US3390550A

US3390550A - Fabric draw-off means for knitting machines

Info

Publication number: US3390550A
Application number: US469415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert E Haehnel; Erich M Kaese
Original assignee: Textile Machine Works
Current assignee: Textile Machine Works
Priority date: 1965-07-06
Filing date: 1965-07-06
Publication date: 1968-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-02
Also published as: DE1585431A1; GB1116135A

Description

July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet l J ly 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 N P..LE-. E

July 2, 1968 v H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES FiledJuly e, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL. 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 230 22/ I! n: 0/ n: /70 I75 3/2 Zifl 41346 I677 ,6 97 1: 17.9 I a v o as v m as ma I87 I 7r L J I 968 7- Q 262 I90 I97 m .1 M

I 207 2 I a .0 32 204 l O 2/2 223 L40 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet e J ly 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Tia-i5...

July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 "wa 77's,, 49 ---/6 42 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 PlE- EQ- Tia-E5.-

States nit ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed herein relates to straight bar or full-fashioned knitting machines having fa'bric drawoff means including a first hook bar movable to engage and tension the fabric, a second hook bar movable to engage and tension the fabric both while the first bar continues to tension the fabric and after the first bar is disconnected from the fabric, a third hook bar movable to engage and tension the fabric both while the second bar continues to tension the fabric and after the second bar is disconnected from the fabric and a fourth tensioning means movable to engage and tension the fabric both while the third bar is connected to the fabric and after the third bar is disconnected from the fabric.

This invention relates to straight bar or full-fashioned knitting machines and more particularly to draw-off mechanism for such machines for tensioning and taking up fabrics knitted thereon.

Heretofore in machines for knitting full-fashioned fabric blanks such as sweaters and the like, the blanks as they are knitted are initially tensioned by draw-off or take-up means which is in the form of a welt engaging rod, when the blanks are provided with turned welt portions, or in the form of a bar having hooks which are engaged with starting courses of the blanks or with preformed welt portions to which the blanks are knitted. The welt rod or hook bar is connected by straps to a reel mounted on -a reel shaft which is rotated in the take-up direction by Weights or the like in a common manner. As the fabric blank is formed it is carried above a main take-up device in the form of a reel having a series of hook members which are projected from the reel to engage and tension the fabric and are then retracted to release the fabric as the reel is rotated. After the fabric is under the take-up influence of the reel, when the welt wire is the initial tensioning means, the welt wire is manually disconnected from the straps and then removed from the welt of the fabric blank. The welt wire is then manually placed in a storage container or in position for subsequent connection to the welt portion of the next fabric blank and the fabric blank, as it is released from the reel, is discharged into a collection hopper. When the hook bar is the initial fabric tensioning means, this bar is manually disconnected from the fabric after the fabric is under the influence of the reel of the main take-up means. While the various disconnecting procedures are carried out during continued operation of the machine, the machine is normally brought to a stop to permit the operator of the machine to make sure that the initial tensioning means is disconnected in all of the knitting sections of the machine. Hence, the above noted procedures necessary to carry out the required tensioning of the fabric blanks are time consuming and greatly add to the production costs of the blanks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fabric draw-off for a straight bar knitting machine which will overcome the above noted and other objections to prior fabric draw-off means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of atent O 3,390,550 Patented July 2, 1968 fabric draw-oft means for straight bar knitting machines which is automatically connected to and disconnected from the fabric blanks in timed relationship to other operating parts of the machine during production of the fabric blanks.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in a straight bar knitting machine for drawing off and tensioning fabric knitted on the machine which means includes a first member, means for operating the first member to engage and draw off the fabric, a second member, and means for operating the second member to engage and draw off the fabric, the second member also acting during its fabric draw-01f movement to disengage the fabric from the firs-t member.

A still further object is the provision of means in a straight bar knitting machine for drawing olf and tensioning fabric knitted on the machine which means includes a first member, means for operating the first member to engage and draw off the fabric, asecond member, means for operating the second member to engage and draw off the fabric while the first member is connected to the fabric, the second member also acting during its fabric draw-off movement to discharge the fabric from the first member, a third member rotatable to engage and draw off the fabric while the second member is connected to the fabric and means for disconnecting the fabric from the second member as the third member continues to draw off the fabric.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one knitting section of a multisection full-fashioned knitting machine with fabric drawotf mechanism according to the invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely through the machine and showing operating mechanism for the draw-off means;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through the machine showing operating means for the mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of control mechanism for the draw-off mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale taken inthe direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is 'a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 99 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 1010 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing fur ther operating and control mechanism for the draw-off means;

FIG. 12 is a view of one of the pattern chain devices of the machine;

FIG. 13 is a view of further control means for the draw off means of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 1'51'5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows .1616 of FIG. with the parts shown in relative positions intermediate the positions of FIGS. 24 and FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but showing the parts in the positions of FIG. 25;

FIG. 18 is a view on an enlarged scale of mechanism shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 1919 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 2020 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the tensioning means for the draw-off means and illustrating the parts in one operating stage during the formation of a fabric blank on the machine; and

FIGS. 22 to 29 are views similar to FIG. 21 but showing further operating stages of the draw-off means during the formation of a fabric bl-ank.

