of needle engageable elements adapted to hold their selected needles at tucking height to form tuck stitches of parts of the float threads, second solenoids connected to said second pattern drum for controlling it, and second programming means for operating said second solenoids.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,886 7/1896 Johnson 66-5 599,435 2/1898 Barfoot et al 66-82 1,950,185 3/1934 Lieberknecht 66-82 3,248,901 5/1966 Woodcock et al. 66-82X FOREIGN PATENTS 209,758 5/1909 Germany. 224,058 7/1910 Germany.

13,889 10/1884 Great Britain.

W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner,

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