In the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a portion of a multisection full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting fabric blanks, such as for sweaters and the like, including a center frame 10, a front beam 11, a back beam 12, a center bed 15 and a front bed or table 16. The beams and beds are secured to the center frames and to end frames (not shown) to form the usual framework of the machine. Each knitting section of the machine has a row of spring bearded needles 17 which are carried in a needle bar '20 and which cooperate with sinkers 21 slidably carried in slots in a sinker-head 22 secured to the center bed 15 and knockover bits 25. The needles, sinkers and knockover bits are operated by lever means and cams (not shown) on a camshaft 26 to form yarn, fed thereto by yarn carriers such as shown at 27 in FIG. 2, into loops of the fabric blanks diagrammatically shown at 28 in FIGS. 21 to 29. The carriers 27 are carried on carrier rods which are reciprocated back and forth across the row of needles 17 by means of friction boxes or like driving devices which are in turn reciproc-ated by coulier mechanism (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The machine is also provided with means for forming turned welt portions on the fabric blanks including a welt bar '30 having welt hooks 31, rails or bridge members 32 on which the welt .bar is supported for movement toward and away from the needles 17, and means indicated genorally at 3 5 which is operated by linkage (not shown) from the camshaft 26 to move the welt bar toward and away from the needles. The bridge members 32 are mounted on a shaft 36 (FIG. 2) which is pivotally mounted in the center frames 10 for purposes hereinafter set forth. The welt bar is moved horizontally on the bridge members 32 when the bridge members are in the horizontal rest position of FIGS. 2 and 21 to position the welt hooks 31 to receive the loops of the first course of the fabric blank and the welt bar is then moved in the drawoff direction on the bridge members to tension the fabric blank as it is formed by straps 37 connected between the welt bar and a shaft 40 mounted for rotation in the framework of the machine. The shaft is turned in a clockwise or draw-off direction by weights 41 or the like (FIG. 21).

Following completion of the fabric forming the welt portion of the fabric blank the welt bar is again moved toward the needles by the means 35 at which time the shaft 36 is operated to raise and lower the ends of the bridge members 32 and to turn the welt bar to a vertical position as indicated in FIG. 24 to return the loops of the first course of the fabric to the needles to close the welt portion of the fabric blank. The welt bar 30* and the bridge members 32 are then returned to an inactive position indicated in FIG. 25. The means for forming the turned welt portion of the fabric blank forms no part of the present invention and is generally of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,396,263 in both structure and function.

Prior to the movement of the welt bar to return the first course of the welt to the needles to close the welt a second tensioning means is connected to the fabric to maintain tension thereon as the welt is closed as above set forth. The second tensioning means includes a second bar 42. having spaced hooks 45 secured thereto as by screws 46. The opposite ends of bar 42 are secured to plates 47 each of which is in turn secured to the inner end of a pin 50 mounted in fixed position in a bracket 51 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The bracket 51 is guided for sliding movement along one face of a lever 52 by studs '55 fixed in the lever, the studs having enlarged portions 56 interfitti-ng in an elongated slot 57 in the bracket (FIG. 3). The lever 52 is mounted for pivotal movement on a stud 60 carried in an adjacent center frame 10, the lever being positioned on the stud 60 between collars 61 secured thereto (FIG. 4). A spring 62 connected between the bracket 51 and a pin 65 in the lever 52 tends to bias the bracket upwardly on the studs 55 and a spring 66 connected between the lever and a pin 67 in one of the collars 61 tends to turn the lever counterclockwise on the stud 60 as viewed in FIG. 3, for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The outer end of each pin 50 has a roller 68 for engagement with a camming surface 69 formed on the underside of the adjacent bridge member 32 when the bridge members are in their rest position of FIG. 3 for purposes hereinafter set forth. One end of a cable 70 is connected to each pin 50 at a point intermediate the roller 68 and bracket 51. The cable is guided over a grooved roller 71 rotatably mounted on a stud 72 fixed in the lever 52 and the other end of the cable remote from the pin 50 is connected to a pin 75. The pin 75 is carried in the free end of a lever 76 secured to a shaft 77 extending along the machine and rotatably mounted in brackets 80 secured to the frames 10-. The shaft 77 carries an arm 81 for supporting a weight 82 which acts to normally turn the arm, shaft and lever 76 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 to a stopped position as determined by engagement of a stop arm 78 secured on the shaft 77 with a fixed part of the machine. The shaft 77 also carries an arm '85 having a roller 86 for engagement with a free end portion 87 of a lever 90 pivotally mounted on a shaft 91 carried in the frames 10. Intermediate the shaft 91 and portion 87, lever 90 carries a pin 92 having an enlarged head 95. A roller 93, mounted for both rotatable and axial movement on the pin 92 between the head 95 and lever 90, is adapted to engage a cam 96 fixed on a shaft 97 mounted for oscillating movement in the brackets 80 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The roller 93 is normally biased toward the right against the head 95, as viewed in FIG. 6, for engagement with a high portion 100 of the cam 96, by a spring 101 carried on the pin 92 between the roller and lever 90. The high portion #100 of the cam 6 is adapted to engage the roller 93 to turn lever 90 clockwise when the shaft 97 is turned counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Cooperating with each hook bar 42 is a deflector bar 105 (see FIG. 2) which is secured to arms 106 fixed on the shaft 97 for oscillation therewith. The underside of the bar 105 is provided with notches 104 (see FIG. 1) having a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the hooks 45 in the bar 42, the notches providing clearance for the books when the hooks are moved to engage the fabric as hereinafter set forth. The arms 106 carry adjustable set screws 108 for engagement with the front bed 16 when the arms and bar 105 are moved to the position of FIG. 23 in the manner hereinafter described. The shaft 97 also has fixed thereto one end of a lever 107 the free end of which is pivotally connected by a link 110 to a lever 111. The lever 111 is pivotally mounted on a pin 112 carried in a bracket 115 secured to the back beam 12 (FIG. 2). Intermediate the pin 112 and connecting link 110 the lever carries a roller type follower 116 for engagement with a earn 117 on the camshaft 26. At its free end lever 111 is provided with a nose portion 120 which is adapted to be supported at the level of a high surface 118 on the cam 117 by an upper end 121 of a lever 122 to normally prevent lever 111 and follower 116 from following the cam 117 and to maintain the arms 106 and bar 105 in raised inactive position when the lever 122 is beneath the lever 111 (FIGS. 2 and 8). The lever 122 is pivotally mounted on a stud 125 carried in a bracket 126 secured to the front beam 11. The lever 122 has a forwardly projecting arm 130 adapted to engage a collar 131 fixed on a rod 132 (FIGS. 2 and 9) which is one of a group of similar rods which are connected to and operated by a group of levers 133 (FIG. 12). The levers 133 are operated by pattern levers 135 which are in turn operated by high and low buttons 136 and 136a, respectively, on a chain 137 forming part of a pattern chain device 138. The arm 130 of lever 122 is maintained in engagement with the collar 131 by a spring 140 connected between the arm and a second collar 141 secured to the rod 132 (FIG. 9) and a spring 142 connected between the free end of lever 111 and a spring hook 143 on the front beam 11 biases the lever 111 toward the cam 117.

Fixed to the shaft 97 is member 145 (FIG. 7) having a nose portion 146 for engagement with a finger 147 formed on a lever 148 loosely mounted on the shaft 97. The member 145 is also provided with a finger 150 having an adjustable set screw 151 for engagement with an ear 152 formed on a lever 153 loosely mounted on a shaft 155 supported in the brackets 80. The free end of the lever 153 threadably carries an adjustable set screw 156 for engagement with a lug 157 projecting from the side of the lever 148. At its free end the lever 148 has a hook-like portion 158 for engagement with a shoulder 160 formed at the end of a notch 159 in a collar 161 secured to the shaft 77. A spring 162 connected between the

levers

148 and 153 tends to maintain the set screw 156 in engagement with the lug 157 on lever 148 and a spring 163 connected between the lever 148 and one of brackets 80 tends to turn the portion 158 of the lever 148 toward engagement with the shoulder 160 of collar 161 and maintain the car 152 on the lever 153 in engagement with the set screw 151 in member 145 when the bar 105 and arms 106 are in raised inactive position.

Normally the hook bar 42 is maintained in its inactive position of FIGS. 3 and 21 by the weights 82 when the weights are in their stopped position as determined by the stop arm 78. At this time the cables act to turn the levers 52 clockwise about the studs 60 and the brackets 51 and hook bar 42 are lowered against the action of the spring 62 by engagement of the rollers 68 on the brackets with the camming surfaces 69 on the bridge members 32. Also at this time the lever 122 is beneath the end 120 of the lever 111 to hold the deflector bar 105 in its raised inactive position of FIG. 2 and the cam 96 is in its position of FIG. 5, and the member 145 maintains the

levers

148 and 153 in the position of FIG. 7. Prior to the movement of the welt bar 30 to return the first course of the welt to the needles to close the welt portion of the fabric blank as hereinbefore set forth, a high button 136 on the chain 137 is moved beneath "a pattern lever 135 to move its associated lever 133 and shift the rod 132 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 9 to remove the lever 122 from beneath the end of lever 111 thereby permitting follower 116 on the lever 111 to follow the contour of the cam 117. As the follower 116 rides from the high surface 118 toward a low surface 119 of the cam 117, lever 111 is turned clockwise about the pin 112 to turn the shaft 97, the member 145 and the arms 106 counterclockwise to move the deflector bar 105 toward the fabric and the cam 96 acts on the roller 93 on the pin 92 to turn the lever 90 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. As the lever 90 is moved by the cam 96 the portion 87 of the lever acts on the roller 86 to turn arm 85, lever 76 and shaft 77 and the collar 161 on the shaft counterclockwise until the shoulder 160 passes the portion 158 of the lever 148, the spring 163 acting at this time to turn the lever 148 clockwise to move the portion 158 into the notch 159 in the collar. As the shaft 97 and cam 96 continue to turn in the counterclockwise direction the high portion of the cam 96 passes the roller 93 thereby permitting the weight to again turn the shaft 77 clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7 until the shoulder 160 engages the portion 158 of the lever 148 to momentarily arrest or stop the shaft.

During the counterclockwise movement of the shaft 77 by the cam 96 the springs 66 act to rotate the levers 52 counterclockwise about the studs 60 and the springs 62 act to raise the brackets 51 relative to the levers as the rollers 68 on the pins 50 follow the contour of the cam surfaces 69 to surfaces 164 on the underside of the bridge members 32. The levers 52 then continue to rotate and the brackets rise on the levers until the rollers 68 engage stop shoulders 164a (FIG. 3) on the bridge members 32 to position the bar 42 and hooks 45 adjacent the fabric between the needles 17 and welt bar 30 as shown in FIG. 22. As the lever 111 continues to turn in the clockwise direction under the influence of the low surface 119 of the cam 117, the deflector bar is moved to its position of FIG. 23 by the arms 106 to depress the fabric. Simultaneously with the movement of the deflector bar 105 to depress the fabric the nose 146 of the member acts on the finger 147 to turn the lever 148 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 7 to disengage the portion 158 from the shoulder on the collar 161 thereby permitting the weights 82 to turn the shaft 77 and lever 76 in the clockwise direction. This clockwise movement of lever 76 acts through cable 70 to turn the lever 52 and bar 42 clockwise to engage the hooks 45 in the fabric as shown in FIG. 23 to tension the fabric. The welt bar is then moved to its position of FIG. 24 to close the welt portion of the fabric, as hereinbefore set forth.

As follower 116 rides from the low surface 119 to the high surface 118 of cam 117 the lever 111 is turned counterclockwise to again turn the shaft 97 clockwise to return the arms 106 and deflector bar 105 to the inactive position of FIG. 2 and the button 136 on the chain 137 is moved from beneath lever 135 thereby permitting movement of the rod 132 toward the left under the inflluence of a spring 166 connected between a collar 167 fixed to the rod and a fixed part of the machine (FIG. 12) to again move the lever 122 beneath the lever 111 when the follower reaches the high surface of the cam. Simultane ously with this movement of the shaft 97 the set screw 151 acts on the ear 152 to turn the lever 153 and the set screw 156 into supporting engagement with the lever 148 and a camming surface on the cam 96 acts on the roller 93 to shift it to the left on the pin 92, as viewed in FIG. 6, out of the path of the high portion 100 of the cam to prevent the roller from again acting on the lever 90 to turn the shaft 77 in the counterclockwise direction as the cam is returned to its position of FIG. 5.

Following closing of the welt and while the hooks 45 continue to tension the fabric a third tensioning means is attached to the fabric to continue the draw-ofl? action on the fabric and to disengage the fabric from the hooks 45. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 11 the third tensioning means includes a bar 170 having hook members 171, with downwardly extending end portions 172, secured thereto as by screws 173. The bar 170 is supported for movement toward and away from the needles 17 along a path between-the path of the welt bar and front 'bed 16 on plates carried on the front bed. The bar 170 is attached to straps 176 each of which has one end connected to a spool 177 secured to a shaft 178 supported for rotative movement in opposite directions in the bracket 80, for purposes hereinafter set forth, and its other end attached to a spool 181 secured to the shaft 155. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 22 the straps extend from the spools 177 above the front bed 16 and over pairs of rollers 174 carried on brackets 179 secured to the underside of the front bed and then pass beneath the front bed to the spools 181. The shaft 178 is rotated in a clockwise direction by weights 183 or other suitable means (FIG. 21) to move the straps 176 with the bar 170 and hook members 171 in a fabric draw-01f direction after the hook members are attached to the fabric and the shaft 155 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move the straps with the bar and hook members toward the needles for engagement with the fabric in the manner hereinafter set forth.

For rotating the shaft 155 in the counterclockwise direction the shaft has secured thereto a toothed wheel or ratchet 185 (FIGS. 18 and 19) the teeth of which are adapted to be acted on by a pawl 186. The pawl 186 is pivotally mounted on a lever 187 which in turn is loosely mounted for oscillating movement on the shaft 155 to operate the pawl through ratchet advancing movements. The pawl 186 is provided with a pin 188 having portions projecting from opposite sides thereof, the portion of the pin at one side of the pawl engaging a high surface 190 on a member 191 also mounted for oscillating movement on the shaft 155 to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet 185. A flat spring plate 192 secured to the lever 187 by a screw 193 engages the portion of the pin 188 extending from the other side of the pawl to bias the pawl toward the ratchet.

For oscillating the lever 187 through its ratchet advancing movements the lever 187 is pivotally connected by a link 195 to one arm 196 of a lever 197 pivotally mounted on a pin 198 carried in a bracket 200 secured to the back beam 12 (FIG. 11). The lever 197 has a second arm 201 on which is mounted a roller type follower 202 for engagement with a cam 203 carried on the camshaft 26. A spring 205 connected between the free end of the arm 201 and a bracket 206 carried on the back beam 12 tends to bias the lever 197 and follower 202 toward the cam 203. The cam 203 has a high surface 204 which acts to turn the lever 197 counterclockwise to reset the lever 187 and pawl 186 following a ratchet advancing movement of the pawl and a low surface 204a which acts to determine the extent of the ratchet advancing movement of the pawl when the lever is turned clockwise by the spring 205 to follow the cam. The lever 197 has a projecting finger 207 adapted to be supported on a lever 208 to hold the lever and follower 202 at the level of the high surface 204 of cam 203 and prevent the lever from following the contour of the cam 283. The lever 208 is pivotally mounted on a stud 210 carried in a bracket 211 mounted on the front beam 11. Referring particularly to FIGS. ll, 12 and 20 the lever 208 has an arm 212 for engagement with a collar 213 secured on a rod 215 which is connected to and operated by one of the levers 133 and associated pattern lever 135 of the pattern chain device 138 in the same manner as rod 132. The arm 212 is biased into engagement with the collar 213 by a spring 216 connected between the arm and a second collar 217 also secured to the rod 215 (FIG. 20). The rod 215 is shifted toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 20 by the

levers

133 and 135 associated therewith when a button on the chain 137 is moved beneath the elever 135 to move the lever 208 from beneath the finger 207 of lever 197 to permit the latter to follow the cam 203 to move the pawl 186 through its ratchet advancing movements and the rod is moved toward the left by a spring 166 connected between a collar 167 on the rod and machine frame when the button is moved out of engagement with lever 135, to again position lever 208 beneath finger 207.

Simultaneously with the movement of the rod 215 to the right to remove the lever 208 from beneath the lever 197 as above set forth, the member 191 is also oscillated to remove the high surface thereof from engagement with the pin 188 thereby permitting the pawl 186 to engage the teeth of ratchet 185. For this purpose the member 191 is pivotally connected by a link 218 to one arm 220 of a lever 221 pivotally mounted on a pin 222 carried in a bracket 223 secured to one of the frames 10. A second arm 225 of the lever 221 has its free end interposed between a pair of collars 226 also fixed on the rod 215.

Referring particularly to FIG. 18 the teeth of the ratchet 185 are also acted on by a detent 227 to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet and shaft 155 during advancing movement of the ratchet by the pawl 186. The detent 227 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 40 and has a pin 228 projecting from one side thereof for engagement with a second high surface 238 on the member 191. The surface 230 acts to hold the detent out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet when the pawl is inactivated by the high surface 190 of the member 191 and both the pawl and detent are moved to engage the teeth of the ratchet when the member is oscillated by the rod 215 as hereinbefore set forth. A spring 231 connected between the detent and one of the brackets (FIG. 18) tends to bias the detent toward the ratchet. During movement of the straps 176 to move the bar 170 toward the needles 17 the movement of the shaft 178 is dampened slightly by braking means including a collar 232 secured to the shaft 178 the outer periphery of which is adapted to be engaged by a brake shoe 235 of leather or the like carried on a brake lever 236. The lever 236 is pivoted on a pin 237 mounted in one of the brackets 80 (FIG. 18) and at its free end threadably carries an adjustable set screw 240 for engagement with a surface 241 on the detent 227. A spring 242 connected between the lever 236 and the bracket 80 biases the lever counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 18, to engage the brake shoe 235 with the collar 232 when the detent 227 is moved to engage the teeth of the ratchet 185 as above set forth.

During the resetting movement of the straps 176 by the pawl 186 and ratchet 185 the straps are moved only sufiiciently to initially move the bar 170 and hook members 171 from the position of FIG. 29 to the position of FIG. 25 and the straps are then stopped until after the welt bar 30 is moved to close the welt. Referring particularly to FIG. 13 for stopping the straps and bar in their stopped position there is provided a lever 245 mounted for rotative movement on the shaft 97 and having a nose portion 246 for engagement with a shoulder 247 formed at the end of a notch 248 in

collars

250 and 251 and with a shoulder 249 on the collar 251 for purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth. The

collars

250 and 251 are secured in side-by-side relationship on the shaft and as shown in FIG. 13 the collar 250 is of a smaller diameter than the collar 251. The lever 245 is normally maintained in an inactive position as shown in FIG. 13 "with the nose portion above the outer periphery of the larger diameter collar 251 through a link 252 having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the lever 245 and one arm 253 of a lever 255 (FIG. 14). The lever 255 is pivotally mounted on a pin 256 carried in a bearing member 257 secured on a shaft 258 carried in the framework of the machine. The lever 255 has a second arm 260 for engagement with a collar 261 fixed on a rod 262. The arm 260 of lever 255 is biased into engagement with the collar 261 by a spring 263 connected between the arm and a second collar 265 also fixed on the rod 262. The rod 262 is connected to one of the levers 133 which is operated by one of the levers 135 by high and low buttons, similar to the high and low buttons 136 and 13611, on the chain 137. When a high button on the chain 137 is moved beneath the lever 135 associated with the rod 262 the rod is moved toward the right sufficiently to move lever 245 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 13, to position the nose portion 246 thereon to engage the shoulder 247 on

collars

250 and 251. On the other hand a low button on the chain moves the rod 262 to turn lever 245 and nose portion 246 only to a level to engage the shoulder 249 on the collar 251.

During movement of the bar and hook members 171 to the position of FIG. 25 the bar 170 is rocked or tilted slightly to raise the down-turned ends 172 of the hook members. For this purpose the underside of the bar 170 is provided with a spaced pair of notches 266 having upper surfaces 267 extending at a slight angle relative to the normal surface of the underside of the bar (FIGS. and 16). Secured in each of the notches 266 is a plate 268 having a U-shaped member 269 which forms with the plate an aperture 269a adapted to receive a horizontally extending finger 270 when the bar 170 is in the position of FIG. 25, the finger cooperating with the bar and strap member at this time to tilt the bar (see also FIG. 17) as above set forth. Referring particularly to FIG. 2 each finger 270 forms a part of a lever 271 having a slot 271:: for both pivotal and sliding engagement with a stud 272 mounted on the free end of an arm 273 carried in fixed position on a shaft 274 mounted for oscillating movement in the frames 10'. A spring 264 connected between each lever 271 and a fixed part of the machine normally biases the lever clockwise on the stud 272 to a stopped position against the one side of the front bed 16 as shown in FIG. 2. A second arm 275 also fixed on the shaft 274 has its free end pivotally connected by a link 276 to a lever 277 pivotally mounted on a pin 278 carried in a bracket 279 secured to the back beam 12 (FIG. 2). The lever 277 carries a roller type follower 280 for engagement with a cam 2-81 on the camshaft 26. A spring 282 connected between an arm 283 of the. lever 277 and a bracket 285 on the back beam 12 tends to bias the lever and follower 280 toward the cam 281. The cam has a low surface 286 which acts through

levers

273 and 275 to raise the levers 271 and bar 170 when the fingers 270 are engaged in the apertures 269a in the members 269 and a high surface 287 which acts to again lower the levers 271 and bar 170 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The lever 277 is normally held in its position as determined by the high surface 287 of the cam 281 by an upper end portion 288 of a one arm 290 of a lever 291 which over-lies a projection 292 on the lever 277 adjacent the follower 280 (FIGS. 2 and 10). The lever 277 is also adapted to be held in the position determined by the high portion of cam 281 by an upper end portion 293 of a second arm 295 of the lever 291 when the latter is moved into overlying relationship to the projection 292, for .pu-rposes hereinafter set forth. The lever 291 is fixed on one end of a shaft 296 pivotally mounted in a bracket 297 carried on the front beam 11. At its other end shaft 296 carries a lever 298 having a ball-like free end portion 300 adapted to be received in a forked end 301 at the lower end of one arm 302 of a lever 303 (FIG. 8). The lever is pivotally mounted on a stud 305 carried in the bracket 126. The lever 303 has a second arm 306 having its free end pivotally connected by a link 307 to the lever 122.

Prior to the connection of-the hooks 45 on the bar 42 with the welt fabric and operation of the welt bar 30 to close the Welt as hereinbefore set forth, a button on the chain 137 is moved beneath the pattern lever 135 associated with the rod 215 to shift this rod to the right (FIGS. 12 and 20) to turn the member 191 to remove the high surfaces 190 and 230 (FIG. 18) from beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227 to permit them to engage the teeth of the ratchet 185. The rod 215 at this time also acts to remove the lever 208 from beneath the finger 207 on lever 197 thereby permitting the lever 197 to follow the cam 203 to operate the pawl through its ratchet advancing strokes to operatethe straps 176 to start moving the bar 170 and hook members 171 from their inactive position at FIG. 29 toward the needles 17. During continued movement of the bar 170 toward the needles the bar 42 is operated to engage the hooks 45 with the fabric as shown in FIG. 23 and the welt bar 30 is moved to its position of FIG. 24 to close the welt as hereinbefore set forth. Following movement of the welt bar 30 to the position of FIG. 24 to close the welt, the welt bar is moved to its position of FIG. 25 and the straps 176 and bar 170 are advanced to the position of FIG. 25 to engage the fingers 270 in the apertures 269a in the bar. At this time a high button on the chain 137 has shifted the rod 262 toward the right (FIG. 14) to move the nose portion 246 of the lever 245 toward the

collars

250 and 251 for engagement with the shoulder 247 to stop the shaft 155 and straps 176 as the bar 170 reaches the position of FIG. 25. Also at this time a stop member 308 (FIG. 13) engages a shoulder 310 formed on a collar 311 secured to the shaft 178 to hold the latter shaft against the take-up force of the weights 183. The stop member 308 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 312 rotatably carried in the bracket and the stop member is normally held inactive above the collar 311 by a set screw 313 carried in the lever 245 when the latter is in its inactive position with respect to the

collars

250 and 251 and the stop member is moved toward the collar 311 for engagement with the shoulder 310 by a spring 315 connected between the stop member and a fixed part of the machine, when the lever 245 is moved to engage the shoulder 247 on the

collars

250 and 251. Following movement of the bar 170 to the position of FIG. 25 the rod 215 is again moved toward the left to move the lever 208 beneath the finger 207 of lever 197, and the high'surfaces 190 and 230 of member 191 are positioned beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227 to disengage them from the ratchet. At this time the lever 245 remains in engagement with the shoulder 247 on the

collars

250 and 251 and the stop member 308 remains in engagement with the shoulder 310 on the collar 311.

During the formation of a subsequent course of the fabric and while the hooks 45 of bar 42 continue to tension the fabric, a button on chain 137 again operates the rod 215 to remove the lever 208 from beneath the finger 207 of lever 197 to permit it to follow the cam 203 and to remove the high surfaces of the member 191 from beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227 to permit them to engage the ratchet 185. Also at this time a low button on the chain operates the rod 262 to position the nose portion 246 of lever 245 for engagement with the shoulder 249 on collar 251 and a low button on the chain operates the rod 132 to remove the portion 288 of arm 290 (FIG. 10) from above the projection 292 of lever 277 to permit it to follow the cam 281. Thereafter during continued operation of the machine, the pawl 186 is operated by the cam 203 to move the straps 176 and bar 170 toward the needles until the nose portion 246 engages the shoulder 249 and the lever 277 and levers 271 are operated by the low surface 286 of the cam 281 to raise the bar 170 and hook members 171 thereon to the position of FIG. 26. The lever 277 is then operated by the high surface 287 of the cam 281 to lower the levers 271 and bar 170 to the position of FIG. 27 to engage the hook members 171 with the fabric. At thisv time the fingers 270 on the levers 271 remain in engagement with the U-shaped members 269 on the bar 170. Following engagement of the hook members 171 with the fabric, lever 291 is moved by rod 132 to position the portion 288 of arm 290 above the projection 292 on lever 277, the rod 215 is operated to move lever 208 beneath the finger 207 of lever 197 and to move the high surfaces on the member 191 beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227, and the rod 262 is operated to move the lever 245 to inactive position with respect to the

collars

250 and 251 and to move the stop member 308 to inactive positions with respect to the collar 311 to permit the weights 183 to move the straps 176 and hook members 171 away from the needles to tension the fabric. It is to be noted that movement of the rod 132 by a low button on the chain 137 is insufficient to remove the lever 122 from beneath the nose portion so that lever 111 remains inactive at this time. It is also to be noted that when the rod 132 is operated by a high button on the chain to cause the lever 111 to operate the bar 105 as hereinbefore set forth, the movement of the rod is sufficient to turn the lever 291 to move the end portion 293 of the arm 295 above the projection 292 to maintain the lever inactive.

During the continued formation of the fabric blank both the bar 42 and the are moved in the draw-off direction to tension the fabric until movement of the bar 42 is arrested by engagement of stop arm '78 on the shaft 77 (FIG. with a fixed part of the framework of the machine, as hereinbefore set forth. Thereafter movement of the bar 170 under the influence of the weights tensions and draws the fabric away from the needles 17 as it is formed and disengages the fabric from the hooks 45 of the arrested bar 42. During continued movement of the bar 170 in the draw-off direction the levers 271 follow the movement of the bar until they again engage the front bed 16, as shown in FIG. 28, and the bar is disengaged from the fingers 270 on the levers 271. As formation of the fabric continues it is carried by the bar 170 above a forth tensioning means which acts, after it is connected to the fabric, to continue the fabric draw-off action and disengage the hook members 171 of the third tensioning means from the fabric. The forth tensioning means is of the type shown in the co-pending application of Herbert E. Haehnel, Ser. No. 387,009 filed Aug. 3, 1964, now Patent No. 3,269,150, issued Aug. 30, 1966, and includes a plurality of reel sections 317 for each knitting section of the machine mounted on the shaft 312 for rotation therewith (FIG. 1). The shaft 312 is adapted to be rotated in the take-up direction by weights 320 shown in FIG. 21. Each reel section 317 has a plurality of rows of fabric engaging hook members 318 which are mounted for movement from retracted positions within the reel sections to projected positions beyond the outer periphery of the reel sections to engage and draw off the fabric, and from their projected positions to retracted positions within the reel sections to release the fabric as the shaft and reel sections are rotated. The shaft 312 is normally held against rotation by the weights 320- by engagement of a pawl 314 with a ratchet 316 secured on the shaft (FIG. 21) and the pawl is released from the ratchet by suitable means (not shown) when the shaft and reel sections 317 are to be rotated as set forth in said Patent No. 3,269,150 and as hereinafter set forth.

As the bar 170 continues along the plates 175 to draw off the fabric and after the bar passes above the reel sections 317 of the fourth tensioning means each end of the bar is carried into a notch 321 formed in the upper end of a lever 322 pivotally mounted on the shaft 97. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 28 the lower surfaces of the notches 321 in the levers 322 are at the same level as the upper surfaces of the plates 175 and springs 323 connected between the levers and brackets 325, secured to the brackets 80, normally bias the levers to a stopped position against the ends of the plates. After the bar 170 enters the notches 321 in the levers 322 the straps 176 continue to move the bar and levers about the shaft 97 until the levers reach the stopped position of FIG. 29 which is determined by engagement of the levers with stops 326 (FIG. 2) or other suitable means carried on the brackets 80. It will be seen that movement of the upper ends of the levers 322 is along an arcuate path as the levers move from the position of FIG. 28 to the position of FIG. 29 which causes the downwardly extending end portions 172 of the hook members 171 to rise slightly as shown in FIG. 29. Also as the bar 170 moves from the position of FIG. 28 to the position of FIG. 29 the free ends of the hook members 171 are carried beneath a strip of felt 327 or the like to depress the fabric slightly on the downwardly extending end portions 172 of the hook members as the bar reaches the position of FIG. 29 to facilitate disconnection of the fabric from the down-turned end portions 172 of the hooks 171 by the reel sections 317, as hereinafter set forth. The felt strip 327 is carried on a flat rigid bar 328 each end of which is in turn secured to a lever 330 (FIG. 2). The levers 330 are pivotally mounted on pins 331 carried on the brackets 325 and normally rest on the upper ends of the levers 322 when the latter are in the positions of FIGS. 2 and 28 to position the felt strip slightly above the level of the hook members 1'71 at the time the bar enters the notches 321 in the levers 322. Thereupon as the levers 322 move toward their positon of FIG. 29 the hook members 171 rise slightly as above set forth and the levers 330 drop by gravity to cause the felt strip 327 to scrape along the horizontal portions of the hook members and then to depress the fabric downwardly on the portions 172 of the hook members. Also as the levers 322 move to their position of FIG. 29 the fabric is lowered to a level in which the hook members 318 in the reel sections will engage the fabric and at this time the pawl 314 is disengaged from the ratchet 316 to release the weights 320 to start rotating the shaft 312 and reel sections 317 to engage the hook members 318 with the fabric. As the reel sections continue to rotate the hook members 318 therein strip the fabric from the hook members 171 in the bar 170 and the fabric is then discharged into a receptacle (not shown) as the hook members 318 are retracted into the reel sections, as set forth in said Patent No. 3,269,150.

While the foregoing describes the draw-off means of the invention in a machine having welt turning mechanism it is to be understood that the draw-off means is also adaptable to machines having means for transferring preformed welt portions to the needles 17. Generally the transfer means includes a bar similar to the bar 30 having points on which the preformed welts are initially placed and the bar is operated to the position of FIG. 24 in the same manner and by the same means as bar 30 to place the loops of the welt portion on the needles. The bar 42 of the second tensioning means, the bar 170 of the third tensioning means and the reel sections 317 of the fourth tensioning means may then be operated generally in the same manner as above set forth to tension and draw off the fabric as it is formed on the machine. Alternately, the second tensioning means may be idled and only the third and fourth tensioning means operated to provide the fabric tensioning and draw-off means if desired.

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

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvage fabric blanks, a first draw-off means for said fabric blanks, means for moving said first draw-off means to engage said fabric blank, means for moving said first draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank, a second fabric draw-off means for said fabric, means for moving said second fabric draw-off means from an inactive position to a position adjacent said fabric blank between said needles and said first drawoff means as said first draw-off means continues to tension said fabric blank, fabric deflecting means, means for moving said deflecting means from inactive position to active position to engage and deflect said fabric blank into position for engagement by said second draw-off means, and means for moving said second draw-off means to engage said fabric blank while said fabric is deflected by said deflecting means.

2. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvaged fabric blanks with turned welt portions, a welt bar, means for moving said welt bar toward said needles to engage the first course of the welt on the needles, to tension and draw off the welt fabric as it is knitted, and to then return the first course to said needles to form said turned welt portion, in combination with a second means for drawing off said welt fabric, said second means including a second bar having hooks thereon, means for moving said second bar from an inactive position to a position in which said hooks are adjacent said welt fabric between said needles and said welt bar as said welt bar continues to draw off said welt fabric, a third bar, means for moving said third bar to engage and depress said fabric into the path of said hooks on said second bar, means for moving said second bar to engage said hooks thereon with said fabric to tension said fabric while said fabric is depressed by said third bar and as said welt bar continues to draw off said fabric, said second bar acting to draw 01f said turned welt portion after said welt bar returns said first course to said needles to form said turned welt portion.

3. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvaged fabric blanks with turned welt portions, a welt bar adapted for movement toward and away from said needles to engage a first course of the welt fabric, to tension and draw off said welt fabric as it is knitted and to then return said first course to said needles to form said turned welt portion, in combination with a second draw-off means for engaging and tensioning said welt fabric before said welt bar is moved to return said first course of said welt fabric to said needles, means for moving said second draw-off means from an inactive position to a position adjacent said Welt fabric between said needles and said welt bar as said welt bar continues to tension said welt fabric, fabric deflecting means, means for moving said deflecting means from inactive position to active position to engage and deflect said welt fabric into position for engagement by said second draw-off means, and means for moving said second draw-off means away from said needles to engage and tension said welt fabric while said fabric is deflected by said deflecting means.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is means for inactivating said tensioning means for said second draw-off means, and said moving means for said second draw-off means is operative to move said second draw-off means from said inactive position to said position adjacent said fabric when said tensioning meant is inactivated by said inactivating means.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which sect nd draw-off means is mounted on pivoted members, and snid means for moving said second draw-off means to said position adjacent said Welt fabric includes a first spring for moving said second draw-off means relative to said pivoted members and a second spring for pivotally moving said pivoted members.

6. In a machine according to claim 5 in which there is means for guiding said second draw-off means between said inactive position and said position adjacent said fabric, and means for stopping said second draw-off means in said position adjacent said fabric.

7. In a machine according to claim 4 in which said means for inactivating said tensioning means for said second draw-off means is operated by said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

8. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is means for inactivating said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

9. In a machine according to claim 8 in which there is pattern means for controlling the operation of said inactivating means for said moving means for said deflecting means.

10. In a machine according to claim 7 in which said inactivating means for said tensioning means includes a cam, means for moving said cam to move said tensioning means to an inactive position, and means for arresting said tensioning means in said inactive position.

11. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said moving means for said cam comprises said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

12. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said arresting means for said tensioning means is operated to release said tensioning means to move said second draw-01f means to engage and tension said welt fabric by movement of said deflecting means to active position.

13. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting fabric blanks, a first draw-off means, means for supporting said first draw-off means for movement toward and away from said needles along a predetermined path, means for moving said first draw-off means from an inactive position remote from said needles to a position adjacent said needles, means for raising said first drawoif means above said predetermined path and for again lowering said first draw-off means to said predetermined path to engage said fabric, means for moving said first draw-off means toward said inactive position to tension said fabric blank as it is knit, a second fabric draw-01f means between said inactive position and said position adjacent said needles and means for operating said second draw-off means to connect said second draw-off means to said fabric blank and to disconnect said fabric blank from said first draw-off means when said first draw-off means is in said inactive position, said first draw-01f means comprising a bar, hooks having downturned fabric engaging ends secured to said bar, and means on said bar for connecting said raising means to said bar, said connecting means on said bar being engaged with said raising means during movement of said bar to said position adjacent said needles, and said connecting means being disengaged from said raising means after said hooks are engaged with said fabric during movement of said first draw-off means toward said inactive position by said moving means.

14. In a machine according to claim 13 in which there is cam operated means for operating said raising means and pattern means for controlling the operation of said cam operated means.

15. In a machine according to claim 13 in which said supporting means for said first draw-off means includes fixed members for supporting said first draw-off means during movement thereof from said position adjacent said needles to a position adjacent said inactive position, and pivoted levers for receiving said first draw-off means from said fixed members and for supporting said first draw-off means during movement thereof between said inactive position and said position adjacent thereto.

16. In a machine according to claim 15 in which there is means for depressing said fabric blank on said down-turned ends of said hooks during movement of said bar from said position adjacent said inactive position to said inactive position to facilitate disconnection of said fabric blank from said down-turned ends of said hooks by said second draw-off means.

17. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting a fabric blank, a first draw-off means for said fabric blank, means for operating said first draw-off means to tension said fabric blank, a second draw-off means for said fabric blank, means for engaging said second drawoif means with said fabric blank while said fabric blank is tensioned by said first draw-01f means, means for operating said second draw-off means to tension said fabric blank, means for disconnecting said first draw-off means from said fabric blank while said fabric blank is tensioned by said second draw off means, a third drawoff means, means for connecting said third draw-01f means to said fabric blank while said second draw-off means is connected to said fabric blank, and means for operating said third draw-off means to tension said fabric blank, said third draw-off means acting during operation to tension said fabric blank to disconnect said fabric blank from said second draw-off means.

18. A machine according to claim 17 in which there is a fourth draw-01f means, means for operating said fourth draw-off means to connect it to said fabric blank to tension said fabric blank, said fourth draw-off means acting during operation to tension said fabric blank and to disconnect said fabric blank from said third drawoff means.

19. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting a flat selvaged fabric blank, and fabric draw-off means for drawing off and tensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, including the steps of connecting a first hook bar to said fabric blank, operating said first hook bar in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank, engaging a second hook bar with said fabric blank, operating said second hook bar in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank, disconnecting said first hook bar from said fabric blank while said second hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting a third hook bar to said fabric blank while said second hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, operating said third hook bar to tension said fabric blank, and disconnecting said second hook bar from said fabric blank while said third hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank.

20. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting a fiat selvaged fabric blank, and draw-off means for drawing off and tensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, including the steps of connecting a first hook bar to said fabric blank, operating said first hook bar along a predetedmined path to tension said fabric blank, engaging a second hook bar with said fabric blank while said first bar continues to tension said fabric blank, operating said second hook bar along said predetermined path to tension said fab ric blank while said first hook bar is connected to said fabric blank, disconnecting said first hook bar from said fabric blank as said second book bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting a third hook bar to said fabric blank while said second hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, operating said third hook bar along said predetermined path to tension said fabric blank, and disconnecting said second hook bar from said fabric blank while said third hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank.

21. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting a fiat selvaged fabric blank, and means for drawing off and tensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, including the steps of connecting a first draw-off means to said fabric blank, operating said first draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank, engaging a second draw-off means with said fabric blank while said first draw-off means is operating to tension said fabric blank, operating said second draw-off means in a draw-olf direction to tension said fabric blank, disconnecting said first draw-off means from said fabric blank while said second draw-off means is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting a third draw-off means to said fabric blank while said second draw-off means is operating to tension said fabric, operating said third draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank, disconnecting said second draw-off means from said fabric blank while said third draw-01f means is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting a fourth draw-off means to said fabric blank while said third draw-off means is connected to said fabric blank, and operating said fourth draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank and to disconnect said fabric blank from said third draw-off means.

22. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting a flat selvaged fabric, and means for drawing off and tensioning said fabric as it is knitted, including the steps of connecting a first draw-off means to said fabric, operating said first draw-off means in a first draw-off direction to tension said fabric, engaging a second draw-off means with said fabric while said first draw-off means is operating to tension said fabric, operating said second draw-off means in said first draw-off direction to tension said fabric, disconnecting said first draw-off means from said fabric while said second drawoff means is operating to tension said fabric, connecting a third draw-ofi means to said fabric while said second drawolf means is operating to tension said fabric, operating said third draw-off means in said first draw-01f direction to tension said fabric and to disconnect said fabric from said second draw-off means, connecting a fourth draw-off means to said fabric while said fabric is connected to said third draw-off means, and operating said fourth draw-off means to draw off and tension said fabric, said fourth draw-01f means acting during operation to change the draw-off direction of said fabric from said first direction to a second direction to disconnect said fabric from said third draw-01f means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,413,601 12/1946 Bitzer 66-96 2,622,422 12/ 1952 Vaclavik et al 66-96 2,789,423 4/ 1959 Vaclavik et al 66-149 2,853,863 9/1958 Cobert 66-96 2,860,501 11/1958 Cobert 66-96 3,214,944 11/1965 Kienel 66-149 3,269,150 8/1966 Haehnel 66-149 3,296,838 1/1967 Boylen 66-149 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,317,872 1/1963 France.

928,951 6/1963 Great Britain.

958,075 5/ 1964 Great Britain.

W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner.